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Reports of Syria Moving Chemical Weapons; Search Intensifying for Two Kidnapped Tourists in Egypt; Abuse in Group Home Caught on Tape; "Legal Guys"; Youth Unemployment; CNN Hero Thulani Madondo
Aired July 14, 2012 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right, so just hours after one of the deadliest days in Syria, more violence and more deaths. There was heavy shelling in several places. At least 35 people were killed today. Yesterday more than 200 died.
Opposition activists say regime forces are firing at people from low flying helicopters. Syrian State TV claims at least three civilians and a security officer were killed in a suicide truck bombing. Meanwhile the Syrian opposition wants Kofi Annan removed from his role as special envoy. They say he has failed to broker a peace plan.
And a U.S. official tells CNN Syria is believed to be moving some of its chemical weapons. Why? That remains to be unclear, the answers that is, but the question is causing significant concerns here in the U.S. and abroad.
Here is CNN Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A new worry about how far Bashar al-Assad will go to keep his grip on power. The U.S. now believes the Syrian regime has moved some of its chemical weapons in recent days.
As the fighting continues, U.S. officials will only say the weapons are still under the control of Assad's forces, but a former CIA director says make no mistake, the U.S. is urgently trying to gather all the intelligence it can.
MICHAEL HAYDEN, FORMER CIA DIRECTOR: I would see that ratcheting up because you just want to know. Look, at the end of the day if something untoward is happening you want to have as much time as possible to assess what it is and be able to develop a response.
STARR: The Pentagon won't comment on the story first reported by the Wall Street Journal, but said any use of chemical weapons by Syria would be a red line for the international community. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has already warned Damascus.
HILLARY CLINTON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Given their behavior and the chemical weapons they possess, it is imperative that they understand their international responsibilities. STARR: The U.S. military estimates there are nearly 50 chemical weapon sites throughout the country, Deadly mustard gas and sarin among the holdings. With violence even spreading to Damascus, officials suggest Assad could have taken the risk of moving the weapons to put them in a safer place, but another theory, Assad knows U.S. satellites watch those sites and his communications are intercepted.
(on camera): Is he just taunting the West to show he can freely move his deadly weapons around?
ANDREW TABLER, SENIOR FELLOW, WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY: I'm far more concerned about loss of control over the weapons and what happens when the chaos that seems to be infecting the larger society might touch upon some of these weapon stockpiles.
STARR (voice-over): But would the Syrian leader really use the weapons? In 1988 in Iraq Saddam Hussein did. Thousands of Kurds died in a chemical weapons attack, but that led to years of doubts about whether Iraq maintained a stockpile. This time it's different.
TABLER: They're there. It's not like Iraq where you have to guess at it, OK? We know where they are.
STARR (on camera): If Assad were to use those chemical weapons, the U.S. believes that also would be a red line for Russia and China that they would withdraw their support for the Syrian regime and it could open the door to military intervention.
Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And now video from Northeast India that's gone viral, but I must warn you the images that you're about to see are disturbing.
A young girl attacked and molested by a group of men outside a bar, police have arrested four of the14 suspects. They are charged with molestation, unlawful restraint, vulgar behavior and causing harm. Official records show there has been an increase in crimes against women in particular in India.
And now to Northern Afghanistan where at least 17 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack at a wedding. Forty others have been injured. It seems the target of the attack was a prominent member of the Afghan Parliament. He was killed as he welcomed guests to his daughter's wedding. No one has claimed responsibility so far, but the Taliban is suspected.
All right, back here at home now and now turning to politics, President Obama's campaign has released a new ad today featuring Mitt Romney singing "America the Beautiful." Obama's campaign charges in the ad that Romney either shipped jobs, outsourced or stored portions of his financial portfolio in several other countries.
The ad comes as both President Obama and Mitt Romney on the attack over Bain Capital in particular. And that's the company Romney founded. He says he left back in 1999, but new documents show that he was being paid by Bain for several years after that. The president is demanding answers from his rival and Romney is ripping the president's re-election campaign for what he calls demeaning and disgusting tactics.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think what the president is doing is terribly destructive to the political process and beneath what the people of America expected from someone who said he was going to rise above partisan politics and bring a new era of change to Washington. We're not seeing that in this campaign so far.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My understanding is is that Mr. Romney attested to the SEC multiple times that he was the chairman, CEO and president of Bain Capital. And I think most Americans figure if you're the chairman, CEO and president of a company that you are responsible for what that company does. Ultimately Mr. Romney I think is going to have to answer those questions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: All right. Meantime President Obama is hitting the campaign trail again today in the battleground state of Virginia.
