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Massacre in Syria; Pope's Butler Arrested in Vatican Scandal

Aired May 26, 2012 - 16:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

All right. First a breaking news out of Syria. U.N. observers are confirming reports of a massacre in the town of Poula (ph) and they say the use of force is unforgivable. The video is appalling as well, rows of bodies. A mass funeral for the 92 people killed Friday. The opposition accused the Syrian military of the attack while the government blames criminals and terrorists.

CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom says activists are pleading for help.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MOHAMMED JAMJOOM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, opposition activists we're speaking within Syria today are begging the international community for help for intervention because of what they're calling this massacre that happened yesterday. They say that first the town in Poula in Homs province was shelled by mortars from the Syrian regime and then after that was done, the pro regime militias went into the town and started indiscriminately slaughtering men, women, and children, entire families.

The videos that we've seen today, extremely gruesome. We can't authenticate those videos. But they purport to show the bodies of children and women in sheets. You see horrible images. Children with their heads bashed in. Right now, the U.N. monitoring team that's in Syria is in the town of Hala. They're going there, checking out what happened because of the reports of the massacre that's gone on now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right. That was Mohammed Jamjoom reporting on the violence in Syria.

All right. Egyptian voters may have to wait another month to learn who their next president will be. Two candidates seem likely to face off in a runoff next month. Mohammed Moracy on the left is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. The other Akmed Shafiq served before as prime minister under Hosni Mubarak. It's not an easy choice for Egyptians starved for democracy. Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter is in Cairo where he's leading a delegation of observers. Mr. Carter says it's no surprise that not everyone is happy with the results.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JIMMY CARTER, FMR. U.S. PRESIDENT (ON THE PHONE): Of course, with 13 candidates in the race, obviously, a lot of disappointed people here, but now, both sides are beginning to call in the others, the young people, the Christians and other groups to try to induce their support in the future. So I think both of the potential candidates are moved to the center and trying to consolidate support by asking the people who didn't support them in the past.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Overall, Mr. Carter said the landmark vote to choose Egypt's first freely elected president was in his words, "encouraging."

And now to the Vatican where an embarrassing scandal is coming to light. The man highlighted in video you're about to see is one of few with close daily access to Pope Benedict. He's now under arrest, accused of leaking confidential Vatican papers to a journalist. The man is identified as the Pope's butler. The leaked information appears in a new book that's now Italy's number one best seller.

And back here in the U.S., a wild start to the Memorial Day weekend for some residents in Kansas. Here's what some storm chasers caught on camera.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm still here. Is it working?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: At least five tornadoes ripped through parts of the state. The most significant damage was in the town of Lacrosse and part of Highway 193 near the town had to be closed. No serious injuries or fatalities were reported. That's the good news. So from tornadoes to a tropical storm, let's get to the weekend's bigger weather picture. There's a big storm sitting right up the east coast of the U.S. and it's got a name. It's called Barrell. And Jacqui Jeras is all over it before it gets all over the east coast.

JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I know. The thing is about 200 miles plus offshore from Charleston at this time, and all of the impacts but one from the storm are offshore. So it looks like it's a beautiful day, but check out this tower cam that we have out of Jacksonville, Florida right now. There you can see it looks great. The skies are blue. People are on the beach, but I don't see anybody in the water.

Hopefully it stays that way too because there's a threat of rip currents. It's a very high threat and beaches should be closed today because of that, even an Olympic swimmer can't get out of one of these things. There have been at least 20 people rescued off the Georgia coast because of it today, the threat really extends from Barrel, everywhere from the South Carolina coast down through the northern Florida coast at least. So pay attention to those flags today. Now we're going to watch it get a little closer throughout the weekend. It's basically stalled out now, but it's going to pick up a little forward steam, not really going to pick up anything in intensity, we don't think, so that's the good news out of this. It's going to bring in some wind impact starting late tonight and into tomorrow, and this is going to stick with us through the holiday weekend. So just go ahead and plan on spending time at the pool if you want to get wet and cool off instead of getting into the ocean.

We will see some heavy rain at times. This is mostly late Sunday into Monday across north Florida. We could see a good three to six inches of rainfall there. We're also watching some rain and thunderstorms across the northeast, severe thunderstorm watch that includes New York City, so be aware of that throughout the rest of your holiday weekend.

