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American Morning: Wake Up Call
Fine's Accuser Filing Suit; Ex-Pres., Proud Pop; Fine Accuser To File Civil Suit Today; FAMU Band Director's Firing On Hold; "Occupy San Fran" Dismantled
Aired December 08, 2011 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: New details of the child sex abuse scandal at Syracuse. One of Bernie Fine's accusers taking him to court after the D.A. says no criminal charges will be filed.
Occupy San Francisco raided, tents torn down, dozens hauled away. Camps now cleared out of every major city on the West Coast and payback plan today.
And ex-pres, proud pop. Former President Bill Clinton sits down with Alina Cho and talks about Chelsea's evolution from first daughter to scholar to reporter.
This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL.
(MUSIC)
COSTELLO: And good morning to you. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL for Thursday, December 8th. From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello.
Here are this morning's top stories:
One of Bernie Fine's accusers is expected to announce that he's filing a lawsuit in civil court today. Zach Tomaselli accused the former Syracuse basketball associate coach of sexually abusing him in a Pittsburgh hotel room in 2002.
The FDA hearing evidence about whether the birth control pill Yaz is dangerous. The government looking at side effects, including claims about an increased risk of blood clots. There are allegations the drug maker Bayer hid evident of risk.
And get ready to swash your way through work. Heavy rain and wet snow coming down in the eastern United States. You better check on your flights too.
Let's get a check on today's weather. (AUDIO BREAK)
Good morning, Jacqui.
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.
The good news is, things are looking a lot better in about five hours. So, as we progress throughout the day today, things will be improving but it is going to be a slow go of it for a lot of people, especially across the Northeast. There you can see the radar picture. You know, we're looking at about Providence up towards Boston and northward, you're still getting the rain, a little bit of a freezing mix, and then the snow as we head into the interior parts of the Northeast. You're already dried up in New York City. D.C., things are looking better. You're just really dealing with the cold conditions as opposed to it.
Five to nine inches total, those are the heaviest snowfall accumulations and, of course, I-95 eastward, everybody is just really dealing with some of that rainfall. And we've got a secondary cold front which is making its way behind this thing.
So, that means a reinforcing shot of cold air, just what you wanted to hear, right? Thirty-seven today in Chicago, 21 in Minneapolis and the 40s in the Northeast, Carol. That's pretty much where you are right now. Those temperatures are going to be falling later on this afternoon.
COSTELLO: Well, I knew reality would hit sooner or later.
JERAS: This has been a long time coming.
COSTELLO: It has. Thank you, Jacqui.
JERAS: Sure.
COSTELLO: Just hours after the D.A. announced he will not charge ex-Syracuse basketball coach Bernie Fine for alleged sex abuse of young boys, one of his accusers is expected to announce that he is filing a lawsuit in civil court.
Zach Tomaselli has accused Fine of sexually abusing him in a Pittsburgh hotel room in 2002. Tomaselli who was 13 at the time of the alleged incident is expected to speak at a news conference later today.
Yesterday, prosecutors said Bernie Fine cannot be charged in criminal court only because the statute of limitations in New York state has run out, not because there isn't enough evidence. In fact, the D.A. spoke to our Gary Tuchman in an exclusive interview and said than an au pair in the Fine household had no doubt something was going on between Fine and his first accuser Bobby Davis.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Did your impression that au pair is convinced that Bernie Fine had a sexual relationship with Bobby Davis while she was at the house?
BILL FITZPATRICK, ONONDAGA CO., NY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: No question about it. She didn't witness any molestation, but clearly body language, affect, they way they talked to each other, the way they acted around each other, the conversations she had with Laurie Fine, there's no question that she felt --
TUCHMAN: For example, when it came to Bernie, what did she say about the way Bernie Fine acted that made her know they were having a sexual --
FITZPATRICK: The way they would do things, the way they would watch TV, the way they would eat foot together, the way they would suddenly disappear together.
TUCHMAN: And what did Laurie Fine say to her?
FITZPATRICK: Laurie Fine had numerous conversations with her, and the gist of the conversations were: I don't have the right parts for Bernie. And clearly indicating and you recognize the hearsay implications of this, but clearly recognizing that Laurie Fine was of the opinion that Bernie Fine was gay and they were leading two separate lives under the same house.
TUCHMAN: So, the au pair that worked there said Laurie Fine talked to her, a 16-year-old girl, about how she didn't have the parts for her husband?
FITZPATRICK: You know, it was difficult to listen to, but that's exactly right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: In the meantime, Jerry Sandusky could be let out of jail again today. Excuse me. Police arrested the ex-Penn State coach yesterday on sexual assault charges involving two new accusers, one who says his cries for help were ignored. Sandusky faces a preliminary hearing on Tuesday where his lawyer will have the chance to question some of his accusers.
