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Zimmerman Charged with Assault; Virginia State Senator Stabbed; Wal-Mart Defends Food Drive; Obamacare Supporter Has complaints

Aired November 19, 2013 - 14:00   ET

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

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Here we go. Great to be with you. I'm Brooke Baldwin. We'll take you back to the live news conference in a moment.

But in case you're just tuning in, let me set this up for you. You know his name, George Zimmerman, the self-styled neighborhood watchman who was acquitted in the murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Back in a courtroom today, and he just walked out of this Seminole County courtroom not too long ago after being charged with felony aggravated assault for allegedly pointing a gun at his girlfriend. Here he is in court moments ago, jail suit, cuffed, beard.

I want to take you back to the news conference underway. You're going to be hearing from his attorneys.

(BEGIN NEWS CONFERENCE COVERAGE)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE QUESTION).

DANIEL MEGARO: A lot of times things are included in police reports that don't end up being true. Whether or not the sheriff has certain items in evidence is going to be developing over time. We have the same police report that you all have. We have no more greater knowledge of what the sheriff has in their evidence locker than what you do. So as far as what the evidence is -- from the state, has against him, that's yet to be determined.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE QUESTION).

DANIEL MEGARO: You all have. We have no more greater knowledge of what the sheriff has in their evidence locker than what you do. So as far as what the evidence is - from the state has against them, that's yet to be determined.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did he possess an AR-15 and a shotgun?

MEGARO: Well, the police report indicates that firearms were recovered and that as far as that, we don't have any other further knowledge of that.

Yes, ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why can't he go to the elementary school? Why is that (INAUDIBLE)? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Excuse me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why can't he go to the elementary school (INAUDIBLE)?

MEGARO: The state attorney asked for a specific address to be included in the exclusionary zone. An exclusionary zone meaning he can't go to a certain place or within 1,500 feet of a certain place. As far as why the state attorney asked for that, I don't know.

JEFF DOWDY: I can answer that. The alleged victim has a child.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He has a child?

DOWDY: Yes.

I'm sorry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Something to do with his girlfriend's daughter (INAUDIBLE)?

DOWDY: Yes, that's what I just told him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, I'm sorry.

DOWDY: OK. Good question.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you going to solicit (INAUDIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, absolutely not. Absolutely not. No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Could you spell your name for us?

DOWDY: My name's Jeff Dowdy. J-e-f-f d-o-w-d-y. I'm the chief of the Seminole County Public Defender's Office.

MEGARO: My name is Daniel Megaro. Last name is spelled m-e-g-a-r-o.

DOWDY: Quite possible. Quite possible.

MEGARO: And I am an assistant public defender.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you want to end this?

DOWDY: Yes.

MEGARO: OK.

DOWDY: That's it.

MEGARO: Thank you. Thank you very much.

DOWDY: OK, thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, guys.

(END OF NEWS CONFERENCE)

BALDWIN: OK, let's get out of that. So you just heard the tail end of this news conference. But back to the news here. This is - this is what's happening. This is what you need to know before we have a bigger conversation.

So police have now arrested George Zimmerman. They arrested him at this Florida home of his girlfriend, Samantha Scheibe. That happened yesterday. So I want to play you some sound. First, this is a 911 call. This is from this woman, just to set the scene.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAMANTHA SCHEIBE (voice-over): He's in my houses breaking all my (EXPLETIVE DELETED) because I asked him to leave. He has his freaking gun breaking all my stuff right now. I'm doing this again? You just broke my glass table. You just broke my sunglasses and you put your gun in my freaking face and told me to get the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) out. So this is not your house. No, get out of here!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So if you listen to that really, really closely, there is a man who can be heard in the background telling her to calm down. But then she tells the dispatcher that the man just pushed her out of the house, locked the door. So that was her 911 call. There is an entirely separate 911 call, a man, believed to be George Zimmerman. And you will hear how he tells a dispatcher he is calling, to quote him, "because I just want everyone to know the truth." Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE ZIMMERMAN (voice-over): Um, my girlfriend has uh, for lack of a better word, gone crazy on me. She just started smashing stuff, taking stuff that belonged to me, throwing it outside, throwing it out of her room, throwing it all over the house. She broke a glass table because she threw something on it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: When deputies arrived at that home, they pushed the door open, which, by the way, was blocked by several pieces of smaller furniture. They found George Zimmerman sitting there unarmed. Police say he was passive and cooperative.

So we're going to have a bigger, legal conversation about this in just a minute. But I want to go straight to the scene where you saw those attorneys, to Sanford, Florida, and Alina Machado is there outside that courtroom.

