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President Donald Trump Calls "The New York Times" Reporter Third Rate And Other Names; President Attacks On Comey's Recently Released Memos And Book; Justice Department's Inspector General Is Now Reviewing How Comey Handled These Memos And Who He Shared Them With; Vern Troyer, The Actor Best Known As Mini Me In The "Austin Powers" Movies Has Died; Former First Lady Barbara Bush Was Laid To Rest Today In College Station, Texas; Reid Collins Died At The Age Of 88; Winter Swimming As A Potential New Sport; Aired 6-7p ET

Aired April 21, 2018 - 18:00   ET

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

[18:00:00] ANA CABRERA, CNN HOST: Top of the hour. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. Great to have you with me. I'm Ana Cabrera in New York.

And President Trump mounting his strongest, most aggressive stance today in support of his personal lawyer Michael Cohen. But the timing is making people wonder, is the President reacting to reports that Cohen might be ready to flip?

These are just a few of the many angry and defensive tweets today from the President. He calls "The New York Times" reporter third rate and other names, accusing the paper of unfairly targeting Cohen, whom he writes has always liked and respected. He also says he doesn't see Michael doing that, talking about flipping, if the government quote "let's them out of trouble."

White House correspondent Boris Sanchez is here. He is near President Trump's South Florida resort.

And Boris, that "New York Times" article written by Maggie Haberman and others is suggesting that Michael Cohen could end up cooperating with investigators. You will recall, Cohen is the man who once said he would take a bullet for this President. Beyond these tweet, how is the administration responding?

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Ana, they are simply not. We reached out to the White House with a couple of questions about the nature of these tweets. If they would expand on what the President was saying, specifically one portion where the President talks about bogus sources and points to someone mentioned in the article as a drinker and a drug user. There is a lot of speculation online about who that may be. We are not going to get into that. But we did reach out to the White House to see if they would clarify who the President was talking about. They have yet to respond.

I can tell you, though, that I chatted this morning with longtime Trump adviser and confidant Roger Stone who said that he does not believe that these tweets are about him, although he wouldn't comment any further on the President's message -- UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Michael Cohen attacked --

CABRERA: OK. Obviously, having some issues with Boris' signal there. We will get back to Boris for an update when we get him back.

But in the meantime, President Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, you will recall, is at the center of a complex web of lawsuits and legal actions. So let's parse it all out with our panel. Help us untangle this web is joining us now, attorney and former White House counsel Jack Quinn and political analyst, professor, Julian Zelizer and CNN contributor Larry Noble, general counsel for the campaign legal center.

Larry, I will start with you. Do you see the President's tweets from this morning as a message to Cohen not to flip?

LARRY NOBLE, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: It is always hard to tell what speeches are about. But yes, I think they can be read as a message not to flip. And I think he is obviously concerned. But he tends to just react to things. So I always -- I always get nervous when I try to predict what the strategy is or what he is actually thinking about.

But yes. I think he is sending a message there, you know, don't flip, hold tight. But, you know, when you have a lawyer that is potentially going to be indicted and the reports are that he hasn't necessarily treated him very well in the past, you may want to worry about that.

CABRERA: Jack, apparently Rod Rosenstein told the President he is not a target of the Cohen investigation, so what do you think Trump is getting at with these tweets?

JACK QUINN, FORMER WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL UNDER PRESIDENT CLINTON: Look, I don't want to be definitive about this, but when I heard that tweet, I thought that was a very clear signal to Michael Cohen that we are still friends. We need to stay -- stick together. We need to be loyal. I'm here for you. I'm defending you.

I mean, there was so much in there that just didn't ring true. For example, the attack on Maggie Haberman, which was, you know, it was not only crazy because it's unjustified on the merits, but anyone who reads "The New York Times" knows that Maggie Haberman has great access, not only to the White House, but to the President himself. And for him to say the things he did, they rang so untrue. Just really strongly suggested to me. And I suspect a lot of people, that something else was going on there.

