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Three American Students Were Arrested In Cairo; Another Accuser of Bernie Fine Went Public; An Audio Tape Released Seems to Confirm the Accusations of Sex Abuse Against Bernie Fine

Aired November 27, 2011 - 17:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, HOST: Thanks so much for tuning in to the special hour of politics. Join us every Sunday, 4:00 eastern time.

Now stay right here for the latest news right here in the NEWSROOM.

All right, if you're not home yet from your thanksgiving getaway, listen closely. The weather could snarl your travel plans. Let's get right to Karen Maginnis.

Karen, what's going on out there?

KAREN MAGINNIS, METEOROLOGIST: Fredricka, the weather is deteriorating. And now those airport delays are kind of catching up with us a little bit. And they are really accumulating quite a bit.

Take a look at this. Boston, New York, Teterboro, Los Angeles, major airports, and semi major delays that we have seen them longer. But Teterboro perhaps, just under two hours is our longest one. The primary reason for this is fog. But also look at Philadelphia. Now, we have got 20 minutes. But we could see these airport delays really increase because volume is increasing, their visibility has become reduced at these major airports across the i-95 corridor primarily because of fog. The visibility is low.

We have lots of volume. Some 42 plus million people traveling, a lot of those in the area, but the bulks of those are on the roadways. Want to show you a view of what is happening in Atlanta now. We have some cloudy skies. But, there were some earlier delays because an aircraft had blown out three tires. Well, that was a hiccup in the system, but let me tell you this is only going to get worse as we go through the evening hours as the weather are really going to start to deteriorate across the southeast. Let's show you what's happening.

We're going to see the bulk of that bad weather stretching from the great lakes down towards the gulf coast. And embedded in the middle there is an area of low pressure here and as a result, that's going to be tracking a little more towards the northeast, drag a frontal system with it, bring in that cold air behind it, the cold air could trigger some areas like Memphis and Dallas -- not Dallas, but for Nashville. Also Cleveland, Cincinnati, you're looking at maybe a rain/snow mix, brief flurries. I think this will be a novelty event for most people.

But nonetheless, this is the first significant rain event that we have seen for this season. And some of these rainfall totals could be three to six inches, Fredricka. So people who are traveling on those roadways, i-65, i-75, i-40, could be a little slow going for them.

WHITFIELD: Alright, thank so much for keeping us posted on that one. We will check back with you later I the hour. Thanks, Karen.

Shocking developments in the Syracuse university child molestation scandal, the wife of assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine reportedly admitted she had concerns that her husband had molested a boy in their home. ESPN reports Bobby Davis, the alleged victim, recorded a phone call with the coach's wife back in 2002 in which she said, quote, "I know everything that went on and you have trusted somebody you shouldn't have," end quote.

Earlier I talked to the reporter from ESPN who broke this story. And I asked him why it took them some eight years to go public with that audiotape. We'll replay that interview for you later on in the show.

Plus, CNN talked to Michael Lang, another alleged victim. We'll bring you what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My eyes are burning! My eyes! My eyes!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The woman who caused this panic at a Wal-Mart on black Friday has now turned herself in to Los Angeles police. Detectives say she admits to pepper spraying a crowd of video game shoppers. Ten of them had to be treated for exposure to the pepper spray. The woman's name is not being released and charges have yet to be filed because the investigation is ongoing.

Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich picks up an endorsement, an important one from New Hampshire's largest newspaper. Today's edition of "the Union Leader" calls Gingrich "the best candidate who is actually running." But the paper's editor tells CNN Gingrich is by no means the perfect candidate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DREW CLINE, EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR, UNION LEADER: If you look at what the American electorate goes for, has gone for in the last few decades, we don't see a lot of evidence that these sorts of personal issues really, you know, turn voters off. They don't seem to send them away. I don't think that's going to be a big electability issue for Gingrich.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Alright, let's bring in CNN's deputy political director Paul Steinhauser.

So, how important is this endorsement? It is a backhanded compliment.

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes, in a way I guess he's the best of the rotten field that was what they're saying. But this is one that matters, Fred. Because we always say do endorsements matter, this one does. Why? It is New Hampshire, the second state to vote, the first primary state. And, of course this is a very influential conservative newspaper up there.