Florida A&M band director Julian White will keep his job for now. The school is holding off on a decision to fire him until an investigation is completed into the suspected hazing death of drum major Robert Champion. White is now on administrative leave with pay. The school is also taking back the dismissals of four students.
Investigators in Georgia say a suspected child killer is off the streets this morning. Twenty-year-old Ryan Brunn will be arraigned today on charges he sexually assaulted, stabbed and beat a 7-year-old girl to death.
Investigators say he's a maintenance worker at an apartment complex where Jorelys Rivera lived and apparently was killed 40 miles north of Atlanta. Her body was found nearby in a trash bin.
Investigators had suspected her killer either lived in or had access to the building and they had good reason for that.
Holly Firfer has been covering the story and joined Erin Burnett last night with new details.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was a tip from somebody in the apartment complex that actually led them to Ryan Brunn.
Now, remember, back on Friday when they started canvassing the apartment, law enforcement told us they were focusing on somebody they thought who lived or had access to the apartment complex. A couple of things which transpired when they found out on Monday where they found her body in a trash compacter. First of all, you need a key to use the trash compacter. The only people that had keys were maintenance people.
Secondly, there was evidence, blood and a mattress found in an empty apartment building next door to where Jorelys lived. Who would know about that? They said somebody who lived there or had access to those apartments.
So, they canvassed the neighborhood, asked residents for anything they saw and someone came forward and said there was a maintenance guy who started about a month ago. He started actually on November 7th. He supposedly was living in the apartment complex with somebody else. We're told by a neighbor, the property manager's son. And that he was very friendly, he was seen around, but they didn't really know him that well.
So when GBI and the FBI and the sheriff's department were asking around, a lot of people were mentioning this guy, Ryan Brunn, Erin. So, his name kept coming you.
ERIN BURNETT, HOST, "ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT": So, I guess when you're saying he's only worked there a month, I guess it's possible people didn't really have a sense of whether he appeared to be off or was looking at children or behaving around children inappropriately. Do you know whether he had to go through any kind of a background check before he was hired?
FIRFER: Yes. As a matter of fact, moments ago, we got a statement I want to read to you from McCormack Baron, the company that manages the apartment complex where Jorelys Rivera was killed. And it says, quote, "He was put through an extensive background check that included a criminal and sexual predator background check and he passed. He had to undergo this for both his employment and residency."
And according to law enforcement officials, they did not find any criminal record in his past, but they do say they're going to check out every county, every state that he's lived to see if there are unsolved crimes or whether maybe it was a sexual crime that wasn't reported. But they suspect there might be something in his past that they just didn't know about.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Investigators say they're now digging through Brunn's past to see if he could be connected to other crimes. But the suspect's brother told a local TV station that his arrest is a big mistake.
A deadly chopper crash 30 miles from the Las Vegas Strip. The National Park Service says five people died when the helicopter went down in the mountains near Lake Mead during a tour of the Hoover Dam. Sundance Helicopters owned the chopper. It's still not clear why it went down.
Wall Street protesters in San Francisco reeling after police took apart their camp and arrested dozens of people. Protesters were warned several times to pick up their tents and leave over the few weeks. Authorities took down over 100 tents and were removing shopping carts full of debris from the camp.
Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich sentenced to 14 years for trying to sell President Obama's old Senate seat. Blagojevich said he was sorry in court yesterday, but the judge said that his apology sounded more like, one, a politician or lawyer would give.
Former President Bill Clinton has had a very active and charitable post-presidency. The only person with more on her plate may be his daughter.
Our Alina Cho sat down with Clinton as part of her "Big Stars, Big Giving" holiday special. Clinton talks about how Chelsea has really hit her stride.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Chelsea, she's taking an increasingly public role. Not just with your foundation, with Secretary Clinton as well, and now she's at NBC. How does that feel?
WILLIAM J. CLINTON, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: I'm proud of her. I don't know how she's going to do all this.
She's teaching at Columbia. She's still involved with NYU where she worked to help them set up their university in the Middle East. She's the chairman of the board of the biggest interfaith group co- headed by a rabbi and an imam, and she's doing this TV thing, and thinking about writing a thesis to get a PhD at -- from her old alma mater Oxford.
So, I don't know how she's going to do it, but I'm really proud of her because she's found her rhythm in life. She likes what she's doing. She believes in it. And that's a good thing. That's what we all want for our children.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: We'll have more of Alina's sit down with President Clinton throughout the morning on AMERICAN MORNING that starts at 6:00 Eastern Time.
Still to come, set to be a wet and snowy morning along the East Coast. We're tracking this latest wintry storm.
