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Romney Calls Russia U.S.'s Number One Foe; New Details in Teen's Shooting; Fire Rages in the Rockies; Supreme Court Debates Health Care; Strauss-Kahn Under Investigation; New Details on Florida Teen Killing; Gingrich Starts Charging for Pics; 911 Calls Reveal Chaos after Avalanche; Oregon Bank Robber Chase; Tebow Excited about Joining Jets
Aired March 27, 2012 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Soledad. Thank you and good morning to all of you. I'm Carol Costello.
Stories we're watching right now in the NEWSROOM. Mitt Romney probably won't be getting any endorsements from Russia's president. Not after this comment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is to Russia. This is without question our number one geopolitical foe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Yes. The Russian president responded to that this morning, responding to number one geopolitical foe. Was it a little cold war in here? It was news to Dmitry Medvedev. He's got a new message for Mitt Romney.
High winds drive a fire wild in the Rockies. At least one person is dead. Several more have lost their homes and the danger is on the move.
The Trayvon Martin case. The -- deeper the investigation goes, the more complicated it gets. There's only one truth but at least two conflicting witness stories about what happened.
It's not a good time to be in the pink slime business. First the public recoils, then stores stop selling it, now a plant stops making it.
And today is the day there could be fireworks at the U.S. Supreme Court. Today some two years in the making. The key and most controversial part of President Obama's health care law put to the test.
But we begin with the Russian president. He is not happy with Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. He made that very clear this morning in South Korea telling Romney to, quote, "listen to reason when you're talking about Russia." Dmitry Medvedev is apparently upset Romney called Russia our number one geopolitical foe. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROMNEY: These are very unfortunate developments. And if he's planning on doing more and suggests to Russia that he has things he's willing to do with them, he's not willing to tell the American people -- this is to Russia. This is without question our number one geopolitical foe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Romney talked Russia after Wolf Blitzer -- asked him about an oops moment between President Obama and the Russian president. You've heard about that. Their private conversation was picked up by an open microphone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is my last election. And after my election I have more flexibility.
PRES. DMITRY MEDVEDEV, RUSSIA: I understand. I transmit this information to Vladimir. And I stand with you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: OK. So Brianna Keilar is in South Korea.
Brianna, the Russian president had a lot more to say about Mitt Romney and it wasn't pretty. So tell us exactly what he said.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: No, he sure did. He was really, I guess, you could say defending himself and defending Russia, and by doing so entering the fray of U.S. presidential politics all the way from South Korea, from this nuclear security summit here.
It was quite the smackdown that President Medvedev gave. He said that this was reminiscent of Hollywood in a certain period in history, meaning the Cold War, and here's a translation of some more of what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MEDVEDEV (Through Translator): As for ideological cliches, I have already spoken on the subject. I always get very cautious when I see a country resort to phrasings such as number one enemy. It is very reminiscent of Hollywood in a certain period of history. I would advise two things to all U.S. presidential candidates including the person you just mentioned.
My first advice is to listen to reason when they formulate their positions. Reason never harmed a presidential candidate. My other advice is to check their clocks from time to time. It is 2012 not the mid 1970s. No matter what party a candidate represents, he has to take the current state of affairs into account. That is the only way he could count on winning. (END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: Now Mitt Romney did clarify his remarks about Russia on CNN's "THE SITUATION ROOM." He said yes, the worst threat to the U.S. would be a nuclear Iran or a nuclear North Korea but when it came to Russia, he didn't really back down from what he said, Carol. He said that Russia fights every cause for the world's worst actors. For instance, Syria. And now what you have is a political back and forth over this.
The Obama campaign jumping on this. The White House jumping on this. Jay Carney, the White House press secretary, before heading back to the U.S. with President Obama, questioned why Romney would say this when you have North Korea, Iran, al Qaeda, and you have a relationship between President Obama and President Medvedev where they do sit down and, even though they have areas of disagreement, they can see eye to eye on some things and they do certainly have a working relationship and privately some aides say a pretty warm working relationship.
COSTELLO: OK. We're trying to get a response from the Romney camp. When we get that, we'll pass it along.
Brianna Keilar, thank you, live from South Korea.
Now to the ever changing case of Trayvon Martin. We are now seeing new photographs this morning of the teenagers and they're building a more complicated portrait of exactly who he was. More on that in a minute. Also, we'll have more on his parents' appearance on Capitol Hill today.
