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Examining Expected MLB Suspensions; Embassy Shutdown Discussed; Filner Gets Counselling

Aired August 05, 2013 - 13:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Alex Rodriguez is considered one of baseball's greatest sluggers but his career now hanging in the balance. At any moment, major league baseball will announce what it plans to do about the performance enhancing drug use against a-rod.

And U.S. embassies shut down on high alert. How long is this going to last? We're going to take you live to Cairo.

And sex counselling. The mayor of San Diego entering a two-week intensive treatment program following a slew of sexual harassment claims. But is it too late?

This is CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Suzanne Malveaux.

Today is the day that Alex Rodriguez learns his fate with major league baseball. The league has been quiet about the expected suspension of the Yankees infielder. Now, he is accused of taking performance enhancement drugs or PEDs. An announcement of baseball's action against him could come any moment now. We are watching. We are waiting. Some say A-Rod could be out until 2016.

I want to bring in our sports anchor Rachel Nichols joining us from New York. And, Rachel, everybody is wondering what's going to happen. Even if he's suspended, he's expected to play tonight, right, in Chicago when the Yankees take on the White Socks. How does that work?

RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, the way the major league drug agreement works with its players union is that while a player is appealing a suspension, and let's face it, Alex Rodriguez has said there is no question he is appealing this suspension when it comes down, they can still play while the suspension is going on.

Now, last week, the league office leaked the possibility that instead of suspending him under the drug agreement, they might suspend him under the commissioner's powers. That's when the commissioner decides it's, quote, "in the best interest of the game to take a player off the field." If they had suspended him under those best interest of the game, he wouldn't have been able to play while he was appealing.

But it doesn't sound like they're going to do that. We are suspecting them to suspend him, quote, "the normal way." If they do that, he's going to appeal immediately which means he is going to make his going to make his debut for the New York Yankees this season because of all the injuries he's had on the same day that baseball suspends him. One of the greatest suspensions for any drug related offense. It's going to be a complete circus. And we're expecting it to be a complete circus in the come weeks as that appeal goes on and he gets booed on the road, maybe he even gets booed at home. This is the largest thing we've seen for a star of this nature. It's going to be fascinating.

MALVEAUX: And what is the significance here, these suspensions, in terms of the sport itself? I mean, how widespread is this when you're talking about these performance enhancing drugs and major league baseball? What does it mean for the future of this sport?

NICHOLS: Well, it's interesting because there was a point where players were definitely standing up for the guys were accused of PED use. They didn't want to hear about it. They closed ranks around these guys. The tide has definitely changed. There is no question about it. You're having other players, big players around the sport, saying, throw these guys out of game. We don't think the penalties are harsh enough. And that is really a see change in this sport and indicates that, for the other sports as well, we could see some dominos fall here that finally other athletes are saying, you know what? I don't want people cheating in my game either. That puts measure on me to cheat and it could be interesting to see what effect it has.

MALVEAUX: Two questions. Why has it taken this long and why was it tolerated for so long?

NICHOLS: You know, it's hard to catch the cheaters. You're always -- the way the performance enhancing drugs works is someone's got to invent the drug. Then people use the drug. Then you've got to discover the people who are using the drug and that's when you start to get testing for the drug. So, you are always going to have a little bit of a conundrum here about catching these guys. But also a culture of tolerance that we did see for a long time is starting not to exist anymore. And it's going to be interesting with a guy like A- Rod because, as I mentioned, just a huge star. I want to show you just a few of his numbers here. This is a guy who has accomplished it seems like everything you'd ever want in baseball. He was such a great prospect even when he was 16 years old.

MALVEAUX: Wow.

NICHOLS: He was considered, can't miss. Look at that, 647 home runs, nearly 3,000 hits, 14 all-star appearances, three MBP awards. And he is climbing up the home run chart all time as well. And there was this one hope at one point of, hey, he's going to take out Barry Bonds. Barry Bonds who we consider has an asterisk against his name for his performance enhance performing drugs. Alex Rodriguez, he's going to go set the record the right way. It looks like that is not going to happen in any sense -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: Yes, it's just devastating. It's so disappointing, when you think about that. Thank you so much. And the suspension, of course, Alex Rodriquez says that whether or not that happens, he is going to play tonight for the Yankees against Chicago White Sox. I want to bring in Jason Carroll who is -- you're at the ballpark in Chicago. I imagine there's a lot of anticipation in terms of whether or not he shows up and what is the reaction when he does? JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the reaction is probably going to be very much in terms of what you heard Rachel say. I would expect when Rodriguez hits the field this evening here in Chicago, you're going to hear a lot of boos here at the stadium. A few cheers but based on from what I've been hearing from a number of fans, a lot of boos who do not believe Rodriguez. They believe he is overpaid. They believe it is now time for him to go.