And what happened? We know he will be released on bond, $9,000. What else did we learn today, Alina?

ALINA MACHADO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, in addition to that $9,000 bond, Brooke, the judge set certain restrictions as a condition of this bond, including Zimmerman cannot have any contact with the alleged victim in this case, which is Samantha Scheibe. He's also been told that he has to stay away from two specific addresses. One is the location of this alleged incident, the home in Apopka, Florida. And then another home in Altamonte Spring, Florida. Zimmerman is also not supposed to have any weapons or ammunition in his possession. And he is not supposed to travel outside of the state of Florida. And also he's going to be electronically monitoring during his time outside while he's waiting for a trial.

Now, Zimmerman is again facing these three charges, a felony and these two misdemeanors. He asked specifically to go back to this house in Apopka, Florida, where he has some of his belongings. And the judge said that he is not allowed to go back, not even with law enforcement officers. If he wants to get those belongings outside of the house, he's going to have to have a third party go back to that house to get them for him.

BALDWIN: OK, Alina Machado for us in Florida. Alina, thank you.

Let's talk about this, all the legalities. I want to bring in CNN's senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin. Also sitting alongside me here in studio 7, criminal defense attorney Drew Findling and former federal prosecutor and defense attorney Tanya Miller here with me in Atlanta.

So, Jeff Toobin, I want to go to you first, actually, believe I believe your ears perked to precisely what mine did. When I heard the judge's voice in the very - and I wrote this down -- when you hear that charge, battery by strangulation, that jumped out at me because that was news, correct?

JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: That was news. And what was also news was the claim by prosecutors that the alleged victim in this case claimed that there had been an additional domestic violence incident about a week earlier. The strangulation that you're referring to. So this is why, when someone gets arrested, it's really just the beginning of the investigation. It's not the end.

The question now will be, will the prosecution proceed to a trial with the event from yesterday as a felony charge? And perhaps additional charges relating to what might have happened earlier. Or will they decide that none of this is worthy of charges? This is when an investigation begins. There's a lot to look into. And we'll see what happens.

BALDWIN: OK. Let me come back to you, but I want to go to both of you because something else that I was wondering, it's not often -- we hear this 911 call that we just played partially, which is who we believe to be George Zimmerman. And I'm just curious, it seems like he's very going on the record. Hey, this is what happened. Is that odd to you, him making a phone call?

TANYA MILLER, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Yes. I think it is.

BALDWIN: Why?

MILLER: I mean it -- because it sounded to me like a CYA call, a cover your butt call. It served him so well in the trial against Trayvon Martin. He did not have to testify because he got all of that stuff out through that 911 call. I think what he's trying to do again is to put out his version without anybody really challenging it and to cover his butt. That's what I think.

BALDWIN: The other side could say he just maybe knows proper protocol. I see you rolling your eyes, and I know a lot of people probably are as well. But, you know, there are two sides to every story.

MILLER: Of course.

BALDWIN: Drew Findling, your impressions?

DREW FINDLING, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, my thoughts are that this has got to leave the prosecution from the original case second guessing themselves. A lot of people, like myself, were on your show many times saying, hey, racial profiling with Sanford Police.

BALDWIN: Yes.

FINDLING: That's a fact. But George Zimmerman is a private citizen. And what he had was a propensity for violence. He was a violent person that was gun-wielding. And now he's shown us once again who he really is. And it's got to leave the Monday morning quarterbacks, like myself, saying, hey, prosecutors, you fell prey to going to what the publicity would bring you and the public wanted, not what would have won your case in court. Shame on you, look what just happened.

BALDWIN: You -

MILLER: I disagree.

BALDWIN: Why?

MILLER: I disagree with that, respectfully, my friend, Drew Findling, because I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. You know, I don't think, with all the evidence that you had in that case, that Trayvon Martin would have been suspicious, accosted, and confronted by George Zimmerman had he not been black. I think a lot of people believe that. The prosecutor believed that and that's why they went that route.

You add to that, that this guy obviously has a problem with guns. He obviously has a sense of entitlement and superiority and probably anger management issues. That was a deadly combination for Trayvon Martin on that night he was killed.

FINDLING: But, Tanya, you know - you know as a seasoned - you know as a seasoned former prosecutor, there is nothing as racial profiling that applies to private citizens. It doesn't. By definition under law, you just go to the Internet, racial profiling applies to law enforcement.