And controversy over the morning after pill, who should have access to it. We'll tell you who had the final word on this debate.
And an update on the actress who was outraged on how she ended up looking on the cover of a men's magazine. She claims her family has now disowned her.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Fourteen minutes past the hour.
Here's what we're following this morning:
One of the alleged sex abuse victims of Bernie Fine is expected to announce he's filing a lawsuit against the former Syracuse coach today. Zach Tomaselli claims Fine molested him in 2002. As far as criminal charges go, Fine is in the clear. The local D.A. says the statute of limitations has run out.
The morning after pill will stay prescription only for girls 16 and under. The secretary of health and human services overruled an FDA recommendation blocking Plan B emergency contraception from being made available over the counter to young teens. Right now, it's available without a prescription for women 17 and older.
In money news, Yahoo has been awarded $610 million in damages for a lottery scam run by Thai and Nigerian swindlers. Investigators say they used Yahoo's name and logo to dupe people into believing they had won a bogus lottery. Instead, they stole passwords and other personal information. Yahoo who may not see the millions because none of the defendants have responded to the complaint.
In sports, baseball's big spender, the Miami Marlins dishing out millions. The baseball club committing nearly $200 million to sign on Mark Buehrle, Jose Reyes and Heath Bell. They also have a big offer out to one more player.
That is insane, Jacqui.
JERAS: That would field my whole team.
COSTELLO: It's insane. Nobody goes to see their games, so this is their big pitch as they come out, we have stars.
JERAS: Absolutely. People like baseball in Florida. Think of the people that go there for spring break and for spring training.
COSTELLO: They do. But they don't go to the pro games, they don't go to Tampa either.
JERAS: I know. Well, maybe this will do it.
COSTELLO: Maybe.
JERAS: Perhaps. Baseball seems so far off, doesn't it?
Man, it's cold out there. Boys of summer. I'm daydreaming.
All right. We're looking at the strong storm system, Carol, continues to move across the Northeast. We're really just looking primarily at New England for the rain and snow yet this morning. It's from Boston on northward. Everybody should be done by noon.
Unfortunately, we're starting out of the gate this morning with likely travel delays because we've got overcast conditions and the winds are really strong. So major delays over an hour possible New York, Boston, Philadelphia. Delays probably under an hour, though, for you in Chicago, Detroit and Miami. There's your Florida city, with some breezy winds expected there as well. But I think those will be pretty minor throughout the day today.
All right. Outside of our feature in the Northeast, it's pretty quiet today. We got a clipper moving through the upper Midwest that's going to bring some light snow showers from Omaha over towards Des Moines, but it's really going to bring in some more cold air more than anything else, Carol. This cold air is going to stick around at least until the weekend.
COSTELLO: I guess it will feel more like Christmas, huh?
JERAS: I know. You can get out those fuzzy coats and boots. Enjoy that.
COSTELLO: I missed those 61 degree temperatures already.
JERAS: It's gone.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Jacqui.
JERAS: You're welcome.
COSTELLO: Shamed and disowned by her family, now a Bollywood actress plans to sue a men's magazine in India for using allegedly doctored photos of her in a racy cover photo. Here's actress Veena Malik posting for India's "FHM" magazine with a tattoo on her arm with the initials ISI. That stands for Pakistan's Interservices Intelligence Agency.
She says she did pose topless, but certainly not nude.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPORTER: Were you topless?
VEENA MALIK, PAKISTANI ACTRESS: Si. Actually I was, but I was not nude. There's a big difference between topless and being nude. You will see various shoots in the Bollywood industry where actresses actually went topless but they were covered like the way I was. There are various examples that you can see. But I did not go nude. Si.
REPORTER: So, you had bottoms on?
MALIK: Bottoms on, I had. And they actually removed those bottoms by, you know, getting morphed or removed or whatever the technology that was used.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: "FHM" says Malik knew the terms and approved the shoot. Pakistan, outraged by the photos.
Reza Sayah has the latest live in Islamabad.
This is such a scandal there in a different way than it would be in the United States.
REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And you know what? I wouldn't say there's outrage here. I think the biggest concern for this actress is the reaction from the family. They're not too happy.
But I think it's important to keep it real for our viewers out there. I don't think many people knew about this story here. They cared about it until the Pakistani media got ahold of it and then the Indian media got ahold of it and the international media got ahold of it.
And once these racy pictures of Veena Malik started appearing on air, that's when the buzz was generated. It was very much generated by the media.
There is no widespread outrage here. Some people are disappointed here that a Muslim woman would take these pictures. Others are supporting her.
