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Rap Mogul Suge Knight Arrested; Portland, Maine Scrambling to Remove More Than Two Feet of Snow; NFL Commissioner Holds Press Conference Before Sunday's Super Bowl

Aired January 30, 2015 - 15:30   ET

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


ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: How could four people have 1,000 contacts? But when you think about it, you know, kids go to school. These kids we know went to a clinic. Maybe they went to church. So a thousand contacts -- again, most of them likely vaccinated. But still, some of them are babies who are too young to be vaccinated. Those are the ones doctors worry about.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: OK, Elizabeth Cohen, here's to hoping the people that have, stay home.

Thank you very much in Phoenix, Arizona. Days away from the big game on Sunday.

Next, this rape case so brutal, it made stomachs turn. Two men have been found guilty. But now, there's a twist. We are now learning one of the jurors may have hidden something incredibly pertinent to this case. How that could affect the next steps coming up.

Plus, rap mogul Suge Knight could be in deep, deep trouble. Investigators say he is suspected of running someone over on purpose. Those details just ahead here on CNN.

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BALDWIN: This week, the victim of a brutal rape sobbed as two former Vanderbilt football players were found guilty of assaulting her in unspeakable ways and filming it as she lay unconscious. But now CNN affiliate WTVF has learned there may be serious problems with this case. And the guilty investigator may be tossed out.

The attorney of one of the convicted men claim one of the jurors did not disclose before the trial that he or she, we don't know which sex this juror was, was a victim of sexual abuse.

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FLETCHER LONG, BRANDON VANDENBURG' ATTORNEY: That information would have been useful in a case that had some of the same type of scenarios and allegations to which had been a victim. That's just information. It is incredible to me that they didn't think that information in light of this case and these charges was warranted.

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BALDWIN: Let me bring back my legal panel. I have Eric Guster, criminal and civil trial attorney and Carmen St. George, former prosecutor and trial attorney.

So the first question obviously is would this revelation, could this revelation leads to a mistrial?

CARMEN ST. GEORGE, FORMER PROSECUTOR: It very well could. But you really have to examine the circumstances. The court has ruled on this and U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1984 this the case as to what the questions are. One is, did he or she lie about a material fact that they were questioned about? And with the correct response, have raised a level where an attorney could have gotten the juror dismissed for cause, an exercise one of the challenges.

So we really need to know more about what was asked of the juror and whether or not that juror responded honestly or intentionally lied. I mean, if they have had a prior rape situation, it's happened. There's been cases there the country there's been a prior rape. It hasn't been answered. The court examines the facts as to whether or not the person felt that was similar to the rape in question.

ERIC GUSTER, CRIMINAL/CIVIL ATTORNEY: Right. Because if a juror lies about a case on an issue like this --

BALDWIN: So if the individual was asked about it -- you have to assume as lawyers --

GUSTER: That's trial 101. You ask -- especially on a case like this, a serious felony case. You ask are there any victims of sexual assault, any victims of rape? Or any people that have a family member because that would impact their decision in trial.

BALDWIN: Let me jump ahead. If it's a mistrial, you start from scratch. You can use the testimony from the previous trial.

GUSTER: Yes. You start from scratch. Different juror, same set of facts. And it's the defense who will benefit from a mistrial because all witnesses at that point are locked into their testimony. The defense has their words written on paper. So if they say anything different under cross-examination, you can point those things out to show there's a difference in testimony and ask the jury to ignore part or all of their testimony.

BALDWIN: But after this conviction, let me just quote, one of these jurors were interviewed saying they were absolutely confident and that they made the right decision for court based upon video and everything they saw. You still think --

ST. GEORGE: It's a hard leap. It's discretionary decision by the court. But these defendants are young. They're facing minimally 15 to 60 in prison when they are sentenced. I mean, it's a huge issue.

BALDWIN: Yes. (INAUDIBLE) the alleged victim here?

GUSTER: Everyone is entitled to a fair trial.

ST. GEORGE: But not a perfect one.

GUSTER: But if someone does not disclose that type of fact, that one juror position could have been the hold out to get a hung jury instead of a conviction because you have to have a unanimous verdict. So one juror could be the hold out and say I'm not going to convict them. And that could give a mistrial from the beginning.

BALDWIN: Incredible. Eric Guster and Carmen St. George, thank you both.

ST. GEORGE: Thank you.

GUSTER: Thank you.

BALDWIN: We'll see what happens.

Next the murder accusations against Suge Knight. We have the details of what investigators say he did.

Plus, more snow for a region that is already buried with it. How much worse it could get for you in New England coming up.

You're watching CNN.

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BALDWIN: He is no stranger to controversy or the law. The infamous west coast rapper (INAUDIBLE) Suge Knight was arrested early this morning by the L.A. county sheriff. The 49-year-old is suspected of running into and then running over two men with a pickup truck. One of those men died and now authorities are holding Knight on suspicion of murder.

CNN's Sarah Sidner is live in Los Angeles.

And so, this all happened after an argument on a Compton movie set?

