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Romney Gets Delegates; Trump, Romney's Birther Buddy; Ending the Bloodshed in Syria; Apple CEO Wants Phone "Made in the USA; Pakistan Under Pressure for Jailing Doctor; Hispanic Voters: It's the Economy; Mexican Cartels Target Pepsi Subsidiary; Spurs Humble Thunder
Aired May 30, 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: Hi, Soledad. Happening now in the NEWSROOM.
Mitt's money. With the nomination clinched, the GOP's man for president wrapping himself in big business for big dollars. Romney this morning going for the green and reaching for Wall Street's deep pockets. But it's Donald Trump who's stealing the show.
Wow. Hailstorm. Wild weather from the Carolina coasts to the Midwest. Oklahoma ground zero for severe weather today as the southeast is still getting soaked from Beryl.
Made in the USA. Look at your iPhone. Turn it over. It says "Designed in California, Assembled in China." The head of Apple wants to change that but how realistic is it?
Mary J. Blige. Her women's charity, anything but "Just Fine" this morning. Hit with two lawsuits, a $250,000 loan allegedly way past due and claims that performers at her charity event were never paid. This morning Mary J. responds.
And no goats allowed. Wrigley the goat staying outside of Wrigley Field. The curse of the Cubs striking again.
NEWSROOM begins right now.
And good morning to you. I'm Carol Costello. Thanks for being with us.
Texas voters put Mitt Romney over the top and delegates he has clinched the nomination and now the GOP's man for president is going for the green and reaching into Wall Street's deep pockets. In Las Vegas thanks to Donald Trump, Romney met with, as the locals him, cajillionaire Sheldon Adelson. He's the casino magnate who drops $16.5 million to help his buddy Newt Gingrich become president.
And later today Romney will attend a fundraiser in San Francisco at the historic Carolands Chateau. A 65,000 square foot estate. Not too shabby. The "San Francisco Chronicles" says tickets are running as high as $50,000. The event co-chaired by billionaire Meg Whitman, Romney's former employee at Bain Capital and now CEO of Hewlett- Packard.
Romney did talk about jobs and the economy as he clinched last night. But his remarks were trumped by Trump and his birther platform. Still Newt Gingrich, once Romney's political rival, insisted the governor is unfazed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Governor Romney is not distracted. And the Republican Party is not distracted. We believe that this is an American born, job-killing president. Other people may believe that he born somewhere else. Still kills jobs. It doesn't argue over background. The key fact is for any American who's worried about the economy, Obama is a job-killing president. I'm happy to say I believe he was born in Hawaii. It doesn't change the fact he's killing jobs and therefore I think that'll be the central issue of the campaign.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: But today the media is buzzing about Trump versus Wolf Blitzer. And Blitzer's epic smackdown.
Here's Jim Acosta.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM ACOSTA, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mitt Romney is once again letting it ride on Donald Trump. The real estate tycoon is still voicing his doubts about whether President Obama was actually born in the U.S.
WOLF BLITZER, ANCHOR, THE SITUATION ROOM: If the state of Hawaii says this is official, he was born in Hawaii on this date, here it is, why do you deny that?
DONALD TRUMP, REAL ESTATE MOGUL: A lot of people do not think it was an authentic certificate. He doesn't have a birth certificate. Now he may have one --
ACOSTA: Trump's fixation on the president's birth certificate has made its way into an Obama campaign Web video, notes how John McCain smashed down a conspiracy theorist four years ago.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's an Arab.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: No, ma'am. No, ma'am. He's a decent family man.
ACOSTA: In response, Trump tweeted the president is practically begging Romney to disavow the place of the birth movement. He is afraid of it and for good reason. He keeps using McCain as an example. However, McCain lost the election.
Instead the Obama campaign is enjoying what one aide calls craziness. A full year after the president released his long-form birth certificate (INAUDIBLE) at a press dinner in Washington.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: No one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than the Donald. And that's because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter. Like did we fake the moon landing?
ACOSTA: Asked about Trump's comments, Romney seemed to say that Donald's financial support was a calculated risk that was worth taking.
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You know, I don't agree with all the people who support me. They don't all agree with everything I believe in. But I need to get 50.1 percent or more. And I'm appreciative to have the help of a lot of good people.