CABRERA: Julian, you read this article and you think, wow, Michael Cohen's put up with an awful lot. Why has he been so loyal to the President if he has truly been treated as poorly as "the Times" is reporting?

JULIAN ZELIZER, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, it seems that he has benefitted from the relationship. This has been part of his business. It's been part of how he has done well personally. And there are people who still like to be close to others in power. And so this is a dynamic you often see in business, in politics. One person treats the other poorly, but that other person still wants to be in their orbit. But clearly President Trump is trying to send a pretty clear signal, don't turn on me. And at least he's doing it in a quasi- friendly way right now.

CABRERA: The President has a lot to say. Michael Cohen has been silent. And it has been a rough week for Michael Cohen. He is still a party to this other lawsuit involving Stormy Daniels and a nondisclosure agreement. A federal judge now wants to hear from Cohen directly before he declares a stay or a delay of that case. These cases obviously overlap.

So, Larry, if you're Cohen's attorney, how do you proceed?

[18:05:04] NOBLE: Well, they have a problem. I mean, they want the case delayed. They talked about they expect there might be an indictment coming down. Obviously, they are concerned about him incriminating himself in the civil case.

You know, they are kind of getting cornered in on different sides. But I think at this point pushing for the delay was the best thing they can do. And if they don't get the delay and there is testimony taken, he is going to have to decide whether he is going to take the fifth first amendment or not. And that's a big issue for him. And you know, if he takes the Fifth Amendment, let's see how Trump reacts to that. The best bet at this point is if they can get a delay. But as you said, the judge hasn't made a decision yet.

CABRERA: And you think that it would be bad for Michael Cohen to take the Fifth Amendment?

NOBLE: I'm a firm believer that he has the right to take the Fifth Amendment. And that you should not read anything into just taking the Fifth Amendment. That is every person's right. The reality is the public does offered me something into. And I have feeling Donald Trump would read something into it you know.

And so, it's obviously going to be a big concern. But I would advise him, you know, -- look, I don't know all the details of what's going on here. But again, I would advise a client to take the Fifth Amendment without you know, without much concern if I thought there was a real problem if they testified.

CABRERA: Jack, let's talk about the President's legal team. He added three new lawyers to help with the special counsel probe in the Russia investigation -- Rudy Giuliani and a husband and wife duo Jane and Marty Raskin. They are respected white collar criminal defense attorneys.

As for Giuliani, there is this notion that he is going to come in. He is going to get this investigation wrapped up quickly, given his history with Robert Mueller, his prosecutorial experience in New York. Is he the guy to get that done?

QUINN: Well, I think that is precisely why he has been brought in. He is going to be able to communicate with Robert Mueller, you know, prosecutor to prosecutor. I don't think that's particularly going to get him anywhere with Mr. Mueller. I think if he wants to get somewhere with Mr. Mueller, he needs to demonstrate that he is advising his client to be cooperative. Not to force them to go to the courts, including the Supreme Court. To enforce a subpoena, requiring -- forcing the President to testify under oath.

That's going to happen. The President is going to have to provide evidence. And I think that Mr. Giuliani can do an enormously good service, not only to Mr. Mueller and the investigation and the country, but also to his client. If he would understand that it's time for them to come up -- to come to an agreement with the special counsel's office about the circumstances pursuant to which the President will provide testimony so that we can get to an end point here.

CABRERA: Much has been said about the President not taking his lawyers' advice, Julian. Do you think his relationship with Giuliani is such he will actually do what Giuliani wants?

ZELIZER: No. I think every time we have asked this question, the answer has turned out to be the same, and you might have loggerheads. With Giuliani, who is as strong willed as the President and has his own way of doing things. That's what he's always been famous for. And I don't think Trump is going to change his basic method or response.

You can't contain a political leader who refuses to be contained. And the President will continue to tweet, he will continue to go after his adversaries, and the only way he gets cooperation with Giuliani is if Giuliani works along his strategy, rather than vice versa.

CABRERA: That being said, why would Giuliani want this position?

