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Two Missing In New York Boat Accident; Violent Clashes Fill Egypt's Streets; Six Killed In Miami Hostage Standoff; Driver Accused Of Reckless Homicide; "Person Of Interest" Held In Murder; Pope Francis In Brazil; Weiner's Campaign Takes Hit; New Photos From Inside Hernandez's Home; Bradley Manning Trial Ends; North Korea Celebrates Korean War Truce; San Diego Mayor Seeks Therapy; Weiner Scandal Taking A Toll; U.S.: No Death Penalty For Snowden; Ariel Castro Accepts Plea Deal
Aired July 27, 2013 - 11:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Pretty cool. All right, I'm Pamela Brown in today for Fredricka Whitfield. We appreciate you spending this Saturday with us.
Here are some of the top stories we're following in the CNN NEWSROOM --
A bridal party on the Hudson River ends violently, the boat crash, and now the bride is missing just two weeks before the wedding. We have all the details up next.
The San Diego mayor says he is not going anywhere despite serious allegations of sexual harassment. We ask a psychologist what's next for the mayor, the alleged victims here.
And a bloody rampage in a Florida apartment building ends with six people and the gunman dead. We'll take you through what happened there last night.
Our top story this Saturday, a pre-wedding joyride on a boat ends in a horrifying accident in New York. Two people including the bride-to-we are missing, four others are injured. As you can imagine, the bride's mother is devastated by this news. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAROL STEWART, LINDSAY STEWART'S MOTHER: What we understand from her fiance, they hit something. He called 911. He was unconscious, reached for his phone when he came to. There were three people in the boat with him out cold. And Lindsay and Mark Lennon who is their best man are missing. She's supposed to be married two weeks from today. Yes. It just can't end like this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: You just feel for this mother. Her daughter as we know is still missing at this hour. This is supposed to be the most exciting time in her life, two weeks before her wedding. What's the latest with the search and rescue operations? ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Pamela, at this hour the search is under way for two people missing, of course, there were four injured in this boating accident that happened last night. As you mentioned, among the missing is 30-year-old Lindsay Stewart, a bride- to-be, due to be married two weeks from today. The other person who is said to be missing is the best man in the wedding.
Here's what we know about what happened last night. A boat, a small recreational boat, a 21-foot Stingray carrying six passengers apparently left the marina next to the one where we are at right now at about 10:00 last night. Shortly thereafter, authorities say it hit a barge. Two people were apparently ejected, four survived, among them the groom who was apparently knocked unconscious. And when he came to, he called 911.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT VANCURA, UNDERSHERIFF OF ROCKLAND COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: There were four people remaining on the boat when the boat was located just south of the Tappan Zee Bridge. They had various head injuries and one party was unconscious. We still have two people missing. We are beginning our search this morning to go back out and try to attempt to locate the two missing individuals.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: Within the past hour we saw the parents of Lindsay Stewart who were here at this marina waiting for word. Of course, they are hoping for the best but prepared for the worst. Lindsay's mother tells me, Pamela, that Lindsay was not wearing a life jacket. And, of course, as I mentioned, the search is under way. But as each hour passes, it becomes less and less likely that these two people -- two people will be found alive -- Pamela.
BROWN: And as you mentioned, Alina, we believe the boat hit a barge, that's what caused that accident, right?
CHO: It is. Apparently it was a set of three barges that were tied together, Pamela, actually. And they were part of the construction project at the Tappan Zee Bridge. It was apparently carrying building materials and pilings and the like. Apparently, the barges had lights on them, but authorities say even with those lights, it was so dark on the water last night. It may have been difficult to see those barges.
But as I mentioned, the parents were here, and a short time ago I did have an opportunity to speak to the stepfather of Lindsay Stewart. Listen to what he said --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALTER KOSIK, LINDSAY STEWART'S FATHER: Just got word 2:30 in the morning. Police were over at our house. That's something, a nightmare, I don't wish on any parent, because the police coming over to your house waking you up while you're sleeping and telling you an accident has occurred.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: Parents' worst nightmare is right. This is a couple that was very excited for their wedding in two weeks. Lindsay apparently, Pamela, had planned the entire wedding herself. They lived just about 500 feet from here and they had their whole lives ahead of them -- Pamela.
BROWN: Agonizing. All right, Alina Cho, keep us posted out there. Thank you.