ACOSTA: But his campaign later released a statement saying the GOP contender believes President Obama was born in the U.S. The Democrats can talk about Trump, Mitt Romney is going to talk about jobs. A message Romney carried with him to Colorado where he accused the president of crushing the coal industry with regulations.
ROMNEY: Government sees small business and big business as the enemy. We're not the enemy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Obama is giving taxpayer money to big donors. And then watching them lose it.
ACOSTA: The Romney campaign also released a Web video, slamming the president's controversial energy jobs program that gave loans to companies that went belly up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You've heard of Solyndra.
ACOSTA: The question is whether all of that was overshadowed by Trump who has a history of shooting from the lip, as he did on the issue of China in Las Vegas just last year.
TRUMP: Listen, you mother (EXPLETIVE DELETED). We're going to tax you 25 percent.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: But Trump or no Trump, Romney did clinch the nomination and it is clear Trump will continue to campaign for Governor Romney.
A tipping point. That's how international envoy Kofi Annan describes the crisis in Syria where new violence erupted today and the opposition says at least 13 more bodies have been found. It follows a weekend massacre in the city of Houla where more than 100 people were killed, many of them children. One of the survivors of that massacre, an 11-year-old boy, spoke to CNN about the horror he witnessed first hand.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They were talking to my mom. I'm not sure what happened, but they shot her five times. They shot her in the head. Then he turned and shot my sister, Rasha, in the head. Then he shot my brother, Nader, in the neck and the back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The United Nations is blaming the majority of the Houla deaths on a group of armed men who are loyal to Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, saying the militia went house to house to carry out executions.
Also this morning international outrage is growing, Turkey is joining 11 other nations including the United States in expelling Syrian diplomats in response to the killings, but not everyone in the United -- but not everyone is united in the opposition.
China and Russia continue to resist calls for military intervention. This despite a Reuters report saying a ship loaded with weapons was scheduled to arrive in Syria last weekend sent from none other than Russia.
Vladimir Putin is Bashar al-Assad's arms dealer. Take a look at this. Assad bought nearly $5 billion in weapons in just four years or 10 percent of all Russian arms exports in the past decade.
So now the question is, what can be done to end Syria's 15-month of violence. And which country will be the one to lead the effort.
Joining me now is CNN contributor and retired U.S. Army General James "Spider" Marks.
Good morning, General.
GEN. JAMES "SPIDER" MARKS, U.S. ARMY (RET.): Hi, Carol. Good morning.
COSTELLO: Good morning. So some U.S. lawmakers said the United States should take the lead and involve itself militarily. Why is Syria different than, let's say, Libya?
MARKS: Well, the challenge primarily is Syria certainly has got a greater population. It's a smaller piece of geography with a larger population, therefore it's a heck of a lot more urbanized and it becomes a very entangled and a very tough target to go against. Unlike Libya that had pockets of resistance that were pretty spread out and there seemed to be at some point a unified opposition against Gadhafi. That's not the case in Syria.
So that answers the question in terms of the difference between those two. In other words, it's a tougher nut to crack, it's a harder problem and it would entangle us greatly. However, that doesn't mean something shouldn't be done.
COSTELLO: OK. When you say something shouldn't be done, what is that something that should be done? MARKS: Well, clearly, what has to happen is the United -- let's take it from the top and then work our way down. United States is going to lose in this particular confrontation if Russia brokers the deal to try to get Assad to step aside. Russia then is the peacemaker, Russia owns the cards, they now have caused this great conflagration in Syria to go away.
They're -- they now have increased their stature relative to the United States. Especially in an election year. This administration knows that very, very well and it becomes a very thin line for the administration to walk. Does it allow this administration to make moves now knowing that the risks are pretty high, the targets a lot tougher, but can they allow Russia to take a lead position in this particular instance?
COSTELLO: Well, there are political issues to consider, too.
MARKS: Well, there always are.
COSTELLO: I think most -- I know. Most of the American public, they're just not interested in America taking on another military intervention anywhere in the world, so that really puts the Obama administration in a tough place, doesn't it?
