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Murder Mystery in Rich D.C. Neighborhood; Protesters in Baltimore Marching to Police Union Headquarters; Republican Senator and White House Hopeful Rand Paul Filibustering Patriot Act; Former NFL Star Aaron Hernandez Now in Prison; Report Out Today Regarding Sexual Violence on College Campuses. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired May 20, 2015 - 15:30   ET

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

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[15:31:15] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: Breaking news out of our nation's capital. We're now hearing, according to investigators, possible news as far as the motive is concerned in the brutal murders at this mansion in Washington, D.C. Investigators say it was about money.

Our justice correspondent Pamela Brown joins me with more details.

You are talking to your sources, Pam. What are they saying exactly?

PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, here's what we're learning, Brooke. This has been a disturbing really perplexing murder mystery that happened in this rich D.C. neighborhood not far from where the vice president lives. And now we're learning that investigators believe money was a prime motivation whoever perpetrated this quadruple homicide inside this mansion last week that was also (INAUDIBLE). In fact, one source I spoke with says, you know, whoever was in that house was looking for money.

And we're learning from a separate law enforcement source, Brooke, that the assailants actually got away, the assailant or assailants I should say, because we don't know if it was one or more people, they got away with $40,000 apparently. So they believe that the perpetrator was holding up the Savopoulos family, the parents or 10- year-old son and their housekeeper and that they got away with $40,000.

Now the "Washington Post" and WRC, a local NBC station in D.C., are reporting that while the incident was going on, while the hostages were bound inside the home, that someone dropped off a package with $40,000 inside. So investigators believe as well, Brooke, that the four victims who died in that mansion last week were killed prior to the house being set ablaze. So we know while all of this was unfolding, apparently someone dropped off $40,000 and then the assailant or assailants took off with that.

Another source I spoke to, Brooke, says that they were bound with duct tape and held captive. There were also signs of torture to at least one of the victims. Really horrific stuff, Brooke. But we know that the autopsy report is also complete. So, of course, we hope to have a better picture of what happened here soon. I can tell you it has really shaken up not only that neighborhood, but really, the entire nation's capital, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Quickly, Pamela, I mean, I know so far we heard, what, no suspect, maybe a person of interest? Where does that stand?

BROWN: Right. So we know that there is one person of interest right now that D.C. police are sort of publicly talking about. That is someone who we see in this grainy surveillance video walking away. So we only see the back and he's holding something. We can't really tell what it is. Of course you would wonder if that is the $40,000 that we were just talking about.

And then we also know that there was a Porsche , the family's Porsche, they believe driven by this person of interest to Maryland which is about 15 miles away and was then set ablaze in broad daylight. So whoever did this of course was very brazen. So I can tell that you police aren't just focusing on the home, they're also focusing on that area where the car was set on fire, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Pamela Brown, thank you so much.

BROWN: Thank you.

BALDWIN: Not too far from D.C., I want to go to Baltimore because protesters there, they are marching to the headquarters of the city's police union. This is all part of the hold the police accountable rally today due to, you know, sort of in-depth right in front of the fraternal order of police. This all comes one month and a day after 25--year-old Freddie Gray died in police custody. Six officers have been criminally charged here.

CNN's Miguel Marquez is live in Baltimore.

And Miguel, tell me, you're walking with the folks, tell me what exactly are they saying?

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, this is Julie Hill (ph) Park Avenue. It is a very busy road here. Just turn around here, if you would, jay, and see this is what we're marching down right now. They are trying to gather more protesters as they walk through the streets here of Baltimore. We come back around and look at the rest of the protesters, as they try to gain more strength before they go to the fraternal order of police, the police union. The police union has been very, very active in supporting the police officers and the people here say they want to be just as active in knowing that -- letting the police know that they will hold them to account through this entire process. This is (INAUDIBLE) one of the organizers of this. Why are you guys out here?

