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The Lead with Jake Tapper

NATO Summit; Joan River Dies at Age 81; McDonnell Found Guilty in Influence-Peddling Case

Aired September 04, 2014 - 16:00   ET

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

JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: Can we talk? Because I have got some sad news from the world of showbiz to share with you.

I'm Jake Tapper. This is THE LEAD.

The pop culture lead. She was a comedy icon and trailblazer. For 50 years, her wit was a lethal weapon, and you never wanted to walk by her unless you looked your very best. Now the world has lost Joan Rivers at the age of 81.

The politics lead. He has gone from the man who might be president to the man who might be a prisoner. The verdict is in against Virginia's former governor at his dramatic corruption trial.

And the world lead. As the NATO summit begins, President Obama and his British counterpart put up a united front against ISIS, but behind the scenes, do they really agree on the best way to take on these terrorists?

Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to THE LEAD. I'm Jake Tapper.

We are going to begin with the pop culture lead today. She was viciously funny, brutally honest. She blazed a trail for women comics over her half-century in show business. Today, the sad news that comedienne Joan Rivers has passed away at the age of 81. Rivers suffered complications during throat surgery at an outpatient clinic in New York last week.

She was transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital and as we just learned she was put on life support. Her family remained mostly mum about Rivers' condition. But shortly afterward, we got word of the comedy legend's death just a few minutes ago really.

Her daughter, Melissa, released an emotional statement saying in part -- quote -- "My mother's greatest joy in life was to make people laugh. Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon."

Let's go live now to CNN's Miguel Marquez, who is outside Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.

Miguel,have fans been showing up to the hospital to pay their respects?

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Certainly a lot of media showing up at the moment and a lot of fans and people are starting to gather here and wondering what is going on because of all the commotion. When you tell them Joan Rivers has died, there's sort of that look of shock and, you know, I guess they expected it to some degree but were hoping it would turn out differently.

There were certainly reasons to hope over the last eight days as sort of a vigil was held outside the hospital here at Mount Sinai. She went in for that outpatient procedure at Yorkville Endoscopy here in Manhattan. On Thursday morning, Wednesday night, the night before, eight days ago, she was performing at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. She was in good spirits.

She was joking in typical fashion Joan Rivers' fashion about her own death, the possibility of it. She was out to dinner after that and then she went for a very early procedure here at Yorkville Endoscopy early on Thursday morning. By 9:30 a.m., there was a problem and emergency services had been called. Her heart had stopped. She had stopped breathing and then she was here.

We had heard inklings, bits of good news along the way and then clearly finally the family having to make the hard decision to end that service, the help that she was getting in breathing and the medical help she was getting.

Melissa Rivers saying that she did pass away at 1:17 Eastern time and she was surrounded by not only Melissa, but her grandson, friends and family as well. Also other reporting out there that she had her nails done, both her toenails and her fingernails and her hair. This is a woman who went in the grand style that she would have wanted to.

I should note both the New York State Health Department has said it has launched an investigation into Yorkville Endoscopy and the New York City medical examiner's office says they will have a manner and cause of death in the case of Joan Rivers at some point -- Jake.

TAPPER: Miguel, what exactly are they looking into? I have heard lots of speculation about what might have caused her death. What are the health investigators going to be trying to figure out?

MARQUEZ: Well, I think there's a big question as to what exactly happened in the procedure that should have been simple, one and done, in and out and not have been a problem.

It was, from what we understand, an endoscopy of the throat. This is a facility that concentrates on digestive disorders. But it doesn't sound like she had that going on. This is a woman known to surgery. She joked about her many elective surgeries over the years and she was meticulous about going into surgery and any sort of surgical procedure that she might have done, she was known to have her own anesthesiologist and a raft of doctors that she could go to for advice and for assistance.

Why she chose this particular place, what exactly they were doing, those are the big questions they will be trying to get to -- Jake.

TAPPER: All right, we will have more on that as it develops. Miguel Marquez outside Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, thank you so much.

Whether you remember her as the funny lady who kept Johnny's chair warm long before the days of Jay Leno or the host who made celebrities turn the same color as the carpet on which they walked, our Nischelle Turner takes a look back at a legendary career.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOAN RIVERS, ENTERTAINER: Can we talk?

NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINER CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Joan Rivers could always talk.

RIVERS: Do you know what it's like to go in the morning to take off a facial mask and realize you're not wearing one? Oh, you don't know.

(LAUGHTER)

TURNER: With sometimes outrageous jokes, nothing was ever off-limits.

RIVERS: I hate old people. Oh. if you are (EXPLETIVE DELETED) old, get up and get out of here right, right now.