MARKS: Well, it does, Carol. But let's look at it from this perspective. Clearly let's move our focus a little bit to the east and let's look at Iran for a second. Iran holds sway in the Lavant, in this area of the Mideast through Syria. If Assad goes away, Iran becomes increasingly isolated, which is clearly an objective of this administration. So the conundrum is, how do you achieve that instate without getting involved in Syria and trying to accelerate? What's the accelerant for Assad to go away?
COSTELLO: General Spider Marks, thanks for joining us this morning.
MARKS: Thanks, Carol.
COSTELLO: You're welcome.
The jury in the Edwards' corruption trial will go at it for an eighth day. The judge caused a stir in the courtroom yesterday when she announced, and I quote, "The jury has sent a note that they've reached a good stopping point." She meant it as a joke. Earlier she reminded jurors not to talk about the trial in small groups or outside the jury room.
Edwards is accused of using campaign money to conceal his affair with Rielle Hunter. We'll have a live update for you at 10:00 Eastern Time. That's in about 50 minutes.
Reports of a tornado have not been substantiated in Oklahoma City but we do know the north side of the city was violently pelted with hail last night. Some of the hail was more than four inches thick.
Our affiliate KOCO, KOCO, reports the storm damaged several homes, left 63,000 people without power and flooded several roads.
And the pilot of a small plane had to make an emergency landing after his plane's propeller fell off. Here it is on a man's roof in Nantucket, California. That's about 75 miles east of San Francisco. The pilot landed the plane in a field. He's OK. The homeowner told affiliate KXTV he wants to trade the propeller for a new roof.
One day there may be an iPhone or an iPad manufactured within the United States and not in China. At least that's what Apple CEO Tim Cook says he'd like to see but that might not be so easy to do.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Will there be an Apple product ever made again in the United States?
TIM COOK, CEO, APPLE: I want there to be.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: So will it ever say on the back of an Apple product designed in California, assembled in the United States?
COOK: It may. It may. And even though it doesn't say that today, you could put down there several parts are from the United States.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Alison Kosik is at the New York Stock Exchange.
So will we ever see a day in the near future that iPhones and iPads are made and assembled here in the good old USA?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, the first step is discussion and you saw that just happening there. You know Apple was sort of making some buzz worthy comments through obviously Apple CEO Tim Cook. He was at this conference called All Things Digital" yesterday. He said that he helped -- that one day you'll see an Apple product that actually manufactured here in the U.S.
Now of course the company has faced a ton of criticism about its plants in China and the working conditions there especially those operated by Apple supplier Foxconn. Now Cook did point out that certain components like chips and glass for the iPhone and the iPad they are made right here in America but the problem is it's much more expensive to hire U.S. workers here and there is also this sense that we're not so up to speed in certain areas with critics saying the U.S. really doesn't have a strong electronics manufacturing hub. Now cook also spent a lot of time at this conference talking about former CEO Steve Jobs who died in October. Specifically he talked about how important it is to keep forging ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COOK: At some point late last year or I sort of somebody kind of shook me and said, it's time to get on, and so that sadness was replaced by this intense determination to continue the journey. And that's where it is today. So what did I learn from him? I learned we could be here all night and probably all week and maybe a month. I learned that focus is key.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: And Cook went on to say that in his final days jobs told him to do just what's right and don't worry about what he would have done. I'm thinking easier said than done, right, Carol?
COSTELLO: That's for sure. Alison kosik at the New York stock exchange.
The first lady, Michelle Obama, appeared on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" to talk about her new cookbook but instead she was grilled about recent reports detailing President Obama's pot smoking habits in high school.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JON STEWART, HOST, "DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART": We're reading all these stories now about your husband as in high school and in college and when you met him --
MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY: What was he doing?
STEWART: What was he -- because -- you just, like, was that description of a Cheech and Chong movie? What the hell is going on? But then when you met him did you put the Kibosh or had you already liked sown those and was done?
OBAMA: Yes. By the time he was in college, you know, like so many young people, he, you know, realized that, you know, he could do more with his life. You know -- you know he had a mother that was always saying you're so gifted. You're so talented. Slapping him in the back of the head and get yourself together.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: During the campaign for president, Mr. Obama admitted to smoking pot and inhaling because that was the point.
