Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Secret Service Hit by Scandal; Titanic's 100 Year Anniversary; Potential Historic Tornado Forecast; Five U.S. Service Members Caught in Prostitution Scandal; Magic Johnson and Larry Bird Life Story Hits Theater

Aired April 14, 2012 - 16:00   ET

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

FFREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: You're in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. A major scandal with the U.S. Secret Service is overshadowing President Barack Obama's appearance at the Summit of the Americas.

Roughly a dozen American Secret Service personnel sent to Colombia for the president's trip have been relieved of duty and sent back home. Two U.S. government sources tells CNN they are --

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: ... Barack Obama's appearance at the Summit of the Americas. Roughly a dozen American Secret Service personnel sent to Colombia for the president's trip have been relieved of duty and sent back home. Two U.S. government sources tell CNN they're being investigated for misconduct allegedly involving prostitution. We're expecting a White House briefing to begin at any moment now. And when that happens, we'll take you there. Again, a White House briefing expected at any moment in this 4:00 Eastern hour.

In the meantime, I want to go to Juan Carlos Lopez who is in Cartagena, Colombia for us. So Juan, what more can you tell us about the accusations against these Secret Service personnel and how it's being investigated now?

JUAN CARLOS LOPEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're learning more details. CNN has confirmed that the incident probably happened on Wednesday and they were sent back to the States on Thursday. It's a group of up to 12 members of the Secret Service. Some of them Secret Service undercover agents, other uniform police. And according to the information that's coming out, there was an incident with a prostitute that was brought at least one, maybe more that were brought into this hotel.

This is the (INAUDIBLE) hotel, a more traditional hotel in Cartagena, built so many years ago and it's part of the hotels that were secured for the president's visit. Now this happened before President Obama arrived in Colombia Cartagena where he's staying for two nights. The first time a president, an American president does this. And there was an incident where apparently the prostitute complained of not being paid. She went to the police, the police reported it to the embassy and the embassy to the State Department.

That's where it's all going, these - at least 12 members of the Secret Service were sent back to the States, relieved of their assignment. And other personnel were sent down. We're told they were not involved in President Obama's security, at least directly in his security, and it's an incident that is overshadowing the Summit of the Americas. Leaders are meeting as we speak, but obviously, this is what has got the headlines.

WHITFIELD: And so you mentioned that this prostitute went to local authorities there. That person was able to do that because prostitution is legal there in Cartagena, Colombia. However, the issue that is the main focus now for U.S. Secret Service is whether there was a real violation of the code of conduct that they have been removed from Colombia as an indication that yes indeed there is that violation, but unclear now what this means for the entire security detail surrounding the president?

LOPEZ: Well, we've heard that it doesn't impact the president's security detail, and we have seen in the streets that security is very tight in Cartagena with over 30 regional leaders in attendance and especially in this part of the city where President Obama is staying. Now the hotel where this happened, this hotel where the international media is not the same hotel where the president stays, it's close. It's fairly close. But there was no compromise of the president's security.

In the case of the prostitute, more details are going to come out. We're going to - I guess with the - by the hour, we'll know exactly what happened, and what the issue is, but there was that outrage that the Secret Service, Homeland Security, prostitution is frowned upon and is not part of the conduct accepted by members of the Secret Service and it obviously doesn't reflect well on the security detail and on President Obama's security detail in Cartagena where he is meeting with presidents from all over the region.

WHITFIELD: All right. Juan Carlos, thanks so much.

We're looking at images also of what was believed to be the hotel where the president was staying. Also the hotel where that, you know, code of conduct was broken by the U.S. Secret Service, and now live pictures here of the location where that briefing from the White House will be there in Cartagena, Colombia. That briefing to take place momentarily.

The focus is that of White House matters. However we know they're going to be peppered with a lot of questions from the traveling press there on the U.S. Secret Service incident. So likely, that just might dominate that press conference even though the White House is saying that the press conference is not primarily for this investigation. However, a lot of questions will be coming the way of the press secretary who will take to the podium momentarily. When that happens, we'll take it live.

All right. One of - back in the States now here, one of the accused Tulsa shooters says he's not a racist despite being charged on the state level with a hate crime and murder. Nineteen-year-old Jake England is accused of killing three people on April 6th because they were black. In a jailhouse interview, England said he had grown up in a large African-American community in north Tulsa and, "got along with everybody."