But first we're hearing two very different stories this morning from neighbors about what went down that night. One says Trayvon Martin was the aggressor. Another witness says it was the shooter, George Zimmerman, who attacked Martin. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The guy on the bottom who I believe had a red sweater on was yelling to me help, help. I told him to stop. And I was calling 911. And when I got upstairs and looked down, the person that was on top beating up the other guy was the one laying in the grass. And I believe he was dead at that point.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Zimmerman was standing over the body with basically straddling the body with his hands on Trayvon's back. And it didn't seem to me that he was trying to help him in any way. It didn't seem to me -- I didn't hear any struggle prior to the gunshot. And I feel like it was Trayvon Martin that was crying out because the minute that the gunshot went off, the whining stopped.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Those conflicting accounts underscore the volatility and the passions of this tragedy. Thousands continue to march demanding justice for Trayvon Martin. Even as leaked police reports seem to paint the teenager in a different light.
Martin Savidge is in Sanford, Florida.
So, Martin, what are details of the police findings? Do we know?
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we don't know exactly other than that the police in Sanford here will confirm that the article that came out yesterday in the "Orlando Sentinel" was an accurate depiction of what George Zimmerman has told authorities.
Now I also had a conversation with Joe Oliver. Joe Oliver is a very close friend of George Zimmerman. And I asked him the same thing. Did the account in the paper match up with what George Zimmerman has told him? He said, yes, it did. However, he said it stopped short. There was a part that was left out. And I said, well, what is the part that isn't said? And he said well, that's the most critical part of all and that has to do with control of the weapon.
Here's sort of how Joe Oliver explained it to me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE OLIVER, GEORGE ZIMMERMAN'S FRIEND: It came down to a life or death struggle between the two. I can't go into details into how the gun came into play, but it was not a part of this story until it was too late. George didn't have it out. George didn't -- wasn't prowling, following Trayvon with his weapon drawn. No one knew George had a weapon until he and Trayvon came face to face. And the physical confrontation took place.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: Now, I think if you read between the lines here, Carol, the inference is, of course, that there was a struggle once the weapon came out for control and that it's been possible, it's been suggested by some that the gun could have gone off either by George Zimmerman pulling the trigger or perhaps in the struggle or perhaps by even Trayvon Martin accidentally triggering it.
This is why it's so crucial to everything. It's also why it hasn't come out in the police report. Apparently that part wasn't leaked. And that's why the family of Trayvon Martin has these suspicions. Why did it come out exactly one month later and especially when it seems to be so damning? Why did the police leak this portion but not other information -- Carol?
COSTELLO: It's -- and it's also interesting to note that, you know, you were talking to Zimmerman's friend. He's giving you that account. You know, people should take that for what they think it's worth. But, I mean, have you been able to talk to the police? Are they talking to you about this at all, Martin?
SAVIDGE: No. The police have remained very tight lipped about it. They also say that if they find out who leaked that report, it didn't come from them officially, that that person would be in a lot of trouble, probably be fired. So the authorities have been very tight lipped. They say it's part of the investigation. They won't reveal anything and they have revealed very little.
COSTELLO: Martin Savidge reporting live for us in Sanford, Florida.
Also this afternoon Trayvon Martin's parents will be on Capitol Hill to attend a hearing on racial profiling and hate crimes. Before that protesters will march to the White House demanding a federal investigation of the shooting.
Yesterday protesters took to the streets in cities from coast to coast. Hundreds marched through downtown Los Angeles, many wearing hoodies in a silent tribute to Trayvon Martin. In downtown Detroit, civil rights leaders helped lead this rally at Heart Plaza. Hundreds chanted his name and demanded justice. And in Pittsburgh, hundreds more gathered on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University. They called for the shooter to be prosecuted.
Also this morning we're looking at reports Trayvon Martin had a number of brushes with trouble. His family has confirmed that. At the time of his killing he was suspended from school after marijuana residue was found in his book bag and the "Miami Herald" is reporting he had earlier been suspended for scrawling graffiti on lockers. That incident led to the discovery of women's jewelry in his backpack along with what was described as a burglary tool.
Now the family says this amounts to character assassination. At the bottom of the hour, we'll talk to Jamal Bryant who organized one of yesterday's rallies. He'll talk about whether the reputation of the slain teenager should be considered fair game.
Sunrise just about 15 minutes ago in Denver. Authorities say daybreak will tell them a lot more about a towering wildfire that could be responsible for at least one death and for destroying several homes. These are live pictures. We just got these into CNN actually. High winds have been driving the fire. Crews will be tracking it again shortly. It was too dangerous to face the flames overnight.
Rob Marciano is here.
