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Disgraced Actor Kevin Spacey Releases Strange Video; Government Still in Shutdown. Aired 3:30-4p ET
Aired December 24, 2018 - 15:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BASH: Breaking news this hour about disgraced actor Kevin Spacey. CNN has learned he's been charged with indecent assault and battery stemming from an incident in Massachusetts. Let's get straight to CNN's Jean Casarez, following the breaking developments. Jean?
JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, a press release has just come out of the courts in Massachusetts, saying that Kevin Spacey has, in fact, been charged criminally with indecent assault and battery. It stems -- excuse me -- from a July 2016 incident at a local restaurant it says, in the Nantucket area. Now, his mother, Heather Unruh, was actually a very big anchor in Boston and she gave a press conference last year alleging the facts of all of this.
She went farther than the district attorney's office is doing now, but according to CNN's reporting of that press conference, she said that it was in July of 2016, her son was in a bar, he was 18 years old, he was star struck when he saw Kevin Spacey, that Kevin Spacey asked him if he was of legal age to drink. He said he was. Then Spacey allegedly kept plying him with alcohol, until, according to his mother, he was drunk, and that is when Kevin Spacey sexually assaulted her son by touching him inappropriately. Now, Kevin Spacey, today, has just released a YouTube video in character of his House Of Cards character. Watch and see what you think.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEVIN SPACEY: I know what you want. Oh, sure, they may have tried to separate us, but what we have is too strong, it's too powerful. I mean, after all, we shared everything, you and I. I told you my deepest, darkest secrets. I showed you exactly what people are capable of. I shocked you with my honesty, but mostly win challenged you and made you think. And you trusted me, even though you knew you shouldn't.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CASAREZ: We have reached out to Kevin Spacey's attorneys, his people. We have not heard back yet. His criminal arraignment in court is set for January 7th. Dana?
BASH: Jean, thank you. That video clearly shows Kevin Spacey trying to remind everybody not just about his character, but his acting chops there. Jean, appreciate that. Now, we're going to talk next about multiple investigations, a
crumbling stock market, mounting scandals, a new report; details what it's like these days inside the White House as President Trump becomes increasingly isolated.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BASH: With the government locked in a partial shutdown, the stock market in free fall and most lawmakers home for the holidays, President Trump went on a wide-ranging tweet storm, which included this. "I am all alone, poor me, in the White House waiting for the Democrats to come back and make a deal on desperately-needed board security. With me now is Michael D'Antonio, who is a Donald Trump biographer and a CNN contributor.
Michael, thank you so much for joining me. I'm sure you've heard the same, maybe even seen the same as I've heard for years now, which is, the most important thing if you are a Trump staffer is to try to keep him busy. This is the perfect storm for Trump aides, which is, it's Christmas Eve, he's home with nothing to do, nobody's around him, and the only thing he has is his phone and cable news.
MICHAEL D'ANTONIO, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, you know, I think the only people maybe having a worse Christmas than the White House staffers are the 14,000 kids who are separated from their families as migrants or maybe it's the kids of 800,000 federal workers who don't know whether their paychecks are going to come. This is -- we're really now in a terrible state in this country, where the president is waging war on the Christmases of all of these folks who should normally be enjoying ingoing some peace for the holidays.
BASH: Well, of course, the president has just kind of explained what I was talking about, with his phone. He sent out about ten tweets, maybe more by now, during the day, on a whole host of issues, going after a number of people in his own cabinet, or at least those who are leaving his cabinet and also the Fed chair that he put in the Fed, that he nominated. And even though this is something that we're used to, it is the disruption even on a day like Christmas Eve that is a little bit jarring for people who are not thrilled with him. But for people who like him, who are out there watching this, they're saying, go get him. This is why I voted for him.
D'ANTONIO: Well, maybe those folks think that everybody deserves some coal in their Christmas stocking, I don't know. But this ream doesn't seem like a goodwill toward his fellow man, when it comes to the president and how he's ending out the year. But it's been a roller coaster as you know; you've covered him now for almost two years. This is how he's always been. This notion of being at war, being in conflict, he's most comfortable in this chaotic condition. And I think he gets, almost has an anxiety attack when things are quiet, so if they're quiet, he disrupts them.
BASH: Well, that's what's happening on Christmas Eve, for sure. Michael D'Antonio, thank you so much for your insight and hope you have a merry Christmas.
D'ANTONIO: Same to you.
BASH: And Melania Trump is expected any minute back at white house. She returned from Mar-a-Lago today, after plans for the family to spend Christmas in south Florida were canceled, because as we've been talking about, there is a partial government shutdown. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BASH: 2018 wasn't only a big year in politics; it was also big in sports. Andy Scholes takes a look back at the top sports stories of the year.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: 2018 was another memorable year in the sports world. Serena returned controversy, Tiger was back on top and hundreds of women bravely came forward to confront their abuser. March Madness had its usual drama with buzzer-beaters and upsets, but it was a 98-year-old nun that captured the hearts of the country. Sister Jean, the team chaplain for Chicago Loyola became the star of the NCAA tournament and the 11-seeded Ramblers shocked everyone by making it to the final four.
