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At Least 13 Killed in Texas Bus Crash; John Edwards Admits Affair; Russia Invades Georgia

Aired August 08, 2008 - 15:00   ET

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

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: A blown tire may have led to a deadly scene in Sherman, Texas. You're looking at the -- the remains there.
A bus carrying members of a Vietnamese church group careened off a highway overpass. Thirteen, at least, are dead, many more hospitalized.

Susan Roesgen is on the scene for us. We're awaiting a news conference to get some more details on this.

And, Susan, what can you tell us in the meantime?

SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN GULF COAST CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're here at the hospital where 16 of the victims were initially taken, Randi. Five of the most critically injured were taken to Parkland hospital in Dallas about an hour away. There were 55 people were on that bus.

At least 40 of them were injured. And we don't know what caused has that accident. We're here waiting for this news conference, where we are going to hear from the E.R. doctor and we're going to hear from a survivor, a woman who was on that bus and was treated here and released. She's going to give us some more information. And that should be very compelling.

We do know that it was 12:45 this morning. So, it was just after midnight. For some reason, this bus slammed on its side as it was going over a small overpass. I drove past the accident scene. I saw at least 20 yards of the guardrail wiped out. This bus slid on its side and then it fell into a gully underneath the overpass.

We did see there and our camera got pictures of a shredded tire. That is apparently the right front tire of the bus. Investigators don't know yet whether that's what caused the bus to slide on its side and go into the gully. But certainly that's something they're going to be looking at.

The National Transportation Safety Board is already here investigating the crash. They have taken the bus on the back of a huge pickup and wheeled it away, so that they can go over some of the debris pieces. We also know, Randi, that police officers on the first scene had to call in Vietnamese translators. Let's hear more now from the hospital staff.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

JANICE WALKER, WILSON N. JONES MEDICAL CENTER: This morning, we received a call from our EMS providers regarding the crash on Highway 75. At approximately 1:30, I arrived at the hospital and we enacted our disaster code drills.

Medical staff began to arrive very quickly, clinical staff, O.R. staff, ICU nurses. At that point, our perfect team work began to care for our disaster victims. At this point, we received 16 patients initially.

Of those 16, three were transported to the Metroplex. One has gone to Harris Methodist in Fort Worth. One has gone to Parkland, and one to Baylor. The remaining patients, of which seven are in critical care, three transfers that I have already mentioned and six discharges.

DR. AL CARDENAS, WILSON N. JONES MEDICAL CENTER: Let me first start off by saying that I'm very proud having practiced here for many years of our medical community, our EMS, fire, police, and the response of the community to this disaster.

It was a well-coordinated event, as Ms. Walker said. The range of ages was from age 12 to age 70. And the types of injuries were multifactorial, this is, head injuries, orthopedic injuries, abdominal, intra-abdominal injuries.

And those patients that Ms. Walker mentioned that were transferred to the Metroplex were transferred because of services that were needed at a specialty center that we did not have, could not provide at this time here. The remainder of the patients, as Ms. Walker said, are in our hospital here in the intensive care unit. And that's where we stand at this point.

QUESTION: Can you elaborate, I guess, on the three who were transported to the Metroplex, what types of special needs they have, care that they need?

CARDENAS: The two of them, I can say, were head injuries, requiring neurosurgical evaluation and intervention. And another was an extensive injury to an extremity that required evaluation by a plastics and reconstructive surgeon.

QUESTION: You guys treated (OFF-MIKE)

CARDENAS: As I said, orthopedic. There were intra-abdominal injuries. Patients were taken to the operating room by our surgeons. There were chest injuries and contusions and abrasions.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) about the difficulties there are with dealing with so many people at once? These are the kinds of things that I suspect you train for and prepare for, but don't see every day.

CARDENAS: That is correct.

And in that light, as I said by commending our disaster drill, people were called in, extra staff, both nursing staff, myself. I was in bed at 1:30 this morning and was called in. We got a response from our medical staff, our specialists, so that there were plenty of folks available, willing, and able to care for these injuries when they presented. Logistically, likewise, we had our operative crew here.

So, we had folks helping transport people to X-rays, laboratory folks, radiologic folks. And, overall, I'm very pleased with the response that we have gotten and received so far.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) At the time when this was all happening, when there were many people in the room, they're very traumatic, they're very upset, what was the nature of the condition of the hospital at that time with these patients? They were very concerned and frightened, weren't they?

CARDENAS: Correct.

I think that, because of the language barrier, these folks being predominantly Vietnamese American, there was not the, shall we say, the hubbub that normally exist otherwise. And, as I said, it went very well. We were even able to solicit within our community here various Vietnamese interpreters and translators. So, we had folks available in their native language to discuss...

ROESGEN: Well, what we're listening to here is the chief emergency room physician at this hospital here in Sherman, Texas. It's about an hour-and-a-half north of Texas, almost at the Oklahoma state line.

The doctor there was mentioning that these are Vietnamese Americans. They were Vietnamese Catholics on an annual pilgrimage to Carthage, Missouri, an annual veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary there in Carthage, Missouri.