So, Rob, are the winds dying down at all?
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: They have for now. The winds were incredible yesterday. And this thing blew up from 1,000 acre controlled burn to over 3,000 acres overnight and folks got a reverse 911 call. They had to evacuate.
You see these pictures now from our affiliate KMGH of some of these homes. And this is about 25 miles as it (INAUDIBLE) southwest of Denver in the front range of the Colorado Rockies. Some rugged terrain there and the homes that you're seeing are certainly substantial to say the least. And there you see where the fire is right -- burning right now.
Here's a look at where -- what the winds are very, very light compared to what we saw yesterday which were things like this. Over hurricane strength winds across Red Mountain Pass, 79-mile-an-hour wind gust there. Boysen, Wyoming, seeing 82 miles an hour wind gust, and in Jefferson County, which is where this fire is burning, 66-mile- an-hour wind gusts yesterday.
So this is from a storm that's moving off towards the north and east. We will still see gusts potentially to 30 or 40 miles an hour near that fire but not until later on this afternoon once the sun gets cooking. The bulk of the heavier higher winds will be north and east as the storms move off towards the -- towards the north and east.
As you mentioned 900 -- 900 homes were evacuated. We did have one fatality that they think most likely due to this fire. They've got 450 more firefighters coming in there right now. They've only got 100 on scene. So they hope to get the air assets up right now before those winds kick up later on today.
COSTELLO: We'll check back with you later. Thanks, Rob.
MARCIANO: You bet.
COSTELLO: Still to come, pink slime. The product will be harder to come by. Several plants are stopping to grind it all out.
Plus a grant for Gingrich if you want a picture with him, it's going to cost you. We'll tell you how much.
And the charge aggravated pimping. Former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn is caught up in another sex scandal.
You're watching CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: I don't have to tell you this. Today, the Supreme Court narrows its focus on health care reform which may be the core of the important legal debate in years.
Today, the court will look at significant questions about the power of government. Can the Obamacare really force most Americans to buy health insurance? The individual mandate is scheduled to take effect in 2014 and would carry a financial penalty for those who choose not to buy insurance.
The case is being argued before the U.S. Supreme Court but the arguments go to the heart of Washington. Does Congress really have constitutional right to make you buy a specific product, in this case health insurance?
Dana Bash is our senior congressional correspondent. She joins us live from Capitol Hill.
Dana, this is going to be a groundbreaking decision, no doubt about it.
DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: No doubt about it. Today, especially, Carol, is huge. The arguments I heard some legal analysts say are the biggest ones since Bush v. Gore.
And, you know, opponents will be arguing that the United States Congress, where I am right now, they don't have the ability to force people to buy things. They have the ability to regulate commerce but not force new commerce -- meaning to buy health care. What they argue and they'll argue today, it's a slippery slope. If people are forced to buy health insurance, why aren't they forced to buy broccoli? Because that's healthy for you.
Now, on the other side, the United States government, the Obama Justice Department, they are going to argue today that the individual mandate is crucial for universal health care for the public good and that people always are going to have to buy health care. It's not really forcing them to do something they wouldn't normally do. It's just something they say is going to be ultimately better economically.
Because I can tell you, I remember, Carol, when this was being debated very strongly here in the halls of Congress, one of the main reasons why they put the individual mandate in was so that insurance companies could get millions and millions of new customers, and that allows the insurance companies to kind of swallow the idea that they have to accept people with pre-existing conditions.
So, it really also goes to the heart of the complexity of this massive, massive law.
Now, I want you to take a listen to what the chief justice of the United States, John Roberts, said about this in the first proceedings yesterday.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JOHN ROBERTS, CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES: It's a command. A mandate is a command. If there's nothing behind the command, it's sort of, well, what happens if you don't follow the mandate? And the answer is nothing. It seems very artificial to separate the punishment from the crime.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
BASH: Now, not only is he the chief justice but considered one of the swing votes, Carol, whether or not he -- how he's going to go ultimately in this decision. You can't separate the politics from this.
I mean, look, we all know that the whole concept of what they call Obamacare really did help to spur the Tea Party movement. And this is a huge, huge issue on the campaign trail, and, you know, it is likely to be decided maybe shortly before the presidential election.
So, you cannot get away from the politics in this.
COSTELLO: Oh, you're not kidding. The decision will come down sometime in June they say.
Dana Bash reporting live from Capitol Hill today.
Sex, money and luxury hotels. Dominique Strauss-Kahn is charged with aggravated pimping. We'll tell you what else the else the former International Monetary Fund chief is accused of.