To Egypt now where violent clashes leave dozens dead in the streets there. Supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsy claimed police that support the new military leadership are shooting at them. You can hear there the gunshots in that amateur video of the clashes and we want to remind you CNN cannot confirm its authenticity. Reza Sayah is live in Cairo. Reza, lots of conflicting reports there right now. What's the latest?
REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, things are calm at this hour, Pamela, but just an awful night on Friday here in Cairo. These were some of the deadliest, some of the most violent clashes we've seen here ever since the ouster of former President Mohammed Morsy back on July the 3rd. We're getting conflicting reports when it comes to the death toll. Many of the casualties were brought here, the home base of the pro-Morsy supporters --
When you talk to the doctors here, they say between 50 and 70 people were killed, more than 2,000 injured, but the health ministry is saying 46 people killed and more than 600 people injured. We're also getting conflicting reports. When you talk to the demonstrators they are protesting and marching towards the downtown area, that, of course, Morsy protesters when all of a sudden the forces started firing at them with live weapons and bird shot, but they deny this.
They say they didn't fire any weapons. They say all they used was tear gas. We've also reviewed some amateur video of the clashes from last night and we see what appeared to be people on both sides in civilian clothes, also see people in civilian clothes next to police officers firing guns, which is unusual. Protesters here claim that those are police officers in civilian clothes.
Interior Ministry said it's impossible to verify, but certainly all sorts of information that the conflict is not over -- when you look at the big picture, you have this military-backed interim government trying to push forward with this democratic transition, Pamela, the Muslim Brotherhood are standing in their way and this conflict is not ending anytime soon.
BROWN: Certainly a tumultuous situation, Reza, stay safe, thank you.
Back here in South Florida, authorities are back on the scene of a harrowing overnight shooting. It all happened after an hour's long standoff between a gunman and police in an apartment complex in a Miami suburb. CNN's Nick Valencia has the very latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Scary moments for this quiet South Florida neighborhood. Witnesses call 911 after hearing multiple gunshots at an apartment complex in Hialeah.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've heard about 15 to 20 shots and so I went outside, and my neighbors were screaming that my parents had been shot.
VALENCIA: Shot and killed. The first two victims in Friday night's shooting spree were a husband and wife, who managed the apartments.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Great people, you know, great grandparents. I can't even say, they're just flawless grandparents.
VALENCIA: In an interview with CNN police described the chaos as they cornered the shooter. Barricaded inside an apartment, he took two other people as hostages.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (via telephone): They coordinated with SWAT and eventually they went in and they rescued both hostages that were inside and the subject was also killed.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VALENCIA: Police found two other bodies in the apartment complex and one across the street. Altogether during the eight-hour ordeal, seven people were killed including the shooter. Police have not ID'd him or established a motive, but police tells CNN that the suspect's mother was a tenant at the apartment complex -- Pamela.
BROWN: So a lot to learn with this story, Nick, thank you.
In Spain, police there are accusing the driver in Wednesday's train crash of reckless homicide. They took Jose Francisco Garzon into custody after he was released from a hospital. A judge is now deciding on whether to charge him. Investigators are looking into conditions during the crash including the train's speed. At least 78 people were killed in the crash.
And checking today's top stories, a Boston man arrested for allegedly assaulting two women, now a person of interest in the abduction and killing of a young woman from the same neighborhood. Police identify him as 28-year-old Edwin Alamani. Police say 24-year-old Amy Lord was forced to withdraw cash from five different banks before someone fatally stabbed her. Police say they're on the right track with Alamani's arrest.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ED DAVIS, COMMISSIONER, BOSTON POLICE: We're confident and comfortable that we're on the right track in this case, scientific and DNA testing takes time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Alamani has been arraigned 34 times as an adult, but this time a judge deemed him unfit to be arraigned and ordered him to undergo mental evaluation.
Pope Francis celebrates mass at the Rio De Janeiro Cathedral in Brazil. He will be meeting Brazilian politicians later today. The pontiff has been talking to the country's youth this week encouraging them to help change the world and, quote, "put on the faith."
Well, he really wants to be the next mayor of New York, but will Anthony Weiner be able to get past the latest chapter of his sexting scandal and how about the voters here?