Athena Jones joins us from the White House.
So, Athena, the president won Virginia four years ago. So why is he fighting so hard now to maintain support?
ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, as you remember, Fredricka, Virginia has 13 electoral votes. They are going to be very important to the president's re-election campaign. And yes he did win Virginia back in 2008, but it is by no means a reliably blue state. He was the first Democrat to win the state since Lyndon Johnson back in 1964. So, of course, his campaign is trying to keep Virginia in the blue column. If they can do so, it will be a big help for them going towards his re-election.
They're hoping to do so by making the argument that President Obama will fight for the middle class while Mitt Romney cares more about helping out the wealthy. This is a common theme. We heard this theme back in 2008 when the president was running against then rival John McCain, but specifically today we expect to hear the president again call on Congress to extend the tax cuts for folks making $250,000 a year or less. He wants to see those extended for another year. This is part of his argument that they want to look out for the middle class, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Meantime what about his opponent, Mitt Romney? What's he up to today?
JONES: Well, Mitt Romney is spending the weekend up at his lake house on Lake Winnipesaukee up in Wolfeboro in New Hampshire. He has no public events, but of course we're always keeping an eye on what he is doing as well.
I should tell you that Rick Santorum, who of course is working as a surrogate for the Romney campaign, he was up in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, which is just outside of Pittsburgh, this morning helping open a campaign office for Mitt Romney. So Mitt Romney may be relaxing, but he has got one of his surrogates out on the campaign trail working for him -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, Athena Jones, thanks so much for that update from the White House. Keep us posted. Thanks.
All right, overseas, Americans kidnapped in Egypt. We'll get an update.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The search for two American tourists and their guide intensifies in Egypt. They were kidnapped in the Sinai Peninsula. Officials say the group was taken from a tour bus, all of this taking place just as the U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, is also in Cairo. We're going to be monitoring her remarks that she'll be making there momentarily ahead of the new president-elect, Mohamed Morsi.
Meantime let's bring in Mohamed Fadel Fahmy. He is monitoring all the developments from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on this alleged kidnapping.
So, Mohamed, what can you tell me about these tourists who were taken off a tour bus along with their guide and then kidnapped?
MOHAMED FADEL FAHMY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well the kidnap happened yesterday around 2 p.m. I spoke to the head of security in Sinai and he confirmed that a Bedouin tribe kidnapped two Boston natives, American citizens who were in Sinai for a vacation. One of them is a pastor from Massachusetts and a woman accompanying him.
I've actually spoken to the kidnappers just awhile ago and they confirm that the hostages are unharmed and they are safe, but they also are demanding that the authorities release a relative who is detained on drug charges. And they have vowed to kidnap more tourists if their relative is not released.
WHITFIELD: Now what are the chances of that taking place that kind of negotiating place that those who are being held for drug related charges would actually be released because Americans who were allegedly kidnapped were released?
FAHMY: Well there have been two incidents where American citizens have been kidnapped last and May and February. And authorities did comply with the requests of the kidnappers and they released the prisoners.
I've spoken to the head of the security in Sinai and he confirmed that they are doing everything they can to negotiate some sort of deal with the kidnappers, but we're monitoring the situation closely. And of course this situation is happening with the visit of Mrs. Hillary Clinton in Cairo, which puts the spotlight on the situation as it unfolds. WHITFIELD: So, Mohamed, this is the third kidnapping of Americans in Cairo this year alone, very similar circumstances in those cases as well that there was kind of a negotiated swap of prisoners or those who were being held on some nonrelated charges?
FAHMY: Well there have been a lot of kidnaps, not just with American citizens lately in Sinai due to the lawlessness that has taken place since the toppling of President Hosni Mubarak and the revolution, but the authorities are keen on securing Sinai. And there have been negotiations through the Egyptian intelligence are there now negotiating with the kidnappers.
They are elderly Bedouins who are acting as mediators who are also trying to solve the situation. And we are hoping -- we are getting information that they might be released tonight, but that's not confirmed of course. And we're going to be following the story closely and getting more information as the situation unfolds.
WHITFIELD: And so thanks so much. Keep us posted, Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, appreciate that.