Still ahead, Doritos, Cheetos, Ruffles and Fritos, under attack by the Mexican drug cartel while U.S.'s own potato chips and being firebombed by masked men.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Eighteen minutes past the hour. Checking our top stories now.
Mitt Romney now has enough delegates to become the Republican nominee for president. Last night, he won the Texas primary, put him over the top -- still not official, though, until the Republican National Convention set for late August in Tampa, Florida. He'll be the first Mormon to become a presidential nominee for a major party.
We're waiting to see if any big news comes out of a pre-trial hearing for Jerry Sandusky today. Last night, the former Penn State assistant coach met with the judge behind close doors. He is not expected in court today. Sandusky is charged with sexually abusing at least 10 boys over a 14-year period. Some of the alleged victims are asking the judge to their identity secret.
This morning, one of the most notorious warlords in the world was sentence to 50 years behind bars. The judge said Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia benefited from a steady flow of blood diamonds in returns for supporting a rebel group in Sierra Leone. Those rebels slaughtered thousands of people, rape woman and enslave children.
A Pakistani doctor's decision to help the CIA track Osama bin Laden lands him in jail for 33 years. And that sentence could cause Pakistan a lot of money. One U.S. senator is now calling for an end to all foreign aid to that country, unless the doctor is released.
In a statement, Senator Rand Paul says, quote, "Pakistan must understand they are choosing the wrong side. The doctor was simply helping the United States capture the head of al Qaeda. Surely is not linking their interest with those of an international terrorist organization," end quote.
Our Reza Sayah joins us now from Islamabad.
Reza, the doctor's family is also pleading with the Obama administration for help. You talked to this doctor's brother on the phone. What did he tell you?
REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, he's worried. He hasn't seen his brother for more than a year now ever since he was taken into custody by authorities here. And he's calling on Washington to help him get out.
When you look at this situation and U.S.-Pakistan relations, it seems to have all the symptoms of a bad marriage, when even the smallest problems all of a sudden escalate, they make headlines, and they become very difficult to solve. And it seems to be one of them.
Again, this is about Dr. Shakil Afridi, the man who helped the CIA in a search for bin Laden. Washington says he's a good guy. Pakistan says he's spy for the U.S. and he's part of the operation that violated Pakistan's sovereignty. He's now sitting in jail, sentenced to 33 years in prison. We spoke to his brother today and he said, Washington needs to do whatever it can to get him out.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JAMIL AFRIDI, BROTHER OF SHAKIL AFRIDI (through translator): Obviously, we're all worried about him. His kids are worried. Our brother has been in jail for more than a year now. There's no one who can tell us anything about him. We can't see him. We don't know how he's doing.
These allegations are false. They're baseless. My brother didn't do anything against Pakistan. If he helped the U.S., it was for the benefit of Pakistan. The American government should help us any way it can.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
SAYAH: That was Jamil Afridi, the brother of Dr. Shakil Afridi.
Now, contrary to earlier reports that said Dr. Afridi was tortured in prison, his brother told us he's not sure if he was tortured. And he also told us that Dr. Afridi had a U.S. visa before the raid on the bin Laden compound. But he doesn't know why he didn't leave for the U.S., Carol.
COSTELLO: Reza Sayah, live in Pakistan this morning.
Facebook shares are tanking and it's so bad it's knocking Mark Zuckerberg off the top 40 richest people list.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Now is your chance to talk back on one of the big stories of the day. The question for you this morning: should the U.S. get militarily involved in Syria? It can get much worse. Forty- nine kids, some of them babies, executed allegedly by Syrians loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. Some U.S. lawmakers are calling it the tipping point, a call to action for the United States.
As Republican Senator Lindsey Graham tells "The New York Times," quote, "Maybe the kids will make the difference. We live in a visual world. When you see the slaughter of children, it reminds us of who we are."
