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Security Increased Across U.S. for Fourth of July Weekend; Disproportionate Number of Shark Attacks Continue Off Coast of Carolinas; Donald Trump Continues to Receive Criticism for Comments on Illegal Immigrants; New Details Emerge Regarding New York Prison Escape; St. Louis Cardinals Under Investigation for Hacking Astros Computer System; African-American Ballerina Becomes Principal Dancer for American Ballet Theatre. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired July 04, 2015 - 14:00   ET

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

[14:00:02] FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right, the next hour of CNN Newsroom begins right now.

Hello again. Thanks so much for joining me. Happy Fourth of July. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

As millions of Americans celebrate Independence Day at home and abroad, a warning from the FBI and U.S. Homeland Security saying that big holiday events could be targets of a terror threat. Along with heavy police presence, counterterrorism measures have been put in place, including police snipers in strategic places and spotters in large crowds. Even U.S. diplomatic posts around the world are being asked to double check their security measures.

All of this comes as the radical group ISIS continues to call on its supporters to carry out attacks. The group also said the current holiday Ramadan is a time when jihad is most important.

We've got full coverage for you. CNN national correspondent Sunlen Serfaty is at the National Mall in Washington. CNN's Boris Sanchez is at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. And former FBI special agent Jonathan Gilliam joining us with analysis.

Sunlen, let me begin with you in the National Mall. What more can you tell us about security in Washington?

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, there is a heavy police presence here down on the National Mall where hundreds of thousands of people are expected to watch the fireworks show. But I should note that this sort of heavy police presence and security down here, it isn't anything particularly new to Washington during the Fourth of July. But certainly those warnings coming from the intelligence community pointing to a potential attack this weekend has authorities on edge.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SERFATY: Ramped up security across the nation on this holiday. In Washington, checkpoints for those watching the fireworks with more than 18,000 feet of fencing in place to protect the National Mall, special patrols at Washington landmarks and a heavy police presence authorities in those seen and unseen ways.

LT. ALLEN GRIFFITH, U.S. PARK POLICE: We prepare for worst case scenarios and we have contingencies in place should they occur. We don't anticipate they will.

SERFATY: Much of the anxiety stems from a bulletin issued by the FBI and department of homeland essentially warning of potential attacks by ISIS this holiday weekend. U.S. officials say there is no intelligence about specific for credible plots, but there has been an uptick of chatter from ISIS encouraging their followers to attack during this time. The dominant concern -- homegrown violent extremists, supporters of ISIS within the U.S. who may be inspired to carry out their call to action.

ASH CARTER, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: In the era of social media and phenomena like ISIL, unlike Al Qaeda of the old days, there doesn't have to be and won't necessarily be a commanding control relationship between somebody who instigates an incident and ISIL as an organization. There are self-radicalized, self-organized people on social media.

SERFATY: These so-called lone wolf attacks are a challenge for the intelligence community, much harder to pick up ahead of time.

It is not just in Washington. Police forces across the nation including New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles are on high alert, and not just in streets but online.

GRIFFITH: There are people assigned monitoring social media and known websites.

SERFATY: Looking for any specifics.

GRIFFITH: That's correct, just any kind of watch words. So it's constantly being monitored.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SERFATY: And that threat won't go away likely because of the end of this holiday today. Law enforcement officials do say that another area of concern about a potential attack is because it's also right in the middle of the holy month of Ramadan which ends on the 17th of this month, so likely that anxiety that we're seeing, likely the increased security posture potentially won't come to an end until then.

WHITFIELD: And of course that anxiety not stopping the crowds. I can see a lot of people filing behind you. This is about the time people start getting to the Mall, try to pick their spots to watch the fireworks this evening. Is it expected that crowds will be, you know, on par with what it usually is?