[15:36:24] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're out here to make sure that Marilyn Mosby stays on the case so that we can get a fair trial. We believe she is done a great job at bringing up the indictments. We're also out here to bring attention to the attacks and violence that have happened on communities of color by police. And Baltimore will lawful for Freddie Gray. MARQUEZ: And how important is it to take it why to take it to the

fraternal order of police? Why target that particular organization?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's important to target FOP because they haven't been culpable in their actions, right? We want to make sure that folks are held accountable. We congratulate those police officers who have done great work in the community. We know that some of those exist. But there is a system that is broken, that hasn't been serving our communities. And that is why we are here out door. Baltimore has a lot of rebuilding to do from youth jobs, education and police brutality. And right now, we want to solidify and stand in solidarity around that.

MARQUEZ: And blocking traffic one of those things to prove to the city?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, absolutely. The people are in control of the city and we don't want Freddie Gray's legacy to be in vein, right? That this is going to be one time moment and we really want to capitalize this is a movement. So we hope that we will get that.

MARQUEZ: All right. And the honking you hear there, Brooke, is honks of support for these protesters. This is a very big avenue that we are on right now. So it is a little concerning. But they are trying to gather as much strength before they head down to FOP. And protesters that I have spoken to, not just with this group but in others, they say that they will continue the pressure. There is already another protest planned for Saturday. They say they are going to try to do these every day at least several times a week -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: OK. Miguel, please as your friend, watch where you're walking. I don't like how close are you to some of those cars. But let me stay with you because we know - I love you, this is why I am saying this to you and folks who are with you. But as far as the six officers who are charged, what is next for them? Do we know what is next in the legal process?

MARQUEZ: Well, we know on the 27th they will have their first hearing. And at that point I think we'll have a better sense of what will happen with each of those individual charges. The other thing that we're waiting for is the report from the medical examiner, the full report which we have not seen. They keep promising. So that is the next big thing ahead, Brooke.

BALDWIN: All right. Thank you, Miguel Marquez in Baltimore, walking along with those demonstrators.

Next to Capitol Hill, we have Republican senator and White House hopeful Rand Paul who is still talking here on the Senate floor, debating, discussing the patriot act. He says he's filibustering perhaps technically he's not.

Athena Jones is watching this go down on Capitol Hill.

Athena Jones, we check in again. He's still speaking. Can you tell me what he's talking about, why he's doing this? ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Brooke. Well, he's been

speaking now for more than two hours. He took to the floor at 1:18 p.m. His office says he is going to speak until he can no longer speak. If he speaks all night, he will still have to give up the floor tomorrow by 1:00 p.m. because of Senate rules, though. That's when the next day convenes at 12:00. He has to give up the floor after an hour. But the bottom line is whether or not you call it a filibuster, he calls it a filibuster, a lot of folks are saying it isn't technically a filibuster because and he is not actually blocking a vote on the NSA bill that he opposes. Right now the Senate is debating trade. But he's taken to the floor to make clear his opposition to any extension of this session of the patriot act that allows national security agency to have access to Americans' phone record, bulk collections of phone records. He wants to see big reforms to that law.

So he is on the floor now. His office says he is going to speak until he can no longer stand. He's also, of course, trying to get even more attention for it by sending out emails to supporters fund raising emails asking for donations and saying, you know, I will not rest, I will not back down, I won't yield one inch this this fight. He said, you know, fellow conservative liberty cannot long last without privacy from government intrusion. Yet it seems many of my colleagues here in the Senate care more about getting out of town for the Memorial Day break than protecting the constitution so many American patriots have fought and died for. I have news for them, they are going nowhere.

So that is the message he's sending to his supporters in this fund raising email asking for donations of $10, $25 and more trying to draw attention to this issue. But he does have to stop by 1:00 p.m. tomorrow -- Brooke.

[15:34:52] BALDWIN: That's still a little ways away. Athena Jones, we've seen him do this before, 13 hours. So there you go.

Athena, thank you so much in Washington.

Next, crowds are gathering right now outside the legendary Ed Sullivan Theater for David Letterman's final show tonight. Say it isn't so. It is. We'll talk with one of his long time guests right after this quick break. Stay here.