Plus, a closer look at the Trayvon Martin's case. Martin's mother is saying her son is being killed all over again.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SYBRINA FULTON, TRAYVON MARTIN'S MOTHER: They've killed my son, and now, they're trying to kill his reputation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: An investigation shows Martin had gotten into trouble several times at school. So, should that have any bearing on the case? We'll take a closer look.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: This morning, we're learning new details of the killing rampage that left 17 villagers dead in Afghanistan. Two senior U.S. officials now telling CNN that Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales slipped out of his military outpost not once but twice on the night of the killings.
One source says investigators now believe that Bales returned from his first trip and told fellow troops that he just killed military aged Afghan men. Now, it's not clear if those Americans reported Bales' claims.
Prostitution in France is not illegal, but aggravated pimping is. A scandalous prostitution investigation in France alleges the former head of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss- Kahn, might have been more than just a customer.
So, let's head live to London to talk about this.
So, Max Foster, can you explain to us what exactly aggravated pimping is?
MAX FOSTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, yes, it's a very, very serious charge. I should say pimping is illegal in France. Prostitution isn't. What we're talking about here is aggravated pimping, especially meaning irregular and involved basis on which this pimping is concerned.
And pimping means actually facilitating a prostitution operation not just being a customer. So, a very serious charge.
DSK's attorney back in December did admit that DSK had been involved in sex parties, but he wasn't aware that any of the women there were prostitutes. So, he firmly denies these charges, Carol. But serious charges indeed.
COSTELLO: I know the French press's nicknamed this case the "Carlton Affair". Why is that?
FOSTER: Well, it's all based in a city called Lille, and the allegation is that there was a prostitution network based in luxury hotels there. One of them being the Carlton. So, that's where the name comes from.
Also investigations taking place into whether or not corporate funds were used here, Carol. Prostitution -- and, again, the attorney denied this back in December. We're waiting for more statements. But the idea of IMF or any corporate funds being used in prostitution in any way is an additional charge.
COSTELLO: Unbelievable. So, what sentence would Strauss-Kahn face if he's convicted?
FOSTER: Well, it's just a warning at the moment. But if he's convicted, it's 20 years in jail, Carol. I mean, it's a very, very serious charge. Obviously his reputation is in some array already due to the sex charges in New York, which went away eventually.
But, obviously his career and now jail time looking -- you know, it's all pretty difficult situation for DSK right now.
COSTELLO: Yes, I'd say it's more -- it's ugly.
Max Foster live in London -- thank you.
Tired of wondering where's the beef in your pink meat? Well, now, the maker of the beef ingredient called "pink slime" is handing out pink slips. That's coming your way next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: The controversy over pink slime reaches a whole new level. Now, one of the main producers of meat filler is suspending production.
Alison Kosik is at the New York Stock Exchange.
So, does that mean it's the end for this unpleasant product?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, not so sure if it's really the end of the line for pink slime, also known as finely textured beef. But one thing is clear, it's right now, it's not going to be made. It's suspended. It's just not going to be made as much.
The company that makes this stuff called Beef Products says it's suspending production at three plants. Now, this meat filler is still being made at a South Dakota plant. Now, 600 workers are going to be affected. But they will be paid for two months.
You know, not so sure how long production is going to be suspended. The fact remains demand isn't there after the media caught wind of this and made a big ruckus out of it
Grocery stores followed all that media attention. Grocery stores like Kroger and Safeway, they said, you know what, let's go ahead and phase out the beef with pink slime. So, there goes demand for now -- Carol.
COSTELLO: OK. You just got word of a new housing report. What does it say?
KOSIK: It doesn't say great things. This is the Case Shiller home price index. It found that home prices in 20 of the biggest cities in this country, they fell almost 1 percent in January.
Do you know where prices are right now? They're at levels that we saw back in 2002. We haven't seen these prices in a decade. Housing as you know, Carol, has really been one of the economies weakest spots. It's really the sticking point that's keeping this recovery from going full force ahead.
You know, overall when you look at the housing market -- yes, we're seeing improvement from year to year but it's really slow. So, you know, Americans are pretty nervous about it.
In fact, we're getting another report in about a half hour on consumer confidence. That's expected to fall in part because housing prices continue to fall and stocks look like they're going to get a slow start -- so much for momentum from yesterday. Looking at a flat open in about 45 seconds -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Yes, I think we're used to the roller coaster ride by now sadly. Alison, thank you.
KOSIK: You got it.
COSTELLO: And good morning to you. I'm Carol Costello.
