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Legal Implications From Bieber's Arrest; U.S.: Iranians Spinning Nuke Deal Story; Olympics: Is Sochi Safe?; Fire Rages On After Plant Explosion; Call For New Safety Rules In Car Seats; Widow In Movie Shooting Speaks Out
Aired January 23, 2014 - 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: Police say Bieber resisted arrest and admitted to police he had been drinking and smoking marijuana before getting behind the wheel of that car.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF RAY MARTINEZ, MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT: Upon approaching the car when he opened the window and confronted Mr. Bieber, he smelled the strong odor of alcoholic beverage. Mr. Bieber was not cooperating with the officer's instructions. The officer asked him to exit the vehicle. He was questioning why he was being stopped. He eventually stepped out of the vehicle would not follow the officer's instructions. The officer at that time did place Mr. Bieber under arrest for resisting without violence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Apparently he wouldn't take his hands out of his pockets when police ordered him to do so. Nischelle Turner live in Los Angeles with more on this story. What did the police officer say, Nischelle?
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, basically, Carol, he did give us a little information and some insight into what was going on out there. First of all, this was a residential area. There were two cars, Justin Bieber in the Lamborghini and another red Lamborghini. The officer told us that they were going at least 55 or 60 miles per hour in the residential area.
Apparently this is twice the legal speed limit in that area they believe. He said that they believed they were drag racing because the cars were going from a stopped position to revving their engine and going at a high rate of speed. Once again, twice the legal limit on that road.
Now the officer talked about once Justin Bieber got to the police station. There he was cooperating with them. That is when he made the statements that he had drunk a beer. He had smoked some weed that night, and that he had also taken some prescription drugs. That's what they say Justin Bieber told them.
When asked about his blood alcohol level, they couldn't tell because the officer said when there's a combination of drugs and alcohol, everything get muddled. They're trying to sort that out. Apparently, Justin will be charged with driving under the influence. He was arrested because he was resisting arrest and also for drag racing in that area.
So there could be other charges that follow. That's what they told us earlier today. Again, Carol, we are just starting to get the information into this. You know this comes after a long list of troubles, run-ins, legal issues, residential issues Justin has been having. I think now this has turn into something that needs to be addressed and needs to be really looked at. This is serious.
COSTELLO: He's putting other people's lives in danger. Nischelle Turner, thank you so much.
We want to get legal perspective on this. I want to bring in BJ Bernstein. She is a criminal defense attorney and I know you feel a little sorry for Bieber, but he's drag racing allegedly on a residential street.
BJ BERNSTEIN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: What I would say is this. I'm going to treat him for a minute like I would every other 19 to 22- year-old boy who's regularly in my office and arrested in this country. We have to deal with the fact for a parent they see signs. We happen to see the signs of Justin Bieber on national television, on TMZ hearing about it everybody minute, magnifying it for him. There could be something going on. He probably does need intervention and help and not enablement. I'm not saying he's guilty yet. I'm a criminal defense lawyer.
COSTELLO: I'm going to play along with you.
BERNSTEIN: Right.
COSTELLO: Maybe it was a cry for help because he freely volunteered to the police officer he had been drinking, smoking pot and take prescription drugs. Normally you wouldn't do that when placed under arrest.
BERNSTEIN: If you think back the history of his career, everybody loved him because he was a great kid. He had a good moral fiber. Like everybody else, if I get off set, I'll have a call this afternoon already of another parent saying my kid has been going fine in school and all of a sudden he's going off the rails because of alcohol, drugs and potentially with young people mental health issues are a rising.
For him, what I say to my young one, I know you have friends who drink, friends who smoke pot. The universe tapped you on the head and got you arrested. This is your opportunity to change. It has to come from him.
COSTELLO: Other people are involved. He supposedly had someone else in the car, drag racing with another person, going fast down a residential street. This is not kid stuff.
BERNSTEIN: Absolutely. The question is what should be the consequences. He's not a U.S. citizen. He's going to need a skilled lawyer to make sure if he enters a plea of some sort or resolves it doesn't jeopardize his ability to remain in the United States. Again, when talking about young people, how hard do you punish them? If they make a true change from the date of arrest to the time the case is resolved, time goes by.