All right, this development coming out from the other side of the world, down under. Two people fishing for a big catch get way more than they expected.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: All right. Live pictures right now drenched, a drenched President of the United States, President Barack Obama there drenched by rain and he's also hoping drenched by a lot of support there in Virginia as he continues to crisscross the state looking for more support in his reelection. He won that red state of Virginia turning it blue four years ago, but not taking it for granted this go round. Right now he's in Glen Allen, Virginia in the rain, but as you see the big campaign backdrop there still pushing it forward as he tries to make his way toward another four years in office, keep you posted on his campaigning.
Meantime in Massachusetts a prison guard is recovering after being stabbed in the neck with a handmade shank by an inmate, x-rays showing the shank just barely missed his spinal cord by centimeters. The man along with other guards was monitoring 93 inmates at the time of that incident, incredible close call.
And a terrifying car crash in New Jersey captured by traffic cameras set up to catch people actually running red lights. The car driving towards the camera does just that as you're about to see. Wow, and after hitting the light, hitting another car, going airborne and then crashing right into the median and the pole, you will see it again, the drive suffered minor injuries, hard to believe, and was arrested for drunk driving. Fortunately no one else was hurt. Officials released the video to show the dangers of running red lights. This is what could happen. All right, sharks on the prowl in the U.S. and Australia, but as Jeanne Moos reports sometimes they're just searching for the same thing you are.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: (voice-over) This is a tale of two fish stories, one on a deck in South Carolina Tuesday, the other in a boat in Australia last year. In both cases a person fishing hooks a fish only to have a shark snatch it, South Carolina, Australia. Now both parties took the name of the Lord in vain.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Oh, bleep bleep.
MOOS: But that's where the similarities end.
SARAH BRAME: It's a shark, a shark. It's a big old shark.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER 3: I thought it was pretty cool. Woo, hoo, hoo, hoo. Geez I hate sharks. Oh God. What a dirty scum he's gone.
BRAME: Like a big shark.
MOOS: Sarah Brame had never before caught a fish, let alone encounter a shark.
BRAME: I was actually kind of scared because I seen it jump. And I was like oh my gosh it could jump up here and get me.
MOOS: When you combine the ballistic Americans with the chillin' Australians --
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Bloody sharks.
MOOS: -- you get the catch of the day, holy bloody shark. Last Australia's nine network morning shows sent a reporter to fish for a shark supposedly sighted in a lake.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER 4: I'm going to give you one chance to catch this shark.
MOOS: His cast was impressive, but his catch missed the mark.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER 4: Oh no.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER 5: I'm going to another shark.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: OK. Stop now, stop now, stop now, stop now, stop now. That's enough. Peking duck anyone?
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: All quit.
MOOS: But at least the duck was fine, unlike the mackerel that failed to duck the shark. Now the one place you'll never catch a shark is in a New York City subway, right? Well maybe you couldn't catch one, but you could buy one. The website, Gothamist, obtained photos of a guy selling a live baby shark aboard a J train at one in the morning. He wanted $100 bucks for the little shark. He said he caught it at Coney Island after it bit him on the butt. But seriously, folks, your chances are way better of hooking a butt, hooking Jaws and grabbing a broom sure beats being shark stew.
Jeanne Moos, CNN , New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Oh my God, those clips are kind of scary every time. Well I'm going to be talking to a diver, snorkeler, fisherman, you name it. He does it all. He got up close and personal with a shark, a great white down under.
And guess what? He says he actually would do it again. He's not afraid of the water. In fact he got back in the water today. You're going to hear his story two o'clock Eastern Time about his close encounter.
Ringling Brothers circus has seen its fair share of lawsuits, but now it's turning the tables and suing the animal rights activists who sued them. Our legal guys are ready for this one. They're circling the wagons with their thoughts.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. The worst is far from over for Penn State after a scathing report on the response of university leaders to child sex abuse allegations. The school is still under scrutiny by the Department of Education and the NCAA. Let's bring in our legal guy, David Freeh, a civil rights attorney and law professor in Cleveland, good to see you.
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY AND LAW PROFESSOR: Hi, Fredricka. Good to be back.
WHITFIELD: And no and Richard Herman, thank you very much, Richard Herman a New York criminal defense attorney and law professor joining us from Las Vegas, good to see you as well.
RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND LAW PROFESSOR: Hi Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, gentlemen, this Louis Freeh report is scathing. It involves more than 400 eyewitnesses, very detailed accounts of who knew what when, and all this after the conviction of Jerry Sandusky. However, his sentencing is coming up. You have to wonder how much this is going to impact his sentencing. Richard?
HERMAN: Well I don't think it's going to impact his sentencing. The jury has spoken on that, Fred. And I think that this man is going to die in prison, no chance of him getting out, seeing the light of day again.
This Louie Freeh report is devastating. It's devastating to the current status of Penn State and to the future status of Penn State. It's not an admissible document in court. However, it is a roadmap to discover just how deep this horrific conduct by people at Penn State, people in control including the top dog himself, Joe Paterno, who could have prevented this 15-year reign of terror by Sandusky.
It's just an absolute abomination, Fred. The university is going to stand to lose federal funds for violating the Clery Act. And in addition to that the NCAA could impose a death penalty, take the football program away for a year. I would not be surprised --
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
HERMAN: -- if they did that. They should do that.
FRIEDMAN: That's right.
WHITFIELD: All those things being considered so, Avery, when you look at the pictures of some of the people involved in the investigation, the questioning from the grand jury and now even this report we're talking about from the president of the university, Spanier too, or the former president to Tim Curley, athletic director, --
FRIEDMAN: Right.
WHITFIELD: -- Mr. Schultz. The names go on and on. We already know that Mr. Schultz and Tim Curley will be facing criminal trials for having failed to report the 2001 assault and then lying about it under oath, but now as a result of this report do you see that the criminal investigations or at least the charges may be broadening out, not just involving those that I named, but others as well?
FRIEDMAN: Oh I think so. The top dog at Penn State wasn't Joe Paterno. It was the president of the university. And at this point you have two charges against the athletic director and vice president. Look, based on the Louie Freeh report there is evidence that surfaced including evidence from janitors who back in the late 1990s --
WHITFIELD: Right.
FRIEDMAN: -- knew about what was going on, scared to death about doing anything about it.
WHITFIELD: Reporting it.
FRIEDMAN: And yes I think it really does go all the way up to the president. There's e-mails that certainly surface going back to the grand jury. I think the former president also faces issues. Frankly if Joe Paterno were alive, Fredricka, he would be facing conspiracy, child endangerment, other very serious felonies. It's the tip of the iceberg.
I agree and Clery Act that is the law that requires reporting these things. Nothing is done since the enactment of that law and that's $27,000 per event times hundreds of events, and again the power of the NCAA to actually suspend the program. So we're going to see a lot more coming up. The Louie Freeh report is an absolute blockbuster. It's the beginning of the next chapter of this story.
WHITFIELD: Right. And so while we know that the criminal charges or the criminal cases could expand it could span over a period of years. Civil lawsuits could come quite quickly as a result of this 400, --
FRIEDMAN: Oh sure.
WHITFIELD: -- the 400 people who were interviewed in this document. And we're talking a matter of weeks or perhaps even months in which we could see some real developments from any civil litigation, Richard?
HERMAN: Right. Play these attorneys are going to jump all over this, Fred. Litigation I would expect will start being commenced next week. There may be statute of limitation issues that they can overcome those hurdles. Penn State is going to settle these cases as quick as you can say Penn State. They must do that. And look, let's give credit to Penn State.
FRIEDMAN: That's what the lawyers are doing.
HERMAN: They initially --
FRIEDMAN: That's what the lawyers are doing. Actually that's what the lawyers are doing right now. That's exactly right. What Penn State are giving these plaintiffs' lawyers and to try to get it resolved --
HERMAN: Right. But they --
FRIEDMAN: -- before it blows up, ultimately goes to trial.
WHITFIELD: Wow, OK, all right.
HERMAN: They commissioned this report by Louie Freeh. They turned over all the records that they had in their possession now. They want to try to do the right thing here.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
HERMAN: The problem is, Fred, it was just so devastating and the fact and don't fool yourself.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
HERMAN: Joe Paterno was the top dog at Penn State. Nobody knows Spanier. Everybody knows the legendary coach. He himself, the rah, rah, ethics guy himself he's the one that was like [inaudible].
FRIEDMAN: That's exactly right.
HERMAN: He's the one that did nothing to protect these young boys. He's the one.
FRIEDMAN: That's why Penn State --
WHITFIELD: Yes.