What we have also learned in addition to the fact that police officers had to bring Vietnamese translators here initially, and they were actually able to find six of them in the Dallas area, is that the driver survived this crash. He is in stable condition. Investigators have done sort of a preliminary interview with him. They say that alcohol is not a factor, but fatigue might have been.

KAYE: All right, Susan Roesgen for us on the scene there in Texas, where there is quite a scene as a result of that terrible bus accident, seven people in critical care, ages 12 to 70, all kinds of injuries from that accident, head injuries, abdominal injuries, one very extensive injury to a limb that requires some reconstruction.

The driver, as Susan reported, is in stable condition. So, hopefully, we will get answers to what exactly happened -- Don.

LEMON: All right, news about John Edwards. John Edwards is admitting to ABC News that he lied during his campaign about an extramarital affair with a novice filmmaker.

Edwards told ABC's Bob Woodruff he had the affair with 42-year- old Rielle Hunter, but said he did not love her. Edwards denies he is the father of Hunter's baby girl, but he says he has not taken a paternity test. Edwards said "The Enquirer" tabloid is correct when it reported he visited Hunter at the Beverly Hills Hilton last month. The former senator's wife did not know about that meeting.

Detroit's mayor has spent much of his day answering charges in one court or another. This afternoon, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was arraigned on two felony counts of assaulting or obstructing a police officer. He appeared via video screen from jail. The magistrate entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, then set bail at $25,000.

Earlier, a circuit judge ruled Kilpatrick could get out of jail if he posts a $50,000 cash bond and agrees to wear an electronic tracking device. That appearance and the jail time stem from his arrest yesterday for violating bond in yet another case involving perjury, obstruction of justice and misconduct of office.

Alleged courthouse killer Brian Nichols is to finally go on trial in Atlanta next month. The date for opening arguments set today as September 22. The original judge delayed trial repeatedly, then recused himself for telling a reporter that Nichols is clearly guilty. Nichols is charged with four killings, including that of a judge, after fleeing deputies at the Fulton County Courthouse more than three years ago.

KAYE: More planes in the sky, fierce fighting on the ground. It has been a day of chaos and conflict in the Republic of Georgia, where a long-simmering dispute with Russia over a border region has erupted into open conflict.

Within the last hour, CNN has learned that the Pentagon is reviewing plans now to evacuate more than 2,000 Americans from Georgia. Military officials call the move prudent planning.

The violence is in South Ossetia, a pro-Russian province of Georgia. Russia's president say Russia will protect its peacekeepers in that area. And Russian troops have been streaming across the border today. Georgia's president said his country is under attack. President Bush and Russian Prime Minister Putin discussed the crisis today in Beijing, where they are attending the Olympics.

Barack Obama and John McCain quickly condemned Russia's invasion of its neighbor. McCain had this to say at a campaign stop this morning in Iowa.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What is most critical now is to avoid further confrontation between Russian and Georgian military forces.

The consequences of Euro-Atlantic stability are grave. The government of Georgia has called for a cease-fire and for resumption of direct talks on South Ossetia with international mediators. The U.S. should immediately convene an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council to call on Russia to reverse course.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: Now, in a statement, Barack Obama said -- quote -- "All sides should enter into direct talks on behalf of stability in Georgia and the United States. The United Nations Security Council and the international community should fully support a peaceful resolution to this crisis."

LEMON: So, what prompted Russian tanks and jet fighters into the Republic of Georgia today?

Our Josh Levs has some insights into a region most Americans know little or really nation about.

It's very interesting, because from hearing from viewers, why hasn't this been on the radar? Why didn't we know about this?

(CROSSTALK)

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. You're right. This is one the stories that has not really been on the radar.

A lot of people hearing South Ossetia haven't heard that word maybe ever or certainly in years. Fortunately, I'm at the CNN international desk, where we have people who are familiar with countries all over the world. And we have been assembling this information for you throughout the day.

In fact, it's one of our top stories behind me right here on CNN.com. It talks about this, fierce fighting in breakaway Georgia Republic. Here's what we have done. We have pulled together some of the key facts to help you understand the basics of what is going on here.

Let's first go to this graphic. I want to tell you some of the basics about South Ossetia. Now, I know it looks like a bunch of facts. But I'm going to trace you through why each of these is so important.

First of all, it's an autonomous region. It's physically inside Georgia. It is part of Georgia, but not part of Georgia's government. It's autonomous. Russia supports that autonomous government. It's got a population that is not very big, about 70,000, which is small. That's like some small American towns.

The majority of those people support independence from Georgia. So, there's a lot of push inside for independence from Georgia. And here's the last key I want you to understand. A lot of people want to reunify with North Ossetia, which is in Russia.

Now, here's what that means. Some of the people who want independence aren't simply saying we want to be our own nation. They're actually saying that we would reunify with North Ossetia. We would be part of Russia.