Stories we're watching right now in THE NEWSROOM.
Mitt Romney's comments about President Obama and Russia stir up Cold War memories.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROMNEY: These are unfortunate developments. And if he's planning on doing more and suggests to Russia that he has things he's willing to do with them he's not willing to tell the American people. This is to Russia. This is, without question, our number one geopolitical foe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Well, that was news to the Russian president. Here's his response.
(BEGIN VDIEO CLI)
PRES. DMITRY MEDVEDE, RUSSIA (through translator): As for ideological cliches, I have already spoken on the subject. I always get very cautious when I see a country resort to phrasings such as number one enemy. It is very reminiscent of Hollywood and a certain period of history.
I would advise two things to all U.S. presidential candidates, including the person you just mentioned. My first advice is to listen to reason when they formulate their positions. Reason never harmed a presidential candidate.
My other advice is to check their clocks from time to time. It is 2012, not the mid-1970s. No matter what party a candidate represents, he has to take the current state of affairs into account. That's the only way he could count on winning.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: That's the Russian president speaking at a summit in South Korea. President Obama returns home tonight.
Today, the key and most controversial part of President Obama's health care law is put to the test. The U.S. Supreme Court will look at significant questions about the power of government. Can the Obamacare really force most Americans to buy health insurance?
And in the ever-changing case of Trayvon Martin, we're hearing two very different stories this morning from two neighbors about what went down that night in Sanford, Florida. One says Martin was the aggressor. Another witness says it was the shooter, George Zimmerman, who attacked Martin.
Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The guy on the bottom who I believed had a red sweater on was yelling to me, help, help. I told him to stop and I was calling 911. When I got upstairs and looked down, the person that was on top beating up the other guy was the one laying in the grass. I believe he was dead at that point.
MARY CLUTCHER, WITNESSED SHOOTING AFTERMATH: Zimmerman was standing over the body with basically straddling the body with his hands on Trayvon's back. And it didn't seem to me that he was trying to help him in any way. It didn't seem to me -- I didn't hear any struggle prior to the gunshot. And I feel like it was Trayvon Martin that was crying out because the minute that the gunshot went off, the whining stopped.
(END VIDEO CLIPS)
COSTELLO: We're also learning more about Trayvon Martin's past. "The Miami Herald" is reporting it has obtained school police reports which show Martin had been suspended from school on several occasions, once for graffiti, once for having a plastic bag with traces of marijuana. And also for tardiness and truancy.
The family's lawyer says Martin's trouble at school is irrelevant. Here's what Martin's mother had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SYBRINA FULTON, TRAYVON MARTIN'S MOTHER: The only comment that I have right now is that they killed my son and now they're trying to kill his reputation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: We want to bring in the Reverend Jamal Bryant. He's a pastor in Baltimore. He organized a rally yesterday in Sanford.
Welcome.
REV. JAMAL BRYANT, PRESIDENT, EMPOWERMENT MOVEMENT: Thank you so much. Good morning to you.
COSTELLO: Good morning. Let's talk about this article in the "Miami Herald". It was in the Orlando paper, too. They had some things in Trayvon Martin's past that weren't so complimentary.
Does that matter in this case?
BRYANT: I think it doesn't. I think it's very disingenuous for it to be released at this time. Nobody is, in fact, talking about Mr. Zimmerman who had his record expunged from assaulting a police officer in 2005.
The reality is when Mr. Trayvon Martin was walking down the street, George Zimmerman knew nothing about his record, nothing about him being suspended. And so, Trayvon's Mother is adamantly correct. This is just a campaign to besmirch his reputation.
COSTELLO: Well, I say we did bring up Zimmerman's past as well. People on the other side of this issue says it's only fair to know as much about Trayvon Martin as possible.
Some people might suggest that the things in his past might paint him as a more aggressive person?
BRYANT: Well, the reality is he was not aggressive, with a bag of Skittles and bottle of Arizona iced tea. And the fact that George Zimmerman stalked him for two blocks and we're talking 30 days later and there's still no arrest. The culpable activity is now the officer, who showed up on the seen who did give George Zimmerman a test on alcohol level, or traces of drugs. We're now outside of those boundaries.
You can, in fact, deal with the body of a dead 17-year-old. But George Zimmerman who's up walking around, nobody tested him for drugs or for alcohol, and we're outside of the window of evidence.
COSTELLO: OK. The other bit of information we have new this morning comes from George Zimmerman's friend, Martin Savidge got this information for us. That he was intimating there was some struggle over the gun. What do you make of that?