ZELIZER: Well, it puts him back in the limelight, it puts him at the center of a major political issue, which is something that he likes to do, and he has that bravado. Giuliani has the bravado. I'm sure he believes he can bring this to an end. That is exactly who he is. Doesn't mean he can do it, but I think he believes he can. And so, I think all of that was very tempting for him. And he also wants to be in President Trump's orbit. We have seen him in the campaign and how he is back.

CABRERA: Gentlemen, thank you. Please stay with me.

Up next, President Trump using the memos written by fired FBI director James Comey to try and discredit the Russia investigation. We will break down what's in those memos and what isn't.

And later, final good-bye. As a touching tribute to former first lady Barbara Bush. We will take you to Houston coming up.

You are live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:13:24] CABRERA: Welcome back.

President Trump is now using fired FBI director James Comey's memos to try to discredit the Russia probe.

Trump tweeted this today, James Comey illegally leaked classified documents to the press in order to generate a special counsel? Therefore the special counsel was established based on an illegal act? Really? Does everybody know what this means?

Our Jim Sciutto has more on the President attacks on Comey's recently released memos and book.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Trump attempting to discredit the just released Comey memos, tweeting that they show quote "clearly that there was no collusion and no obstruction. Also, he leaked classified information. Wow. Will the witch-hunt continue?"

Former FBI director James Comey says he drafted the memos, which are not classified, documenting seven meetings and phone calls with the President because he feared that Mr. Trump would lie about them. Telling CNN --

JAMES COMEY, FORMER FBI DIRECTOR: I have tried to be transparent throughout this and I think what folks will see if they get to see the memos is I have been consistent since the very beginning, right after my encounters with President Trump.

SCIUTTO: Comey's memos reveal that as FBI director he informed then chief of staff Reince Priebus that parts of the so-called Steele dossier had been corroborated by U.S. intelligence.

Comey wrote quote "I explained that the analysts from all three agencies agreed it was relevant. And that portions of the material were corroborated by other intelligence."

The memos highlight the President's apparent obsession with the Steele dossier which Mr. Trump brought up with Comey unprompted several times, including during one meeting at the White House.

Comey wrote quote "the President brought up the golden showers thing and said it really bothered him if his wife had any doubt about it. He then explained, as he did at our dinner, that he hadn't stayed overnight in Russia during the Miss Universe trip."

The President said, the hookers' thing is nonsense, but that Putin had told him we have some of the most beautiful hookers in the world. He did not say when Putin had told him this.

[18:15:24] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did you believe him or did you think he was speaking hyperbolically?

COMEY: Didn't seem to be speaking hyperbolically.

SCIUTTO: A spokesman for the Kremlin said Putin could not have made that remark to Trump, saying they never communicated before Trump became President. In another encounter, Trump expressed the anger at then national

security adviser Michael Flynn for delaying a phone call for President Trump from Russian president Vladimir Putin. Flynn said that the return call was scheduled for Saturday, Comey wrote, which prompted a heated reply from the President that six days was not an appropriate period of time to return a call.

In telling the story, the President pointed the fingers at his head and said, the guy has serious judgment issues.

Yet, Trump defended Flynn, tweeting, so general Michael Flynn's life can be totally destroyed while shady James Comey can leak and lie and make lots of money from a third-rate book. The word shady misspelled in the tweet.

Trump was not the only official interested in Flynn's legal fate. Comey wrote of an exchange with Priebus saying quote "he wanted to ask me a question and I could decide whether it was appropriate to answer. He then asked, do you have a FISA order on Michael Flynn? I paused for a few seconds. And then said that I would answer here but this illustrated the kind of question that had to be asked and answered through established channels.

COMEY: I was confident if the President's chief of staff, White House counsel, asked the justice department they would get the answer. And so, I could give the answer in the moment and use it to illustrate the way it should work going forward.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are going to find the leakers. They are going to pay a big price for leaking.