Mitt Romney seems to be urging some kind of U.S. military involvement, too, calling President Obama's Syrian strategy a policy of paralysis. Romney suggests arming the rebels. But the Obama administration says, we don't know who the rebels are.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The concern is that further militarization of the situation in Syria could lead to greater chaos, could lead -- could make it harder to achieve the political transition that the Syrian people deserve.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Some Republicans also worry about arming the rebels, saying al Qaeda could be a part of the so-called opposition.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. MIKE ROGERS (R), MICHIGAN: I'm not sure arming is the right answer here, mainly because of just not exactly sure who the bad guys are and who the good guys are right now in Syria. So, you don't know who you're giving weapons to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Rogers says although the United Nations' plan appears to be dead in the water, there's still room for American diplomacy. For one thing, step up pressure on Russia to stop supporting the al- Assad regime and work more aggressively with our Arab League partners.
Talk back question for you today: Should the U.S. get militarily involved in Syria?
Facebook.com/CarolCNN, I'll read your comments later this hour.
U.S. presidents have to be natural-born U.S. citizens and at least 35 years old. But unless one voter thinks the Constitution should add another requirement -- business experience. That story is ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Thirty minutes past the hour. Good morning to you. I'm Carol Costello.
Stories we're watching right now in the NEWSROOM:
Opening bell in Wall Street. Investors are headed for a tough day today as investors are investors are worried about Europe's death, specifically the Spanish banking system which is again shaking confidence.
Facebook shares are worth less than ever this morning. They slipped 0.2 percent in pre-market trading. Shares are now under 29 bucks, started at $38 a share on the 18th when it debuted on the NASDAQ. That means the stock has dropped 25 percent since then.
The Obama administration grants waivers for eight more states to opt-out of the No Child Left Behind law. It's a growing trend. More states have applied for waivers and must show they have high standards for education. Earlier this year, 11 states, seen here in orange, received waivers. Federal lawmakers say this is a temporary solution while they tried to rework the law.
It's time for an American civics class flash back. If you want to be president -- you have to be a natural born citizen, right? If you have to be at least 35 years old. Remember that? That's in the Constitution.
But Mitt Romney says one voter suggested another requirement, one that just so happens to be right smack in his wheel house.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROMNEY: I as speaking with one of these business owners who owns a couple of restaurants in town. And he said, you know, I like to change the Constitution. I'm not sure I can do it, he said. But I'd like to have provision in the Constitution that in addition to the age of the president and the citizenship of the president and the birthplace of the president being set by the Constitution, I'd like it also to say that the president has to spend at least three years working in business before he can become president of the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Of course, that story plays right into Romney's argument that his career in business makes him better qualified to handle the economy.
Jobs and the economy have trumped traditional issues for Hispanic voters in 2012. Many seem to care less about immigration and social issues and more about making ends meet. Even so, recent NBC/"Wall Street Journal" poll suggests Mr. Obama can count on Hispanics in November, 61 percent picked him over Romney.
CNN's John Zarrella is in Miami this morning. He's been talking to Latino voters in the state that every candidate craves.
And, John, that would be Florida.
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Carol. And, you know, this is Miami's Domino Park. Over the years -- in Little Havana -- over the years, it became famous as a place where Cuban-Americans gathered to play dominoes and to talk politics
Thirteen percent of registered voters in Florida are Hispanics. It is a critical, significant voting bloc come November.
But who they're going to vote for is not necessarily a given.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ZARRELLA (voice-over): Patrick Monteiga enjoys a good cigar and a game of darts at his favorite hangout in Tampa. But Monteiga, the publisher of a small weekly newspaper, is not your traditional Cuban- American. He's a Democrat, not a Republican.
Monteiga says the issue that will decide how many Hispanics in Florida will vote is not what you might think.
PATRICK MONTEIGA, LA GRACETA PUBLISHER: Immigration at the end of the day doesn't affect many voting Hispanics. Schools affect them. Social Security affects them. Medicaid. Medicare. All of these other issues affect them. Jobs, jobs.
ZARRELLA: Experts say stereotyping Florida's nearly 1.5 million registered Hispanic voters as focused on only hot button issues like gay marriage, communist Cuba or immigration is just flat wrong.
Ruben Perez says there's no question about it.
RUBEN PEREZ, YAYA'S CUBAN CAFE & BAKERY: Do it in small batches, you receive a product roasted every week fresh.
ZARRELLA: Perez owns a restaurant, food stands and small coffee roasting business in Orlando. He hears and overhears a lot.
