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Child, 4, At Home with Arsenal; New Food Safety Proposals Announced; Ariel Castro Pleads Guilty; San Diego Mayor Accused of Sexual Harassment; Charges Could Be Dropped on Woman Accused of Killing Husband.
Aired July 26, 2013 - 11:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Attorney and radio host, Mo Ivory, joins us from Atlanta, and criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor, Jeff Gold, in Philadelphia.
Jeff, let's start with you.
Do you think either parent will get custody today? Should they?
JEFF GOLD, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I don't know if they will get it today. Custody was taken away, quite rightfully. Leaving your kid alone, that's pretty bad. When I was a prosecutor and I had a weapon, I used to -- even before I had kids I would keep the ammunition in separate places because I was so worried. Then at some point I didn't keep any ammunition in the house. I took it to the range. This guy had grenades. They have to think seriously about where this guy's brain is. Leaves the kid home alone, number one. Then the kid was in the House alone with grenades. Yeah, they have taken the kid away to do an evaluation now to see what should happen, and that's the proper thing.
BROWN: Mo, you know, are the laws in the books good enough, in your opinion, to protect kids in these -- these kinds of cases? We heard so many of kids getting their hands on their parents' weapons. You know that little girl is going to wind up back home at some point, if not today.
MO IVORY, ATTORNEY & RADIO SHOW HOST: It is very -- very disconcerting hearing this. I mean, a little girl to be in a house with all of those weapons and grenades. First of all, what is he doing with all those weapons in his house? I understand that the guns he did have legally but I'm very concerned about it. I hope that they take a long time to investigate this and the mother as well as the grand pear. Because you want to understand this whole family environment and if the child is given to the mother. Will the mother bring the child right back? Grandfather, will he bring the child right back. I'm concerned. And the laws on the books don't go far enough to protect our children. That's why we continue to see these things happening over and over again. And Florida is a gun-happy state.
BROWN: Jeff, the Florida says he put a couch in front of the room where the weapons were kept. If you were representing him, do you think that's a good enough explanation? GOLD: Well, first of all, if I was representing him, I would say that this is not that connective of a case. Leaving the child home and then the grenades are in the like in the same room at the same time. What is he doing with grenades? What's he -- you know, killing deer with grenades? Why do we let people have grenades? Why do we let them have grenades if they have kids? We institute make a law that says if they have kids, no grenades. How about that?
BROWN: All right. We will end on that note.
You know, just to mention, this is a little girl's 4th birthday. What a birthday. A shame.
Thank you so much, Mo and Jeff. We will see you later on in NEWSROOM. Next time you go grocery shopping, take look at the labels on fruits and veggies. Most of them are from overseas. How does the FDA make sure it's safe to eat? We'll ask the FDA commissioner herself right after this break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: Those apples you have been buying, they were probably imported. That's right. Half the fresh fruit consumed by Americans comes from overseas. It is 20 percent for fresh vegetables. 15 percent of the food we eat is imported.
In the past, it has been harder for the Food and Drug Administration to control the safety of imported foods but that could change with the announcement today of new safety mood proposals.
Joining me now to talk more about this, the commissioner of the FDA, Dr. Margaret Hamburg.
Nice to have you with us, Dr. Hamburg.
DR. MARGARET A. HAMBURG, COMMISSIONER, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION: Thank you so much for having me, Pamela.
BROWN: Starting off here, let's talk about what these new requirements entail and when they will go into effect.
HAMBURG: As you noted, the food supply for the United States is increasingly global in terms of where those products are coming from. This gives us for new tools. Enables us to work with our partners, to require that will's foreign supplier verification the food being produced in other countries is, in fact, being grown and produced in accordance with our standards. It allows us to engage third parties and in doing audits, also assure that those same standards for food safety are being met. At the end of the day, this all matters so that we can help to better assure that the food that we all are put on our family's table is the safest and highest quality possible.
BROWN: Essentially, Dr. Hamburg, this would allow the FDA to be more proactive and preventing food safety issues before they happen. Especially with foods that are imported. Is that right? HAMBURG: Well, we are trying to address an historic piece of legislation that Congress passed just a few years ago, Food Safety Modernization Act. We are trying to transform the food safety system to one that focuses on prevention, to stopping problems before they occur instead of just responding after the fact when there is an outbreak and recognizes that the food supply is global in nature. And that we can't just assume by looking at what's happening here at home, we are keeping the food supply safe and we can't really realistically just inspect foods as they come over the border because we are seeing millions of entries from more than 150 countries around the world. Growing percentage of the mood we eat here is actually coming from other countries.
BROWN: Obviously, a key player in all of this are the foreign importers bringing this food into the U.S. Do you think they are ready to comply with these new regulations? These new procedures?
