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Natalie Wood Press Conference; Wood Case Re-opened; Film on Planning Attack; Ohio State Versus Penn State; Concerns of Tension at PSU Game; Mixing Girls, Drinks and Rape; No Deal as "Super" Clock Ticks; NCAA Investigating Penn State; Demi Moore Files for Divorce
Aired November 18, 2011 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Also have one eye on this event. It has just gotten started. I'm going to pause just for a moment so we can listen to it. But, quickly, this is the L.A. Sheriff's Department basically now coming forward today and they are reopening their investigation into the '81 death of actress Natalie Wood. Take a listen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of Santa Catalina Island. They were accompanied by the caretaker of the boat and a fellow actor, Christopher Walken. Sometime in the morning of November 29th, Miss Wood somehow ended up in the water and drowned. At the time of the incident, it was investigated by us, the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, and the L.A. County Coroner's Office. Her death was ruled an accident.
As a homicide bureau for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, we're always open to receiving additional information about older cases, as well as current cases. We assess that information and deem it to be credible and reliable and, if so, we're not opposed to acting upon it.
Recently we have received information which we felt was substantial enough to make us take another look at this case. The case has been assigned to two sheriff's homicide investigators who will be following up on the additional information, as well as any other additional information that may develop.
Any questions?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is Robert Wagner a suspect?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) kind of information this was -- was this verbal information or do you have physical evidence or physical documentation?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know I'm not really going to comment on the type of information we have, whether the (ph) evidence or the statements we're getting from people.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Based upon this -- on the captain's coming forward, a book, what he told you recently, do you have more than just him? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, several sources have come forward with additional information. And as I said, we have found it to be credible enough to go ahead and take a look at the case.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So this is not just the captain? This is more than just the captain?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anybody else?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sir, at this point it's an ongoing investigation. By your criteria that you go by when an investigation is going on, at this point in this new investigation, can you rule out that she was murdered?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Her death was ruled an accident. An accidental drowning. And that's what it is. If our investigation, at the end of it, points to something else, then we'll address that. But right now her death is an accidental drowning.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But can you rule out -- but can you rule out murder at this point in your investigation?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was already determined to be an accidental drowning, but the information we received made us want to take another look at the case.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you planning to go to Hawaii? Are you planning to go to Hawaii to continue your investigation there?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are we planning to --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go to Hawaii and take a closer look at the boat?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Planning to go to Hawaii and take a look at the boat? We'll go wherever the investigation is going to take us.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Lieutenant, the captain said on national TV that he lied to your investigators 30 years ago. Your reaction to that. And will he face any charges for lying to police officers?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That I can't say. We'll end up -- probably end up talking to the captain sooner or later. So once we talk to him, we'll assess what he has to say and what happened then and now.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He admitted that he lied.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have you been concerned (ph) that most of us probably don't remember what we did yesterday and here you're talking about someone who suddenly recalls what happened 30 years ago at the same time a book is being released? Your thoughts?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's asking about someone who's remembering things from 30 years ago and there's a book being written.
I don't know. I'm not concerned with the book. That's not our concern. Just having already just the media attention we've received already on this, we've generated calls and people who have remembered things from back then or back then didn't talk to the police and now want to tell their story. So already people are coming forward and want to talk to us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lieutenant, why wasn't a more extensive investigation conducted in 1981?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not saying there wasn't an extensive investigation. I'm just saying this new information is substantial enough for us to make -- want to take another look at the case.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you worrying about the timing given the coverage, the recent stories, the book, are you worried that this will be viewed as something media-related? That the perception will be this isn't a serious, independent investigation?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's inconsequential to us. We'll -- we're not concerned with the anniversary date. It may have jarred some other peoples' memories since it's been in the media and they've started coming forward with the information. So that may have been the timing that the -- that via (ph) release to that.
(CROSS TALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Robert Wagner said that he was not contacted by your office.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you going to exhume the body?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Isn't it standard procedure to contact a victim's family to tell them you're reopening an investigation?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're saying Robert Wagner's family wasn't contacted by our office?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Robert Wagner issued a statement yesterday saying that he has not been contacted by your office to this investigation. Isn't it standard procedure to notify a victim's family?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's correct. And we're just opening up the investigation. We're just starting to re-investigate the case. So we'll -- sooner or later we will be contacting his family.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you going to exhume the body? Any plans to exhume the body?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Investigator (ph), what exactly are police doing right now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, you know, we're doing what we do in our investigations. We're going to follow up on the leads we have. We're going to interview -- re-interview some people. Interview some new people. Talk to people and re-evaluate some of the evidence.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you have any plans to exhume the body? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Possibility that it is not an accident? Is that a possibility at this point today?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Like I said, her death was ruled an accidental drowning and that's what it is. Until we find something that says it isn't, until that time it's still an accidental drowning.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But by definition, by opening this -- re-opening this investigation, aren't you insinuating then that there is a possibility. That it, in fact, was not an accident?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not at all. What we're doing is, we're saying we're not afraid -- if we get new information we deem to be credible, we're not afraid to go out there and act upon that information. And that's what we're doing.