Here is what the Joe McCoy of the New Hampshire Union Leader publisher said in his statement. "Newt Gingrich is by no means the perfect candidate, but Republican primary voters too often make the mistake of preferring the unattainable ideal to the best candidate who is actually running. In this incredibly important election, that candidate is Newt Gingrich."

So how is the track record for "the Union Leader?" Take a look. They don't always pick the one person who wins New Hampshire primary and then of course wins the nominations.

Four years ago it was John McCain. So, I guess they got that one right. McCain did win the primary, went on to win the nomination. We will go back earlier. It was Steve Forbes in 2000. It was Patrick Buchanan in 1996 and 1992, Pierre DuPont, in 1988. And you got to go back to 1980, Ronald Reagan the last time that the newspaper got it right in New Hampshire.

What about where the latest polls are? Well, took at this, a poll out last week this is still Mitt Romney's state. You can see right here. This is a Suffolk university poll. And Romney at over 40 percent right now in New Hampshire among likely primary voters.

Gingrich starting to gain, he's at 15 percent but still pretty far back. Seven -- six weeks to now go until the New Hampshire primary, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Alright. Meantime, Herman Cain, and we said many analysts said that the numbers would change who is out front, who is at the bottom, all of that would change as we get closer and closer to Election Day? So Herman Cain, he's going the other direction. He's going down now when he was enjoying, you know, riding high on the polls.

STEINHAUSER: He was. Remember, he was basically at the bottom of the pack back over the summer. He just skyrocketed, right to the top over the last couple of months and now started to fade a little bit. So why?

Well, Herman Cain was on Candy Crowley's "STATE OF THE UNION" and he said listen, I've been taken out of context, my words when it comes to sexual harassment allegations and when it comes to my stands on abortion. Take a listen to what he told Candy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CANDY CROWLEY, HOST, STATE OF THE UNION: What do you think has gone wrong in the past month or so?

HERMAN CAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, obviously false accusations and confusion about some of my positions has contributed to it. And, you know that was to be expected. In terms of the campaign itself, nothing has gone wrong in terms of our strategy of spending time in our New Hampshire and South Carolina and Florida.

So in terms of the mechanics of the campaign, nothing has gone wrong. But as you know, Candy, some people are heavily influenced by perception more so than reality.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEINHAUSER: There we go. Five weeks on Tuesday, Fred, five weeks until the first votes in Iowa, the Iowa caucuses that kicks off the primary caucuses. We have been talking about this for so long. The votes are almost here. This race is going and the clock is ticking for the candidates, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Alright, and it is pretty exciting. Thanks so much. Paul Steinhauser in Washington.

And for the latest political news you know where to go, CNNpolitics.com.

Three American college students are enjoying their freedom. They're back on U.S. soil after an ordeal during Egypt's pro democracy protest. We'll hear from one of the young men.

And later, shocking new developments in the sex abuse scandal facing Syracuse University's assistant head basketball coach. We'll tell you what Bernie Fine's wife reportedly admitted.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[Note that unfortunately the following interview was done with a prank caller CNN failed to properly vet. This is the statement which was read on air later in the day:

Earlier tonight we had planned an interview with an American student who returned home after being held in Egypt. Gregory Porter was one of three students arrested during pro-democracy protests. We did not talk to him. Instead, a prankster made it on air. CNN regrets this mistake and we apologize to Mr. Porter for any confusion that arose from this incident.]

WHITFIELD: Three American college students are savoring their first full day back in the U.S. after a harrowing day in Egypt.

Derrick Sweeney, Gregory Porter and Luke Gates arrived last night after being freed in Cairo. The three were arrested during pro democracy protests. They were accused of tossing firebombs at security forces.

Gregory Porter is joining us by phone now from Glenside, Pennsylvania, just outside Philly. Gregory, what is it like to be home?

GREGORY PORTER, FREED AMERICAN STUDENT (via telephone): It is great. It is like an early Christmas present. I never thought I would be here. We were really afraid.

WHITFIELD: So, Gregory, take us back. What happened? What were you and your two friends doing in Cairo that night that police say you were throwing Molotov cocktails?

PORTER: Well, we went down to look at, you know, the protests, and there were kids that were throwing rocks and people that were doing some violent things, but we weren't doing that. We were just down there looking. And when the Molotov cocktails and we did see them go off, the next thing we knew, we were grabbed by police and taken to the police station.

