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Four Americans Being Held in Iran; FIFA Pres. Sepp Blatter Steps Down; Bikers Lash Out; Adiran Peterson Back with the Vikings. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired June 03, 2015 - 09:30   ET

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

[09:30:00] CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Four Americans being held in Iran right now justice negotiators seek to expand ties with Iran through a historic nuclear agreement. U.S. marines Amir Hekmati, Pastor Saeed Abedini, contractor Bob Levinson and Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian. Jason's brother Ali joins me now.

Welcome, thanks for being with me this morning.

ALI REZAIAN, BROTHER OF AMERICAN DETAINED IN IRAN: Thank you for having me.

COSTELLO: What was it like to testify with other family members?

REZAIAN: I mean, I think the whole process is unnerving, being there with the family, other family members was really very emotional. Hearing their stories in so much detail and sitting there, but I think it was really encouraging to hear from the congressman. They were all in unanimity. There was so much support, bipartisan support for all of us. It was -- that was pretty moving as well. We know that there was support there, we're excited.

COSTELLO: Have heard from your brother at all or talked with Iranian officials in any way?

REZAIAN: You know, the Iranians won't speak with me in country, my sister-in-law and mother have been able to speak with the judge and that's about it. My mom is in Iran right now and she's been there for three weeks, since she's been there she's been able to see him twice. She spoke to him on the phone the other day as well.

COSTELLO: How is he doing?

REZAIAN: You know, I think that he feels like things are moving a little bit now that this trial started. He's not an illegal limbo they held them in for months and months. But you know, he knows he's innocent and he wants a chance to prove it. His lawyer has been aggressively pursuing his defense, and that's what he wants. So you know, we all just hope that this can get worked out and the truth can come out.

COSTELLO: Is he actually in the courtroom?

REZAIAN: So he has his first day in court after 304 days -- 310 days last week, on Tuesday for two hours. We will go back to court, we have been told,

next Monday will be his second day in court.

COSTELLO: Negotiations for the release going on, on the sidelines of these nuclear talks, and maybe I didn't put those questions well. But should the Americans be detained in Iran be tied to those nuclear negotiations?

REZAIAN: You know, I think that -- I don't know a lot about diplomacy or politics, what I just want is my brother to come out. What I know is I don't want Jason to be tied to something that is not of his control. He didn't start the negotiations. We don't know where the negotiations are going to go over the course of the next few weeks or months. They've had a history of delaying them in the past.

Now, here six months later from the original deadline, so I want him to be able to look at the facts of his. And not be held based on those -- the deal or no deal.

COSTELLO: And you know, semantics also played an important role when you're talking about a political situations. So you know, all these Americans detained? Have they been taken hostage? I want to play something for our audience that Congressman Meadow said. The congressman compares this to Iranian hostage situation during Jimmy Carter's presidency, let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK MEADOWS, NEW JERSEY: In the late 70s there were thugs and terrorist that took hostages. And they wore ski mask and dark clothing and the only difference today is that the terrorist and thugs wears suits and give the illusion of being international diplomat. And that is not the case.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: What do you think about that Ali?

REZAIAN: Well, I mean, I think as you point out, you know, there are questions about semantics. In Jason's case you know, he was detained at some point he was arrested, he's in a legal process. That has been treated illegally, and the Iranians have not followed their own laws, they haven't followed the international commitments that they have in terms of what the congressman was saying, you know, I appreciate everybody's support for Jason.

And I think really the most important thing is that Jason and the other families are out, and I am not worried about what they call him I'm just worried of him coming home.

COSTELLO: I can understand that Ali Rezaian, thank you so much for being with me this morning I appreciate it.

REZAIAN: Thanks so much for having me, Carol.

COSTELLO: You're welcome. Still to come in the NEWSROOM, the world soccer chief kicks itself out of the organization in the middle of a corruption scandal. The question is, why?

Plus we're hearing from some of the bikers jailed after that deadly shoot out in Waco, Texas. Why they are calling out police.

[09:35:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: In a stunning 180-degree reversal, FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, is announced he is stepping down.

SEPP BLATTER, FIFA PRESIDENT: I was going to put my presidency forward to especial elected congress the date of which a new president can be chosen for the presidency to succeed me.

COSTELLO: Just a fancy swanky way to say he is leaving. So why four days ago did Blatter tell one Swiss television station says this, quote, why would I step down? That would mean I recognize that I did wrongdoing. Blatter's resignation comes amid sweeping corruption allegations against him and at the very highest levels of the soccer organization he ran.

CNN's sports analyst, Christine Breman has a sneaking suspicion about all of this. She joins me this morning, good morning.

CHRSTINE BREMAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYST: Good morning Carol.

[09:40:00] COSTELLO: So why the 180, do you think?

