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FBI Breaks Up Child Sex Trafficking Ring; Bus Crash Kills Pastor And Pregnant Wife; At Least Eight People Hurt In Philadelphia Building Collapse; Accident Kills Bride To Be And Best Man; Weiner Dropping In Polls; Professor Accused In Poisoning; Five Dead In Helicopter Crash; Tragic Bus Crash in Indiana; Doctor Accused of Murder; Hillary 2016?
Aired July 29, 2013 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: More than a hundred children are rescued from a sex trafficking ring and the people who allegedly sold them are arrested.
A bus crash that killed pastor and his pregnant wife left many teenagers injured as well. The driver says his brakes failed.
And it may be hard to get a Big Mac in parts of the country today. Thousands of fast food workers have walked off their jobs in seven cities to fight for better wages.
This is CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting from Washington. We begin with a dramatic scene playing out right now. The scene of a building collapse in Philadelphia. Authorities say eight people are injured, one critically. The deputy fire chief says a contractor was doing rehab work in a vacant home when it simply collapsed. Witnesses tell -- told our affiliate KYW. They heard an explosion and smelled gas after the blast. Another witness describes a dramatic rescue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I saw the whole house was down. I saw the house next to it, it was falling over. I saw a fireman, his suit was burnt up. They were hosing him down with the fire hose. They threw this baby out the window because the girl was on fire and they -- and the firemen had to catch the baby and all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The firefighters actually caught the baby being dropped out the window?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was pretty amazing. What were they doing? Were they saying you can drop her or you can drop him or --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, the girl just threw him right out the window and was hoping the firefighters caught --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Last month, a four-story wall of a vacant building collapsed in Philadelphia. Six people were killed, 13 injured. A crane operator was charged with involuntary manslaughter. We're going to keep you updated on today's collapse. Obviously, very dramatic pictures.
Meanwhile, a major FBI operation to tell you about this hour. The agency says it broke up a major child sex trafficking ring rescuing more than 100 children. CNN's Joe Johns is watching what's going on. What are we learning about this FBI operation?
JOE JOHNS, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this is something called Operation Cross Country. It's an ongoing crackdown on child prostitution and exploitation. The sweep with FBI agents, local and state officials occurred over the weekend in 76 cities nationwide. Authorities said 150 pimps were arrested. The FBI says 105 children were being used for prostitute and have been rescued and relocated. Some of those kids, teenagers were identified with the help of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Listen.
All right. Authorities say the operation essentially targeted a variety of individuals in a variety of different places. Some were used on -- found actually, on social media. If you think you've heard of Operation Cross Country before, it's very likely it actually appeared and reappeared several times over the last half decade or so.
Now, I think we have the sound bite.
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RONALD HOSKO, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, FBI CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION: This operation targeted venues where girls and adults are operated for commercial sex, that includes street tracks, truck stops, motels, casinos, Internet sites, social media platforms and the like. The children recovered in this operation range in age from 13 to 17 and at least 21 of them had been previously known to our partners at (INAUDIBLE.)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: So, it was a huge operation over the weekend, also a huge operation over the last decade or so. They've recovered something like 2,700 children from the streets -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Do we expect, Joe, anymore arrests to come or is this the end of this specific operation?
JOHNS: It's not totally clear but we do know that this investigation is an ongoing investigation. So, the question is whether they got all of the people they were looking for.
BLITZER: Our Crime and Justice Correspondent Joe Johns reporting. Thank you.
Meanwhile, a boat ride to celebrate an upcoming marriage takes a tragic turn. Now, instead of wedding plans, family members are preparing for funerals. Investigators are trying to piece together what happened in the weekend boating accident that killed the bride to be and the best man. Alina Cho reports from Piermont, New York.
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ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): This was meant to be a celebratory cruise on the water, a bride, a groom and their friends just two weeks before their wedding, but something went terribly wrong Friday night and this boat ride quickly turned fatal. The investigation into Friday's horrific boat accident that killed a bride to be and best man will now focus on a time line, what happened and when?
LOUIS FALCON, SHERIFF, ROCKLAND COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: What we're going to do is we're going to bring in an accident reconstruction team.
CHO (voice-over): Authorities say the driver of the boat also a friend of the couple was intoxicated, charged with vehicular manslaughter and vehicular assault. Investigators are also looking into claims the barge that the boat hit did not have improper lighting.
ANTHONY FOWLER: You put an immovable object that's dark in the path of recreational boaters, you have a recipe for disaster.
