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New Details on Foiled Attack; Backlash Over Bomb Plot; Six-Term GOP Senator Ousted
Aired May 09, 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: Thanks, Soledad. Good morning. Good morning to all of you. I'm Carol Costello.
Happening right now in the NEWSROOM, double agent. The would-be bomber behind the terror threat actually working for the CIA. Breaking news this morning, new details inside the plot and inside the operation from a former FBI special agent.
Ban. North Carolina shutting out same-sex marriage with a constitutional amendment. The people behind the movement this morning saying they're not anti-gay, they're pro-marriage. We've got both sides of the story.
Manhunt. Mississippi searching for this man, Adam Mayes. He's wanted in the killing of a Tennessee woman and her teenage daughter. Today police expand their search for the woman's two young girls, Alexandria and Kyliyah.
And pomp and perception. Queen Elizabeth II arriving in a golden carriage wearing a crown with 3,000 diamonds. And sitting in a gilded thrown. Going before parliament to talk about saving money.
NEWSROOM starts right now.
This morning we begin with new details and new backlash over the al Qaeda plot to bomb a U.S. bound plane. We now know the planned suicide bomber was really an undercover operative working for Saudi Arabia and the United States. According to "The New York Times," the operative handed over the bomb to the FBI and now that bomb is undergoing extensive study.
The newspaper also reports it was sewn into custom fit underwear but unlike the bomb that malfunctioned on the 2009 flight into Detroit, this one had fail safes to ensure it detonated.
Now the backlash. Intelligence officials and lawmakers are outraged that someone leaked the details and major investigations are being launched.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. PETER KING (R), NEW YORK: Truly it's unfortunate that this has gotten out because this can really interfere with operations overseas and I'm sorry to do this, but I really cannot comment on any of those details. I know it's out there. I know it's being reported. And I also was at a briefing this afternoon with top officials and there's a really great concern that this got out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Tom Fuentes is a former assistant director of the FBI. He joins us from Washington.
Good morning, Tom.
TOM FUENTES: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: So let's talk quickly about this investigation. What kind of possible damage could be caused by these leaks?
FUENTES: I think there's been tremendous damage caused by it because it interrupted an ongoing operation and investigation. All of the sources that I've talked to who are extremely high level have said there was no expectation that this operation would leak and in fact none of them actually knew of the operation. This was very close haul. No one in those circles here in Washington, if you didn't need to know it, you didn't know it until it became public through the media.
So it's clear that the CIA, other services, the FBI and the administration were not prepared for this story to come out at this time and completely interrupt the operation.
COSTELLO: Well, the story did come out and the details quite frankly are fascinating. I mean here's this man, this mole, who infiltrated al Qaeda. This bomb maker, you know, al-Asiri, the guy that heads these things up, he wanted to plant a bomb on his own brother. I mean these people are hardcore. The courage that it must have taken for this man to infiltrate al Qaeda is just mind-boggling.
FUENTES: That's true. It's absolutely amazing that they did recruit somebody that would be willing to do that. But what we don't know now is how many other somebodies are there. Are there other suicide bombers who actually intend to commit suicide? Have there been other devices similar to his already made, already deployed, and, you know, who knows if they're going to be detected in airport scanning machines in Europe.
So that's the danger in this factor. An operation has been cut short before all of the players are known, before all of the details are known, and before really we know more about what Asiri is up to at this point, how many other bombs are out there.
COSTELLO: Yes. And what exactly is he doing? What exactly is al Qaeda in Yemen, in the Arabian Peninsula doing right now knowing that someone infiltrated their group?
FUENTES: Right now he's just going to continue to make more bombs and they're going to continue to recruit more people who are willing to die in their effort to attack Americans or westerners. So he's just going to continue doing that all along. And I think at this point, you know, just this is my opinion but the cat is out of the bag. And I think that the public, TSA, airport screeners around the world should be seeing photographs of what this device looked like and being told here's what to watch for. Here's what's out there at least in this device.
Obviously al-Asiri and the other al Qaeda members in Yemen, they know that we have the device. They -- this is public information now. They know that the information is out there. There is no need to keep it from them. They're already aware of it. Why keep it from the screeners who need to have that information across the globe to have an idea of what they are looking for.
COSTELLO: Well, I guess I meant, you know, he would be looking at his recruits and sort of seeing what other plants there might be. But I'm sure he's doing that, too. Tom Fuentes --
FUENTES: Absolutely.