And my mother, they gave me a phone call, so I called my mom and, you know, she got my attorney, Theodore Simon. And you know, by the way Theodore Simon, I just want to say thanks to him for everything he did. The U.S. embassy in Cairo, Fifteen Foundation, the North Shore Animal League and Babul's Mocking Nuts.

WHITFIELD: What were you expecting would happen next when you were being detained?

All right. All right. We're going to try and reconnect with the real Gregory Porter as best we can.

Alright, some cyber Monday sales have already started, but is it really the best time of year to get online shopping deals? That story is coming up next.

Plus, shocking new audiotapes in the Syracuse molestation scandal, we'll roll the tapes and talk to the reporter who broke that story next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, expectations are pretty high and analysts are projecting sales of more than $1 billion in just 24 hours. It is cyber Monday. But is it really the best day for you to find all the deals online?

Our Josh Levs is here to separate fact from fiction. People are so excited about cyber Monday, like they are about black Friday.

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I mean, they can get too excited and sometimes you think I have to buy everything in this one day, right?

WHITFIELD: Right.

LEVS: Well, listen to this, it can be a day to get good stuff and find discounts if you're careful. But I have new info from you from consumer reports on whether prices are actually lower on cyber Monday. This is interesting because a lot of people are looking for electronics, right?

Well, consumer reports looked at what happened last year. And what they found among TVs and cameras that they would recommend, a lot of prices dropped online after cyber Monday, five percent or more.

So, if you wait for some of these higher end electronics, you might get an even better deal. That says, some of the lower end brands you can get good deals, but when they started last year, they said in some cases, don't rush to get it all that day. There are some good deals you can get on cyber Monday. So, keep in mind some basics you want to look at different sites for the same product or look for coupons, also follow companies on social media like facebook and twitter. They'll announce new deals throughout the day.

WHITFIELD: Incredible. Meantime, just that there are some great deals out there. There are also ways to get had, lots of scams. How do you avoid that?

LEVS: Yes. And the scammers are, I mean, you folks should know, the scammers are out in full force. They love cyber Monday. Because think of all those billions, $1.2 billion flying around, if they get just a tiny fraction of that, they clean up.

So, I want to show you just a few pointers right here on the screen for you. First of all, make sure you have updated anti-virus software, including watching out for spam ware. Also use trustworthy Web sites. You might Google and find some Web site out there that seems to have a price half of everyone else.

If you go to bbb.org, the Better Business Bureau, you can actually check out the company that you're looking at. Also, read the privacy policies, a lot of people skip that. You don't want to on this day.

So, these are some basics and I put everything for you on my facebook page, joshlevscnn. You want to take a look there and on twitter also and on the blog because I want to give you a guide. I don't want you to get taken. I do want you to get the deals. And I don't want you to feel you have to get everything in the entire world or for Christmas all tomorrow.

WHITFIELD: And there is so much anxiety that sets in with folks this time of year and the whole spending and feeling like because there are these great promotions and they're getting a good deal. And they want to spend even if they don't have it.

LEVS: Yes. And the thing is? It is good to go into this really smart. It's good to go into this, everyone says go into this with a list, know what you need to get, know what you absolutely have to get, don't get carried away and sometimes what they do is kind of like -- they'll bring you in with door crasher deals, get an ipad for $5. But while you're here, how about you buy some ipad software for $5,000? That's the exaggeration of the real idea of what happens. So go into it smart and end up with what you want. I think you'll do well.

WHITFIELD: Great advice, alright, thanks so much.

LEVS: You got it.

WHITFIELD: The latest on the Syracuse University child sex abuse scandal, a reporter revealing recorded phone conversations between the wife of basketball coach Bernie Fine and his accuser. Hear them next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Alright, turning now to a big development that we're following today. Laurie Fine, the wife of Syracuse University associate head basketball coach Bernie Fine may have been aware of her husband's alleged inappropriate acts with children.

ESPN's outside the lines has released audio tape given to them by Bobby Davis, the man who publicly accused the coach of years of molestation. In the tape, Misses Fine says among other things she witnessed one of the acts.