(LAUGHTER)

TURNER: Born in 1933, Rivers says even as she was growing up in the New York suburbs, she wanted to be an actress.

RIVERS: I never had a choice. I always say, it's like a nun's calling.

TURNER: She joined the iconic Second City comedy theater in 1961. As her comedy career was taking off, she married producer Edgar Rosenberg in 1964, who would manage her career and become the focus of so many of his wife's jokes. The pair had one daughter together, Melissa.

In 1965, Rivers saw her career get a huge boost when she appeared on "The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson" for the first time.

RIVERS: He gave all of us our starts. My life changed. I went on the show the first time, seven years of struggling, coming out of Second City. And on the air, he said, you're going to be a star. And the next day, my life was different.

TURNER: It was the start of a 21-year professional relationship with Carson and the show. She made regular appearances, eventually becoming the show's substitute host in 1983.

But Rivers' decision to launch her own show on the brand-new FOX network in the fall of 1986 ended her relationship with Carson and "The Tonight Show."

RIVERS: The minute I became competition, it became out to kill me, out to kill me. And that's what came down forever. Never spoke to me again. TURNER: The show was canceled in 1987. Just a few months later,

Rivers' husband, Edgar, committed suicide in a Philadelphia hotel room.

RIVERS: I was in the hospital, and some idiot called the house and they said, where's your mother? Somebody from Philadelphia. And Melissa said, she's not here. And they said, well, please tell her your father killed himself. How is that for a phone call?

TURNER: Rivers regrouped by doing what she always did, putting her life out in the open.

RIVERS: If you laugh at it, you can deal with it. I -- that's how I have lived my whole life. If I swear to you -- and I'm Jewish -- if I were in Auschwitz, I would have been doing jokes just to make it OK for us.

TURNER: Her career surged again when her withering take on red carpet fashion full of biting remarks and celebrity put-downs exposed her to a whole new group of fans.

RIVERS: I think I'm working the best I have ever worked now, because I -- it's all been done to me. What are they going to do? Are they going to fire me? I have been fired. Audiences are not going to like me? A lot of audiences have not like me. I have been bankrupt. My husband has committed suicide. I mean, it's OK. And I'm still here. So it's OK.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TAPPER: There is no doubt that Joan Rivers' appeal crossed generations.

Stephanie Elam is live at her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, where mourners have been lining up to pay their respects.

Stephanie, what's the scene?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's very true. When we got here, there was nobody out here, Jake. But now there is a gaggle of media here now and people coming by and learning the news that Joan Rivers has passed away.

We have been actually telling people and we have heard squeals in many different languages of people who are just so sad to know that Joan Rivers has passed. We're standing here by her star. There's already been one bunch of flowers that was put here by a man who says he knew her.

And you can see that it will probably grow. We have seen this before with Robin Williams. We have seen other flowers come out here for comedians who were so loved. If you think about it, Jake, the dream of Hollywood, Joan Rivers was an emblem of that, moving out from New York to California to have a talk show, the first woman to do so, living that dream, and then reinventing herself several times in the decades that she has been working, working pretty much nonstop. So people coming out, paying their respects and really just shocked to

know that she didn't pull through. A lot of people really hoping that she would pull through and make it back, so a lot of people really sad to know that this hasn't turned out the way they wanted it to and just paying a moment to remember Joan Rivers -- Jake.

TAPPER: Stephanie Elam in Los Angeles, thank you so much.

Coming up, some believed that one day he would be in the Oval Office, but now it seems as though the former Virginia governor's next office will be in the gray bar hotel.

And she was the queen of insult comics. Of course, he's the king. Comedy legend Don Rickles will join us next with his thoughts on his friend Joan Rivers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RIVERS: Can we talk here for a second? That since there's no big deal to have a woman in the White House. John F. Kennedy had 1,000 of them. I am telling you right now.

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TAPPER: Welcome back to THE LEAD.

We're sticking with our pop culture lead, which of course just happened not long ago, the death of comedienne Joan Rivers.

The E! Network and NBC Universal released a statement on her passing, reading in part -- quote -- "She's been a much beloved member of the E! family for over 20 years. And the world is less funny without her in it. Today, our hearts are heavy knowing Joan will not be bounding through the doors."

Now, you were no one in Hollywood until you were insulted by Joan Rivers. The same could of course also be said of the guest joining us now on the phone, comic legend Don Rickles, who was a friend and toured with Joan Rivers.

Don, thanks so much for joining us.

You knew her. You toured with her. You go way back. Tell us about the first time you met her.

DON RICKLES, COMEDIAN: Well, that's a long time ago because I'm -- now that I'm 27, it's hard for me to remember.