In Baltimore now, a man is locked up, accused in a violent videotaped robbery that left a tourist beaten up and stripped of his clothes. Cell phone videos of the crime went viral after it happened on St. Patrick's day, and you can hear onlookers laughing at the victim as the criminals stole his clothes. According to the "Baltimore Sun" newspaper, the 20-year-old suspect is being held on $1 million bond.

Beegees star Robin Gibb has fallen into a coma at a London hospital. Gibb also has pneumonia and was recently diagnosed with colon and liver cancer. According to a representative, doctors believe the singer has developed a secondary tumor. His family is keeping vigil at his bedside.

And it's midafternoon across the plain states and we're closing in on the time where forecasters warn a dangerous outbreak of tornadoes could strike. CNN's Rob Marciano is traveling across the storm's target zone. Jacqui Jeras is here in the storm center, monitoring the latest computer models. Let's begin with Rob. Where are you and what are you seeing?

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Right now, we're in Hennessy, Oklahoma, the north central part of the state. We started our day at the storm's prediction center in Norman, Oklahoma, the home base of where all these forecasts were, the high risk areas come out, and the forecasters there were certainly busy, certainly excited in some capacities but very, very concerned as to what this area is going to encounter today. We've already seen the tornadoes fire up north of here, and now with the sun beginning to break through and the winds just blowing ferociously out of the south at about 30 miles per hour, just feeding into what is a very dynamic situation with a lot of moisture.

You can see some of the clouds off here, across the way. They're moving pretty quickly across the lower levels of the atmosphere. It shows a little (INAUDIBLE) clouds that we're thinking is going to team up with not only a little left over boundary layer from last night, but also some storms that are just beginning to initiate out to our west. And the storm's prediction center out of Norman has just extended south, not only the PDS tornado watch. Jacqui will get into this, but also the hashed area of where they think long track large damaging tornadoes will occur today. And that now includes north central parts of Oklahoma.

So it's just a matter of the sun heating up the ground here. And they also told me today there's going to be three pulses of severe weather. We're seeing it now, right now, just north of here. We'll see another pulse kind of with the dry line in the heat of the day, and then tonight when the front comes through, that will be the third time. Hopefully it won't be more - a town that gets hit more than once.

Because what we have seen in the past, is if a town gets hit in the first wave, power's out, lines of communication are out, and that means sirens are down as well. That's when things get really, really dangerous far as a life threatening situation is concerned. Because the people here generally know how to react to threatening weather but if there's no communication and no sirens, that's when a whole lot of trouble can be in the (INAUDIBLE).

WHITFIELD: All right. Rob Marciano, good advice there. Thanks so much.

Jacqui Jeras here in the weather center. It looks very windy where Rob is too, but you know, adding to his list of things that people look out for, what are the indicators? Bad weather on the way?

JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, it is. It's just to his left. In fact, so here is where Rob is right now. He's in Hennessy, Oklahoma. This is where Oklahoma City is, to the south of there. What I want you to take a look at is what is happening out west here. This is the dry line that Rob was talking about and where thunderstorms are initiating. So this is still a couple of hours away from where Rob is. And then we think that second round is going to come in late tonight after the sun is done. And that's part of what makes this so particularly dangerous, is that it's going to be impossible to see some of these tornadoes as they move on through.

This is what we call that high risk day. Storm chasers are out there all over the place, not just Rob Marciano, but we're also watching this with a network of storm spotters. This one is near Dodge City, Kansas, and really central parts of Kansas right now is the area at greatest risk for the next two hours for rotating thunderstorms and take a look at that network. There are literally dozens of trained spotters out there monitoring this. So if tornadoes develop and get on the ground and cause damage, we're going to know about it right away.

And one of the areas we're talking about right now, northeast of Dodge City, this is Edwards, Hodgeman, and (INAUDIBLE) counties, there's a report of a tornado near Gray that has been producing some damage. This is the storm we're talking about. So we're going to continue to monitor that and taking a look at the storm system as a whole where the watches are in effect from western Oklahoma stretching all the way to southwestern Iowa.

This is not your typical tornado day, Fredricka. This is a high risk day. This is the second time only ever they have issued a high risk two days in advance.

WHITFIELD: Oh my goodness.

JERAS: It's something we have been watching for a while. A serious situation where people need to get underground and heed those warnings.