SERFATY: Well, local officials here refuse to give crowd counts, but we know it's likely to be in the hundreds of thousands of people that will be out on the National Mall today. And as of now, we do see people coming in in droves, setting up early, getting their lawn chairs on place. So it seems that people don't seem to be dissuaded to come out because of the threat, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Sunlen Serfaty, appreciate that.

OK, so right now law enforcement in New York City are also on high alert. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo warning that New Yorkers need to be cautious. CNN's Boris Sanchez is live for us at the Brooklyn Bridge, another great location to take in fireworks. So what is being put in place to make sure that everyone is safe?

[14:05:01] BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Quite a bit, Fredricka. Millions of Americans are going to get together this evening to watch some fireworks and enjoy a festive Fourth of July. So law enforcement is paying extra special attention to travel hubs, monuments, and places like the Brooklyn Bridge Park where people are gathering tonight for a fireworks show later.

Yesterday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that he's beefing up security at the city's emergency operations center. This is aside from the fact that we've learned from law enforcement that there will be snipers and spotters in strategic key locations scattered throughout the city. We also know they've been scanning for explosive and radioactive devices though land, sea, and air. On top of that, 7,000 cameras monitoring the city, making sure nothing is suspicious or out of the ordinary. Officials tell us they are prepared for any kind of attack, and a traveler at Penn Station said she was very happy to see that expanded police presence.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've noticed more of a police presence, which makes me feel safer. I, like I said, I was born and raised in New York and, you know, pre-9/11 and stuff like that. And, yes, we need to take security, you know -- we have to, for the safety of everyone, we need our police presence, and I think it makes people feel more secure when we do have police presence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: The governor also asking New Yorkers to be vigilant, and if they see anything that is suspicious or, again, out of place, to contact law enforcement immediately. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: All right, Boris Sanchez, thanks so much for that.

I want to bring in Jonathan Gilliam on the phone from New York. He's a former FBI special agent, police department, and air marshal. All right, Jonathan, so there have been terror threats like this before on holiday weekends, but this is different, is it not, particularly because of the kind of chatter that law enforcement has been listening to, paying attention to in the past few months?

JONATHAN GILLIAM, FORMER FBI SPECIAL AGENT (via telephone): Yes, and Fred, that's a great point. This is -- what you're hearing about these threats, it's not just that they heard it from one source, that one guy said this or one person said that. We're talking about intel communities all over the world. They hear this increased chatter, and along with source development and the information from those different sources, you start to put together a picture of that something is being planned.

And so that's what is different now. And when they look back on attacks like 9/11, they can look back and see that that chatter was actually there. We'd just gotten really, really good at finding it and verifying it through different sources.

WHITFIELD: And Jonathan, Governor Cuomo said New York is an obvious target. Of course, the nation's capital, Washington, is always a place that has heightened security. But how concerned are you about other potential soft targets that may not be, you know, in the most populated of the U.S. cities, may not have the national landmarks, but may be vulnerable?

GILLIAM: Let's look at where a lot of the issues have been going on lately in Texas, you know. We've had attacks on recruitment centers in not just in New York but also in Arkansas where I'm from. I mean, these things happen. There was an attack that was foiled years ago in Seattle against the Thanksgiving tree lighting that they have, or right after Thanksgiving.

I mean, we hear a lot about New York because of 9/11, but the reality is there are threats and cells most likely all over this country. There's definitely terror cases all over this country. And one thing everybody needs to realize is that if anybody knows anything and they tell law enforcement, law enforcement can then act upon that. Otherwise all this security that you're seeing being set up, while it is proactive, a lot of it has to do with how they react once a terrorist attack happens.

And so the more information law enforcement can get before an attack, the more likely they are to stop it beforehand. So the American public needs to step up to the plate. Be aware, don't be paranoid, and don't be afraid to call 911 or tell an officer, I see something that does not look right. Don't be afraid to do that.

WHITFIELD: All right, Jonathan Gilliam, thank you so much for being with us. Appreciate it.

