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Report: Man Missing In Iran Worked For CIA; Three Stabbed After Broncos Game; Newlywed Admits Killing Husband; Boehner Slams Critics On Right; Snow Causes 40-Car Pile Up In Michigan; FCC To Weigh Lifting In-Flight Cell Ban; Charges Expected After Baruch College Freshman Dies Following Fray "Ritual"

Aired December 13, 2013 - 10:00   ET

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

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: For years the State Department and Levinson's own family denied he worked for the government when he disappeared. CNN's Susan Candiotti joins us now. Tell us more, Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol. Well, I've confirmed with a source that's been deeply involved in this matter from the very start that there is indeed proof that Levinson was allegedly working for the CIA undercover and under contract for years or for quite a while, while at the same time working as a private investigator. Now obviously, there is a lot of concern about revealing this very sensitive information will mean for Bob Levinson's safety.

The AP says the reason it moved forward with the story is this. They said after documenting the information long ago in 2010, they agreed to hold back three times at the government's request because the U.S. government said it had promising leads to bring him home Levinson, yet nothing has happened for six and a half years.

And officials believe it's extremely likely that by now the people holding Levinson already know of his ties to the CIA. That's why the AP said it reported this. Now the source who is involved in the matter agrees that after so long of being in captivity and all the interrogations he undoubtedly has been through that Levinson's captures more than likely know that Levinson was indeed working undercover.

In an exclusive interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour in September, Iran's new president, Hassan Rouhani spoke about Levinson and two others held in Iran.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRESIDENT HASSAN ROUHANI, IRAN (through translator): He is an American who has disappeared. We have no news of him. We do not know where he is. We are willing to help and all the intelligence serves in the region can come together to gather information about him to find his whereabouts and we're willing to cooperate on that.

(END VIDEO CLIP) CANDIOTTI: Now this is the very same thing that the Iranian government has been saying since the very beginning about this, Carol. A Levinson family spokesman tells me that the family is deeply worried about the risk created by the story, and are praying for Bob's safety and they have for six years. All they say, is they want us to bring Bob home.

In a written statement, they added that the U.S. government in their view has failed to make saving, as they put it, Levinson's life the priority that is should be. They credit those who are in the U.S. government who have done their duty, in their efforts to find Bob, but there are those who have not, the family says.

And they said, it's time for the U.S. government to step up and take care of one of its own. After nearly seven years, they said our family should not be struggling to get through each day without this wonderful, caring man that we love so much. That's how the statement ended.

Now the CIA has been pushing back saying it has no comment on what calls -- any purported affiliation between Levinson and the CIA. And the National Security Council criticized the AP report adding that the government is doing all it can to bring Levinson home -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Susan Candiotti, thanks so much. We want to talk more about this now with CNN national security analyst and former CIA operative, Bob Baer. Welcome, Bob.

BOB BAER, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Hi, Carol.

COSTELLO: So your feelings on this being made public?

BAER: You know, I don't like it. It was in some doubt -- I've known about this case for several years via lawyers looking for him. I didn't say anything. I'm not sure the AP should have come out with the story now. It doesn't move it forward. So what he was on a CIA contract, if indeed he was. Right now, whoever has him, and it may be a rogue element, it's going to make this case much worse.

COSTELLO: When the Iranian president says, we don't know where he is, obviously we're skeptical of that statement. What do you suppose Iran is doing with Mr. Levinson?

BAER: That's a good question. I think it's a mystery in Washington. Where he was taken is run by Iranian intelligence. In fact, the hotel he stayed in backs up against one. They knew exactly what they were doing and who took him. What happened to him afterwards, whether they pushed him off to some radical group, I can't tell you. Have they lost track of him? I can't tell you that either.

COSTELLO: I don't know. You're a former CIA operative and this is so chilling where you're working for your country and they can't seem to save you.

BAER: Well, I think we should go to the Iranians and say, this is out, let's sit down and find this guy. Tell us who grabbed him. If we want this deal to go through with Iran, we don't want this as an obstacle.

COSTELLO: Bob Baer, thanks so much for your insight this morning. We appreciate it.