ESPN had independently confirmed the voice on this recording is that, indeed, of Laurie Fine. Here is ESPN's Mark Schwarz. But first, a warning, the piece you're about to see contains graphic sexual content.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARK SCHWARZ, REPORTER, ESPN: Bobby Davis says he knew of one person who could validate that he was being sexually abused by Bernie Fine, that person was fine's wife, Laurie Fine.

LAURIE FINE, WIFE OF BERNIE FINE: Hello?

BOBBY DAVIS, ACCUSER OF BERNIE FINE OF SEXUAL ABUSE: Misses Fine?

FINE: Yes.

DAVIS: It's Bobby.

FINE: Hi Booby. How are you?

SCHWARZ: Davis says that in October of 2002 he recorded a phone conversation with Laurie Fine without her knowledge, a legal act based on the location of both parties. During the call, Fine, seen here in hidden camera video from 2003 discussed the alleged sexual molestation of Davis by her husband. Syracuse associate head basketball coach Bernie Fine.

FINE: What did he want you to do? You can be honest with me.

DAVIS: What he's always doing.

FINE: He wants you to grab him?

DAVIS: Yes. He tried to make me grab him. He was like, he grabbed me and --

FINE: But you never had any oral sex with him?

DAVIS: No. I think he would want to.

FINE: Of course he would. Why wouldn't he?

SCHWARZ: After bringing his allegations against Bernie Fine to a Syracuse police detective in 2002, and getting nowhere, Davis says he was determined to confirm his story. He says he hoped Laurie Fine would disclose on tape the details of her own knowledge of the abuse he says started when he was 12 and continued for more than a decade. So what were you hoping to accomplish by recording it?

DAVIS: Laurie was a person that I talked to a lot about this situation as I got older. She was there a lot of the times and seen a lot of things that were going on, you know, when, you know, Bernie would come down in the basement in his house, at night when I was laying down there and you know, she had to see him every night do that, but Laurie was the only one else that knew about what was going on, you know? And saw things that were happening and with her own eyes and that we talked about it.

FINE: I know everything that went on. I know everything that went on with him. Bernie has issues maybe that he's not aware of, but he has issues and you trusted somebody you shouldn't have trusted. Bernie is also in denial. I think that he did the things he did, but he's somehow through his own mental telepathy has erased them out of his mind.

SCHWARZ: Davis who periodically stayed here at the Fines' former home beginning in the seventh grade and at one point had his own room in their basement says Laurie Fine told him she was aware that her husband was sexually abusing him.

DAVIS: Do you think I'm the only one he ever did that to?

FINE: No. I think there might have been others, but it was geared to there was something about you.

DAVIS: Yes, that's what I'm wondering, like, I'm wondering why I was --

One time, she told me about an essence where she saw and through the basement window and she left the blinds open a little bit one night and because she acted like she took the garbage out but she watched through the window.

SCHWARZ: What did she see?

DAVIS: Bernie, grabbing me and touching me. And she said the next day, we got to -- this is when I was older, probably a junior in high school, you got to step up to him and say something, you got to be a man.

SCHWARZ: During the phone call, Davis explained to Laurie Fine that when he was about 27 years old, in the late '90s, he asked Bernie Fine for $5,000 to help pay of some student loans.

FINE: When he gave you the money, what did he want for that?

DAVIS: He asked me to touch him a couple of times. Grabbed my hand and put me in your bed, and you know, then I'd pull away. And then he'd put any in your bed and then, you know, put me down.

FINE: Right. Right. Because he gave you money in order to get what he wanted. It is about the (bleep). You know that. So I'm telling you for your own good, you're better off staying away from him. SCHWARZ: During the call, Laurie Fine suggested to Davis what her husband should do with his need for male companionship.

FINE: You know what, find yourself a gay boy, get your rocks off and have it be over with.

DAVIS: Yes.

FINE: You know, he needs a -- that male companionship that I can't give him, nor is he interested in me and vice versa.

FINE: At one point, Laurie Fine seems to say that her husband was not the only adult in the Fine household who betrayed Davis' trust.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: So who was the other person in the Fine household who may have betrayed a young Bobby Davis? We'll have the rest of the ESPN report right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Now, back to the ESPN investigation. Laurie Fine, the wife of Syracuse University associate head basketball coach Bernie Fine may have been aware of her husband's alleged inappropriate acts with children.

In a shocking revelation, she says another person in the Fine household may have also betrayed a young Bobby Davis.