BALDWIN: Let me -

FINDLING: He wasn't law enforcement. He was fascinated with violence. That's what the prosecution should have done in the Trayvon Martin case and maybe he --

BALDWIN: Should have, would have, could have, but we're talking now -

FINDLING: Absolutely.

BALDWIN: Hang on a second. Jeff Toobin, I want to get you in, because speaking of guns, according to this girlfriend, or ex-girlfriend, whatever she is, you know, she told police he pointed this shotgun directly at her. How do you prove that?

TOOBIN: Well, let's just take one fact that can be determined. Was the gun in a case or not when the police went inside? If the gun is in a case, well, that would certainly suggest that Zimmerman was telling the truth, that he didn't. If the gun is out and perhaps easily accessible, that might support her story. Were --

BALDWIN: The police report said they were locked up when they arrived.

MILLER: OK.

TOOBIN: Did they? I have not seen the police report yet.

BALDWIN: That's what the report says.

TOOBIN: It says the gun was locked up?

BALDWIN: Both guns. From what I read, in our CNN wire, yes, indeed.

TOOBIN: Well, that -- that may - that may well support his story. Again, there's a lot more to investigate. Did anyone else see anything? Did anyone else hear anything? These are -- are there neighbors who saw or heard anything?

BALDWIN: Uh-huh.

TOOBIN: These are very important facts that, you know, a thorough investigation presumably will reveal. And certainly there's been no time for that yet.

BALDWIN: OK. We're not finished with this I'm sure. We will see what happens as he is to be released on that $9,000 bond.

Jeff Toobin, my thanks to you. And Drew Findling and Tonya Miller, thanks to both of you here as well.

Coming up, what a story out of Virginia today. The state senator attacked in his own home. Police found Senator Creigh Deeds stabbed not once, not twice, three times and he wasn't the only one inside. A live report on that is coming up next.

Plus, a Wal-Mart store is holding a food drive right before Thanksgiving. Sounds like the right thing to do for the community, right? Well, it's not what you're thinking. The store is getting some heat, some trouble, all because of who will be on the receiving end of this food. We'll explain.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Let me tell you about this state senator from Virginia is fighting for his life. He is Creigh Deeds. He was stabbed repeatedly inside his home in a remote area of Bath County, Virginia. This is central Virginia. When police arrived, they found Deeds was not alone in that home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CORINNE GELLER, VIRGINIA STATE POLICE: Troopers and Bath County deputies arrived to find Senator Deeds stabbed multiple times about the head and upper torso. He was flown from the scene to the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville, where he is right now. And he's being treated for serious injuries.

Senator Deeds' son, Gus Deeds, aged 24, also of Millboro, was found inside the residence suffering from life-threatening injuries associated with a gunshot wound. Despite efforts by troopers and first responders there at the residence, he died at the scene.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Joining me now, Mark Preston, our CNN political director.

It is tragic and sad all the way around. And when we were watching that news conference with police, they are saying there is no suspect. So what do we know? What happened that we know of in that home between this father and son?

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, Brooke, police are being very careful about what they're saying at this moment in time. It's only been about seven hours since they were called out to this house in Bath, Virginia. That's where they found Creigh Deeds with those multiple stab wounds. They eventually found his son, who was alive when they came upon him. He died at the scene, though, of a gunshot wound. They do not know what happened, or at least they're not telling that right now, at least they're not telling us what they know at this point.

They did tell us, though, that they are speaking to the state senator, Creigh Deeds. He spoke to them at the scene. He also spoke to them at the hospital. He was air lifted out of this very rural area, taken to a hospital in Charlottesville. Now, within the next hour, we should hear from state police again. We hope to hear some more details.

But Creigh Deeds, a state senator in the state of Virginia, many beloved in the Democratic Party. He was a nominee - the Democratic nominee in 2009. He failed to win the governorship, Brooke. But a terribly tragic story. And I've got to tell you, from Democrats that I have spoken with that are close to him, they describe him as a very humble man, a politician, somebody who was the kind of public servant that you would want in office and somebody that I think, Brooke, that you probably knew very well when you were a reporter in Virginia.

BALDWIN: Yes.

PRESTON: You covered his state senate race back in 2001.

BALDWIN: I worked in Charlottesville in 2001. I was there with him, interviewed him when he won that state senate seat. Incredibly generous and gregarious. A nice man. It's horrible.

And then when you read about his son, Gus Deeds, 24 years of age. Every, you know, local newspaper report I read said he was a staller student. But we've learned that he - he attended the college of William and Mary (ph), withdrew last month. What more do we know about the relationship specifically, Mark, between father and son?