A chaotic scene at Mile High Stadium in Denver, a huge fight broke out in the parking lot after the Broncos game and when it was over, at least three people ended up stabbed. Police say one of the victims is now in critical condition. They also think a fourth person was stabbed, but left the scene and has not been found yet. Three suspects are in custody. The latest now from KUSA reporter, Colleen Ferreira.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLLEEN FERREIRA, KUSA REPORTER: We do know three men were stabbed. Two are stable right now, one is in critical condition. There is a possible fourth victim, police say that person missing at this time. Right now, police don't know what led up to these stabbings. They don't know how or why they happened. They say there were several witnesses out here on the parking at that time. Right now, they have been interviewing witnesses overnight. They're still talking to them right now hoping those witnesses can weigh in on the moments leading up to the stabbing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The Denver Broncos referred all questions to stadium management who say they are fully cooperating with authorities.

In a stunning reversal, newlywed Jordan Graham admits she pushed her husband off a cliff to kill him. The case has taken numerous twists and turns since July with Graham constructing an elaborate cover of initially denying she was with her husband when he died. But on Thursday, she finally broke down and agreed to a plea deal. CNN's Kyung Lah has more for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jordan Graham, a former bride now inmate with her sentencing only months away. In a last- minute deal, Graham pleaded guilty to second degree murder in exchange for dropping a first degree murder charge. She came clean before the federal judge about what really happened the day her husband died at Glacier National Park.

She and the man she married just eight days earlier, Cody Johnson, got into a heated argument. Graham said she told her new husband that she wasn't feeling like a happy newlywed. Facing the cliff, Graham says Johnson grabbed her arm. She said let go. Then she pushed him, one hand on his shoulder one hand on his back, face first off the cliff.

I wasn't thinking of where we were Graham told the judge. It was a reckless act, I just pushed. Graham said she left her dead husband without telling anyone because I was so scared.

(on camera): This was a young girl who made some poor choices. You still hold that belief?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do.

LAH: The defense says Graham is a young girl who made poor choices in the wake of her wedding. Prosecutors believe Johnson's death was premeditated. Graham plotted to kill her husband because she regretted getting married. In court when Graham uttered the word guilty, her former mother-in-law wept. Her parents remain silent, leaving the courthouse, their daughter in the custody of U.S. marshals.

Officers cuffed Jordan Graham in the courtroom, while Johnson's friends held hands and shook their heads in satisfaction. They left the federal courthouse saying few but powerful words.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: God will take care of it.

LAH: As will a judge when she's sentenced in March. Kyung Lah, CNN, Missoula, Montana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Talk a little politics now. The House of Representatives passed a budget. Amazing in itself. What's more amazing is what it exposed. Open warfare between Republicans and their conservative counterparts. House Speaker John Boehner made no bones about it calling Republicans who did not vote for this budget deal uninformed. It seems like just yesterday Boehner was in danger of losing his speakership because he could not control the Tea Party Republicans. But today it's a whole different story. Boehner is victorious and not afraid to say it out loud.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BOEHNER (R), HOUSE SPEAKER: They've lost all credibility. They pushed us into a fight to defund Obamacare and shutdown the government. The day before the government re-opened, one of these groups said, "Well, we never really thought it would work." Are you kidding me?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: We'll talk more about the budget which has yet to pass the Senate with CNN's Candy Crowley. That comes your way in just about 15 minutes.

Also to come in the NEWSROOM, chatting on your cell phone in mid-air? It could be coming soon, but not everyone wants to hit the speed dial. I'll talk with a former flight attendant who says it's a bad idea. It actually could put you in danger.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Checking our top stories at 13 minutes past the hour. Terrifying moments in Utah overnight when a sudden rock slide crushed a home and killing two people inside. They say the falling boulder sounded like an earthquake and that the two bodies were found close to one another underneath the rubble. Officials say rock slides are common in the area because of snow and freezing temperatures.