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[15:44:28] BALDWIN: It is Letterman's final encore, the late night talk show host, his last "Late Show." It is hours away. Producers promise, quote, "all kinds of stuff planned." And there will be lots of quote-unquote "emotional and facts surprises." You get it.

Joining me now, Emmy award-winning actor and Sirius radio show host and our friend here at CNN, Jay Thomas.

Jay Thomas, I see you amidst all the flutter of activity. Hey, how are you doing?

JAY THOMAS, EMMY AWARD-WINNING: I'm doing good. It is, you know, to be honest, there is a lot of sadness that I see people talking about, but this is a happy occasion. I mean, you know, he looks tired, you know. He needs to quit. It's over. Time to go. No one is saying that, time to go.

[15:45:06] BALDWIN: You can tell me about your first appearance on the show and what that was like for you and how Dave was?

THOMAS: You know, I was on a show called love and War on CBS. And I guess he probably had me on because to promote the show. I don't know if he knew much about me -- maybe he did. He knew me from radio or something. And then there he is and he's really tall. And you don't meet him before. And you sit down and you had heard all these things about him, you know, and for some reason, because maybe I'm really sarcastic and kind of a caustic guy --

BALDWIN: What, you are? Get out of here.

THOMAS: Yes. We got along right away. And that was, what, 21 years ago or something. And then a few years passed. I was on two or three times a year. Then all of a sudden the football thing and then the lone ranger story started. I don't know a thing about the guy. Nobody goes to dinner with him. And I figure then, you know, what is going to happen tomorrow he'll be miserable. He will be miserable, you know. He'll be home with his family. It is miserable.

BALDWIN: No, seriously. I mean, he is 11 year old. It seems like that's everything to him. But - hold on. I want to come back to your saying, he will be miserable. And I want to challenge you on that. But it is interesting, we read the paper this morning and hearing about how many times like Howard Stern's been on the show, and he loves Julia Roberts, but you know, piece in the paper, Julia Roberts saying, you know, I've been on the show 20 some time, I've never hung out with the guy outside the studio. Why is that?

THOMAS: I have though (ph). He's probably boring. We probably wouldn't even want to be with him. Maybe he just sits there. I don't know. I don't know why comedians or actors are like that, but they are. And I don't understand it. How do you get in the business and not be a big mouth like me. I really don't know how that works. But apparently it's worked a lot better for some other people. But maybe he would be boring. Maybe he'd just sit there and you'd be going, you know, this is boring. I don't know.

BALDWIN: I keep thinking you're messing with me.

THOMAS: No, I'm not. Why would you think he's exciting? He doesn't like to go out at night, I mean. You know me, I like to go out. I like to have a cocktail and talk to people and stuff. He probably would hate being in that situation. There are a lot of these entertainers, you know, there are a lot of people in this business that are not like they are on television or in the movies. And that is the enigma of the thing, you know. What is all that. I don't understand it. I don't know.

(CROSSTALK) BALDWIN: I know you're all in line. I know he tapes in just a little bit and I know it's very hard to get anything confirmed tonight. I know the foo fighters will be performing. What do you expect when you step foot inside that theater, what do you expect to see, to hear, to feel?

THOMAS: Well, first of all, you know, just normal people. They went online, they had to answer some crazy questions about who is the costumer and stuff. There is no executives. There is no movie stars. So he's held to that. It's just regular folk who had to win a lottery online to get in there which is kind of cool. You're not going to see any movie stars sitting in the crowd. I've got to think Jay Leno is in there. I really do.

BALDWIN: Do you think?

THOMAS: Maybe Angelina Jolie. Yes, I would imagine Jay Leno. I mean that would be cool, wouldn't it? I mean, bury the hatchet or whatever the nonsense is, which probably isn't even true. But, yes, I would think Jay Leno would be the big guest. At least they must have tried to get him. Had to. Yes, that's my call.