BREMAN: I think the feds are closing in on him and he knows it. It's really stunning. I mean, this is a man with the ultimate power in sports. You know, to run the most popular game in the nation, in the world. He is a God. I mean, he teaches us his ultimate power and to give it up four days after being re-elected for a fifth term.

Carol, it is stunning, and it tells us that he knew he had to know about what was going on in the most corrupt organization is sports history. He is the ring leader for all these years since 1988, he had to know and I think that's what his resignation tells us.

COSTELLO: OK. So perhaps this is telling as well. The U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, I think she's in (inaudible) and I think she gave, a news conference and reporters asked her whether Blatter was under investigation, and she wouldn't talk about that. So that sort of says it all, doesn't it, her silence?

BREMAN: It will -- it does, there's a couple of news organizations, Carol that's saying that he is in fact being investigated. USA Today, are saying he is not. Our sources are telling us he is not ruled out, they are not ruling him out. I think that means they are ruling him in.

Again, logic tells us this man running this organization that is now corrupt to the core allegedly as we're finding out, over $150 million in bribes and kickbacks so far, that's what the U.S. authorities have found out. How could he not know? That's -- I think that's what we have to use, the common sense that we have, to say, of course he knew and I think that's what he had to resign over because the reality is I think they are going to be able to come and get him.

COSTELLO: OK. So the future? Who is the next guy?

BREMAN: Well, it will be a guy. This is a sport with about zero woman in charge which is ridiculous for the 21st century, a sport that woman play around the world. They need to get more women, they need to get more 21st century leaders, younger leaders. They basically need to blow the thing up and start over, Carol that's what they need to do at FIFA.

But Michel Platini, is in charge of the European Soccer Federation. It's likely that she will be one of the frontrunners going into the election which will come either December, January, February in that time period.

COSTELLO: OK. Christine Breman, thanks for joining me this morning. I appreciate it.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, after the shoot-out, bikers involved in the deadly Texas brawl are lashing out. Ed Lavandera just talked with them.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. In the last few days some of these bikers have been quietly released from jail and they are talking, and what they have to say is very interesting. We will have that story coming up next.

[09:45:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Today bikers involved in the deadly Texas brawl are lashing out. Nearly three weeks after the shoot-out that left nine people dead, those arrested are now accusing police are overreacting saying they were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. You remember this seeing the bikers lined up and rose hundreds of weapons, police were hauling 177 bikers to jail, most were held for $1 million bond. Well, now, a few of them bonded out and CNN's, Ed Lavandera just talked to them. He is in Waco, Texas, this morning. Good morning, Ed.

LAVANDERA: Good morning, Carol, you know, if you remember police said that many of the bikers had come to the Twin Peaks restaurant looking for trouble. But the bikers we spoken with has been released this week say that couldn't be farther from the truth.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAVANDERA (voice-over): This epic bounty of mug shot tells the story of a wild Texas shoot out, nine people killed, 177 motorcycle riders arrested after the rampage at the Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco. Police rounded up the bikers and charged them with organized criminal activity and set bonds at a staggering $1 million. One of those arrested was Matt Clendennen. We spoke with him by phone as he sat in jail more than two weeks later.

MATT CLENDENNEN, ARRESTED BIKER: I committed no crime, I did nothing wrong, I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. LAVANDERA: The next day, Clendennen walked out of jail.

Matt?

CLENDENNEN: Yes, I'm Matt.

LAVANDERA: Hey, Matt, Ed.

CLENDENNEN: Good to meet you.

LAVANDERA: Good to meet you.

He and at least 15 other bikers had their bonds reduced and have been quietly released from jail in the last few days. But the stories Clendennen and some other bikers tell us raise serious questions about why they were arrested, and many are calling the mass arrest a gross overreaction by police.

CLENDENNEN: I don't think they knew what to do. I think they were in completely clueless as to what to do. I am one of the first ones to get out. There's still 100 -- you know, well over 150 people in there. How long are they going to be here? How many of those guys don't have the ability to post these outrageous bonds?

You know, so that they could go back to work and then provide for their family I had to post $100,000 bond to get out of here. And it's just outrageous, you know, there's families that are suffering.

LAVANDERA: He is not the only one. William and Morgan English got out on bond this week, too. The couple says they were innocent bystanders.

MORGAN ENGLISH, ARRESTED BIKER: I can't understand in my head, what did I do wrong? What did we do wrong? Why were we being held like this? Why is there a $1 million bond? Why? Am I saying I'm a hard core criminal. None of it made sense.

LAVANDERA: Matt Clendennen says, he belonged to a biker's club, called the Scimitars. He says, he was sitting with biker friends unarmed when an argument erupted in the Twin Peaks parking lot. Moments later, he says, chaos erupted.

What did you do?

CLENDENNEN: I ran inside, run into a side door, run into a hallway to the bathroom trying to get any form of cover I could. It was absolutely insane. Just the -- it seemed like it went on and on and on.