So, you have got this fight for allegiance between Russia and Georgia for that area. One more graphic I want to show you here that traces you up to today and shows you what brought us to where we are right now.

First of all, in the past, there has been fighting there. So, when they struck these deals, these cease-fires to end the fighting there, Russia was among the countries that had peacekeeping troops there. So, you already have Russian troops in South Ossetia.

And the Kremlin support supports the separatists there. So, this is why we're in this situation right now. You have this new wave of violence that has just happened. Georgia has launched this operation to crack down on some of the separatists. The Kremlin, Russia, has responded. So, this is why, when you see all that, you can see why Russia is able to say, you know what? We're just sending more troops. We're protecting our own peacekeeping troops and civilians.

But Georgia, on the flip side, can say, you know what? We need to go in there and protect people, civilians, and protect our troops as well. That's why you have this continuing battle both ways among these two powerful countries in a very important region.

And in line with this, you can look at the map behind me. And I know you have seen it before. This is again getting a lot of clicks on CNN.com today, as a lot of people look to find out where South Ossetia is and Hollywood it's all about. We have got Russia. We have got Georgia. This is the small region we're talking about right there, South Ossetia. And if you go to CNN.com, there you go. You can get a lot more details right there -- Don.

LEMON: All right, thank you very much, Josh Levs.

KAYE: We're going to take a break, but we want to tell you we're going to have much more on this story John Edwards just breaking today, admitting a sexual affair to ABC News with a woman that he met back in 2006. His wife apparently also learned about that affair.

We will have much more on this right after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right, this just in to the CNN NEWSROOM. We have been talking about former Senator John Edwards and a former presidential candidate as well.

Here's what we're learning from ABC News here at CNN. We're learning that Edwards has admitted to having an extramarital affair during his campaign. He admitted that to a correspondent at ABC News Bob Woodruff just a short time ago.

We are going to have much, much more on this story coming up a little bit later in the CNN NEWSROOM.

But we want to tell you that our political folks are working on this as well. Now, he is saying that he did, of course, have an affair, but denies saying that he loved the woman. He's also saying that "The Enquirer" tabloid is correct when it reported he visited Hunter -- that's the woman's name -- at the Beverly Hilton Hotel just last month. The former senator's wife did not know about that meeting.

More to come in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right, this just into the CNN NEWSROOM. It involves former senator John Edwards, also a former presidential candidate.

We go now to our political analyst, senior political analyst, Mr. Bill Schneider.

Bill, this news coming out today from ABC News. A lot of agencies have already reported some of this. Tell us what you're learning.

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: What we're learning is that John Edwards acknowledges to ABC News on a broadcast tonight that he lied repeatedly by denying that he had, had an affair with a campaign staffer who was working for him on the campaign.

The staffer did give birth to a child. John Edwards says he was not the father of the child because the timing was not right. And, in fact, someone else, a former campaign aide named Andrew Young, has said that he was the father, he, Andrew Young, was the father of the child.

The woman in question here, Rielle Hunter, traveled with Edwards around the country and went with him to Africa. And, apparently, Edwards says that his wife, Elizabeth, and others in his family became aware of this affair in 2006. And, in fact, he visited Ms. Hunter at the Beverly Hilton Hotel just last month. This news is just coming in right now.

LEMON: And it's very interesting. It's Andrew Young, which is not the Andrew Young who was the mayor here of Atlanta.

SCHNEIDER: No.

LEMON: So, here's what we want to say here. According to -- and I'm reading this from ABC -- that according to friends of Hunter, Edwards met her at a New York City bar in 2006, Bill. His political action committee later paid her $114,000 to produce campaign Web site documentaries despite her lack of experience, it is saying.

SCHNEIDER: That's right. That is what ABC News is reporting.

And I think the most damaging things have to do with his lying to the media about this affair more than once. His personal behavior, of course, his private behavior is between him and his family. But also the fact that this woman was working on the campaign staff and was paid money, that I think is a problem, particularly since John Edwards has been on many lists as a potential vice presidential running mate for Barack Obama, as he was for John Kerry back in 2004. I think now that is very unlikely to happen.

LEMON: All right, let's talk about his wife, Elizabeth Edwards, of course diagnosed with cancer while he was on the campaign trail. And we remember that press conference coming out. He is saying -- Edwards made a point of telling Woodruff -- again, this is all according to ABC News -- that his wife's cancer was in remission when he began the affair with Hunter. I wonder why it was important for him to get that out there.

SCHNEIDER: Well, you will have to ask Mr. Edwards exactly that.

But she has since been diagnosed with an incurable form of the disease. But, apparently, it means that the affair started after his wife's initial diagnosis with cancer. And he says that she was in remission at the time he began the affair.

LEMON: All right, our political analyst, senior political analyst, Mr. Bill Schneider, on this news that is coming out now about former presidential candidate and Senator John Edwards.

Thank you very much, Bill.

KAYE: A lot happening here in the CNN NEWSROOM at this hour.

We want to show you a live picture of Hillary Clinton. She is speaking this hour in Las Vegas, Nevada, on behalf of Barack Obama.