PEREZ: It boils down to the economy. Getting people to work.
ZARRELLA: And getting them out to vote.
The Interstate 4 corridor between Tampa, Orlando and Daytona Beach is split nearly 50-50 Republican and Democrat. With a large voting bloc of Cuban Americans in Tampa and Puerto Ricans in Orlando.
Perez himself is 50-50, half Cuban and have Puerto Rican.
PEREZ: It's amazing. They got a strong opinion but you ask them, I am tired of it. I don't think my business -- so whatever political party can get those particular folks out to vote probably can win or lose.
ZARRELLA: That may come down to which candidate does a better job at courtship.
SUSAN MCMANUS, POLITICAL SCIENTISTS, UNIV. OF SOUTH FLORIDA: The issues are clearly economic like they are for everyone else. But Hispanic really like to be appealed to. They love for candidates to come to their fiestas, to events at their churches and to speak a few words in Spanish, but not look fake about it.
ZARRELLA: Sure, there are specific issues that will sway some.
Cuban-American Wal Hernandez says one such issue was Obama's administration granting Raul Castro's daughter permission to attend a conference in San Francisco.
WAL HERNANDEZ, CUBAN EXILE: I don't like Obama before and now, worse.
ZARRELLA: Experts say some hot button issue could gain enough traction between now and November to turn Florida's Hispanic vote one way or the other. Absent that, it will be as Patrick Monteiga says, jobs, jobs, jobs.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ZARRELLA: Now, in Miami's Little Havana, of course, the Cuban American community very likely to vote heavily for the Republicans in the general election.
But others are saying that not so fast. You know, whether it's Mitt Romney or whether it's Obama, they may wait until just before the November election to make up their minds -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Not so unusual for any kind of voter. John Zarrella reporting live from Miami this morning.
The singer Mary J. Blige thinks no more drama. Oh, but her charity is dealing with plenty of legal drama. She is now responding.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Music world loses a folk hero. Grammy award winner Doc Watson has died from complications following colon surgery. Watson who was blinded by an infection after birth was known for his flatpicking and finger style technique on the acoustic guitar. He vowed to stop playing after his son died in farming accident in 1985. But Watson told "Acoustic Musician" magazine he had a dream the night before the funeral where his son told him to keep going. Watson was 89.
Mary J. Blige's charity is hit with two -- count them -- two lawsuits. And now, the Grammy Award winner is responding. "Showbiz Tonight's" A.J. Hammer joins me to talk about her legal drama and what she has to say about it. Hi, A.J.
A.J. HAMMER, HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Hey, Carol. Yes, on the surface, it looks like another well-intentioned celebrity charity that was mismanaged. "The New York Post" broke the story and they are reporting the Blige's charity, FFAWN, failed to file its federal tax returns for 2010 and has been sued by musicians who are claiming the group stiffed them after 2011 fund-raising gala. They reportedly are suing for more than $100,000.
"Showbiz Tonight" can confirm there's also this second lawsuit from TD Bank which accuses the charity of defaulting on a $250,000 loan.
Now, FFAWN, which stands for Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now doesn't just have Blige's name attached to it, Carol. Their Web site list fashion designer Catherine Malandrino and Sean Carter, who first well know as Jay-Z as board members. Jada Pinkett Smith also reportedly served on the board of directors in 2009.
It's a pretty messy situation.
COSTELLO: So, what's Mary J. Blige saying about this?
HAMMER: Well, she's doing the right thing. She issued a statement to "Showbiz Tonight" saying she's trying to get to the bottom of what's happening and she is acknowledging that ultimately she's responsible for whatever has gone wrong. She says that she had the wrong people working for her and now they're trying to fix it.
Adding this, "FFAWN is not closing down. FFAWN is working as quickly as possible with a new team of experts that includes a philanthropic consulting firm, a none profit law firm and a forensic accountant. Their goal is to get the foundation back on track, rectify outstanding issues and make good on all of FFAWN's obligations."
So, it's good she's stepping up, obviously doing the right thing here, Carol.
COSTELLO: A.J., thanks. A.J. will be back with us next hour with more showbiz headlines, including this -- a letter from Michael Jackson to his ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley, the unsettling message it contains and whether it will be sold at auction.
