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President Obama Confirms Ebola Victim Has Arrived In U.S.; ISIS Militants Release New Video; Sexual Assault Allegations Against Bill Cosby Pile Up; Senator Chuck Schumer Calls For Federal Ebola Fund; Young Man Incarcerated For Crime His Parents Only Thought He Might Commit

Aired November 16, 2014 - 17:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Good evening, everyone. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Poppy Harlow joining you tonight from New York.

ISIS militants in Syria have release new video that shows the aftermath of yet another beheading. President Obama has confirmed that the victim is American, Peter Kassig. Just moments ago Peter Kassig's parents, Ed and Paula, issued a statement. I want to read that you statement in full.

We are heartbroken to learn that our son Abdul Rahman Peter Kassig has lost his life as a result of his love for the Syrian people and his desire to ease their suffering. Our hearts also goes out to the families of the Syrians who lost their lives along with our son. Fed by a strong desire to use his life to save the lives of others, Abdul Rahman was drawn to the camps filled with displaced families and to understaffed hospitals inside Syria. We know he found his home amongst the Syrian people and he hurt when they were hurting.

As he wrote in March 2012 in a letter announcing he was taking a leave of absence from Butler University to serve the Syrian people, here in this land I have found my calling. I do not know much. Every day that I am here, I have more questions and less answers, but what I do know is that I have a chance to do something here, to take a stand, to make a difference.

We are incredibly proud of our son for his life according for living his life according to his humanitarian calling. We will work every day to keep his legacy alive as best we can. We remain heartbroken, also, for the families of the other captives who did not make it home safely. The families of James Foley, Steven Sotloff, David Haynes and Alan Henning remain in our thoughts and prayers and we pray for the safe return of all remaining captives held by all sides of the Syrian civil war.

We remain eternally grateful for the many, many words of support and prayers from all over the world on our son's behalf. We ask people to continue to pray for the safe return of all captives being held unjustly and all people being oppressed around the world and especially for the people of Syria, a land our son loved.

In lieu of flowers, the family asked that contributions in honor of Abdul Rahman Kassig be made to the Syrian-American medical society which is working to meet the medical needs of the Syrians displaced and injured by the war.

That is the full statement coming from the parents of the 26-year-old who was so brutally murdered by ISIS. This new ISIS video features the familiar image and voice of the same hooded figure seen in previous execution videos. But unlike past recordings it is longer, it is much more graphic, and it does not include any remarks by the victim.

Peter Kassig, who converted to Islam and changed his name to Abdul Rahman Kassig, was a former U.S. ranger. He previously fought in Iraq. He later returned to the region as an aid worker. He was captured last year while helping Syrian refugees. And while he was in captivity he shared a cell with Americans James Foley and Steven Sotloff who were also beheaded.

Let's talk about this more now with former CIA operative Bob Baer.

Bob, watching this video is horrifying. It is horrific. It made me so angry that this continues to happen. I know that you've looked at it as well. What, to you, stands out in terms of what is different this time?

ROBERT BAER, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Well, it's the production, Poppy. It's less complicated. And what that tells me is the hostage takers are probably on the move. They didn't have time to set this up. They didn't have time to plan their idea of marketing this. I think there are moving from location to location. He reason for that is the United States has platforms in the air all over Syria and Iraq. These people -- it's very difficult for them to hide.

Plus, we have been doing geo-mapping from previous videos which show where they've been and they're taking more precautions.

HARLOW: Some analysts are calling this a sign of desperation that ISIS is feeling the pressure, feeling the airstrikes more. Do you see it that way?

BAER: Well, they did lose (INAUDIBLE), the refinery a couple days ago. They were unable to take Kobani. They had great aspirations. They've told their followers they were on the move. They're going to move into Saudi Arabia, this and that. And the fact is they haven't moved. They haven't moved in on Baghdad. So there's a certain amount of desperation. I think there is also certain amount of anger that these airstrikes are working to go a degree. They are not going to win the war. But they are. It's been a huge setback for them and they are lashing out. And this is what happens.

HARLOW: Interesting to note in this video, it's very long, and it ends with beheading. But you also see for the first time in this video, ISIS claiming that al-Baghdadi, their leader, has accepted these oaths of allegiance from the affiliate groups, right? So expanding their goal, their caliphate into Algeria, Libya, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, talking about that. What does that tell us about the timing of this?

BAER: Well, I think, again, they would like to show some progress. I mean, they depend on progress, Poppy, to get more followers. And the fact that these groups in Algeria. And there is no coordination between them but it's called (INAUDIBLE) in Arabic that they are swearing allegiance means they replace Al-Qaeda. They are -- it is the caliphate and this is very much symbolic.