Having said that, listening to Rodriguez this weekend when we were with him out in New Jersey, you know, he's out there practicing, he says he feels fit. He feels ready. He did not want to answer any questions about this possible suspension or allegations linking him allegedly to this anti-aging clinic in Florida. He says it's all about getting back at third base and getting back with his teammates.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEX RODRIGUEZ, THIRD BASEMAN, NEW YORK YANKEES: I'm excited to be playing tonight, even more excited about Monday. I feel I can't wait to see my teammates. I feel like I can help us win. I can help us be a better team. And I haven't seen a lot of my brothers in a long time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: And speaking to Rodriguez, it was probably a little bit more than a week ago, Suzanne, you really get the impression or I got the impression from him that he really in some way wants to prove himself. Even after all that has happened, he says he -- you know, there's no way he can play like he used to. He's not going to be able to put up the types of numbers that you saw in the past, but he still feels like he has something to prove. He still feels as though he has a right to show the Yankees that he deserves to wear that uniform.

MALVEAUX: And, yes, Jason, you've been doing excellent reporting and I saw that interview. Do you get a sense -- from spending time with him here, is there a sense that he is determined? That he is still saying that he's innocent or is there any sense of, you know, remorse or regret that this is happening?

CARROLL: I haven't seen regret. I have seen a determination to fight through his injuries, a determination to prove himself out on the field. And I even asked him, you know, at a certain point why he doesn't do more one or one interviews so that --

MALVEAUX: Yes.

CARROLL: -- when he says he's innocent of something or not guilty of something, people might be more apt to believe from him if they heard from him more? And he says that he prefers to let his performance on the field speak for -- speak for himself.

MALVEAUX: All right. Jason, thank you very much. We appreciate it.

Here is also what we're working on for this hour. This is an unprecedented move by the Obama administration, closing 19 diplomatic posts for the week. You would think that some Republicans would be upset about this but they are actually patting the president on the back. We'll learn why.

Plus, San Diego's mayor, he is taking to weeks off. He is going to rehab, counselling. Dogged by sexual harassment allegations, Bob Filner is hoping that therapy is going to help improve his image, perhaps change his behavior. We'll see.

And this little guy, He lost on jeopardy but it didn't end there. Why so many on social media think that he was robbed of his win.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Intelligence analysts are now combing through databases. They are combing through phone records, Web sites. They are searching for details about a possible terrorist attack. This is U.S. officials now extending the closing of 19, 19 diplomatic posts, this is around the world, because of that threat. Embassies, consulates across Africa and the Middle East are going to remain closed through Saturday.

Now, each diplomatic post is being watched very carefully for any possible sign of an impending attack. In Cairo, thick blast walls, they are blocking roads that's near the U.S. embassy. Reza Sayah, he's joining us from Cairo. And, first of all, I mean, there's a lot going on there. Obviously, Egypt in the middle of its own struggle between the supports of the ousted president, those who are against him, a lot that is happening on the streets. What do we know about the impact here of this embassy, the U.S. embassy, now closed?

REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Suzanne, at this point, the impact seems minimal on the U.S. embassy here in Cairo. We should point out that the blast wall that you mentioned, that's been erected for a very long time right now. That's because the U.S. embassy here in Cairo is blocks away from the iconic Tahrir Square, a place where we have seen so many demonstrations, so many street protests. That's why that wall has been erected a while ago as a precaution.

But, obviously, the embassy is closed at this hour. The neighborhood seems to be calm and quiet. We can also tell you the most important business in the embassy continues to take place. U.S. senators, Lindsey Graham and John McCain, in Cairo today to help out with the current political conflict here in Egypt. And, Suzanne, maybe that's the best indication that at least here in Egypt, the terror threats may not be as grave otherwise I doubt Washington would send these two senators over to Cairo.