(CROSS TALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Does the new information conflict with the information investigators had 30 years ago when they made their accidental determination?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not going to comment on that and what the information is.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's your best people (INAUDIBLE) do you have right now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, of course, and we want to talk to you. So if you saw something back then and you know what -- have some information about what happened back in 1981, give us a call at the sheriff's headquarters bureau.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Will Christopher Walken be interviewed (ph)?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not going to comment on who's going to be talked to or who's not going to be talk to. I think you can speculate on that. But I'm not going to talk about what witnesses we're going to talk to or who we haven't talked to.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Lieutenant, just for clarification -- just for clarification. Outside of the captain, do you have additional information (INAUDIBLE) people coming forward?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's asking if we have additional information outside of the captain. I'm not going to comment on whose talked to us or who's told us what.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Was a toxicology reporter ever done?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not going to comment on the coroner's report either. I think that's already been released, but I'm not going to get into that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is there any possibility to do (INAUDIBLE) DNA? There's a lot that's happened in the last 30 years. Will that assist you? Will you use DNA?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sure whatever's available to us we'll use, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Lieutenant, (INAUDIBLE) saying that you're going off of (INAUDIBLE) 30 years ago to just ask the public if they remember something. 1981 (INAUDIBLE). Present a case of opinions solely based on (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not saying we're basing the case on that, but it does helps, obviously, if the people who know something that happened back then, to give us a call. Like I said, we -- we'll re- evaluate what they have to say. If we find it to be credible, reliable, then we may use it or just disregard it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Any chance Natalie Wood's body will be exhumed?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not going to comment on that. I don't know if we're going to do that or not.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Would somebody face charges for lying (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, like I said, this right now is an accidental drowning. That's what it is. Just the information we have, we felt it was responsible -- we should be responsible enough to go ahead and follow up on it and that's what we're doing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If someone admits to lying to (INAUDIBLE) lieutenant, could they face charges. If I said, I lied to you 30 years ago, could I face charges? As the captain said today, that he lied to your investigators.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, if they're inhibiting an investigation, yes, they could be arrested or charged with a crime, possibly, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is there plans to charge the captain? He admitted on national television today that he lied to investigators 30 years ago.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not going to talk about if we're planning on arresting anybody or doing anything -- to anyone. We just want to talk to people right now and follow up on our information we have in the -- at (ph) the (ph) further the investigation.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You won't say if you've interviewed the captain?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not going to talk about who we've talked to.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lieutenant, how does his saying he lied affect his credibility in your investigation?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not going to comment on his credibility.
That's OK. That's it. Thank you very much. Thank you.
BALDWIN: OK. So what -- what was that, eight minutes I counted. Eight minutes of basically hearing some Q&A there with the L.A. County Sheriff's Department with regard to this now open probe into the 1981 death of actress Natalie Wood.
I've got two people I want to talk to. Kareen Wynter is there. We'll talk to her in just a moment. But I want to bring in criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Holly Hughes, because there's a lot to sort of sort through legally speaking.
First of all, as I mentioned, this was '81, ruled an accidental drowning at Catalina Island. Now suddenly -- and we heard him -- let me pull up my e-mail, he said, taking notes, more than one source now -- more than one source coming forward as to the impetus to reopen this. But how unusual is it to reopen something that's three decades old?
HOLLY HUGHES, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, it's extremely unusual. And what I find really interesting is not just what they're saying, but what they are not saying, Brooke. OK. They're not going to waste resources opening a 30-year-old investigation unless they believe these witnesses are credible. And in the statements they've released they said witnesses. Plural.
BALDWIN: Correct.
HUGHES: So they have talked to more than one person. And even though the sheriff is now standing up there and saying, well, I'm not going to comment on anybody's credibility, clearly they think that these are credible information witnesses or they would not have launched a new investigation.
BALDWIN: So he's not going to comment. He was asked multiple times by those --
HUGHES: Yes.
BALDWIN: You know, those reporters out there with regard to the credibility of that captain of the Splendour, the captain of the yacht.
HUGHES: Right. Yes.