But I think, Poppy, the more I see this, I don't think this ISIS movement is long for this world, you know. It cannot govern at the end of the day. It's too violent for the people in the area, all Muslims. And I think it will collapse under its own weight and the question is when. How hard do we push it and how much we just let it collapse on its own.

HARLOW: Very quickly, Bob, before we wrap up. I want your reaction to some comments that the president, President Obama made at the G-20 talking about ISIS saying if ISIL had gotten possession of a nuclear weapon, he said he would order ground troops into the region. You believe, though, that needs to happen sooner.

BAER: Well, I think if this movement, in any way, starts to expands again, the Iraqi army cannot do it on its own. That is a Shia army. It is basically a militia. And if it does become a threat to the gulf, for instance, Saudi Arabia or real outside the borders of Syria and Iraq, this president will have no choice but to put troops in that region.

HARLOW: And General Dempsey has said it is not off the table at this point in time.

Appreciate the expertise, Bob Baer. Thank you.

Well, Kassig's violent death contrasts very much with the peaceful that life he led as someone who dedicated himself to helping the Syrian people caught in the middle of this brutal war.

Our Arwa Damon spent time with Kassig, filing this report on him back in 2012. He told her about how his life changed from when he was a soldier to a humanitarian aid worker working to save lives. And he says he felt this was really his calling.

Here is how Arwa remembers him.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The first time we met Peter was during the summer of 2012. It was quite the sight. Peter, a former army ranger, pale, tattooed, and though at the time speaking only a handful of Arabic, tending to wounded Syrian with a compassion that transcended the language barrier.

PETER KASSIG, FORMER ARMY RANGER: We each get one life, and that's it. You get one shot at this. We don't get any do-overs, you know, and like for me it was time to put up or shut up. The way I saw it, I didn't have a choice. You know, like this is what I was put here to do. I guess I'm just a hopeless romantic, and I'm an idealistic and I believe in hopeless causes. DAMON: For Peter, doing something meant starting his own nonprofit.

Just months after we met him, he was already delivering humanitarian aid and medical assistance to Syrians in refugee camps and inside the war-torn country. Profoundly touching all who lived and worked with him.

In the words of this Syrian activist, he would treat everyone, no one was exempt. He trained many on first-aid. He lived in the house with us. He was extremely kind. He was sad during our times of sorrow, and happy for our times of joy.

Dr. Enis recalls his last conversation with Peter saying I asked him if he was afraid he would be killed, and he said no. My life is not worth more than yours and that he considers himself to be like any other person who was part of the Syrian revolution.

Peter was kidnapped shortly afterwards in October 2013. At some point during his captivity he converted to Islam and took on the name Abdul Rahman. In this letter drafted his parents during that time he wrote, "if I do die, I figure that at least you and I can seek refuge and comfort in knowing that I went out as a result of trying to alleviate suffering and helping those in need."

And that is how Peter will be remembered. For his humor, laughter, but mostly his drive and compassion and the way he inspired us all more than he could ever imagine.

KASSIG: There's this impression, this belief that there is no hope. You know? That's when it's more important than ever that we come in against all odds and try to do something.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: Arwa, thank you for that story so we all can get to know a little bit more the man that Peter was. He was just 26-years-old. We're going to talk more about Peter Kassig's extraordinary life right here in our next hour.

Meantime this. After days of silence, Bill Cosby's lawyer is responding to multiple rape allegations against the comedian. This as Cosby prepares to take the stage to perform tonight. Our panel weighs in next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: In a wake of yet another round of allegations against comedian Bill Cosby, people are asking why respond with silence. During an interview with NPR this week, the comedian responded to allegations of sexual assault with nothing but silence and shaking his head. Well today, CNN talked to the NPR host who interviewed Cosby and asked what his face looked like during those moments of silence. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT SIMON, RADIO HOST: As I began to say this question gives me no pleasure, he began to shake his head and go like that. So I think he certainly understood which question was coming. And he was, you know, he gave what I would refer to that delightful impish kind of little Cosby smile at first. And then was silent. Didn't answer the question.

I thought there was a good chance the interview would be canceled. Obviously, it wasn't. And I think we can probably fairly safely say they had a strategy in place for when the question was asked which maybe they thought we couldn't use silence on the radio.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Well today, CNN did get a statement from Cosby's lawyer. It reads in full, over the last several weeks decades old discredited allegations against Mr. Cosby has resurfaced. The fact they are being repeated does not make them true. Mr. Cosby does not intend to dignify these allegations with any comment. He would like to thank all his fans for the outpouring of support. And assure them that at age 77, he is doing his best work. There will no further comment from Cosby or any of his representatives.

