Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Fighting Rages Ahead of Sunday Ceasefire; Obama's Cyber Summit; "50 Shades of Grey" Expected to Dominate Box Office

Aired February 13, 2015 - 10:30   ET

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

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They say that in this surveillance video which was recorded by a camera attached to the police station, Aaron Hernandez breaks apart his cell phone into three pieces. The jury will then also see video of him reassembling that cell phone, it seems retrieves a number and then using a different phone. The prosecution says that he's using that other phone to call his co-venturer Ernest Wallace.

Now here's the caveat in all of this. The judge says that the jury will see two parts of the video: one where Aaron Hernandez breaks down the cell phone and puts it back together; two, they'll know that he uses a different cell phone to make that call.

What they won't see is what happened in between. The prosecution says that Aaron Hernandez's attorney at the time, someone who's no longer representing him in court, is the person who handed over that cell phone -- Carol. And this is being left out. The defense has argued that this video shouldn't be shown because there was attorney/client privilege.

But Judge Garsh has taken this matter into consideration. This was the subject of the hearing over the summer. It's been brought up a couple of times now. Today she ruled that there was no reasonable expectation of privacy, no violation of attorney/client privilege.

She says that Aaron Hernandez was sitting in a parked car at a police station. It was a well-lit parking lot. It was visible that there was a surveillance camera outside of that building. So there's really no reason to believe that he should have had the expectation of privacy when he broke down that phone -- Carol.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: All right. You'll keep us posted I'm sure. Alexandra Field -- many thanks.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM -- Sony, Target, Chase Bank -- hack attacks leaving Americans exposed. How the President is taking on cyber threats next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Checking some top stories for you at 34 minutes past the hour.

The Keystone Pipeline made it over its first hurdle this morning passing a house vote and getting Speaker John Boehner's signature. The measure now goes to President Obama's desk where he will likely veto it.

A 26-year-old man has now been charged with arson in connection with a fire that destroyed the Ferguson market after the Michael Brown grand jury decision. That market was where Brown reportedly committed a strong-arm robbery shortly before his encounter with officer Darren Wilson. The building, which survived protests after Brown's death, has since reopened.

As Bobbi Kristina Brown lies in a medically induced coma at an Atlanta hospital, her boyfriend is speaking out. Through an attorney Nick Gordon says he will not take legal action to see Brown but that quote, "he hopes to be reunited with her soon". Gordon was one of two people who reportedly found Brown facedown in a bathtub nearly two weeks ago.

Two journalists for al Jazeera are now free on bail after spending more than 400 days behind bars. The men plus a third colleague were convicted on charges they supported the banned Muslim Brotherhood which, as I said, was banned. Excuse me -- their colleague was freed and deported to his native Australia two weeks ago. The remaining two will face a retrial. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: A cease-fire is due to take effect in eastern Ukraine in just two days. But that's not stopping the guns or the bloodshed as pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces fight for every square inch of territory.

Caught in the crossfire, civilians including one mother who went to get her children a bathing towel and when she returned, a horrible scene awaited her.

I want to bring in CNN senior international correspondent Nick Paton Walsh. He's in Donetsk with more. Hi, Nick.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Carol -- a deeply traumatized family we saw early on today. Last night the town of Gorlovka not far from where I'm standing in separatist-held territory was hit by shelling. In fact, it was hit again by shelling when we were standing there looking at the ruins of the house where that family lost their three children as you just described. A terrifying scene, the bath torn to pieces -- the first time that family had had water for weeks.

They put the children in the bath to wash and as I said, the shell landed directly hitting the bathroom first. Parents in a back room and obviously the horrifying scene soon became visible to them. So shocking for that family -- terrifying; they were in trauma when we saw them earlier on.

That's repeated in many different areas across this part of separatist-held territory but also on the other side of Ukrainian lines too; both sides losing civilians to the artillery fire. It's not slowing down as far as we can hear. We saw troops moving around the area, a lot of focus on the fight for one town, Debal'tseve.

And Carol I should explain, this is a deeply important conflict. It seemed incremental in so many ways how the lines have changed. But we are hour's drive from Poland, from the European Union here. We're hours away from a key cease-fire which is looming. If it fails, the potential for escalation here is enormous.