Here's a taste of some of the reaction in Pakistan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She make mistake go there, but I don't think she can do that as a Pakistani. I'm a proud Pakistani and I believe that as a Pakistani, she can do it. I think so, this is like a propaganda, but she needs to stay in Pakistan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAYAH: So, there you get a little taste of the reaction here. Again, despite what some people may think, there is no widespread anger, outrage. Frankly, most people in Pakistan, 180 million people, are hungry, poor. They have a lot more important things to worry about than this issue.
And despite what some people may think, Pakistan/India relations aren't impacted. I think the real story here is that commercial TV and commercial magazines are thriving even in this region and one way to get viewers and readers is to put an attractive, scantily clad woman on air, in magazine, and people will watch, people will tune in, and that's what's happening in this region as well.
COSTELLO: That is one sure way. As far as her family is concerned, we've heard that they've disowned her.
SAYAH: Well, that's what she said. They're not talking at this point, and I think in the grand scheme of things, that seems to be the biggest worry for her, is that her family, obviously, seems like she didn't consult with them, her family is not happy, they're in Pakistan, she's in India, they don't appear to be talking. And it's not clear where that relationship is headed.
COSTELLO: All right. Reza Sayah -- thanks so much, live this morning for us.
The deadline is ticking to extend the payroll tax cuts. Still ahead: hear what exactly will happen if lawmakers cannot reach an agreement.
It's 20 minutes past the hour. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: The countdown is on. The payroll tax cut is set to expire at the end of the year and if Congress doesn't reach an agreement on its extension, it could impact your paycheck in a big way.
So, what are the payroll tax cuts you ask, and how much do they add or take away from your paycheck?
Christine Romans explains it all.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: If these tax cuts are not extended by the end of the year, your paycheck will get smaller.
Well, in your paycheck, you pay a part of your earnings to the government in a payroll tax and that tax, among other things, goes to fund Social Security, right? Six-point-two percent of your income is what you pay to the government in that particular payroll tax.
Well, in the stimulus last year, there was a holiday, a reprieve for one year, that you would only pay 4.2 percent and that extra little tiny bit, that extra 2 percent of your paycheck on average, comes out to I think $50-some dollars a pay period and comes out to somewhere between $900 and $1,000 a year extra in your paycheck.
The tax cut applies for 160 million working Americans and it applies to the first $106,000 of your income. So, that means somebody making more than $106,000 is not going to get a bigger tax break than everybody else, quite frankly.
Some economists say yes, it did stimulate some spending. I mean, there's no question when you so many workers living right on the edge, they're spending every dollar of their paycheck, if you put a few more dollars in their paycheck, they'll spend it in the economy. And it's one reason why now you're seeing bipartisan support for extending this holiday another year, because Republicans and Democrats have agreed that a little more money in the average worker's pocket is something they're probably going to spend.
Why does anyone want to end it? Because it doesn't come for free. Because it costs about $200 billion and we live in a world where we can't spend money we don't have anymore.
Democrats and Republicans finally agree on something and that is, that the payroll tax holiday should be extended. They disagree pretty strongly on how to pay for it.
What Republicans don't want, they don't want to raise taxes on millionaires to pay for lower taxes for working Americans. They say that there are too many small business owners, and small businesses, and job creators who don't want to see higher taxes so that you can keep this temporary payroll tax holiday going.
Democrats would like to see a surtax of almost 2 percent on millionaires on their income. They'd also like to roll back some tax breaks for the oil industry to help pay for it as well.
They have until the end of the year and there's another measure that sort of goes along with this, a lot of people are talking about, is the extension of emergency unemployment benefits. That's something else that expires.
So, if Congress can do nothing, if Congress is stalemated and no extension of this or some of the other provisions that were meant to help families over the last year, you'll see potentially 5 million people lose their unemployment benefits by the end of the year and another 160 million people will not have extra money in their paycheck come January 1st.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Thank you, be Christine. That was fascinating.
Still ahead, a showdown in San Francisco between Occupy protesters and police. How it all ended, just ahead.
And it's set to be a wet and snowy day in parts of the eastern United States. Flight delays, yes. Reality sits in.
Twenty-seven minutes past the hour. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO (voice-over): Occupy San Francisco raided. Tents torn down. Their stuff cleared out. Dozens of people hauled away. This is you're A.M. WAKE-UP CALL.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO (on-camera): And good morning to you. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL for Thursday, December 8th. From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello. It's 30 minutes past the hour. Here are your morning's top stories.
Former Syracuse coach, Bernie Fine, will not face state charges for alleged sexual misconduct against young boys. That's because the statute of limitations has expired, but he may be -- he may not be off the hook. He could still face federal charges, and a civil lawsuit will be announced today in Pittsburgh.