ESPN's Mark Schwarz has the rest of the story. But first, a warning, the piece you are about to see contains graphic sexual content.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCHWARZ: At one point, Laurie Fine seems to say that her husband was not the only adult in the Fine household who betrayed Davis' trust.

FINE: He had no business doing what he did with you. I really helped screw you up a little more too.

SCHWARZ: Davis says he and Laurie Fine had a sexual relationship that she initiated when he says he was 18 and a senior in high school.

SCHWARZ: Were you ever with her sexually?

DAVIS: Yes.

SCHWARZ: Slept with her?

DAVIS: Yes.

SCHWARZ: Had intercourse with her?

DAVIS: Yes.

SCHWARZ: Does Bernie Fine know about that?

DAVIS: I did tell Bernie. There is as I got older. I thought he was going to kill me, but I had to tell him. I felt like I told him about it. What was going on with me and Laurie and didn't face him one bit, honestly.

SCHWARZ: Later in the call, Laurie Fine tells Davis she wanted to come to his defense but she just wasn't capable of it.

FINE: Because I care about you, and I didn't want to see you being treated that way, and it is hard for -- you know what you're up against. You can't compete with that. It is just wrong and you're a kid, you're a man now, but you were a kid then.

DANIELLE ROACH, FRIEND OF BOBBY DAVIS: This is about a kid who was abused, and adults who didn't help, who didn't step in, who, in fact, sort of allowed it, created a space for it to go on.

SCHWARZ: Danielle Roach, who has been friends with Davis since the second grade, says that as a teenager, she served as the Fines' baby- sitter for about three years. Recently, Roach listened to the conversation again.

Davis first played the call for her after recording it in 2002.

ROACH: This tape tells me that Laurie knew and watched it go on, knowingly, that it was going on in her home for a long time.

SCHWARZ: Roach, who is now a mother herself, says she cannot imagine how any mother could know sexual abuse was happening in her home and not act.

ROACH: It is amazing that she can say some of the things she says to Bobby but couldn't pick up a phone and say maybe this isn't the place for your kid. Maybe he shouldn't be here.

SCHWARZ: At the time, Davis says he questioned whether anyone would ever believe his story. Yet, Laurie Fine tells him she's already warned her husband, one day his alleged molestation of Davis might become public.

FINE: I said to him, you know, Bobby and I talked. I know some things about you that if you keep pushing are go to be let out.

DAVIS: Yes.

FINE: He didn't even flinch.

DAVIS: I know. That's what I'm saying.

FINE: He said, let them go ahead. Let them go right ahead.

DAVIS: Because he doesn't think he can determined.

FINE: He thinks -- I think he thinks he's above the law.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: CNN reached out to numerous people for reaction to this story. Some are commenting. Others are not. We have not heard yet from Syracuse University or Syracuse police.

And the U.S. attorney's office is not commenting on any new developments because it is an ongoing investigation. But we did get the following statement from fine's attorneys saying this, quote, "Mister Fine will not comment on newspaper stories beyond his initial statement and any comment from him would only invite and perpetuate ancient and suspect claims", end quote.

And after the break, you'll hear my conversation with the reporter who broke this story. ESPN's Mark Schwarz.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Laurie Fine, the wife of Syracuse University associate head basketball coach Bernie Fine may have been aware of her husband's alleged inappropriate acts with children. That's what she said in an audiotape recorded back in 2002.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCHWARZ: WE interviewed Bobby Davis extensively in several occasions for dozens of hours, both on the phone, in camera, on camera and we had what we thought was a very credible story.

However, what we did not have at that time, was someone to corroborate the facts of his story. Another alleged victim of the same abuser, the allege abuser in this case, Bernie Fine.

We did have the tape at the time as you say and we had Bobby Davis, one victim, but only ten days ago on Thursday the 17th, did a second victim actually come forward and appear on camera, and that was 45- year-old Michael Lang who is the older step brother of Bobby Davis, who alleged a very similar pattern of abuse from Bernie Fine.

So at that point, our goal was to, first of all, get a voice recognition expert who could verify as much as possible that this was indeed the voice of Laurie Fine. And we also spent time reaching out to the Fines beginning early last week, wanting to get their comment. We reached out to them through their attorneys. We did not hear from them. In fact, we got the same release that you did today saying that Mister Fine will not comment on newspaper stories beyond his initial statement.

