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U.S. Army Delta Force Captures Abu Anas al-Libi In Tripoli; Dario Franchitti's Car Crashes In Indy Race; Severe Systems Are Connected; 44 Dead in Cairo Fighting; Biker Arraigned in Attack on SUV Driver; Conversation with Cicely Tyson; Online Black Market Busted
Aired October 06, 2013 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, everybody, that's it for Fred. It's me now Don Lemon. Thank you for joining us here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
We're going to start with stunning developments today in the U.S. Special Force raid in Libya. The Pentagon confirms commandoes credited with snatching a top al Qaeda leader in Libya where members of the elite U.S. Army Delta Force. The man captured is Abu Anas al-Libi. Just a short time ago, his wife spoke exclusively to CNN about what she saw happened outside her home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UMM ABDUL RAHMAN, WIFE OF CAPTURES AL-QAEDA LEADER (through translator): What I saw were Libyans, maybe they had American was them but I didn't see them because there was more than one car. They say there were ten people but I believe there were more than ten. I couldn't count them because there are many of them. I can't confirm if they were Americans or not. What I saw were Libyans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, Libi, at least, publically has deemed his capture a kidnapping.
Abu Anas al-Libi's wife spoke exclusively to CNN's Jomana Karadsheh. And Jomana joins me now on the phone from Tripoli.
What did she tell you?
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via phone): She was defending her husband saying he was an innocent man saying all of the allegations against him and his involvement of the U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania are fabricated allegations that are not true. She said and she says her husband returned back to Libya in 2011.
After he had left al-Qaeda, she did admit that he was a member of al- Qaeda, that he was a close associate of Osama bin Laden, but said in 1996 he left again and left al-Qaeda at the time. She says he returned to his country, Libya, in 2011 to take part in the revolution to oust Moammar Gadhafi. And she said all these years, he has not had any contact with al-Qaeda members and he has not been involved in any terror activities. And she says that her husband was here to return to his country to be a part of it.
Now, of course, we have heard this from western security officials, intelligence officials last year, Don, saying that al-Libi returned to Libya to try and establish (INAUDIBLE) for the organization in Libya and North Africa.
LEMON: And she is saying, if this is correct, she believes that it was Libyans who look like Libyans who had come and captured her husband, not Americans?
KARADSHEH: Well, what she said, Don, was interesting. She said when he had -- he was coming back from morning players Saturday mornings between 6:30 in the morning and 7:00. And she heard some noise and commotion outside. And when she looked outside the window, she described the men that she saw as Libyan-looking. She said the unmasked men looked like they were Libyans and that she heard Libyan dialect. And initially, until that U.S. announcement was made later on in the day. She said she believed this was some sort of criminal activity, abduction, some sort of revenge. She did not think Americans were involved.
So, this is something, Don, we are only hearing from the wife. We are only hearing from the family. There has been into indication so far that Libyans were leaving this way or even involved in it at this point.
LEMON: All right. Jomana Karadsheh, thank you very much for your reporting.
There's still lots of questions about what exactly happened in Libya. I want to bring in now CNN's pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr.
Barbara, how is the Pentagon responding to these claims that Libyan is possibly worked in conjunction with U.S. forces to get al-Libi?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, let me say, the Pentagon, no Pentagon officials are talking about this publicly. In fact, it was a U.S. official and administration source that told us it was U.S. army delta force that conducted the raid in Tripoli that grabbed al-Libi. The Pentagon officially isn't saying a word about any of this.
But administration officials w are talking to are making it very clear. It was a mission led, conducted by U.S. specs operations forces. There may have been a translator along with them. They often operate that way, but they don't do joint operation. There is absolutely no indication there was any kind of joint operation with Libyan forces.