BRYANT: I really question his character that he's showing up 30 days later. If you were engaged in an altercation and if I was and one of my friends witnessed it and seemingly it looks like I'm getting ready to be defeated, why would I not intervene?
For him to show up 30 days later and say he witnessed his friend and never intervened and never showed up until now 30 days later leaves a tremendous shroud of questioning.
I pray that immediately, justice will happen for Trayvon Martin's family and an arrest will happen for George Zimmerman imminently.
COSTELLO: Well, you know, the neighbors had different accounts of what happened that night, too.
Do you think it's possible that we will know exactly what happened that night in Sanford?
BRYANT: It is my hope that it doesn't happen on CNN or in any media outlet. Let every person who saw all of the testimonies of these neighbors and friends -- let them all testify in court. Let's watch it all on court TV.
I think that George Zimmerman needs to be prosecuted. We have enough body of evidence with the 911 tapes, with the dead body, with his own admission, and the police department saying that he was there.
I think at this point we ought not have any more speculation or deliberation. We're having a trial before the trial. Let's just go to trial.
COSTELLO: Reverend Bryant, thank you so much for being with us this morning. We appreciate it.
BRYANT: Thank you.
COSTELLO: George Zimmerman, the shooter, is not talking publicly but his friends are. Here's what Joe Oliver, here's exactly Joe Oliver told Martin Savidge earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE OLIVER, GEORGE ZIMMERMAN'S FRIEND: It came down to a life or death struggle between the two. I can't go into details on how the gun came into play, but it was not a part of this story until it was too late. George didn't have it out.
George didn't -- wasn't prowling, following Trayvon with his weapon drawn. No one knew George had a weapon until he and Trayvon came face to face. And the physical confrontation took place.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: In other news, "act like a thug, die like one". New Orleans police officer Jason Giroir admitted to posting that message on Facebook. The post refers to the controversial death of the Florida teenager, Trayvon Martin. The officer is suspended indefinitely without pay, adding more fuel to the escalating fire of racial profiling.
Jason Giroir's superintendent says he's furious.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUPT. RONAL SERPAS, NEW ORLEANS POLICE: To say that I'm angry is an understatement. I'm furious. Giroir, by those statements, has embarrassed this department with insensitive, harmful and offensive comments.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The New Orleans branch of the NAACP has scheduled a 11:00 a.m. Eastern news conference to discuss this incident.
It's elimination night on "Dancing with the Stars." Find out who is leading the pack and who could be headed at home tonight. That's next in showbiz headlines.
Also ahead, an Oregon man goes from construction worker to crime fighter in search of a bank robber.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I noticed the gentleman that was coming out of the bank, throwing his hat off and taking his shirt off.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: And that was all it took for Nick Butler to spring into action. Find out how he used his high school skills to chase down the suspect.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It is elimination night on "Dancing with the Stars." And what everyone wants to know is who will be the first to go?
A.J. Hammer is in New York.
A.J., the stars performed last night. So, in your mind, who were the winners and losers?
A.J. HAMMER, HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Well, in my mind and according to the leaderboard, Carol, we got to go with the numbers.
The winners, classical singer Katherine Jenkins and her partner Mark Ballas, they tied for the high score of the night, with actor Roshon Fagan and his partner. But perhaps, more importantly, Jenkins really showed signs of becoming this show's breakout star of the season. People are even saying she looks so good, she looks like she could be a professional dancer.
Now she had vowed to make last night's jive sexy, promising to shake her naughty bits as she put it. The judges and the fans all seemed to love it. People were on their feet.
And then at the other end of the spectrum, we have the lovely Martina Navratilova and her partner. They finished last in the scoring. And observers are saying that she seems to have some trouble getting her rhythm together and getting the choreography down.
I think, Carol, she's going to have to hope there are a lot of tennis fans out there ready to vote to keep her around or she could be off the show soon.
I love that she's on the show, though. I hope she does make it through for a few more weeks.
Great competition this season.
COSTELLO: You know, if I were on that show, that's what I would be dancing like. I could never memorize steps. I couldn't even do step aerobics.
On another topic --
HAMMER: Yes, I'm there with you.
COSTELLO: Yes.
On another topic, more controversy between the Kardashians and PETA.
HAMMER: Yes, Khloe Kardashian is taking on PETA to support her sister. Now, this is, of course, in the wake of PETA supporting an animal rights activist who flour-bombed Kim Kardashian on a red carpet recently.
Kim has been the target of the organization in the past because she does publicly wear fur. And while Khloe is an animal lover, who's been very supportive of PETA in the past, now she wants no part of them or this whole thing. She released a statement.