SCIUTTO: Some of the President's greatest ire was directed at the media and stopping leaks from the White House. I said something about it being difficult, Comey wrote, and he replied that we need to go after the reporters, and referred to the fact that 10 or 15 years ago we put them in jail to out what they know, and it worked. They spent a couple of days in jail, make a new friend and they are ready to talk.

Jim Sciutto, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CABRERA: Now you heard what James Comey had to say. Now it's your turn to ask questions. Tune in Wednesday for the only live town hall with the former FBI director. Anderson Cooper moderates live at 8:00 p.m. eastern right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:22:04] CABRERA: We are back now with more fallout from the Comey memos written by the former fired FBI director after seven separate conversations with the President in early 2017, before Comey was fired.

Also, CNN is learning that the justice department's inspector general is now reviewing how Comey handled these memos and who he shared them with.

Let's bring back our panel, attorney and former Clinton White House counsel, Jack Quinn, CNN political analyst Julian Zelizer and CNN contributor Larry Noble, general counsel for the campaign legal center.

So Larry, the President tweeted James Comey illegally leaked classified documents to the press in order to generate a special counsel. Therefore the special counsel was established based on an illegal act. Really? Does everybody know what this means? Larry, how do you answer the President?

NOBLE: We are not sure what it means. First of all, there is an I.G. looking at this about whether or not there was secret information in the - in those memos. And that is going to have to run its course.

Even if there was information that should not be released, it doesn't mean that the special counsel is invalid. There were a number of reasons that the special counsel was appointed and that's something that they are going to have to lack at. But it is not -- I don't think it's a situation where, all right, there was information that should not have been put in those memos and therefore the special counsel has to stop all of his work. I think that's what President Trump would like, you know.

And the idea of comparing it to Flynn, I think they are two totally different situations. And so, you know -- but, again, it's the President trying to really undermine the investigation. And, you know, probably looking for an excuse that he can then say, this is it. We are closing it down.

CABRERA: Julian, now there is this new I.G. investigation into Comey and the memos and who he shared with them and whether he may have distributed classified information. Comey put himself back in the spotlight this week. Could it backfire?

ZELIZER: It could. There are many ways in which the Comey book, the Comey putting himself back in the spotlight could backfire on him. It could also raise questions about the investigation. But we shouldn't confuse the questions about the memos or questions about Comey with the Mueller investigation. The Mueller investigation was triggered because the President fired him. Because there was concerns -- because he fired Comey. And because there were concerns he wouldn't allow this investigation to continue into what happened in 2016. That was the basis of the investigation.

CABRERA: Not to mention he told Lester Holt with NBC that the Russia thing was on his mind when he fired James Comey.

ZELIZER: So the President is mixing two stories up. And I think he is doing that to try to create questions about the legitimacy of this major investigation that he has confronted for a good part of his presidency.

CABRERA: There are these also two conflicting narratives about the merit of these memos, Jack. Democratic congressman Adam Schiff, the ranking member out house Intel committee, called the Comey memos important evidence on the issue of potential obstruction of justice.

Now contrast that with what the Republican chairman of the Intel oversight and Judiciary committees are saying, and I quote, "rather than making a criminal case for obstruction or interference with an ongoing investigation, these memos would be defense exhibit "a" should such a charge be made." Which is it?

[18:25:16] QUINN: Look, the memos in and of themselves don't make out a case of obstruction of justice. Obstruction is a two-part crime. You have to interfere with the due administration of justice with an ongoing legal proceeding and you have to have corrupt intend in so doing. There are a lot of things that the special counsel will be looking at in this regard. There are a host of things. I mean, the litany of instances in which the President attempted to steer the course of the investigation. Whether you are talking about dangling pardons or pleading with the heads of the intelligence services to intervene with Comey. And, you know, there is a litany of ways in which the President did things that could reasonably be described as attempting to interfere with the course of the investigation.

Whether all of that adds up to obstruction of justice will depend upon a showing that he did all of that corruptly and that there is enough evidence to take it forward. These memos in and of themselves don't make that case, but they are very important evidence of the President's mindset, of what he was thinking when he did these things, and, frankly, his behavior since. And his ongoing behavior suggests concern in this regard.