I say this is your private probation time. BJ's probation is sometimes rougher than the government's. I say let's get it together, figure out what's going on and have the chance not to jeopardize or injure anybody and get things straight.
COSTELLO: Let's hope so. It would be sad if he goes down the same road like Lindsey Lohan per se.
BERNSTEIN: Who's coming back around. We see them as celebrities, but there are millions, really thousands of kids, who are suffering the same issues he is. We need to help all of them.
COSTELLO: BJ Bernstein, thanks so much. You have a big heart.
Today there are daunting new challenges for the NSA surveillance program and the collecting of American phone records. CNN learned the federal watchdog group that focuses on privacy issues concludes the program is illegal and also has minimal value in fighting terrorism. The bulk collection of phone records was one of the secret spying tactics revealed by Snowden, the form her contractor who blew the lid off intelligence gathering.
A top Iranian official says the Obama administration has said to have it wrong according to Iran's foreign minister. He talks about the sixes month nuclear deal and says Iran never agreed to dismantle anything.
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MOHAMMAD JAVAD ZARIF: The White House versions, both underplays the concessions and overplays Iranian commitment. I'm not interested in that. I'm simply saying why don't we all stick to what we agreed? Why do we need to produce different texts?
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Explain then to our viewers what's different in terms of Iran's commitment to what you greed to and what the White House says you agreed to?
ZARIF: Well, the terminology is different. The White House tries to portray it as basically a dismantling of Iran's nuclear program. That's the word they use time and again. I urge you to read the entire text. If you find a single, a single word that even closely resembles dismantling or could be defined as dismantling in the entire text, then I would take back my comment.
SCIUTTO: So what is it Iran is doing?
ZARIF: What Iran has agreed is not to enrich above 5 percent. We did not agree to dismantle anything.
(END VIDEOTAPE) COSTELLO: That interview coming on the sidelines of the world economic forum in Switzerland. A senior administration official tells CNN the Iranians are spinning the story for domestic political purposes.
Now 15 days until the Sochi Olympics. The rumble of terrorist threats is stealing the spotlight from the world's greatest athletes. We don't expect to hear that from Russian leaders. The Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev sat down for exclusive interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour. Where he down played the danger and reassured the world they will keep the winter games safe.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DMITRY MEDVEDEV, RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER (through translator): With threats on public events -- always threats not only this country and also others. In this country they have specific nature and consequences. Definitely we are aware of that and will take that into account during the Olympics.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Let me ask you to be specific. The Russian security forces, the government, has sent out alert about a specific so called black widow who may have penetrated the ring of steel around Sochi already and hotels are told to look out for this person. Flyers and posters are sent around. Given the amount of security in place, how is it possible this happens so close to the games?
MEDVEDEV (through translator): You know, we are having very tough struggle against terrorism. This is relative life of today. All those threats including the ones you have mentioned occur not in the context that only in the context of the Olympics. We keep fighting them every day. Sometimes we have good results, but sometimes we don't have the results we expected. Any way the struggle continued.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Nick Paton Walsh has more on the latest security threat from Sochi.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALSH (voice-over): Just under two weeks leading after the Sochi Olympic Games mounting anticipation, not about who will win the gold, but instead, concern about a possible chink in the game's ring of steel. The latest security threat, an e-mail warning of a terrorist attack sent to the U.S. Olympic organizing committee and several European countries.
But the International Olympic Committee quickly quelled security concerns telling CNN the e-mail contained no threat and appears to be a random message from a member of the public. The U.S. Olympic Committee is looking into it as well saying the safety and security of Team USA is our top priority.
As is always the case, we are working to ensure that our delegation and other Americans traveling to Sochi are safe. The White House however says that American travelers should remain vigilant.
JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We have seen an uptick in threat reporting prior to the Olympics, which is of course of concern, although it is also not unusual for a major international event.
WALSH: President Obama and the Joint Chiefs continue to offer counterterrorism expertise to Russia with IED detection software, jamming equipment and war ships. All Russia needs is to give the green light.
CARNEY: We are offering the Russians any assistance that they might require or request in a situation like this.