WHITFIELD: All right. Good warnings on that. Thanks so much, Jacqui.

All right. A New Jersey woman claims she was wrongfully fired from her job at a lingerie distributor for being too hot. Does she have a case? Our legal guys will be weighing in.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The legal guys are here. Always the highlight of my day. Hello, Richard and Avery. We got some very intriguing cases this week, including that of a woman who says she was fired for being too sexy.

Richard, you first, give me a thought on that.

RICHARD HERMAN: That's a big bust, Fred. That's all I can say about that case.

WHITFIELD: All right, Avery?

AVERY FRIEDMAN: Yes, she claims she was fired for two things. I think we have the answers for you and more coming up.

WHITFIELD: All right. We look forward to that. Back with the legal guys in 90 seconds.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A New Jersey woman claims she was wrongfully fired from her job at a Manhattan lingerie distributor. Lauren Odes said it has nothing to do with her performance. She says it was because of how she looked and what she wore.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAUREN ODES, FIRED FROM HER JOB: When I was first told that I was, "too hot," and that my breasts were too large, I was shocked. I thought that I was dressed appropriately every day for my job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And now she is suing her former bosses for discrimination. Our legal guys are back with this one. Avery Friedman in Cleveland. Richard Herman in Las Vegas.

All right. Gentlemen, Avery, you first, she's alleging that they fired her because she's in her words, "too hot, too sexy." They knew who she was. You know, if it was about her, I guess, image, didn't they assess or think about that when they hired her? What might have changed?

FRIEDMAN: Well, I don't know. Because she was a temp worker. She was there for two days, Fredricka. That was it. And what's very interesting, unless some employees at the lingerie company are going to back her up, I don't know how one proves that. She claims they wanted her to tape her breasts down and minimize her mammaries and be less sexy or something like that. But at the press conference, which was a bit tasteless. I don't know that the lawyer could have gotten closer to the plaintiff than she did.

The bottom line is an intriguing issue or whether or not Lauren Odes was picked on because of her gender and because of religion. She claimed that the bosses were Orthodox people and they were very conservative, but it was a lingerie company. So I think it's - it's pending at the EEOC.

WHITFIELD: Conservative isn't usually the word with lingerie companies, is that what you're saying?

FRIEDMAN: Yes, something, I don't know.

WHITFIELD: So Richard, she says, you know, it can't be about qualifications. She is very qualified. She has a bachelors degree in business administration. As far as she knows she was doing a good job. So what will she need to help prove her case that she was discriminated against because of her image, her body?

HERMAN: Fred, a day and a half she worked. A day and a half. This case is a bust, Fred, come on. You know it is.

WHITFIELD: What do you mean?

HERMAN: It's a bust. She's got to get (INAUDIBLE) in Vegas to fix her up. Listen -

WHITFIELD: She's alleging they asked her to tape down her breasts to make them smaller. Those are her words.

HERMAN: How you get to sexual discrimination and religious discrimination here is beyond me. And the fact that Gloria all wrong is in this case tells you -

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: Have you gotten that phone call from her yet? HERMAN: Relax. It is ridiculous. This case is so stupid and to waste the court's time and anybody's time with this employee, at-will employee, no written agreement, no employment contract, no nothing. Come on. She said my performance was great at work. A day and a half. Come on. They had every right to fire her. They fired her. This case is going nowhere.

FRIEDMAN: That's not true.

WHITFIELD: OK. Avery, what part do you disagree with?

FRIEDMAN: Well, I mean, look, we're assuming facts. I mean if some of the managers and employees back her up when the EEOC does an investigation, it's not in court. It's before the agency, then there may be something there. All right. Look, I think it's unlikely, but you know what, give the young woman a chance. I mean it sounds ridiculous, and yes, there was a tasteless press conference, but it has got nothing to do with the merits. Give her a shot.

WHITFIELD: OK. And we did reach out to the distributor, Native Intimates, and they have no comment on this lawsuit as yet.

All right. Meantime, let's move on to another case that has an awful lot of people talking and thinking about what would I do if I were in their shoes. This is involving a young couple that was planning to walk down the aisle, Steven Silverstein and a young lady by the name Kendra Flatly, were planning - had a lot of plans in place to get married. But then she apparently broke off the engagement and now he's suing her for something in the area of $50,000, Richard, for deposits that were put down, flowers, the venue of the wedding, and for half of the rent. Back rent, he says.