BALDWIN: Who we had on for multiple today talking to Suzanne Malveaux, fully admitted, look, you know, yes, I didn't tell the truth many years ago. Robert Wagner, and this is all according to this man --
HUGHES: Right.
BALDWIN: We sort of decided what we would and wouldn't tell investigators. Do you see him, with your attorney hat on, do you see him as credible?
HUGHES: It depends. You know, is suspicious to me because he's now got a book coming out. It's the 30th anniversary. So I need to question, why now? You know, are you telling me that suddenly, after 30 years, you've grown a conscience? Is that what you're saying to me? If all they have is his word, I don't think that's enough. I want some physical evidence to back that up. I want corroboration that can be taken into a court of law because, for all intents and purposes, Brooke, he's a co-conspirator in covering up what he's now alleging might be a murder. So he could also be charged as a criminal defendant.
BALDWIN: OK, stand by. I have more for you.
But let's go to Kareen Wynter, who is there in Los Angeles, who was there at this news conference.
And, Kareen, let me just back up and perhaps you, you know, you heard what we didn't hear. But can you be more specific? Why is this being reopened now?
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Brooke, that is really the big question. And my producer, Paul Burkhaman (ph), pointed this out right after it ended. The two big things that jump out to me is the fact (INAUDIBLE) this is -- we've received credible and substantial information. What's really frustrating is, hey, tell us where that's coming from. You know, the name that we've been talking about all morning long, Dennis Davern, the former captain of that yacht, he's come forward saying -- admitted, as one reporter raised that question that he admitted on national TV today that he lied to investigators more than three decades ago. (INAUDIBLE) forthcoming. That there was so much information that he left out. Also pointing to the fact that Wagner has some culpability here. That he is in (INAUDIBLE) directly responsible for Natalie (INAUDIBLE).
BALDWIN: OK, Kareen, too bad we can't fully hear -- your microphone, something's breaking up. But she just mentioned, as we were discussing, that the captain of that yacht, where this whole thing happened back in '81, he, as I mentioned, spoke with Suzanne Malveaux. Take a listen what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DENNIS DAVERN, FORMER CAPTAIN, "THE SPLENDOUR": Christopher and Natalie were sitting on the sofa. And within a split second, Robert Wagner picked up a wine bottle and smashed it on the coffee table and yelled out, "what are you trying to do blank my wife?"
And at that moment Christopher got up and went into his state room. And Natalie was so devastated that she went into her state room. And Robert Wagner followed Natalie. And they continued arguing in their state room. And I went up on the bridge and I'm turning on the music because I didn't want them to feel like I was eavesdropping on their personal problems at that time. And it was like a lot of physical activity going on in the state room and --
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN: What do you mean?
DAVERN: Well, just noises of, you know, movement in the state room.
MALVEAUX: Like violence? Yelling? DAVERN: And their voices -- yes. And then the argument went to the upper deck and they argued back there for a little while and then it became silent.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Let's get the other side of this. Let me briefly read you this statement. This is a statement we got from Robert Wagner's publicist. They say, quote, "They," the Wagner family, "fully support the efforts of the L.A. County Sheriff's Department and trust they will evaluate whether any new information relating to the death of Natalie Wood Wagner is valid and that it comes from a credible source or sources other than those simply trying to profit from the 30-year anniversary of her tragic death."
Holly, the first question out of the gate today was, is Robert Wagner a suspect. And they immediately said, no. And he's not a suspect until, what, until they have physical evidence to prove --
HUGHES: That he did something criminal. Because at this point we still have the accidental death ruling on the books, just like the sheriff's representative was saying. You know, we haven't reclassified. We have not changed the cause and manner of death.
Right now what we've got is some additional information from unnamed people. We're not going to tell you who they are. But we think they're credible enough to reopen this and go forward with it.
So what you're looking for, especially if -- now a lot of people think, well, the statute of limitations might have run on anything the captain could be charged with.
BALDWIN: What is it, do you know?
HUGHES: Well, murder, there's not statute of limitations. So if the new allegations are that he pushed her over, that he held her under water, that it was an intentional act --
BALDWIN: Doesn't matter that this happened in '81.
HUGHES: That has no bearing on it whatsoever. Now as far as the captain lying to the police, which he's admitted in an open TV forum, yes, I lied back then, the statute of limitations has run on that. But when you're talking about an ongoing criminal conspiracy, which means keeping the lie alive all these years, continuing to cover up some type of criminal act, then he might still be facing charges. So it's really fascinating that they've taken this leap of faith, the sheriff's department. And if they get -- if he's charged as co- conspirator, we do need physical evidence because you cannot convict anybody on the word of one co-conspirator or co-defendant. You need additional, corroborating evidence. That's what they're going to be looking for.
