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At This Hour

Woman Says Hastert Abused Her Brother; What Draws Young People to ISIS?; Female Viagra. Aired 11:00-11:30a ET.

Aired June 05, 2015 - 11:00   ET

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

[11:00:00] CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you for joining me today. I'm Carol Costello. "At This Hour" starts now.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: A shocking claim. A woman comes forward to say Denny Hastert abused her brother, but the question is are there more alleged victims?

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: It could be the biggest cyber-attack against the U.S. government ever. The breach impacting millions of Americans and setting up a showdown with China.

BERMAN: Trapped above 13,000 feet. More than 100 climbers including Americans facing landslides and storms. Crews right now racing to save them.

Good morning, everyone. I'm John Berman.

BOLDUAN: And I'm Kate Bolduan. Bombshell revelations, the scandal involving former house speaker Dennis Hastert right now. In an ABC news interview, a woman says that her brother Steve Reinboldt was sexually abused by Hastert. He, Reinboldt was a student equipment manager while Hastert was a high school wrestling coach back in the 1970's.

Now, this is the first name of an alleged abused victim to emerge since Hastert was indicted for unrelated charges alleging bank fraud and lying to the FBI about to pay out $3.5 million in hush money.

BERMAN: Reinboldt's sister maintains that she never asked Hastert for money. And during the interview, she describes when her brother first told her about the alleged abuse.

JOLENE BURDGE, SISTER OF EX-SPEAKER'S ALLEGED ABUSE VICTIM: And I asked him, when was your first same-sex experience? I mean, he just looked at me and said it was with Dennis Hastert. And I just - I know I was stunned. I said why didn't you ever tell anybody, Steve? I mean, he was your teacher. Why didn't you tell anybody? He just looked at me and said who is ever going to believe me? In this town, who is ever going to believe me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And was it your sense this happened more than once?

BURDGE: Yes. I said, you know, was it all through high school? And he said yes. All through high school. I mean, here was the mentor, the man who was you know, basically his friend, who was the one abusing him.

BERMAN: I want to bring in CNN Investigations Correspondent, Chris Frates. Chris, these are stunning allegations.

CHRIS FRATES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. They really are, John. And this was this sister of one of Denny Hastert's former students and she is telling ABC news that Hastert abused her brother throughout his high school career. Steve Reinboldt was abused by Hastert in the 1970s while Hastert was a high school wrestling coach and Reinboldt was the team's equipment manager.

Now, his sister Jolene Reinboldt says her brother first told her about the alleged abuse in 1979 and that was the year he revealed to her that he was gay. And when her brother, Steve, died in 1995, Hastert she said, had attended his funeral. And she was very, very angry about that. And she first confronted him about these allegations at that funeral.

Now, federal prosecutors allege that Hastert had agreed to pay a different man $3.5 million to hide his past conduct. Reinboldt said, she never asked Hastert for any money. And Hastert is now being charged with trying to hide the payments to this other victim and for lying to the FBI. We've reached out to Hastert's attorney and the FBI for comment. We've not heard back yet. And it's interesting to note that Hastert has not made a public statement since he was indicted

last week and we'll see on Tuesday, John and Kate when Hastert is scheduled to make his first court appearance here in Chicago what else we can learn.

BERMAN: Yes. Chris, silence has been deafening that's for sure. Chris Frates, thanks so much. We want to get further insight into the new details here. Joining us now, CNN Legal Analyst and former prosecutor Tom Callan. Paul, I want to leave what is actually charged with aside the banking issues and lying to the FBI. I also want to leave aside the issue of statute of limitations for a second here. What Dennis Hastert is accused of by this woman is a serious, serious crime.

TOM CALLAN, LEGAL ANALYST: An absolutely serious crime. If this were to happen today in Illinois, it would be class A-1 felony under Illinois law criminal predatory sexual assault punishable by four to 15 years in prison. And by the way, mandatory prison sentence. No probation. No community service. Mandatory prison had he been prosecuted today on this charge.

BOLDUAN: So this happened back in the early 1970s. Steve Reinboldt passed away in 1995, at this point when you hear the Jolene's story, of course, you wonder does this family has any legal recourse now.