And they are some of the best name brand snacks. But now, Cheetos and Doritos are front and center in the Mexican drug war. We'll tell you why.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENIFIED FEMALE: In seasons to come, they are first and foremost her people and so wherever she goes, they follow. At the same time, yes, as she's traveling through many different lands, there are other languages that she comes across.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have other languages coming up on the show that are Dothraki but also need to be invented and we are hoping that David will do those for us as well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Personally, I would love to create projects for TV shows, for movies. I mean, that's kind of the dream of everybody who sits down to create a language.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Forty-five minutes past the hour. Checking our "Top Stories".
Mitt Romney now has enough delegates to become the Republican nominee for president. Last night he won the Texas primary; that put him over the top. Still not official though until the Republican National Convention. That's set for late August in Tampa. Romney will be the first Mormon to become a presidential nominee for a major party.
Police are conducting an arson investigation at Washington State University. There was more water damage from the sprinklers than fire damage at McCoy Hall. Investigators believe the suspect smashed a window to break into the building and then set the fire. This is the third suspicious fire on campus in a week.
And it is the eighth day of jury deliberations in the John Edwards' corruption trial. The judge caused quite a stir in the courtroom yesterday when she announced the jury had send a note that they reached a good stopping point. She was just joking. Earlier she reminded jurors not to talk about the trial in small groups or outside the jury room. Edwards is accused of using campaign money to conceal his affair with Rielle Hunter.
We'll have a live update for you in about 11 minutes.
Mexican drug cartels are turning their attention to a rather unlikely but well known U.S. brand, Cheetos.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not easy being cheesy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cheetos (inaudible) snacks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Yes you remember him the face of Cheetos. And now Cheetos along with other American-made products made by Sabritas a subsidiary of PepsiCo are caught up in the violence in Mexico as cartels target big American companies.
Rafael Romo joins me now to explain. Thanks for being here, Raphael. So -- so why are these cartels targeting American companies?
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN SENIOR LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR: There is no indication yet that they are targeting this company because it is American or that they have a beef with PepsiCo. In -- in Mexico it is Sabritas, is the brand name that people know so there -- there is no indication that they are making that connection yet.
However, it is a huge company in Mexico. It dominates the market. And it's certainly something of concern not only for the government but for the business sector that organized crime can launch this kind of an attack. We're talking about five distribution centers in two Mexican states in southern Mexico. The states of Guanajuato and Michoacan.
Now four suspects have been arrested already and they say they belong to a cartel known as Knights Templar. President Calderon in a conference in Cancun said that he is very concerned about this. And he spoke about how this is not only a threat to security but also to the business -- to the economy in Mexico.
COSTELLO: So -- so why would drug cartels target these -- these big companies? Like what's the goal?
ROMO: Officially what the government is saying is that it's another attempt to extort businesses. This has happened in Mexico for the last five years if not more. Normally it happens with small businesses and not with this kind of international company but it's happened before.
What is new is Sabritas, officially it could be extortion but the Mexican media are reporting that also it may be because Mexican security forces use delivery trucks similar to the ones used by Sabritas to transport secretly personnel and weapons to the areas in which they are launching operations against organized crime.
COSTELLO: Wow. Rafael Romo thanks so much.
ROMO: Thank you.
Don't forget your chance to "Talk Back" at a big story of the day. The question for you this morning. "Should the U.S. get militarily involved in Syria?" Facebook.com/CarolCNN.
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COSTELLO: We asked you to "Talk Back" on one of the big stories of the day. The question for you this morning, "Should the United States get militarily involved in Syria?"
This from Joshua, "Stay out of Syria for now. We just came out of the longest war in Iraq. As a Canadian, I'm begging you America to stay out of this war."
This from Stephen, "No, not directly. Unfortunately the President seems to be playing softball with the Russians. If the Russians could be made to understand this is no disco, then some resolution will follow."
This from Bryce, "No, no. A thousand times, no."
This from James, "It is a tragedy, yes. But do we really have to jump into action every time there is a tragedy, when we our own issues to take care of?"