WHITFIELD: All right. Great advice. Thanks so much. Keep us posted on that. We know you're going to continue to watch the maps there, and all the indicators.

Meantime, we're also keeping a close watch on this room in Cartagena, Colombia where a White House briefing will be taking place momentarily. We're going to take a short break right now and be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Welcome back, I want to take you straight to Cartagena, Colombia there where Jay Carney, the press secretary for the White House is being peppered with questions about the U.S. Secret Service personnel sent back home after breaching a code of conduct. Let's listen in.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... to condone this (INAUDIBLE).

JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: This is a matter that is being looked into in an appropriate manner by the Secret Service itself. It would not be appropriate for the president to characterize something that's being looked into by the Secret Service at this time. All I can tell you is that he was made aware of it. But beyond that, I'm not going to characterize his reaction.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).

CARNEY: It has not. I think it's been much more of a distraction for the press. He's here engaging in the business that he came here to do with the assembled leaders of the Americas. This fast growing region of the world is vital to our economic future, to the American economic future, as he discussed in Tampa at the Port of Tampa, prior to arriving in Colombia.

And as you heard him talk about already at the CEO summit and other venues, the remarkable progress that countries like Brazil and Colombia and other countries in the region have made in recent years is of great benefit to the United States economically, as well as geopolitically. So that's what he's been focused on. That's the substance of the conversations and meetings that he's had here. And that will continue to be the case.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hugo Chavez, President Noriega (INAUDIBLE) are here (INAUDIBLE) what about the direction that the Americas summit is taking and the possibilities for future summits if we start having (INAUDIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, first of all, there are a vast majority of leaders of the Americas here at the summit to deal with the pressing set of issues from economic integration to energy cooperation, to systems securities so -

WHITFIELD: We were in Cartagena, Colombia there where you heard White House Press Secretary Jay Carney trying to get the focus on the Summit of Americas back on track. But he made it very clear in trying to answer some of the questions from the reporters there about the U.S. Secret Service members behavior and then being sent back to the States because of a breach of code of conduct. He said for the president, he has been made aware of it, but it has not distracted him from the message, the White House trying to focus on the importance of the summit economically and geopolitically. However, Jay Carney there taking a swipe at the press saying it apparently has distracted the press from what he believes the real story is, is the progress from this Summit of Americas.

But one more time, if you're just now joining us, a dozen U.S. Secret Service personnel were sent back to the U.S.. They were on the advance team, but allegations now of them having relations with prostitutes there in Colombia, prostitution is legal in Colombia, but however, the fact that these Secret Service personnel had relations with prostitutes there and then allegedly took some of the prostitute to the hotel two days prior to the president's arrival at the very hotel where the president would ultimately be staying, that's a big breach of conduct there.

Pictures, exterior of the hotel where the president and the Secret Service detail are staying. But again, the White House trying to take the message from what is certainly an issue that has been overshadowing the mission at the Summit of the Americas now trying to focus again on the economic and geopolitical importance of this summit. And of course another agency somewhere down the line will be handling the investigation of the U.S. Secret Service personnel.

We'll update you as we get more information about all that has taken place there in Cartagena.

All right. Well, some of you might be scrambling to make Tuesday's tax filing deadline here in the states. Others are looking ahead to next year already. Some changes to the tax code that could make the 2013 bill a little bit more expensive. Athena Jones joining me now from Washington with details on this. Nobody wants to hear that anything is going to be more expensive, Athena.

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, it's not good news, but right now, this is where we stand. And this is, of course, if Congress doesn't act. We know it's an election year, and Congress could step in and extend things further like they have been doing. But first things first, the Bush tax cuts are set to expire at the end of this year. So that would mean higher tax rates for everyone. We hear a lot about the very wealthy, that highest tax rates going from 35 percent to 39.6 percent, but really everyone across the board would see their rates rise, and even that lowest rate, the 10 percent rate would switch to 15 percent.

The second thing that affect a lot of people is the payroll tax credit that is going to expire at the end of this year. Every one who has a job pays payroll taxes and we've all been able to enjoy that extra two percent we're seeing in our paychecks, the two percent that hasn't been being taken out. But that's all going to change come at the end of the year.