[11:05:00] CALLAN: Well, sadly I think they don't because of statute of limitations issues. They could have brought a criminal - a civil case within 10 years of becoming aware of the abuse but that 10 year period is now gone because they knew about it as far back as 1979. So I think they will not have an ability to sue. But this certainly suggests there's more than one victim here and who knows how many other victims because it's been my experience as a prosecutor that in these kinds of molestation cases, there are multiple victims, not only one.

BERMAN: You know, timely here as you say, very, very long. You're talking about events that took place in early 70's as far back as 1970. You know, he told his sister 1979 allegedly. He died in 1995. So the time line here is very, very long. What's the legal impact though Paul that you say the possibility that there are more people out there? There is this deceased man, Steve Reinboldt, there Individual A named in the indictment. Is there any legal impact to having more than one person here?

CALLAN: Well, there will be in terms of the indictment itself. Because bear in mind this is a clever use of a federal banking statute and the lying to the FBI statute really to reach back in time and impose justice on Denny Hastert for these alleged offenses.

BERMAN: Is that what's going on here?

CALLAN: I think it's absolutely going on. I think justice started investigating this and looking at this and when they opened this door, they found this thing that shocked them. They found sexual abuse, statute of limitations that expired and now these two offenses that he's charged with are both five-year offenses. One of them, the lying to the FBI charge, opens the door to discussion of all of these other charges because he's lying about what he's using the money for. And if he chooses to contest this in court, the feds can come in and say we're going to prove you were covering up a history of sexual abuse of children. That's why you told the lie to the FBI.

BOLDUAN: And Jolene said, the sister, she said in that interview that the FBI had reached out to her, they came to speak to her. And when you talk about statute of limitations and the fact that he is facing - they caught him with these other charges, bank fraud and lying to the FBI, why was the FBI wanting to speak to her? Was it purely part of the investigation to see if there was anything there or was it to be kind and let her know this was about to happen?

CALLAN: No, I suspect they were talking to her in the event that they would use the family's testimony in the lying to FBI count because, remember, the fact that the statute of limitations is gone and the family can't prosecute doesn't preclude the federal prosecutors from saying he lied because he didn't want this to come out. It would have been destructive of his career now as a lobbyist, it would have opened other allegations against him and provides a strong motivation to lie to the FBI about why you're taking all of this money out of the bank and paying it somewhere.

BOLDUAN: So now we have this story and still Individual A, that person not named, the man not named in the indictment. That person is still out there of course. We'll be following this because there are developments. Thank you so much, Paul.

CALLAN: Thank you, Kate.

BOLDUAN: Coming up for us, dozens of climbers including Americans are right now trapped after an earthquake rocked one of the world's highest mountains. We'll find out how crews are right now trying to reach them.

BERMAN: A history making cyber-attack just days after a tense military stare down. China versus the United States. Is there a new quiet war under way?

And her son left to join ISIS and now she has a warning for parents across the United States. What does this mother think about the alleged attacker who was killed in Boston.

[11:10:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: New this morning, the family of Boston terror suspect Usaama Rahim is planning to bury the 26 year old today. They have now view the surveillance video showing the moment that Usaama was shot by police. His brother Ibrahim Rahim admits that Usaama was shot in the back as he initially thought and initially claimed but he insists that his brother was connected to ISIS or planning to behead anyone.

IBRAHIM RAHIM, BROTHER OF BOSTON TERROR SUSPECT: Of course, we dispute it. We don't know that Usaama, that to be a fact about Usaama as his relative at all. We are a Muslim American community and you know, I think really you have to start speaking more about the Muslims of America and not the Muslims in Syria who were doing bad things who don't like America. Speak about the Muslims who actually live here who love America. That's me. That's Usaama, that's the Rahim family.

BOLDUAN: So what - so if what police say about Rahim is true, what is it that draws kids to ISIS? What is it? A group called mothers for life is trying to take on the terror group to combat just that. Posting an open letter on social media to try to open the eyes of families to terror recruitment. Joining us now is one of those mothers.

Christianne Boudreau, her 22-year-old son was recruited by ISIS, armed and he ultimately died in fighting for the terror group in Syria. Christianne, thank you so much for joining us. We really appreciate it. As we listen to the family of Usaama Rahim in Boston and they speak - they say that they knew nothing about him being radicalized about what could be going on, right now, they are in disbelief that it actually happened.