Plus, we've got an update on Aaron Hernandez, there's new potentially damaging evidence in the NFL's star murder case. Those stories and more right after this break, stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: The race for mayor of New York has turned into a referendum on Anthony Weiner, the former congressman was the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, but a new poll shows he's fallen behind. It seems he cannot shake the controversy around his sexting habits with other women. CNN's Mary Snow is on the campaign trail.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For days Anthony Weiner has been dogged about the latest chapter of his sexting scandal. He's become the target of countless jokes, with the "New Yorker" magazine among the latest to mock him, but he's showing no signs he'll drop his bid to run for mayor. He took his campaign to an area hard hit by Superstorm Sandy, Staten Island. With cameras following him, a woman who says she isn't a supporter confronted him.
PEG BRUNDA, RETIRED TEACHER: As a former New York City Department of Education employee with 21 years as a teacher and nine years as an existing principal, had I conducted myself in the manner in which you conducted yours, my job would have been gone?
ANTHONY WEINER (D), MAYORAL CANDIDATE: In the privacy of your home?
BRUNDA: In the privacy of my home.
WEINER: I respect your view.
SNOW: That exchange comes one day after Sidney Leathers gave a detailed account of the sexually explicit relationship she says she had with Weiner online and by phone a year after Weiner resigned from Congress. She spoke to "Inside Edition."
WEINER: I said someone may want to release stuff on their own, but it is not I believe to be-all and end-all of my campaign. I want to talk about how we continue Sandy relief.
SNOW: As Weiner presses ahead with his campaign to become mayor, the man who currently holds the office weighed in.
MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK: Conduct like some of these things we've been reading about is reprehensible and -- but whether it should impact your voting, that's up to the voters.
SNOW: Mary Snow, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BROWN: And coming up in the next hour on CNN NEWSROOM, Fredricka Whitfield talks with our chief political analyst Gloria Borger, an in- depth analysis on the New York's mayor's race and what it means for America's largest city.
New evidence surfaces in the Aaron Hernandez murder case. Will new surveillance pictures help or hurt the former NFL star? Our legal team weighs in.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: Police have some new and potentially damaging evidence against former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez who's accused of murder. Surveillance photos appear to show Hernandez with a gun in the hours just before the shooting death of his friend Odin Lloyd. These new images are from inside Hernandez's home. Our Susan Candiotti explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Potentially damaging images taken from former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez's home security system. It's hard to make out in these blurry photocopies, but just before 1:00 a.m., a few hours before Odin Lloyd is murdered, prosecutors say Hernandez is in his living room allegedly holding what appears to be a firearm.
At 2:32 a.m., prosecutors say Hernandez and two other men pick up the victim at his home 30 miles away. About an hour later, Lloyd is shot five times execution style. His body is found less than a mile from Hernandez's home. A few minutes later, 3:32 a.m., CNN has obtained this color photo of Hernandez still wearing a white shirt back home allegedly with Carlos Ortiz and Ernest Wallace.
A second later, Hernandez is at his basement door. Authorities say the time stamped system is 12 hours off. Court documents state he appears to have a gun in his left hand. The next three black and white images immediately follow with Hernandez still apparently holding a gun. No murder weapon has been found. And Hernandez has pleaded not guilty. His lawyers have not responded to CNN requesting comment, but defended their client on Wednesday.
CHARLES RANKIN, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Given the facts of the case as we know them, we're confident that Aaron is going to be exonerated.
CANDIOTTI: A law enforcement source tells CNN prosecutors suspect this possible motive -- Hernandez was angry about Odin Lloyd discussing an unsolved double murder in Boston with some connected to the two men that were killed.
At his first pre-season press conference, New England Patriot Tom Brady talked about the arrest of his ex-teammate.
TOM BRADY, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOT: I think that we as a team have tried to, you know, move -- move forward with, you know, better awareness and understanding of these types of things. Hopefully, you know, nothing like this ever happens again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BROWN: And that was our Susan Candiotti with those new details for us. And now let's bring in our legal guys for more analysis, we have Avery Friedman, a civil rights attorney and a law professor who is in Cleveland for us, and Richard Herman, a former criminal lawyer and a law professor, joins us now from Las Vegas.
Thank you both for being here. It's nice to see you both. Avery, let's start with you here. These new pictures, do you think they are the smoking gun, no pun intended?
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Well, Pamela, if I'm prosecuting this case I've got the magazine that fits in the Glock, I've got video from before, I've got video from after. I've got motive and I've got a colleague, this Ernest Wallace, that Susan talked about in her report, I'm not sure how earnest he is, but he's going to say that Aaron Hernandez was the trigger man. So, from my perspective, at least from a prosecution perspective, I don't know how the prosecution can't prevail in getting these convictions. It seems impossible not to prevail.