Two other quick ones that mostly affect higher income earners, the capital gains tax rate which is set to rise. The highest rate there would go from 15 percent to 20 percent. Capital gains taxes are on investment income like stocks. The other one is a new tax associated with the health care law. Those would only affect people making over $200,000 and of course, they're only going to effect, you know, if the health care law is upheld by the Supreme Court. So those are some of the changes that we expect to see right now in 2013 as far as new taxes and higher rates.

WHITFIELD: Except for changing your income bracket, is there anything that people can do, you know, to avoid the impact of higher rates?

JONES: Well, I talked to a bunch of policy people and I talked to some tax preparers and here is what some of the things they say in terms of reducing your taxable income. One thing of course is selling stock. If you have a bunch of stocks and you are thinking about selling them, you might consider doing that in 2012, this year, rather than waiting until next year so you can avoid that jump in the capital gains tax rate.

Another thing is make charitable donations in 2013. Some of make them might make those towards the end of this year, maybe you might consider at the beginning next year, so that you can reduce your income there. One more thing is converting a traditional IRA retirement account to a Roth IRA account in 2012 versus 2013. The reason you'll do that is that the traditional account, you get taxed when you take the money out, you know, when you retire, whereas a Roth IRA, you pay the taxes first, then put the money in, stock that money away, earn interest over those decades. So if you're going to do that, if you're going to make the transition, do so when you have lower rates to pay.

Last thing, companies who pay out bonuses could consider moving them up to the end of 2012 rather than 2013 so that their employees can avoid having that extra bit of income that year. So those are just some of the tips, of course. Tax preparers I talked to said not knowing all these things, what is really going to happen makes it really difficult for them to prepare, but these four are some simple ways that people can go about, at least reducing that income a little bit.

WHITFIELD: Well, you're giving us a leg up and informing us. Thanks so much. Athena Jones in Washington.

JONES: Thanks.

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, it's not a cruise for everyone, but many consider retracing the path of the Titanic the trip of a lifetime. Details straight ahead.

And tomorrow, Dr. Sanjay Gupta is taking you inside a virtual world. Meet a video game designer Jane McGonigal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JANE MCGONIGAL, VIDEO GAME DESIGNER: There are a billion people on the planet now who qualify as gamers. There are games you can play to learn how to start your own business, if you're unemployed and want to start your own company, there's a game you can play to learn how to do that. When I tell people, "hey, you want to cure cancer or Alzheimer's?" You can do that by playing a game. Games are an extraordinary way to tap into the best version of yourself, the most determined, the most creative, the most resilient. I'm Jane McGonigal. I'm a game designer, and I'm the inventor of Super Better.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So you want to tune in tomorrow to watch "The Next List" or set your DVR for 2:00 p.m. Eastern time. Of course, after that, the "Newsroom," 2:30 Eastern time. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A U.S. Coast Guard rescue plane is being diverted from a Titanic commemoration flight to a boat that is sinking right now. The French 40-foot sailboat is going down about 1300 miles east of Boston. Three people are onboard and we're told they do have a life raft, life jackets and flares onboard, but those Titanic 100th anniversary commemorations are still happening.

Right now, two cruise ships are retracing the Titanic's voyage. The Azamara journey which departed from New York will be meeting up with the MS Balmoral which set off from Southampton. The two ships will meet at the site where the Titanic sank for two tributes. The first at 11:40 p.m. tonight where the Titanic struck the iceberg. The second two hours and 40 minutes later when the Titanic sank. For the nearly 2,000 passengers onboard, both ships, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONNIE JEFFERS, PASSENGER, AZAMARA JOURNEY: I was really surprised at the number of people we talked to and told that we were going to go on this trip, said that's creepy, I wouldn't do that. I thought, I don't find it creepy at all. I love history.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Wow, and not everyone can take one of those Titanic trips, but you can still find out more about the stories of those who were on the ship. Rob Marciano shows how to get onboard without ever leaving land.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARCIANO (voice-over): The movie "Titanic" is back in theaters in 3- D, marking the 100-year anniversary of the Titanic sinking.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Iceberg right ahead.

MARCIANO: From the silver screen to attractions around the country, there are many ways to connect with the ill-fated ship.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look right through these windows, that's just the way it looked on that night. MARCIANO: Replica Titanics in Pigeon Ford, Tennessee, and (INAUDIBLE) Missouri, let you see recovered artifacts, climb the grand staircase, and even feel how cold the water was the night of the disaster. And for a doomed ship, they had no shortage of passengers.