MALVEAUX: Yes, sure. That's an excellent -- it's an excellent point, Reza, that you bring up here. The people in Cairo, what do they make of this? Do they think this is a big deal? I mean, you've got people who have been killed in the streets over the last couple of weeks, because they're either for or against this -- the ousted president. And now, this security threat against the U.S. embassy. Are they kind of shrugging their shoulders at this one?

SAYAH: Well, I think some are shrugging their shoulders, others are very confused like much of the world. This makes, in many ways, for a very awkward and puzzling information because you've had all these ominous threats coming from Washington for days that a possible terrorist attack could be coming. But on the other hand, there is very little information coming from Washington --

MALVEAUX: Yes.

SAYAH: -- as to exactly what could be happening and what intelligent officials could have detected to sound these alarms. So, it has a lot of people saying, OK, there's these terror threats but what do we do now? Where is it taking place? A lot of questions remain unanswered -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: OK. Thank you, Reza. I appreciate that.

The Obama administration, as you might recall, really got a lot of criticism over its response to the deadly attack in Benghazi, Libya. Well, now, the president, he is getting support from Republicans for his response to this latest threat. I want you to listen to the South Carolina senator, Lindsey Graham.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: I appreciate what the administration is doing. They are taking the right approach to this. Benghazi was a complete failure. The threats were real there. The reporting was real. And we basically dropped the ball. We have learned from Benghazi, thank God, and the administration is doing this right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: I want to bring in Wolf Blitzer out of Washington. Wolf, good to see you, as always. Clearly, you've got Senator Graham as well as Senator McCain, both of them heading to Cairo today. Also giving the president some (INAUDIBLE) for how he is reacting to this potential threat. What is the politics? Give us a little bit of the back scene here in terms of the president reaching out and extending this olive branch.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the politics, Suzanne, are pretty bipartisan right now. You're getting a lot of praise not only from Lindsey Graham but a lot of other Republicans and certainly a whole bunch of Democrats as well for these preemptive, if you want to call them, steps that the U.S. is taking right now. A lot of them, as the State Department says, an abundance of caution.

But they -- I can tell you this, based on the conversations I had with U.S. officials. They are very nervous right now. They are worried about what they see as a potential out there. They have been told that this could happen soon, something spectacular, if you will, something strategic, but they don't have a location. They don't know where. They don't know what form. And that's why there's this massive embassy shut down all the way from North Africa through the Middle East to South Asia. So it's something that's of deep concern. It was underlined over the weekend. You had this major meeting going on at the White House when the national security team was over in the situation room at the White House all Saturday afternoon, basically, reviewing what 's going on. And only within the past few minutes the Chairman of the Joints Chief, General Martin Dempsey, left the State Department. He went over there to have lunch with John Kerry, the Secretary of State.

So, you know, you've covered Washington, Suzanne, for a long time. You get a sense when something is going on based on the rhythm of what's happening, whether in the State Department, the White House, the Pentagon, you get a feeling of what's going on. And something is going on right now so people are nervous.

MALVEAUX: And it's interesting too how this is playing out another one of those debates which is about the intelligence, right, behind closing these embassies. Some people, some are suggesting that the NSA surveillance programs, these are need to support this kind of intelligence and that provided this information. I want you to listen to Senator Saxby Chambliss.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. SAXBY CHAMBLISS (R), GEORGIA: These programs are controversial. We understand that. They're very sensitive. But they're also very important because they are what lead us to -- or allow us to have the ability to gather this chatter that I referred to. If we did not have these programs, then we simply wouldn't be able to listen in on the bad guys.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Wolf, do you think that's helping? Do you think that's helping with the Obama administration in trying to convince folks that, look, this isn't as bad as you think? You know, some people believe it's a violation of your privacy, of your rights.

BLITZER: Well, Saxby Chambliss is the ranking member, the ranking Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Dianne Feinstein, the senator from California, is the chair of the Intelligence Committee, so he obviously gets a lot of inside information from the intelligence community.

I don't know if this particular threat is the result of NSA surveillance, any of these programs that have been monitoring conversations, shall we say, of various potential terrorists out there, or whether it could have been some sort of human source, if you will, some sort of internal spy, if you will, that may have provided this kind of information. I have no idea where the information came from, but I do sense that someone like Saxby Chambliss, who is a big supporter of the NSA surveillance program, as is Dianne Feinstein, they think that these kinds of programs are worth it despite the problems that they may generate for Americans' privacy.