BROWN: Yes, I mean, Richard, prosecutors say not only did Hernandez kill Odin Lloyd. He disposed of the gun and destroyed his home surveillance system. What could the defense strategy be in this case?
RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: You know, first of all, let's understand there's no evidence yet, because evidence is in a courtroom and we're not in a courtroom yet. However, Avery makes certain points that are pretty valid here. In the opera they say it's over when the fat lady sings, she's in the back warming up for Mr. Hernandez now, it gets worse and worse each day. These videos although they're grainy do appear to show a 45-caliber weapon and that was the type of weapon of choice for this execution.
I say execution because we hear a lot about 9-millimeter round, a 45- millimeter round is twice the size of 9-millimeter, five shots into this victim, that's execution style, that's with intent, that's with bad intent. So they found casings at his home. That surveillance system we mentioned that was found to be intentionally destroyed by Hernandez yet the data was recovered. His cell phone was intentionally destroyed and data was recovered off that.
FRIEDMAN: They got him.
HERMAN: Now these grainy pictures and worse of all, his co-person and his buddy that was with him tonight he is singing.
FRIEDMAN: That's Ernest.
HERMAN: He's laying it on heavy incriminating Hernandez.
BROWN: It seems like there's mounting evidence.
FRIEDMAN: By the way, there is -- there is a probable cause hearing coming up on the 22nd of August, Pamela, and the question will be, will the defense use that hearing to hear more evidence from prosecution? They actually may have the right to put on witnesses, but that remains to be seen. That's going to be a tactical consideration for how the case will be defended.
BROWN: Yes, and Richard, given the mounting evidence that you just discussed, do you think they might try to work out a plea deal here? What do you think?
HERMAN: You know, Pamela, and normally I would say yes, except that he's potentially now a target, a target in a double homicide in Massachusetts. He also has a matter pending in Florida for an assault-type shooting.
FRIEDMAN: In Florida, yes.
HERMAN: He's got a world of trouble right now and if you're his attorney, you want to try to make one global resolution here. Either way, any resolution, is going to --
FRIEDMAN: It won't happen.
HERMAN: -- will get him perhaps life in prison.
BROWN: A grand jury is looking at evidence from the other case you mentioned, the double murder. Avery, the defense objected to the release of the images that we saw, but a judge did allow it in a response to a request from the media including CNN. Do you see these images as crucial to the case, as sort of cementing the prosecution's case against Hernandez?
FRIEDMAN: Yes. I mean, Pamela, I mean, to me this is the kind of case where short of Aaron Hernandez coming up and saying, yes, I did it, the evidence is frankly overwhelming. And I'm not sure what kind of reasonable argument could be advanced by the defense in trying to block that information. Media's responsibility to get that, to certainly air it, they have a right to it, but I would suppose the construct is that the defense says this could be prejudicial. On balance, the judge did the right thing. That information should have been released and, of course, we have that today.
BROWN: All right, you answered my next question. I was going to ask if you think it should have been released. The last note here, we've been hearing that one of Hernandez's friends allegedly part of this killing and now at least one of them is turning state's evidence and will help the prosecution in this case. Could it get any worse for Hernandez at this point?
HERMAN: It's bad. It's bleak. I bet the other co-defendant --
FRIEDMAN: Yes. HERMAN: -- is also going to try to give evidence. They're going to try to save and spare their lives. It's just mounting against him right now and interesting here, Pamela and Avery, this case they're claiming is a circumstantial case. We hear circumstantial evidence. Sometimes a good circumstantial case is better than an eyewitness case and here the circumstances are mounting and mounting and mounting and it really --
FRIEDMAN: Video trumps witnesses. Video trumps witnesses no doubt it.
HERMAN: But this seems overwhelmingly against Hernandez and the lawyers will do everything they can to try to cut a deal.
BROWN: All right, again, innocent until proven guilty. All right, thank you both.
HERMAN: That's true.
FRIEDMAN: That's true.
BROWN: Yes. We're going to see you back here in just about 20 minutes to talk about Ariel Castro's plea deal, the man who held those three girls captive for 10 years will never get out of prison we now know, and something he said in court yesterday absolutely shocked everyone. We're going to thank you to you about that in just 20 minutes.