And this from Kassandra, "We are all humans that value our own lives. Shouldn't we value the lives of others? But I also believe other U.N. member states should join in and make this a collective effort to free the people of Syria."
Keep the conversation going, Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll read more of your comments in the next hour of the NEWSROOM.
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COSTELLO: Yes, Jeff Fischel is back today.
JEFF FISCHEL, HLN SPORTS: I'm back.
COSTELLO: So happy to see you.
FISCHEL: Thank you. Thank you.
COSTELLO: We're going to talk about the Spurs, the seemingly unbeatable team.
FISCHEL: Yes. The question is, can anyone beat them and the answer is, Carol, no. Absolutely not.
COSTELLO: No.
FISCHEL: Going back to the regular season, they've now won 20 in a row. That includes last night in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder had the flashy, young stars everybody loves to watch. The Spurs are old and rickety, but they are efficient and deadly.
Look at Tony Parker, the sweet spin move. Sacre bleu -- 34 points for the Frenchman. Tim Duncan, who was in the NBA with some of these young Thunders stars were still in elementary school, took the kids to school. Over shot block (inaudible); the Spurs win 121-111. They're just two wins away from the NBA finals.
All right. Let's do some baseball. The Yankees Nick Swisher thinks he has hit one out of the park, but the Angels 20-year-old outfield Mike Trout steals it. Great catch. Crashing into the wall. He wasn't sure he had the ball, but sure enough, in the glove.
Angels' slugger Albert Pujols, I think he's shaken off that early season slump. Yes, indeed. Another home run. He's crushing the ball in May. That's off Andy Pettitte. The Angels beat the Yankees, 5-1. The Angels have won eight in a row.
Cincinnati Reds' Todd Frazier is getting a reputation for Superman. Remember on Sunday he's the one that hit the home run as the bat was falling out of his hands. Monday night, he was eating at a restaurant and he saved a life.
COSTELLO: No.
FISCHEL: He is superhuman. Frazier went over and gave a guy a Heimlich Maneuver who was choking and saved him. Frazier is still hot at the bat as well. After he did that at lunch, while everyone else was eating hotdogs in the crowd, he slugs in two more hits. This one goes for a triple. And not to be done there third -- crazy throw. Frazier comes all the way around to score. He leads the Reds to the win. Todd Frazier's having a great few days in Major League Baseball.
COSTELLO: I can't believe. He noticed someone choking and just went over and like applied the Heimlich Maneuver?
FISCHEL: He's the man right now. Be in his are -- live in his world right now because he will do something great for you.
All right. Tennis. Huge upset in women's tennis. Serena Williams -- this has never happened before -- she was so upset, she was crying on the court in yesterday's first round of the French Open. She's also upset as in she lost. Her first time ever losing in the first round in a majors. She'd been 46-0.
She goes down to Frenchwoman, Virginie Razzano, the 111th woman in a world who has a great story of her own. She, a year ago, lost her fiance and coach to a brain tumor. Serena goes off the court. And incredible win for Razzano in front of the home crowd. Williams is done at the French.
Finally, ok the Cubs, they wouldn't let Wrigley, the goat, on to the field at Wrigley Field. What happened? Yes, Wrigley was supposed to be allowed on as some five fans took him on a 2,000 mile walk to Wrigley Field and they were supposed to celebrate raising some money for cancer research, but Wrigley wouldn't, the Cubs ownership wouldn't let him on the field. Nonetheless, they did give a check to the Cubs fans for doing such great work. And we're happy to see --
COSTELLO: I know. We have pictures of that, but they didn't come up so we'll show them. There he is -- Wrigley.
FISCHEL: We needed Todd Frazier here to help us with that.
COSTELLO: I know.
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FISCHEL: The Cubs did write them a check for their great work. But there's a picture at least. Of course, this all goes back to 1945, the last time the Cubs made the World Series. There's a long standing tradition that there was a spell put on the Cubs.
COSTELLO: A curse. Right.
FISCHEL: A curse, because of a goat. And so, they tried to remove the hex, but it's been that long. And the Cubs still aren't going to the World Series. I got to tell you. They are a bad team this year.
COSTELLO: Thanks Jeff.
FISCHEL: Ok.