And as we stand here at the moment, violence is not ebbing and there's a real sense on both sides that the hatred they feel for the other makes it perhaps unlikely that they will allow a cease-fire to take hold -- Carol.

COSTELLO: We'll see what happens on Sunday. Nick Paton Walsh, reporting live from Ukraine this morning.

President Obama is taking on cyber hackers. In a matter of moments, he'll be speaking at a cyber summit in California. Americans are on edge. Sony, Chase Bank, Target -- just three of the several high profile companies to be attacked. There's no way around it. Computer security has been compromised and officials want answers.

Dan Simon, live in San Francisco with more. Hi, Dan.

Ok, we're having technical problems. Dan can't hear me right now. Hopefully we'll get him after a break. I'll be back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: President Obama is taking on cyber hackers. In a few hours, the President will be speaking at a cyber summit in California. Americans are on edge -- Sony, Chase Bank, Target -- just three of the several high profile companies to be recently attacked. There's no way around it. Computer security has been compromised and officials want answers.

Dan Simon is live in San Francisco, and he really is this time, with a preview of the President's speech. Good morning -- Dan.

DAN SIMON, CNN SILICON VALLEY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. As we all know, we're constantly having to report one cyber attack after another and things are definitely not getting better with the Sony attack being Exhibit A.

The question is what can be done about it? Well, the whole purpose behind this gathering if you will is to try to bring tech with government officials -- tech CEOs. Will it make a difference though?

You know the President with this executive order that he's going to sign, he wants to encourage greater cooperation between Silicon Valley and government officials. And he wants the companies to cooperate with each other and share information.

We don't know if that's going to happen though because the companies have a lot of concerns when it comes to consumer privacies and the question is whether or not the cyber attackers are just going to figure out how to get around any safeguards that are put in place.

This is what White House spokesperson Josh Earnest said earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: What the federal government can do is actually play an important role in helping private sector industry do a better job of coordinating their efforts to improve the cyber defenses of all of their networks.

If we can set up and facilitate the ability of individual private companies to share information about the attacks that they're repelling, we can help other companies do the same thing in terms of steeling their defenses to protect the information and data they are holding on their network as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIMON: Well, you have Apple CEO Tim Cook. He's going to be joined by other CEOs from financial institutions like American Express, Visa and Mastercard -- people who have a real stake when it comes to cyber security.

But Carol, it's also notable who is not in attendance. Despite receiving invites CEO Mark Zuckerberg from Facebook, he's not here and Larry Page from Google not here as well. Some people have suggested that there's lingering tension between those executives and the White House when it comes to security in the wake of the Edward Snowden affair while others have downplayed that. But their absence is certainly raising a few eyebrows -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. And I'm sure you'll keep us posted. Dan Simon -- many thanks to you.

Checking some other top stories for you at 48 minutes past.

A 26-year-old North Carolina woman is the first of three Powerball winners to come forward and claim her share of a $560 million jackpot. Marie Holmes isn't planning to go on a shopping spree. The mother of four says she's going to set up trust funds for her kids, buy a new home and (inaudible) because as says she wouldn't have this if it weren't for God.

No love from Mother Nature this Valentine's Day weekend. A blizzard watch stretching from coastal Massachusetts up through Maine goes into effect tomorrow night through early Monday. That includes Boston, which has been hammered with more than 42 inches of snow since the start of the month making this the snowiest February on record.

Get your blindfolds and riding crops ready because this weekend is all about the red room of pain.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAKOTA JOHNSON, ACTOR: I don't know if I can be with him the way he needs me to.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: "50 Shades of Grey" hits theaters today and the hotly- anticipated film is expected to dominate at the box office this weekend.

It's hard to explain how beloved this story is. The book sold 100 million copies. The paperback version is the fastest selling book in history and this story has been translated into more than 50 languages.

Merchandise surrounding the movie is simply out of control. The Vermont Teddy Bear Company is offering a Christian Grey style teddy bear complete with blindfold and handcuffs. Target is offering a line of adult-themed products for fans who want -- well you know.