San Diego's scandal-ridden mayor is choosing to get treatment instead of get lost like many of his constituents want. Ahead, I'm going to talk to a clinical psychologist about what kind of help Bob Filner will be receiving and whether therapy is the right move.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: The fate of the Army private accused in the largest leak of classified information in U.S. history is now in the hands of a military judge. Bradley Manning is accused of handing over hundreds of thousands of documents on the Iraq war to Wikileaks. In closing arguments Friday prosecutors say Bradley Manning was a traitor who had no allegiance to the United States. Manning is charged with aiding the enemy.
North Korea is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Korean War truce today. There was a massive military parade in Pyongyang. Leader Kim Jong-Un was present at the parade along with China's vice president. Ceremonies marking the anniversary were also held in South Korea and the U.S.
There's no letup in the questions for New York mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner, this week the former congressman revealed he had more sexual texting episodes after leaving Congress. One voter confronted him directly about his behavior yesterday. Take a look --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNDA: I don't quite understand how you would feel you would have the moral authority as the head administrator in this city --
WEINER: Yes.
BRUNDA: -- to oversee employees when your standard of conduct is so much lower than the standard of conduct that is expected of us.
WEINER: Are you not voting for me?
BRUNDA: I would not vote for you, sir.
WEINER: OK.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: All right, turning now to another political sex scandal, had one in San Diego. Yesterday City Mayor Bob Filner announced he's seeking help and getting counseling rather than bow to calls to step down from office.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR BOB FILNER (D), SAN DIEGO: I am responsible for my conduct and I must take responsibility for my conduct by taking action so that such conduct does not ever happen again. So, beginning on August 5th, I will be entering a behavior counseling clinic to undergo two weeks of intensive therapy to begin to address my behavior.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: But the question is, is this the right move? Dr. Judy Kuriansky is a licensed clinical psychologist at Columbia University Teachers College and has led workshops on crisis counseling and intervention with groups around the world. She joins me from New York. It's nice to have you here with us.
JUDY KURIANSKY, LICENSED CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY TEACHERS COLLEGE: Pleasure, Pamela.
BROWN: Seven women have accused Mayor Filner of inappropriate conduct. It's allegedly been going on for years. Is two weeks of counselling here really the answer? Is that going to be enough do you think?
KURIANSKY: Never enough, Pamela, but I'm optimistic that he has actually said, we've just heard him, I'm going to be in a continuing process, a process, he's got two weeks of intensive therapy, Pamela, that's not enough, but he knows it's continuing and he has said it will be ongoing. And that's what's important. Some people go into a therapy, they think two weeks, a month is enough, never. But since he knows it's ongoing, that's what is a little bit positive.
BROWN: So, this is the first step. He's acknowledging this. He's saying it's ongoing, but he's also saying that he's not going to bow out, that he's going to stay where he is. Do you think that's the right move? What do you think is behind that here? KURIANSKY: I think he has to stand up for that right now until he gets pushed out and he's talking about how this is a behavior that has gone on because of his generation. We're not going to excuse that, but no woman until now has stood up to him. And that's because they've been afraid that they would lose their job. They've even said that, so we've had deans and retired admirals and business women and CEOs who haven't said no, no, no, and now he's gotten that slap on his hand.
There's an interesting technique, Pamela, that I think would work with him in behavior therapy, but he needs attitude and psychological things, too, it's called role playing. You would have a woman pretend she's a CEO, a very powerful woman, because that's what he's dealing with and have him role play it. A thought comes into his mind, I'll slap you on the back or put you in a headlock or tell you to take off your underwear.
He stops and says something very positive and respectful to her, like that's a brilliant idea that you have. I love that you're so intelligent. Let's get working on that project together. Do you see how -- that's the kind of thing that would happen in a behavior therapy.
BROWN: All right, I want to be sure that we have enough time to touch on New York mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner, obviously these new revelations coming out that he was involved with sexting women after he resigned from Congress. He's saying it's inappropriate. What do you think is going on here? Do we think this is narcissism, sexual addiction? Is this encourageable or is this something that can be rectified this kind of behavior? Give us some idea.
KURIANSKY: I just told you there was optimism in the case with the San Diego mayor, but I don't feel that way with regard to our New York mayoral candidate. I think this is really a difficult case. This has a lot to do in my estimation with people I've seen who have a mixture of everything you mentioned, Pamela, and then some. Sexual addiction because it's out of control, slapped his hand and he's doing it again. God forbid he should get into a position of power and then the behavior would be just even more evident.
