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Two U.S. Swimmers Cannot Leave Brazil; North Korean Diplomat Defects to South Korea; Trump Overhauls Top Campaign Leadership; New Questions Raised About Clinton Foundation; Usain Bolt Wins Men's 200M Semifinal; U.S. Women Take Gold, Silver and Bronze in 200M Hurdles. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired August 17, 2016 - 02:00   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:00:16] ISHA SESAY, CNN ANCHOR: This is CNN NEWSROOM live from Los Angeles.

Ahead this hour, did they lie about getting rob? Brazilian officials forced team U.S.A. Olympic swimmers off their plane to try to find out.

In U.S. politics, Donald Trump's faltering campaign gets a shake up while Hillary Clinton faces new questions about her past.

And shell shock, one little boy's image captures the horror of the Syrian civil war.

Hello and welcome to our viewers around the world.

I'm Isha Sesay.

NEWSROOM L.A. starts right now.

Two U.S. swimmers have now left the airport in Rio after Brazilian authorities questioned them over reports that they were held up at gun point in Rio.

Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger have been ordered not to leave Brazil until they make a statement to police. Police pulled the men from their flight back to the U.S. Wednesday night. A group of four U.S. swimmers claim they were rob by people posing as Brazilian police officers.

One of the swimmers involved Ryan Lochte now has a bit of a different story. He told NBC's Matt Lauer that they were never pulled over, but has stopped at a gas station when they were ambushed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATT LAUER, NBC ANCHOR: When he talked to me tonight, he said that's when the guy pointed the gun in my direction and cocked it. And I pointedly said to him, you had said before it was placed on your forehead and cocked. He said, no, that's not exactly what happened. And I think he feels it was more of a dramatic mischaracterization. I think people listening at home might feel that was embellishment at the time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Well, senior international correspondent Nick Peyton Walsh breaks down the story for us from Rio.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PAYTON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is yet another extraordinary turn in the story of Ryan Lochte and three other American swimmers early Sunday morning.

Remember they said they left a nightclub and were in a taxi forced to the side of the road by men disguised as police officers. They took from them money, but strangely left them with their cell phones.

Now a spokesperson for police I talked to today said that actually was one of the most suspicious things in their mind because many Brazilians know the key targets of an armed robbery like that would be high value items like a cell phone, wallets, etcetera. But it's these items that were, in fact, seen in that CCTV video still in their possession when they arrived back home a few hours later.

The judge who issued the search and seizure warrants saying that in her opinion, they looked unshaken by the events that supposedly had just occurred. The judge went on to say she requires further time to assess whether or not they're responsible for a false police report.

Now we should bear in mind here, there is no direct accusation to anyone e has done anything wrong. And Mr. Lochte's lawyer is quite clear he'd always intended to leave Brazil at the time that he did. That was before these warrants were known about or issued. And that he is cooperating with anybody who has asked him any questions, will do so again and hadn't actually been asked to give further cooperation at this stage.

But there is this overhanging issue about what happened in the small hours of that morning. The judge pointing to the inconsistencies in the accounts.

Mr. Feigen, who was in the car along with Mr. Lochte, they were both questioned. They seem to not be consistent with how many of the robber were, in fact, armed and whether or not they were taken by surprised. That's what everybody talking.

But still we have this extraordinary move, at the height of the Olympics Games, to issue warrants like this, effectively prevent Mr. Lochte had he remain from leaving the country. We don't know the whereabouts of Mr. Fiegen at this stage. These warrants against one of the most high profile athletes in a team at the top of the medals table at the moment.

Extraordinary circumstances, indeed. A lot of questions still about the early hours of Sunday morning.

Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Rio de Janeiro. (END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: Extraordinary, indeed.

Away from the Olympics for just a moment.

Confirmation from North Korea, the regime has resumed its plutonium production. Pyongyang also tells Japan's Kyodo News Agency that it has no plans to stop its nuclear test.

This progress follows an embarrassing defection by a top North Korean diplomat to South Korea.