We're more than a week away from the start of winter, but a massive storm could blanket a 1,000 mile strip of the United States with more snow, ice, and freezing temperatures this weekend especially bad news for places like Western Michigan where snow just caused a 40-car pileup. A sheriff deputy was hurt in this accident. The woman who hit him said she couldn't avoid it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARRIE NEWBERG, LOST CONTROL OF CAR: I actually lost control. I had a car in front of me. I was thrown off and I hit the police officer who was in the ditch. There was nothing that we could do to stop.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: And in downtown Milwaukee, the river is frozen. The city could get up to 5 inches of snow by tomorrow. The high today is expected to be in the mid-20s.

And more trouble for Canada's crack-smoking mayor. A "Toronto Star" reporter is accusing Rob Ford of libel. Daniel Dale claims the mayor made false and defamatory statements about him during a TV appearance. Dale wants the mayor to retract the, quote, "false insinuations that I am a pedophile." Ford has not responded.

Do you really want the guy sitting next to you on your next flight blabbing away on his cell phone while on an airplane? It can happen. The FCC is now considering lifting its ban on in-flight cell phone use saying new technology now makes it safe, but some say it will be a bad call.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't want someone sitting next to me saying, hi, I'm on the plane.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It adds more noise and stress to the flight.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Amen, brother.

An FCC commissioner though actually he said he's gotten similar complaints.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AJIT PAI, FCC COMMISSIONER: One person wrote, quote, "It's bad enough being herded like cattle on these planes without listening to Boorish idiots have needless conversations on their cell phones. And another, I fear what I do with my cutlery being stuck on a plane. And a third wrote simply, no!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The Department of Transportation has jumped on the band wagon too saying, cell phone use could trample passengers' rights. And now some members of Congress are trying to outlaw it. Joining me now from Washington is Veda Shook of the Association of Flight Attendants. She is the president. So you hate this idea, why?

VEDA SHOOK, INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT, ASSOCIATION OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS- CWA, AFL-CIO: This is a terrible idea. Why, I think you just heard from a very good cross-section. It's a dumb idea to start with. But beyond that, there's a lot of troubling aspects of it. From a pure nuisance factor, which I think was articulated that people don't want to be disturbed with calls occurring to them right next to them.

Two, you know, the ability that could create disturbances in flight. My role is to make sure there's a calm, cool, collected atmosphere on the airplane. That's a metal tube, thousands of feet in the air, compressed air, no way out. What are we going to do? We are going to create another example where people could get mad at one another. We think it doesn't make any sense.

COSTELLO: I think a lot of people don't realize how difficult your job really is. You do have to keep people calm and it is difficult. Some people on board planes are not only frustrated and tired, but some of them aren't in their right minds.

SHOOK: Well, we have seen that, that's right. In a post 9/11 world, of course, we've got security concerns. But there's passengers that might have had too much to drink or might have another kind of mental illness or something. My job is to make sure we're de-escalating any situations. From a pure safety standpoint, this makes no sense. And you quoted one of the commissioners you showed earlier.

Another one said, this is going to monazite peace and quiet. There's a lot of hustle and bustle in the airport. You have to wait in lines. I want the aircraft to maintain an oasis-like atmosphere. If you're on a flight and there's an in-flight movie, I don't broadcast that over for everyone to hear. There's an assumption there's going to be peace and quiet. If you want to do it, you can put on your headphones.

COSTELLO: Exactly. The other concern is you don't know who that person on the cell phone on board that plane is talking to on the ground. The thought crossed through my mind that it could be somebody who means trouble.

SHOOK: That's exactly right. We have some very serious concern. So I currently don't even have the ability to communicate with the flight deck wirelessly. I have to go to one of those princess phones at the front or back end of the cabin if I need to communicate with the flight deck. We have concerns that from a security standpoint that those that might wish to do harm could have voice calls amongst one another on a plane or across aircraft.

COSTELLO: We'll see what happens. Everybody is jumping on the band wagon. SHOOK: I'm going to tell you, I have not heard from one single passenger or flight attendant that in any way thinks this is a good idea. The only person that I've spoken with is someone from the industry group that stands to make money by putting these devices on board aircraft. It's about decisions for many handled by a few.