CNN correspondent Richard Roth spoke to a group of fans.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. Grey will see you now.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What was he like?

JOHNSON: He was polite.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello. I'm Mr. Grey. Mr. grey hair.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you have any interest outside of work?

ROTH: No, I would like to know more about you Miss Steel and how women are fantasizing about the movie release of "50 Shades of Grey".

LYSS STERN, CEO, DIVAMOMS.COM: Everybody that I know cannot wait to see the film.

SERGIO CANDELAS, AMC THEATERS: This movie is going to be big. It's going to be a big deal.

LAINIE GUTTERMAN: I even have my panties picked out.

ROTH: Groups of women are going together.

JODI OKUN ALFANO: -- with the dripping body, it just gives you the imagination and the sexy part of it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is going to be like "Sex and the City".

ROTH: But there's more than sex in "50 Shades", the movie.

KIM IBRICEVIC, EVE'S GARDEN: We're expecting a lot of this.

ROTH: The saga of Mr. Grey and Anastasia had also changed perceptions of s&m in the bedroom. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now, it's going to become much more mainstream.

It's going to be like, oh, everyone has a set of nipple clamps at home and everyone gets tied up and spanked.

ROTH: Most of the women I have pursued -- interviewed over the years disagree.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody kept saying this is mommy porn and this, you know, mom's that are horny and whatever it may be. It's not about that for us. For us, for women, for moms everywhere it's about a love story. That's what I truly believe we all got out of this book.

JAMIE DORNAN, ACTOR: What a pleasant surprise, Miss Steel.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He found where she worked.

ROTH: It never worked with me. I'm usually getting a restraining order.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It could be a little stalkerish if it wasn't somebody you like but the fact that he showed up there.

DORNAN: Do you stock cable ties?

JOHNSON: Cable ties. Yes, we do.

ROTH: Can I get some help here?

DORNAN: I can show you if you want.

THE STARK BROTHERS: Nobody ever speaks that breathlessly in a hardware store.

ROTH: So who do you bring to see "50 Shades"?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My husband might be a tad bit jealous of Christian Grey.

ROTH: Most men want to sit home waiting for next year's Super Bowl.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No interest.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not interested.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This doesn't interest me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I saw the preview. Oh man, amazing. I got to see that.

ROTH: May I then recommend this reclining seat I was shown in a Manhattan theater.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "50 Shades" bring it on.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, we're reclining -- the girls are reclining here in New York City on those amazing delicious chairs that are comfy and soft and just really going to be so fabulous.

ROTH: My name is Mr. Grey. Do you have anything for me?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some of this?

ROTH: Richard Grey -- Roth, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Thank you, Richard, I think.

It's not all fun though. Some feel this movie sends a confusing message about healthy sex. Others feel it promotes sexual violence.

So let's talk about this. I'm joined by clinical psychologist and certified sex therapist Judy Kuriansky and Chrissy Maier, the co- creator of Latersbaby.net, a "50 Shades of Grey" fan site and, of course, latersbaby is the way Christian signs his love notes to Anastasia.

Welcome to both of you.

JUDY KURIANSKY, CERTIFIED SEX THERAPIST: Thank you, Carol.

CHRISSY MAIER, LATERSBABY.NET: Good morning.

COSTELLO: Thanks for being here. Chrissy, is it safe to say you're obsessed with "50 Shades"?

MAIER: Yes, that would be accurate.

COSTELLO: Why did you start your Web site?

MAIER: I talked my friend into reading the book. And then after we were talking about it a lot and I said why don't we just start a Web site. We can get to know more people, talk to more people and make more friends that we can talk to and get more ideas.

COSTELLO: The movie opens tonight. Do you plan to go with a whole bunch of friends?

MAIER: I actually got to see it last night with a bunch of friends I met through the site.

COSTELLO: And?

MAIER: We loved it. We all loved it.

COSTELLO: You all loved it. Ok. So Judy, 100 million copies of "50 Shades" sold around the world. What is it about bondage, discipline, submission and masochism that strikes a cord with so many women?