JOHN JOSLYN, OWNER, TITANIC MUSEUM: There's such a large following, I don't care if you're five or 95, if you have an interest or some connection to the Titanic.

MARCIANO: And if you can't make it to one of these museums, RSM Titanic.net can steer you to other exhibitions.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have an obsession with Titanic. It's really cool.

MARCIANO: And if you don't quite get the excitement, National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C., is making a splash with their newest exhibit, aptly called "Titanic, 100 year Obsession."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: The strong language put out by the storm warning center may have some parents wondering how to get their kids prepared. Well, there's actually a comic book for that. We'll show you step by step plans to keep the family safe. That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. People across the Plains States are bracing for the real possibility of severe weather today, specifically tornadoes. One twister touched down near Norman, Oklahoma, late yesterday. Tearing roofs off a number of homes. No serious injuries were reported.

And about a dozen U.S. Secret Service personnel sent to Colombia ahead of President Obama's weekend visit had been relieved of duty. Government sources say they took prostitutes back to a hotel in Cartagena before the president's arrival. They were not part of the president's personal security detail. An internal investigation is now under way.

And one of the accused Tulsa shooters said he's not a racist despite being charged on the state level with a hate crime. 19-year-old Jake England seen here in a jail house interview that you're about to see, is accused of killing three people on April 6th because they were black. On the tape, England said he had grown up in a large African- American community in North Tulsa and, quote, "got along with everybody."

And there's a new health warning for those of you who eat fish. The CDC says at least 116 people in 20 states and the nation's capital are in infected with a strain of salmonella. They think the outrage was caused by raw yellow fin tuna products. The product isn't sold to individual customers. Bu it's used to make sushi and sashimi available in restaurants and grocery stores.

All right, let's check in again with our Jacqui Jeras about this severe weather that people are bracing for.

JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, they need to be ready right now, Fredricka. This has been ongoing for a couple hours already and we have 11 reports of tornadoes now. Most of which in central Kansas and then just over the state line into parts of southern Nebraska. Now, the good news is reports of injuries thus far, and only reports of damage in terms of some power lines down and also some outbuildings.

So far, we're doing OK, but there are multiple warnings still in effect including tornadoes confirmed on the ground. And it's really central Kansas to the east of Dodge City where we have seen the rotating storms really firing up and developing at this time. There are watches in effect, so a watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop. A warning means it's happening now.

So, the watch area all across Nebraska, into southwestern Iowa, and then stretching down into western parts of Oklahoma and in that center here, particularly into central parts of Kansas, is where we have the PDS watches, particularly dangerous situation. And when you have a PDS watch that means this is kind of a different animal where you get large, violent, destructive tornadoes that stay on the ground for a long period of time. The risk area is very wide spread, and we're just getting started with the storm system. In fact, this is going to be going on overnight tonight, including into the day tomorrow where we could look at places like central Wisconsin for seeing the severe weather threat.

So, about five million people in the high risk area today, about nine million people in the red there under the risk area for a moderate chance of seeing these tornadoes. It's going to be an ugly night ahead. We'll break in as necessary. Then 11 tornadoes reported so far today.

WHITFIELD: Wow. That's tremendous number. All right, thank you so much, Jacqui.

Of course, a big question that needs to be asked, what do you do? Do you know what to do if a tornado of other disaster were to be heading your way? The U.S. department is urging everyone to get a plan in place right now, and it is providing some great tools for you to do so even for your children.

CNN's Josh Levs is here with the details on these tools available.

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and Fred, this is something that applies to everybody throughout the entire country, not just people who may face tornadoes, but the government says the entire country, every family year round, should be prepared for all sorts of natural disasters depending where you live. Listen to potential which disaster you may face.

That said there are some basics that they say every family should have. There's a great Web site behind me, called ready.gov that talks you through some of the steps every family in the country should take. And folks, if you're watching the reports about the tornado thinking, hey, I haven't put together any of these steps for my family, now is a good time.

I want to talk to you some of the basics, but start with what should go into an emergency kit. The government says every family should have available starting with a gallon of water per person per day for at least three days. So that's at least three gallons of water per person there.

Next, food, at least a three day supply of that inside the emergency supply kit. Also, you should have a battery powered radio or hand crank radio in addition to a NOAA weather radio. Just you want to make sure you have with you.