BALDWIN: What a story.
HUGHES: Yes. BALDWIN: Holly Hughes, thank you so much. Obviously we'll both be following that one.
And we still have two more hours to go. Take a look at what we have.
Another major college, another major sports program rattled as accusations fly over sexual misconduct. And, once again, this involves a person of power, a coach. I'm Brooke Baldwin. The news is now.
Stunning video of Taliban fighters preparing for an attack.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you want God's blessing, be a suicide attacker.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Gymnastics, gunfire, props. A behind the scenes look at how terrorists prepare to die.
Plus, if you haven't been paying attention, now's the time. Five days left for the super committee to decide what to cut in spending and what to keep.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This place is good at doing nothing. That may be the best (INAUDIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Now, some in Washington are scrambling just to find an exit strategy.
And, a victim of sexual assault comes forward and sheds light on the definition of date rape.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What makes me mad now is that nobody -- nobody told me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: She joins me live about miniskirts, mace, and misconceptions about date rape.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: So much happening this hour. Rapid fire. Let's go, beginning with a tragic, tragic loss here. The Oklahoma State women's basketball coach and an assistant coach have been killed in an airplane crash in Arkansas. Coach Kurt Budke and assistant Miranda Serna were on this recruiting trip last night when their single engine plane went down. Budke had just started his seventh season at Oklahoma State. Also killed, the pilot, 82-year-old former Oklahoma State Senator Olin Branstetter and his wife. We're going to have much more on this story, including some pretty emotional reaction from the university coming in today in a matter of minutes.
Also, in Cairo, Egypt, tens and thousands of angry protesters are back on the streets, back in, take a look, Tahrir Square. They are demonstrating against this plan that would shield the Egyptian military from public oversight. The plan is part of the country's proposed new constitution. Protesters want presidential elections to be held no later than next April.
Now to Indonesia, where President Obama announced an historic move, sending Hillary Clinton to Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. This is the first time a U.S. secretary of state will visit the nation in more than half a century. And the secretary sat down with our own Brianna Keilar during a stop in Bali.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: Well, one of the reasons that I'm going is to test what the true intentions are and whether there is a commitment to both economic and political reform. I've talked to Aung San Suu Kyi, the president has. We've had many interactions with her through top officials, along with others and there certainly does seem to be an opening. Now, how real it is, how far it goes, you know, we're going to have to make sure we have a better understanding than we do right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Also today, more protests in Syria. And an opposition group says Syrian troops killed at least 19 people. And amid all this violence, a top Arab (ph) diplomat says Syria is accepting, in principle, an Arab league demand to allow 500 observers into the country, but France's foreign minister says the move may be already too late.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALAIN JUPPE, FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): But I think that the point has now come to renew our efforts to accelerate sanctions. We all support a resolution to that effect in the United Nations General Assembly. France is happy to work with the Arab League, with Turkey, with all the countries in the region and to work with the opposition, which shows a lot of courage.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Back home, Detroit laying off 1,000 city workers as the motor city is dealing with major money problems. Detroit's mayor says the jobs will be gone by the end of next February.
And the Department of Homeland Security looking at whether a cyber attack may have it a public water facility. Plant employees in Springfield, Illinois, say they started noticing some glitches in the system. Then last week, a water pump burned out. DHS says it still doesn't know what caused the pump failure. And we are watching that sentencing today in the sweat lodge case set to happen any minute now. Remember, three people died back in 2009 after participating in what was described as a stealth healing exercise at the sweat lodge a self-help expert was running. That man, James Arthur Ray, was convicted of negligence homicide. Faces up to nine years in prison.
Now this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNS HARGIS, PRESIDENT, OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY: We don't know a lot about what happened and how it happened, but we know they're gone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Fighting back tears. As we mentioned, a very emotional Oklahoma State University president today talking about that plane crash that killed two of the school's basketball coaches. We have new details on that story.
Plus, do you remember this? This was just a couple of months ago. It was one of the most brazen attacks on a hotel in Kabul. Now there is video of what appears to be men planning that deadly attack. It is chilling. We've got the details. And the backstage story coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Got a little bit more information on the tragedy involving the Oklahoma State women's basketball program. Coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna were killed last night when on a recruiting trip in Arkansas. As we mentioned a moment ago, the single engine plane went down just about 45 miles west of Little Rock. Also killed, the pilot, 82-year-old former Oklahoma State Senator Olin Branstetter and his wife. This reaction from Oklahoma State's president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BURNS HARGIS, PRESIDENT, OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY: Well, this is obviously an incredibly devastating event. It's our worst nightmare. The entire OSU family is very close. Very close indeed. And to lose anyone, and especially these two individuals who were incredible life forces in our family, is -- it's worse, beyond words.