And I guess you have to think of it this way. If the U.S. forces, if the U.S. commando was on the street with his face uncovered in Tripoli in the middle of an operation, I think there's probably a fairly good chance that U.S. troop would be have some sort of disguise, perhaps wig, makeup, something to disguise his normal features because these guys simply don't show their face in public in the middle of an operation -- Don. LEMON: We have a lot of questions yesterday, still questions today. But some of them can be answered today like al-Libi is one in connection, Barbara, with the twin U.S. embassy bombings in Africa. How big of a get is he?
STARR: Well, I think that my colleagues like Nic Robertson would tell you and Peter Bergen that there's a lot of thought out there that al- Libi, you know, may have sort of gone into semi retirement. Maybe he was in Libya, of course, to start an al-Qaeda operation there, but had sort of moved away over the last 15 years from some of his potential activities.
But the U.S. believes very strongly that he is still a major senior al-Qaeda figure 15 years later. Yes, from the embassy bombings, but not giving up, still going after him. And very much aware of his previous activities. In Britain, when he was said to be involved of some bomb intelligence and operations. So, this is a guy they wanted very badly and they had been looking for him for an awfully long time.
LEMON: Look, I have a question for you. I don't know if you remember I asked you this question within a break. I want to turn to Somalia now.
Remember I asked you about SEAL team six. Because that is the same unit they got Osama bin Laden and storm the home of the top leaders of al-Qaeda's al-Shabaab in Somalia. I should say top leaders of al- Shabaab in Somalia, the group that carried out the recent terror attack in Kenya in that mall. They killed at least one person but they had to retreat. Was it a failure?
STARR: Well, you were right last night, Don, when you asked me that. It did turn out to be SEAL team six, the same group that killed bin Laden, went into Somalia. Now, what they are telling us so far and we don't have all the details by any stretch at this point, is the SEALS go into this town. They know within al-Shabaab strong cold. They know they are going to take fire but they are going to a particular villa to look for top al-Shabaab leaders. But, they come under intense fire and there are civilian in the area so they are telling us that the Navy SEALS commander on the ground made the decision that the SEALS would retreat essential, that they would get out of there. They say that they have some concerns about civilian casualties in the area and that it was just not any longer prudent for them to be there.
The problem, they don't know at this point, did they get the man they were going after. Was he even there at all. That will be a very tough thing possibly now to determine. And they will have to keep looking for more intelligence to figure out what the results were of that raid.
LEMON: Barbara Starr. Great reporting. Thank you, wheel alley see you later on here on CNN.
The house speaker, John Boehner said it's time for the Republicans to stand and fight against Obamacare. And he wants President Obama to negotiate with congressional Republicans. Boehner says don't expect a clean spending bill without ties to Obamacare because he does not have the votes in the House to get.
So, what exactly would those negotiations with president cover? We will have a live report from Washington coming up.
Also, Republican senator Ted Cruz, he has floated a new idea right here on CNN about how to fight Obamacare funding. Meantime, the nation's treasury secretary said without a debt ceiling increased by October 17th, the U.S. won't be able to pay its bills for the first time in 224 years.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACK LEW, TREASURY SECRETARY: We never got to a point where the United States government has operated without the ability to borrow. It is very dangerous. It is reckless. It will mean that the United States, for the first time since 1789, will not paying its bills, hurting the full faith in credit because of a political decision.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Head out now to CNN's Erin McPike, tracking this shutdown stalemate.
Erin. House speaker John Boehner says he wants to talk but he is not going to compromise. So, what is his plan?
ERIN MCPIKE, CNN GENERAL ASSIGNMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, Don, for everyone who wants to see a quick end to the shutdown, there isn't much of a plan. As you said just earlier, he says he wants republicans to stand and fight Obamacare. The other thing we got from his 12-minute interview essentially this morning on ABC News is basically that he just wants to have a conversation with the president. He said the word "conversation" 21 times in his interview. Here's a little snapshot of that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: What we expect in Washington. When we have a crisis like this that the leaders will sit down and have a conversation. It begins with a simple conversation. It is about to have a conversation. It's time for us to sit down and have a conversation. That's what the American people expect.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCPIKE: And that was basically what we heard this morning from John Boehner. Just that he wants to talk to President Obama. But so far, as yet from our reporting, we have not heard that the White House has reached out to the speakers' office and vice versa. But maybe sometime later this week, we will be talking about a Merlot Summit. Who knows, Don?