CHO: Lindsay Stewart and Brian Bond were planning to marry on August 10th. They decided to take a boat ride Friday night up the Hudson River. The small powerboat carrying six people hit a construction barge near a bridge. Thirty-year-old Stewart and best man, Mark Lennon, were killed.
I'm the big brother but his heart was a lot bigger than mine. He's -- he was my rock.
CHO: Bond, the groom and four others, including the boat's driver, suffered serious injuries.
FOWLER: They seemed very sniffing (ph) with one another and very much in love.
CHO: At the home they shared, a makeshift memorial. Lindsay Stewart's family told CNN pray for our loss.
CAROL STEWART-KOSIK: She's supposed to be married two weeks from today. It just can't end like this.
CHO: A tragic ending to what was supposed to be great night on the eve of a wedding. Rather than have the joyful wedding, there will be wakes.
(on camera): Today, we're told the groom is still in the hospital with various head injuries but imagine dealing with the physical recovery while also dealing with the emotional pain of losing your bride to be and the best man in your wedding. That is actually what Brian Bond is dealing with now losing much of what is near to him in a split second.
Alina Cho, CNN, Piermont, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: What a heartbreaking story indeed.
Meanwhile, the latest revelations against the former Congressman, Anthony Weiner, is starting to watch up to him. Recent polls show a very sharp drop in support in his race to become the next mayor of New York. Yesterday, he confirmed his campaign manager has quit but Anthony Weiner refuses to get out of the race for mayor no matter how many people say he should. In fact, he's out campaigning once again today. Our Rosa Flores is joining us. She was at an event with him earlier today. Rosa, what kind of reception did he receive?
ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, he was with a very friendly crowd, Wolf. This was at the Nanshong (ph) Senior Center and these folks were all ears. I can tell you that there was a language barrier because all of these folks spoke mainly Chinese but he didn't lose a step. He learned a few Chinese words and then very quickly jumped into his message. And in short, that was that he's running for the citizens of New York and that his message is for the middle class. That he wants affordable housing, things that would impact senior citizens, of course, and regular voters, like jobs as well. And based on the reception that he got from this crowd, you can say that his message could be working. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FLORES: Will you be voting for him?
SU JONG: Yes. Yes.
FLORES: You're supportive?
JONG: Because -- yes, because I like him. He's very nice. You know, before he's in Congress and everything and he does a good job. He did something wrong. Yes, we could give him chance. That's good.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLORES: Now, as you know, he's getting a lot of political pressure from the Democratic leadership asking him to quit. That's the question in every one's mind. We, of course, asked him about it and here is what he had to say.
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ANTHONY WEINER (D), MAYORAL CANDIDATE, NEW YORK: I don't take my cues on policy from the Sunday talk shows listening to pundits. I never have. I don't -- I don't take my cues from the headline writers in the newspaper. I never have. Those are the very same people that didn't want me to run, that didn't want New Yorkers to have this choice in the first place. I'm going to keep talking about the things important to this city. I don't really care if a lot of pundits or politicians are offended by that. I'm going to keep doing those things. And I think New Yorkers deserve that choice. I'm going to let New Yorkers decide.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLORES: Now, as you know, Wolf, that's the beauty of America. He can choose to run and then people can choose to vote.
BLITZER: Was there any indication, any sign, Rosa, that his wife, Huma Abedin, is out there on the campaign trail helping him?
FLORES: You know, I didn't spot her today but I did ask him that question and the only thing he said back to me was, she is doing fine. And that's the only thing he said. He went on answering other questions. But that, of course, is on everyone's mind because of the criticism that she's received and the support that she's giving him. So, I didn't see -- I didn't see her today -- here, Wolf, but we, of course will keep an eye.
Rosa Flores, our newest addition to CNN. Rose, thanks very much and welcome, of course, to CNN. We're going to keep you busy in the years to come.
FLORES: Thank you.
BLITZER: Appreciate it very much.
Making sure that the tragedy of their son doesn't fade from our memory, the parents of Trayvon Martin are continuing to press the case that something be done to make sure no other child is killed. Today, Martin's mother spoke with the nation's largest group of black lawyers, the National Bar Association, to address what she calls inequities in the U.S. justice system.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SYBRINA FULTON: From the trial, you've seen that my son wasn't doing anything wrong. Trayvon was just simply walking home. And he didn't have a weapon. He didn't have a gun. He had candy and a drink. So, we need to take a look at that. He wasn't a suspect. He wasn't a burglar. He was just minding his own business going home. But it was somebody's else's perception of him that changed everything that caused his death.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: George Zimmerman who shot and killed Trayvon Martin during a scuffle in February of last year was found not guilty of murder after the jury believed he was acting this self-defense.