Experts involved in the Iran nuclear talks say a tentative deal has been reached on lifting sanctions. The tentative agreement would allow both sides to declare sanctions lifted, but would actually lift them over time as Iran meets various obligations. But a source says there is still a lot of work to do, including getting approval from the foreign ministers of the countries involved in the talks, and that may have been extended to next Tuesday.

[14:10:07] Coming up, with millions headed to the beaches this holiday weekend, there is a sudden concern about the growing number of shark attacks along the Carolina coast. We'll take you there live.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Welcome back, and happy July Fourth. Millions of Americans are spending the holiday weekend at the beach, but 11 shark attacks along the Carolina coast in recent weeks has people very nervous about getting in the water. The latest person to be attacked, a former Boston newspaper editor who was rushed to the hospital after a shark pulled him under the water, bit his rib cage, hip, leg, and hands. The attack happened off the North Carolina coast.

And that's where we find our Nick Valencia at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, where beachgoers are rather excited about being out there. They don't seem at all trepidatious. What's going on?

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not at all, Fredricka. We have talked to some that are a little bit concerned. They've read the news reports and they've seen what's happened. They know that this is an uptick, more than the average attack. And usually six shark attacks per year, shark attacks off the coast of North Carolina. And South Carolina, so far, at least 11 attacks. You mentioned that one Boston newspaper editor, still in fair condition. He had to be airlifted out of where he was attacked. Here at Wrightsville Beach, there have not been any shark sightings or shark attacks, but we're talking to local beach goers -- what do you guys think? Are you concerned at all about it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I mean, I'm not really that concerned. I've been going to this beach, to this resort in particular, since I was, like, two-years-old. I've never had any problems with it. I love getting in the water. It's fun.

VALENCIA: And you said a couple days ago, you were in the water, like, neck-deep?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A couple days ago I was off Wrightsville Beach neck-deep. And I wasn't really concerned just because I know there are shark attacks that have happened at Ocracoke Island. But, you know, it's the beach and we're just here trying to have fun.

[14:15:11] VALENCIA: Yes, it seems like the majority people are here just to have a good time. What have you seen so far among the beachgoers here this Fourth of July weekend?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I haven't seen anybody in the water, honestly.

VALENCIA: You think that has to do with what's going on with the shark attacks?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think also social media has definitely made an impact on that. I think it emphasizes on the shark attacks a little too much. And we see all the posts on Facebook and Twitter and stuff, and I think it scares people more than they should be.

VALENCIA: But for you guys, is the fear real or not?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm a little scared just because I know that they are in the water and this is a deep ocean. And this is their home.

VALENCIA: Well, we'll let you guys get back to having fun. Thank you guys so much for joining us.

Fredricka, the statistics don't lie. You have one in 11.5 million chance of getting bitten by a shark, more likely to get struck by lightning, or become president of the United States. Experts still saying swim in groups and make sure that you don't swim at dawn or dusk. That's when sharks are most active. Fred?

WHITFIELD: And it is a serious matter, but I like that they're all just saying look, we're just trying to have fun. So tell the sharks that. They're just trying to have fun. Let's keep it a peaceful weekend.

All right, Nick Valencia, thank you so much.

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: I love it. Thanks so much in Wrightsville Beach. Hopefully you get a chance to take a dip yourself maybe in between live shots. Thanks, Nick.

All right, still ahead, NASCAR now the latest company to distance itself from the Donald, the presidential candidate, all over his immigration remarks. How is he responding? After this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:20:25] WHITFIELD: Welcome back. NASCAR is the latest organization to distance itself from Donald Trump. NASCAR officials say they will no longer hold their end of season awards ceremony at the Trump Resort in Miami after he referred to Mexican immigrants as, quote, "rapists." In a statement, NASCAR's spokesman says, quote, "We looked at everything we saw coming down and what we heard from our sponsors and our partners and what we feel we should be doing, and that's what led to -- that's what led us to the decision," end quote.