LEMON: We shall see or Scott Summit.
So listen, Erin. Republican Senator Ted Cruz made ways with his comment today on Obamacare. What did he say and how are people in Washington reacted to what he said?
MCPIKE: Well, Don, basically, what he wants to do is to attach this fight over Obamacare to the next battle in Congress which is over raising the debt limit. The amount of money that the United States can borrow. Now, the deadline to do that is 11 days away. And so, the fear in Washington is that we can have another big problem and that United States could default on its debt. Listen to what he said this morning on "STATE OF THE UNION."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. TED CRUZ (R), TEXAS: In my view in the debt ceiling, we should look for three things. Number one, we should look for some significant structural plan to reduce government spending. Number two, we should avoid new taxes. And number three, we should look for ways to mitigate harms from Obamacare.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCPIKE: Now, he also said just after that the debt ceiling has historically been the best leverage that congress has. And so, what we heard from a number of people this weekend, is that if Congress cannot raise the debt ceiling and then United States defaults on its debt, we could see problems worse than we saw with the economy in 2008.
So, there's a lot of concern in Washington about that strategy -- Don.
LEMON: All right. Erin, thank you. Appreciate that.
I have some breaking news to tell you about. I want you to take a look at this. One of the most popular race car drivers in the world seriously injured in a crash in today's racing in Houston. Dario Franchitti who is separated from actress Ashley Judd, was driving this car when it slammed into the wall. No words yet on the extent of his injuries. And spectators who were injured as well, some treated and released, others taken to the hospital. We are going to follow the story very closely for you right here in CNN NEWSROOM and we will get information just as soon as we get it.
Back to today's top story. One of the FBI's most wanted terrorist now in U.S. custody. Is he a big fish in the terrorist pond? A former CIA operative weighing in next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: As I reported just a few minutes ago here on CNN, a U.S. government official has now confirmed to CNN that the American unit that went into Libya and helped capture an al-Qaeda operative was the army's elite delta force.
Abu Anas al-Libi is now in U.S. custody. He was on the FBI's list of the most-wanted terrorists with a $5 million price on his head.
I want to bring in now Bob Baer. He is a former CIA operative and one of CNN's national security analyst. Hey Bob, you doing OK?
BOB BAER, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Doing great.
LEMON: Hey, is this man, al-Libi, is he a real price or is he an easy get. I mean, because the crimes he was wanted for, it is 15 years ago?
BAER: No, he is a big catch. He is going to know about the Libyan branch of al-Qaeda. He knows the entire infrastructure of the early days of bin Laden. Catching this guy alive, he is going a lot to say, a lot -- carrying a lot of phone numbers, all sorts of knowledge. And once he starts talking, this big catch was a great operation. It is amazing with delta put people on the ground like this in an Arab Capital, fluent Arabic speakers, moved in fast, get the guy out. It is a great operation.
LEMON: We have confirmed that the army's elite delta force was involved in this capture. We have been saying all day long here on CNN, is your evidence, in your experience excuse me, what is that tell you about how serious the mission was to capture al-Libi?
BAER: Well, it's a big risk putting American soldiers on the ground in a country that is essentially ungovernable like Libya. I mean, it is dangerous. They could have run into a militia there. They could have had some sort of fire fight. It's tough. I worked with delta in the '80s. And for them to put people on the ground in a hostile Arab capital is big.
LEMON: Bob, thank you very much. We appreciate you hear on CNN.