So you know, this is rather unusual. We have heard of definitely a groom or a bride being jilted and being wounded and being upset, but then now we're talking about a lawsuit? I'm suing you for breaking off the engagement? Is this a legitimate suit?

HERMAN: Hell hath no fury, Fred, I guess. I don't know. She said I'm a Cali girl. I'm not a New Yorker. So look, this is the second time around for this couple. On the verge of getting married.

WHITFIELD: Yes, they broke up before.

HERMAN: Deposits - right, deposits for the photographer, videographer, hotel, I mean, come on. She stole $54,000 from their joint account -

WHITFIELD: That's what he said. That's what he alleged. It was a joint account.

HERMAN: And told him I'm done.

WHITFIELD: Are you stealing?

HERMAN: It's going to be easy to prove she took the money. She definitely owes him a return of money whether the rent. FRIEDMAN: It's a joint account.

HERMAN: So what, she can't take all that money out. Based on the rent -

FRIEDMAN: Sure she can.

WHITFIELD: Both their names were on there.

HERMAN: It doesn't matter. Who put the money in? That's what's going to happen here with this people. He probably put it all in there anyway. He's looking for about $20,000 out of the account.

WHITFIELD: Not a presumption. Interesting, OK.

HERMAN: Well look.

FRIEDMAN: All right.

HERMAN: Just because it's a joint account, you can't drain it. Come on.

WHITFIELD: OK.

FRIEDMAN: I don't agree with that.

WHITFIELD: Now, she did have the $32,000 ring that he gave her and she did return it. Her point of view is, wait a minute, I'm giving you everything that you would expect in return for breaking off the engagement and now you're asking me for money. Avery?

FRIEDMAN: That's right. Well, you know what? I don't want to call the plaintiff a sucker, but you know, you're right. You said it. This is the second time around. And yes, he opened up a joint account for whatever reason after she broke up with him the first time. I think that he's just angry. He's a young guy in New York City, and he's going to make her life miserable -

WHITFIELD: He has said this is not about revenge. He has on the record you know said this is not about revenge.

FRIEDMAN: That's what he said. Yes, right. OK.

Yes and she's really going to be able to pay the bill anyhow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And of course, you can catch our legal guys every Saturday, noon Eastern and again encore performance at 4:00 Eastern time and then at 10:00 tonight, Alina Cho, in for Don Lemon will interview Lauren Odes, the woman who said she was fired for being, the words her employer used, too hot.

All right. Colonel Greg Gadson, a veteran of the Iraq war and double amputee made his cinema debut in the movie "Battleship." And there he is. He's going to join us live to talk about his role in the movie and much more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Tomorrow, Dr. Sanjay Gupta is profiling a pioneer in the face of space archaeology on his show, "The Next List." She's using satellite imagery to preserve ancient treasures.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH PARCAK, SPACE ARCHEOLOGIST: I tell my students on day one, a picture is worth a thousand words. A satellite image is worth a million dollars. My name is Sarah Parcak and I am a professor of archaeology. I'm an Egyptologist, and I'm a remote sensing specialist and I'm a space archaeologist. Imagery is powerful. Imagery is provocative. Satellite imagery much more so because it is from space. And it allows us to get this perspective that we wouldn't have otherwise. When you add on top of that the ability to see a little bit differently, all of a sudden you have an amazing scientific tool.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Tune in tomorrow to watch "The Next List" or set your DVR, 2:00 Eastern time.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: From nearly 25 years of U.S. military service to the big screen. War hero Colonel Greg Gadson made his film debut in the movie "Battleship." He has served in four major wars since 1991 and became a double amputee after being hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2007. Well, now he's taking that experience to the big screen in "Battleship," he plays a wounded war veteran.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got this.

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WHITFIELD: He was part of a group of dozens of service members cast by the film's director to show more respect to U.S. servicemen. Gadson, director of the Army Wounded Wars Program speaks for a growing number of soldiers who want to see more service members in the movies. Colonel Gadson joining me now, live from Charlotte. Colonel, congrats to you. Good to see you. Congrats on your role in the film.