NBC also ended its affiliation with Trump, and Macy's has stopped carrying the Trump clothing line. But Trump defended himself on FOX News this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You know, I knew it was going to be bad because I was told this. But all my life I've been told this. You just think you're successful, you don't run for office. And I understood. I didn't know it was going to be quite this severe, but I really knew it was going to be bad.

I'm very surprised at NASCAR because I have so many fans in NASCAR. I love the NASCAR people, and I'm a little surprised at NASCAR, to be honest with you.

But, you know, I have properties in the best locations. The property you're talking about in the case of NASCAR is Trump National Doral, which is probably the top resort, one of the top resorts in the world. And if they don't go, somebody else goes. So it's not a big deal. But I will say that I was quite surprised by NASCAR, because these are

people that want to stop illegal immigration. They don't want to see crime. So, you know, I heard Tucker's statement earlier this morning. They've done a poll on this. And, frankly, I was -- you know, I think they made a mistake. But that's OK. I promise you, we will get somebody else to replace them in the ballroom that night.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And now Mitt Romney is criticizing Donald Trump's comments on immigration that he says is hurting the party.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you think Donald Trump's comments on Mexicans have hurt the Republican party?

MITT ROMNEY, (R) FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Yes, I think he made a severe error in saying what he did about Mexican-Americans, and it's unfortunate.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you think the candidates should speak up about that?

ROMNEY: I think a number of them have.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Romney spoke to CNN in New Hampshire earlier today where several candidates from both parties are hitting the campaign trail. And that's where we also find CNN's M. J. Lee. So M. J., five GOP candidates are there, and there are two Democratic candidates. What are they saying to voters?

M. J. LEE, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: Well, this July Fourth weekend is really a great opportunity for the presidential candidates to really get out there and mingle with voters, go to barbecues, march in these parades. It's a great way for them to do this retail campaigning that is so important, especially in the primary season.

We've had a number of Republican candidates, as you mentioned, in various parts of New Hampshire and Iowa. We have Jeb Bush, Rick Perry, Lindsey Graham, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, all spending their July Fourth weekend here in the early states.

Right behind me I'm in Gorham, New Hampshire, a northern town in the granite state. Hillary Clinton is actually walking in the parade as we speak. A lot of people here are very excited to see Hillary Clinton in their town. I have had some sightings of people who are less enthusiastic about her candidacy, holding up signs, protesting the fact that she's running for president. But I think for the most part, Fredricka, people are very excited to have her and this celebrity, as you know, come to their town.

WHITFIELD: So Hillary Clinton, to be in the parade. We just saw someone, you know, behind you on that parade route. Has she already gone by, or have you heard anything about the reaction as she, you know, passed by, if she has passed by any of the crowds thus far?

LEE: Clinton we know has started walking in the parade. She has not yet walked past us. We just had the beginning of the parade walk past us. But it's beginning to be a couple of minutes before we see her walk to the end of the parade line here.

WHITFIELD: All right, M. J. Lee, thank you so much, appreciate that.

All right, coming up, new details in the New York state prison break and what is next for the captured convicted killer. Our experts weigh in.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:27:41] WHITFIELD: Hello, again, everyone, thanks so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

We have new details about captured killer David Sweat and his fellow escapee. Sweat is spilling details to authorities from his hospital bed where we're learning today he remains in fair condition. He told officials he had some close calls while on the run, at one point seeing officers below him while he was hiding in a hunting stand above. Richard Matt, who was shot and killed by police, reached out to his daughter in a letter just before breaking out. CNN's Deborah Feyerick has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Killer Richard Matt was so confident he would elude immediate capture after breaking out of his maximum security prison he sent his daughter a letter. Law enforcement sources telling the "Buffalo News" Matt wrote, "I always promised I would see you on the outside. I'm a man of my word."