Once again we're following breaking news in sports today. Dario Franchitti, one of the most popular drivers in the world. Has been seriously injured in a crash in today's racing. Franchitti is separated from actress, Ashley Judd. He was driving this car when it slammed into the wall. No word on the extent of his injuries. Spectators were injured, some treated and released, others were taken to the hospital. We are going to follow this very closely tight here in CNN NEWSROOM.
More in just straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: We want to tell you about the Indy car race in Houston has left one of the sport's most popular drivers injured. It happened when Dario Franchitti was bumped by another driver during a final lap of the race. Then, you see it hit the fence there. No word on the extent of his injuries but we do know 13 spectators were hurt when debris flew into the stands.
I want to bring CNN's sports anchor, Mark McKay now.
Mark, do you know how bad the injuries are to Franchitti or to the fans? MARK MCKAY, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR : We actually know from team owner Chip Ganassi, Don, that the injuries to the driver, Franchitti aren't known. The extent aren't serious as we might think from a crash like this. The team owner said that he actually, he told NBC sport that he spoke to his driver. He said Franchitti is talking. His ankle a little sore, his back a little sore. He's going to tack a trip to the hospital but he is OK. This from Chip Ganassi the owner of the racing team.
That car went into the catch fencing there in Houston. Spectators that were injured, the Houston fire department said they took 13 spectators to the hospital. Two with injuries that needed hospitalization, two were taken there with injuries that they say, the Houston Fire department, Don, says are not critical. So, it could have been a whole lot worse.
LEMON: What more do you know about the crash? The reason, I'm sure, they are still investigating. What more do you know, Mark?
MCKAY: Well, it was basically a tip. These cars are going so fast around this track, Don. Anything that gets in the way, including another car can send them horribly into the catch fencing. But that's exactly what this fence seemed did, Don. It caught the car, kept the car on the track. Yes, it basically exploded around Dario Franchitti and the other drivers involved, but it kept the basic parts of this car on the track.
A lot of the spectators that were injured hit by flying debris. We have seen this so many times. We have seen it in NASCAR and we have seen this in other instances where the catch fencing does its job. But apparently high speeds and he hit another car and the car went airborne.
LEMON: Mark, this isn't your (INAUDIBLE), but I just want to mention this to our viewers that Franchitti is married to Ashley Judd, understand that they are in the process of divorce. They filed for separation, I believe, it was earlier this year. But this crash comes two years after Dan Wheldon was killed in a crash in Las Vegas. Will these accidents have any impact on the sport?
MCKAY: I think it will keep the sport in touch with the safety aspect, not only for the drivers but to the spectators involved. You are right, Don. We are at ten days shy of the two year anniversary of Dan Wheldon's death in Las Vegas, a high speed crash that killed that popular driver on the Indy car circuit.
The sport will continue to look into the technology that keeps, not only the spectators' safe, but the driver is safe. But in this instance, looks like even though the car was basically disintegrated, spectators were injured. The driver was injured. But again, it kept the bulk of that vehicle in the track on the track itself and not necessarily into the stands or into the spectator area and it did its job.
LEMON: Hey, I just want to clarify. The images you were looking at earlier, these are from Wheldon's crash two years ago. This one that you are looking at right now is from Franchitti's crash earlier in Houston. And it was raining this morning in Houston. Factor?
MCKAY: Looked to be pretty dry there, Don. Indy car, you know this, unlike NASCAR, NASCAR basically, they stop when it rains. Indy car, formula One can ride. But from what I saw at that last lap point, looks like it was dry. Looked like conditions were good. You see the sun out. Just looks like he tipped the other car and when that happens at that type of speed, Don, those cars literally get airborne and Franchitti's did today.
LEMON: Yes. They said light rain this morning in Houston.
Thank you. We will get back to you when you get more information. And you get back to us as well.
Mark McKay CNN sports.
You know, sometimes the term "legend" tends to be overused. But that's not the case with actress Cicely Tyson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: You realize you're a living legend?