WALSH: In the light of multiple terrorist threats, some carried out in regions surrounding Sochi. Sweeps continue for the so-called black widow suicide bombers. One woman killed in a gun battle over the weekend. Another believed to have already bypassed the security corridor of Sochi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALSH: The real issue is what issues will reside after the games get underway. There's a $50 billion cost spectacle erected behind me to --
COSTELLO: Problems with our live sound out of Sochi. He was referring to the Olympic Village you saw behind Nick Paton Walsh. It looks beautiful and as you heard Russian security says it will be safe too. We'll see.
Still to come in the newsroom, the government is trying to keep your child safe in the car seat. Rene Marsh is following that story.
RENE MARSH, CNN AVIATION AND GOVERNMENT REGULATION CORRESPONDENT: The child seat may not protect your child in a certain crash. We'll tell you what you need to know and what the government is doing next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Checking top stories at 15 minutes past the hour. A 25- year-old man under arrest after police say he caused a Greyhound bus to crash overnight near Phoenix. Police say the man got up and started punching the driver yelling, quote, "I'm going to flip this bus." Now the 41 people on board, about half were sent to the hospital. Police are still trying to figure out what angered that passenger.
A fire at a bio diesel plant in Mississippi continues to burn this morning after a huge explosion Wednesday afternoon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KELLY COLTHARP, RESIDENT: Like boom, boom. Real close together. I live -- I was in my house in the bed and heard it so it was very loud.
(END VIDEO CLIP) COSTELLO: Firefighters waiting for the blaze to burn itself out where stationed a mile away with fears a tank may explode. Fifty homes nearly have been evacuated so far no reports of injuries.
This just in to CNN, existing home sales were up 1 percent last month heading higher after falling for three straight months. That pushes sales in 2013 to their highest level in seven years.
The Obama administration is proposing new safety guidelines for kid's car seats trying to make sure that kids are kept safe if they involved in a side impact crash. Rene Marsh has the story from the Washington. Good morning.
MARSH: Good morning, Carol. Well, this is a frightening thought. As we speak, car seats are not required to be designed in a way to protect children from a certain crash. We are talking side impact crashes. Now for the very first time the federal government wants to change that. Take a look at this video.
Let's say another car T-bones your car with your child in the back seat, the impact could be deadly. The doors could collapse on passengers. The government is now proposing rules to mandate in the next three years car seat makers design car seats in a way to protect children, adding more cushioning to protect the child's body.
COSTELLO: It sounds like a good idea to me. Rene Marsh, many thanks to you.
Still to come in the NEWSROOM, public opinion may be changing for President Obama, but is it enough to get people on board with his agenda? We'll talk about that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Later today, President Obama will meet more than 200 mayors from around the country. He's expected to talk to them about his economic plan and discuss his agenda, which he'll lay out in next Tuesday's "State of the Union" address. The president's speech will come as a new poll shows his approval rating improving slightly and I mean, slightly.
It's risen to 40 percent, barely up from December, but still a whopping 54 percent disapproved of the way the president is doing his. CNN's chief political analyst, Gloria Borger is here to talk about that. So will anybody be listening to the president's "State of the Union?"
GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes, they're going to be listening to the "State of the Union." What he's going to say is look, things that I can't do with Congress because obviously with that kind of popularity rating he doesn't have as much leverage as he would like. Presidents in their sixth year generally don't have as much leverage with Congress as they would like.
But what he's going to say what I can't do with you, I'm going to try to do without you. So through executive orders, he's going to try and do some environmental things. He may try and do some things related to manufacturing. What he can do with Congress, he will try and do. Not in large ways like he did with health care reform, but perhaps in smaller ways like pieces of immigration reform.
Because don't forget, Carol, he's got a Republican Party with a 59 percent disapproval rating. They're not much more popular than he is. It may be one of the situations where it's in everyone's self interest to get a little done.
COSTELLO: I hope so. We're also in election year. People are feeling bad about the state of the economy still because it's an election year, will that make a difference?
BORGER: I think yes. Everything makes a difference in election year. Everybody will be going their own ways. Presidents tend to have a lot less pull with their own party when people are looking towards their re-election. What may be in the president's best interest for his legacy sometimes isn't in the best interest of a person who's running for re-election.