JEAN DOLORES SCHMIDT, TEAM CHAPLAIN, LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO: Oh, don't be nervous with me.
SCHOLES: You're a celebrity.
SCHMIDT: I know. That's what they tell me.
SCHOLES: The ramblers would fall short as Villanova won it all, claiming their second title in three years.
At number seven, two first time champions and historic inaugural season. The Las Vegas Golden Knights becoming the first expansion team in any of the major four sports leagues to win their division in their first year. Golden Knights making the finals before losing to the Washington Capitals in five games.
ALEX OVECHKIN: We're stealing (ph) cup champions! Yes!
SCHOLES: This was the first title for the Capitals after years of disappointing seasons. And for the superstar, Alex Ovechkin, he finally got to hoist the Stanley Cup after being considered the best player to never win a title.
In the NFL, the 2018 playoffs were dominated by an underdog and their backup QB. Nick Foles leading the Eagles to the super bowl against Tom Brady and the mighty Patriots. The Eagles would win their first Super Bowl 41 to 33. Foles named the game's MVP.
In 2018, Tiger Woods finally climbed back on top of the golf world. After nearly winning the PGA championship, Tiger was triumphant at the tour championship in September, and in an incredible scene, thousands of fans chasing Tiger up the final hole of the tournament. And for the first time in five years, Tiger had won a PGA event. TIGER WOODS: This is my 80th win. And all I've gone through to get to
this point, it's pretty special.
SCHOLES: The 2018 winter Olympics in PyeongChang saw North and South Korea march in the opening ceremony together under a unified flag for the first time since 2006. The two countries yielded a joint women's hockey team. It was in that sport, where Team USA saw one of their biggest victories.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Troy, what a night it was.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Epic dramatic finish as the American women capture Olympic gold for the first time in 20 years.
MEGHAN DUGGAN, USA WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM CAPTAIN: Brings tears to my eyes. It's been an incredible last 24 hours.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The world cup is officially up and running in Moscow.
SCHOLES: As sports biggest spectacle, more than lived up to the hype with thrilling high-scoring close games from start to finish.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is absolute pandemonium in Paris.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's been an amazing world cup. It's been a very rainy end to it. But France are big champions in an exciting finale.
SCHOLES: At number three, athletes using their voice. In August, the NFL season once again started with President Trump attacking players who kneeled during the national anthem and a player who started the movement, Colin Kaepernick, remains out of football, but he did pick up a new sponsorship deal with Nike.
COLIN KAEPERNICK: Don't ask if your dreams are crazy. Ask if you're crazy enough.
SCHOLES: Lebron James has always one to speak up on social issues, but in February he was told to just, quote, "shut up and dribble" by a Fox news host.
LEBRON JAMES: We will definitely not shut up and dribble. I mean too much (ph) to the -- to so many kids that feel they don't -- they don't have a way out.
SCHOLES: After losing in the finals again to the warriors, Lebron announced was taking his talents to Hollywood to play for the Lakers, but it was what Lebron did off the court this year that he calls the most important thing he's ever done.
JAMES: When I was younger and when I older (ph), I said if I ever had the means, if I ever became successful or anything, you know, I want to be able to give back.
SCHOLES: Lebron opening an elementary school for at-risk youth in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. With just nine months after giving birth to her daughter Alexis
Olympia, Serena Williams made her return to grand slam tennis at the French Open. Controversially unseeded after her maternity leave. Later, after finishing as the runner up at Wimbledon, Serena again made the finals at the U.S. Open in her match against 20-year-old Naomi Osaka, it turned into one of the most controversial in tennis history.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Stole a point from me. You're a thief too.
SCHOLES: Chair umpire Carlos Ramos penalizing Serena for receiving signals from her coach, breaking her racket and for verbal abuse. The last penalty cost Serena a full game which resulted in her arguing with officials that she was being treated more harshly than male players.
The number one sports moment of 2018 is the courage and bravery of the hundreds of women who confronted their sexual abuser. Former U.S. and Michigan state gymnastics doctor, Larry Nassar.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Larry Nassar is in another Michigan courtroom for another sentencing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Michigan state university is being investigated by the attorney general's office.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Larry Nassar will likely be spending rest of his life behind bars.
SCHOLES: More than 150 women gave impact statements at a marathon sentencing hearing for Nassar and in June, many of those women took the stage at the ESPYs as they were honored with the Arthur Ashe courage award and gold medal gymnast Ali Raisman was among them and gave an inspiring speech.
ALI RAISMAN: If just one adult had listened, believed and acted, the people standing before you on this stage would have never met him.
SCHOLES: The sports in 2018 will be remembered for empowerment and perseverance. From Serena to gymnasts, inspiring women are making their voices heard, building a foundation for years to come.
ANNOUNCER: Eight in 2018, brought to you by Farmers Insurance. They know from experience and 90 years of it, and soon that will be 91. Visit cnn.com/yearinreview for a look back at the stories from around the world in 2018.
(END VIDEO)