PRESTON: Well, we're being very careful right now to not characterize what exactly has happened. There have been multiple reports out there by other news organizations. We're being very careful to not put those in any kind of framing.

BALDWIN: Of course.

PRESTON: But we do know that he had left school, William and Mary, this semester. He was 24 years old. He was enrolled in the college from 2007. And, in fact, the college has put out multiple notes now to the college community and have described him as a stellar student, as a music student. So I suspect we'll know more, Brooke, within the next hour or so. But any which way you slice it, an unbelievably tragic story that I think is only going to get more tragic as the day goes on.

BALDWIN: Thoughts with the family. As you mentioned, we'll be watching for that state police news conference happening in just about an hour from now. Mark Preston for us from Washington.

Mark, appreciate it very, very much.

Coming up next, Toronto's crack-smoking mayor. He's lost most of his power now, but he has not lost his voice. The mayor uses his own TV show to fire back against his critics.

Plus, the fallout after one Wal-Mart store attempts to feed the needy, who happen to be -- well, I'm not going to tell you, but this group of people will surprise you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: The latest chapter, if you will, in Toronto's crack-smoking mayor is this. That he is threatening war, his word, after the city council voted to strip him of most of his power last night. And he is using his new TV show to say he is not going anywhere.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR ROB FORD, TORONTO: Well, I'm not stepping down. I'm not an alcoholic. I'm not a drug addict. I was elected to represent the people of this city with the 380,000 some odd votes, the largest in a candidate's history. People are telling me to stay the course, keep fighting for the little guy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Keep fighting for the little guy, he says. So just chronology here. That TV show aired after the showdown between Rob Ford and the city council. You see what he's doing here? Yes, he was making a drinking and driving gesture, acting like he was drunk, doing this toward a councilor who once had his license suspended for it.

And that's not all. Then this happened. He knocked down -- oh, here he goes. Knocks down a councilor while sprinting down the aisle. He said it was an accident. He said he's sorry. You be the judge. In an exclusive interview with CNN's Bill Weir, the mayor explained why he admitted to smoking crack.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR ROB FORD, TORONTO: I just had enough. I was sick and tired of all these allegations and all this (EXPLETIVE DELETED), excuse my words, and that's all it is. Sorry, kids. I shouldn't have sworn in front of the kids. But, after all, I know what I'm doing is right. I'm saving the people. I'm saving taxpayers' money. And you know what, I made mistakes. I drank too much. I smoked some crack sometime. I - what can I - what can I say, I made a mistake. I'm human.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Mayor Ford says he doesn't do drugs anymore and hasn't had a drink in three weeks.

A Wal-Mart store in Ohio is collecting food for Thanksgiving. And, no, this is not for the needy or for homeless in the community. It is for its own workers. Take a look at this sign. This was posted near the store's back room. Read it with me. "Please donate food items here so associates in need can enjoy Thanksgiving dinner." A pro-union group, Our Wal-Mart, has publicized this precise photo on its FaceBook page. It has since spread, causing all kinds of uproar online. Emily Fox with the CNN Money team joins me now.

And we've been covering - Wal-Mart -- a lot of people have been saying there are real issues in terms of Wal-Mart not paying their employees what they should be. And doesn't this play right into that?

EMILY FOX, CNN MONEY REPORTER: Right. Wal-Mart workers have been protesting for higher wages for nearly a year. And this just fuels their fire.

Now, Wal-Mart responded by saying, 'tis the season to do nice things for those around you. And workers at this one store in Ohio are just helping out their fellow employees who are facing unforeseen hardships like a spouse losing a job. It was meant as a nice gesture, but the workers I've spoken with aren't buying it.

BALDWIN: Oh, forgive me, I thought we were going to sound. I was -- what did they tell you then?

FOX: Well, they are saying that they don't have enough money to pay their bills. They're not getting benefits. And every time they speak up, they fear retaliation. So this is just really more ammunition for their cause.

BALDWIN: OK. And Wal-Mart says 'tis the season. OK, Emily Fox, CNN Money. Thank you so much, Emily.

FOX: Thanks.

BALDWIN: Still ahead, hundreds of thousands of people are still without power after the string of deadly tornadoes just smacked the Midwest over the weekend.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where to go? I don't know what to do. All I can do is just stand here and look at it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: We will take you live to one of the hardest hit areas.

Plus, her story was initially touted as a success. And now this same woman is telling a much different story when it comes to Obamacare. You will hear from her in a CNN exclusive right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)