What you're going to see though I think is the president trying to help his Democrats to a certain degree. That would mean playing to the base of the party because midterm elections, Carol, are about the basis of each party. Conservatives come out, and liberals come out in these elections. You're going to see perhaps the president trying to help out his progressive base in order to get them re-elected and in order to help them increase their numbers in Congress.
COSTELLO: CNN chief political analyst, Gloria Borger, thanks for dropping in. We appreciate hit.
BORGER: Sure.
COSTELLO: Still to come in the NEWSROO, Glenn Beck is apologizing for what he calls playing a role in tearing the country apart. What? We'll talk about why he's saying such things next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thanks so much for joining me. The widow of the man gunned down in a Florida movie theater just ten days ago is speaking out. Nicole Oulson spoke to "Good Morning America" about the heart ache she feels after losing her husband and father of their child.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICOLE OULSON, HUSBAND KILLED IN DISPUTE OVER TEXTING: There are times at night especially -- that was my husband's ritual to put her to bed. Times like that -- before tucking her in he would say you make me so happy. Daddy is so happy. She would say, Lexi happy too. Those are the times that I'll never be able to replace. That's when it's hard.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: CNN Martin Savidge is following this story. The dad was texting the little girl when this happened.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Nicole Oulson is the widow here who is speaking out for the very first time, which is why this is so power to all of us. It was a movie theater. They were out on a date, husband and wife and then the terrible tragedy. To hear her words, they're powerful and they are painful. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a wavering and halting voice, Nicole Oulson tried to explain what much of nation can't comprehend.
OULSON: It's so hard and it's so unbearable.
SAVIDGE: How a husband and wife's date at a movie matinee could turn deadly.
OULSON: I was just so excited and looking forward to spending the day with the love of my life at a place of entertainment, family entertainment.
SAVIDGE: Witnesses say during the previews at this theater north of Tampa, Chad Oulson used his phone to text the baby-sitter watching their 22-month-old daughter, that apparently bothered the man behind him, 71-year-old retired cop, Curtis Reeves. According to authorities, the two argued and after Oulson threw his bag of popcorn, Reeves pulled out a gun and fired a single fatal shot.
OULSON: And just to think that in the blink of an eye my whole world just got shattered into a million pieces and now I'm left to try to pick them up and put them all back together.
SAVIDGE: Police say Reeves told them he fired in self-defense. Meanwhile, his attorney says his client is also suffering.
RICHARD ESCOBAR, REEVES' ATTORNEY: Mr. Reeves is certainly heartbroken over the fact that someone's life has been lost here, but you know we need to focus at this point in time on gathering the true evidence and bringing that forth before the court.
SAVIDGE: Not surprisingly, Nicole Oulson has a different set of priorities.
OULSON: Right now, I'm just still trying to recover from the shock and my main focus is and always will be on my daughter, Alexis. It's just unimaginable.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE: The bullet that killed her husband, Carol, passed through Nicole's hand. She had it on his chest. It's anticipated she may have to have further surgery to repair hit.
COSTELLO: It's just such a sad story. I understand there's a fund set up. SAVIDGE: There is. It's been started -- major contributions have been made by his employer, Chad's employer. They've got a little over $20,000 now. It continues to grow.
COSTELLO: Martin Savidge, thanks so much.
The Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani took to the economic forum in Davos, Switzerland today saying his country has no place for nuclear weapons.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HASSAN ROUHANI, IRANIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): I strongly and clearly declare that nuclear weapons have no place in our security strategy and that Iran has no motivation to move in that direction. A look at history also clearly shows that Iran has in the past centuries never launched invasions or aggression and only engaged in active defense against threat and direct and indirect invasion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The Iranian president added the country will continue with what it calls peaceful nuclear technology.
Target is making some cutbacks. The retailer says it will be slashing the jobs of nearly 500 employees in its global work force and cutting back on health insurance for part time employees. A Target spokeswoman says the cut backs are unrelated to the hack attack last year.
NSA leaker Edward Snowden will take questions today at a live town hall style chat on the freesnowden website today. The chat starts at 3 p.m. Eastern, and you can submit questions using the #asksnowden.