CABRERA: As somebody who tries to look at this as fairly as possible, reading through these memos, I did notice that there were multiple times, though, that Comey did tell the President that he was not under investigation, Larry. Does that help his case?

NOBLE: You know, he said he wasn't under investigation, but at the same time, you know, Trump did say that with Flynn, I hope you can see your way clear to let him go. And so I don't think it necessarily helps his case.

You know, the problem is the Republican chairman of the committees have said that this -- that there was no mention of collusion. Trump has said this. There was no mention of collusion or obstruction of justice.

But that's not what these memos were about. These memos were reciting what happened at various meetings and conversations. And unless that was discussed, the collusion or the obstruction of justice, it wasn't going to be in the Comey memo. So I think that the mere fact that, you know, that it's not mentioned doesn't really mean anything. But what you do see here, as Jack said, is you see some of at least some evidence that the President was suggesting that they stop the investigation. And that is something that they are going to have to take into consideration. But, again, I don't think at all this helps the Republican side of this or it helps Trump.

QUINN: No --

CABRERA: With all the -- go ahead.

QUINN: I'm sorry. What has baffled me is why the Republican chairs were so eager to get these memos out. They put the President in a horrible light. And there is nothing in here that disproves the, you know, the allegations that he was trying to steer the course of the investigation. It's baffling to me why these Republicans wanted these memos out. They do nothing for him. There is nothing exculpatory in here. Whether you're talking about obstruction or any other concern that might haunt the President.

CABRERA: What is your reasoning for Republicans wanting these out, Julian?

ZELIZER: I don't know. I mean, unless a really Machiavellian move that somehow you can show he had classified information and you feed this argument that the President was making, I think it might have been a misstep. You know, sometimes in politics parties make mistakes or assume things will move one way or material will contain something and it doesn't. And that could be what we are watching.

And the other thing with the memos and the questions is raises, you just need to combine them with the tweets. You don't really need the memos to see a President aggressively trying to go after the investigation. And the irony is, in response to the release of the memos, he is continuing with the exact behavior Comey was worried about. So we can just watch it on his twitter feed.

CABRERA: He is re-enforcing what Comey pointed out.

ZELIZER: He re-enforced it all the time. And so, if Mueller wants to go there, I think there is ample evidence with or without the memos to show his response to how this investigation could be handled by a President.

CABRERA: Guys, I also want to ask you about something that came out late yesterday, Jack. There was this DNC filing, a civil suit against the Trump campaign, Russia and WikiLeaks for conspiring to interfere in the 2016 election. Does the timing of this lawsuit make any sense to you?

QUINN: No, it doesn't. I think in many respects it's premature. It's certainly premature as to the Trump campaign and the Trump people. It's pretty clear to everybody who looks at this that Russia interfered, that Russia -- that the Democrats have a legitimate case against Russia and the individuals who were engaged in it on Russia's behalf. But is there a case that is solid and that will withstand a motion to dismiss at this stage against the Trump campaign? It really is premature. And I frankly wish they hadn't brought it at this stage and instead had deferred to the Mueller investigation, let that play out.

I have no reason to think that some statute of limitations is going to run and they needed to rush to the courthouse to do this. I'm sure this will help fund-raising, but beyond that, I think it's a sideshow and I think the focus ought to be on the Mueller investigation for the immediate future. [18:30:57] CABRERA: Jack Quinn, Julian Zelizer and Larry Noble, thank

you all. Great to have you with us.

ZELIZER: Thank you.

CABRERA: Up next, new allegations and a felony indictment now face embattled Missouri governor Eric Greitens. The question now, will he step down.

You are live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:35:48] CABRERA: This just in to CNN.