KURIANSKY: Well, it's very depressing to me that this is being promoted as a Valentine story. As you even said Carol in the beginning, get out your whips and chains for Valentine's Day? This is a day about love and about cuddling and about being told you're beautiful and not to be manipulated.

What is it about it that you just ask? It's that women have this desire sometimes to be dominated and to let themselves have the man take control and this is an old story unfortunately.

Chrissy was just saying it's fun. But to me I think it could be very dangerous to take a man to this movie and especially for a young girl to go to this movie who is a virgin and to see that this is what relationships are about. It should be about intimacy and love and not about whips and chains.

COSTELLO: And Chrissy, I think that part of the problem some people have with the movie is this young woman agrees to have sex she's really not sure about or that causes her pain in order for this man to continue to love her. What message do you take away from it?

MAIER: Well, first of all, it's important to say it's fictional and everybody that I know who has read it can really differentiate that. It's a story and it's not real life. It also can be a setup for conversations about what your own boundaries are and what you're interested in and not interested in doing. And having those conversations with other people -- you can help define your own boundaries going forward.

COSTELLO: Let's talk about boundaries Judy because I'm not sure that some young people understand boundaries. We're having such a huge problem with sexual violence on campuses across the country.

KURIANSKY: Exactly. I'm so upset because having been on the radio for so many years talking to young people and knowing what college girls but also what many younger girls are learning, they're doing such really unpleasant things and allowing themselves to be subjugated performing on boys and being angry instead of being loving and I think the messages are very dangerous.

I think parents should be very careful about their young girls going to see a film like this and seeing, thinking that maybe this is normal. This is what love should be about. Certainly not for your first sexual experience -- the girl in the film and in the book is a virgin. To have this kind of introduction to love and relationships that's based on dominance and control sends a bad message for young girls.

COSTELLO: So Chrissy I would say that young girls have a whole different feeling about this movie than Judy does, right? Is it a generational thing? Doesn't Judy have a right to be concerned?

MAIER: You know, it's fair to be concerned. There are some people -- young people and old people -- who have unhealthy expectations in a relationship. Part of it is also, you know, I know plenty of young people who seem to have very healthy boundaries and understanding what a relationship should be.

Part of it is just opening a conversation that was not here five years ago. And that may start the change in understanding where we should be with relationships and what's healthy and not healthy. (CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: I have to end it there unfortunately. Thanks to you both. Judy Kuriansky, Chrissy Maier -- I appreciate it.

MAIER: Thank you -- Carol.

COSTELLO: If dating wasn't already terrifying enough, one stunt driver is giving her suitors quite the thrill. Here's Jeanne Moos.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was billed as speed dating but then they pulled a fast one. Let's slow down and back up. Ford wanted to advertise their 2015 Mustang so they rigged one up with cameras and hired an attractive blonde professional stunt driver to pretend to go on blind dates.

The unsuspecting guys thought they were auditioning for a reality dating show. Once in the car, driving school pro, Preston Pearson (ph) acted as if she barely knew how to drive a stick shift.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think you might want to shift.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me drive it. I'll show you what this thing can do.

MOOS: Then she showed him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, baby.

MOOS: Director of the spot Chris Groove (ph) said she hit 80 or 90 miles an hour in the empty lot and then slammed on the brakes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She did ask a couple of guys if they were going to be sick.

MOOS: Online skeptics say faked, stage, the guys are in on it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is real.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was 100 percent not fake.

MOOS: So says our ninja, Tyson Pfeiffer. What was Damien Turner thinking?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was just, like, this woman might be crazy.

MOOS: And then she revealed all.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get out of here car.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm a professional stunt driver.

MOOS: Damian is an actor. The only acting he said he was doing here was pretending not to be scared. As for the blind date -- UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Probably one of the best dates I've been on. I

should have proposed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd do a second date but I need to drive this car.

MOOS: Don't count on Preston giving up the wheel.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If I ever in my life, ever -- which I know I wouldn't do this -- but rob a bank, I was like, I need her to be the driver. Stay in the car baby. Keep it running.

MOOS: The Bonnie and Clyde of speed demon dating.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: That was one maniacal laugh.

Thank you for joining me today. I'm Carol Costello.

Another hour of NEWSROOM straight ahead.