Ann and I were with the family this morning and it -- they need all of our prayers, all of our support. When something like this happened, and God forbid it happened again, we have to pull together as a family. We've got to try to do that. I think this is the longest I've gone without tearing up.
So, as Gary said, we don't know a lot about what happened and how it happened, but we know they're gone. And at least from our presence. But I know they're here in our hearts. So I just ask everyone to pull together and to support each other and the Budke family and the Serna family in every way possible. (END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: No word yet as to what caused the crash. Budke had just started his seventh season at Oklahoma State. The university has canceled the team's games this weekend. And it was just 10 years ago a plane went down killing 10 people associated with Oklahoma State men's basketball program, including two players.
And now you could call it a video diary that purportedly shows a suicide bombers' last days. An hour's worth of newly released video posted on a Taliban linked website. And in it, it shows men doing gymnastics, others training. Apparently preparing to seize Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel this past summer. Nick Paton Walsh picks up the story from here.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): One of the most brazen attacks to hit Kabul. In June, a government conference at the Intercontinental Hotel was attacked by a suicide squad who killed 11 others. It took special forces, helicopters and a drone to suppress it six hours later.
President Karzai has this week gathered tribal elders near that hotel for a vital meeting about America's presence here. But now CNN has gained a unique insight into how that raid was planned. The Taliban have posted online a lengthy propaganda video they say about the seven men behind that attack.
This is a display what they want us to see of their skills and planning. CNN can't prove it's genuine, only that it shows how sophisticated their message and media are after a decade of war.
Ambushed somewhere else, seems to let insurgents steal military uniforms. One hotel attacker speaks of his wish to die.
"My message is life is too short," he says. "You could die of cancer or a car accident. If you want God's blessing, be a suicide attacker."
The preparations are elaborate. Here they sit, we think only the faces of the dead, visible in front of a model of the hotel discussing tactics.
"Those of you who have machine guns and rocket propelled grenades," the tutor says, "get on the roof and use it as a control tower so the enemy can't enter easily." Then they study to (ph) the attack itself.
In a war about perception of victory, the Taliban have an increasingly sophisticated voice. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Kabul.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: The Penn State football team getting ready for its first away game since the sex abuse scandal broke and so is the team they're playing, big, big ten rival. Ohio State players just released a video. They're asking fans in Columbus, Ohio to put a very specific picture on their Facebook pages for game time tomorrow. What is it? That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Penn State's football team will be back on the field tomorrow this time against arch rival Ohio State, but the child rape allegations at Penn State had everyone a little bit on edge.
There is concern at Ohio State about decorum, about respect in the stadium. I want to you listen to this message that's been circulating now on campus at OSU.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ohio State hands down are the best fans in the land.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Be respectful to our guest from Penn State, their players and their fans.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Be loud, be proud and be respectful. Let's show everyone that we have the best fans in the land.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go Bucs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Also want to point out. Ohio State football has recently had its own problems. The head coach resigned over alleged violations of recruiting rules, a financial arrangement with a local tattoo parlor apparently allowed Ohio State players to get discounted tattoos.
So that's it. Let's go to Jared Kamrass with the Ohio State athletic council. Penn state, Ohio state, huge big 10 rivalry and you know what?
I talked to a long-time Ohio State fan and she described I think maybe she was being a little nice, that some of the fans can be spirited, rowdy. So you tell me what to expect come game time tomorrow.
JARED KAMRASS, OSU ATHLETIC COUNCIL: You know, every time Ohio State and Penn State play. It's a spirited rivalry definitely it's competitive. They've played 26 times and you know, this week in the 27th meeting is obviously unlike any of the past 26.
Penn State is coming to Columbus. That is their first away game since the alleged tragedies came to light about a week and a half ago, and so as students, we are, you know, besides reinforcing our message of sportsmanship, which we tried to message 365 days a year.
We're trying to remind our fellow students as well as our fans, to be loud, be proud, make the horseshoe a very hostile environment for the football team, but at the same time be respectful to our visitors and players from Penn State.
BALDWIN: So from the stadium to high street to the varsity, the message is, be loud, be proud, be respectful. Tell me how you guys have taken to social media and Facebook specifically. What image have you been asking students to put up on their pages?
KAMRASS: Yes, I mean, really it has been a social media campaign. A bunch of student leaders, we sent out a letter to all of the students here enrolled at OSU, you know, urging them to remember that this is bigger than football.
