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Chicken Danger?; Target Hacked; Super Bowl Saturday?

Aired December 19, 2013 - 15:00   ET

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

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: If you have been shopping at a Target store lately, keep a very close eye on your credit card or your debit card statements, because someone hacked Target, of all places, huge, huge chain store right there at the little swipe machine by the register, at risk, 40 million accounts stolen, names, card numbers, expiration dates, and those three- or four-digit security codes.

Target says the problem that allowed the security breach has been fixed. It brought in this outside forensics team to investigate. Secret Service is on the case as well. But you should be concerned if you used a debit or credit card in a Target store, let's be precise here, between right around Thanksgiving, between November 27 and December 15.

Shoppers on Target's Web site are not affected. So this is in-store shopping I'm talking about. Target's CEO saying this: "Target's first priority is preserving the trust of our guests and we have moved swiftly to address this issue so guests can shop with confidence."

But Target does advise, you need to check your account statement for any unusual activity, notify your bank or your credit card issuer if you find anything out of the ordinary. But one of the big questions today is, how the heck did these hackers pull it off at a store as massive as Target?

Jason Glassberg is an ethical hacker, co-founder of Casaba Security.

And, so, Jason, when I read this this morning, I thought, my goodness, I'm like, I have shopped at Target during this time? Everyone shops at Target. How did they pull this off?

JASON GLASSBERG, CO-FOUNDER, CASABA SECURITY: Right.

Well, it's a very interesting, audacious attack. Normally we're accustomed to hearing these happening over the Web with some flaw on the Web site. What makes this interesting is they actually went after the point of sale machines, the magnetic stripe readers. And the fact that they were able to get so many cards so quickly points to the fact that they must have figured some way of compromising the central control system of these card readers and pushed down some kind of malicious code that would allow them to communicate these numbers back as they were being -- you know, scanned from the cards, so a very, very interesting attack.

BALDWIN: So the way in which they attacked, just going forward, is there anything I or anyone else can do? Because I am swiping my credit card all the time, and it makes me wonder, is there anything I can be doing to protect myself the next time I swipe?

GLASSBERG: Well, you know, you can and you can't. The problem is, this is really...

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: I don't know if I like that answer, Jason.

(LAUGHTER)

GLASSBERG: You know, what are you going to do? You're going in good faith. You're swiping your card. There's not much you can do once you have swiped the card. The deal is done.

One of the things you can do and we often recommend is that you silo the use of your credit cards, that you use them for specific purposes. Maybe you have one that you use for holiday shopping, only one you use for business travel, only one maybe you go out to eat only, and it makes it a little easier to track purchases on those cards, because really the only thing you can do at that point is monitor your credit card activity on your statements.

BALDWIN: I have several friends who have been skimmed, I guess, put the skimmers in the machine recently. It's like these days, people are getting very creative.

GLASSBERG: Exactly.

BALDWIN: Jason Glassberg, thank you very much.

GLASSBERG: Thank you.

BALDWIN: And now to a story that CNN for months and months has pushed for answers, the mysterious death of Georgia teenager Kendrick Johnson, found dead in a rolled up gym mat at his high school, almost a year ago now.

Officials ruled Johnson's death an accident, but his parents all along have maintained their son was murdered. And now a major development that we have been waiting for involving this surveillance footage that may show how Kendrick Johnson died.

I want to bring in CNN's Victor Blackwell, who joins me in Atlanta. And Victor has been breaking every development of the story for months.

So, you know, we have seen some of the video last month. Didn't answer the big question, how did Kendrick Johnson die? So now the FBI is involved. Tell me how.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, CNN has learned from a source with knowledge of the investigation surrounding the hard drives that the FBI, FBI agents will be at Lowndes High School, likely today, to seize the hard drives from the surveillance system at Lowndes High School, potentially to get the video from the day that Kendrick Johnson died and the following day, when his body was found.

Now, this is the result, we have also learned from the source, of a grand jury subpoena issued by U.S. attorney Michael Moore in Georgia , who is investigating the case. And, as you mentioned, this is to find out exactly how he died. You know, there is the video that we received from the sheriff's office that left so many questions for the family, for the Johnsons.

They want to know essentially, did all of the video that was recorded at the school make it to the sheriff's office? The FBI now is going to take control of those hard drives to try to get an answer to that question.