COSTELLO: Thanks so much for joining us this morning.
FUENTES: Thank you.
COSTELLO: In Southern California, the FBI is investigating security concerns surrounding two Southwest Airlines flights out of John Wayne Airport. One was searched by a bomb squad and canine units before leaving Santa Ana. The other was taken to an isolated area after landing at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Looks like John Wayne is having some problems with the runway so cancel you approach clearance, climb and maintain 3,000 and when able heading 3-6-0.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Verify that, was Southwest 1424 heading 3-6-0 climb and maintain 3,000.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Affirmative. It looks like the runway's occupied with some basic security issues and we can't land right now so stand by for further information.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Roger.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Officials will only say they were responding to nonspecific threats and crews found nothing out of the ordinary. Investigators have not said if these incidents are linked.
This morning gay rights activists are regrouping and gearing up to fight the latest statewide ban on same-sex marriage. Voters in North Carolina overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment which defines marriage as solely between a man and woman. Opponents of the measure are vowing to challenge results and are even planning rallies later this week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEREMY KENNEDY, COALITION TO PROTECT ALL N.C. FAMILIES: We said we were going to have a million conversations across this state. And no matter what the results tonight, their conversations cannot be stopped and cannot be undone.
TAMI FITZGERALD, VOTE FOR MARRIAGE N.C.: We are not anti-gay. We are pro-marriage. This campaign has been about one thing and one thing only. Protecting marriage as the union between one man and one woman.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: North Carolina becomes the 31st state to define marriage as a heterosexual union. More states will vote on similar same-sex marriage bans later this year.
Wisconsin's embattled governor now knows who he will face in the June 5th recall election. Last night voters chose Milwaukee mayor, Tom Barrett, as the Democratic challenger. Barrett to Scott Walker in the 2010 gubernatorial race. More than a million people signed petitions for Walker's recall after he cut most collective bargaining rights for state employees.
There a changing of the guard in Indiana and an undeniable message sent -- being sent to Washington. For the first time since the 1970s, Hoosier voters rejected six-term Senator Richard Lugar. The longtime moderate was ousted by a fellow Republican who says he will not budge on his Tea Party values. Richard Mourdock rallied voter frustration by dismissing Lugar as someone too quick to compromise.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD MOURDOCK (R), U.S. SENATE NOMINEE: This race is not about animosity. It's about ideas. It is about the direction of the Republican Party. It is about the direction of our country.
SEN. RICHARD LUGAR (R), INDIANA: My public service is not concluded. I look forward to what can be achieved in the Senate in the next eight months despite a very difficult national election atmosphere.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash is in Indianapolis this morning.
And Dan, in a sign of Lugar's bipartisan record, President Obama praised Lugar after last night's defeat. I want to read part of the statement for our viewers. This is from President Obama. "I want to express my deep appreciation for Dick Lugar's distinguished service in the United States. While Dick and I didn't always agree on everything, I found during my time in the Senate that he was often willing to reach across the aisle and get things done."
In fact, it's that spirit of compromise that might have cost Lugar his job, right?
DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it sure is. And I heard that from voter after voter that we talked to at the polls yesterday. That they thought that Richard Lugar agreed with the president too much and in this really extraordinary race got even more I think maybe it's fair to say unusual last night because as soon as Senator Lugar was finished with his concession speech, he had his aides release this memo.
It's about a three-page memo and in it he really tries to explain his decisions. And one of those explanations is his decision, Carol, to vote with the president on his Supreme Court picks, on things like immigration and in this he also says that I believe that those votes were right for the country and I stand by them without regrets.
He didn't do what a lot of other incumbent Republicans did in order to defend themselves from challenges from the right. He didn't attack right. He stuck with what he thought was correct in terms of his votes.
COSTELLO: OK. So what does this mean for the country and the polarization of the Senate? I mean you cover -- you cover Capitol Hill. You're our congressional correspondent. Is it just going to get more ugly? Because I can't even remember a recent law that Congress has passed lately.
BASH: There are a few but you do have to dig for them. And you're absolutely right. Look, this -- there is no question that Richard Lugar was one of the last remaining people as I just mentioned who did what he thought was right even though he knew that politically it was very, very bad for him.