CNN's David Molko is following the story and joins me now from Seoul.

So, David, defecting in this way from North Korea by a man of this stature and his family is no easy feat.

Are we getting any insight from South Korean officials, how they managed to pull this off?

DAVID MOLKO, CNN PRODUCER: Isha, the South Koreans remaining pretty tight-lipped about this, as you can imagine. North Korea would love to know. It's not known if Thae Yong-ho and his wife and children walked into another embassy, if there was a third country potentially involved in this.

What's happening right now, and I should point out, we don't know exactly when this happened. When Mr. Thae and his family arrived in South Korea. But you can bet what is happening now is the interrogation phase.

They are going to go through so many questions, not just him, but his family members, his wife and his children, as well, asking them about what they know about various aspects of the North Korean regime, potentially about the nuclear program.

You know, we know Thae Yong-ho was the number two diplomat at the North Korean embassy in Britain so it's not clear how close he would have been to Kim Jong-un.

But being a career diplomat, being the face of North Korea, a public diplomacy figure in Britain, nonetheless, he is still a very valuable not only political coup for South Korea, but a propaganda coup, as well. A huge embarrassment for North Korea. No response from them yet. The defection surprising. The fact that they haven't responded, Isha, that is not.

SESAY: Yes, indeed.

And, you make the valid point there that we don't know how close he actually is, was to authorities there in Pyongyang. But they really will be hoping, though, that he does have, you know, some valuable intelligence to share.

MOLKO: Absolutely. I mean, in terms of intelligence game, this is almost as good as it gets. We don't know, though, exactly why Mr. Thae defected. You know what the South Koreas are saying, the Unification Ministry, if you read between the lines, they basically saying, no, he saw the light of democracy in South Korea and he wanted to and he was tired of the Kim Jong-un regime. He was done with the North Korean system.

The truth may be far different from that. You know, we have gotten clues that Kim Jong-un has been tightening his inner circle, especially when he leads fallout favor, defector telling my colleague Paula Hancocks just last year that he had been executing those who had fallen out of favor. So that's a possibility that Mr. Thae who had been -- who spent a lot of his time in London was going to be called back. That he was worried about his own safety. It's possible he had been working with the South Koreans. We just don't know.

We don't expect the South Koreans to say much more. But what is certain again is that this is a big intelligence victory for them. It's front page news on the page of every daily paper here in Seoul.

Isha?

SESAY: I'm sure it is. Dave Molko joining us from Seoul.

Dave, appreciate it, my friend. Thank you.

Well, with less than three months before the U.S. presidential election, Donald Trump's campaign is moving into a new phase. He has made major changes in his campaign staff.

But, first, Barbara Starr has more on Trump's first classified intelligence briefing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: It's the Trump Tower version of a potential White House cabinet meeting. The key optic, Donald Trump in the same position as a president surrounded by national security heavyweights, including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and next to Trump, retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn. A key adviser.

One attendee Congressman Peter King answering the criticism that Trump has no foreign policy experience.

PETER KING (R), NEW YORK CONGRESSMAN: Well, he has as much as Barack Obama had in 2008.

STARR: Soon after, another chance to appear presidential. Trump headed to the FBI's New York office for his long plan, classified intelligence briefing from the Obama administration.

Flynn, a decades long intelligence officer, now adamantly anti-Obama, was also there.

Even before hearing the classified information, Trump was asked if he trusts U.S. intelligence. DONALD TRUMP, U.S. REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Not so much from the people that have been doing it for our country. Look what's happened over the last ten years. Look what's happened over the years. I mean, it's been catastrophic.

STARR: The plan to brief presidential candidates isn't new. But this year, it is different says former CIA officer and briefer David Priess.

DAVID PRIESS, FORMER CIA OFFICER: On the one happened, you have a candidate who seems to say what he thinks without a filter. And on the other hand, you have somebody that the FBI director has called off publicly for being careless with classified information. We've never had a situation like this before.

STARR: The briefings include classified information on threats like ISIS. But don't include covert action details. The so-called crown jewels of intelligence.