And here's what Khloe is saying. "I've been a vocal supporter of PETA for a long time but I've also been vocal about anti-bullying. And what happened last Thursday, the incident on the red carpet, was just that. I will continue to not wear fur but I will no longer support PETA."
Now, for their part, PETA responded to Khloe saying, "Khloe is just defending her sister and we know she has a good heart, so we wish her well. We just wish she also had more influence on her sister."
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: Man. Did she just discover that PETA threw things on people who wear fur? Because they've been doing that for, what, 20 years?
HAMMER: Yes. No, it's interesting. It hit so close to home for her.
And to be very clear, the woman who threw the flour wasn't representing PETA. It's just that PETA has since come out and said if there's a legal battle here and if Kim Kardashian does go after her, we're going to be right here to help pay her legal fees.
COSTELLO: Got you. A.J. Hammer, thanks so much.
A.J. will be back with us in the next hour with more showbiz headlines.
Coming up, will Ashton Kutcher return to the hit comedy "Two and a Half Men"?
Do you want your picture taken with Newt Gingrich? Well, you're going to have to pony up 50 bucks. We'll tell you what the Gingrich campaign is saying about that photo fee next.
Also ahead, one month after a deadly avalanche, 911 calls tell the story to save victims.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: (INAUDIBLE) victim is unconscious. He's breathing, but we need to get him out of here.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Skiers rush to the rescue after one of their friends are buried under a mountain of snow. Hear more of those chilling calls coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Times are tough for the Newt Gingrich campaign. At an event recently, campaign workers started charging for access to pictures with the presidential hopeful.
So let's head to Washington and check in with our political editor Paul Steinhauser. Hi, Paul.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Hi -- not a bad idea, Carol listen. We know the fundraising is down for the Gingrich campaign. The campaign is in debt a little bit. So yes they are starting to charge photographs $50 a photo and that would help the campaign and obviously raise some money.
Here is what their campaign spokesman says, "Some campaigns make you travel all of the way to Wall Street to pay $2,500 for a photo with the candidate. We choose to do it differently and ask our supporters for a nominal donation."
But wait Carol there's more, go to their Web site, go to Newt Gingrich's Web site and guess what? There's other stuff you can buy for -- for a little bit of a fee, bumper stickers. Look at the polo shirts, t-shirts, caps, mugs. You name it. Now let's be honest, let's be fair here. The Gingrich campaign not the only campaign to do this. Most of them have Web sites where you can buy things like that.
Now what about his odds for nomination? Yes they are extremely, extremely long. We know that. But -- but mathematically he still has a chance. Take a look at this, Newt Gingrich needs to win 83 percent of the remaining delegates up for grabs to clinch the nomination. And that's according to our CNN estimates of where the delegates stand. That's a lot more than Romney who only needs 47 percent. You can see Ron Paul though he has less delegates he needs 88 percent.
What does Newt Gingrich say about all of this? Well listen, Carol he is definitely not backing down. Take a listen to what he told our Wolf Blitzer yesterday on "THE SITUATION ROOM."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: So he's weakest front runner in modern times. If he can get to 1,144, he's the nominee. But if he can't get to 1,144 on the 26th of June on the last primary, then it's going to be a wide open electronic convention for 60 days of talking among the American people and I think people generally believe I'm the person who could best debate Barack Obama and at that point if Romney can't clinch it, I think it becomes pretty wide open.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: Carol that sure doesn't sound like a person who is ready to drop out. But stay tuned, I guess.
COSTELLO: He sounds kind of delusional though. I mean, it's impossible -- I'm sorry. I just call him like I see him. I just don't -- he's now charging $50 for a photograph of himself. And -- and I guess the last two reporters covering his campaign from two newspapers pulled out. So the media isn't much interested in him anymore. So come on.
STEINHAUSER: Yes print reporters have dropped out the -- the networks though, CNN included still do cover Gingrich to a degree. Yes, we do. But -- yes, Carol no doubt about it. The longest of odds.
COSTELLO: Ok. Thank you, Paul. We appreciate it.
An Oregon father springs into action and helps police catch a bank robber. Find out how his high school skills helped him become a hometown hero. That's after break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Checking stories cross country now.
In Colorado, more firefighters have been called in to help fight a fast-moving blaze near Denver that killed at least one person and charred more than 3,000 acres since it started yesterday. Other fires around the state have destroyed several homes.