BALDWIN: He fills the job that he wanted. That would be interesting if he is.

Jay Thomas, enjoy it. I'm jealous.

THOMAS: Can I be honest with you? Wait a second.

BALDWIN: Go! Go! Go!

THOMAS: He's not the happy I'm here. He's not happy I'm here. Because I'm saying you'll be miserable at home and you shouldn't have retired. And you should go off and do producing and you should -- you make another announcement, you know, be something or other. You know, interview other people or whatever. But don't look so sad about leaving. And I mean that. I mean he's had a great career. He got a ton of money. You know, his family is waiting for him, you know. It should be a more joyous time. People are making this kind of sad. Listen to those drunks. OK?

BALDWIN: OK. Well, I'm going to let you hang with them. I'm going to say thank you to our friend here, Jay Thomas. Thank you so much. Enjoy it. I have a feeling this is not the last of David Letterman for all of us.

Coming - actually right now, let's go to Baltimore. Let's go to Baltimore, to Miguel Marquez, who is in t midst of what is happening. We were just talking to you, Miguel, and they wanted me on come back to you. What is happening where you are?

[15:49:58] MARQUEZ: Just a stressful moments here. They were (INAUDIBLE) drive. It is a major intersection. And you saw the traffic and they made - now hook up to 28th Street here. And right here, that is the 83, both north and south bound. Police here trying to stop them. A very heavy police presence try to stop them, getting on the freeway. Afraid that they will try to get on that freeway and disrupt things. I can show you that head of us, so you can see that there are some police up ahead of us as well.

The police presence has started to tick up here. We haven't seen any police in this protest so far until very recently. They have now been sort of moving out ahead of the protesters, trying to keep them in certain lanes. But the protesters became very upset when police tried to stop them back at the head of this on-ramp to 28th street here because the police didn't want them to come down this way. They thought they were going to try to get on to 83. But at this point, that is going down to 28th street and continue on police units, but very, very tense moments. No arrests, but very, very tense moments -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: OK, Miguel, we are going to come back to you. This is the hold the police accountable rally supposed to end in front of the fraternal order police, the headquarters there in Baltimore. Quick break. We'll be right back with Miguel.

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[15:53:13] BALDWIN: All right, we know that former NFL star Aaron Hernandez is now in prison just for a little while. He is being convicted of first degree murder. And we have already learned of some kind of involvement with a prison fight.

Larry Levin, former federal inmate, you know, we always like to talk about, you know, incarceration, what happens behind bars. And so, when you hear about this with Aaron Hernandez, and I talked to a sheriff, he knew him quite well for a year and a half. He kept talking about his ability to charm and (INAUDIBLE). And he saw, you know, prison time, its training camp, what do you make of the fact that he apparently was the lookout guy for this prison fight?

LARRY LEVINE, FORMER FEDERAL INMATE: Well, everybody suspects he's in a gang, some kind of gang. And all the gangs have shot-callers on the inside. So it's highly possible that the shot-caller ordered him to act as a lookout. He may not have had a choice. And these lookouts are common. And the assault, it could have been related possibly to a gambling debt, a drug payment, simple disrespect, or maybe homosexual sex. You never know what happens in one of these places. And it's best for a fight to place inside of a cell because that way, the violence, it doesn't spill over into the general population, then the whole institution can jump off.

BALDWIN: Here's the question, sorry, but on the general population notion, you know, we weren't sure if he would be separated or not. And know, apparently, after this whole thing happen, we was sit to quote-unquote "special management," Larry. This is particular section of the prison. What does that mean?

LEVINE: Special management unit, it is the shield, the special housing unit where he's on a 23-hour lockdown, he is not going to get any visits, limited use of the telephone. He is isolated. Right now, the special investigated section, they're doing an investigation. And they're going to take him to a disciplinary hearing. Could take 24 to 72 hours. And they're going to present the evidence that is against him. And he'll have an opportunity to rebut it. And he may lose his visits for a long period of time. He may lose commissary. He may lose the ability to have a job, something. They are going to isolate him. He will be sanctioned in one way or another.