The birth control pill, Yaz, will be under the microscope today. The FDA is hearing evidence about safety concerns, in particular, of increased risk of blood clots. There are also allegations the drug maker, Bayer, hid evidence of risk.
December, yes, December, the time of season's cheer and snow. I know, some like it and some don't, but it's part of life. The latest storm sweeping up through the south to the northeast. If you don't like snow, it's moving out rather quickly, leaving a big batch of cold air in its wake.
Let's head to the weather center in Atlanta and Jacqui Jeras. I'm telling you, yesterday was still warm here in New York, maybe about 50 degrees. And this morning, I went out and I thought I was going to die.
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It is not going to get much better. Those winds are going to be strong today, Carol, making it feel even colder than that temperature. So yes, even with highs in the 40s, it's going to feel much colder than that. We got a fair amount of snow, but that's really stayed in the interior part.
So, it's going to help keep it slow going, unfortunately, for you this morning. We found six, almost seven inches there in Tracy Creek, New York. There you can see Binghamton just shy of four inches. And of course, rain what is we saw really I-95 in east of there, and it's moving very quickly. So, by noon today, everybody is over and done with this, but the cold is going to keep its grip, and it's going to stay chilly at least into the weekend.
Temperatures about 15 degrees below average across the nation's midsection. Here only about five below where you should be for this time of the year, Carol, in the northeast.
COSTELLO: I guess, I don't miss the rain. I'll look at it that way.
JERAS: Yes, it's dreary. Not fun.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: We're a cheery bunch this morning, aren't we?
JERAS: I'm working on it. I haven't had my coffee yet. Next time I promise, super chipper, travel delays, you'll love it.
COSTELLO: Extra shot of espresso or maybe two for you.
JERAS: I'm in. (LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: OK. Thanks, Jacqui.
Just hours after the D.A. announced he will not charge ex- Syracuse basketball coach, Bernie Fine, for alleged sex abuse of young boys, one of his accusers is expected to announce that he is filing a lawsuit in civil court. Zach Tomaselli has accused Fine of sexually abusing him in a Pittsburgh hotel in 2002. Tomaselli was 13 at the time of the alleged incident. He's expected to speak at a news conference later today.
Yesterday, prosecutors said Bernie Fine cannot be charged in criminal court, but only because the statute of limitations in New York State has run out, not because there's not enough evidence. In fact, the D.A. spoke to our Gary Tuchman in an exclusive interview and said an au pair in the Fine house had no doubt that something was going on between Fine and his first accuser, Bobby Davis.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Your impression that the au pair is convinced that Bernie Fine had a sexual relationship with Bobby Davis while she was that house?
BILL FITZPATRICK, ONONDAGE, CO., NY DISTRICT ACTTORNEY: No question about it. All kinds of things that -- she didn't physically witness any molestation, but clearly, body language, affect, the way they talked to each other, the way they acted around each other, the conversations she had with Laurie Fine, there was no question that --
TUCHMAN: Wait, for example, when it came to Bernie, what did she say about the way Bernie Fine acted that made her know that they were having a sexual --
FITZPATRICK: The way they would do things, the way they would watch TV, the way they would eat food together, the way they would suddenly disappear together.
TUCHMAN: And what did Laurie Fine say to her?
FITZPATRICK: Laurie Fine had numerous conversations with her, and the gist of the conversations were, I don't have the right parts for Bernie. And clearly indicating and you recognize that the hearsay implications of this, but clearly recognizing that Laurie Fine was of the opinion that Bernie Fine was gay and that they were leading two separate lives under the same house.
TUCHMAN: So, the au pair who worked there said Laurie Fine talked to her, a 16-year-old girl, about how she didn't have the parts for her husband?
FITZPATRICK: You know, it was -- it was difficult to listen to, but that's exactly right.
(END VIDEOTAPE) In the meantime, Jerry Sandusky, he could be let out of jail again today. Police arrested the ex-Penn State coach yesterday on sexual assault charges involving two new accusers, one who says his cries for help were ignored. Sandusky faces a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, where his lawyer will have the chance to question some of Sandusky's accusers.
Florida A&M band director, Julian White, will keep his job for now. The school is holding off on a decision to fire him until an investigation is completed into the suspected hazing death of a drum major, Robert Champion. White is now on administrative leave with pay. The school is also taking back the dismissals of four students.
Investigators in Georgia say a suspected child killer is off the streets this morning. Twenty-year-old Ryan Brunn will be arraigned today on charges he sexually assaulted, stabbed, and beat a seven- year-old girl. Investigators say he's a maintenance worker at the apartment complex in Atlanta -- near Atlanta, I should say, where Jorelys Rivera lived and was apparently killed.