Not saying that people who are there now don't go by their principle but Richard Lugar did it to his own peril. And again in this extraordinary memo that he put out, he talked about the fact that he is very worried that bipartisan in his word is -- he wants people to know is not opposite of principle. That bipartisanship is not a dirty word. That it is OK. And he was very scathing in his parting shots, if you will.
Just like Olympia Snowe was when she decided to voluntarily retire. She was another moderate who worked across the aisle. These people are saying that they are very concerned about the state of politics. He also said that if the Republican Party, his own party, continues to allow what he calls outside forces to not allow nuance, that they will become a minority party and maybe even worse -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Reporting live for us from Indianapolis this morning.
Former presidential candidate Rick Santorum is still explaining his endorsement of Mitt Romney. Santorum went on "The Tonight Show" and host Jay Leno wasted no time talking about that endorsement that many say lacked enthusiasm.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JAY LENO, HOST, "TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO": It was kind of buried. There were 16 paragraphs. And it was the 13th paragraph. By the way, this Mitt Romney fellow is running for president.
RICK SANTORUM (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: No, no. That's not --
LENO: Because at one point you said he was the worst Republican we could ever put against Obama.
SANTORUM: Well --
LENO: Didn't you say that?
SANTORUM: I say that with respect to the issue of Obamacare.
LENO: Obamacare. Can you imagine what "The Tonight Show" would look like if the government ran "The Tonight Show?"
SANTORUM: Can I see what it looks like?
LENO: Yes, I mean, would you even be --
SANTORUM: how it looks with NBC running it, so please yes.
LENO: Well, there you go. Yes. Can you imagine?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Santorum also gave Leno one of his souvenir sweater vests which of course became his signature look during the campaign.
I'm sure Jay will wear it -- I don't think he will.
Presidential candidate Ron Paul, yes, he is still in the race and he will be joining us in the next hour.
Should Ron Paul drop his presidential bid? His supporters don't think so. In fact, they're threatening to cause chaos at the Republican National Convention if he's not allowed to give a prime time address. I'll ask Congressman Paul about that.
And President Obama and Mitt Romney are trading jabs on the economy. But which man has the right approach to get the nation back on track?
Tennessee police looking for these two little girls and the man they think kidnapped them. Police hope new surveillance video will lead them to their suspect.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It is 15 minutes past the hour. Time to check our top stories.
There are new details and new backlash in al Qaeda's failed plot to bomb a U.S.-bound airliner. We now know the planned suicide bomber was really an intelligence operative working for Saudi Arabia and the United States. In the meantime, lawmakers and government officials want to know how details were leaked and if they damaged the investigation.
Take a close look at this new video. Tennessee police hope it will help them find Adam Mayes and the two little girls he's suspected of kidnapping. Mayes is also suspected of kidnapping the girl's mother and older sister whose bodies were found on Saturday. Police have arrested Mayes' mother and his ex-wife. They are accused of helping him.
Yahoo! CEO Scott Thompson's decision to lie about his college degree on his resume has cost Yahoo! search director her job. But he will keep his job for now. Patti Hart was in charge of the company's CEO search. She was responsible for hiring him.
A senior Yahoo! executive says Thompson has lost his credibility. A special committee is continuing to investigate the matter.
It is the number one issue many Americans will take with them into the ballot box in November: the economy.
Republican candidate Mitt Romney is trying to convince voters President Obama is bad for the economy and he will do things differently.
Tuesday in Michigan, Governor Romney spent seven minutes to make sure voters got the point.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: His four years have been a disappointment for all of us.
President Clinton, remember -- he said the era of big government was over. President Obama brought it back with a vengeance.
President Obama is trying to tirelessly expand the welfare state. The president takes his marching orders from union bosses and rails against the right to work states.
Have you seen, by the way, the president's vision of the future? To help us see it, his campaign has even created a little fictional character.
What does it say about a president's policies when he asks to use a cartoon character rather than real people to justify his record?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So, you get the point there.
Lakshman Achuthan, who is COO of the Economic Cycle Research Institute, is with us now.
Welcome.
LAKSHMAN ACHUTHAN, COO, ECONOMIC CYCLE RESEARCH INST.: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: Good morning.
So, Romney blasted the president's policies for seven minutes. He actually spent nine minutes on his own ideas. He wasn't specific about what exactly he would do differently.