FRIEDMAN: That's why Penn State has to wrap this thing up. They've got to resolve these cases because --
WHITFIELD: And perhaps even Penn State had no idea. FRIEDMAN: -- if it goes to trial it's explosive.
WHITFIELD: Yes. Perhaps some at Penn State among the board of trustees and others maybe didn't even realize that this report would be as explosive and damning as it has turned out to be, but we'll see what happens.
FRIEDMAN: It may be right.
WHITFIELD: I'm going to talk to you.
FRIEDMAN: I think that's right.
WHITFIELD: Oh wait a minute. We're going to -- we're actually take a short break and we're going to talk about some other cases involving Ringling Brothers and how they're cracking the whip now on those who have accused them of abusing animals. And we're also going to talk about now a controversial voter ID law that's being challenged in Texas, all that straight ahead, 20 minutes or so from now so don't go anywhere yet, guys.
All right, and a cruel assault at a group home in Connecticut. One person has been arrested. We'll have details on that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A look at our top stories now. The contractor responsible for providing security guards for the Olympics says it stands to lose up to $77 million now. The company's chief executive says he regrets they didn't recruit enough people, as promised. They're saying this now less than two weeks away before the event. And now the government will step in, adding 3,500 extra troops to cover the gap.
Visa, MasterCard and some of the country's biggest banks have agreed to a massive settlement with retailers totally $7.25 billion. The lawsuit centers around credit card swipe fees. Merchants allege credit card companies were fixing the price on those fees. The settlement is still subject to court approval.
The coroner's office says it has not yet completed its initial report on the death of Sylvester Stallone's son, Sage. But it says there's a good possibility an autopsy will take place tomorrow, along with toxicology tests. Thirty-six-year-old Sage Stallone was found dead in his Los Angeles home yesterday. A representative for Sylvester Stallone says the actor is devastated. They appeared together in "Rocky V."
And now to an amazing story of survival. An autistic man was found emaciated, barely alive after spending three weeks in a Utah desert. Twenty-eight-year-old William LaFever told his rescuers that he went there to answer the call of the desert.
The pilot who spotted him Thursday said he didn't want to be rescued at first. He said LaFever was a borderline belligerent when they tried to board him into the helicopter, but it's a good thing that he finally got on board. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was in tough shape. I don't think he had another 24 hours left in him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: LaFever survived by eating a frog, raw fish, and some edible roots.
And a disturbing story out of Connecticut. Police say a group home employee has been arrested after a video surfaced showing her abusing a patient. Deb Feyerick has that story, but I must warn you that the images that we're about to show you are disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This group home for mentally disabled adults and those with learning disabilities was supposed to be a safe place. Yet watch how this woman, dressed only in a short hospital-type gown, is treated by a caregiver identified as Angelica Rivera. The 34-year-old caregiver first kicks the disabled woman in the stomach, then hits and taunts her with some kind of belt or strap before dragging the distraught woman by the hair.
Options Unlimited is a private non-profit agency that contracts with Connecticut's Department of Developmental Services to run about six such around-the-clock group homes. The company says it is deeply saddened and appalled by the incident.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the most heinous crime I have seen in my 40 years. It just takes your breath away.
FEYERICK: Last year, several Options Unlimited employees were fired from the group home and cameras installed to monitor activities. It's unclear who shot this video, which was cut together into a 30-second montage. Three copies were sent anonymously, one each to a local news station, the state agency in charge and Options Unlimited.
DEPUTY CHIEF BEAU THURNAUER, EAST HARTFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT: Wednesday, the Department of Developmental Services turned over a videotape to us, and it showed there was some sort of abuse going on between what we found out later to be an employee and a resident of this group home.
FEYERICK: The caregiver, Angelica Rivera, has been charged with several felonies, including cruelty, unlawful restraint and bias intimidation. A man who answered her phone would not comment on the allegations or refer us to an attorney.
(on camera): After Rivera turned herself in, police obtained a search warrant for a second employee who may have additional abuse video on a home computer. Rivera is out on $25,000 bond.
Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right, instead of standing the whole time on the job, some ticket takers at a popular movie chain would like to have the option of sitting. So guess what? They're suing. And our "legal guys" are going to be all over this one.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A panel of judges will determine the fate of Texas's controversial voter ID law. Lawyers for the state argue that it should go forward because it doesn't limit minorities' rights to vote. The Justice Department argued the very opposite.