WHITFIELD: So now what did authorities say, if anything, when you went to them, if you want to them and said, hey, we have this tape, while we can't get anybody else to corroborate, the information on this tape, what can you do with this information?

SCHWARZ: Well, you know, we don't see it as our job to go to authorities with evidence that we collect. We did not go to the authorities with the tape. The authorities did speak to Bobby Davis before the tape was made in 2002. He spoke to a Syracuse police detective who he says spent about five minutes on the phone with him and didn't even do a detective report, told him that the statute of limitations had come and gone. And that is why Bobby Davis says, that he recorded the tape to try to at least corroborate his story this way. He was determined that Laurie Fine, who he says had a window into this abuse, in fact, literally, one time saw the abuse going on in the home through a basement window with her husband and Bobby Davis and she alleged that that actually did happen on the tape.

But once the interviews were done ten days ago with Bobby Davis and Mike Lang, that tape then through them, got in the hands of the police department and it is evidence in this case and the district attorney, Bill Fitzpatrick, also has a copy of the tape.

WHITFIELD: And following the November 17th, that's what alerted ESPN or you to say let's go and try this voice recognition. Why was that not done before?

SCHWARZ: Well, it was important to do that if we were actually going to air the tape. I mean, these are grave charges. We had to do everything that we could to confirm that the voice was indeed Laurie Fine. Bobby Davis, of course, told us it was Laurie Fine. You hear on the tape he says hello, Laurie and she says, hello, Bobby.

But, in this kind of a case, you have to confirm it. And that's why we wanted to before airing it take the extra step to run it by a voice recognition expert who says, yes that is the voice of Laurie Fine because we compared it to other voice of Laurie Fine examples that we were able to provide.

WHITFIELD: And who shot the videotape of her behind a counter?

SCHWARZ: We shot hidden camera video in 2003, which was one of the areas where we had, you know, her voice on tape. So we're able to compare her voice from 2003 and the call from 2002. And that's how the voice recognition expert was able to verify for us that that was indeed her voice.

WHITFIELD: And now talk to me about the legality of why that audiotape recording, why Bobby Davis was not breaking the law the way in which he did it.

SCHWARZ: OK. Well, Bobby Davis made the call from Saint George, Utah, and the call was received here in Syracuse, New York. Now, both of those states, Utah and New York, are one party States. And what that means, by law, it is legal to record a conversation with someone without the second party knowing. So in Utah and in New York, the origin and the source of the call both states are one party States. The call was then made legally.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And we'll have more of my discussion with CNN's Mark Schwarz straight ahead. I asked him what does Bobby Davis, the alleged victim want. The rest of that conversation, next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: ESPN's "Outside the Line" aired an audio tape today that indicated Laurie Fine, the wife of Syracuse University associate head basketball coach Bernie Fine, was aware of her husband's alleged inappropriate acts with children.

Here is the rest of my conversation with the reporter who broke the story, ESPN's Mark Schwartz.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: So, what does Bobby Davis want to happen from this point forward now?

SCHWARZ: Well, I've spoken to Bobby Davis about exactly that. He's told me that he didn't want an apology from Bernie Fine. He doesn't want to see Bernie Fine publicly humiliated, in fact. He doesn't want money. He hasn't hired an attorney.

He says what he's wanted all along is that Bernie Fine seeks help and that Bernie Fine asks forgiveness. And I think what he's told me he wants most of all is to make sure that no other victims are hurt by a man he says hurt him and stole his childhood so many years ago.

WHITFIELD: And did Bobby Davis reveal to you why he continued this relationship with Laurie and Bernie Fine well after, you know, his 18th birthday, that he, on his own, just based on his interview, reached out to the Fines. Why would he do that?

SCHWARZ: Absolute - Fredricka. That is a great question and it is an important question. On the phone call, in an excerpt that you don't hear, but you may in the future, there is an exchange between Bobby Davis and Laurie Fine where he says, you know, I don't know if I'll speak to you again. You guys are like family to me. I miss you guys. And Laurie Fine's response is, "I'm the mother that you never had."