Her body was found in a trash bin. The management company that runs the apartment complex says all employees and residents must pass background checks before being hired or moving in and that Brunn did clear those checks.
A deadly chopper crash just 30 miles from the Las Vegas strip. The National Park Service says five people died when the helicopter went down in the mountains near lake mead during a tour of the Hoover dam. Sundance helicopters owned the chopper. Still not clear why it went down.
Wall Street protesters in San Francisco reeling after police took apart their camp and arrested dozens of people. Protesters were warned several times to pack up their tents and leave over the past few weeks. Authorities took down more than 100 tents and were removing shopping carts full of debris from the camp.
It's looking good for GOP presidential candidate, Newt Gingrich. In four early voting states, he tops a CNN/ORC/Time poll in three of them and is closing in on his closest rival, Mitt Romney in the other.
So, let's talk about with this "Politico" senior political writer, Maggie Haberman. She joins us now by phone. Good morning, Maggie.
MAGGIE HABERMAN, POLITICO.COM (on the phone): Good morning. How are you?
COSTELLO: I'm great this morning. We've been talking about --
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: I am, actually, because it's one day until Friday. We've been talking about --
(LAUGHTER) HABERMAN: OK.
COSTELLO: We've been talking -- I know. We've been talking about Newt Gingrich's surge for the last several days. Everybody wondering if it's real, and I wonder that because when you look closer at these polls, you see that voters aren't really excited about their choice, even though they seem to be choosing Newt Gingrich.
HABERMAN: I think you're getting on a really important point. I think that the Gingrich surge is coming in part because of the Cain collapse and you're seeing this group of voters that did not want Mitt Romney, that has been jumping from candidate to candidate, started out with Donald Trump, then it was Michele Bachmann, and then, it was Rick Perry, and then, it was Herman Cain, now, Newt Gingrich.
I do think people can plausibly see Newt Gingrich as the nominee, and in their mind, as president in a way that, perhaps, they couldn't with the others because he is a very famous former House speaker, because, you know, he sounds smart, because he does sound authoritative. He certainly very combative, and I think that's what voters in the GOP electorate want to see right now.
But I think you point to a very important issue, which is that the support is very soft and Newt Gingrich's support is about to get tested, especially in Iowa where Ron Paul is airing negative ads against him, and his opponents are starting to hit him much harder. So, the question is, does he survive this next week and a half stretch? I think if he does, he's going to be very tough to beat.
COSTELLO: It's hard to believe that he could survive when so many prominent Republicans who've worked with Newt Gingrich are coming forward and saying, this is a terrible guy to work with. I mean, Newt Gingrich should not be president. These are fellow Republicans and prominent ones saying this.
HABERMAN: Right, and I do think that if you start to see Newt Gingrich solidifying his support a little more, you will see even more of that. The question is, do voters care? There's an anti- establishment feeling among voters right now.
Does this actually impact voters who make them think or does it cause more backlash and make voters say, you know, I don't want to be told who to vote for, and that's really the open question.
COSTELLO: Maggie Haberman from Politico, thanks so much for joining us this morning.
Former President Bill Clinton has had a very active and charitable post-presidency. The only person with more on her plate, perhaps, may be his daughter. Our Alina Cho sat down with Clinton as part of her big stars, big giving holiday special and talked with Clinton about Chelsea and how she's really hit her stride.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: Chelsea, she's taking an increasingly public role, not just with your foundation, with Secretary Clinton as well, and now, she's at NBC. How's that feel?
CLINTON: I'm proud of her. I don't know how she's going to do all this. She's teaching at Columbia. She's still involved with NYU where she worked to help them to set up their university in the Middle East. She's the chairman of the board of the biggest interfaith group co-headed by a rabbi and imam, and she's doing this TV thing and thinking about writing a thesis to get her Ph.D. from her old alma mater, Oxford.
So, I don't know how she's going to do it all, but I'm really proud of her, because she's found her rhythm in life. She likes what she's doing. She believes in it. And that's a good thing. That's what we all want for our children.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: We'll have more of Alina's special sit down with President Clinton throughout the morning on "AMERICAN MORNING" that starts at 6:00 Eastern time.
Well, it is 40 minutes past the hour. Let's get a check on what else is coming up at the top of the hour on "American Morning." Alina Cho joins us now. Good morning, Alina.
CHO: Good morning. Thanks for the plug, Carol.
COSTELLO: Any time.
CHO: Coming up in about 20 minutes -- all right, good. I'll see you in 20 minutes on "American Morning."
Coming up, a major development in the search for a missing sex worker and a possible serial killer on Long Island. The woman's cell phone found on a desolate stretch of beach where ten other bodies turned up. We'll have the latest on that.