(LAUGHTER)

RICKLES: But I just remember that it was a job. We had a job together, one that I could -- we went to Tennessee to a casino. And they had a big fire too. And we went outside with her dog and her family, and we stood out in the street in pajamas with a fire truck. And she kidded around and I kidded around.

The point, she always had a great sense of humor. But a lot of people don't know she was a very smart lady. I mean it, knowledge-wise. I mean, she could talk about any subject you could think of. She was good at -- and a very good friend to me and I to her. So, what else can I say?

TAPPER: She was something of a trailblazer. I can't imagine that when you guys were coming up -- I mean, I know it wasn't easy for anybody back then, but -- or even today, but certainly for a woman, it was especially tough. Did she have to be tougher than the men comedians?

RICKLES: I would say so. You know, in the old days, there was team Carol, you wouldn't know that, from Vaudeville. Women were doing pretty good. They would do, you know, 15, 20 minutes of a set act and it always went well. But after that, you didn't hear too many people that were funny, you know? And there was Totie Fields, I'm sure you remember that name, she was a talented woman.

But Joan Rivers had her own style and young people loved her. That's the big secret. She was blessed with that besides being about -- she was a very caring lady and I'll miss her terribly.

TAPPER: She spoke at a friar's club gala for you last year. What do you remember? Did she get you with any of her zingers?

RICKLES: That was different. She wouldn't dare do that. No, she was very -- she was very respectful to me.

And she always -- we always used to kid around. We had more fun in the dressing room than when we were on the stage. But working with her was a great chemistry.

In fact, we were supposed to open together in Westbury, long a land in May. Now that's gone away. It will just be my own show. She won't be with me.

She always had a chemistry that always worked for me when she was working with me.

TAPPER: And you both have a great place in the pantheon of American comedians because you both were individuals who had come out and offer brutal honesty, both of you. And while other comedians were more interested in cozying up to the audience, you and Joan took on I think what might be a braver and more difficult task.

RICKLES: Well, Jake, OK, you want to put it that way. I think for myself and for Joan, too, personalities, that were some personalities, basically. She would go to a party and do pretty much a kind of remark she would do on the stage. I myself go and if I say if I need to, I say, Jake, I'm a friend, (INAUDIBLE) ridiculous. You can see all that (ph). That's not a joke, it's an attitude. So,

that was a whole secret with her, too. She had this in a way of putting people off guard and making them laugh, and she had a kind soul, she really deed, and had a great taste. She had a magnificent apartment in New York and she always do what she was doing, and she made great progress.

Of course, I always told her she was going (ph) to believe me. You know, I don't want her to get crazy. Blessed her soul (ph), she'd better be laughing, otherwise, I'm going to phone her (ph).

TAPPER: What are you going to most about her, Don?

RICKLES: Our friendship. We had, my wife and I, Barbara and I, we two are together for quite a while, on and off. We were supposed to be in New York. We did these couple of shows in New York. And the one that (INAUDIBLE) is in May because I have advertised it already, at Wesbury.

And we looked forward to that, because, well, we are two kind of people that the audience dug right away. So, I'll miss that. But, hey, you know, life goes on, Jake. And you have to just tolerate what the big man says.

TAPPER: Indeed.

It's been an honor talking to you. Don Rickles, thank you so much.

RICKLES: Thank you, Jake. And good luck.

TAPPER: Coming up next on THE LEAD, he was once looked at as a potential savior of the GOP, who could one day win the White House. Today, he sobbed in court as guilty verdicts were read. Breaking news in the trial of former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, next.

Plus, Ukraine seeking a cease-fire with Russia. But Russia says, what? What war? Can the violence really end when one side won't (AUDIO GAP). Senator John (AUDIO GAP) on this crisis from the capital of Ukraine, coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TAPPER: Welcome back to THE LEAD.

Some breaking news now in our politics lead. There was a time that every mention of his name came attached with heated speculation about a potential White House run. Those days are, of course, long over now for former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, not to mention his wife Maureen.

Moments ago, they were found guilty on multiple counts of conspiracy, bribery and extortion in a public corruption case against them.

Let's go straight to CNN national correspondent Suzanne Malveaux.

It's un -- this fall from grace is unbelievable, Suzanne. It was just four years ago, he was giving the Republican response to the State of the Union.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I know. I mean, it's hard to believe that this is even happening here, because this is once a political powerhouse couple, now convicted felons. The former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell now found guilty of 11 of 13 counts, including conspiracy and corruption. His wife Maureen, the former first lady, guilty on nine.

Now, these two we saw in the courthouse today, they cried as the verdict was read and they never looked at each other.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX (voice-over): The former governor analyst wife arrived separately in court today but heard the verdict together.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When public officials turn to financial gain in exchange for official acts, we have little choice but to prosecute the case.