Our "Legal Guys" are back, Avery Friedman in Cleveland and Richard Herman in Las Vegas.
All right, Avery, you first on this one. The new law requiring voters to show photo IDs before casting their ballots -- it's a problem particularly among blacks and Hispanics in the state of Texas because many don't even have -- it's something like one third of blacks and Hispanics may not even have state-issued voter ID cards.
So why is this an issue of -- or an argument has been made that this is discriminatory? Is it? Is it an unjust law?
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Yes. Sure it is. Yes. This is the Voting Rights Act trial of the year, four days in front of Emmet Sullivan (ph), one of the great federal judges and -- and -- or -- and I'm sorry, not Judge Sullivan, Judge Collier (ph), Judge Hadel (ph), Judge Wilkins (ph), three-judge panel. And it is -- I expect to see that a ruling will be that the Texas law, Fredricka, discriminates on the basis of race and ethnicity.
Texas has exploded with minorities. Some of them have to drive 200 miles to get an ID. And do you want to know something? They're arguing voter fraud. No way. This is discrimination, very clear, violation of the Voting Rights Act. The Justice Department will prevail, and look for the case to head to the U.S. Supreme Court.
WHITFIELD: So Richard, you know, the state is claiming that they're -- you know, 81 of the state's 254 counties don't even actually have an office in which to obtain these free state ID cards that will be made available. And if that's the case, is it an issue of access, or is it, indeed, an issue of, you know, combatting voter fraud? What is driving this?
RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I don't think it's voter fraud, Fred. They show statistics. The minimum -- the voter fraud in the state of Texas is at a minimum. And the standard that will be looked at on appeal is whether it's a legitimate goal being proposed by the state.
Now, in 2008, Indiana got upheld their voter requirements. However, here in the state of Texas, I'm forced at this point to agree with Avery. I don't like to agree with him, but I have to agree with his analysis. And I really believe that Texas is going to get beat down on this one.
WHITFIELD: OK. Well, let's see where you all are on the Ringling Brothers case. Ringling Brothers now being -- you know...
FRIEDMAN: We'll disagree on this one. We'll disagree on this one.
WHITFIELD: OK. Oh, you will? OK, OK, because I'm counting on a little disagreement from you guys. All right, so Ringling Brothers -- you know, they've been sued over the treatment of their animals. Now Ringling Brothers is cracking the whip against the animal rights activists, the very ones who imposed charges against them. Now they're kind of, you know, turning the tables. And this, apparently, is about racketeering. In what way, Avery?
FRIEDMAN: I don't understand it. I read Judge Sullivan's 87-page opinion. He's claiming that, look, Tom Ryder (ph), who is the plaintiff, was allegedly bribed, and therefore that's civil RICO. There's no way the circus can be able to prove this case.
I represented the Timmy (ph) the gorilla in Endangered Species Act litigation, animal rights groups. I think this is a terrible decision, feel awful for these -- the Humane Society and the other groups that are now going to be subject to trial. And I think the circus is going to lose.
WHITFIELD: You do? And Richard?
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
HERMAN: Well, Fred, they're not seeking monetary relief. They're seeking injunctive relief. And what happened here is, when you take a shot at Superman and you lose, you're going to face a counter-claim here when your case is based on purchased testimony.
The ASPCA does a lot of great things, but in this particular case, it was shown that their star witness was not credible. He was, in fact, paid for his testimony before he got up there, and he was blown away in court. And now Ringling Brothers says, You can't come after us and think we're just going to take this. We're going after you for fraud, and that's what they're doing.
WHITFIELD: All right. All right. So now, hopefully, you guys are either sitting down or standing up for this one, talking about AMC chain of movie theaters in California. Now it's saying that -- you know, the AMC ticket takers, or at least many of the ticket takers and cashiers, are saying they're standing too long. And an attorney representing them says, Yes, we agree, it's like an episode right out of "Seinfeld." Do you remember this one?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JASON ALEXANDER, ACTOR: Let me just say this. It is inhumane to make a man stand on his feet in one spot for eight hours a day! Why shouldn't he have a chair?
JERRY SEINFELD, ACTOR: Well, what about criminal activity? He's got to be alert.