BALDWIN: Well, I'm remembering from your previous reporting, and there were crucial pieces of the video that were just missing. So I'm wondering, will these hard drives, will they explain how this teenager died?

BLACKWELL: Maybe is the answer. You mentioned video that's potentially missing, that hour in the gym where Kendrick Johnson's body was found, when we know there was activity, no recording there.

It depends upon several variables here. One of the most important is the cycle in which this system is set to record over old information. Some are set at a week, two weeks, maybe 30 days. We know that the original hard drives were requested more than 45 days after Kendrick Johnson disappeared to be pulled from the system, so, quite possibly, that video from the original system has been already recorded over, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Victor Blackwell, we will check back in and see what you learn from the FBI today. Thank you so much.

BLACKWELL: Sure.

BALDWIN: Happening right now, Florida authorities announcing new arrests in the case of some Florida inmates who gained their freedom by gaming the system. Prison officials say Joseph Jenkins and Charles Jenkins (sic) used fake release documents with forged signatures.

You remember this? Jenkins was first to escape back in late September, but within a month, both of these men were captured, and now investigators will reveal who helped them.

Nick Valencia broke the developments in this one for us. He joins me live.

And so, Nick, what do you know about the arrests?

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I just got off the phone with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. We're expecting to hear from the commissioner, Jerry Bailey, in this investigation.

He's expected to announce six arrests, Brooke, related to the inmate escape scheme. Now, those arrests are current and former inmates. And they do include Joseph Jenkins and Charles Walker. We first, as you mentioned, reported this story back in October. We uncovered in our reporting, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, a so-called cottage industry of these fraudulent documents being used in prison systems all throughout the state of Florida -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: And I remember at the time when we were talking about it, Nick, where there had been questioning over whether or not these guys had inside help in terms of these arrests. Do we know if any prison officials will be arrested?

VALENCIA: That's right, Brooke. A lot of initial speculation was that this was an inside job. At this point, there are no officials implicated in these arrests. I did ask the FDLE if that means that officials have been entirely cleared in this investigation. They said there is a possibility that more arrests in addition to the six announced today, there's a possibility that more arrests could be announced down the road. That could include officials, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Nick, thank you.

VALENCIA: You bet.

BALDWIN: Coming up, ice skater Brian Boitano makes a candid announcement about his sexuality. We will tell you what he said and why now.

Plus, the Super Bowl may be played on a Saturday or a Monday? That is ahead.

Also, actor Sean Penn says he is with an American businessman who just escaped Bolivia, and the government down there furious. Stay right here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: An American businessman locked up in a Bolivian jail without charges, and actor Sean Penn, so desperate to see this man, Jacob Ostreicher, released, he launches a campaign, even flies there, and now Ostreicher has escaped.

How did he do it?

Rafael Romo, our senior Latin affairs editor, has the story about how this whole thing began.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN SENIOR LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR (voice-over): Jacob Ostreicher is home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He arrived in the United States Monday morning.

ROMO: But how the American businessman returned to the U.S. is still a mystery. Ostreicher was arrested in June 2011 in Bolivia, where he was managing a rice business and accused of laundering drug money. In a CNN interview in May of 2012, Ostreicher's wife said the family was puzzled and dismayed by the accusations. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The worst part is that he's an innocent man. He didn't do anything wrong. And he proved that innocence in a court of law.

ROMO: Last December, after spending 18 months in prison without being charged and with his health failing, he was put under house arrest. In an interview with CNN En Espanol, Ostreicher strongly denied the charges.

JACOB OSTREICHER: The reason this putting me in jail is because my associate in Switzerland is wanted for narco trafficking and (INAUDIBLE) has the evidence, without even the judge ever seeing any evidence.

ROMO: After Sean Penn, who took up the cause of Ostreicher's freedom, traveled to Bolivia a year ago and met with President Evo Morales.

SEAN PENN, ACTOR: We are very honored and grateful that President Morales has received us.