Police in Washington State have released the 911 calls from a deadly avalanche last month.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (inaudible) a victim unconscious he's breathing, but we need to get him out of here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have one body. We are still searching. There is more people above us that were involved in the avalanche. I know the victim. We were skiing, yes.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
COSTELLO: About a dozen experienced skiers were on the mountain at the Washington Pass when that avalanche hit. Three people were killed in the avalanche.
And a Wilsonville, Oregon man is being called a hero after chasing down a suspected bank robber. Nick Butler spotted the man leaving as Wells Fargo and he sprung into action.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICK BUTLER, CHASED BANK ROBBER: And I just ran at him as fast as I could and just hit him. That's all he said is, "Ouch". And his eyes got that big and then the cops, get down.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: He's still got it. Butler chased the suspect through traffic before catching him about half mile away. He is a former high school track star.
We're following a lot of developments in the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM. Let's check in first with Martin Savidge.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, the parents of Trayvon Martin are up in Washington now; they are sitting in on a congressional hearing. Meanwhile new details coming out about George Zimmerman, the gunman. In this particular case, the details talk about a life and death struggle for control of the gun. I'll have that story at the top of the hour.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I'm Dan Lothian at the White House. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev jumps into the political fray after an open mike incident with President Obama that was heard around the world. I'll have the latest on that story at the top of the hour.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: And I'm Rob Marciano on the CNN Severe Weather Center. We're tracking that fire just southwest of Denver, Colorado that exploded overnight. Over 3,000 acres burned; 900 homes evacuated. And the fire danger still exists today. We'll go over where that's happening in the next hour -- Carol. COSTELLO: Thanks to all of you.
And can your employer ask you for your Facebook log-in and password? Well, they can under most state laws. Coming up in the next hour we'll hear from one man who gave up that personal information because he feared for his job.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: I think we're going to be talking about Tim Tebow until the end of time.
JEFF FISCHEL, HLN SPORT: Now, he's in New York, right.
COSTELLO: Now in New York, he's a Jet and everybody is saying the right things.
FISCHEL: Yes. Yes. He said he was excited. We joked about it in CNN Sports probably about three dozen times yesterday. So you know, you know he's trying to put on the right face, start things right in New York. No tabloid fodder yet when he was introduced.
More than 200 media members showed up at the Jets practice facility to meet Tebow yesterday. The Jets say Tebow will be the backup quarterback and will be used in the wild cat formation. The Jets recently signed their starting quarterback Mark Sanchez to a big contract extension. Tebow downplayed any possibilities of a quarterback controversy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIM TEBOW, NEW YORK JETS: Mark is very secure as a football player and as a person and who he is. I don't think he's going to let outsiders affect how he goes about his preparation or how he plays. And I think, you know, I'm excited about my role here, too, and my opportunity and my opportunity to compete.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FISCHEL: But leave it to the tabloids to turn it into something. This is "The New York Post" headline, "Sanchez: Tebow's no threat to me. I'm the man." He had a conference call with reporters, Mark Sanchez says he's not worried about losing his starting job.
And of course, Carol, I guess you're talking more about the Tebow news conference coming up because Tim Tebow is the man everyone follows in sports. I mean truly, you can't give people enough Tim Tebow information.
COSTELLO: I'm beginning to think that way. So I keep dishing it out.
FISCHEL: Jump on board, Carol. Jump on board.
NBA last night, Kings and Rockets, end of the third quarter. Check out Marcus Camby. And running out of time and I'm going to chuck it. And it's good.
Heartbreaker was after the buzzer. It doesn't count. We'll appreciate it, nonetheless. Rockets win anyway 113-106.
How about some hockey? Through the ice, Detroit hosting Columbus. Redwing center Pavel Datsyuk; it's the perfect, no look, backhand of the goose. His first ever goal; the rookie scores. And what a pretty way to do it too. Redwings go on to win 72. They clinch a playoff spot. It's their 21st straight year into the post season; that's the longest active streak in pro sports
Saturday's the final four, of course. One game is pitting families against each other. In state rivals Louisville and University of Kentucky will battle on the court. That means fans will face off under the same roof.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're a house divided.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A house divided is one -- you have one U of L fan and you have one Kentucky fan, so you watch it in two different rooms.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There'll be a lot of trash talk, let's just put it that way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FISCHEL: So one couple was asked if you would lose, would you root for your spouse's team on Monday night in the championship game. She said no way.
COSTELLO: I couldn't do that either.
FISCHEL: No. No sport, no love.
COSTELLO: Jeff. Thanks so much.
FISCHEL: You bet.