PRIESS: Donald Trump will present a challenge to a briefer, but a challenge that most briefers that I worked with back in the day would have relished.

Here is a chance to try to get a message through to somebody who appears to take information differently than many other people.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: Our thanks to Barbara Starr for that report.

[02:10:00] With this poll number sagging, Trump is making aggressive moves to shake up his campaign. He's brought on Steph Bannon of Breitbart News as his campaign chief executive. Bannon is known for his soft demeanor and his appointment suggests a return to Trump's unfiltered campaign style.

Newly-promoted Kellyanne Conway explains how she'll advise Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KELLYANNE CONWAY, TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN MANAGER: I would tell him to stick to the issues, because this campaign will be won on the issues. And the issues that very much favors Donald Trump.

"The Weekly Standard" writes an article this week that showed of the last 205 polls taken about Obama care, the Affordable Care Act. Three were more favorable towards it and 202 were unfavorable towards it. That tells you something about America's opinions towards, really, the signature legislative domestic achievement of President Obama.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Well, Democratic rival Hillary Clinton is unimpressed by Trump's campaign shake-up. She says Trump has shown the world who he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, U.S. DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: He can hire and fire anybody he wants from his campaign. They can make him read new words from a teleprompter. But he is still the same man who insults Gold Star families, demeans women, mocks people with disabilities and thinks he knows more about ISIS than our generals.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Meantime, the Clinton Foundation is once again under scrutiny in connection with the State Department and the land deal.

Suzanne Malveaux has all the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hillary Clinton in the critical battleground state of Ohio today, touting her economic plan and pressuring Donald Trump again to release his tax returns.

CLINTON: Unlike everybody else who has run for president in the last four or five decades, he refuses to release his tax returns.

MALVEAUX: But now, new questions about the Clintons' Foundation. whether Hillary Clinton used her influence as secretary of state along with her husband, Bill Clinton, to help a big donor who supported both their political campaigns as well as their foundation get a coveted land deal with the State Department.

It was in 2011 when the State Department began searching for a new election for its consulate in Lagos, Nigeria.

Two years later, a State Department e-mail reveals they're interested in purchasing property at Eko Atlantic owned by the Chagoury Group. Lebanese-born businessman brothers, Ronald and Gilbert Chagoury. It is one of a number of sites the department was looking at.

Federal records show Gilbert Chagoury had donated up to $5 million to the Clinton Foundation. It was in the mid 90s when President Bill Clinton rewarded Chagoury, a big Democratic donor, with a White House dinner and meetings with high-ranking officials.

Later, Bill Clinton visited the Eko Atlantic site twice, including just one month after Hillary Clinton stepped down as secretary of state.

Weeks later, the State Department sent this later to the Chagoury firm, saying this letter acknowledges that the United States of America is potentially interested in acquiring an interest in such real property pending further study.

The conservative advocacy group, Citizens United, suspecting undue influence, sued, stating "In a month after Bill Clinton visits a Gilbert and Chagoury run land project in Nigeria, the U.S. State Department wants to buy the land. Who could be so lucky? A major donor to the Clinton Foundation, that's who."

The State Department denies that there was any special consideration of the land deal.

ELIZABETH TRUDEAU, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN: The Eko Atlantic site was identified as I said by an independent, international real state firm in 2012.

MALVEAUX: The land deal never went through, but an editorial in the "Boston Globe" Tuesday calls on Hillary Clinton to shut down the foundation if she becomes president.

(on-camera): Hillary Clinton Campaign Spokesman Brian Fallon responded with a sharply worded statement saying in part, "Citizens United is a right-wing group that's been attacking the Clintons since the 1990s and once again is trying to make something out of nothing.

He notes that Hillary Clinton had already left the administration before the State Department expressed interest and that the deal had not gone through. But this is not the first time the Chagoury group has been investigated regarding their ties and influence with the Clintons.

Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: Time for quick break now.

And next on CNN NEWSROOM, Usain Bolt has another big run at the Olympics as he gears up for the 200-meter final. More game results, just ahead.