Vern Troyer, the actor best known as mini me in the "Austin Powers" movies has died.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is exactly like you in every way. Except one- eighth your size.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Breathtaking. I shall call him mini me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: A statement posted on Troyer's social media. In the post did not mention a cause of death, but it says he had undergone a recent time of adversity and mentioned that depression and suicide are very serious issues. Troyer had a rare type of dwarfism. He was reportedly just 2'8" tall. He once joked to our own Wolf Blitzer that after he became famous he would try to disguise himself with a hat and sunglasses but it just didn't seem to work. Vern Troyer was 49.

And "Austin Powers" star and writer Mike Meyers just released a statement to CNN saying, Vern was the consummate professional and a beacon of positivity for those of us who had the honor of working with him. It is a sad day, but I hope he is in a better place. He would be greatly missed.

Embattled Missouri governor Eric Greitens refuses to step down, even after facing a new felony charge and even though GOP leaders in his state are demanding he resign. Greitens was already facing a felony charge of invasion of privacy stemming from an explicit photo he allegedly took of a woman with whom he was having affair. He was just hit with another felony charge yesterday accused of computer tampering relating to a non-profit donor list in his campaign allegedly used without the charity's knowledge.

Greitens sounded (ph) the mission continues charity to support veterans after returning from a tour in Iraq as a Navy SEAL. And the Republican governor released this statement saying, in the seven years I ran that organization, he helped thousands of veterans, won national awards for excellence of became one of the finest Veterans charities in the country. I stand by that work. I will have my day in court. I will clear my name.

More news just in to CNN. Syracuse University is permanently expelling the Theta Tau fraternity from campus. And this comes after an extremely racist video surfaced according to the university's chancellor.

Students have been protesting this video on campus. It shows members of engineering fraternity repeatedly using racial slurs and simulating sex acts. The school's department of public safety will make recommendations on possible charges this week. Students could face possible suspension or expulsion as well.

Tonight, on a new episode of "sex and love around the world" it premiers on CNN at 10:00. And host, Christiane Amanpour takes you to (INAUDIBLE), a place where economic necessity drives some women to date men who are married. And she also explores how religion impacts sex and relationships. Here is a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN HOST (voice-over): Talking to people in the cities and just out here in Jamestown, you get a sense that a lot of men cheat --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A lot of men but not all men. Mine didn't --

AMANPOUR: He didn't?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because officially we are two. I'm the second wife. With two wives --

AMANPOUR: He didn't need to?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

AMANPOUR: I see. Were you jealous of her?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, not as such.

AMANPOUR: What about love? What about happiness, you know, fulfillment?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Love is love. Love means your country. Love means the same thing in our country, but sometimes the man will be with more than one wife. So the love has to be shared.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CABRERA: I recently sat down with Christiane to talk more about sex and love in Ghana.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CABRERA: When it comes to relationships, I understand that some of these men have this whole pyramid of extramarital affairs. Do women there just put up with that? AMANPOUR: Well, it's a pyramid, as you say. But, you know what, it's

very sort of organized. They have a wife, most of them. She is at the top of the pyramid. Then they have a mistress who is just number two. Then they have a girlfriend who is languishing in third place and who aspires to move up to mistress. Each of those women have their roles, and each one appears to be, as far as I can tell from interviewing these women, looked after by the man. And it reminds me of polygamy, where men used to have as a matter of course all at the same time multiple wives.

In the Islamic culture, too, you know, men are able to have four wives, but they have to treat them all equally. That's the -- that's what the book says. Here in Ghana, you know, it's not perfect. The girls would prefer to be the main -- the main agenda. But for girls, the economic empowerment is not as obvious.

And, you know, one girl said to me, look, you know, I have to pay my rent. I'm a working girl. I have to pay my rent. She didn't mean she's a prostitute, she's got a job. But she has to pay her rent. And in (INAUDIBLE), listen. It's as simple as this. You have to put down, I don't know, $2,000, whatever it is, six months' rent down immediately. And they don't have it. They have to get --

[18:41:00] CABRERA: So they need a man to help?

AMANPOUR: That's right. And these men become sugar daddies. But you then go to the fish market or to the very colorful, you know, goods and services market in the center of town. Women are ruling the roost.