SARA SIDNER, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Right. I mean, that's what they're saying. That the sheriff's department saying look, he was on the set of "straight out of Compton" which is a film that is being put together about the very, very well known 90s rap group NWA. And then that argument ended up in a parking lot where the hit and run happened. But Suge knight's attorney says there's a perfectly good explanation for what happened.

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SIDNER (voice-over): Rap mogul Marion Suge Knight blowing smoke and stopping to put out his cigar as he strolls in a Los Angeles county sheriff's department. The famous rap producer's demeanor gives no indication that he is about to be questioned and booked on suspicion of murder. Sheriff's investigator says he ran over two men during an argument outside a burger joint in Campton, California. There were several witnesses. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All I hear is some arguing and sounds going on.

So I turn to look out, and I seen Suge Knight turn around and go to his car. Backed his car up, and then he put it in drive and then hit Terry Carter. He ran him over twice.

SIDNER: Sheriff Deputy have not officially identified the man who was killed. But Terry Carter's friends confirmed to CNN it was him. His family is devastated, they say.

What was Terry Carter's relationship with Suge Knight?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are friends.

SIDNER: (INAUDIBLE) says Carter's death is a huge loss to the community.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was just a father figure basically to me and a ray of others who, you know, were inner city youth, troubled youth.

SIDNER: Sheriff Deputy say before the hit and run, Knight was on the set of a biotech called "straight out of Compton," the film show the story of the rise to huge success of wet coast rap root, NWA from the street of Campton, a city known for its struggles with gangs. It was on the set where investigators say the argument began then moved in to the parking lot of this Campton restaurant where deputies say Knight ran over the two men and left the scene.

But Knight's attorney has another version of the story saying Knight was purely acting in self-defense.

JAMES BLATT, SUGE KNIGHT'S ATTORNEY: There are witnesses that indicate Mr. Knight was being attacked by a number of men. That they were beating him through the car window. That he was making an effort to leave and tragically two individuals were run over and one has expired.

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SIDNER: Now, this is -- certainly Knight is no stranger to being involved with police and violence. You'll remember this, Brooke. Back in August the last time that Suge Knight made headlines when he was shot six times inside a very crowded Hollywood night spot. And then he, in 2007, he went to jail. He went to jail in 1997, both times for violating probation because of assaults he had been convicted of. Certainly no stranger to legal battles. And he also had to file bankruptcy. Those legal battles in turned to financial battles. But certainly, this is the biggest battle when it comes to legalities he has had with the sheriff department accusing him of murder.

BALDWIN: Sara Sidner, thank you so much in Los Angeles.

And out of this, if there's one thing New Englanders are more tired of than the old deflate-gate scandal, it is probably all of this snow. And more is coming. Portland, Maine is scrambling to remove more than two-feet of snow left behind by this past week's blizzard. On top of that, as much as 10 inches of fresh snow has begun to fall.

And our Miguel Marquez who is in the thick of it in Portland for us.

Miguel, how much are you expected to get there exactly?

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they could get up to 10 inches and maybe a little less here. But look, for Portland, Maine in January, that is a dusting. But it is this stuff, these giant hills -- let me see a if I can do this without killing myself here. These giant piles, two feet of snow, they had last week or last couple of days here with the blizzard. This pile here, I'm going to try to do that next live shot. I will try it again that one.

So that's what they're having a tough time with right now is that they have storm after storm coming through there, possibly another on Monday. The roads are in pretty good shape. Lots slush but so far, they are not freezing over.

Part of the problem here especially in the northern part of the state, northern Maine, they are going to have very high winds they are expecting in very cold temperatures as well. Some schools in the area here have closed, some office buildings. But for the most part, people are going about their business and getting to it. But these storms, one after the other after the other getting a little boring. They have about 40 inches on the year so far. That puts them above the median of where they typically get with snow. They usually get 70-80 inches for the year -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: All right. It's January, it's Maine. No surprise. I'm impressed you didn't wipe out walking through that stuff. I might have done that earlier this week myself, just saying.

Miguel Marquez in Portland. Thank you, Miguel. Stay warm.

Next, we will talk to Rachel Nichols with CNN sports about the question she put to the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell last hour during a massive new conference in the state of the union -- state of the league. Did she hit a nerve with Goodell?

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RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN ANCHOR, UNGUARDED WITH RACHEL NICHOLS: Roger, you have faced a lot of problems over the past year that have a wide range. But a lot of the issues in common is a conflict of interest.

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BALDWIN: Players caught up in the allegations of domestic abuse, ongoing concerns about concussions and of course, the old deflate-gate with the super bowl just two days away. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell just last hour addressed a myriad of challenges facing his league, including a question from our own Rachel Nichols.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) NICHOLS: Rachel Nichols from CNN.

Roger, you guys have faced a lot of problems over the past year that have a really wide range but a lot of the issues have in common is a conflict of interest. When you do something like hire an outside investigator, like Ted Wells, into the Patriots investigation, you're still paying him and Robert Kraft, who owns the Patriots is still paying you.