Plus, a wildfire is raging in Southern California, threatening thousands of homes. Stay with CNN.

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(WEATHER REPORT)

SESAY: Well, it was a big night at the Rio Olympics for many athletes. Jamaica's Usain Bolt is on course for a so-called triple- triple after sprinting to a win in the 200-meter semi-final. Yes, I did say sprint.

Bolt had time for a laugh as he cruised through the finish line, but the competition, it wasn't far behind. The final is later Thursday.

But it was a golden night for the U.S. women's track team. Three runners led by Brianna Rollins took first, second and third in the 100-meter hurdles.

Let's bring Christina MacFarlane who is live in Rio with all the details.

And, Christina, Usain Bolt securing his place in that final. And it was a very comfortable wins.

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was, indeed, Isha. I think Usain Bolt enjoying himself far too much at these Olympic Games, cruising to victory in a time of 19.78 seconds, laughing as he did, joking with Canadian Andre Degrasse as he crossed the line.

The two of them finishing in first and second position. And I think this is some indicator that Usain Bolt could potentially break the world record later on Thursday.

Remember, that's what he's been saying all along. This is the one he wants badly. He wants to break that record, which currently stands at 19.19 seconds. And I think his chances of doing that are immeasurably raised because obviously his big rival, Justin Gatlin and Yohan Blake of Jamaica are out of the final. Shockingly, neither of them made it through.

[02:20:17] It was quite unusual as well to see Gatlin coming in in sixth place in that semifinal.

But I'll tell you, Isha, if bolt's win was routine, then his team mate's, Elaine Thompson, was anything but. She took gold in the 200 meters tonight adding to her 100 meter title that she took just on Saturday meaning she becomes the first woman to win both titles in one single game since 1988. And she had a spectacular run.

I mean, she beat the world champion, the reigning world champion, Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands. And she is definitely going to be the face of the future for track and field in women's sport.

SESAY: Very, very impressive.

Christina, a shocking upset for the power house Brazilian volleyball team.

How do this happen?

MACFARLANE: I know. We could hear the tears around this. Brazil missed out on two accounts tonight. Not one, but two. There was two gold medal match and the bronze medal playoff.

Now Germany actually won the gold against Brazil's number two paring, meaning that Brazil missed out on that fourth consecutive gold medal.

They've actually won 12 medals in this sport since its inception in 1996. And in the bronze medal playoff, we saw a certain Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross go up against the Brazilian number one paring and, of course, the USA came away with the win. So they took the bronze.

Kerri Walsh Jennings coming away with her fourth medal in four Olympic Games and that wraps up her Olympics for her. And we're all wondering, of course, you know, is there going to be another one? She's going to be 42 in four years' time. And she did say that she didn't think that was too old so watch the space.

SESAY: I agree with her. 42 is not old at all.

And let's talk about the historic clean sweep of team USA in the 100 meters hurdles. I mean, that was something, something to behold.

MACFARLANE: It really was. An Olympic first.

And the first time, actually, that the USA have won three medals in one single event, Olympic event ever. And it came courtesy, of course, of Brianna Rollins who took the gold, Nia Ali took the silver and Kristi Castlin, who had a superb surge in the last 15 meters to get herself across the line and take bronze.

And what was interesting afterwards is that, you know, when they were celebrating on the line together with all their flags, they said it was the exploits of Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles that had inspired them to get the job done today, and they certainly did.

SESAY: Wonderful stuff and great celebrations there.

Christina MacFarlane, my thanks to you.

Thanks for joining us there from Rio. Much appreciated.

All right. So let's check on the medal standings after 12 days of competition.

Team USA leads the way with 30 gold and 93 medals in all. Great Britain is second with 19 gold and 50 medals. Then comes China as you see there with 54 medals, Russia with 41 and Germany in fifth place with 29 medals.