Let's do a few more of this. You want to have a flashlight in this kit with extra batteries, also a first aid kid, and make sure that's got all of the basics inside of it. And once more thing I'll point to here, you want to have a whistle so that if people are looking for you, that's one way to make a lot of noise if your technology is not working over there. There's just about half the list and more of it up at the Web site.

There's also something else I want you to know that might come as a surprise. Take a look at the pictures here. This is something the government points to when they talk about how families should be ready for disasters. It's these comic characters that's the government has up at this site. And what they have done is made it fun for the whole family, fun for children. There are stories you can tell. There are sort of online scavenger hunt where you learn about what you need to have in emergency supplies. And there's a great way to teach your kids about what to do if for some reason in a disaster they're separated. All sorts of great interactive set up for you, and I have linked specific pages here for you up at my page to make it really easy to find.

I'm on facebook and twitter at joshlevscnn, as a blog at cnn.com/ josh. We have a lot of specifics there for you there.

So Fred, this is a great time for the families watching the news reports about the tornado to say, hey, have you done this for your family? If not, do so now.

WHITFIELD: It's so important to have a plan.

LEVS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Josh Levs. Thanks so much.

All right, it's a great superstar athlete. Magic Johnson making news on Broadway with the new play about his friendship with Larry Bird and with his $2 billion deal to buy a baseball team. NPR sports reporter Mike Pesca has seen the play. He will be joining me after the break with his reviews.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A federal trial and a Broadway debut. They're both hot topics at NPR. Sports reporter, Mike Pesca is joining us to talk about it. Good to see you.

Welcome, Mike.

Hi. Last time we spoke, you were in New Orleans, and we're talking NCAA. So now, you're in lovely studio there in New York.

So, let's begin with this trial starting Monday, former major league baseball pitcher Roger Clemens, it's a retrial on federal charges he allegedly lied to Congress about using banned performance enhancing drugs. Just listen to some of Clemens' testimony from 2008.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROGER CLEMENS, FORMER MAJOR LEAGUE BASKETBALL PLAYER: I'm not saying Senator Mitchell's report is entirely wrong. I am saying Brian McNamee statements about me are wrong. Let me be clear. I have never taken steroids or HGH.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: OK. So that testimony on Capitol Hill. He didn't have to, but then now it's kind of, you know, got the ball rolling on this whole perjury trial.

So, in your view, you know, how might this unfold? Are we talking about, you know, bringing a number of people from Andy Pettitte on, you know, back in to testify against him? Deals made, do you see any real wiggle room for Roger Clemens?

MIKE PESCA, NPR SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: There's also been wiggle room if you wanted to take it, and Roger Clemens to the confusion of most people watch baseball, has always said I demand to clear my name. That's why he testified before congress. That's why when he was charged with perjury, he didn't cut any sort of deal. I mean, Miguel Tejada of Major League took a misdemeanor charge on obstruction of justice.

But Clemens wants to go forward with the trial. He had a trial or two days worth of a trial a year ago, and it ended in a mistrial because the prosecutor really bungled showing a videotape to a jury that he wasn't supposed to.

So, yes, in this trial, you have Brian McNamee, who, you just heard Clemens talk about. His former trainer saying I injected him with HGH. You have Brian McNamee providing physical evidence, some DNA and some syringes and cotton swabs. Those have Andy Pettitte who is a pitcher and Roger Clemens teammate and a guy who has seen with absolutely no ax to grind, if you will. We all assume testify against Roger Clemens.

Now, baseball writers will say that will be really damaging because baseball writers really respect Andy Pettitte and they think the world of him. I don't know if jurors are going to know who Andy Pettitte is. But, just any guy who seems honest who has no reason to say that he did it except I'm telling the truth and that he did it. That could hurt Clemens.

But the other side of the coin is the fact that there was one mistrial already. It seems like that the judge isn't that sympathetic to the prosecution.

WHITFIELD: Wow. And what a time in all these when major league baseball gets started again in this season. A lot of distractions, or might it be a distraction for the ball field?

PESCA: Well, the thing is that Clemens is retired, but during the last trial, if Pettitte would have testified, he was retired then, but he's making a comeback now. So, he might have to take off -- his in the minors right now trying to work his way up to the majors. He might have to take time off for baseball to go to D.C. to testify.

And, you know, baseball is really trying to get past the steroid era, the Ryan Braun incident, the NL MVP who had a positive test but it was overturned, that didn't do him a favors. Yes, maybe when it's over, maybe this will be the official, we have put it to bed and now we're moving on.