That it's important to remember the victims and keep the victims and their families in our thoughts and prayers. So as part of symbolizing that, we've asked students to change their profile picture on Facebook to an image.
That is the outline of the state of Ohio with the blue ribbon over it, which you know, symbolizes our support for victims of child sexual abuse.
BALDWIN: And why is it because, you know, perhaps some of the OSU fans can be, I don't know empathetic with regards to what happened to Coach Trussel some months ago. I mean, but bottom line, are OSU fans going to play nice?
KAMRASS: I mean, I'm very confident that Ohio State (inaudible), you know, represents Ohio State in the way it should be. You know, this is not about Ohio State. This is about Penn State.
It's about honoring the victims and remembering the victims and feeling for them and their families and remembering that Penn State students and fans love their school just as much as we love Ohio State. And it's important that while we should be proud of our school, it's important to be respectful of them as well.
BALDWIN: All right, big game tomorrow. Best of luck to your school. Of course, best of luck to Penn State as well. Jared Kamrass, thanks so much for coming on. I appreciate it. Now this.
KAMRASS: Thank you, Brooke.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMAEL: So, so mad, hurt, sad, robbed, broken.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: This young woman says that she was date raped and when she told her friends, they said, that was so last semester, really? You're going to meet a girl who hopes that her story will change the culture on college campuses everywhere. Don't miss that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: I want you to meet a young woman today. She is on a crusade to change the way we think about date rape and you can guess, yes, she is a victim. She says it happened in college and the boy she says did it was friend.
It's a topic of a really a lot of women don't discuss. But not Bergen Baucom, she and her friend turned her story into a documentary. I want you to just watch. This is just the beginning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is me, Bergen Baucom. Grew up in a small southern town, Dalton, Georgia, born the only child to two loving parents, like was pretty sweet. I know, I know. When most people hear only child, the first thing they think is spoiled, lonely, social odd balls.
I certainly never felt lonely. I grew up in a neighborhood with a lot of kids my age, mostly boys except for my friend, Gillian Medics. I have always been a girl. I also have a tom boy in me, but not much.
Fast forward through the physically awkward middle school years to high school, Dalton High School, cattle country. Honestly, I loved high school. I was a cheer leader and the girls that I cheered with were best friends.
The guys that I cheered for were like brothers to me. We hung out on the weekends, went to dances and loitered in the Walgreens parking lot when we were bored and had nothing better to do. Although I'm not trying to make myself out to be Polly the Periton, I was a virgin all through high school and had boyfriends who respected that, you know, wait while you date.
Virginity until marriage was a promise I made to myself and one I wanted to keep. In the fall of 2006, I went off to the University of Alabama. I moved into an all girls dorm, joined a sorority and interior designer as my major.
After gaining a hundred sisters, I had plenty of new friends to go to football games with, fraternity parties and just go out on the weekends. Together we experienced many new first.
One being a change in our virginity status, some of my friends' stories were sweet or romantic, some were funny and even a few largely disappointing.
But my story was different. It wasn't funny or awkward, or sweet or everything that I ever waited for. In fact, my virginity was never given. It was stolen.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: It was stolen. Bergen Baucom, welcome. It's a pleasure to meet you. Obviously, I watched your documentary. I thought you were and are a strong young woman for sharing a story like this.
To set it up, as you mentioned, you know, you wanted to wait to have sex until you were married and then all of a sudden this happens in the spring of '07. This was your freshman year, yes?
BERGEN BAUCOM, "MINISKIRTS, MACE AND OTHER MISCONCEPTIONS": Yes.
BALDWIN: And so just to set up exactly what happened, this was the spring, you were out with some friends, this guy was a friend of yours.
BAUCOM: Exactly. We had met my first semester, someone my parents had met, he was just a friend. He picked me up, I wasn't feeling well, brought me soup, had hung out many times.
I was in a sorority and he was in a fraternity. Another sorority and another fraternity, the four of us were all having a joint St. Patrick's Day party.
We were going to get together and then he ended up not coming and the party was kind of lame so we said, let's go somewhere else. He was going to pick me up and take me to the next place that we can meet up with the rest of our friends.
BALDWIN: But the problem arises when he says, hang on a second, I left my wallet back at the frat house. Let's just pick it up with this piece of your doc.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BAUCOM: When we got to the house, we walked inside through the basement door. We walked down the hall to the third room on the right and he opened the door for me. I walked in and next to me. He locked the door behind us ultimately locking me into his hell.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: How soon after that happened, did you fully comprehend what had just happened to you, A and, B, when did you share it with your closest friends?