All right, well, turning away from the Olympics for just a moment. The Red Cross says the widespread flooding in Louisiana is likely the worst natural disaster to strike the U.S. since Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

Right now, the death toll stands at 13. The latest victim was a 93- year-old woman who died while her neighborhood was being evacuated. Since the flooding has started, more than 20,000 residents have been rescued. And more than 40,000 homes have at least some kind of flood damage. That's according to the state's governor.

Meantime, more than 1300 firefighters are battling what's called the Blue Cut fire. Time lapse video shows it raging through hills east of L.A. that are tinder dry because of the drought. The flames erupted on Tuesday and quickly exploded across more than 13,000 hectares. Tens of thousands of people are under evacuation orders.

(WEATHER REPORT)

[02:25:00] SESAY: It is very frightening. It is a very aggressive fire. Pedram, we appreciate it. Thank you so much for that update.

And coming up next for our viewers in Asia. It's "State of the Race with Kate Bolduan." The U.N. is responding to allegations that it failed to protect its South Sudan compound during deadly clashes last month. The details are coming up after this quick break in a live report.

Plus, a search is under way for the kidnapped son of the world's most notorious drug lord. Do stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ISHA SESAY, HOST: The family says they've been terrorized by the suspect for years. They say he used racial slurs against them and even attacked one of them with his car.

Brynn Gingras has the story and we want to warn you it is disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Dirty Arabs and filthy Lebanese are just some of the insults Vernon Major's allegedly called his neighbors. His anger towards the Jabara family turned deadly on Friday when police say he shot and killed Khalid Jabara. Majors is no stranger to the family. For years the Jabara's who are Christian of Lebanese descent said that Majors would terrorize them and call them names.

In 2013 the family filed a protective order which prevented Majors from having any contact with them but records show Majors violated that order. In September of last year, Majors allegedly hit Khalid Jabara's mother Heifer with his car putting her in the hospital for weeks. Majors was arrested and charged with felony assault. Two judges denied his request to be released on bond. But three months ago, a third judge, against the District Attorney's wishes, allowed the 61- year-old to post bail, releasing him until his trial in 2017. Neighbors who did not want to be identified say they are not surprised by the allegations against Majors saying he had a history.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He walked on to our property and started screaming to my family (inaudible) and stuff like that.

GINGRAS: On the night he was killed Khalid called the police to report Majors had a gun after getting a tip from someone Majors lived with. According to the Tulsa Police Department officers responded but could not go inside majors' home and so left. Later, police say Majors walked up to the front steps of his neighbors home and shot and killed Khalid Jabara. His mother says she was on the phone with her son when it happened telling CNN "they should have looked at his history at least to see that this is really a dangerous guy. They could have spared my son's life. My son is gone. My son is gone."

Brynn Gingras, CNN, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Mexican officials have just confirmed that the youngest son of the notorious drug lord Joaquin el Chapo Guzman has been kidnapped.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: 29 year old Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar was abducted with at least four other people from this restaurant in the resort city of Puerto Vallarta. CNN's Rafael Romo has been following the development and joins me now from Dallas.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Rafael, good to have you with us. What more are we learning about this abduction? How did it happen?

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, apparently Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar was partying with some friends about 16 people at an upscale restaurant in the Mexican beach resort of Puerto Vallarta. It was about 1:00 in the morning on Monday when all the sudden a group of seven armed men stormed into the building and took away six people. Among those six was one of El Chapo's son. Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar you said 29 years old.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: But that was only confirmed today by a top Mexican official and he said that they were able to get positive I.D. after taking a look at evidence like fingerprints, also registrations that they found in the cars and some I.D. He also said that there were 16 people in the restaurant but nine women were let go and there was one other person who had left the place only 30 seconds before this group of armed men came in.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: At this point there's no clue as to where El Chapo's son might have ended up and officials say the investigation is ongoing, Isha.

SESAY: Yes, and what do we know about him? What do we know about El Chapo's youngest son? What personal details do we have?