BROWN: I was going to ask you that. Because is power sort of a dangerous ingredient for someone who is predisposed to this kind of behavior that Anthony Weiner has exhibited?
KURIANSKY: Brilliant, yes, that's absolutely true, that power really gives him the sense of entitlement and gives him the arena to be able to act out his problems because no one has said no to him. So, why should he stop? He's gotten away with it and as you said, there's extreme narcissism, extreme sense of a huge ego and really a cutting off of an understanding of what is appropriate and good judgment.
So, that's why I think that this is really difficult as a psychologist this would be the hardest case to treat with -- between the foot fetish and the sexting and all the behaviors that he's done repeatedly. And where he is in his position, I think this is really tough. BROWN: And just extra concerning that he resigned from Congress because of the revelations and then he continued with that behavior as he admitted, all right.
KURIANSKY: It's like an alcoholic and a drug addict, you know, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, and then back off the wagon again so --
BROWN: Right.
KURIANSKY: Two different situations there I think.
BROWN: All right, thanks for distinguishing that, Dr. Kuriansky, thank you so much, really interesting discussion with you.
And tomorrow morning at 6:00 on "NEW DAY SUNDAY," the second woman to accuse Filner of sexual harassment tells her story and she'll tell us what she thinks about his move to seek therapy.
Well, will Anthony Weiner's sexting scandal keeping him from being the next mayor of New York? Political editor, Paul Steinhauser, says the latest polls are revealing.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Hi, Pamela. For the first time, Anthony Weiner gave an estimate of how many women he's sexted.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WEINER: It's not dozens and dozens. It is six to ten I suppose, but I can't tell you absolutely what someone else is going to consider inappropriate or not.
STEINHAUSER (voice-over): But there are even more troubling numbers for the former congressman as he runs for New York City mayor, his favorable rating plunged 22 points from late last month according to a poll conducted the day after he admitted to sending sexual pictures and text to women a year after he resigned from Congress for doing the exact same thing.
And that NBC4 New York/"Wall Street Journal"/Marist survey also indicates that Weiner's dropped out of the top spot in the race for the Democratic mayoral nomination falling 9 points to 16 percent. Some rivals are calling for him to end his bid.
WEINER: I'm sure many of my opponents would like me to drop out of the race.
STEINHAUSER: So what do New Yorkers think? Forty seven percent of Democrats say he should stay in the race with 43 percent saying he should call it quits. Weiner's wife, top Hillary Clinton adviser, Huma Abedin, is standing by her man.
HUMA ABEDIN, ANTHONY WEINER'S WIFE: I love him. I have forgiven him. I believe in him, and as we have said from the beginning, we are moving forward.
(END VIDEOTAPE) STEINHAUSER: But nearly three-quarters say that support makes no impact on how they'll vote in September's primary. This is just one poll. More will follow. But as of now, the numbers aren't adding up for Weiner -- Pamela.
BROWN: All right, that's a safe assumption there.
All right, NSA leaker Edward Snowden is holed up in a Russian airport waiting to hear about his asylum request, and he may have some extremely sensitive material with him that hasn't been leaked yet. The columnist who broke the story and talked to Snowden gives his take up next. Stay with us. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: The U.S. says it will not seek the death penalty against Edward Snowden and calls the NSA leaker's request for asylum in Russia without merit. Snowden had said he'd face in torture and death in the U.S. and that's why he needs asylum. But Attorney General Eric Holder wrote a letter to Russia saying that's simply not true and Snowden should not be treated like a refugee.
Snowden's father also sent a letter to President Obama asking for the criminal complaint to be dismissed. Right now at this hour, Snowden is still in that Moscow airport waiting to hear if he'll get asylum. "The Guardian" reporter who broke the Snowden story, Glenn Greenwald told Morgan Spurlock Snowden was right to leave the U.S.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GLENN GREENWALD, COLUMNIST, "GUARDIAN": Bradley Manning, for example, did who leaked thousands of pages showing serious war crimes on the part of the United States. He didn't run and yet most people in the media and lots of people in the United States viewed him as somehow an odious person, even a traitor. He's been locked away in a cage for many years and we haven't heard from him.
There's an op-ed by Daniel Elsburg who most people consider to be a heroic whistle-blower in "The Washington Post" from two weeks ago said that Snowden was right to flee because unlike when he was charged with leaking he was able to be free during the trial and he was able to speak publicly.