The daughter, who lives in a suburb of Buffalo, New York, reportedly received a letter three days after her father's dramatic escape from Clinton Correctional Facility about 350 miles across state. There's no indication she knew in advance of her father's plans.

Matt spent 20 days on the run before a border patrol special operations team found him alone behind a tree. He was shot three times in the head after apparently aiming a 20-gauge shotgun at an officer. Matt's body has been taken to the Buffalo area after his family had a change of heart and decided to claim the body. The funeral home says there would be no public or private services.

David Sweat is listed in fair condition. He continues to heal from two gunshot wounds he sustained during his capture. Police put out a photo of the type of backpack he was carrying when arrested, just two miles from the Canadian border. They believe the inmates took it from a camping ground in Franklin or Clinton County and are asking the owner to come forward, possibly to trace the escapees' route.

The department of corrections has been criticized for failing to order a total lockdown of the Clinton facility following a fight in the yard a week before the escape. A corrections official tells CNN that only a partial lockdown was necessary because the melee among 30 inmates in the prison yard lasted less than a minute, involved no weapons, and only one injury. Security measures have been tightened to ensure daily random cell checks and weekly security inspections.

Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[14:30:07] WHITFIELD: All right, so what's next for captured inmate David Sweat? Joining me to discuss is Arthur Roderick, former assistant director of U.S. Marshal's office who has headed up a number of high-profile fugitive case, and criminal defense lawyer and CNN legal analyst Philip Holloway. Good to see you both of you.

All right, Arthur, you first. Let me begin with you. So what kind of information might be real credible that investigators can get from Sweat while he is in the hospital?

ARTHUR RODERICK, FORMER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, U.S. MARSHAL'S OFFICE: Well, I think obviously right now you've got contradicting stories on the possible conspiracy to commit murder, referencing the husband. Obviously, I think what you have right now is a he said, she said. And if there was no overt act committed in furtherance of that particular crime, then nothing will move forward on that and he'll just be looking at the escape charges and possibly some other charges related to that escape. Obviously there are some breaking and entering charges that are possible into the cabins. And I don't think we'll hear the last of these cabins being broken into.

WHITFIELD: Right. And so Philip, you know, Sweat was already in prison, you know, convicted of murdering a sheriff's deputy. He wasn't looking at being out of jail any time soon. So now he's facing new charges. What could those charges be and how might prison life be any different for him now?

PHILIP HOLLOWAY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, certainly he's not going anywhere, and this for him, it's all about how his life is going to look in prison going forward, because if he's charged with escape or if he's charged with burglary and convicted, who cares? It doesn't matter. It's meaningless. He's going nowhere. So anything that he's telling them right now, the only hope for any benefit that he can get from this is that he will not spend every single day of his life locked inside a hole in solitary confinement. So that's what this is all about from his perspective.

WHITFIELD: So, Arthur, likely he wouldn't be returning to the Clinton Correctional Facility, would he? Would it be a different facility, whether it's Clinton or somewhere else, what would his confinement be like?

RODERICK: I think Philip is exactly right. He's trying to cut a deal so that he's not locked up 23 hours a day and only one day out of the jail, out of his cell to exercise. So whatever he's saying now, he's trying to cut a deal.

WHITFIELD: What kind of deal, what kind of leverage does he have? What does that mean?

RODERICK: Well, I mean, I think the leverage he's got is, OK, what other crimes occurred inside the facility besides the one that he's charged with? He could work a deal with that type of information. But I think he's -- you know, this is all he's trying to do right now is not spend 23 hours a day locked up in his jail cell.

WHITFIELD: So Phil, we're talking about 12 people who were with the Clinton correctional facility on leave already as a result of this kind of investigation. So is it believed that Sweat would divulge enough information to lay the groundwork for charges that any of the 12 on leave or others might face?

HOLLOWAY: Right. That's very possible. Joyce Mitchell, the main accomplice, she's already confessed. She talked and talked and talked before she was even arrested. So they will not need his testimony to convict her.