ROMO: Well we know that he has been known by U.S. and Mexican law enforcement in the past. As a matter of fact, he was indicted in 2009. He's 29 years old and there is an account on twitter purportedly that belongs to him where you can see him partying, going out with friends, showing off weapons. Some of those weapons made in gold. And so there's the allegation that his lifestyle might have rubbed the wrong way some of the people that should have been supporting him, including his father's allies. But at this point we just don't know why he was kidnapped or who might have been behind the abduction, Isha.

SESAY: Yes, and at this point are authorities saying whether or not they have any leads?

ROMO: What the top Mexican official doing a press conference earlier today said was that they were able to go through a lot of surveillance video from not only this restaurant but also businesses around the area and they have a pretty good idea of what they look like.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) [02:35:03]

ROMO: And they say that they're confident they're going to get their identities. Now, there's another criminal group - criminal organization in the area fighting for territory with the Sinaloa drug cartel and so that's one line of investigation that authorities are following at this point. But again, no idea yet as far as officials know where they might have taken this group of people - six in total.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Rafael Romo reporting there Dallas. Rafael very much appreciate it. Thank you.

Time for a quick break now and after two years in captivity, a girl who escaped from Boko Haram is telling her story.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: An interview with one of the Chibok girls ahead.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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SESAY: Well, the U.S. says Russia's use of a base in northern Iran to launch air strikes in Syria is unfortunate and warns it may violate a U.N. Security resolution.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: That resolution bans the transfer of combat aircraft to Iran. Matthew Chance has more on the significance of the deepening ties between Russia and Iran and what it could mean for the Middle East.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well this is the first Russia has used a third country as a base to bomb Syria since it began its air campaign to prop up Bashar Al Assad last year. In a sign of how close the Kremlin and Teheran have become, the Russian Defense Ministry says long range Tupolev T22 bombers took off from the Hamedan Air Base in Iran and struck targets in Syria belonging to Islamic state and the rebels previously known as the Al Nusra front.

In a statement the Russian Defense Ministry says five major arms depots, three militant command points and training camps were destroyed. It says a significant amount of militants were also killed.

[02:40:08]

CHANCE: The use of an Iranian base though is significant militarily because it brings these Russian bombers much closer to the target zone. It means they don't need to carry as much fuel as from southern Russia, they can carry more bombs, and so it could enable a significant intensification of the bombing campaign. It's also important strategically. As I say it's the first time Russia's has used this third country as a base for air strikes and it shows how Russia's is expanding its footprint in the Middle East, really establishing itself as an important power in the region.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Well just days after Boko Haram released a video of the Nigerian girls abducted from Chibok, one of the former hostages is telling her story. The militants kidnapped 276 schoolgirls two years ago, nearly 60 of them escaped but more than 200 are still missing.

Stephanie Busari spoke with Amina Ali.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHANIE BUSARI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm here at the Unity Fountain Square in Abuja which has emerged as a gathering point for parents waiting for news of their missing daughters.

Amina Ali was one of those girls until she was rescued in May with a baby and a man claiming to be her husband.

Hers is a story that's become a blossoming hope for parents here. And today I spoke to Amina about her freedom after abduction.

AMINA ALI, ESCAPED BOKO HARAM CAPTIVITY: (As translated) My mom gave me courage. Boko Haram is not my god.

BUSARI: This is only her second time in public since she was found in the Sambisa Forest, long believed to be Boko Haram's hideout and where the remaining girls are being kept.

I asked Amina about her missing friends show in this new video by Boko Haram, a first glimpse for some parents in more than two years.

ALI: (As translated) Message to my sisters. Be patient and be prayerful. The way God rescued me from Sambisa Forest, he will rescue you too.

BUSARI: Amina is of course grateful for her freedom but aware that there are more than 200 others still waiting for theirs.

Stephanie Busari, CNN Abuja.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Well joining us now is Emmanuel Ogebe. He's an international human rights lawyer who has organized relief efforts for some of the girls who escaped. Emmanuel it's good to speak to you once again.

In that same interview with our own Stephanie Busari, Amina also expresses her attachment to her Boko Haram husband, basically saying she misses him which really speaks to all that she's been through and the very long road to recovery for her.