COL. GREG GADSON, DIRECTOR, ARMY WOUNDED WARRIOR PROGRAM: Well, thank you, Fredricka, for having me here. Yes, it was quite an opportunity.

WHITFIELD: And of course, we're so grateful to your service. How in the world did these two come together? You know, your experience as a war vet and this opportunity to be in this movie that does showcase real-life war heroes? Such as yourself.

GADSON: Well, you know, Peter Berg is a New York fan, New York Giants fan. He's from New York, and had been aware of my role with the Giants. And then I happened to be part of a small article that the "National Geographic" did in 2010 that was spotlighting and showing the advancement in prosthetics. And my photo was part of that article. And Peter Berg saw that and that's where he got the idea of casting me in the movie.

WHITFIELD: So when they reached out to you and said, "Hey we want you to be in the movie," were you at all reluctant or did you say, "You know, oh I can do this?" Have you ever acted before?

GADSON: I haven't. I hadn't played a tree in a school play, and I actually half-heartedly said yes when he asked me. You know, part of me was, let's just see where this goes. But really didn't believe that I was going to ultimately end up acting. They would eventually find out I couldn't act and have to go in a different direction.

WHITFIELD: But clearly, you did a very good job. You know, this is a blockbuster movie. I mean if you're going to start, why not? Start really big. This is exactly what you did.

GADSON: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Do you think this is going to kind of help open the door, maybe for other vets, to be extended the same kind of opportunities, especially when you talk about movies that, you know, are conveying that veteran experience, that war experience?

GADSON: I hope so. You know, this is - I'm certainly not the first war veteran to play in a movie. And so it's really unique, what's really nice that Hollywood is taking an interest. And I tell you, Pete Berg has really taken a special interest. He really highlights the service of those that are fighting and currently serving as well as those who have served in the past. It's really neat how he's woven the real service of real service members into this movie.

WHITFIELD: So has playing - this whole experience of playing in this movie, the experience of being on set, how has it enhanced, how did it really kind of touch or even turn around your life or even your view of opportunities, especially after what you experienced in Iraq?

GADSON: Well, it's really reaffirmed my belief that, you know, you just have to continue to challenge yourself and push yourself. I mean, for instance, when I was working on set in lovely Hawaii, we were walking some difficult terrain, and I hadn't really ever walked on anything like that, and here I was not only having to walk for the first time on some different terrain but also act, and you know, learn lines and do all those kind of things. So it really didn't give me a chance to - I don't want to say feel sorry for myself, I was just dedicated to trying to do the best job i could. It helped build my confidence even more I think.

WHITFIELD: So playing this character, Mick, did you see any real parallels in his experience, his struggles with physical therapy in the movie and your real-life experiences?

GADSON: Yes, I think that's where a part of me certainly existed in the character of Mick in the movie. You know, there's probably some things that my family would tell you that I don't remember quite as - you know, how time softens some of the harder memories, but I tell you, the emotional and the mental recovery is just much tougher than the physical recovery. They really pale in times. So again, as a man, as a father, as a husband, having to put your life back together again, it's really not easy.

WHITFIELD: We talked to a number of vets over, you know, the course of just the past week in particular, and many of them have different perspectives about what should be done, what should be made available to help them transition, especially after serving time, being in war, and in transitioning back to "normal life," you know, back here at home. And everyone has a different idea about it, but most will say not enough is being extended to them. What's your view on that?

GADSON: Well, I think, you know, honestly, we're all doing our best. There's certainly room for improvement. I mean, it's not all the military can't do it all, the government can't do it all. Our society can't do it all. The public and private, it's all got to be effort in unity. I don't want to put words in any veteran's mouth, but you know, they're just looking for an opportunity, looking for an opportunity to live their dreams and pursue their happiness after serving the country.

And I think it's all of our responsibility as a nation. It's really in my opinion, it's strategic in nature. You know -

WHITFIELD: Colonel Greg Gadson. I'm sorry to cut you off. We're just out of time. Thank you so much for your time. Congratulations on the movie, and of course, we're all very grateful of all that you have done for this country. Thanks so much for your service. Good to see you.

GADSON: Thank you, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. That's going to do it for me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield, "SANJAY GUPTA MD" up next. And the "Newsroom" continues at the top of the hour with Alina Cho in for Don Lemon.

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