And we're on the dangerous road out of Iraq with the 82nd airborne as the final few thousand U.S. troops try to carefully make it home by Christmas.
And what would you do at your job without e-mail? One company is about to find out. We're going to be talking to a CEO who wants every inbox and Blackberry empty by 2013. Can you believe it? Can it be done? We'll tell you. We're back after this.
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COSTELLO: It is 45 mince past the hour. Here's what we're following this morning. One of the alleged sex abuse victims of Bernie Fine is expected to announce he's filing a civil suit against the former Syracuse coach today. Zach Tomaselli claims Fine molested him in 2002. As far as criminal charges, the local D.A. says Fine is in the clear because the statute of limitations has run out.
Could be a break in the case of a missing Orlando mother. Police have found Michele Parker's iPhone. She vanished almost three weeks ago on the same day she appeared on "People's Court" with her ex- fiancee, Dale Smith Jr. They were arguing over a $5,000 engagement ring. Smith is considered a suspect, although, he's not been charged.
In money new, Yahoo! has been awarded $610 million in damages for a lottery scam run by Thai and Nigerian swindlers. Investigators say they used Yahoo!'s name and logo to dupe people into believing they'd won a bogus lottery. Instead, they stole passwords and other personal information. More than 11 million hoax e-mails were sent out.
In sports, baseball's big spender, the Miami Marlins, can you believe this, dishing out millions of dollars. The baseball club committing nearly $200 million to sign on Mark Buehrle, Jose Reyes, and Heath Bell. They also have another big offer out there to one more player. I can't wait to see who that is.
Let's head to the weather center and Jacqui Jeras.
JERAS: What recession?
COSTELLO: I know. Exactly. It's insane, isn't it?
JERAS: It is insane. The weather is a little insane too, by the way. A lot of people not loving this.
COSTELLO: Yes, it is.
JERAS: Yes. But it's moving so fast -- I know, I know. We're not doing Debbie Downer this hit, though. It's like yes, it's moving out really fast. In fact, at the top of the hour, Carol, it was raining in Boston. Right now, it stopped. So, it's moving out very quickly. And by noon, everybody should be feeling a lot better, but one of the big things is, is that the winds are going to stick around, and they're going to stay really strong and that could cause some delays at the airport.
So, looking for major delays potentially today in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. Delays, though, under an hour for you in Chicago and Detroit and Miami. Maybe 15 to 30 minutes because of the winds that are coming through with this cold front, and it's really affecting the eastern two-thirds of the country and a secondary shot of cold air moving through the Midwest today.
So, you're only going to make it up to 21 degrees in Minneapolis,48 in Memphis, and amazingly 44 in New York. But in those winds, Carol, it's going to be feeling more like upper 30s.
COSTELLO: Oh. But we've been spoiled for too long.
JERAS: But it's dry.
COSTELLO: That's true, because it was nasty yesterday with all that rain.
JERAS: Yes, it was.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Jacqui Jeras. The U.S. citizen behind bars in Thailand sentenced to two-and-a- half years in prison for insulting the king. Anna Coren has all the details. She's live in Bangkok. What did he say about the king?
ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, as you say, Joe Gordon, a U.S. citizen, was sentenced to 2 1/2 years jail here in Bangkok because he insulted the king. Now, his crime, he translated a band biography and posted the link online. We can't repeat his remarks or what was said in this particular book because we will then be charged with breaking the law.
But this, Carol, is a leniency (ph). It's only 2 1/2 years. He was facing 20 years in jail, but because he pleaded guilty and cooperated with authorities, they reduced his sentence to 2 1/2 years. Now, he spoke to his lawyer after the verdict, and he said that they will be applying for a royal pardon -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Is it likely he'll get one?
COREN: Well, he, the king, has certainly granted royal pardons in the past. But I want to tell you a little bit about these laws, because they're quite unusual to the rest of the world, the lese majeste laws, and they protect the monarchy and countries that have monarchies. Most of them have actually phased out these particular laws, but Thailand has the harshest lese majeste laws in the world.
Now, if you insult, if you criticize, or if you threaten the king, the monarchy or any members of it, you will be punished with imprisonment, and that is exactly what has happened to U.S. citizen, Joe Gordon. There's, obviously, been a great deal of international outrage from the United States, the European Union, to human rights groups.
They've called these laws draconian, and that they suppress the rights or freedom of speech. But it doesn't look like they'll be going away any time soon. The Thai government here under Prime Minister Yingluck Shinnawatra, she actually set up a committee to clamp down on websites that do criticize the kin -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Anna Coren reporting live from Thailand today. Thank you so much.
Here's what we're working on for the 6:00 a.m. eastern hour. The results of a new CNN/Time poll showing a double digit surge in the poll for GOP presidential hopeful, Newt Gingrich.