Let's discuss. HLN legal analyst Joey Jackson joins me now with Republican strategist Tara Sethmayer, Brian Stelter, host of CNN "RELIABLE SOURCES" and also CNN political commentator Marc Lamont Hill.

Thank you guys for being here. Let me begin with you, Brian. Looking at this from analyzing media and how people handle the public relations side of things, is it the right move not to say anything?

BRIAN STELTER, CNN HOST, RELIABLE SOURCES: I think Scott is on to something about maybe the theory was if he stayed silent in the interview, they wouldn't broadcast that audio. Because I can't understand why else they would have agreed to give that interview. It was supposed to be NPR about art donations that the Cosbys had made to the Smithsonian. And that's a nice gesture, a nice reason for an interview. But in light of these events right now it's surprising he agreed to do it at all. And I must imagine they now regret it given that the lawyer came out this morning and said he's not going to be speaking at all about this again.

HARLOW: And no representative will give any more statement. What is your take?

TARA SETHMAYER, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Yes, I think that's interesting. I mean, as a communications specialist, what I've done for many years, I'm sure that they were looking at how do we best handle this? We want to do something that's positive because they have, you know, Cosby has a new special coming out, a series allegedly on NBC that's suppose to come out, touting this African art thing. So let's try to spin it and control the environment as much as possible. And they figured on radio, you don't have the facial expressions. You can't see his disposition so maybe they could get away with it.

But I think they've allowed this to get out of hand. If you look at the Web site, they did the Cosby mean, thinking that people were going to --

HARLOW: Right. Twitter on his twitter.

SETHMAYER: On twitter. That was a disaster. These rape allegations came back up and people destroyed Bill Cosby on this. Fairly or unfairly, but that's the world we live in now with social media.

HARLOW: And we should point out, these are still all allegations. But from 13 different women, CNN, of course, cannot validate any of this. But Cosby is choosing not to respond. Legally, looking at this from a lawyer's perspective. We know that there was a confidential settlement years back, but he's never been prosecuted for any of these allegations. So legally is this upon advice of counsel?

JOEY JACKSON, HLN LEGAL ANALYST: Poppy, we don't like any of our clients talking or saying anything at any time, right? So this adds new meaning to radio silence, OK? They ask him the question, he stays shut. So we don't like as a general matter, lawyers don't pop, for your clients to talk. As for the allegations, originally I was saying that you know what, they could prosecute him for this because the statute of limitations in New York, there is no statute for rape.

HARLOW: But that changed in 2006.

JACKSON: Exactly. It changed in 2006, Poppy. So as a result the statute of limitations was five years. It would have ended in 1990. So Bill Cosby from a legal perspective, Poppy, is out of the woods criminally and civilly, he can't face a lawsuit at least as it relates to Miss Bowman.

HARLOW: Marc, to you, you were part after heated debate over all of this last night on the program. What is your take overall on whether Bill Cosby has a responsibility to answer to people on this one?

MARC LAMONT HILL, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, I think there is There are two things. One, I think some of the panelists are giving Bill Cosby too much credit. And I think some of it is a strategy from his publicity team. I think you guys are right about that.

But I think it's also a certain level of arrogance that Bill Cosby he has demonstrated consistently. In the midst of rape allegations to go on the internet and say, hey, hash tag me. You know, either naive or you have a publicity team that's completely dropping the ball.

But consistently, Bill Cosby has had allegations chase him throughout the years and he's always relied on his charm, his fame as an extraordinary wealth to avoid strict investigation and scrutiny. And now over the last ten years as he's positioned himself as America's sort of racial grand poobah (ph), and he has consider himself the mall leader and steward of the black community, I think he does have an obligation to answers these question. He has been walking around talking about sexual impropriety and irresponsibility in the black community for five years. I don't think it's unreasonable to say, hey, Bill, you've been challenge d on this. Why don't you give what happened from your perspective on this very issue.

HARLOW: What do you think, Tara?

SETHMAYER: Well, I think whether it's the right thing to do or whether it is a legally responsible thing to do are two different areas. I actually agree with Marc on this. I do think Bill Cosby has escaped a certain amount of scrutiny because of the image that has been portrayed for him.

HARLOW: Seen as America's dad.

(CROSSTALK)

SETHMAYER: Right. And I mean, I think that's unfair. Because that's happened oftentimes for, you know, when men get into a certain position, they're in a protective class and they have people around them that will do whatever they need to do to protect their asset. That goes from Bill Clinton on down.

(CROSSTALK)

HARLOW: Quickly before -- quickly before we get to a break.

Brian, you said a lot of interviewers haven't asked him that.