WHITFIELD: OK. Still on the topic of baseball now, let's talk about the Dodgers and the court saying, all right, this is a done deal. $2 billion deal, and involving the Guggenheim Group which also includes, you know, former NBA star Magic Johnson now being part owner of the Dodger.

So, with new management about to be assembled at the end of this month, might it be soon enough to help the Dodgers really get into serious play since the dame has - the season has already started?

PESCA: I think that it's a whole -- it's lifting a burden and even if locker rooms or club houses they call them in baseball say, look, we don't care about this off the field stuff, they do. It weighs on them. I just got done reading R.A. Dickey's book. He is a pitcher for the Mets. And all during the year, the Mets were saying, the Bernie Madoff scandal didn't bother us. But as soon as it was lifted, they said, wow, this is great. And that's what the Dodgers are going to say.

It literally it means they can start signing some free agents if they're in a position to be winning by the end of the year, they could be buyers rather than sellers. The weird thing about the deal is -- the striking thing is that this is the most ever paid for a professional sports franchise in North America, most ever played for a baseball team. I mean $2 billion.

WHITFIELD: Why, by the way?

PESCA: Yes. TV, the answer is TV. I think in the stock market, they would call this priced to win. In other words, there is no discount like maybe it won't work out, but if it all works out spectacularly and perfectly, then they could see a return on the investment. But if you look at the value of other franchises, it does seem like a really high price to pay. WHITFIELD: Wow. OK, now speaking of Magic Johnson, now, you know, part owner of the Dodgers, also taking center stage at Long Acres Theater in New York, right on Broadway, Magic/Bird, a play about the relationship. I guess they were frenemies, that's what we would call them now, you know. They were opponents on the, you know, hard court, he and Larry bird, but off the court, they were -- they had a beautiful friendship.

So, did you really get that? You went to the screening, the play last night. And was it effective story telling in your view? I know I'm putting you on the spot by being a Broadway show critic? But, did you like it?

PESCA: That's fine. I'll don the hat. It turns out people who watch sports have opinions on everything. But, you know, before I saw the play, a lot of people asked me why are they doing this as a play? And I have to tell you after seeing the play, I have the same question.

WHITFIELD: Really?

PESCA: I don't think it works. I think that the conflict - because drama is about conflict. And all of the great conflict of their relationship was on the court. So what we saw as theater goers were kind of the intercessional moments. There were couples of nice scenes. There was one in Larry Bird's Indiana home where Larry Bird's mom hugged Magic. And that was the breaking the ice moment, and since that played out. And since the NBA is behind the production, there was a lot of great archival footage but if you read Jackie MacMullan's book or watched the documentary, probably get a more satisfying and fully fleshed out picture about this great relationship. I would say probably the saddest thing about the play is that it really damned the prospects of any mugs bogus, minute bold musical that might come together.

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: OK. Mean time, Magic was there last night, right, and he took to the stage the real thing, Magic Johnson. And he talked about baseball by being a part owner.

PESCA: Yes.

WHITFIELD: And for course, he talked about this play. What did he say? What can we learn from that moment?

PESCA: Yes. This was Thursday - it was Thursday afternoon, and the one thing, he said about he seems very excited and the fans were excited to own the dodgers. The one thing that he said that I thought was interesting is he detailed his history as a baseball player, which is one at-bat, the ball came in, it broke towards the plate, he bailed out and said maybe basketball is the sport for me. Anyway, guy who is 6'9" is going to have a ridiculous strike zone anyway.

So, you know what, make your money in basketball magic and then buy a baseball team. Seems like a much more sound way to do things. WHITFIELD: And then, we have a little bit of time, Magic and Bird was on Letterman earlier in the week. Take a listen to what they had to say about their relationship in the play.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EARVIN "MAGIC" JOHNSON JR., FORMER NBA PLAYER: He told me that, you know, I smiled all the time. And he knew that I would smile at you but I wanted to cut your heart out at the same time.

LARRY JOE BIRD, FORMER NBA PLAYER: My goal was to try to take three of them teeth home with me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: It's just so great that they both have a great sense of humor. And I mean, top notch athletes as well. They were just both so well-rounded, are so well rounded.