ALEXANDER: What, you can't jump out of the chair? How long does that take you? Look at this. Here, watch. Criminals! Boom! I'm up. Stop it! Stop! Stop it!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: We just wanted an excuse to show George Costanza because we love him so much. So an attorney, you know, representing the AMC employees in California, Kelly McKearney (ph), you know, says that it's a violation of state statute that seats are not provided when the nature of the job, quote, "reasonably permits the use of seats," and they're standing up too long. She says the hours are too long for them to be standing.
So Richard, is there any precedents of this?
HERMAN: This case is going nowhere, Fred. It's going nowhere fast. There's a standing challenge, believe it or not, a legal standing challenge -- but we're not going to get into that right now.
Listen, these people have jobs! This is 2012. People want jobs. They have jobs. Part of it is to take tickets. What do you mean, they can't stand? Not all -- the employer says not all of our employees are required to stand, so it does not cover a full class action. There are statute of limitations issues here. From six months to two years, they did nothing about this. I mean, come on!
FRIEDMAN: Oh, wait a minute...
HERMAN: People (INAUDIBLE) concessions, selling popcorn. You can't sit selling popcorn! This is a stupid lawsuit!
FRIEDMAN: Come on!
HERMAN: It's going nowhere!
WHITFIELD: And so Avery...
HERMAN: Nowhere!
WHITFIELD: ... what constitutes long hours, long -- you know, a long time because, you know, when I guess there's the, you know, deluge of folks who come in and have just bought their tickets or they want to buy their stuff, isn't there a period in which maybe they can kind of take a seat?
HERMAN: Exactly.
FRIEDMAN: I think that's possible. To me, the case is fascinating because AMC, who's the defendant, is saying that those people who were standing don't have standing. In other words, you have to have standing in order to make sure that you can proceed if you're complaining about standing.
Now, if a judge can figure that one out, good luck to him. So it's basically a standing case about standing. On the merits, I don't think it'll ever get there. I think it'll be dismissed on procedural grounds or it will settle.
But you know what? These cases get filed, and without them -- I mean, this case actually may wind up in the top 10 of the silliest cases of 2012. So we'll see. We'll see where it goes.
WHITFIELD: Wow. All right. Well, we did reach out to AMC, and this is what AMC said. Quote, "AMC does not comment on pending litigation." So there! We'll have to see how it all unfolds...
FRIEDMAN: Yes, so there.
WHITFIELD: ... whether it goes to court or not.
HERMAN: I saw that video...
FRIEDMAN: That's right.
WHITFIELD: I saw that video of you working out with the crunches and everything before. That's great!
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: You'll see more of it later. So you know, some tips from Desiree...
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: ... on how to get a six-pack. I'm not there yet, but you know, she is. She's got a six-pack. And she's going to show you what to do. All right, that's coming up in the 2:00 o'clock hour. Thanks so much. Richard, Avery, always good to see you.
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much.
HERMAN: Take care, Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, three young men who beat a gay man in Atlanta learned their fates. Now it's case closed. They were sentenced to five years in prison and apologized for the videotaped beating of Brandon White. That video went viral back in February and showed White being brutally attacked outside a convenience store.
All right, unemployment -- it is hurting some Americans much harder than others.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Going weeks, months, even years without a paycheck. Many out-of-work Americans are dealing with that tough reality right now. But young people in particular are finding it especially difficult to land that elusive job. CNN's Sandra Endo explains why.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At 19 years old, Tegra Crudup has already endured plenty of hardship.
TEGRA CRUDUP, UNEMPLOYED YOUTH: Our house went into foreclosure, and then we had to go from house from house, living with other people. And that's not comfortable at all.
ENDO: After three years of bouncing around to multiple homes with her single parent mom and three siblings, her living situation took a toll. Crudup was forced to drop out of high school in order to help support her family.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for 16 to 24-year-olds looking for a job is more than double the 8.2 percent unemployment rate nationwide. In this economy, they're competing against more experienced workers also looking for a job.
For many young people, it's their first time entering the job market to gain experience and build a resume. With no job, Crudup is working toward getting her GED, taking classes at a Baltimore youth center.
(on camera): The down economy coupled with the lack of federal funds for summer job programs is making it tougher for young people to find work. Many state and local governments that are also facing tight budgets are left to find creative ways to invest in their youth.
(voice-over): Twenty-one-year-old Tiye Lewis considers herself lucky. She was hired at the orthopedic rehab unit at Baltimore's Mercy Medical Center through a youth jobs program. Seven thousand young people registered in the program. Fifty-three hundred actually got a job.