And speaking of Barack Obama, we are going to talk about whether or not there is something called Obama fatigue? We are going to speak with our deputy political expert, Paul Steinhauser, in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: And this just in. Of course, we have been continuing to follow the John Edwards' admitted sexual affair, admitting that affair to ABC News.

And our Drew Griffin, special investigative correspondent Drew Griffin, is with us in Atlanta by phone.

And, Drew, you have been actually looking into this. You have already filed a report on this story. What can you tell us that you have learned about it?

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: Well, we have been chasing this story ever since the -- well, "The Enquirer" came out with what they said was the definitive proof of this hotel meeting, July 21, in Los Angeles.

And now apparently John Edwards is admitting to meeting this woman in that hotel. I think left unsaid in the ABC interview is that meeting went until 2:40 in the morning. And it was at 2:40 in the morning in the basement of the hotel that John Edwards was confronted by Alex Hitchen, a reporter for "The Enquirer."

And John Edwards actually ran into the bathroom, instead of answering any questions. So, I think there is a lot still to come from this story relating to the relationship between John Edwards and Rielle Hunter, the former campaign staffer. KAYE: And, Drew, were you able to find out anything out about this come, this 42-year-old Rielle Hunter, anything we should know about her?

GRIFFIN: Well, they met in a bar, a chance meeting. She told "Extra," the celebrity show "Extra," last year that they met in a bar and hit it off. She was a on-again/off-again producer type out in Hollywood, trying to break into the business, and apparently came up with the idea that she would make movies for the John Edwards campaign.

And John Edwards apparently thought that was a good idea and paid her to do just that. We have been trying to contact her of course for weeks. We have been trying to contact Andrew Young, the supposed father of her child. And we have been doggedly trying to get John Edwards to give us any kind of statement for weeks. He obviously chose to go with ABC.

I do want to add one other thing, though, John Edwards coming out saying this child is not his, child of Rielle Hunter, and that in fact it is Andrew Young's. We did acquire the birth certificate of that child, and that child's -- on the birth certificate, there is no name for the father of the child. It is simply left blank.

KAYE: How do you explain, Drew, why he hasn't taken a paternity test? Now he's coming out with this. Why not just prove, if he's already saying the child isn't his, why not show it?

GRIFFIN: Well, there's a lot of questions that I certainly would like to ask John Edwards about this, not the least of which if this was an affair that was over so long ago and that he has nothing to do with this child or never loved this woman, why is he meeting her in a hotel just a couple of weeks ago? That's number one.

Number two is exactly that. Why not take a paternity test and put this to rest? Maybe that will develop in the days and the weeks to come. And also why he chose to release this information and admit to this affair on a Friday night and the beginning of the Olympics.

I think it all has been building up for John Edwards. And he had to speak. And he chose this as potentially the least -- having the least effect on his future.

KAYE: And this meeting, this affair apparently taking place in 2006, which would have been after his wife, Elizabeth, had made public that she had cancer.

GRIFFIN: Yes.

What happens inside his family is obviously between the two of them and their children. But, you know, he was campaigning for president at the time. He was denying the affair took place all through that campaign, and really up until a couple of weeks ago was denying that there was any truth to any of these rumors.

So, this is an about-face. And perhaps he just felt the pressure was building and he could no longer contain this.

KAYE: And you said that she spoke with "Extra" about this. What do you think she has to gain here?

GRIFFIN: I'm not really sure. I never have met the woman, have only talked briefly to some people who knew her. So, I don't know anything really about her. There have been reporting, again, by "The National Enquirer" that there are financial arrangements made for her and the child's future. But we just do not know that for sure and have not obviously been allowed to ask John Edwards these questions.

KAYE: All right. Drew Griffin, thank you for your insight on this. And let us know if you dig up anything else. And we will get back to you on this -- Don.

LEMON: Yes. It's very interesting, Randi, because, obviously, Drew has been in the same newsroom as we're in. And we have been talking about the story. Drew came over the other day. And we took a look at some of the things he was talking about, the birth certificate and what have you. And very interesting to have a birth certificate where there is a question mark, where the father's name...

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: ... blank.

But you know who broke this was "The National Enquirer."

And David Perel, who is an editor for "The National Enquirer," joins us now by telephone. You guys have been covering this I believe it was since December of '07. Am I correct, Mr...

DAVID PEREL, EDITOR, "THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER": Actually, it started in October of '07.

LEMON: October, OK. And why do you think it took so long for this to come to light? Because I have seen the pictures in "The National Enquirer." And many people did not want to report on it obviously because he was denying it. And if you don't have the records to indicate it, it's very hard to prove whether or not this is true and whether or not he is the father.

PEREL: Well, in reporting on the affair, I think a lot of people found it just a difficult story to prove. And, also, his denial was so vociferous. He kept calling it tabloid trash.

I think the disconcerting part is that a lot of news organizations didn't dig in, as the evidence that "The Enquirer" was uncovering was mounting and mounting and mounting, including catching him in the hotel a couple of weeks ago with Rielle. I was surprised that more big news organizations weren't doing their own reporting. But I think we see today the "Enquirer" story holds up very well.