PESCA: Yes. That's another disappointing thing about the play that these guys in real life are unbelievably charismatic. And I think the actors did a great job. But I really do think if you came into the theater saying well, I'm not a huge basketball fan or convince me why I should care, I don't know if you know coming out, you know why you should care.

But the real story of the two of them is kind of inspirational and it's just kind of lovely that you can hate each other so much on the court but be well rounded, be human enough for when Magic, you know, was diagnosed with HIV, he would call Larry and Larry would call Magic. And you know, Magic, the most exuberant outgoing guy. And Larry Bird, a real introvert. But for these two to forge a relationship where they could go on Letterman and, you know, be friendly off the court like that is one of the nice things about sports that should be celebrated, perhaps not on the great white way, however.

WHITFIELD: All right. Mike, thanks so much. Now, you know -- we know you're a broad waist critic just in case the sports thing doesn't work out for you.

PESCA: Absolutely. I'll tell you what I thought of "wicked" next week.

WHITFIELD: OK, very good. We'll look forward to that. Mike Pesca, thanks so much. Appreciate your time.

All right, scandal is rocking the U.S. secret service. We have more information on that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. More now on the investigation involving U.S. secret service in Cartagena, Colombia.

Let's check in with our Juan Carlos Lopez there in Cartagena. So, Juan Carlos, give us an update. Apparently, there's a link now to U.S. military, in what way?

JUAN CARLOS LOPEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it seems to be a separate instant. U.S. southern Command out of Miami announced that five U.S. service members assigned to joined task force summit of the Americas violated the curfew established by the United States senior defense official in Colombia and may have been involved in inappropriate conduct.

So, these are five service members not related to the twelve secret service members that will return to the states after an incident that apparently involves prostitution. In this case, the conduct is alleged to have happened in this same hotel, the Caribe Hotel in Cartagena, where the secret service members, at least some undercover agents. Other uniformed police were involved with an incident with a prostitute that was reported to the local police.

These five U.S. service members are currently in Colombia. They're confined to quarters and under orders not to have contact with other individuals. They will return to the United States with the rest of the support contingency, and the commander assault from General Douglas Frazier said he's disappointed by the entire incident and that this behavior is not in keeping with the professional standards expected of members of the United States military.

An investigation is announced, and punishment inappropriate, Fredricka, separate incident from the secret service members, but apparently the possibility of misconduct by five U.S. service men.

WHITFIELD: Got it.

All right. Two separate incidents. In one incident involving five U.S. military personnel and then the other, we are talking about a dozen U.S. secret service personnel which -- who allegedly had involvement with prostitutes there in Colombia. I'm talking about the secret service now at the El Caribe Hotel.

Now, for clarification as well, Juan Carlos. The hotel we're talking about, earlier, it was reported that that hotel where that breach of code of conduct took place also happened to be the same hotel that the president of the United States would be staying. That code of conduct being breached a couple days before the president's arrival.

Now, clarify for us. That is not the same hotel where the president ultimately ended up staying.

LOPEZ: That's not the same hotel. No, Fredricka. This hotel, the Caribe hotel is where the international media is staying. It is part of the security wing that was designed around the president's visit. The president is staying at the Hilton hotel, not the same facility. So they are two separate hotels.

Now, let's clarify the secret service agents, the incident apparently happened on Wednesday. They were returned to the states on Thursday. But now, this just came out from U.S. southern command in Miami where five U.S. service members violated their curfew and they may have been involved in inappropriate conduct in this hotel.

That's as far as we know, we know they're in country. That they will be returning with the rest of the military component of the security detail, and they'll be submitted to an investigation and punished if appropriate.

WHITFIELD: Wow, a couple of messy situations there now, upstaging the president's visit there at the summit of the Americas.

Juan Carlos. Thanks so much for the new information and for the clarification as well. Appreciate that.

And we will have much more right here in the newsroom after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, after cutie six kids and seven years, hard to say it, and 1,000 tabloids headlines, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are finally making it official. A Pitt rep said yes, the Hollywood power couple are officially engaged. The engagement ring designer said Pitt collaborated with him for a year to create that, the diamond ring apparently shaped to suit Angelina's long, slender ring finger, they say. Congratulations to them.

All right, that is going to do it for me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Much more of the NEWSROOM straight ahead, with my colleague, I don't hear him -- Don Lemon.

DON LEMON, CNN HOST, NEWSROOM: Bye, Fred!

(LAUGHTER)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)