MALVEAUX: All right. Wolf, thank you. Go good to see you, as always. Appreciate it. Ahead on NEWSROOM, new video from L.A.'s Venice Beach. This is car plowing into a crowded boardwalk, killing one, sending 12 to the hospital. Ahead, what police know about the suspect now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Approximately ten people now are stuck on the Transformers ride. This is at a Universal Studios in L.A. You are actually looking at live pictures here. This was from affiliate KTLA.

Now L.A. County fire officials, they're telling us the ride is not working. They're trying to get the passengers off the ride. So far there aresno injuries that are reported but according to Universal Studies' Web site, the Transformers ride, it is described as this 3-D thrill ride based on the movie franchise, "Transformers".

We're going to follow this story. We're going to keep up with this, bring you details as soon as we know more. But so far there are no injuries. People are just right now stuck on that ride.

Skydiving instructor, this is tragic. He plunged to his death. This is during a routine dive in Mississippi. This is a 66-year-old who was doing a tandem dive, had a student strapped to him. The student is in critical condition with broken bones and a head injury. The owner of the Gold Coast Skydiver said the instructor cut away his main parachute and used his backup, but it is not really clear what went wrong. The FAA is investigating this along with local authorities.

And a man who saw a car mow down 13 pedestrians, this is on L.A.'s Venice Beach. He says the driver was looking for blood. A young woman on her honeymoon, she was killed.

Paul Vercammen has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Surveillance video taken from a nearby restaurant shows the suspect's car plowing into people on the crowded Venice Boardwalk and swerving around barriers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He just drove and took that left turn down the center of the boardwalk and just started driving and bodies were scattering and bodies were flying in the air and people were screaming, and it was absolute mayhem.

VERCAMMEN: A second camera angle shows the driver getting outs of his car, apparently casing the popular boardwalk. He gets back into the sedan and floors it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He had to have pressed his foot to the gas -- you know, pedal to the metal, because the tires started screeching and he was looking for blood. He was looking for blood. That guy's intention was to kill people.

VERCAMMEN: An Italian tourist on her honeymoon was killed and 11 others injured in a scene a quarter mile long. The suspect is 38- year-old Nathan Campbell of Los Angeles. Just two hours after this horrifying hit and run, Campbell surrendered to police in neighboring Santa Monica. Authorities say he told them, I think you're looking for me.

The woman killed is Alice Gruppioni, 32 years old from Italy. The Italian consulate Gruppioni and her husband were married July 20 and that the new groom was by her side at the time of the accident and tried to pull his wife away from the speeding car. If there is a motive in this carnage, police aren't saying right now. But they did say Campbell was bent on evil.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: This is awful. Paul, I want to bring you in here to ask you some questions about this. What do we know? First of all, do we know more about the victims, the honeymooners?

VERCAMMEN (on camera): Yes, they were on their honeymoon here in Los Angeles. We understand from the Italian consulate that they were wrapping up the Los Angeles leg of their honeymoon and were next headed toward Tahiti. We also understand that the groom is out of the hospital. They say physically he's doing well but mentally, obviously, not. Just heartbreaking part of the story, Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: It is awful. You know, I've been to Venice Beach many times. I mean, it's a beautiful scene, very crowded. We saw a whole bunch of people there. People must be a little nervous or afraid. I mean, how are people feeling?

VERCAMMEN: Well, they're very afraid and, in fact, the councilman from that area says he wants to erect more barriers or more of those metal posts to prevent something like this from happening again. He says sometimes by accident drivers get way too close to this Venice boardwalk, so obviously people in mourning in Venice, California, and extremely worried that something like this could happen again, Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: And we're seeing this memorial, pictures of the memorial for those victims as well, for the honeymooners.

VERCAMMEN: Yes, everyone now thinking of the honeymooners. And we also understand that their family will be flying to the United States soon.

Some other information just in. We understand now that 15 people were injured and one deceased in this incident.

MALVEAUX: All right, thank you so much. I appreciate it.

Ahead on NEWSROOM, all eyes now on A-Rod. Is he going to play again? We are waiting for word on his suspension.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)