So, Romney talked about bringing jobs back, for example, with pro-growth regulations and pro-growth taxes and pro-growth labor rules. So, translate that to us and tell us how that might fire up the economy in the short-term.
ACHUTHAN: I'm sorry. I mean, this is unfortunate. It won't. I don't think there really is a policy that will.
Just to be clear, all I do is study the business cycle, recessions and recoveries. And we made a call at the end of last year that we would be going into a new recession by the middle of this year. And when we look at all of the incoming data and a lot of it -- the general tone has been one of a recovering economy. But when we look at the incoming data, it looks as though -- a reviving economy, it looks as though, things have already been slowing.
All of the indicators that tell us where we are in the business cycle have now turned down. Early on, we saw output like GDP or industrial production or sales or income. This is a real tough one.
Income, very, very weak here. The current readings that we have now, very low readings, they are already at weak readings that we saw after the last 10 recessions began. Those income readings are already recessionary.
And then, of course, we have had jobs growing quicker until February of this year but now they've started to rollover.
So, this really looks like a business cycle downturn like unfortunately recession call is correct, and what typically happens is after a recession begins --
COSTELLO: Let me interrupt you for just a second. I really want to get into the specifics of Romney's speech. Not all economists agree with you, by the way. I just want to put that out there.
ACHUTHAN: No, no. Most don't.
COSTELLO: Most don't. So, you have kind of a darker vision of the economy than most economists do. But if what you're saying is true, then isn't Mr. Romney right -- don't we need a new way of dealing with the economy? And is he the right man to do the job?
ACHUTHAN: I think that's an open question, OK? Because the presidential politics, presidential policies, these kinds of things -- things that will happen between the administration and the Congress, they are effective at laying the rules of the playing field for three or four or five years or 10 years out. But in the near term, the business cycle will not be denied.
Likewise with monetary policy. You know, when numbers get bad, a lot of people say the fed should print more money, and that will save things. But if you look at 222 years of U.S. and business cycle history, we've had 47 recessions. Policy makers on both sides of the aisle and central banks since early part of the last century have tried to deny every single incoming recession and they have failed.
So, I suspect we're going to have a 48th recession, the only question is when, and if you're just reading the actual data -- not forecasts, just the actual data on income and jobs growth and the other indicators of recession, we're pretty much there.
COSTELLO: OK.
ACHUTHAN: It's not recognized. Here's the thing -- it doesn't get recognized. It's not obvious until a half year later which oddly enough lands right around the election.
COSTELLO: Right.
Let me ask you this last question. Mitt Romney is a successful businessman. There's no doubt about that. You deal with CEOs every day. You talk with them. You study them.
So, are CEOs best equipped to fix a sluggish economy?
ACHUTHAN: Well, look, we need some jobs, right? That's pretty clear. They are sitting on a lot of cash and the question is what would induce them to start investing that cash in particular in the United States.
And the simplest answer is more demand, right? More people wanting stuff.
Right now, what we see is consumption slipping and the hope has been more jobs would lead to more consumption. But with income growth already below where it was at the start of the last 10 recessions, that's just not happening. That's missing link here. And I think that's starting to dawn on people.
COSTELLO: OK. Lakshman Achuthan, thank you so much for joining us this morning. We appreciate it.
ACHUTHAN: Thanks for your time.
COSTELLO: Still ahead on NEWSROOM, a man has a big reason to thank Dustin Hoffman. The actor saved his life.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It is time for "Middle Class Talk Back," a segment we kick off on Monday. We wanted to give middle class Americans a chance to ask direct questions of the presidential candidates.
Today it's Moira Bindner's term. She's from Alexandria, Virginia. She and her husband are struggling with an underwater mortgage and recent periods of unemployment.
This week, she had a question for Governor Romney.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOIRA BINDNER: Governor Romney, my question for you is what ideas do you have about those people who are underemployment and have settled for jobs that really don't utilize their talents? I think your record shows more of cutting companies and selling them. So, how would you encourage employers to really utilize people?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: OK. So we took the question to Governor Romney.
Christie Campbell from the Romney campaign shot us an e-mail. This is what she said: "Tuesday in Michigan, Governor Romney addressed the issues concerning Americans like Moira. Because of President Obama's disastrous economic policies, ands broken promises, too many Americans are unemployed, underemployed or have given up looking for a job altogether because of the struggling economy."