EMMANUEL OGEBE, INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER: Yes. Absolutely. And you know naturally there is a concern of Stockholm Syndrome for many of those girls. This has been their reality for over two years. It's interesting that when we see (inaudible) speaking, she says about two years. That tells you that she's lost a sense of time.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OGEBE: And so for many of those girls, coming back, reentering into civilization as we know it is going to be quite traumatic.

SESAY: Yes. In that video that we're showing to our viewers now which was released some two days ago by Boko Haram, they show bodies of girls that Boko Haram say were killed in the Nigerian air strikes. Amina also in the interview with our own Stephanie Busari says a dozen captives died in a bombing over a year ago which really begs the question of how recent this video we're looking at now actually is.

OGEBE: Yes. The theory is that there have been multiple bombings because she did notice that some of the girls were killed over a year ago. So, it is very likely that there have been additional bombings that have actually killed more girls now and that's why the terrorist group is trying to you know get the government to tamp down the attacks.

Now, in addition to the bombings, we hear from Amina that some girls were killed by snake bites and of course during child birth. It does appear that this is why the government kept her closeted for so long. They didn't want the world to come out that some of the girls died in bombings. But after Boko Haram put it out there they let her come out and speak, the cat is out of the bag, so to speak.

SESAY: Emmanuel you've made the point that based on these videos, there's been this one released two days ago and of course the proof of life video that CNN obtained back in April. You said from these videos it should be clear where these girls are being held. The question on the minds of people around the world is so why haven't they been rescued?

[02:45:14]

OGEBE: Yes, It's really baffling. Because what happened was she was found within a 40-mile radius, this is Amina now, of her home town.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OGEBE: And so a lot of the locals are telling us, hey, if she was this close, maybe we should be the ones doing the searching, and not the military. After all we're familiar with the territory. They've even considered you know trying to levy themselves to go on a search mission. So, I think that the government needs to do a better job of explaining the process of rescue attempts. But more importantly, they need to explain the process of

negotiations. We have a terror group that sends you one proof of life and another

proof of life. That shows you there's an incentive. They are willing to deal. And I have to say Boko Haram appears never to have been never more vulnerable to negotiations than right now because of the (inaudible) between Al Banawi and Shekau. And this video --

SESAY: Al Banawi - (inaudible) just explain to our viewers, Al Banawi has recently been declared the new head of Boko Haram by ISIS displacing the man Shekau, the man that we've long held and understood as being the head of Boko Haram. Now we're hearing there's a power battle, if you will, for who's really at the top of Boko Haram.

Let me ask you quickly though, you made the point that Boko Haram is willing to negotiate and that they're at their weakest. What is stopping the Nigerian government from making a deal so that these girls come k come home to their families?

OGEBE: Well the Nigerian government keeps insisting that they don't know who to deal with but when you see the person with has the goods, that's who you purchase from. And the price they're asking isn't too steep. This is consistent with their motive as an ideological group.

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OGEBE: They want their prisoners back. Now Shekau needs his fighters who are in prison to come back to him and strengthen his hand against Al Banawi. They are in prison, they don't know about the (inaudible), they respect him and that's why he wants them back. And I think that the Nigerian government should move forward quickly, even if it means reestablishing his street cred. They should give him back the prisoners that they have. Because Nigeria is the only country that hasn't executed these prisoners.

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SESAY: Yes. Those girls need to come back, that's the bottom line here. Emmanuel Ogebe, it's always good to speak to you sadly under these circumstances but we thank you for joining us here on CNN. Thank you so much.

OGEBE: Thank you, Isha.

SESAY: You're watching CNN. We will be right back.

[02:50:10]

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good day to you. Pedram Javaheri with you on Weather Watch right now. Look at the scenes out of parts of Baton Rouge Louisiana.