Now, Bobby Davis felt an extraordinary attachment to this entire family. Bernie Fine, Laurie Fine, their children, he did not have much of a family of his own. He was from a blended family. And he spent more time in his teenage years with the Fines than he did with his own family. And I am not an expert. I'm not a psychologist. I'm not a victim's advocate, but I have been told that the power and connection in the relationship between the alleged victim and the abuser is such that there is an extraordinary devotion and dedication to that person for many years, even long after he reached the age of 18.

WHITFIELD: Now, a third accuser has stepped forward. However, this accusation is being treated a little bit differently. Explain what is happening here.

SCHWARZ: Well, there was a young man named Zach Tomaselli, a 23-year- old from Lewiston, Maine who claims that, ten years ago, he was allegedly sexually abused by Bernie Fine. He's done a sworn affidavit this week with the Syracuse police department. And we have spoken with him as well. We are still vetting his information. But he is another person that is part of the police investigation at this point. That is true. He also faces sexual abuse charges himself for molesting allegedly a person under the age of 14.

WHITFIELD: And is it also the case that his own father is undermining his character and credibility?

SCHWARZ: I have spoken with him about that. I wanted to be in touch with his father. He told me that his father and he have not spoken in as much as four years and his father did, in the "Syracuse Post Standard", who reported that story, his father did call him a liar.

His father also apparently called him a liar that he didn't make a statement to the police and he told me that, well, at least that is certainly confirmed because I have made a statement to the police. So I am not lying about that.

WHITFIELD: OK. And, again, you have reached out to the university, the athletic department, Syracuse police, the attorney general's office, just as CNN has done so, no response from them yet.

However, is it your feeling as a result of the airing of these audiotapes that were in your possession that the university may perhaps take a different stand now since the university and the athletic department head coach have been backing Bernie Fine as a result of those allegations that came to the surface November 17th?

SCHWARZ: Fredricka, there is no way to know that. All I know is that espn.com, our online source, reached out to Jim Boeheim and the Syracuse public relations department released a statement saying that Jim Boeheim will have nothing further to add on this issue. That came today. So at this point, no comment coming out of Syracuse University. We have reached out to the chancellor ourselves just today.

WHITFIELD: And you're there still in Syracuse, New York, any reaction from the general populous there?

SCHWARZ: No, but we anticipate there probably will be. A lot of people are very fond of Bernie Fine. He's been in this community for decades. He's been an important figure here. These are grave charges and he has many people that still defend and he has not been charged with anything by the police. That's very important to note.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, ESPN's Mark Schwarz, an earlier conversation with him. So, ESPN says it had this audiotape in its possession for some eight years. Was there a legal responsibility to turn it over to authorities? I'll ask attorney B.J. Bernstein that very question after the break.

Also straight ahead, our own Deborah Feyerick catches up with another alleged victim.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: More now on the child molestation scandal facing Syracuse University coach Bernie Fine. The first accuser is Bobby Davis. His stepbrother Mike Lang also accused him of molesting him, accused Fine, that is, of molesting him.

CNN's Deborah Feyerick spoke with Lang and she is with us now on the phone from upstate New York.

So, Deborah, what did Lang tell you?

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, Fredricka, we're on our way up to Syracuse. And I did speak with Michael Lang and it is interesting, two of the alleged victims are step brothers, Michael Lang and Bobby Davis.

Long told me that Bernie Fine was like a father figure to both of them. The brothers were involved ways with the basketball team and that they were so close that as teenagers they actually attended the wedding of coach Fine and his wife 26 years ago. Now, Lang says that his hands started shaking when he heard the coach's wife on television talking both about her husband's alleged sexual abuse of children specifically his brother Bobby Davis, but also when she talked about her own alleged sexual inappropriateness to teenagers.

Lang says the same happened to him, that both of the brothers were victims of sexual abuse, by both, the husband and the wife. As you mentioned, Bernie Fine not commenting on this. He said in a statement saying he remains hopeful that a quick and credible review by police, and district attorneys and federal authorities will bring it to an end.

Laurie Fine, we reached out to her. She is not commenting. But Michael Lang told me that when he heard about the Penn State scandal, he said that his stomach just turned and a half hour later his brother Bobby texted him saying this is what happened to me.

Lang telling that he feels guilty because he was the older of the two step brothers and he worked as a ball boy and loved being there on the court with his basketball team. The prestige and front row to the games. When we went to college, apparently Bernie Fine sent him. He said his younger brother should come on and work as a ball boy. But he said his brother suffered more than he ever did. But he said that boys, both of them, were victims allegedly of Coach Bernie Fine, Fred.