TIYE LEWIS, YOUTH WORKER: This is what I like to do. So this gives me more experience to show me, like, how things work so when I get into grad school. If I didn't have this job, I wouldn't be able to pay for some of my bills I have or for next semester, for food, expenses, stuff like that.
ERNEST DORSEY, BALTIMORE EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT: We're hoping that young people learn how to go to work, learn the soft skills that employers say they want when they hire somebody, in terms of being on time, reporting to work every day, being able to follow directions.
ENDO: Federal stimulus money for programs like this one ran out in 2010. But Baltimore partnered with the private sector to keep it going. Officials say investing in youth now will likely pay off in the long run. Sandra Endo, CNN, Baltimore.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And a rattlesnake bites this pitbull right in the face, and this is what happened. The dog's fight for survival now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, checking stories across the country now. In California, drivers will be able to text and drive once again, but you still have to be hands-free. You need to have a voice recognition program to make it work. Governor Jerry Brown signed the bill into law yesterday. Police say this isn't for everyone because some people can't multi-task well, period, they say.
Moving south now to San Diego, this pitbull named Abby is recovering after a rattlesnake bit her face. Her foster mom was terrified as she rushed her to the vet.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VICTORIA FERGUSON, FOSTER DOG OWNER: As soon as I opened the back door, I heard the snake, and took my breath away. And she's sitting in the passenger seat, just kind of staring at me, like, I don't know what's going on. And I mean, just the 10-minute drive, you could see her face already start swelling.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Wow. And you can see on Abby's face, if you see it again, it is swollen. But apparently, she'll be fine. The vet says they treat lots of dogs with snake bites. It's pretty pricey, though, costing nearly $6,000. There's Abby right there.
All right, now to Oregon. A mother of two is selling her home after her husband cheated on her. Look at the "For sale" sign that Elle Zober put in her yard. It reads, "Husband left us for a 22-year-old, house for sale by a scorned, slightly bitter newly single owner."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELLE ZOBER, DIVORCEE: I'm certainly not the first person to be cheated on. I won't be the last. So a lot of people relate. A lot of people see the sign. And you know, a lot of women say things like, Oh, I wish I had done that, or, I'd do worse.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: The couple divorced after 10 years of marriage. Her husband actually helped make that sign. They're hoping it will give them an edge in a competitive housing market.
All right, a "CNN Hero" reaches out to the next generation. Find out how one man is helping to turn the lives around in a South African slum.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: In post-apartheid South Africa, many hoped life would improve for everyone. Unfortunately, some of the slums, such as Kliptown, have been left behind. Today's "CNN Hero" is doing everything he can to help the community's next generation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
THULANI MADONDO, COMMUNITY CRUSADER: Since the apartheid time, Kliptown has not changed. There's no electricity. People are living in shacks. Growing up in Kliptown makes you feel like you don't have control over your life.
Many children drop out of school because they don't have the school uniforms and textbooks. I realized that the only way that Kliptown could change was through education.
I'm Thulani Madondo. I'm helping educate the children so that we can change the town together. We help the children by paying for their school books, school uniforms and school (ph) lunch (ph).
Our main focus is our tutoring program that we run four days a week. As young people who were born and raised here, we know the challenges of this community.
And we also do a number of activities. We've got to come together for fun while we also come together for academics.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This program gave me a chance to go to the university. They are trying to pay for my fees. (INAUDIBLE) come back and help out here. A little can go a long way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What subjects do you need to study? Math and science and English.
MADONDO: I did not go to university, but being able to help them, I feel excited.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: I am going to be an accountant.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: I'm going to be a lawyer.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: And I'm going to be a nurse.
MADONDO: The work that you do in here is bringing change.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And remember, all of our "Heroes" come from your nominations. So if you have someone that you'd like to tell us about, go to CNNheroes.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The search in Egypt intensifies for two American tourists and their guide. They were kidnapped in the Sinai peninsula. Officials say the group was taken from a tour bus. Security officials say the Bedouin (ph) kidnappers want the release of a relative held on drug charges. It is the third time American tourists have been kidnapped in that area this year.
All right, imagine swimming in the ocean and then suddenly being encircled by a great white shark. It happened to a couple of Australian fishermen who caught the scary moment on tape, and you'll hear from one of them in our 2:00 PM Eastern hour.
I'm Fredricka Whitfield. See you then. Right now, "YOUR MONEY" begins.