CICELY TYSON, ACTRESS: That means you're old.
LEMON: Not necessarily.
TYSON: I have to say that.
LEMON: Not necessarily.
TYSON: No, not necessarily. No, I don't. I don't understand it, to tell you the truth. I truly do not understand it. I don't know what all the fuss is about.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: What? She is amazing. Of course, it's her in trip to "bountiful." That is Broadway. Coming up, my conversation with the newly crowned Tony winner and what an honor it was. You do not want to miss this interview.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Welcome back, everyone.
We are following new developments in the two U.S. forces raids in Africa. Here's what we know right now.
Al-Qaeda leader Abu Anas al-Libi is in U.S. custody. His exact whereabouts after his capture yesterday outside his home in Tripoli unknown. In an exclusive interview with al-Libi's wife, she told CNN that the men she saw snatched her husband were Libyan. She says they were other men involved but she couldn't confirm if they were Americans. Libya's government publicly has deemed his capture a kid tapping, by the way. U.S. Special Forces conducted a separate operation, 3,000 miles away in Somalia. One was killed before U.S. commandos came under fire and were forced to retreat. Either a target was a top leader of al-Shabaab blamed for the deadly mall seize in Kenya. The identity of the suspect shot dead, still unclear. We will get more information here on CNN as we get it.
The U.S. raid in Libya was certainly a success, ending in the capture of a high value al-Qaeda operative wanted for 15 years. Abu Anas al- Libi is allegedly -- alleged to have play a key role in the twin U.S. embassy bombings in Africa that killed more than 200 people.
Our senior international correspondent is Ben Wedeman. He has been doing some digging on al-Libi. He joins us now from Rome.
Hello, Ben. How significant is this al-Libi capture?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's fairly significant. This is a man, as you said, is believed to be behind the twin bombings at the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. But beyond that, I think what is important is that this is the first operation of its kind in Libya by the United States since the fall of the Gaddafi regime.
Now, we know the United States is very frustrated with this central Libyan government that really has not been able to extend its authority throughout the entire country. And of course, the United States clearly has very much in mind, not just Mr. al-Libi who, of course, was involved in an operation, the terrorist operations that took place in August 1998.
They are clearly also thinking about those who are behind the September 11, 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic outpost in Benghazi that left four Americans dead including the ambassador to Libya, Christopher Steven. So, we understand militants in Benghazi have been, in a sense, put on warning that they could be next given the fact, as I said, this is the first operation of its kind and may be not the last.
LEMON: Yes. Absolutely. You know, we keep saying the high value and operative for this organization. But, what exactly was al-Libi's role in al-Qaeda?
WEDEMAN: Well, he was (INAUDIBLE)
LEMON: Ben -- sorry, Ben, we're having issues with your microphone.
We'll get back to Ben Wedeman. Ben Wedeman is in Rome. He is reporting on the capture of the al Qaeda target in Libya. We'll get back to Ben as soon as we get the microphone fixed.
In the meantime, I want to move on and tell you what's happening there -- there's some things that are happening here in the U.S. -- snow, tornadoes, even a tropical storm have been here weather headlines this weekend. But I want to take a look at what happened in Kentucky -- major flooding. Residents evacuated from their homes, surveying the damage, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Tomorrow, the U.S. Supreme Court opens its next turn. This morning, justices attended mass at St. Peter's Cathedral in Washington, along with members of Congress and the White House chief of staff. Campaign finance, anti-terrorism and abortion are among the cases the court is expected to hear. The government isn't affected by the government shutdown. So, arguments this month are expected to move forward.
Across the country today, people are dealing with high water, deep snow and what's left of wannabe tropical storm.
In Louisville, Kentucky, or Louisville, as I should say, Kentucky, more than 80 families had to leave their homes this weekend as floodwater rose to knee high levels. Emergency officials say this is just the beginning, and it will be it's going to get worse before the water recedes. It's heavy rain, six inches or so, so far, and more in the forecast.