As for anybody else that may or may not be charged, they're going to have to independently verify all of the information that he's been given them, because he is a convicted felon, and he has lots of reasons why a jury should not believe him. So they're going to need to do more than just use his testimony to try to convict anybody else in correction with any crimes.

WHITFIELD: So it needs to be corroborated. And that might involve any of those 12 perhaps and maybe there would be some deal making with them, too.

HOLLOWAY: That's always a possibility. And when you have a larger conspiracy like what we might see, that's very common, that prosecutors will cut deals with one person in order to convict somebody of something more serious. So yes, I think that's a very real possibility.

WHITFIELD: Is it likely, Arthur, do you see others who might be either put on leave or may even the facing charges?

RODERICK: Absolutely, Fredricka. You also have to realize there's two separate investigations going on in this particular case. You have the FBI in there looking at public corruption issues, and then you've got the New York state inspector general's office who's actually looking at the escape itself and the conspiracy involved in that particular crime.

WHITFIELD: All right, Arthur Roderick, Philip Holloway, thanks to both of you, gentlemen, appreciate.

RODERICK: Thanks for having me.

WHITFIELD: And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[14:38:18] TEJAS SHASTRY, CO-FOUNDER, AMPY: An hour of exercise can give you up to another five hours of battery life for your phone.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You likely have a portable charger if your phone is going out to give it some extra juice. Well, there's a new type of charger. This one's a little bit different. It actually works based on your movement. It's called AMPY. Put it in your bag on the way to work. Put it on your arm when you go in for a jog. All of your movement will charge your phone.

How much do you have to move to actually charge this thing? We're going to try it out.

ALEX SMITH, CO-FOUNDER, AMPY: Your motion activates the internal components, produces electricity, and recharges the lithium ion battery inside.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is this a convenience, or is it also kind of a way for people to keep moving?

SMITH: It is. It's both the convenience factor, but it's also the reward factor. We've got a smart phone app which tracks the amount of energy that you're generating and lets you compete with your friends as well.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So we spent half the day with AMPY. Some of our colleagues took this around to run errands, on shoots. Someone drew the short straw and actually went on a run with AMPY. Let's see. It gave us this much charge. So it's not a ton, but it's something. So this isn't something if you need a complete backup, you would use that instead. But it is something you can carry it around with you, give a little extra charge if you need it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[14:40:00] WHITFIELD: New developments in a budding baseball scandal. As CNN first reported, federal investigators have recommended charges be filed against at least one employee of the St. Louis Cardinals. At issue, did that unnamed person help take computer information from a rival team? This comes as the team's director of scouting, Chris Correa, was fired. But the team's GM will only say "I can confirm he was on administrative leave and was terminated. Any other comments are not in anybody's best interest," end quote. So let's bring in "Los Angeles Times" baseball reporter Bill Shaikin. So give us some background, Bill. How did the Cardinals supposedly get this information?

BILL SHAIKIN, "LOS ANGELES TIMES" BASEBALL REPORTER: I think that's at the focus of two investigations right now, one by the Cardinals themselves to try and do an internal fix and see what happened, and one, of course, by the federal government. And it could be anywhere from a rogue summer intern having fun and trying to see what passwords worked to senior executives actually trying to infiltrate the intelligence of a rival team.

What happened, you mentioned with the Cardinals firing their scouting director, leaves it a little more on the pendulum of senior executives being involved, and that's very worrisome for both the Cardinals and Major League Baseball.

WHITFIELD: So there's another I guess theory circulating that it could have involved someone who was no longer working for one team but still had a password, and after switching jobs that password was used? Is that credible or feasible or even possible?

SHAIKIN: The suggestion was made initially in "The New York Times" report that broke the news about the federal investigation that the way the folks with the Cardinals had gotten into the Astros' system was essentially by checking passwords that were left behind by folks who used to work for the Cardinals and had gone to work for the Astros. That would be the equivalent of, you know, you going to work at NBC and forgetting, oh, I need a different password when I get to NBC. So that would be highly unlikely given the intelligence of the folks involved, but certainly possible. That's one of the theories.