We have heard that before when people say we had no idea this was happening to our family member. You, yourself, that happened to you. How is it possible? Because it surprises folks that the family wouldn't know when someone is being radicalized.

CHRISTIANNE BOUDREAU, SON DIED FIGHTING FOR ISIS IN SYRIA: Well, I think it's because we always want to think it's going to happen to somebody else first and foremost and it's difficult for us to realize that it could happen to us as well. And it's all walks of life and any family dynamics, social economic dynamics. It doesn't make a difference. And these signs that we see, I mean, they have been taught especially now it's changing, they are taught not to show any signs to parents on how to keep it hidden.

But as a mother, you can still feel that change. You can feel that disconnect and you can see it within their social circles if they're withdrawing from the usual group of friends. And there are the same signs you would see for depression, suicide, someone who is joining gangs, going through any of those difficult times. So we just have to keep your eyes open and determine what it is, what path they're following.

BERMAN: So it does sound like you were saying it's possible. His brother really did really have no idea and it's possible that Usaama Rahim was radicalized without his brother's notice, without his family's notice. As you look back on your own experience, are there signs that you can point to that you missed that you look back now and say, "uh-huh?"

[11:15:00] BOUDREAU: Absolutely, I mean, at that time he left in 2012. So in North America we hadn't heard of people joining foreign fighters, we had heard no such thing. Completely blind to it. So when I saw changes within the aggravation, much more rigid views, conspiracy theories, a lot of other issues that he never raised before, I found it shocking but at the same time I figured, OK, he's going through a learning process and will level out over a period of time because I didn't understand that these were warning signs to watch for.

BOLDUAN: The family, Usaama Rahim's family right now they are clearly having a very hard time believing the allegations against him. When did it be - from your experience, when did it become clear that your son had been radicalized and that this had happened?

BOUDREAU: Once I realized where he really was and I started researching and understanding the whole phenomenon that's going on, then I can look back and say, OK, he started going through his changes back in 2011. And I had to start searching and looking and thinking well this changed his mood instead of being peaceful, calm and grounded, he became very aggravated, agitated. Instead of us seeing his friends like we normally did, his new friends we never met. Phone calls that he would receive he took outside to talk to them instead of speaking in front of us. So he almost had like a private side that he was trying to keep away from us.

BERMAN: Chris, you know, we keep here in a phrase radicalized online by ISIS. I'm not sure we fully understand what that means. Radicalized by whom and exactly how? How does this manifest itself?

BOUDREAU: Well, there are actual recruiters out there looking for young, vulnerable people that are looking and seeking for something more fulfilling in life. And they express that, they are online, on Twitter, Tumblr or various social media platforms as long as there is private chat rooms, they can bring them in and that they connect.

And they build this network and family online where these kids can become a part of that and feel like they connect and belong without necessarily feeling that this is a violent movement. They discuss what's happening is the media's twisting everything around so what we're seeing is not actually true.

BOLDUAN: So Chris, you are now fighting back. I have seen you say you're fighting fire with fire. You are going to social media to try to open families eyes and trying to fight ISIS in this regard if you will. How do you do that when you know that the ISIS presence online in social media is so huge and only growing and you're one woman up against it.

BOUDREAU: I'm not one woman. There are several mothers part of our group and they have parents as part of their group. It's a team effort. We're increasing that as we go along and as awareness comes out. Other parents are saying we want to join forces with you. That's what we'll continue to do. If they can recruit so can we.

But in a peaceful good way. To keep our children safe and realize this is what it is and really what it stands for and what love and peace is really about and it's not about picking up a gun and it's not about fighting and we can connect at home. And just by working together and using those things, social media platforms that they're using, we're just going to turn it around and fight harder for our kids.

BERMAN: Well said. And I for one certainly believe in the power of a lot of mothers here. You can do good things. And I think we need every last minute of it, Chris Boudreau, thanks so much.

BOLDUAN: Thanks, Chris.

BOUDREAU: Thank you.

BERMAN: An earthquake at 13,000 feet. Now more than 100 climbers trapped including Americans. New information on the desperate race to save them.

BOLDUAN: Plus CNN goes to the scene of the exact spot where a lion mauled a young American woman and she died. We're going see what happens next.

[11:20:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: All right. New today, the frenzy over female Viagra. It is one big step closer to getting FDA approval. An advisory board voted to OK the drug. Danzarin which is why we call it female Viagra because it is a lot easier to say.