All right. Look at that. Western South Dakota you're looking at. Not far from Mt. Rushmore, fall turned into winter this weekend, very quickly. The snow is piling up.
People who live there for decades say they have never seen this much snow in early October, this early on. And this is actually good news. On the weather front right here, the tropical storm in the gulf spun itself out before making landfall. It was dud.
It's not just rain storm. Our meteorologist Karen Maginnis says all of these extreme weather systems are tied together -- Karen.
KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Don, we did say just in Congress weather systems affecting United States from the heat and the Santa Ana winds across southern California, that did produce a fire. The flooding rain across the Midwest, as well as the blizzard across in northern Great Plains and hot temperatures in the Northeast. And then there was tropical storm Karen.
Well, in the Ohio River Valley, this is what key saw up and over six inches of rainfall. What happens as we move forward? Well, it looks like the rain moves out. That will be good.
But we did see the area of little pressure move across in the northern tier. Back side of this, high wind, 70-mile-an-hour winds, whiteout conditions from South Dakota, portions of Wyoming, into Montana. Ahead of it, some tornadoes reported. In Nebraska, an EF-4 reported there.
Well, as we look into the future, that area of low pressure is going to sweep into southern Canada, frontal system draped to the south, the remnants of Karen getting drawn up along this frontal system. So, showers and some storms, as temperatures are cooling off. High pressure dominates.
Even in southern California, the Santa Ana dies down and we'll start to see what could be the first round of fall rainfall begin in southern California. And temperatures cooler, so that will help firefighters. Los Angeles, 76, Denver, 77, Memphis at 70 -- Don.
LEMON: Karen Maginnis, thank you, Karen, appreciate.
You know, you saw the sparking video that went viral and spark a massive outcry. A biker group versus a driver of an SUV. One of the suspects in court just this afternoon. We've got a live report for you, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: In Egypt today a familiar pattern of street violence and death.
A protest march by members of the Muslim Brotherhood was blocked by Egyptian forces, first, tear gas, then, gunfire. State media reports 44 people were killed, and more than 200 others injured. The marches were gathered in support of Mohamed Morsy, the president who was ousted from power in July. Muslim Brotherhood is Morsy's political party that wants him reinstated.
Horrific scene at the monster truck show in Mexico. Take a look close at this. OK? One of the trucks careened into a crowd of spectators, killing at least eight people, some 80 others injured, dozens seriously. It happened yesterday in the town of Chihuahua. The cause of the tragedy is under investigation.
Well, the video that has people talking. A group of motorcyclist in New York City swarmed an SUV, smashed the windows and doors with their helmets and attacked the driver. One of the bikers who turned themselves in Friday has been arraigned on assault charges and police say Robert Simms stomped the driver's head and body after he was dragged out of his SUV. Police say Simms also was among a group of bikers who used their helmets to beat the driver.
Margaret Conley now outside the courthouse in Lower Manhattan.
Every time, I see the video it's as disturbing as the first time, Margaret. This case continues to evolve. What's the very latest? What do you know?
MARGARET CONLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Reginald Chance, Don, he's facing a string of charges, gang assault in the first degree, assault in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, criminal mischief in the third degree, and unlawful imprisonment in the first degree.
Now, Gregory Watts, this is the attorney for Reginald Chance, he said straight out of the gate he acknowledges the law says you can't take action into your own hands. Remember, his client is seen on video using his helmet to smash the window of the SUV. So, he's disputing two of these charges. He said gang assault, that doesn't fit my client. He says his plan wasn't even there when all those bikers assaulted the driver. Yes, he smashed open the window but was not part of the gang that actually beat up on the driver.