[09:50:00] LAVANDERA: Police describe the bikers as vicious criminals and say they recovered more than 300 weapons at the crime scene.

PATRICK SWANSON, WACO POLICE: They are not here to drink beer and eat barbecue, and they came with violence in mind and we are ready for it.

LAVANDERA: Clendennen hid inside the restaurant until the shooting stopped. He says, he didn't have any weapons on him and did not fight with anyone. He says, he gave statements to the police about what he saw.

Was being criminally charged in the back of your mind, did you think it's going to be possible?

CLENDENNEN: No. I didn't know what they could charge us with. I didn't understand what I could be charged with. You know, what can -- what criminal charge can you put on somebody who has done nothing wrong?

LAVANDERA: 36 hours later he's says in the middle of the night, in a jail room with about 30 other bikers when a judge breaks the news that he's not going anywhere and they're all read their rights.

CLENDENNEN: I was in total disbelief.

LAVANDERA: Did you look around? Did you look on people's faces?

CLENDENNEN: It was just -- it was silence. You know, everybody was in shock.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAVANDERA (on camera): And Carol, Waco police say that they stand by their investigation, that the investigation is ongoing and that everything in the justice system is working the way it's supposed to and they will not respond to any allegations from people that they had probable cause to arrest in this case.

COSTELLO: So what is Matt charged with?

LAVANDERA: He's charged with organized criminal activity. And originally, his bond was set at a million dollars. But throughout the week there have been a series of bond hearings for several of these bikers and at least 15 of them have been released so far and had their bond reduced. As you heard one of the bikers there talked about his bond was reduced to $100,000 which still is going to cost him $10,000 and these are bikers who insist that they were unarmed, they did not go there that day looking for any kind of trouble and they were overwhelmed by the violence of that situation and that day as well. And that they should not have been gathered up and arrested in that mass arrest.

COSTELLO: All right. Ed Lavandera live from Waco, Texas, this morning. Thank you.

Checking other top stories for you at 51 minutes passed. Right now, rescue officials begin cutting a hole in the bottom of this overturned ship. Crews desperately searching for survivors in this Chinese river. The cruise ship capsized late Monday during a storm. Rescuers found another survivor overnight but more than 400 people are still unaccounted for. In all crews have rescued 14 people. 26 bodies have been recovered.

Heart stopping video showing the moment an Amtrak train crashed into a car. The driver apparently trying to beat the train across the track and not make it in time. The car was sliced in half. Incredibly nobody inside the car was seriously hurt.

Somebody was watching over them. Still to come in the NEWSROOM, for the first time in nearly nine months, Adrian Peterson is back on the field with the Minnesota Vikings.

CNN's Andy Scholes is following this for us this morning. Good morning.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. Adrian Peterson has served his suspension and has worked out his differences with the Vikings. We'll hear what he has to say about finally getting back on the field when NEWSROOM continues.

[09:55:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Running back Adrian Peterson is back with the Minnesota Vikings. Peterson thought about retiring when he was suspended from the Vikings last season. And for part of this off season as you remember, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for hitting his 4-year- old son with a wooden switch to discipline him.

Andy Scholes joins us now to tell us more about his homecoming, I guess.

SCHOLES: Good morning, Carol. Peterson was away from the Vikings for nearly nine months while dealing with his legal issues. And you know, it wasn't clear if we would see him in a Vikings uniform again all off season. Adrian Peterson agent have been demanding a trade, Peterson himself said he didn't think the Vikings showed him enough support while he was suspended. But recently the two sides worked things out.

Yesterday for the first time since September 12th, hard to believe it's been that long, but Peterson put that Vikings jersey back on and practiced with the team during their OTAs and the former MVP has completed all of his counseling requirements after pleading no contest to misdemeanor reckless assault and Peterson says he's sorry for what's happened over the last year.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIIP)

ADRIAN PETERSON, MINNESOTA VIKINGS: The first person I apologized to was my son. And that was initially -- that was right after the situation took place when I realized what had happened. I've learned a lot from my mistake. And I'm moving forward. You know, I'm focused on what's in front of me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: There were a ton of rumors that Peterson would end up on another team, most notably the Dallas Cowboys but Viking's coach Mike Zimmer, he said they never considered trading him Carol and he is going to be a Viking this season.

COSTELLO: All right. Andy Scholes reporting live for us this morning. Thanks so much. The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO (voice-over): Happening now in the NEWSROOM, American Jihadi?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We believed he was a threat.

COSTELLO: Officers shoot and kill a terror suspect. What he allegedly planned to do with this large military knife and why his brother is saying this is all a mistake.

Also the President of Syria accused of helping ISIS. Is Assad using his warplanes as an air force for the terrorists?

And the ramblings of a mad man. But did the drugs James Holmes Took turn him into a killer? Let's talk live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you for joining me. Right now, we're monitoring a hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee. The topic terrorism gone viral. Representatives will be discussing the increasing threat from violence...