BAUCOM: You know, I think the issue when you know the perpetrator, is that it takes a long time for your head to go from friend to perpetrator. You don't -- I knew what happened was wrong.
I knew I hadn't consented to that. I knew it was very traumatic. You don't naturally go straight to rape because this is someone that know. You know, you think that rape is a parking garage. You think it's in an alley.
BALDWIN: Someone in a dark alley as you mentioned and it wasn't.
BAUCOM: It was not and when you know who it is, it takes months before your brain to process, my gosh --
BALDWIN: This just happened to me?
BAUCOM: Yes.
BALDWIN: We pulled up speaking of, you know, people you know and it's not an image of who you thought a perpetrator would be. We pulled up some statistics on college campuses. I want to share this with some of you.
These are some of the numbers. This is according to Safe Campus. One in every four college women will be sexually assaulted and an alarming 84 percent of those women know their attacker.
Finally, 57 percent, more than half of those rapes occur on a date. So you knew this guy. You mentioned, you know, he didn't look like a perpetrator.
But then other part of the documentary that really got me is, you finally share this with your friends and your friends say to you why are you so upset about this? That happened last semester. Don't talk about it. Are you serious?
BAUCOM: It's unreal and it seems so shocking and then when we take a step back and we look, I think you can see where these attitudes come from. When you look at the education on college campuses, we say, OK, girls, take our self defense class, here's our little pink pepper spray, put it on your key ring now.
Go out to the world, don't drink with strangers and don't go out into the world and don't be raped. Then when this happens, you say, what did you do to not prevent it? I think women are taught that they can do something to keep this from happening to them.
This is a stranger. You don't really have your finger on the trigger on the mace when you're hanging out with your friends. So you don't expect this to happen. So I think it's a self-defense mechanism that perpetuates victim blaming.
BALDWIN: So you're so outspoken, my goodness. You're about to graduate college. So this happens, you're coming to terms with it. You finally decide to do this documentary.
You have another friend in the documentary who is also a victim as well and you both decide to share your stories because you want to change the culture on college campuses, but how, how?
BAUCOM: I want to change the dialogue. You know, it's not enough to say that we're talking about it because as we're seeing right now, universities are not talking about this.
I think that there's a big push to protect the image. It's easy for a lot of kids to say, this doesn't happen here and really we're seeing that it's being brushed under the rug.
I think that we need to change the dialogue. We need to incorporate education not just geared towards women, but women and men. We need to stop leaving it in the hands of women to say, to prevent this from happening and put some accountability on the rapist instead of the woman from keeping their self being raped.
BALDWIN: I want to share one more piece.
BAUCOM: Sure.
BALDWIN: Let's watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BAUCOM: No one point blank called me a liar. They spoke as if I shouldn't have been accusing him at all, rather questioning the reality of my own assault. At least you knew him, someone said, or that was last semester.
We're over that now. One friend even told me that it really wasn't rape because when guys get turned on, they just can't control themselves.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: OK, so final question. You've talked a lot about being paralyzed by your rage in the beginning. Are you still paralyzed? Are you still mad?
BAUCOM: You know, I think it would be a different story if he walked into the set right now. But, no, what has happened to me, I've put into a comfortable place. I've channelled my anger. I'm more mad now than I was at a university -- that I was a victim of this and didn't realize because that was never taught.
I knew so much about alcohol poisoning. I knew so much other problems that are horrible and happened on college campuses, but to be a victim of this and because I knew him, not understand what have happened to me, not understand what my resources were, that's what makes me mad and that's what I want to change.
BALDWIN: Well, look at you sitting here with me, it's something to come. Let's stay in touch. Bergen, nice to meet you and congratulations on almost graduating from college. Thank you.
BAUCOM: Thank you.
Coming up, it is getting down to the wire, the most powerful group of lawmakers right now in Washington trying to decide how to cut America's debt. Still, no deal, but could the next 24 hours be a turning point? Wolf Blitzer is back in Washington. He's got the details, next.
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BALDWIN: All right. The countdown is on. Just five days left for the congressional "Super Committee" to get a deal done that would trim $1.2 trillion from the nation's deficit.
Wolf Blitzer is back in Washington, back at home with America's Choice 2012 politics update. Wolf, by the way, good to see you. I had an amazing time last night and we'll talk a little bit more about this Soltrin awards next hour. So that's the tease.
Let's talk "Super Committee." Can this committee really strike a deal by the end of the weekend? WOLF BLITZER, HOST, CNN'S "THE SITUATION ROOM": They can but it's going to - it's looking increasingly unlikely that they will get to that $1.2 trillion level.