HAMBURG: Right. We have been working with our partners in countries around the world to address some of the issues already. And this now will help us really systemtize some of the changes that need to be made. Really clarify the standards that we expect for food that's coming into this country for American citizens to eat. I think, frankly, part of our mandate is not only to assure that the food coming is safer but to work with other countries that have much less sophisticated systems for regulatory oversight in food supply, help them strengthen their capacity. In this way, everybody will benefit.
BROWN: So the FDA does its job with protecting a food that comes over here. What can the consumer do before they go to the store to buy food? Any tips?
HAMBURG: Well, of course, consumers should always follow basic safety rules. You know. Keep things that need to be refrigerated cold. Should heat things, you know, meats and eggs, especially to appropriate temperatures, to kill any possible bacteria. Hand washing is always important when preparing food. Those kinds of basic safety tips are always important to follow.
If you need more information on that you can go to our website, fda.gov, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides a lot of useful information for consumers.
BROWN: Dr. Hamburg, I can't let you go without touching the outbreak in the U.S. Any progress on the cause?
HAMBURG: This outbreak exemplifies how complex the food supply chain is. We are now seeing cases in many states. We have seen more than 250 cases to date. Mild self-limited illness for the most part. But we still don't know for sure what the source is. We are working hard and working with the states, health authorities, and with our partners, our Centers for Disease Control. It looks like it is probably coming from produce. But we still don't know what it is. We will keep you informed as we learn more. But this is one example why we need to focus on food safety and strengthen our systems to prevent outbreaks from occurring in the first place, and that's what we are trying to do. BROWN: Moving on, recently Pepsi was hit with a $9 million lawsuit for its Naked Juice products. Do you think this is a big win for consumers?
HAMBURG: Well, I think that we need to always be looking at how we can provide consumers with the most accurate information about the products they are consuming. Obviously, part of our job, we were talking about before, to make sure that those products are as safe as possible. So that's what we are focusing on when we do our important work to promote and protect public health.
BROWN: Absolutely.
Dr. Margaret Hamburg, FDA commissioner, thank you for coming on the show. Have a great weekend.
HAMBURG: Thank you. You, too.
BROWN: More women are accusing San Diego's mayor of sexually harassing them. Details are sounding like something out of a soap opera. We'll find out what they're saying right after this break.
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BROWN: Let's update you on the top story we told you earlier. Ariel Castro, the man accused of kidnapping and raping three women, accepted a plea deal. He's now in court pleading guilty to 937 charges. Let's take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Counts 347 through 360 inclusive. Counts 410 through 428 inclusive. Counts 468 through 687 inclusive. Counts 518 to 574 inclusive. Counts 675 through 731 inclusive. And counts 824 through 880 inclusive.
How do you plead to the charges of rape in each of those separate counts?
ARIEL CASTRO, ACCUSED OF KIDNAPPING: I plead guilty.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How do you plead --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: You heard there, he's pleading guilty to 937 charges. This means that he will spend the rest of his life in prison without parole, plus another thousand years. This also means that the three victims who were held captive for more than 10 years will not have to testify in court.
Moving along, we want to go to San Diego. The flood gates are open as more women have come forward accusing Mayor Bob Filner of sexual harassment.
Our Casey Wian has the very latest. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Four more women came forward Thursday to accuse San Diego Mayor Bob Filner of inappropriate sexual misconduct that included a university dean and a retired Navy rear admiral, who spoke with KPBS News.
RONNE FROMAN, RETIRED REAR ADMIRAL, U.S. NAVY: Bob stepped between me and the doorway and stopped me. He got fairly close to me. He ran his finger up my cheek like this. He whispered to me, do you have a man in your life? He would come in and try to kiss me on the lips. I would have to squirm to get away and just -- as recently as a few months ago this happened. I turned and he -- just slobbered down my chin and I was so violated.
WIAN: A total of seven women have publicly accused Filner of you wanted groping, kissing, headlocks.
Thursday, Filner showed up at a trolley station groundbreaking.
(on camera): Why are you still keeping your job?
(voice-over): For several minutes, he walked aimlessly, refusing to answer reporters' questions.
(on camera): Is it a bad message you are not addressing these allegations directly now?
WIAN (voice-over): Filner admitted treating women badly but denies sexual harassment.
(on camera): Mr. Mayor, what do you have to say to these women who have come forward and accused you of inappropriate behavior?
(voice-over): Finally, the mayor said this.
BOB FILNER, MAYOR OF SAN DIEGO: There is a legal process by which this will be decided and that's what we will be dealing with this. There will be no other statements regarding this except for the legal process.
WIAN: One woman filed a lawsuit while the mayor tries to make light of the controversy.
FILNER: I see you found a wonderful way to attract media attention for our efforts on the trolley.