ROMO: Penn told the Associated Press Ostreicher was extracted from the South American country in a "humanitarian operation" to free him "from the corrupt prosecution and imprisonment he was suffering in Bolivia." The State Department denied the U.S. government had anything to do with his escape.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not aware of any involvement. Obviously we've been providing him consular access since his arrest in June 2011. We attended all of his court hearings.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Rafael Romo, let me bring you in here, because we just heard the U.S. denying they had a thing to do with this escape. There are reports out there that Sean Penn himself may have been involved. What do you know about their relationship?

ROMO: Well, it goes back more than a year. Sean Penn personally went to Bolivia last December. He met with Ostreicher. Not only that. He met with his wife. He also testified in Congress to try to put pressure on the American government to do something about it, to be more involved in trying to liberate Ostreicher.

And so he's been instrumental in trying to get him out of Bolivia from the beginning.

BALDWIN: Do we -- do you have any indication as to where this man is right this moment?

ROMO: Not clearly, but Bolivians are saying that he took a flight from Peru to Los Angeles. He lived in New York before he was detained in Bolivia and has family in New Jersey, but neither Sean Penn nor Ostreicher have been seen in public -- publicly since they returned to the United States, Brooke.

BALDWIN: OK, Rafael Romo, thank you very much. Coming up here: Mitt Romney like you have never seen before. Netflix has a new documentary with exclusive access to the former presidential candidate, and it shows that very moment he learned he lost the election. We will show that to you.

Also, Super Bowl Monday, Tuesday? Why the big game could get a big delay.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Just a short time ago, a personal announcement from one of the athletes appointed by President Obama to represent the United States at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Brian Boitano saying he is gay. But he is more than that.

He released a statement saying this -- quote -- "I am many things, a son, a brother, an uncle, a friend, an athlete, cook, an author, and being gay is just one part of who I am. First and foremost, I am an American athlete and I am proud to live in a country that encourages diversity, openness, and tolerance."

Rachel Nichols, host of CNN's "UNGUARDED" here.

We were chatting in the commercial break and I was asking you, the man is 50 years of age. He has never been public with this part of his life until now. Why now?

RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's interesting.

Earlier this week, President Obama named Boitano among a few other athletes to a U.S. delegation to Sochi. A few of those athletes, like Billie Jean King, are gay, have been openly gay for some time. There was a lot of discussion about the fact that this was in part a statement to the Russian government, who have passed a lot of anti-gay laws. Here's who we're bringing over there.

BALDWIN: OK.

NICHOLS: Brian Boitano, as you know, has never publicly talked about his sexuality, never said if he is gay or not. Been asked the question a lot, but hasn't answered it.

A lot of newspapers the past few days have been pretty vague. However, "The San Francisco Chronicle" two days ago printed an article naming Boitano as one of the gay athletes who would be making a political statement over in Russia.

BALDWIN: This is before he came out and said what he did.

NICHOLS: This was two days ago, so it's unclear.

Maybe the writer intended to out him. Maybe the writer and the editor didn't realize he wasn't out and made a mistake and said that he was before he had publicly said he was. But it was out there then. Boitano actually lives in San Francisco. He grew up in the area. He started getting all kinds of questions and people coming to him. He decided to release this statement. But, as he points out, he feels very strongly, this is just one of the things that I'm proud of and that he wants to be known for the all of the things, the entirety of the person that he is.

BALDWIN: OK.

This was news today. Also news potentially, Super Bowl Sunday could be Super Bowl Monday, could be Super Bowl Tuesday.

NICHOLS: How long will your beer last in the fridge, Brooke?

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: I guess you're hung over at work no matter what, some people.

NICHOLS: It doesn't matter. Not anyone here at CNN ever.

BALDWIN: No, not at all.

NICHOLS: This is the deal. We're talking about snow, of course. It's a New York Super Bowl. It's the first time in quite a long time for the modern-day NFL to be holding a cold-weather Super Bowl.

BALDWIN: Brr.

NICHOLS: So they have to have contingency plans. The organizers have said, hey, if it snows a little bit, they actually think that's going to be great for the game. One of the organizers called it romantic yesterday.

BALDWIN: Romantic.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: All these guys out there and gals.

NICHOLS: Yes, shirtless, right?

BALDWIN: Right.

NICHOLS: Fans like cold weather, crazy games. But if it dumps snow, if there are feet and feet of snow, if people can't travel on the roads, they have made contingency plans to either hold the game a day early if a storm is coming or hold the game a day later too if the storm is already here.