In this country now whistle-blowers under the Obama administration are treated very harshly. If Mr. Snowden came back he'd be stuck in prison. He wouldn't be allowed to participate in the debate that he helped to provoke and it would be very unlikely that he'd get a fair trial, that was from Daniel Elsburg in "The Washington Post." He said that Snowden was right to leave the country.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In an interview with an Argentinean newspaper, you stated that Snowden had more to reveal, your quote is exactly we have concrete proof -- the U.S. government should be on their knees every day praying that nothing happens to Snowden because if something happens, all information will be revealed and that would be their worst nightmare. GREENWALD: Right. That was, you know, before I began reporting this story, I wrote an article about how anybody who exposes what the U.S. government is doing is the target of smear campaigns and demonization, and that was a perfect example of how Reuters took that quote completely out of context and made the exact opposite point is the one that Reuters and government defenders try to claim I made.
That answer was in response to a question which was, do you think the United States government will try and kill Mr. Snowden, and I said, that would make no sense. He has with him extremely sensitive documents that he has been insistent not be disclosed because his goal is not to harm the United States, but to shed light to his fellow citizens on what the government is doing and if he were killed, there would be no telling how those documents would then get released.
Probably more irresponsibly, if I were the U.S. government I would be praying for his health, not trying to kill him, because of how a responsible of a whistle-blower he's been in insisting that these stories be reported judiciously.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BROWN: You can catch more of Morgan Spurlock's hard-hitting interview with Glenn Greenwald at 9 p.m. Eastern on "PIERS MORGAN" tonight.
And up next right here in NEWSROOM, Ariel Castro accused of holding three women captive for decade, has a long future behind bars ahead of him. We boil down what's in a plea deal he took this week. Stay with us.
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BROWN: Well, the man who held three women captive inside his Cleveland home for about a decade will never be free again. Ariel Castro has agreed to a plea deal to life plus 1,000 years and he'll be locked up for the rest of his life. Let's talk more about the Ariel Castro plea deal. We've got the legal guys back with us, Avery Friedman in Cleveland and Richard Herman in Las Vegas.
I have so many questions for both of you. I've been covering this story since the very beginning. Richard, I want to start with you. I was really struck watching yesterday seeing Ariel Castro's appearance. He was looking around, making eye contact. He just seemed like a different person, and he also made some surprising admissions, almost seeming like he's the victim here. What's your reaction to what you heard yesterday?
HERMAN: You know, he should just keep his mouth shut right now because it's not going to do anything. It's not going to inure to his benefit or hurt him, life plus a thousand years, Pamela, it's over. He's going to go to prison. They spared his life and frankly to prove the death of an unborn child without more evidence just what they had was very, very difficult to bring that charge.
That's the only charge that could have brought him the death penalty, but his lawyers I think spared his life. They made this deal for him and, you know, in prison there's a culture of existence and some crimes you wear a badge of honor for. For the crimes he's convicted of, there is no badge of honor. He's going to be discredited and he's going to have a very rough time in prison.
BROWN: CNN had reported in the beginning there was a journal that Ariel Castro wrote in talking about how he was victimized as a child and talking about some of the issues and he also admitted yesterday he had a sexual problem in court. Let's take a listen to what he had to say --
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ARIEL CASTRO, DEFENDANT: English I'm very good at spelling and I'm very good at reading, but I can't comprehend because like I mentioned earlier, my addiction to pornography and my sexual problem has really taken a toll on my mind.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Avery, do you think he's making excuses there? What's your reaction?
FRIEDMAN: Yes, of course, he's making excuses. In fact, you know what, what's very strange, I'm sure the defense lawyer told this guy just shut up. You're going to have a sentencing coming up, but I need to say the remarkable thing about this resolution, the remarkable thing, we've covered Casey Anthony, over two years, George Zimmerman, a year and a half, Pamela, from the time the young women escaped on the 6th of May, 2013, all the way up to the sentencing which is on August 1st, less than 90 days and this case is resolved. That's swift justice.
And what an extraordinary result including a component where prosecutors took the home that Ariel Castro owned, sold it, and the money will go to a land bank so that the neighbors, the neighborhood, can decide whether they create a park or another home. And that's a wonderful part of the spirit of what I think the county prosecutors did in this case. I think it's a wonderful ending.
BROWN: And also for these victims, they won't have to testify in trial. More than $1 million has been made in the courage fund for them. You can imagine what a relief it is for them to be able to move forward with their lives. Richard, do you think this plea deal was the best resolution?