Assault charge in the first degree, he says it's an overcharge for his client. He said the physical injuries that the SUV driver had were not serious enough. He talked about the stitches that the driver had, and here's more of what Gregory Watts had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GREGORY WATTS, ATTORNEY FOR REGINALD CHANCE: If you look at the video, you will see my client, immediately after smashing the window, return to his bicycle and they are still photographs in possession of the district attorney that will show you he's not physically present.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CONLEY: Now, Don, the D.A., they are saying, no, he's part of this gang that attacked the SUV driver. He's the one that provided access to the other bikers so that they could get ahold of the driver.
LEMON: OK. So, this is what -- you know, I think it's important, Margaret, to watch this video from the very beginning. The biker seen in the video who appears to be slowing down in front of the SUVs now telling his side of the story.
So, what do we know about that?
CONLEY: Yes, all these stories are coming out more and more.
That is Christopher Cruz. And he's the one that triggered this accident, a lot of people of saying. But his attorney is speaking out. His attorney is Benjamin Perez. And I talked to him this afternoon.
He said that there is no way that his client intentionally riding a 500-pound bike drove in front of a three and a half ton vehicle at high speeds on a freeway and then slowed down. He said his client was being misrepresented and then his client was actually turning around to look for a friend.
So, more of these facts are coming out, or their side of the story -- Don.
LEMON: All right, Margaret. It certainly captures everyone's attention. We'll be following it. Appreciate that.
You know, sometimes the term legend tends to be overused, but that's not the case with this actress, Cicely Tyson. My conversation with her next. The newly crowned Tony winner, by the way.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Legend, icon, face of a generation, you can call her what you like. There's no arguing that Cicely Tyson is a critically acclaimed actress. Her latest performance in "The Trip to Bountiful" has earned her a Tony Award and just days before the show's final performance, I really had the honor to sit down with the newly crowned Tony winner and ask her about the profession that she loves.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CICELY TYSON, ACTRESS, "THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL": With me, I enjoy what I'm doing. I truly enjoy it. And so, for the most part it really isn't work.
And, I don't look at my work.
LEMON: Right.
TYSON: The gratification for me comes in the doing of it.
LEMON: Right.
TYSON: That's where my satisfaction comes.
LEMON: Right.
TYSON: When you look at it and you enjoy it. That's two fold for me. I love creating the characters. And when I get to a point where I can make you believe, feel, see, smell the taste this character, then that's me, as the gratification.
(SINGING)
TYSON: Oh, it's so nice to be able to --
(APPLAUSE)
TYSON: It's been 30 years since I've been on stage.
LEMON: Right.
TYSON: And one from the things that I rediscovered about being on stage, are those moments, you know, you rehearse a play for four, six weeks, then you start playing. Yes? And then, all of a sudden, in the middle of a scene, something happens that didn't happen last night, right?
Then I go, where was I? I've been playing here for four weeks. Why didn't I see that moment?
That is the marvel of stage. Because if you really let go and become who you are supposed to be. Those moments are gems. They are so beautiful. I cannot tell you.
LEMON: Can you believe that you are now sitting in this same city growing up on 101st street and then now you're on Broadway?
TYSON: I tell you, every now and then, in the theater, when things are going on, some little voice says, is this really happening? Is it really happening? After all this time, I really didn't expect, I really didn't.
And anybody who was watching the Tony Awards when they announced my name, they saw (INAUDIBLE) -- I hadn't -- I hadn't written a speech. I think it is presumptuous to write a speech when you're in competition with three or four other people. I think that's kind of presumptuous, so I never do it. I did it once when I was given the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP.
But when you're competition with others, and that's what it is, it is presumptuous to presume that you're going to win. And you sit down and write a thank you speech. You know who else did that, don't you? I'm not going to say --
LEMON: Who?
TYSON: Just think and you'll know. It was a politician.
LEMON: Oh, yes. Recently. And then was dumbfounded when they didn't win.
(LAUGHTER)
TYSON: So I don't do those.
LEMON: So that expression was real when you won?
TYSON: Oh, I didn't expect it. I definitely didn't expect it.