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JAVAHERI: We know the historic flood waters finally beginning to recede across this region and some of the damage that is really coming to the surface puts everything into perspective as far as how widespread this event was over the past several days. In fact when you average out the entire state of Louisiana's rainfall

amount it gives you just shy of 200mm state wide for the average. If you look at the square kilometerage of the state of Louisiana it's about 135,000 square kilometers of land. The numbers give you over 26 trillion liters of water. This could fill Maracana Stadium in Rio 22,000 times over that's how much water has come down in parts of Louisiana in recent days. Still seeing the flood watches, still seeing the flood warnings in place across this region. And if you run the numbers on this about a 2,000 kilometer stretch of land where you have showers and thunderstorms associated with a very slow moving disturbance and a front that's lined up across that region.

So that's what we're following across the eastern half of the U.S. Notice the thunderstorms spreading up towards Chicago even as far south as Dallas. Miami gets into about a 31 degree day there with temps staying rather warm.

But look what happens here. A couple of shots of autumn at least for some of the northern portions of the U.S. and southern Canada. We're getting a little change in the seasons for a least a couple of days, temperatures expected to cool off across that region. Take care.

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COMMERCIAL BREAK:

SESAY: Hello everyone. Gawker media has a buyer. Univision is buying the news gossip site for $135 million.

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SESAY: Gawker filed for bankruptcy last month after it lost a $140 million lawsuit filed by former pro wrestler, Hulk Hogan. He'd sued over Gawker's publication of a private sex tape.

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SESAY: The famous playboy mansion has officially been sold. The final sale price for the Los Angeles home was a whopping $100 million.

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SESAY: The mansion sits on 5 acres of land and includes 29 rooms a tennis court and a swimming pool and the home also comes with its very own tenant, playboy founder Hugh Hefner. As part of the sale the 90 year old mogul will be allowed to remain in the mansion for the rest of his life. So, you can have company.

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SESAY: Check out these spectacular images out of New York.

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SESAY: A travel photographer snapped these from Hoboken New Jersey Tuesday night. Just look at those, just incredible. You can see the exact moment lightning strikes parts of Manhattan.

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SESAY: While so many athletes have given inspiring performances in Rio this year. Ibtihaj Muhammad was the first U.S. athlete to compete in the Olympics wearing a head scarf. She spoke to CNN after her team took home the bronze.

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IBTIHAJ MUHAMMAD, OLYMPIC FENCER: I want people to know that Muslims come in all shapes and sizes, you know. And we do various things, that we're productive members of society and you know we're even present here on the United States Olympic team. This dream of mine wouldn't have been able to come to fruition were it not for the support system that I have not just in my town but also you know from my friends and family. This has been a beautiful experience. This is the America that I know and I love, the America that is inclusive, that is accepting and that encompasses people from all walks of life.

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SESAY: Well, the Chinese Olympic swimmer who has made headlines for her lively demeanor is getting praise on social media for her honest comment about a taboo topic.

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SESAY: Her hour-long broadcast on (Inke) one of China's biggest video live streaming platforms got more than 11 million views. During the chat, her fans showered her with virtual gifts. A lot of people love her because of her cheerful and sometimes funny answers in post competition interviews. The 20 year old won bronze in women's 100m back stroke.

[02:55:17]

SESAY: All right then. Well, love is in the air at the Rio Olympics.

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SESAY: British Olympian Tom Bosworth proposed to his partner, Harry. The track and field athlete posted this photo on twitter on Monday clearly thrilled at the answer he received. There have been at least three other proposals in Rio so far including Chinese diver Qin Kai who took the plunge in more ways than one. He proposed to his teammate He Zi as she was standing on the podium after winning a silver middle. She tearfully accepted. Congratulations to all of the couples.

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SESAY: And superstar gymnast Simone Biles will be heading home with more than just a handful of medals.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SESAY: The 19-year-old was visibly ecstatic when she received a kiss from the celebrity crush, actor, Zach Efron on Tuesday. Biles posted several photos and videos on Twitter of the big moment and even told followers just call her Mrs. Efron.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: She is beaming with joy.

Well, you're watching CNN Newsroom live from Los Angeles, I'm Isha Sesay. The news continues next with Rosemary Church.