Campbell then asked Moira to listen to this part of Mr. Romney's speech.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROMNEY: This is a time for new answers, new ideas, and a new direction. It's the only way that our future can be better than the past. And as this new direction creates new jobs, it will also create the increasing demand for workers. And that produces higher wages and better benefits.
With the right direction and the right leadership, America can be reinvigorated as an economic powerhouse and families can depend once again on stable jobs and rising home values and more opportunities for their children. This can be more than our hope. It can be our future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Governor Romney added he'll describe policies of that new direction throughout his campaign.
Next Wednesday, we'll take another one of your questions this time to President Obama. So, join me next week for "Middle Class Talk Back".
Police are still searching for Adam Mayes. He's wanted in killing of a Tennessee woman and her teenage daughter. Right now, police are expanding their search for the woman's two young girls, Alexandria and Kyliyah.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Thirty minutes past the hour.
Opening bell just about to ring on Wall Street. U.S. stocks headed for a lower open today as investors remain on edge over developments in Europe.
And there are new details and backlash in al Qaeda's failed plot to bomb a U.S.-bound airliner. We now know the planned suicide bomber was really an intelligence operative working for Saudi Arabia and the United States.
In the meantime, lawmakers and government officials want to know how the details were leaked and if they damaged the investigation.
A 35-year veteran of the Senate, Dick Lugar, is pondering his future. He was defeated in Indiana by Tea Party challenger Richard Mourdock. Lugar's defeat gives a boost to the Tea Party movement which want to force deep cuts in government spending and gives Democrats an unexpected shot at winning a Democratically held seat in the November elections.
The manhunt continues this morning for suspected kidnapper Adam Mayes, who police believe have these two little girls with him, Alexandria and Kyliyah.
We have new surveillance video. This was released by the Tennessee police and there you can see Mayes inside a convenience store days after police say he abducted Jo Ann Bain and those three daughters.
Jo Ann and her oldest daughter were found dead Saturday at a home linked to Mayes and now police have arrested Mayes' mother and his ex-wife. They say the two women helped Mayes kidnapped the family.
The suspect's former sister-in-law spoke exclusively to Anderson Cooper.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: What would you want to say to him?
BOBBI BOOTH, SISTER OF TERESA MAYES: Do the right thing and let the children go. This has gone on way too far. We need to figure out what's going on, and it's not fair to the children.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: George Howell is here with more on this story.
Do police have new leads? Is the surveillance tape helping at all?
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That convenience store video back from April 30th, that's the last time we saw Mayes. And right now, Carol, it's a desperate search. We're looking across two state lines right now. Federal investigators are also involved looking for Adam Mayes and obviously trying to find Alexandria and Kyliyah. A desperate search to find them.
We do know from an FBI agent, the last thing we heard that he believes the girls are alive and with Mayes. Again, the question is where is Mayes right now? We're looking at an area between Whiteville, Tennessee, and Guntown, Mississippi.
And we know that agents have set up checkpoints. You know, they are talking to people. They are trying to get as much information as possible.
But we do also know that Mayes is considered armed and dangerous.
COSTELLO: So, I know Mayes is a longtime friend of the family, known them for years and years.
So why suddenly did he supposedly snap according to police? Do they have any idea?
HOWELL: No indication at this point. You heard Booth talking to Anderson Cooper yesterday. She says that the daughters may be his. Is that a possibility?
Investigators certainly will be looking into that possibility. But right now, they believe that the girls are alive with Mayes and as you know, they arrested Mayes' mother and also his ex-wife.
COSTELLO: That's just strange.
HOWELL: Well --
COSTELLO: That's just weird. Like why would they help this man kidnap this family?
HOWELL: What we know at this point, Mayes' mother, she told investigators that she did see her son digging on that property. We also know that Teresa was involved in helping to drive that car from Whiteville to Guntown.
So that's why they are currently in custody. And as you can imagine, investigators are asking them plenty of questions to try to find out where Adam is.
COSTELLO: That's just so strange that the wife -- I don't know. I don't know. We'll just have to pray.
We have a 1-800 number. Can we put that back on the screen -- 1-800-TBI-FIND. And if you see anything, please dial that number and told authorities what you see, because we're hoping these two little girls are still alive.
HOWELL: Absolutely.
COSTELLO: George Howell, thank you.
HOWELL: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Can small town post offices be saved? And can it be done without using taxpayer money?