So even when you do everything right in one of those situations, it opens you guys up to a credibility gap with some of the public and even with some of your most high profile players. What steps can you guys take in the future to mitigate some of those conflict of interest issues?

ROGER GOODELL, NFL COMMISSIONER: Well, Rachel, I don't agree with you on a lot of the assumptions you make in your question. I think we have had people that have uncompromising integrity. Robert Muller, an example, who I think you asked me the same question last fall about a conflict of interest.

Their integrity is impeccable. Ted Wells' integrity is impeccable. These are professionals a that bring an outside expertise, outside perspective, and their conclusions are drawn only by the evidence and only by the attempt to try to identify that truth. So I think we have done an excellent job of bringing outside consultants in. Somebody has to pay them, Rachel. So unless you're volunteering, which I don't think you are, we will do that.

But we have the responsibility to protect the integrity of the league, whether we have an owner that's being investigated or whether we have a commissioner that's being investigated, they are done at the highest level of integrity and quality.

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BALDWIN: And Rachel Nichols now joins me from Phoenix.

I have to say, we led the show with, you know, an entire panel really giving you kudos for what was a tough question. And also, they were, you know, saying they didn't really appreciate part of Goodell's response to you at the very end. What did you make of how he responded to your question, first of all?

NICHOLS: I just think he missed an opportunity a little bit. I wasn't asking a question about integrity which he may have known and he answered that way, anyway. We certainly the politicians answer one question when they have been asked a different question.

The question isn't about integrity. The question is about these continuing appearances of a conflict of interest and it keeps coming with the NFL in many forms. They have got the Ravens organization, the president and several of the other members of the organization, in the meeting with Ray Rice when they interview Ray Rice. Well, guess what? The Ravens have a conflict of interest there. They are interested in getting Ray Rice back on the field. There's a conflict of interest that the person who investigated the

NFL in their handling of the Ray Rice affair is a law firm that the league pays. You've got a conflict of interest here a little bit in the idea of in deflate-gate the NFL is investigating New England Patriots. Well, guess who pays for that investigation? The New England Patriots in part. And they hire an outside investigator that they are in fact paying as well.

So the question to Roger Goodell was hey, you're in a bunch of these situations, how do you mitigate this so that people like Richard Sherman from the Seattle Seahawks don't come out and embarrass the league, frankly, during super bowl week and say that they see a conflict of interest there. And we have heard it from the public as well. Unfortunately, he didn't really take the opportunity to answer that question but it's a question that's still out there.

BALDWIN: It was a great question. And you brought up deflate-gate. You know, I had Gabriel Sherman on. He wrote this phenomenal piece on really Goodell and the season of hell as he phrased it, this past season. He wrote this piece in "GQ." One of his points is how can Roger Goodell, since he is so tight with the owner of the New England Patriots, with Robert Kraft, how can you have an unbiased investigation. And that question was asked of Goodell today. What's your assessment of that?

NICHOLS: Well, it's a tough spot to be in. And they would do themselves a favor by distancing them from an investigation that does have a bunch of conflicts of interest. That was a fantastic article in "GQ." I believe Gabe referred to Robert Kraft as quote "the assistant commissioner," quoting an NFL executive.

Well, that's the perception no matter what you do, and that was my point in talking to Roger Goodell today, you can run an investigation with the highest integrity. But if that is the perception, there are people in the public who are going to discount it and there's no reason to give yourself that credibility gap.

Why put that in your own way? Why not create a situation where you don't have a credibility gap and then when people of the highest integrity investigate a situation, everybody can take the results at face value. Wouldn't that be nice?

BALDWIN: How about let's move past some of the more serious topics. It was a 45 minute news conference. Let me ask you about something that imagine is part of the buzz where you are. What's your over/under on Richard Sherman's baby arriving on super bowl Sunday?

NICHOLS: Well, Richard assures everyone that the kid is not actually due on Sunday. It is the first pregnancy for his girlfriend. And you know, statistics show first pregnancies are often running a little bit late so he's got that on his side. The kid's not even due for another week.

But that being said, anybody who has kids can tell you that their schedule is not your schedule. So even though Richard Sherman has had conversations with his unborn son and he's explained to him that he needs to do his dad a solid and stay in there for another few days, look, he's going to cross that bridge when he comes to it. The Seahawks organization to their credit say they support him in whatever he decides. I got to tell you, that was not the attitude of sports teams as recently as maybe ten years ago. So that's nice to see. And he's hoping he can do both. Because, hey, you know Richard Sherman. He thinks he can do everything.

BALDWIN: Don't we all sometimes? How do we think that way? I suppose.

NICHOLS: Exactly.

Rachel Nichols, thank you so much. Again, great question today in the news conference. And do not miss Rachel's Super Bowl special tomorrow. She is taking us inside the game with one of the great in the sport Dan Marino. That is at 4:30 p.m. eastern on Saturday here on CNN.

I'm Brook Baldwin. Have wonderful weekend. But stay right here. "The LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts right now.