[15:55:36] BALDWIN: But this is the kind of thing where kind of travels fast in a prison and other inmates find out it was Aaron Hernandez who is the lookout guy who helped with this fight and is that seen as -- is that looked on, I don't know how to say this, with approving eyes?

LEVINE: Well, he's a stand-up guy, probably -- well, stand-up guy as far as --

BALDWIN: Stand-up guy -- OK. Thank you.

LEVINE: It's the killer, an inmate, he probably -- nobody in the institution as far as inmates are talking. Even the person that got assaulted, they're not going to give up the people that beat him up. He's the lookout. He's going to say he wasn't the lookout. Everybody's going to keep their mouth shut. But right now, they've probably locked that entire institution down because word will travel out of the special management unit and out of his cell block that this took place. And we don't know if it was racially motivated between blacks, Hispanics or whatever. And then they may actually turn the telephones off because they don't want inmates calling home telling their family what happened and then it spreads to other institutions, like in California when they have a problem at pelican bay or San Quentin, that gets out, it can jump across the entire system. And you have massive violence.

BALDWIN: OK. That is crazy, one phone call could do that. Larry Levine, thank you.

LEVINE: Certainly.

MARQUEZ: And now to this new report out today, shedding even more light on sexual violence on college campuses. In this new report, 19 percent of freshmen women at a large unnamed private university in upstate New York say they were the victims of rape or attempted rape during their first year of school. That is one in five women. That number is in line with other reports outlining the prevalence of rape on campuses.

I got CNN digital correspondent Kelly Wallace. She is with me. She wrote this entire piece for CNN.com.

So, you know, when you see the one in five and this is just this one particular unnamed campus, is that reflective of other campuses nationwide? You put these numbers.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN DIGITAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. Obviously, you could have regional differences, right? You could have cultural differences. The lead author said, you know, what happens in New York might not be the same thing that happens, let's say, in a school in Arizona. But what she said if there is other research out there that backing this number which is leading people to think obviously something serious is going on and that possibly nearly one in five women are saying they've been a victim of either an attempted or completed rape. That is a disturbing number.

BALDWIN: We've heard this what, from the president before. He says one in four, one in five. But that statistic has been called into question.

WALLACE: It has. It stems from the 2007 study done for the department of justice. And the criticism of the study is that it was limited. It was just two schools. And this current study is just one school.

But that study had a broader definition of sexual assault. It included unwanted kissing and touching. And some would say that's not sexual assault. Some women would beg to differ. But what's really kind of surprising here, this studies a much narrow definition. It doesn't include unwanted touching and ponding. It doesn't even include verbal pressure for sex. It includes use of force, attempted use of force or incapacitation due to drugs or alcohol. That is pretty alarming.

BALDWIN: In 60 seconds I have left, and we've talked a lot about this and I worry about what happened to UVA with regard to that incredibly erroneous, you know, "Rolling Stone" report. But, you know, then you have the gal who was carrying the mattress around here at New York in Columbia University in New York. And we talk about cultural changes that are so totally necessary. How do you change a culture that's been so in the fiber of these schools for so long?

WALLACE: The million-dollar question. I think research like this continues to add to the awareness and also raises the question of having these conversations with men and women --

BALDWIN: Men and women.

WALLACE: Happening earlier and earlier, Brooke. This study also found that 28 percent of the women said that they had been a victim of attempted or completed rape before they even got to college. That means we must be having a conversation about relationships, what is consent, it should be enthusiasm, don't just settle for consent. And also drinking excessive amounts of alcohol clearly not a good idea and puts yourself at risk.

BALDWIN: It is an important piece. Kelly Wallace wrote it up. CNN.com is where you go to find it. Thank you, my friend, so much. Kelly Wallace, with me.

And that's all the time I have for you. I'm Brooke Baldwin here in New York. You know where to find me this time tomorrow. In the meantime, "the LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts now.