And he started movies like "Tootsie," "Rain Man" and "Meet the Fockers." Now, Dustin Hoffman is credited with saving a man's life.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have my hands in many hives. I help run the New York City Beekeepers Association. I help run Bees Without Borders.
I am a paid consultant by restaurants and hotels. I have my own private hives from which I extract bottle honey. And sell at Union Square.
You need to kiss a beekeeper. That's what you need to do.
I sleep from time to time.
My name is Andrew Cote and I'm a beekeeper.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: So, Dustin Hoffman was taking a walk in a park when he saw a man staggering and frothing at the mouth. Hoffman rushed to help. He called paramedics. The man had gone into cardiac arrest. Paramedics told "The London Evening Standard," the 27-year-old man could have died had Hoffman not helped him.
A.J. Hammer is the host of "Showbiz Tonight," he's in New York. And wow.
What did he do? Did he --
A.J. HAMMER, HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": He was there, Carol. When you think of it, this really was no walk in the park. I mean, this is just the latest story in what seems to be a current trend of celebrity heroes.
Dustin Hoffman, who is 74, was reportedly walking in Kensington Park in London. He saw this jogger collapse and helped to keep the man's airway open and he stayed on scene for 20 minutes until paramedics were able to respond and treat the victim with defibrillator.
Now, I realized, this is what any good citizen would do, but you can't help but notice, that I recent, we've seen a lot of reports like, you know, Patrick Dempsey we were talking about recently, Mila Kunis, Kate Winslet, Ryan Gosling, all stepping in, Carol, to help people in distress. They were just like us.
COSTELLO: So weird. But good because they are doing good things and we like to hear that. Because now we have to talk about bad things. John Travolta -- another massage therapist has come forward just accusing him of what, sexual battery?
HAMMER: Well, we told you yesterday about the first accusation and then yesterday afternoon a second male therapist alleging he was sexually assaulted by Travolta at an Atlanta hotel in January 25th, was added to the same lawsuit.
Now, these are allegations from unnamed accusers. Only identified themselves in court papers as John Doe. Both plaintiffs seeking $2 million each. Travolta's attorneys are defending their client and telling CNN that the second unanimous claim is just as absurd and ridiculous as the first one. They promise to sue men making these accusations, as well as their attorney for malicious prosecution.
Now, the attorney who is handling both accusers says his practice specializes in this, going after sexual predators and tells CNN he's not intimidated. He also tells us there are many potential plaintiffs but I am only adding them as I am able to fully investigate and vet them.
So, Carol, we're going to have to see if this accuser list grows at all or gets any larger. But for now, Travolta gets the benefit of the doubt, absolutely, and we'll see if anything more becomes of this.
COSTELLO: All right. A.J. Hammer, many thanks to you.
Wisconsin's governor gets an opponent in a race to remove him from office.
And Mitt Romney gets support from Ron Johnson. We'll tell you about it after a break.
Oh, let's talk about Josh Hamilton before we go. He shows why he's one of the best hitters in baseball, four home runs in one game.
We'll be back. I promise.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Just about 44 minutes past the hour.
Checking our top stories now:
There are new details and new backlash in al Qaeda's failed plot to bomb a U.S.-bound airliner. We know the planned suicide bomber was really an intelligence operative working for Saudi Arabia and the United States. In the meantime, lawmakers and government officials want to know how the details were leaked and if they damaged the investigation.
This morning, gay rights activists are regrouping and gearing up to fight the latest statewide ban on same-sex marriage. Voters in North Carolina overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment defines marriage as solely between a man and woman. It is the 31st state to define marriage as a heterosexual union. More states will vote on similar same sex marriage bans later this year.
Queen Elizabeth gave her annual speech to parliament earlier today, calling for banking reform, and warning about Iran. She doesn't actually write the speech. Politicians do. But the event is a tradition.
She's held the throne for 60 years now. Interesting fact: the crowd must travel to the House of Parliament separately from the queen. That is the custom.
Indiana Senator Dick Lugar is leaving Washington after 36 years, after a successful primary challenge from state treasurer and Tea Party candidate Richard Mourdock. But Lugar isn't leaving without warning his fellow Republican about partisan politics.
In a statement Lugar said in part, "Ideology cannot be a substitute for a determination to think for yourself, for a willingness to study an issue objectively, and for the fortitude to sometimes disagree with your party or even your constituents."
Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin joins me now. Senator, welcome.
SEN. RON JOHNSON (R), WISCONSIN: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: I'm glad you're here with us. You were also backed by the Tea Party. Is Richard Lugar right?
JOHNSON: Well, first of all, I got a great deal of respect for Richard Lugar. You know certainly inside the conference when he's spoken up, he's certainly is a man that's got you know a very serious viewpoints and certainly somebody to be listened to and respected.
But you know the voters of Indiana decided to go a different direction. And I'm certainly looking forward to serving with Richard Murdock as well.
COSTELLO: So you know a lot of people who of course didn't vote for Richard Murdock and I realize what you said is completely true. But is compromise dead in Washington? Is that a dirty word still?
JOHNSON: Well listen, I think we all recognize that we have a very serious problem in this nation and I think so many Americans are just disappointed at the lack of progress of this administration. But you know the other -- you know neither side is going to go away. So in the end we're going to have to figure out how to work with each other.
But I think one of the things that prompts that compromise if you want to call it, is the signals that the voters send. In 2010 I think the voters sent a very clear signal to get our debt and deficit under control; our fiscal House in order and Washington hasn't done that. So my guess is in 2012, the voters will again send a signal, it's time to get serious about the fact that we're burdening our children and grandchildren with this mountain of debt and let's start actually working toward a solution. I think the politicians here in Washington, the elected officials, will get that signal and I think we will work together.
COSTELLO: Well so here's the thing. I mean, Mr. Murdock ran in Indiana on a no-compromise platform, let's say, compromise is a dirty word to him. We're going to go to Washington and we're going to get things done.
The nation at large though, voters hate partisanship; they want compromise. So you see there's the weird thing going on here. Like you want to please your constituents. You go to Congress. You serve. You serve your constituents. And then nothing really happens.
JOHNSON: Well Carol, if you're going to work with somebody, you have to have somebody put their plan on -- on a piece of paper and put that on the table. I mean, the fact of the matter is the President now has produced four budgets and you know he's never made any proposal to solve Social Security and to save Social Security or Medicare.
His -- last year's budget lost in the Senate 0-97. Not a member of his own party voted for it. And this year in the House of Representatives his current budget lost 0-414. So listen I came here to work with anybody who is willing to acknowledge the problem and put forward real solutions.
But when the President can't even figure out how to compromise with members of his own party to get a vote for his budgets, and then when the United States Senate refuses to pass a budget and again the Senate is controlled by Senator Harry Reid and the Democrats. They haven't passed a budget now for over three years because they don't want to be held accountable.
So the Republicans are willing to be held accountable. We've put and passed a budget in the House but the Democrats haven't and the President's budget was so unserious he couldn't even get a vote from his own party so -- again -- I'm willing to work with people --
COSTELLO: But -- but you know, you know the Democrats would say that the Republican budget is partisan too. I mean, and let's just be fair about this. I think that many in America -- many in America are looking at lawmakers right now and saying oh they are just sitting there waiting for the presidential election to be over while our economy like moves sluggishly along and they're not doing anything.
JOHNSON: But Carol, it's an important point. The House did do something. They passed a budget. Partisan or not they passed one.
COSTELLO: But it was partisan. There is no compromise in there.
JOHNSON: Ok. Where is -- where is the budget from the Senate? And by the way, how -- how -- how partisan was the President's when he was the only one that supported it. Not even a member of his own party supported it. I would call that highly partisan.
So again, until the other side puts a plan on the -- on the table and the American people can look at it and hold them accountable, there's nobody to really work with and I think that's -- that's a very important point.
Listen, I came here because I fear the direction of this country is going, the debt we're putting on our children and grandchildren. I'm willing to work with anybody that's willing to seriously acknowledge the problem and work toward real solutions. The other side hasn't put forward a serious solution yet.
COSTELLO: Ok so will we expect to see any big piece of legislation being passed before the presidential election?
JOHNSON: Well you know my -- my approach in business and my approach here is let's first figure out what we agree on. And I really do believe that we agree that we want to see a prosperous America. We want to make sure that every Americans has not --
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: So, that would be a no?
JOHNSON: No. Listen, I'm willing to do it, but the other side has got to come and put a plan on the table. They should pass a budget. You know if the Senate passed a budget, then it would go to conference and then there would be an opportunity to compromise and hammer a deal out so that the financial markets would take a look at America and go, hey, they're finally serious about this.