I spoke to what they call the market queen, this amazing woman, middle aged to old age. In charge of the whole shebang. The finances of the market. The administration of the market. The give and take. The buying and selling. You know, the supply and demand and all of that. Totally in charge. And they tell me that they have their men around their little finger.

You know, in Ghana, one of the most poignant things was that I went back and found a young woman who I had first reported on 20 years ago, who had been taken into a tribal slave camp by a tribal sort of shaman priest who operate on this fallacy and lie that if a family gives their young (INAUDIBLE) daughter to this briefest, their sins, their debts, their wrongs will be absolved if the priest can have the daughter.

Yes, that is what happens. And that's what I reported on 20 years ago. And this girl, thanks to our report, was extracted by a wonderful American who took her out of Ghana, took her out of that camp, adopted her, and now she is back in Ghana trying to work to end this condition for once and all. It is called (INAUDIBLE). And that was immensely satisfying to see that success.

CABRERA: Do you find that artists -- I know you are meeting with artists, activists while you are there. Are they able to help women as role models but empower them to sort of break through being second- class citizens? AMANPOUR: Yes, they are. There is more and more of that. Because

more and more women from around the world are expanding the women's network, if you like, and engaging women from all over. The western women with African women, with Chinese women, European women with, Middle east, you know what I mean? There is a whole sort of female network that is very, very active around the world. Trying to mentor and bring into our world, you know, these young girls.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CABRERA: Tune in to tonight's episode. Christiane Amanpour "sex and love around the world" back-to-back new episodes tonight at 10:00 eastern and pacific right here on CNN.

Just ahead, a touching good-bye to a former first lady.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Some of my greatest memories are participating in our family dinners with mom would get into it, mostly with George W., as you would might imaginary and having us all laughing to tears. We learn to strive to be genuine and authentic by the best role model in the world. Her authentic plastic pearls, her not coloring her hair. By the way, she was beautiful until the day she died.

Her hugging of an HIV/AIDS patient at a time when her own mother wouldn't do it. Her standing by her man with a little rhyming poetry in the 1984 election. In 1,000 ways, Barbara Pierce Bush was real, and that's why people admired her and loved her so.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:48:38] CABRERA: Today was the day to remember and honor the wife and mother of Presidents. Former first lady Barbara Bush was laid to rest today in college station, Texas, after more than five decades in the public eye.

CNN's Kaylee Hartung reports from Houston where the thousands gathered for her funeral included four former Presidents.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BUSH: As I stand here today to share a few words about my mom, I feel her looming presence behind me. And I know exactly what she's thinking right now, Jeb, keep it short, don't drag this out --

KAYLEE HARTUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Barbara Bush wanted a simple funeral service. Perhaps more important to the former first lady, she wanted it to run on time, and it did. With 1,500 invited guests, her extraordinary life and legacy was honored.

JOHN MEACHAM, HISTORIAN: Barbara Bush was the first lady of the greatest generation. She was candid and comforting, steadfast and straightforward.

REV. RUSS LEVENSON, ST. MARTIN'S EVANGELICAL CHURCH: What you saw was what you got. What was in here came out here.

HARTUNG: There was laughter, courtesy of Barbara's own jokes.

SUSAN GARRETT BAKER, FRIEND: He may not be able to keep a job, but he is certainly not boring.

BUSH: She called her style a benevolent dictatorship, but honestly, it wasn't always benevolent.

[18:50:00] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mother and son needle each other to the end. In her final days while the 43rd President was visiting, Mrs. Bush asked one of her doctors if she would like to know why George W. had turned out the way he had. And then she announced, I smoked and drank while I was pregnant.

HARTUNG: There were tears, as her granddaughters read scripture and her grandsons served as Paul bearers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She opens her mouth with wisdom.

HARTUNG: And an overwhelming sense of appreciation and respect for the matriarch of a Republican political dynasty.

BUSH: The little things we learned became habits and they led to bigger things like be kind, always tell the truth, never disparage anyone, serve other.