A university professor accused of killing his wife by poisoning her with sionide appears in a West Virginia courtroom today. Friends and family, they are still in shock. We're taking a closer look at his possible motives.
And President Obama and Hillary Clinton, they are having lunch at the White House right now. Lots of speculation surrounding what they're talking about. We're taking a closer look at this meeting. Why is it so high profile? That's coming up.
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BLITZER: Five people, including a child, are dead after their helicopter crashed in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. The FAA says the helicopter left from an airport in Binghamton, New York and was headed to Layton, Pennsylvania. That's about 85 miles northwest of Philadelphia. The coroner says three men and one women -- one woman also died. The wreckage of the Robinson 66 helicopter was found Sunday afternoon. The cause of the crash is unclear but air traffic controllers lost contact with the helicopter around 10:30 Saturday night during bad weather.
Another tragic accident, this one in Italy where at least 38 people were killed when a bus plunged off a bridge and into a ravine last night. It happened east of Naples in Avalina Province (ph). Witnesses say it appeared the driver didn't try to slow down or stop. At least 10 people survived the accident. Most of them are very badly injured. The bus was carrying religious pilgrims who had just visited a Catholic shrine. Tomorrow mourners will gather for a mass of funeral outside of Naples.
Tragic bus crash in Indiana has killed a youth pastor, his pregnant wife, and a chaperone. The bus was returning from a camp in Michigan. The accident has devastated church members. Reporter Brooke Martin with our affiliate WISH explains how it happened.
BROOKE MARTIN, REPORTER, WISH: Good afternoon, Wolf. It's a very quiet Monday afternoon here at Colonial Hills Baptist Church in Indianapolis. I'm told only a couple of people are inside the building despite the number of cars you see in the parking lot. It's less than two days after the Colonial Hills Baptist Church passenger bus filled with their youth group overturned onto Keystone Avenue here in Indianapolis. We're told the driver told police his brakes failed on the way home from summer camp in Michigan as they were exiting a highway.
The bus crashed into a center median overturning. Thirty-seven people were on board, 26 were taken to area hospitals and three were killed in that accident. Those were youth pastor Chad Phelps, his wife Courtney who was eight months pregnant, their unborn child also died, and another mother Tonya Winedorf.
Of those being treated in area hospitals, we are told six are being treated. They are all in good or fair condition. Obviously a huge shock to this community as a whole. The mayor visited with members here at Colonial Hills. He said the faith of this church cannot be overstated and that's what they are clinging to right now.
They are also working on memorial plans and a fund being set up to help the surviving victims and their families.
On the church's website they talked about the camp as being the highlight of the year for this youth group. The highlight has ended in tragedy and church leaders say those teens' faith, especially, will be very much tested in the coming weeks and years. BLITZER: Brooke Martin reporting for us. Brooke, thank you. Brooke, with our affiliate WISH.
A research professor at the University of Pittsburgh is accused of killing his wife by poisoning her with cyanide. He has an extradition hearing in West Virginia today. At least for today he's not expected to put up a fight. CNN's John Berman has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN (voice-over): Dr. Robert Ferrante is expected to waive extradition and be transported back to Pennsylvania where he faces criminal homicide charges, his arrest in West Virginia on Thursday ending a nationwide manhunt.
ST. WILLIAM TUPPER, WEST VA. STATE POLICE: He was relatively quiet. He knew there were warrants for him. Said he was en route back to Pittsburgh.
WILLIAM DIFENDERFER, FERRANTE'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY: He's anxious to defend himself, have his day in court, and prove his innocence.
BERMAN: Ferrante, a medical researcher and professor at the University of Pittsburgh, is accused of poisoning his wife, Dr. Autumn Klein, with cyanide in April. Dr. Klein, seen here in an interview on the Discovery Channel, was the chief of women's neurology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Police investigators scoured the couple's home collecting evidence there and at the university lab where Ferrante worked. A three-month investigation led to this criminal complaint against 64-year-old Ferrante, documenting alleged text conversation with his wife urging her to go on a creatine regiment to help with fertility, the substance investigators believe he laced with cynaide.