LEMON: In all honestly, though, if you see the photographs in "The National Enquirer," they are not very clear. And given the technology these days with high-def small cameras or what have you, those photographs are not very clear.

But let's not delve into that. Let's talk about the supposed confrontation that happened in the lobby, where he ran into the restroom after reporters and photographers were chasing him.

PEREL: Well, I don't think you need to call it supposed anymore, now that Edwards has come out and admitted the affair that we have been reporting on since last year.

But basically what happened is we got advance word that he would be meeting Rielle Hunter at the Beverly Hilton on that day, Monday into Tuesday. And we were there with a team of reporters and photographers. We observed them. We know he spent about five hours in her hotel room. He came downstairs through the basement. And when he stepped off the elevator, we were waiting for him.

And we started to question him -- isn't it true that you're here visiting Rielle Hunter?

Isn't it true you're the father of her baby?

Without saying a word, he took off running down the hall. So, as went after him to question him, he then ducked in the men's room -- a public men's room and was pushing the door shut. So it was a little bit like a Marx Brothers' movie. It was quite bizarre.

But he knew he'd been caught by us. And, I think, really, that was the beginning of the end and when he knew that he had to come out and tell the truth. He simply couldn't be as dismissive as he had been in the past and say tabloid trash, like he did when he was running for president and lying about the affair.

LEMON: OK. You know, this is what is called, classically, a game of cat and mouse, where you're doing this.

How long did this confrontation take place? How long did he -- was he holed up in that bathroom? Did he come out? And once he did, did reporters question him?

PEREL: He was in the bathroom -- the whole thing unfolded over the course of about 20 to 35 minutes. Hotel security just happened to be down there doing something else, so they then called for other security. They went in. They talked to Edwards. Another news organization verified that he asked, what are they asking me?

And when the guards repeated it, he turned white as a sheet. And then they escorted him out -- kind of formed like a human wall and they escorted him out of the hotel, where he was not a registered guest.

LEMON: Yes, I'm sure -- if you could stand by, because I want to continue to talk about this. But I want to show the picture of 42- year-old Rielle Hunter. This is a picture that CNN has acquired from the "National Enquirer" -- the 42-year-old woman who is believed to be the mistress here in all of this. That is her picture right there. So there she is. And this is, again, from the "National Enquirer". Again she is -- he is denying that the baby that this young -- that this woman has is his. But he has not taken a paternity test. And the "National Enquirer," of course, this picture is from them; other pictures, as well, believed to be John Edwards inside that hotel room, taken by the "National Enquirer".

And we are speaking now to the "National Enquirer" editor, David Perel, who has been following the story since October of 2007.

Obviously, you knew that the truth -- what's done in dark, as they say, what's done in darkness always comes to light. You knew that this was going to come out. But I would imagine you just didn't know how long it was going to take for the truth to surface.

PEREL: That's exactly right. You know, we have had a big team of people on this, spearheaded by my executive editor, Barry Levine, who has just been relentless in pursuing the story. And we actually thought this could take years to come out. And we were patient and we were willing to do whatever it took.

We thought we had the smoking gun when we confronted him in the hotel. And I think ultimately that's what proved to force his hand to finally tell the truth, because he knew he could not deny that he was there and that she was there and that they had just spent five hours together.

LEMON: So, David, let's just be -- let's just be honest here. There are -- John Edwards is not the first and won't be the last. And it's always amazing and it seems to be a huge surprise and big news when you get a powerful person who admits to having an affair. But this is not something that doesn't happen. This happens -- I shouldn't say all the time, but it does happen.

PEREL: No. You know, you're quite right. But I think there's other factors that make it a bigger story. Number one, as you said, he was running for president.

LEMON: Right.

PEREL: Number two, his wife was battling cancer at the time. So I think both of those go to a -- really, a severe character issue here.

Number three, I think this story is not over and we're going to finish it up. The scope of the cover-up, that also has now become the story. And the payments that Rielle is receiving.

OK, where is that money coming from?

In the interview he did with ABC, I understand he said, well, he's not aware, but maybe some of his friends are funneling money and he's going to check into it.

So, there's more here. And this is what makes it such a big story. LEMON: And, hey, if you could just give me a five second answer. What -- do you think -- and I know you don't have a crystal ball here -- it would have been better if he had just admitted it and moved on?

PEREL: Well, I certainly do, because I think, in this case, like many times, the cover-up is worse than the crime. So, as you said, many politicians have had affairs. He should have admitted it and come clean and it would have been over with. Now, I think he's damaged his political future beyond repair.

LEMON: David Perel. The "National Enquirer" breaking this story. He is the editor for the "National Enquirer". Thank you very much.

KAYE: And we want to talk now with Mark Preston, our political editor here at CNN -- Mark, thanks for joining us.

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Thank you.

KAYE: Can you tell us, first, your reaction to this?