Because the Democrats keep insisting that there has to be tax increases. Republicans are reluctant to do that. The Republicans keep saying, there's got to be cuts in entitlement spending, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and there's changes in that.
The Democrats are resisting that. That's part of the compromise. Will there be enough -- you know, more than six of these members who are willing to go -- 7-5 vote. For example, there are six Democrats, six Republicans. You're going to need some people who are willing to break, if you will, with their respective parties' base, on the Republican side, no increase in taxes. On the Democrat side, no significant cuts in the entitlement spending.
If there is a 6-6 tie, there is no deal then the sequestration as it's called, as you know, Brooke. That goes into effect, the automatic trigger starting in 2013. Not in 2012. That will be $1.2 trillion in cuts, half defense, half non-defense.
But they can even revise that so we'll see what happens. There's not a whole lot of hope here that they are going to have a deal by next Wednesday.
BALDWIN: Here's the thing and you've covered Washington for years. Look, they've known about this November deadline for a number of months. We saw what happened play out over the summer with the debt ceiling debate. I mean, why wait until the 11th hour? Is this political theater? What is this?
BLITZER: Well, there is a lot of political theater going on. This is politics and we're going into an election year obviously. But remember, they waited until the last moment over the summer before there was a closing of the government that they didn't close the government on raising the debt ceiling.
They had a deal. They waited until the last minute to get that deal finally done. Now they will presumably go on to the last minute on Wednesday as well, see if they get a deal or no deal again.
They go into the automatic trigger. They start cutting and won't be any cuts for at least a year and they can also make changes. So it's not a draconian as some people are suggesting it would be.
But it is an underscores the gridlock, the political poisonous atmosphere in Washington right now where it's so hard to get Democrats and Republicans to compromise and work together on these sensitive subjects.
BALDWIN: You talk to people, I talk to people and so many Americans are frustrated by that.
BLITZER: They will and it should be.
BALDWIN: Wolf, thank you. You and I were talking about this big debate that you are -- what's the word? I'm blanking on the word.
BLITZER: I'm moderating.
BALDWIN: It was a late night.
BLITZER: Tuesday night.
BALDWIN: Tuesday night.
BLITZER: Tuesday night, 8:00.
BALDWIN: It's 8:00. It's going to be in Washington.
BLITZER: A U.S. Republican presidential, Constitution Hall, historic Constitution Hall. And here's a trivia question, when was the last time that a presidential debate occurred in the nation's capital.
When was the last time that the presidential debate happened right here in Washington, D.C.? We'll have the answer in an hour. And I'm back with you in the CNN "NEWSROOM." How is that for a tease?
BALDWIN: It sounds perfect, Wolf Blitzer. We'll see you next hour. Thank you very much.
Now, you remember this? Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, just a couple of months ago, talking to Piers Morgan about how strong their marriage is.
Cut to today, she has released a statement and he, of course, is tweeing about their plans to divorce. When we come back, we will hear from them then and now. Next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: All right, got some news just in with regard to Penn State University and some news from the NCAA. Like everyone else, they have read the grand jury report, disturbed by it.
So right now, the NCAA says they are going to be evaluating the key word here, the university's accountability with regard to those policies and directing specific questions to the university about its application of NCAA bylaws.
Taking a look at some of the leadership there, that's the news from the NCAA. We'll stay on that.
Also, now trending today, six years marriage and months of speculation about Ashton Kutcher's alleged infidelity and now Demi Moore says, the two are getting a divorce.
Moore announced the news just yesterday and said, it's time to move forward with her life. She also wrote that as a mother and wife, there are certain vows she holds sacred and she wants to move on.
In the meantime, Kutcher tweeted, quote, "I will forever cherish the time I spent with Demi. Marriage is one of the most difficult things in the world and unfortunately, sometimes they fail."
The couple though, they did sit down with Piers Morgan back in April. They talked about the marriage and being in the tabloids constantly.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PIERS MORGAN, HOST, CNN'S "PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT": When you got married, there was still a lot of cynics out there who said, it's not going to last.
DEMI MOORE, ACTRESS: Not only that, it was written that it was purely a publicity stunt. It's a pretty long --
ASHTON KUTCHER, ACTOR: Pretty long-winded --
MORGAN: How long have you two been together?
MOORE: Eight years.
KUTCHER: Yes.
MORGAN: Do you -- do you feel like having the last laugh of those who mocked it?
KUTCHER: Well, I feel like anyone who is sort of engaging themselves in tabloid press as fact will, you know, always have the last laugh.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: This is Moore's third marriage and Kutcher's first. And, now, top of the hour. Watch this.