HERMAN: I think it's the best the defense could have possibly gotten here. You talk about a mountain of evidence. This is larger than Mt. Everest. This is just overwhelming case against him. He's probably one of the most hated people in country right now and --
FRIEDMAN: Absolutely right.
HERMAN: -- any resolution that spared those victims having to get up on the witness stand and recount the torture and hell that they've been through is a good thing for the justice system.
FRIEDMAN: Exactly right.
BROWN: Avery, I just want to get to this because as I said I've been covering this story and I remember in the begin Castro's attorneys came out and did an interview with a television reporter and said he's not the monster we all think that he is and he hasn't confessed anything to us. Do you think that they just had the wool pulled over their eyes by Castro or this was all part of their strategy to get a plea deal worked out?
FRIEDMAN: No, no, that was -- that was mystifying. Look, what they should have said is the constitution requires a defense. We're going to fulfill our constitutional obligations. What a ridiculous thing to say. It made no sense and I think the defense team wised up and said, you know what, we better try to resolve this, 977 counts? Their client pled to 947 yesterday and we're going to see even more of the story told at the sentencing coming up on August 1st.
BROWN: We sure will. All right, thank you so much. Our legal guys here, every Saturday, at this time, they give us their take on the most intriguing legal cases of the day. We appreciate your input. Thank you.
HERMAN: Thank you, Pamela.
BROWN: Well, there are two major storms we're keeping our eye on at this hour. How big of a threat are they? We're going to get an update on that up next.
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BROWN: Welcome back. It's so nice to have you along with us on this Saturday. We are following two significant storms at this hour, Tropical Storm Dorian is in the Atlantic and headed to the Caribbean while Flossie is in the Pacific approaching Hawaii. Meteorologist Jennifer Delgado is tracking both in the CNN Weather Center. What can you tell us, Jennifer?
JENNIFER DELGADO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I can tell you, Pamela, you know, say you are vacationing in the northern part of the Leeward Islands and you are seeing the tropical storm and you are thinking should I call the airline and get out of this region? You don't need to. This is falling apart. The maximum winds right now at 40 miles per hour. Roughly about 800 miles away from the very northern part of the Leeward Islands and it looks like it will be moving to the west.
And by this time tomorrow we're expecting it to be an area of low pressure. But notice by Monday morning it will be in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean. It will be passing to the north of Puerto Rico, but along with it we are going to see some rough surf at times and, of course, the showers and thunderstorms that will go with this area of low pressure by the time it moves that way.
And then we have Tropical Storm Flossie, Pamela, some people may call it floppy because it's really kind of fizzling out. It's been weakening and maximum winds right now at 65 miles per hour, but this one looks like it's going to hold on to its tropical storm strength and it will make its way possibly passing right on top of Hawaii. As we move through you can see late Monday as well as into Tuesday as a tropical storm with winds potentially right around 40 miles per hour.
Once again the same threats with the rough surf, of course, and the rainfall. Now, rain is coming down across parts of the U.S. you can see right along the Midwest down towards the south, Louisiana, Mississippi, showers and thunderstorms, it will be moving over to areas essential the east coast especially by tomorrow and we'll see more rain this is courtesy of a cold front.
But there's good news to report, parts of the Midwest temperatures are running 10 to 20 degrees below average. For Chicago you should be at 84 degrees. Today you'll only see 67. As we move across areas including parts of the northeast we are talking for New York, a couple degrees below average is your pick day. The rain moves in tomorrow and for the southeast we are talking temps in the 90s. But really these two tropical storms, if you had to have one coming in your direction, you'd want something really weak like this.
BROWN: Absolutely.
DELGADO: But, of course, you don't wish anything like this on anyone.
BROWN: Exactly. But it is hurricane season.
DELGADO: It is hurricane season.
BROWN: So what can we do?
DELGADO: This is experience and practice.
BROWN: That' right. Jennifer Delgado, thank you so much for that.
Coming up next hour on NEWSROOM, sex scandals for two politicians, is sexually inappropriate conduct an addiction or just an excuse for bad behavior? We'll ask a sex expert up next.
And a superbug is making a lot of people sick this summer. We'll tell you what it is and how to stay safe at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
And you may not know his name but his music is iconic -- songwriter and guitarist J.J. Kale has died. He wrote songs made famous by Eric Clapton, Leonard Skinner, Johnny Cash, Carlos Santana and the Oleman Brothers. Kale suffered a heart attack. He was 74 years old.
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