PRESTON: Yes, I'll you what, Randi. This is something that we've heard about now for quite a long time. And it heated up in the past couple of weeks. It seemed to be heading that way. You know, after "The Enquirer" was able to find John Edwards in that hotel so late at night, it looked like where there was smoke, there was fire.

Having said that, no one really had any evidence. And today, of course, John Edwards comes out and acknowledges that he had this affair.

Now, the big question now, politically, is what is his future, what is his role? In the next couple of weeks, will he be given a slot at the Democratic National Convention? Will he speak?

And that's the question we don't have answered right now. I've reached out to the Obama campaign and they have no comment right now on this news.

KAYE: Now, when this first started to surface, he had said that the story is false, it's completely untrue. He called it ridiculous. And just two weeks ago, he repeated his denials once again. Now his story has changed.

What does that say about him, his character and why he may have been hiding this?

PRESTON: Well, I don't want to speak to his character because, you know, look he was clearly caught in the corner. He didn't know how to answer the question. I think if anybody was in that situation, if you were in his skin, so to speak, you might have done the same thing.

Having said that, the longer term, what does this really do for his political career?

Some people thought that John Edwards might be put into the Barack Obama cabinet if Obama wins in November, that he could perhaps be the attorney general, that he could perhaps be the labor secretary. I think those options are probably taken off the board right now.

And the big question is, just in the next couple of weeks, what will John Edwards do publicly? You know, we all know that his wife is really sick. Will John Edwards be in Denver? And, again, that's a question that we don't have answered.

KAYE: Why admit it?

If his name isn't on the birth certificate -- and apparently he is not the father, according to him and according to our investigative correspondent, Drew Griffin, confirming that he is not the father of this woman, Rielle Hunter's, child, why admit it?

PRESTON: Well, I think at some point you have to realize that the evidence is mounting against up and you have to tell the truth. You have to get it out there. You have to wash your hands clean.

Look, this happened to Bill Clinton. He denied it for a long time. He ended up admitting it. He ended up saying mea culpa, I was wrong, I was at fault. And his political career survived.

I think John Edwards probably took a lot of that into consideration and finally made the decision to tell the truth.

KAYE: Let's talk about the other woman in this story, Elizabeth Edwards who, as you said, is very, very sick. She apparently became aware of this affair in 2006.

Tell me, from what you know about her and have learned about her over the years, what might be going through her head and what might be going on in that family at this hour.

PRESTON: You know, I will tell you -- I mean, look, we can talk about the politics about this, you know, to the end of the earth, to the end of the day. But the fact is this really does becomes a deeply personal matter. We know she's really sick. They have two very young children. They already faced a tragedy when their teenage son was killed many years ago in a car accident. This is a family that already knows tragedy and is dealing with tragedy.

But I will tell you this about Elizabeth Edwards. She continues to fight on. She has been very active in this campaign. And I'll tell you, when John Edwards first came to the Senate back in 1999, I sat down and had a conversation with him. And John Edwards told me, look, I have to have -- the truth is, Elizabeth Edwards, my wife, is actually smarter than I.

Now, you'll hear a lot of politicians say that, you know. But the fact of the matter is, he could be right. You know, Elizabeth Edwards is a brilliant woman. The fact is I think that she's probably strong enough to overcome this.

But, yes, personally and for her family, this has got to hurt and this has got to dig deep.

KAYE: Would you expect that we would, at some point, hear from her on this?

I mean she is such a strong woman and is very public about what their struggles are.

PRESTON: Yes, you know, I think, at some point, she's probably going to have to address it in some form. She's going to be asked the question. I'm sure that they've already thought out what she would say.

I will tell you, I've spoken to several Democrats today. The consensus right now is, is everyone seems to be very angry at John Edwards. If you're a Democrat, you're not very happy.

But what they're saying about Elizabeth Edwards is, look, John Edwards shouldn't be speaking at the convention in Denver, Elizabeth Edwards should be speaking in Denver.

KAYE: You know, we sit here and we're talking about this and I can't help it, but as soon as it came across, you know, you automatically shake your head. You know, you shook your head back when it came out about Bill Clinton. You're shaking your head today.

Why do these guys do this? I mean this is something that continues to go on, this -- I'll just call it incredibly stupid behavior, really. I mean let's just put it out there. Because you are going to get caught. You are a public figure. Why do this? Aren't they smarter than this?

PRESTON: Well, I'll tell you, I mean let's not speak specifically to John Edwards, because we don't really necessarily know what was going on in his head at the time.

But let's just talk in generalities. Look, people come to Washington. People get drunk with power. You know, we've seen this with extra-marital affairs. We've seen this with lawmakers going to prison in the past couple of years because they have accepted bribes and they've done official acts, you know, on behalf of lobbyists because, you know, the lobbyist is able to take them on trips overseas or, you know, take them out to dinner or give them money or whatever have you.

Look, Washington is a very corrupting place. There's no question about that. And what I think is really hard for John Edwards right now is that when he ran for president, he ran on this whole motto of change.