But until the Senate Democrats pass a budget and Carol, they have enough votes in committee, they have enough votes to pass a budget. They should do that.
You should be asking Senator Harry Reid why doesn't he pass a budget. They've got 53 Senators, they only needed 51 votes. They got to first compromise with themselves to come up with a plan to put on the table so the American people see what their plan is to stabilize the debt and deficit.
COSTELLO: I understand. Senator Johnson thank you so much for being with us this morning. We appreciate it.
JOHNSON: I enjoyed it. Have a good day.
COSTELLO: You too.
This morning, the Postal Service is going to announce new plans to keep hundreds of rural post offices open. Alison Kosik will have a look at whether these plans will be enough to save them.
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COSTELLO: The U.S. Postal Service has said it needs to close thousands of post offices to save money but today, it is changing its tune. Alison Kosik is at the New York Stock Exchange. So, where do you find the money?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh yes that's the question, where is the money. But the Postal Service Carol is telling us it's got a few ideas of its sleeve on how to keep some of these small rural post offices open. Now reports say what they may look to do is cut the number of hours that employees at post offices work and how long these rural post offices would actually stay open during the day.
There's going to be a news conference in about five minutes. We'll get more information then.
But you know you look at what's been happening there. Last year, the USPS announced plans to close almost 4,000 of these post offices to save money. I'm talking about these rural post offices.
But you know what for lawmakers, it's not the most popular strategy especially right especially as they head into elections. Critics say you know what closing post offices it would delay mail and hurt these small businesses, not to mention the people in these small towns they have to go really, really far to find another post office. At this point, the USPS appears to be responding to that backlash with some new ideas -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Yes, I'm just like trying to wrap my mind around it. If the post office is losing all of this money, how can it find money to keep these rural post offices open?
KOSIK: Yes and that's the $64,000 question, isn't it? An analyst who look at these issues say you know what these cuts they need to be made somewhere. Congress really needs to make some hard decisions, but it's only delaying the inevitable because if only these small cutbacks are made, the Postal Service is going to need to borrow even more money down the road.
Already, it's borrowed $12 billion from the government. Now the USPS says it wants to end Saturday service, it's looking to lay off workers and close more post offices. But the thing is with the post office, you know we love to hate it, right? But it's caught between a rock and a hard place. It really has to make these cuts, but it has to go through Congress first.
So you know, you look at the post office, Carol, it can't run like any other business because it's tied up in politics. It needs the ok from Congress first and that's really what seems to be holding it back -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Alison Kosik, live at the New York Stock Exchange.
We're following a lot of developments in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM. Let's check in with Poppy Harlow.
POPPY HARLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. Fun story for you this morning. Did you know that now nearly 40 percent of working wives are making more money than their husband? This is the new trend that we're seeing increase in particular because of the recession. We're going to talk about what could be the richer sex coming up in the next hour.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Elizabeth Cohen in Atlanta. A drug that's used to treat HIV seems to work to some extent to prevent HIV. The FDA will be looking at this pill and I'll have that later in the hour.
COSTELLO: And is Ron Paul staying in the presidential race all the way to the Republican convention and will he get a prime time speaking spot. And if he doesn't, will there be a convention showdown?
I'll ask Ron Paul those questions. He'll be here in 20 minutes.
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COSTELLO: What can you say about Josh Hamilton? Oh, the Texas Ranger slugger didn't take batting practice before last night's game with the Orioles because he didn't need it. Hamilton hit -- bam, that's just one of four homeruns against the Os. He becomes the 16th player in Major League history to do that.
Hamilton also hit a double. That's 18 total bases for the game, an American League record. Afterwards, Hamilton said it reminds you when you were in Little League and a little kid and just the excitement in (inaudible) the game. Rangers win 10-3.
Four NBA teams had a chance to close out their first round playoff series last night; only Indiana did. The Pacers out-scored Orlando by 20 points in the 4th quarter. They go on to beat the Magic, 105-87. It's Indiana's first playoff series win since 2005. Pacers advance to play Miami or New York in the second round.
And a Padre's fan did not bring his glove to the game, so he used what was in his hand. A beer cup to catch a ball. Great grab. He goes, interesting and then he celebrated by chugging the beer with the ball still in the cup.
The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.