I do have to point out, in all fairness, they make these contingency plans no matter what. When the Super Bowl was held in Southern California, they have an earthquake contingency plan.

BALDWIN: Do they?

NICHOLS: They do have every year, here's where and when we can move the Super Bowl if we need to. The thing is, the earthquake doesn't really happen that often. Brooke, you have been in New York for the past month. How often would you say it snows here?

BALDWIN: Once a week? Once a week?

NICHOLS: Exactly. They got the plan ready. Let's just say that.

BALDWIN: OK. If you're coming this way I guess for the game, just be flexible in your travel plans.

NICHOLS: Yes. Kick back.

BALDWIN: OK. Rachel, thank you very much.

"UNGUARDED" 10:30 Friday nights. Watch her.

Coming up, if you think you have high blood pressure, good chance you actually may not after all. Dr. Sanjay Gupta gives his take on the new guidelines today.

Plus, this new documentary shows the emotional moment Mitt Romney finds out he lost the presidential election. But when you watch these clips, and we will show you, they also show this whole other side of the Republican. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Who is Mitt Romney? Even after two years of campaigning for president, Romney remains really a mystery to a lot of Americans, but a documentary next month on Netflix reveals the real Mitt Romney with a behind-the-scenes look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's a very different setting of any of the debates we have held so far. A dining room conversation is among members of the family. These are all people competing for the same job.

How in the world do we find these things out at the end of the day?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He hates to disappoint.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you going to iron (INAUDIBLE)

ROMNEY: Ouch.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This may not end well.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A recent poll said that 43 percent of Americans are not even sure who you are.

ROMNEY: The flipping Mormon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Maybe you can say more honest, a bit more funny, perhaps more electable. Why are so many politicians scared to show a but more candid side of themselves?

CNN chief national correspondent John King joins me from Washington.

John, I'm sure you saw a lot of that, right, behind the scenes covering that so much as you did, but why do you think Mitt Romney didn't show more of this personal side during the campaign?

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It is a question we have asked of so many candidates over the years, Brooke.

My first campaign was Michael Dukakis, another former Massachusetts governor. He was a liberal Democrat. The knock on him, he was too stiff. What was the knock on Mitt Romney years later? He was too stiff. What was the knock on Al Gore? That he was too stiff, that we couldn't see inside the real person.

That's why politicians like Bill Clinton, politicians like George W. Bush, politicians like Barack Obama, and now we're looking at the rise of Chris Christie. We will see if there's a fall, but politicians who seem more authentic, anyway, some of them are acting a bit. But that's part of the job performance.

Look, Governor Romney, some of it is his Mormon faith. Some of it is, he's just -- forget his faith, he's just a reserved, private person. Some of it is, a lot of these politicians, Governor Dukakis was the same way, think that that's my life, this is a serious job. I'm supposed to be serious.

It's like your parish priest on your minister or your rabbi. You see them at a barbecue, they're as loose as can be. You see them in the pastoral setting, they're much more serious. Some politicians just can't merge the two.

BALDWIN: Seeing teachers wear jeans. Don't you remember that back in the day? That just seemed just odd, right?

Let me switch topics since I have you. There are two senators, John, who are proposing new sanctions for Iran over its nuclear program. But didn't we just close a deal over the program? What is this about?

KING: We did, and that's why the White House was saying it would veto the bill if it reached the White House. But let's see and watch and see if that veto threat holds as it makes it way, because there's a lot of bipartisan support for this.

Why is it happening, Brooke? Because of profound skepticism on both the left among liberal Democrats and the right among conservatives that Iran can be trusted to keep its word. And so for some, they say, why won't you sign this, Mr. President? It gives you more leverage. It tells the Iranians you better comply, you better be transparent, you better not stall, because then the sanctions will come back in.

But some of it also, to be frank, is people who don't trust the administration to make sure they get a very tough deal, so they're trying to put pressure on the president. This is a complicated policy issue with a very rich politics as well. Again, the White House said -- today says it would veto it. See if, as the legislation works through Congress, is there a trigger that can be written that is more acceptable to the president? That's one big challenge as we watch this go forward.

BALDWIN: OK.

As always, John King, thank you.

KING: Thank you.