You know, we all know that Barack Obama has been running on the motto of change. But so didn't John Edwards. And at the same time he was running on that motto, he was still doing some of the same things that he was talking about changing -- you know, changing the corruption of Washington.

So I think that probably, you know, singes many people, many Democrats -- certainly his past supporters.

KAYE: Yes. It's just -- it's terrible, really, for everybody all the way around.

Mark Preston, our political editor, thank you for your insights this afternoon.

LEMON: And, Randi, when you think about it, it's not Washington, because -- and you said what are they thinking?

They're not thinking. And they're...

KAYE: Well, yes.

LEMON: ...you know, it has to do...

KAYE: Or they're thinking about something else that they shouldn't be thinking about.

LEMON: ...hormones and what have you. Absolutely. And it all usually boils down to that. And, sadly, for most people who are in the public eye, it ends up like this.

KAYE: But it's the family that ends up really paying the price.

LEMON: Absolutely.

KAYE: And the other woman in their life.

LEMON: Absolutely.

We are following this developing story today in the CNN NEWSROOM, one that involves John Edwards.

Also, Wolf Blitzer will no doubt be following this in "THE SITUATION ROOM," coming up, oh, in about 18 minutes here.

Plus, we're also following this troop withdrawal in Iraq. Find out who.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: It is slowly coming up on 4:00 here on the East Coast in THE CNN NEWSROOM.

The news continues to roll into the CNN NEWSROOM.

A charter bus wreck in Texas has killed at least 13 people. Investigators trying to determine why the bus went off the road and smashed into a guardrail.

A developing story concerning former vice presidential candidate, John Edwards. ABC News reporting that Edwards now admits he had an extra-marital affair and lied about it repeatedly. According to the report, Edwards still denies fathering a child with the woman.

And the 2008 Summer Olympic Games have started. About 90,000 spectators attended opening ceremonies in Beijing.

LEMON: All right, we want to get you now to the Pentagon and our Barbara Starr.

She has some developing news as it occurs with troops -- Georgian troops being pulled out of Iraq -- Barbara, take it away.

BARBARA STARR, PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Don, of course, all day long we've been following the story of this escalating violence between Russia and the Republic of Georgia. As that violence has continued, as the fighting has continued in the breakaway portion of the country of South Ossetia in Georgia, the Georgian government has now said it will pull its 2,000 troops out of Iraq and bring them home to deal with this escalating conflict.

Now, the Georgian government also asking the United States to provide airlifts to bring those 2,000 Georgian troops out of Iraq and back to that country to deal with the situation there.

The Pentagon looking at that request. It may well be a military charter that takes that -- those Georgian troops back to their country.

But, also, the Pentagon watching the situation unfold very closely. There is very preliminary planning going in case an evacuation of Americans -- about 2,000 Americans are in Georgia -- in case the situation gets worse and they have to be brought out. There is no request for an evacuation yet. But the military looking at what would have to be done if that was to happen.

There are about 130 U.S. troops in Georgia itself right now, as a part of a training mission. All of them are accounted for and they are not said to be in any danger.

But the military likes to plan and so they're taking a very close look at this still evolving situation -- Don.

LEMON: All right, Barbara Starr.

Thank you very much for that developing story -- Randi.

KAYE: We're going to take a quick break. But we want to tell you about convention tickets for Barack Obama's convention -- the Democratic convention -- are going fast, apparently. We'll give you the details.

LEMON: Really fast, huh?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: And developing news here in the CNN NEWSROOM is former presidential candidate John Edwards admitting to having an affair with a 42-year-old woman while he was running for president. All of this news being broken last year, really, by the "National Enquirer".

But John Edwards admitting to ABC News in an interview that will air on "Nightline" -- an interview, saying that, yes, he did have an affair, but he did not love the woman. And he is also saying that the baby that this woman has is not his, although he has not taken a paternity test.

We'll be following this story throughout the day here on CNN and coming up in "THE SITUATION ROOM" in just about 10 minutes.

KAYE: An apparent resolution to a thorny issue for Republican candidate John McCain. The senator's campaign says it has invited Vice President Dick Cheney to speak at the party's national convention. Earlier, there had been some talk that Cheney might not be invited. The vice president's office says it's likely he will speak on the convention's first night. That would be September 1st. But that hasn't been decided just yet.

John McCain is on the campaign trail today in the heart of the Midwest. The Republican candidate stopped off at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines and he talked to voters about economic issues. After that, he held a fundraiser. He's scheduled to arrive in Arkansas later on today. And we'll hear from McCain in his own words just ahead this hour.

LEMON: Well, Barack Obama is taking some time off from the rigors of the campaign trail. He is starting a week-long vacation in Hawaii and Obama and his family left Chicago earlier today. The Democratic candidate is scheduled to arrive in his native state just a few hours from now. While in Hawaii, he'll visit his sister and his grandmother, who still live there.

Well, if you were hoping to get a ticket to Barack Obama's acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver later this month, forget about it. Tickets sold out within 24 hours after they went on sale. The Democratic candidate is delivering his address to -- at INVESCO Field, which seats 75,000 people.