WHITFIELD: And so Deborah, you mentioned Penn State and how news of Penn State kind of sent chills down the spine of both, Lang and Davis. So, is that why they have come out publicly, or is there another motivation they have?

FEYERICK: No. It seems that was the real trigger. One of the things that Lang told me, they really want justice. They don't want to see this to ever happen again to any other child. When Bobby Davis initially came forward to talk to police, they told him the statute of limitations was up. However, they said look, if you want to come in, come in and we will talk to you. Well, Bobby Davis never followed up on that apparently. What he did instead was he reached out to reporters. He reached out to a reporter at a local Syracuse paper who basically told them we have to get this -- we have to record this and that is what he did.

He sent that tape first to the "Post Standard" up in Syracuse. He then made a copy for ESPN. So, both of those tapes existed after his initial interaction with police. Police obviously now have that tape. But clearly, many years have gone by that it was happened. That was really the trigger.

And I think for many people who are the victims of sexual abuse as children when they hear it just opens up a flood gate of feelings, of emotion, of pain, grief, hurt. Michael Lang told me, you know, when the coach would come here him he pushed his hand away. With Bobby Davis it seems that the alleged abuse was much more serious.

WHITFIELD: So Deborah, I want to bring in an Attorney B.J. Bernstein. Because you are nodding your head that some of these feelings from alleged victims are fairly classic as to why they want to make their story public, share their information.

So, even though the statute of limitations may have run out involving these two alleged victims, how might this recording help in the ongoing investigation involving Bernie Fine?

B.J. BERNSTEIN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Yes. Someone comes forward now saying it is more recent within the statute of limitations either criminally or civilly then this type of information could be used as evidence in that case as what we call a similar transaction. Trying to use a previous instance to corroborate, so to speak, a younger child if that is happening, and we're not saying that now, but if it is, it would help the case. And I think this Penn State situation has literally had so many victims across this country taking a step, going back going maybe it is time I come forward and what if it is continuing and I didn't stop it?

WHITFIELD: So, when you listen to the audiotape and you are listening to the wife of the assistant head coach talk about how she was aware, how she was also complicit because she was a participant according to her testimony on that audiotape.

Now, what about spousal immunity, if this is such a thing as it applies to here even if the statute of limitations has run out s she going to be held culpable because of her statements?

BERNSTEIN: It will be difficult legally, but still in general, most states exempt spousal privilege of what you know or when it is a situation of abuse of a child. And I think really what this gets down to and why it is such a conversation is where is people moral compass in all of these? And that we like our lives so much. Here's this lady, she is married to someone who is a coach. It is protected and they are well thought of in society and at what point do make the choice to say you know what, I may be willing to shatter that for the truth and in the long run we are all better off. And that's what is so hard and why abuse continues. Because it is taking the step to say I actually know something. Families, abuse happens in families all over this country, in institutions, in churches and what the pattern we are seeing is we buried it and buried it and you have to say something to stop the pattern.

WHITFIELD: So, you talk about the moral obligation. What about the legal obligation that there may or may not have been as pertains to ESPN or any media outlet who has this information. Is there any legal responsibility or obligation to share this with handed over with authorities? Because I did asked the reporter and clearly, it was something that was discussed but they felt like they didn't need to be part of the investigation.

BERNSTEIN: I think this will be a topic in legalist and journalist seminars on this next year. And that you know, yes, the statute limitations had run. And so, you know, legally there is no direct obligation to turn over, you know, that information. And there's always been concern news outlets across the board, always have legal departments worried about liable and slander.

But, you know when you sue an individual, they may not have anything but the assets of a larger company are at issue. And so, I think that now what, again, this is the power of Penn State. You are seeing right here, even with this, that there is confidence in the media to perhaps run stories and not require the same "level of corroboration" that is not necessarily need in court.

WHITFIELD: Fascinating stuff. B.J. Bernstein thanks so much. Deborah Feyerick, also, on her way to Syracuse in New York. . Thank you so much so much to both of you. . Appreciate that.

Of course, we are going to continue to keep an eye on the story throughout the evening. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. That is going to do it for me in the NEWSROOM.

Much more of the NEWSROOM straight ahead, with Ted Rowlands.

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