HARTUNG: The service to celebrate Mrs. Bush, her wit, candor and commitment to literacy was also a tribute to the love there shared with her husband of 73 years.

BUSH: My dad is a phenomenal letter writer. And he would write mom on their wedding anniversaries, which totaled an amazing 73 years. Here is one of them written on January 6th, 1994. Will you marry me? Oops, I forget we did that 49 years ago. I was very happy on that day in 1945, but I'm even happier today. You have given me joy that few men know. You' have made our boys into men by balling them out and then right away by loving them. You have helped Dara be the sweetest, greatest daughter in the whole wide world. I have climbed perhaps the highest mountain in the world, but even that cannot hold a candle to being Barbara's husband.

HARTUNG: On the way to her final resting place at George H. W. Bush's Presidential library in college station, Texas, a motorcade through the city of Houston gave this community an opportunity to join in the final good-bye.

Kaylee Hartung, CNN, Houston, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CABRERA: And now some sad news to report today about one of our own. Former CNN anchor Reid Collins passed away in his sleep in Virginia Thursday. The award-winning broadcast-journalist joined CNN in March of 1985 and retired in July of 1996. Reid covered politics, space, papal funerals, elections, and many other stories in Washington and around the globe. Before joining CNN, he worked at CBS News from 1965 to 1985 where he anchored the CBS World News roundup radio broadcast. The Collins family says he was proud of his work here at CNN, covering the fall of the Berlin Wall and eventual collapse of the Soviet Union. Reid Collins was 88 years old.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:57:09] CABRERA: Well, some adventurous racers are eager to enter the Scandinavian winter swimming championship. And this is happening in a frozen river.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes a look at the annual winter swimming world cup in Sweden in this week's "Fit Nation."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There is swimming and then there is ice swimming.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get down in the water.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People that do this are a bit crazy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's right. I'm a little bit crazy. I think you have to be a little bit crazy when you go into the cold water and swim in the cold water.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You try not to freeze. You swim as fast as you can in the cold water.

GUPTA: This is the Scandinavian winter swimming championship, one of the coldest swimming competitions in the world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of spectators coming to watch it every year. They come from everywhere because they want to see these brave people suffering in the water.

GUPTA: Studies have shown swimming in cold water can improve mental health, promote healing and improve circulation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a good way to strengthen your body, to strengthen your mind, to be ready for extreme conditions.

GUPTA: But swimming in water this cold, especially without a wet suit, isn't without risks.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You swim the same way as you do in regular swimming, but the difficulty is breathing because when you are in cold water, your lungs cramp. So therefore you have to train to be table to breathe very quickly.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you first get into the water, you need to remember its mind over matter. You are not going to die. If you stay in for too long, you can get hypothermic, obviously, and that's problematic. But the trick is just not to do that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It wasn't as bad as I thought.

GUPTA: Over 400 swimmers compete in various short distance races.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: its breast stroke, its freestyle, for the first time we also have butterfly. And butterfly is a little bit special because then you are under the water.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The hesitation before you go into the water where you say, no, you don't really want to do this. And if you manage to do it, that's a really good thing.

GUPTA: With the growing popularity of the sport, there is hope for a grander stage in the years to come.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We hope when in Beijing it will be winter Olympics. The Chinese already told us they would like to show winter swimming as a potential new sport.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CABRERA: And no wet suits? What?

I'm Ana Cabrera in New York. Thank you for being with me. I will be back in just an hour from now, 8:00 eastern live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Also tonight, tune in for Christiane Amanpour "sex and love around the world" back-to-back episodes at 10:00 eastern and pacific right here on CNN.

But first, "THE VAN JONES SHOW" has senator Bernie Sanders. That starts right now.

VAN JONES, CNN HOST, VAN JONES SHOW: Good evening. Welcome to "THE VAN JONES SHOW." I'm Van Jones. We have got an amazing show for you tonight. We have got two lifelong champions for justice. One has made it his personal mission to stick up for working families and to challenge the billionaires. We got Vermont senator Bernie Sanders in the building.