WIAN: Thursday night the county Democratic Party voted to the urge mayor to step down.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BROWN: Casey joins me now from San Diego.
Casey, it seems like Mayor Filner is the only one not calling for his resignation. There's a growing chorus of people wanting him to step down. Is there any sense at this point that more women could come forward?
WIAN: That's certain a possibility, Pamela. Two women anonymously sent a letter to media outlets in San Diego after Filner was elected the major here. There are women who say they worked for him when he was a U.S. congressman and warning of these types of activities. Certainly, it is possible we could see more women come forward.
We have also seen more pressure mounting on Mayor Filner to step down. There's a group mounting a recall campaign and has plans do that. They're holding a news conference later today.
So it really seems difficult how he is going to hold on to his job. Right now, he says he's not stepping down -- Pamela?
BROWN: He's digging in his heels about that.
Casey Wian, thank you.
It could be separate from a TV drama. A woman allegedly conspires with her boss to kill her husband, but this case is not fiction. Our live report up next.
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BROWN: Prosecutors in Atlanta may drop the most serious charged leveled against a woman accused of having her husband murdered. According to policy, Andrea Schneiderman conspired with her lover, who was also her boss. She was convicted with murder last year. But the D.A. says the case is circumstantial and there's no physical evidence.
Rusty Schneiderman) was shot dead right outside an Atlanta-area day care center back in 2010.
On our sister network, one witness says he doesn't like what might happen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED WITNESS: Heard him walk away. I just don't see how that's even fathomable. I couldn't imagine that even coming to pass.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Let's talk about this case now with the host of HLN's "Evening Express," Ryan Smith. He is right outside the courthouse where an important hearing is scheduled today.
Ryan, let's talk about the hearing and why it's so important to prosecutors.
RYAN SMITH, HOST, EVENING EXPRESS: There will be a discussion about whether or not they can admit statements that the killer of Rusty Schneiderman -- his name is Hemy Newman -- made to Melanie White, a friend of his. He sent her e-mails with talks about what he and Andrea went back and forth on. Talks about a possible relationship, things of that nature. The question is, will it be brought in. Here is the complicating factor. It's comes in as kind of hearsay. The question will be will it come in. Hemy Newman, the man Andrea Schneiderman is accused of conspiring with, is going to take the Fifth. He's not going to testify because he's got an appeal pending. He was found guilty but not mentally healthy.
This is all very interesting when you talk about what could come in. But the big question here is will the prosecutors decide today if they want to drop those murder charges. Think about it this way. If she's found guilty of murder, she's looking at the possibility of life in prison without parole. If those charges go away, she's only facing perjury and statements that were -- she's being accused of lying to police. Those things carry a penalty of five to 10 years each. Big difference if found guilty.
BROWN: That's got to be a tough pill to swallow.
Ryan, thank you for keeping us up to date with that story.
Well, how does a grandparent cope when their grandkids are dropped on their doorstep and they become their responsibility? That story is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: Going to grandma's house is a time-honored tradition. For many, it's not just a visit. Across the U.S., three million grandparents are raising their grand children. This week's "CNN Hero" is addressing their unique needs. Retirees suddenly forced to become parents begin. Meet Silvie de Toledo.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SILVIE DE TOLEDO, CNN HERO: One day, my daughter came to my door and she handed me three kids. She says here, mom, I'll call you later. It's seven years already. It changes your life.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everything changed. At 60, wow. I have to raise this baby. How am I going to do it?
DE TOLEDO: Does anybody have a crisis they want to talk about?
For mother grandparents who taking in the children it does wreak havoc because many are living on fixed incomes and they were not prepared to take on one or multiple children.
I've Silvia de Toledo, and I help grandparents who suddenly have to take in their grandchildren.
This is my sister and she was pregnant here.
DE TOLEDO: When my sister was 27, she committed suicide and left an 8-year-old.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is Kevin when he came to live with my parents. DE TOLEDO: My parents were my inspiration. From a family tragedy something wonderful has happened.
I know it may not feel like it but you are going to get passed this.
When a family calls whether it's help with the school, finding a pediatrician, resources, we'll find a way to help you.
All of a sudden, I had things coming, clothes, food. They're like my therapy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She was able to walk me through everything. They helped me get on my feet where I could help myself.
DE TOLEDO: Everybody, I want to introduce you to a new mother.
It's the relatives that are doing this that deserve the recognition.
I have never gotten up once and said I can't do this anymore. I just love what I do.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BROWN: If you know someone who deserves to be recognized as a "CNN Hero," nominate them. Go to CNNheroes.com right now and tell us about them.
Thank you so much for watching. I'm Pamela Brown. Hope you have a great weekend.
AROUND THE WORLD is up next.
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SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Bracing for a potential showdown in Egypt, the army chief has called for a mass rally in Tahrir Square.