And it isn't too late to book that last-minute holiday getaway. Stick around for some available deals. Yes deals. We'll have a travel expert in. Fifty minutes past the hour. This is you're A.M. WAKE-UP CALL.
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COSTELLO: It looks like former Illinois governor, Rod Blagojevich, could not avoid prison time for trying to sell President Obama's old Senate seat. And to make matters worse, he couldn't dodge the punch lines from the late night comedians either.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN: Big travel season, big holiday travel season. For example, Rod Blagojevich is going away.
(LAUGHTER)
LETTERMAN: Yes. Yes, he is. Fourteen years in prison. Fourteen. You know, I'm talking about, former governor of Illinois. Anybody here from Illinois?
(APPLAUSE)
LETTERMAN: Did you vote for the guy? Well, he's gone. Fourteen years. His barber got the death penalty. Whoa.
(LAUGHTER)
CRAIG FERGUSON, HOST, THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON: He was convicted for trying to sell Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat. And I'm like if you had waited a couple years, you could probably sell it back to Barack Obama.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: You never know.
Alec Baldwin apologizes, sort of. In a letter, the actor said sorry to passengers on a flight that was delayed after he refused to stop playing "Words with Friends" and was booted off the plane. Baldwin then went on to rant about the airline industry. This is in his apology letter. He said, "Air travel is inelegant," comparing it to, quote, "a greyhound bus experience."
If you haven't booked your flight yet for Christmas or New Year, there's no need to fret. Senior editor of travelzoo.com, Gabe Saglie, is here to help. So, Gabe, I can't believe there are still deals out there.
GABE SAGLIE, SENIOR EDITOR, TRAVELZOO.COM: Well, you know, they're not all that many deals out there, and procrastinators, so, I feel your pain if you're still trying to book that holiday getaway. But there are still some sales to be had. In fact, AirTran and American Airlines both have sales that end today.
They started about 59 bucks if you're traveling particularly to New York City, Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, and New Orleans. Virgin America has got a sale for travel in January starting at about $49 each way. So, they're out there, but really, they're slim pickings. So, I would get to booking right about now. COSTELLO: OK. OK. Let's say that you're going to do something daring and different this holiday season and you're thinking of, oh, maybe traveling to Europe. Any deals to travel there?
SAGLIE: Yes. Yes. Well the thing is that this is actually the least expensive time to travel to Europe between now and March, maybe very early April is when we see the rock bottom pricing in airfare and in hotels. Now, the anomaly to that is going to be the exception to that is going to be December 20th or January 4th, Christmas and New Year's holiday, but outside of that, some pretty dramatic savings.
Some of the bigger airlines like Lufthansa and American are doing sales out to Europe, in some cases, under $600 round trip with taxes out of the east coast. And some of the biggest values will be in some of your four-star hotels and large cities like Paris, London, and Rome. We've published deals this week at about $100 to $120 for four- star hotels with upgrades to things like breakfast in those large European cities.
These are places that during the summer months will charge three or four times that kind of money. So, although, it is, obviously, cooler and, you know, a little bit gloomier out there this time of year, the crowds are thinner and the pricing is as good as it's going to get all year long.
COSTELLO: Not bad. OK. So, a lot of people, you know, they only travel one time a year, at Christmas time, so if you're that kind of person and you're traveling now, are there things that, you know, you need to keep in mind? Apparently, particularly, in light of the Alec Baldwin situation?
SAGLIE: Well, listen, I can vouch for how addictive "Words with Friends" can be, so I get it. But bottom line is there's some basic rules here, some basic rules of etiquette as well, but if you haven't travel in awhile, just keep in mind, when that cabin door closes, the rule is you've got to turn off all your electronic equipment. That means your cell phone, that means the iPad, that means anything that's got an on and of switch has got to go off.
And in fact, you can't turn them back on until you're above 10,000 feet, and the same thing happens when you're on your descent. So, be prepared to put away the electronic equipment as soon as that cabin door is closed, even if you're at the gate and even if many minutes pass before you actually pull back from the gate.
Also, a couple of other basic rules, if you're traveling with kids, kids under 15 cannot sit in exit rows. I know those are really attractive to grownups, but if you're traveling with little ones, you cannot have them in that exit row if they're under the age of 15. And if you're sitting in a bulkhead seat, be prepared to put all your carry-ons up in the overhead compartments, nothing at your feet.
COSTELLO: OK. Good advice. We'll take it. Thank you for joining us this morning and happy holidays.
SAGLIE: You got it. You, too. COSTELLO: That's it for this Thursday edition of A.M. WAKE-UP CALL. "AMERICAN MORNING" continues right after a break. You make it a great day.
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