MALVEAUX: The jury found that the McDonnells misused the power of the governor's office to benefit wealthy Virginia businessman Jonnie Williams.

The evidence -- a treasure trove of gifts and loans, showered upon the McDonnells by Williams, including expensive golf outings, vacations with yachts and spas for the couple, a $19,000 New York City shopping spree for Maureen McDonnell, $15,000 in catering for their daughter's wedding, a $6,000 Rolex watch for the governor -- all in exchange, prosecutors say, for helping promote Williams' diet supplement company, Star Scientific.

BOB MCDONNELL (R), FORMER VIRGINIA GOVERNOR: We now present our evidence.

MALVEAUX: McDonnell took the stand himself, testifying for five days, telling the jury he didn't need Williams' money and he didn't give him any special favors.

His defense team strategy: publicly trash their marriage. If they were at odds privately, how could they be in this corruption conspiracy together?

MCDONNELL: I love my wife.

MALVEAUX: While McDonnell in front of the cameras professed his love for his wife, his attorneys presented evidence of a fiery, troubled relationship. In this e-mail to his wife in 2011, the governor wrote, "I'm completely at a loss as to how to handle the fiery anger and hate from you that has become more and more frequent." The letter continues, "I am so spiritually and mentally exhausted from being yelled at. I don't think you realize how you're affecting me and sometimes others with your tongue."

MCDONNELL: I did not try to hide or deceive anyone. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's kind of a risky strategy because even if the

jury thinks they did have a broken marriage, that doesn't necessarily mean they weren't conspiring to receive gifts.

MALVEAUX: The government revealed personal e-mails between the governor and his wife, showing they were in fact in regular contact, not to mention all those vacations they took together, all things the jury had to weigh in their deliberations.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: It really is an extraordinary case when you look at this of incredible political downfall for McDonnell who was one of those being considered as Mitt Romney's presidential running mate in 2012. Now, Jake, potentially facing decades of time in prison, along with his wife.

TAPPER: A stunning story just to take a brief aside, I want to welcome you back from your maternity leave --

MALVEAUX: Oh, thank you.

TAPPER: -- and your beautiful blessing Solai. Hope to see a lot more of you.

MALVEAUX: Yes, hard to leave her -- hard to leave her, but it's good to be back.

TAPPER: Very happy that you're here.

MALVEAUX: Thank you, Jake.

TAPPER: Suzanne Malveaux, thank you so much.

I want to bring in CNN senior legal analyst Jeff Toobin now, and director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, Larry Sabato.

Gentlemen, it's great to see you.

I have to say, I'm surprised. I'm stunned. I mean, I saw the case outlined and it seemed like a concrete case but you never know what's going to happen when it comes to a jury. Months and months of shocking, soul-baring testimony on the courtroom.

Jeff, are you surprised at all?

JEFF TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: No. Jake, here's a lesson for you -- in case you are governor of a state someday, or any of our viewers who might become a governor some day -- if some stranger, someone you don't know who wants to do business with the state suddenly gives you $170,000 in gifts, that's not because he likes you. That's because he wants something.

And it was so obvious in this case that this sleazy businessman with his ridiculous product, the tick tack man as he was known by the governor's sane staff, was trying to insinuate himself to get benefits from the state, some of which he got.

The jury didn't take long. This was not a hard case but it was a sleazy and repulsive one.

TAPPER: I guess I'm surprised whenever somebody powerful gets convicted. Maybe that's just the cynic in me.

But, Larry, you've been following Bob McDonnell for his whole career. Just a tremendous fall from grace for a man that theoretically could have one day sat in the Oval Office. What went wrong? What was his problem that is going to now result in his possibly going to prison?

LARRY SABATO, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR POLITICS, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: Well, he didn't have the money to support the lifestyle that I guess he and his wife expected out of the governor's mansion. He had a middle class background, was stretched financially. That's certainly no excuse.

And, by the way, Jeff is absolutely correct. Those of us who followed this case as it developed and then in trial day to day were not surprised in the slightest.

Now, I didn't know he was going to be convicted of so many of the counts, but I just didn't see how a jury could possibly ignore the evidence that was presented. The prosecutors did a terrific job and frankly, they did a terrific job because they had the evidence.

TAPPER: Jeff, what do you think the sentence is going to be?

TOOBIN: Well, this is a tough call. I think, Maureen, who is obviously a very troubled woman, will probably get some form of probation or community service, given her role in all of this.

McDonnell's going to go away I think. Remember, this is the eastern district of Virginia, one of the toughest places for judges who are tough sentencers. I would bet he -- McDonnell, the former governor, is going to get in the range of about a year in federal prison.