KAYE: And we are going to continue to follow this John Edwards story -- admitting a sexual affair while he was running for president back in 2006 with a 42-year-old woman, Rielle Hunter. Much more on that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Former North Carolina senator and former presidential contender, John Edwards, admits to ABC News to having an extra-marital affair. That news broken by the "National Enquirer". Moments ago, we spoke with David Perel, the editor of the "National Enquirer".

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PEREL: Reporting on the affair, I think a lot of people found it just a very difficult story to prove. And, also, his denial was so vociferous -- you know, he kept calling it tabloid trash. I think the disconcerting part is that a lot of news organizations didn't dig in as the evidence that "The Enquirer" was uncovering was mounting and mounting and mounting, you know, including catching him in the hotel a couple of weeks ago with Rielle. I was surprised that more big news organizations weren't doing their own reporting. But I think we see that today the "Enquirer's" story holds up very well. LEMON: In all honesty, though, if you see the photographs in the "National Enquirer," they are not very clear. And given the technology these days with high def small cameras and what have you, those photographs are not very clear.

But let's not delve into that. Let's talk about this supposed confrontation that happened in the lobby, where he ran into the restroom after reporters and photographers were chasing him.

PEREL: Well, I don't think you need to call it supposed anymore, now that Edwards has come out and admitted the affair that we've been reporting on since last year.

But basically what happened is we got advance word that he would be meeting Rielle Hunter at the Beverly Hilton on that day, Monday into Tuesday. And we were there with a team of reporters and photographers. We observed them. We know he spent about five hours in her hotel room. He came downstairs through the basement. And when he stepped off the elevator, we were waiting for him.

And we started to question him -- isn't it true that you're here visiting Rielle Hunter?

Isn't it true you're the father of her baby?

Without saying a word, he took off running down the hall. So, as went after him to question him, he then ducked in the men's room -- a public men's room and was pushing the door shut. So it was a little bit like a Marx Brothers' movie. It was quite bizarre.

But he knew he'd been caught by us. And, I think, really, that was the beginning of the end and when he knew that he had to come out and tell the truth. He simply couldn't be as dismissive as he had been in the past and say tabloid trash, like he did when he was running for president and lying about the affair.

LEMON: OK. You know, this is what is called, classically, a game of cat and mouse, where you're doing this.

How long did this confrontation take place?

How long did he -- was he holed up in that bathroom?

Did he come out?

And once he did, did reporters question him?

PEREL: He was in the bathroom -- the whole thing unfolded over the course of about 20 to 35 minutes. Hotel security just happened to be down there doing something else, so they then called for other security. They went in. They talked to Edwards. Another news organization verified that he asked, what are they asking me?

And when the guards repeated it, he turned white as a sheet. And then they escorted him out -- kind of formed like a human wall and they escorted him out of the hotel, where he was not a registered guest.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: That was "The Enquirer" editor, David Perel.

Here's the interesting question that we have been asking and I'm sure most people -- Randi Kaye asked our political editor here, Mark Preston, why?

KAYE: Why?

LEMON: Why?

What were you thinking?

KAYE: It happens all the time.

LEMON: And the only person who can answer that, really, is John Edwards. But you said the people who usually end up paying for this are family members...

KAYE: Absolutely.

LEMON: ...especially the wife, who happens to be very sick now with cancer.

KAYE: Uh-huh.

We are going to get to the closing bell, which is about to ring on Wall Street.

Susan is standing by with a final look at the trading day -- Susan.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi.

Hi, Randi and Don.

Well, you know what, we're going to move away from that subject. We're going to talk about airlines.

You know, they've been nickel and diming us. Everybody knows that. So -- trying to offset those exorbitant fuel prices. So airlines are trying to be creative in getting new revenue. So don't be surprised if you see ads on tray tables -- yes, tray tables; on air sickness bags; on boarding passes. These things may be coming to us.

The good news is many folks don't use air sickness bags anymore because they don't get sick. And a lot of people don't read their tray table, they put something on their tray table.

Nonetheless, it could bring in much needed revenue. And I don't think we read our boarding passes, either.

LEMON: Oh my gosh.

LISOVICZ: Well, it won't cost us anything.

LEMON: Are we going to have to pay for seat belts?

I mean come on.

LISOVICZ: Well, we're not going to pay for this. See, the advertisers are going to pay for this so...

KAYE: Good.

LEMON: I know yes.

KAYE: We pay for enough on the airlines.

LEMON: You pay for it in one way or the other, you know that.

KAYE: Yes.

LISOVICZ: Right.

Hey, listen, we're heading into the weekend.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

LEMON: Of course, Wolf Blitzer anchors "THE SITUATION ROOM." But tonight he'll be anchoring that, as well as "LARRY KING LIVE." The topic, of course --

KAYE: John Edwards' affair -- an admitted affair now.

LEMON: Got it -- Wolf, take it away.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks very much, guys.