BOLDUAN: True.

BERMAN: What this does is it helps women with low libido. The agency has rejected it twice in the past saying it had too many side effects.

BOLDUAN: Now, it could be available in pharmacies later this summer if given final approval. So how does it work? Who should be prescribed this drug. There are obviously a whole lot of questions surrounding this. Let's discuss. Joining us is Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, Director of Women's Heart Health at New York's Lennox Hill hospital. So doctor, thank you for coming in. We call it the female Viagra. But this is very different than just saying it's female Viagra. How is it different?

DR. SUZANNE STEINBAUM, DIRECTOR OF WOMEN'S HEART HEALTH LENNOX HILL HOSPITAL: Absolutely, so let's talk about Viagra. Viagra works on men very mechanically.

BOLDUAN: Right.

STEINBAUM: It dilates the arteries and leads to an erection. Women it's a little different and sexual libido is very complicated. And this drug is also very complicated. It works directly on the brain and it works in the part of the brain that deals with motivation and desire and what it does is increases a woman's libido and increases her desire.

But these are for premenopausal women who really have a very low libido and it's associated with depression and really having a lack of quality of life. It's a daily drug because again it's not mechanical. So you can't use it just at the moment of. You have to take it every single day because it's working on the brain.

BOLDUAN: Fundamentally speaking calling it female Viagra does a disservice. It's a one-time thing. Because for man, you take Viagra and you go have sex and for female Viagra with a name that I can't say, it's a change of life. You take it every day to change your chemical balance in your brain?

STEINBAUM: That's exactly right. So in doing that in taking a daily drug, whatever you do the rest of the day, it is affected. And the issue with this drug and reason that the FDA really hasn't approved it is because of drug to drug interactions and also you cannot drink alcohol. And if you do, it's associated with dizziness and the possibility of fainting.

BOLDUAN: And the side effects are real on this.

STEINBAUM: So the real side effect. And that's part of what took the FDA a little time to decide.

BOLDUAN: The success rate is something that we've been discussing actually. It's not just saying you take this and it's 100 percent. It's actually - when you get into how successful it is in improving libido, it's about 20

percent more successful than taking a placebo pill.

STEINBAUM: That's right.

BOLDUAN: Kind of fascinating.

[11:25:00] STEINBAUM: It gets back to what I was saying originally which is how complicated this issue is in women. It's a little different than men. And so it's not that you're going to take this pill and everything will be OK. But for some women it will help. Just not for all women.

BERMAN: In the discussion itself, you know in some ways, is it a fair discussion from the beginning? Are men treated differently than women when it comes to this idea of the right and ability to have sex when they want to?

STEINBAUM: OK. Well, let's say this. There is an initiative to even the score which has been about this issue. There are 20 medications on the market dealing with men's libido and none for women. So we have to step back and say why is that?

BOLDUAN: Why is it bias - is this gender bias at the FDA or is it...

BERMAN: Biology.

BOLDUAN: Or do we just not talk about it as much?

STEINBAUM: I think it's - you know what I think it's a little bit of both. And I think we have to step back and realize this is an issue that needs to be addressed. This is a reality in women. Both premenopausal and post-menopausal but it's not just mechanical. It's so much about the brain, emotions, attachment, all of these other factors go into it with the woman. But we need to do the research.

And I think this is such a void that it becomes a little sexist of an issue. Why hasn't the research been done? And I think that's part of the problem. But it is more complicated in women than it is in men. We just need to do the work and the research to get there.

BERMAN: This is an important start then at least, right?

STEINBAUM: Absolutely.

BOLDUAN: I think it's important that we're at least talking about it. You don't have to giggle about it. Talking about it, a woman's sex drive, I think we should be able to talk about it.

STEINBAUM: It's part of quality of life and it's time we have the discussion.

BOLDUAN: Thank you, doctor. It's great to see you.

Coming up for us, it could be the largest cyber-attack in the U.S. government ever and the U.S. is putting the blame right on China. So is this an act of war? We're going to talk to the former ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman, coming up next.

BERMAN: Plus, attacked by a lion. We'll go to the park where a young American woman was just killed. We'll see the lions at work as they rush CNN's car.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Here he come. Here we go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whoa.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)