LEMON: Is there one that you expected and didn't get?
TYSON: No. I was taught, by my mother, don't expect anything and you won't get disappointed. Always be surprised when it happens.
LEMON: So as you walk off the stage, good-bye, Carrie (ph), what will you be thinking?
TYSON: I don't know. I don't even want to think about it. I don't, I don't. I think it'll be one of the most difficult moments in my whole life, that last moment. It's already begun to build, you know. We're doing show number seven or six tonight, and everybody is saying, countdown, countdown. Tomorrow's six.
But I cannot begin to imagine what it will be like that last night. I cannot.
LEMON: Who do you think you are?
TYSON: Who do I think I am? I'm a child of God.
LEMON: Thank you.
TYSON: Thank you.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEOTAPE) LEMON: That was amazing.
Next hour, Hollywood, then and now. What actress Cicely Tyson says about the young people of today and why she says they have nothing to fight for.
Moving on now. The black market online, hard drugs, assault weapons, you might even be able to hire a hitman -- all that at a click of a mouse. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: It is known as the Silk Road, an online black market for illegal drugs, weapons and forged documents.
Our Drew Griffin takes us inside the operation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In its three-count complaint, the government says a man known as the Dread Pirate Roberts was able to rake in $80 million in two years through an illegal site he created -- a secretive online marketplace for drugs, one so perfect that it could make the street corner dealer obsolete.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I bought, I think, ten hits of LDS for me and a few friends and we biked through Golden Gate Park and had a really amazing day, the week after.
GRIFFIN: The government says hundreds of thousands of users like this man use the impossible to trace Web site which sells drugs, weapons, forced documents and even hitmen. It is called the Silk Road.
NICHOLAS CHRISTIN, CARNEGIE-MELLON UNIVERSITY: We are looking at the listing for heroin China-wide, one gram.
GRIFFIN: Nicholas Christin is a professor at Carnegie-Mellon who has spent months researching Silk Road.
CHRISTIN: Most people want the drugs but don't want the social interactions that come with those traces. And Silk Road takes that out of equation.
GRIFFIN: Silk Road was a huge enterprise. Nearly a million users bought and sold $1.2 billion worth of illegal goods on the site. Using the virtual currency called bitcoins, making it, according to the FBI, the most sophisticated and extensive criminal marketplace on the Internet today.
And the government says it was the brain child of this man, 29-year- old Ross William Ulbricht, aka, Dread Pirate Roberts, who according to authorities not only ran the site but actually tried to hire a hitman, paying someone $150,000 to execute a user who was blackmailing him. Federal agents never found a victim.
(on camera): The FBI says for the last year, Ulbricht ran his secret operation from here in San Francisco, where he used sophisticated technology to keep his site running. And keep himself and his customers anonymous.
ANDREW LEWMAN, TOR.ORG: Silk Road withstood attacks from 40 or 50 different national law enforcement agencies, trying to take it down, trying to discover what it is, trying to tear it apart.
GRIFFIN (voice-over): Silk Road was able to evade authorities by using an underground network called TOR, which hides the identity of whoever is using it, by bouncing web traffic among servers around the world.
Andrew Lewman who runs the Tor Network says it also allows people in oppressed nations to avoid censorship. But guess who pays for this undetectable underground network? You do.
LEWMAN: Most of the funding comes from the U.S. government. There are various agencies, such as State Department, Department of Defense.
GRIFFIN: With all that technology, Ulbricht was only captured after made a very human mistake. With agents monitoring, he asked a question on a programming message board using his real e-mail address. Rossulbricht@gmail.com. This new federal public offender told CNN he wouldn't have any comment.
(on camera): The secretive Dread Pirate Roberts was arrested in the most unlikely of places, this local public library in this San Francisco neighborhood, Ulbricht now faces charges of narcotics trafficking, money laundering and computer hacking.
Drew Griffin, CNN, San Francisco.
(END VIDEOTAPE)