WHITFIELD: And what was the kind of information that was retrieved? Do we know?

SHAIKIN: Well, this first came to light last year on a website called "Deadspin" published some e-mails from the Astros' computer system. Most of this was pretty embarrassing. It wasn't earthshaking, just sort of here's some guys to trade for our team. Here's what we're talking to other teams about. But the fact that it got out, these confidential trade discussions, made the Astros look pretty bad, made their system look insecure. It was basically a couple days of red- faced moments.

What we did not know at the time was that major league baseball was very worried, not about the Astros getting embarrassed as much as the potential to hack into the computer systems of every team for information that would be of great concern if it were leaked. And so the FBI launched an investigation at the request of Major League Baseball, and what we now know is while they haven't found any evidence that any other team was a victim of hacking, as you mentioned, it's gotten to the point where the federal investigators are strongly considering whether to bring charges.

WHITFIELD: All right, "L.A. Times" Bill Shaikin, thank you so much, appreciate it. Thanks for being with us. Happy Fourth.

All right, coming up, the determined dancer who is making headlines and making history. The inspirational story of Misty Copeland and the barriers that she is breaking in the world of ballet.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:47:20] WHITFIELD: This week, the most recognizable ballet dancer, Misty Copeland, reached a new height, principal dancer of the American Ballet Theatre. This has been a dream for the 32-year-old since the age of 13. As the first African-American to earn this title in the ballet company's 75-year history, Misty says it's both a load off her shoulders and a new challenge.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) MISTY COPELAND, PRINCIPAL DANCER, AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE: It just sounds so surreal to hear those words. No, this is it. My dream has been ABT since I was 13, and to be a principal dancer is reaching those heights. And now I feel like I can breathe, but David Hallberg told me this morning the hard work is just now starting. And I love a challenge. I don't think I could be part of this field if I didn't like to work hard.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And when I sat down face to face with Misty Copeland last fall, she focused on both the journey and responsibility that comes with her ballet success.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COPELAND: I'm Misty Copeland, I'm 32-years-old, and I'm a soloist with American Ballet Theatre. I'm a ballerina.

WHITFIELD: And what does it feel like to be able to say that?

COPELAND: It's pretty cool.

WHITFIELD: That was last fall. Now Misty Copeland proudly describes her ascension to American Ballet Theatre's new principal dancer.

COPELAND: This has been something that every dancer dreams of dancing in their dream company and becoming a ballet member, every dancer dream of being a soloist and being a principal. But it's very rare to actually reach this position, especially with the company like American Ballet Theatre. So though it's always been a dream of mine, I didn't think it was ever going to happen.

WHITFIELD: Even though she told me last fall she's been working tirelessly for years to make it happen.

COPELAND: Not necessarily to be more talented, but you have to be ready to push yourself to the limits, and then to be a principal dancer even more so.

WHITFIELD: She's been unique in so many ways well before reshaping the American Ballet Theatre's 75-year history. Before becoming principal dancer, she was the first black soloist for the company in 20 years, stunning audiences at her New York performance of the "Nutcracker," her ground breaking transformation from the delicate Odette into manipulative Odile in ABT's "Swan Lake."

[14:50:07] Each time she is asked about the leap into the historically monochromatic classics, she is graceful.

COPELAND: Over the past maybe three years, I've been put out there in the media, but it hasn't been an overnight sensation at all. It's been 13, 14 years of extremely hard work. And this season in particular has been a lot of pressure for me having the spotlight while I'm premiering such big roles. But I'm just so honored, so extremely honored to be a principal dancer, to be an African-American, and to be in this position. I never saw this happening with my life. But I'm just on this ride, and I'm just trying to take it one day at a time.