COSTELLO: Veda Shook from the Association of Flight Attendants, thanks so much for joining me this morning.

SHOOK: Great. Good to be with you. Thank you.

COSTELLO: You're welcome.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, authorities now saying the death of this college freshman during a fraternity outing may have been criminal. Fred Pleitgen is following that story. Hi, Fred.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, new details are emerging in all that. I'll have the latest for you when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: A fraternity outing turned deadly for a 19-year-old college freshman. Now new court records are shedding more light on the ritual that may have led to his death and the district attorney says criminal charges are likely. CNN's Fred Pleitgen is following the story. Good morning, Fred.

PLEITGEN: Hi. Good morning, Carol. And a lot of these details really started emerging late last night. Two things started crystallizing, if you will. There were some 30 fraternity members who are on hand when this happened. It seems not all of them are really forth come to help clarify what really happened. But the main thing the authorities are focusing on is the time delay from when this incident happened to when these fraternity members actually got their friend some help. It was a very long time. Here is what we know.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PLEITGEN (voice-over): It happened at this house in Eastern Pennsylvania. Chun Hsien Deng who also went by the name Michael ran a gauntlet blindfolded with a heavy weight on his back while other fraternity members tried to tackle him according to the district attorney. It's a ritual known as glass ceiling. The 19-year-old Deng suffered a severe head injury during the ordeal and became unresponsive, but his would be brothers never called an ambulance, the Pocono's Mountain police chief tells CNN.

CHIEF HARRY LEWIS, POCONO MOUNTAIN REGIONAL POLICE: There was a delay of some of his fraternity brothers taking him to the hospital, which was another 40 minutes away. So we can say a minimum of at least two hours went by before he actually received any type of medical care.

PLEITGEN: He later died. Those allegedly involved were members of the Pi Delta Psi Fraternity at Baruch College in New York City. Authorities say more than 30 members had traveled to the Pocono Mountains for a weekend fraternity trip. Students say they're shocked.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've heard good things about them. I'm surprised one of their members got hurt -- I mean, killed.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's terrible to get into something that means brotherhood resulted in that. Why do you have to prove yourself to call someone your friend or your brother?

PLEITGEN: Baruch College says it has a zero tolerance policy for hazing rituals and in a statement Pi Delta Psi's their leadership says, "This incident occurred at an unsanctioned event that was strictly prohibited by our organization. As a result of this incident, we are immediately suspending all new member education nationwide until further notice." Both the college and the fraternity say they're cooperating with law enforcement something some of those present the evening of the incident did not do according to the police chief.

LEWIS: Prior to us getting to that location, there were people who left the scene and we are asking them to come forward to provide us with the information, you know, to help us figure out exactly what happened.

PLEITGEN: The district attorney tells CNN he believes criminal charges will likely be pressed in the case.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PLEITGEN: And, you know, Carol, I want to give you some more details as to what exactly happened after this incident and why it took so long for them to actually get this young man any sort of help. It appears after the incident happened, which is outside in the yard, they brought him inside, put dry clothes on him. But instead of calling an ambulance, they started Googling his symptoms when he was unresponsive.

It took a very, very long time and they drove him to the hospital in one of their own cars. And further time elapsed because he could have gotten treatment in an ambulance and not so in a private car. These are all things that law enforcement are looking into a terrible incident and just something that reminds us that these kinds of rituals are just down right stupid - Carol.

COSTELLO: I think you said it best. Fred Pleitgen, many thanks to you.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, the bipartisan budget deal sails through John Boehner's House of Representatives. But he's also using his victory to tell his critics to back off and leave his party alone. We'll talk about that coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thanks so much for joining me. A look at our top stories at 30 minutes past the hour, the Associated Press and the "Washington Post" both reporting an American missing in Iran for seven years worked for the CIA. Bob Levinson's family and the State Department has spent years denying that.

CNN's Susan Candiotti said she has confirmed with a source that there is proof Levinson allegedly worked for the CIA undercover - worked, rather, for the CIA undercover while also working as a private investigator.