The complaint also documents Ferrante placing an order for an "overnight delivery of cyanide" two days before his wife collapsed.
DR. KARL WILLIAMS, MEDICAL EXAMINER: The amazing of subpoenas and investigation that went into determining, in fact, that it was a homicide, that's what took so long.
BERMAN: Klein leaves behind their 6-year-old daughter, her death sending shockwaves throughout the community.
BLITHE RUNSDORF, NEIGHBOR: We were stunned. I mean, she was young, she was vibrant. She has a young daughter. We were just stunned.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: That report from CNN's John Berman. What a story. Ferrante's attorney tells CNN affiliate KDKA that he's devastated by his wife's death and says he's innocent and will fight the charges.
Very different story coming up here in the CNN NEWSROOM. What's on the menu at today's lunch between President Obama and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton? Talk of election 2016, perhaps. We'll take a closer look.
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BLITZER: After decades of on again and off again talks and years of a stalemate, there's now a glimmer of hope for the future of Mideast peace talks. Israeli and Palestinian representatives are now in Washington getting ready to resume face-to-face talks later tonight. First time in three years. The meeting comes after the Israeli government approved the release of 104 Palestinian prisoners. The prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a tough decision for the good of the country. Secretary of State John Kerry has been pushing hard to try to kickstart the Middle East peace process. He's made many trips to the region. The talks again tonight. Let's hope for the best.
We don't know what's on the menu right now but politics was almost certainly on the agenda as President Obama and Hillary Clinton met for lunch at the White House today. The president hosted his former secretary of state in a private dining room. Secretary Clinton has been busy since she stepped down as the country's top diplomat, with speaking engagements and women's empowerment events. Let's bring in our chief political analyst Gloria Borger. What can we read into this lunch today at the White House, if anything?
GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: You know, Wolf, it's easy to read more into it than there really is. We don't know whether this event was pre-scheduled. I have to believe it was. I believe by now these are two old friends trying to catch up on a lot of business that's been conducted. I bet they're going to end up talking about Syria, certainly the Middle East.
You know, you'd have to say, Wolf, remember back in March the president invited both former President Clinton and Hillary Clinton to dinner. This was a relationship that's grown over the years, that surprised a lot of people. When she was first made secretary of state they said how will this rival work with this president, and to the surprise of some of her detractors, she's been a very loyal secretary of state, one who's concealed the president, and clearly continues to seek. So I think this is a bit of a catch up lunch.
BLITZER: If you look at the most recent polls, and we have one. I want to put it up on the screen. This is the McClatchy-Marist Poll. It shows by far she's the overwhelming favorite right now. 63 percent. These are Democrats. They would like her to be the party's presidential nominee in 2016. Joe Biden gets 13 percent and Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York, down with 6 percent. The president is close to Joe Biden as well, but there's a lot of people who just assume. I wonder if you want to weigh in, if Hillary runs, Joe Biden won't.
BORGER: Yeah I think that's the case. In talking to people who are close to the vice president, over the past six months or so, it seems while Vice President Biden really is toying with the possibility of a presidential run, I think that if Hillary Clinton runs, I don't think he would engage on that. She is such an overwhelming favorite. The Democratic party would be behind her. I think the big question really is what is Hillary Clinton decides she wants to do. We really do not know the answer to that. We really don't.
BLITZER: You saw the interview, yesterday's "New York Times." The president gave a lengthy interview. Spent about 40 minutes with "The New York Times." And he was talking about the widening gap between the rich and the middle class. Something he says is destroying the nation's overall well-being. He's back to a major theme he used during the campaign right now.
BORGER: He's trying to reset the agenda. This theme worked for him during the campaign. The rich versus the poor. We're not paying enough attention to the middle class. The middle class doesn't feel like it's part of the economic success of this country. He's got, if you look at the polls, only a third of the people in this country believe it's headed on the right track economically. What he's doing, Wolf, in this interview and the speeches we see him giving is he's laying the ground work for that fight he'll have with Republicans in the fall over raising the debt ceiling and the budget. He's putting them on notice saying no more austerity budgets. We need to figure out way to grow this economy.
BLITZER: Certainly do. Let's see what he can do. All right, Gloria. I know Gloria will be back with me later today in " THE SITUATION ROOM." Much more on this and other subjects as well.
Fast food workers hold strikes across the country demanding a living wage. We'll take a look at their current salaries, what they can buy. Stay with us.
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