WHITFIELD: And how are you handling it, because it's quite the ride? "Nutcracker," you were the lead of that, the lead of "Swan Lake." You are changing the face of ballet dance and in a culture in America, if not the world. I mean, that is pretty heavy.

COPELAND: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Or did I just make it heavy? I'm sorry.

(LAUGHTER)

COPELAND: It's always been what I wanted. I wanted to bring it to Americans the way Europeans experience ballet, and for people to appreciate it and for me to share the stories of those who have come before me that don't always get the recognition as African-American ballerinas. Those are my goals. And I have so much more to do.

WHITFIELD: This on the heels of performing the lead of Juliet, as in "Romeo and Juliet," at the Met.

COPELAND: I try not to get ahead of myself and just dive into each project as I'm working on them individually and not get overwhelmed by the bigger picture. But, I mean, it's hard to describe. And I'm just happy that I have these opportunities, you know, even with Firebird, that the audience that was there that night was kind of changing, seeing a more diverse audience to come support me. It's a big deal.

WHITFIELD: It is a big deal and seemed farfetched 20 years ago when as one of six children Copeland would step up to a ballet bar at 13 years old in a Los Angeles neighborhood Boys and Girls Club.

It was uncomfortable. This wasn't the place that you naturally wanted to be.

COPELAND: Right. It was unfamiliar and scary, and as a shy, introverted girl, trying anything that was new was terrifying to me. So yes, it was terrifying at first. This thing that is like, this is my life.

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: But Copeland writes in her memoir, "Life in Motion, An Unlikely Ballerina," her ballet instructor saw in her gifts.

COPELAND: My body was agile and just capable of doing everything she asked. And I understood how to retain it.

WHITFIELD: She felt alive and suddenly far away from what a she describes as a chaotic and nomadic family life, her mother moving the kids from home to home.

COPELAND: An escape from my everyday life. I was in this beautiful world with beautiful music. WHITFIELD: By 17, Copeland headed for New York, her athleticism and

dance standing out, gaining a special notoriety in this Under Armour ad, going viral with nearly 7 million views on YouTube. She caught the eye of the artist known as Prince, who incorporated her dance on his music tour in 2010.

WHITFIELD: Is it true that you felt like you had really arrived as a dancer once Prince said I want you involved in my music.

COPELAND: Something definitely happened during that experience. As dancers were told what to do from the moment we stepped into that first ballet class. You don't speak. To be given the opportunity, it was just me on a plane going to meet Prince in France. And I got there, and I said, what am I doing? What do you want me to do? He said whatever you want. It was like scary at first, that freedom. That was kind of the start of pushing myself as an individual and understanding the responsibilities it takes to be an artist.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Misty Copeland.

(APPLAUSE)

WHITFIELD: Like using her celebrity to teach lessons.

COPELAND: I came from humble beginnings. I wasn't supposed to be a ballerina. I'm African-American. I went through a period of, you know, being fat in their eyes. And look at me now. And that's just the message that I want to continue to promote to kids.

[14:55:11] WHITFIELD: On this day last fall, to young girls and women at the historically black all female college of Spelman.

What's the advice or encouragement that you give them in their journeys?

COPELAND: To keep people in your life who are going to support whatever it is that you want to do, to not compare themselves to other people. Just know that they are beautiful.

WHITFIELD: An unlikely ballerina, finding her footing, and in the process forever changing the world of ballet.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And Copeland made that iconic commercial that you saw earlier for Under Armour, and the sports brand organized a social congratulations campaign with this tweet "Celebrate Misty on point just named ABT principal. The more hash-tags principal Misty tags, the more flowers we'll send her." And then guess what happened. Thousands of tweets later, Under Armour delivered Copeland an entire SUV full of blossoms right there. The company says it is so proud, and, quote, "History is beautiful." Incredible. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:00:01] WHITFIELD: And this shocking video of a 10-month-old baby girl drifting out to sea by herself.