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Bombing Suspects Detained Ahead Of Olympics; Justin Bieber Charged With Assault; Italian Court To Decide Amanda Knox's Fate Again; Governor Deal Apologizes In Fox News Interview; One-Man Rescue Mission Helps Dozens; CDC: Cruise Sets Record For Ill Passengers; Peyton Manning: The Best Of All Time?
Aired January 30, 2014 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: But they've kept that information secret because of security reasons and operational reasons they say. The key question is whether the two men identified are the same two men that appear in a Jihadi online video claiming responsibility for those attacks.
They are seen strapping on their suicide vests, talking about going off to carrying out these attacks and promising there will be more attacks like these in Russia in the lead up and during the Sochi Winter Olympics.
Russian authorities aren't saying if the guys in that video are the same people they believe they've identified as being officially responsible for those attacks. But in addition to those identifications, the authorities here have said they have arrested two other people in connection with that attack in Volgograd.
Two brothers who they say were accomplices who actually helped transport the two suicide bombers to the city of Volgograd to carry out those attacks and authorities here say they are still investigating, looking for other accomplices including those they believe were the masterminds behind that attack.
All of these are big reminder of what we've been talking about so much lately, Carol, the ongoing security challenge to Russian authorities in the lead up to the Sochi games not just in Sochi itself, but the possible threat that exists in other areas across this big country -- Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Phil Black reporting live from Moscow this morning. Thank you.
We have to talk about Justin Bieber. You know, just another day, paparazzi, screaming fans and a long walk to the police station, crazy right? Bieber turned himself into Toronto police yesterday. He's been charged with assault during an encounter with a limo driver about a month ago. It's the latest in the series of legal issues for the teen pop star.
Just last week Bieber was busted in Miami Beach for DUI, reportedly telling cops he had been drinking and smoking weed. Days before, L.A. County detectives raided his $6 million mansion searching for evidence for allegedly egging his neighbor's house and causing about $20,000 in damage.
Now someone has set up a White House petition to deport Justin Bieber. More than 100,000 have signed this petition calling on the U.S. government to kick the Canadian-born singer out of the country and revoke his green card. So what does this all mean for the 19-year-old star? Let's bring in CNN's legal analyst, Sunny Hostin. Good morning.
SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: So ask you that big question, what does this mean for Justin Bieber?
HOSTIN: You know, I don't think he's going to get deported. That's really the big issue and it's something that everyone is talking about. He's got a special type of visa. It's an O-1V visa, which is really given to people that are exception in the art. It's difficult to get that visa. Once you do get the visa, it's difficult to provoke the visa. He would have to be convicted of a really violent crime or a felony that's punishable to up more than one year.
So I think it's unlikely because when you look at the trouble that he's in, even in Florida with the DUI, which in my view, Carol, is the most serious, he's really only looking at six months for that. In California, which is sort of the egging vandalism case, I don't think that's going anywhere.
I will tell you this. I've prosecuted many cases as you know, Carol. I've had defendants after completing time tell me you saved my life by prosecuting me and putting me in jail. I was on this downward, out of control spiral. I think that's what we're seeing. I mean, when you compare it to Lindsay Lohan, we haven't heard of her getting into trouble, right?
You look at Chris Brown in anger management and rehab. It looks like he's getting his life back on track. So this may be the time for authorities to get involved and prosecute Justin Bieber and put him on the right track. I think we're seeing a young man in a lot of trouble.
COSTELLO: You know, you're right. Maybe that's the only thing that will work for him because you look at mobs of fans surrounding him in Toronto. It's not doing anything to shrink his fan base, all these problems he's having.
HOSTIN: No, it's not. In fact I discussed this issue last night on "AC 360." I've gotten tons of tweets, people supporting him saying he's just a 19-year-old. He's just having fun. You know, lay off of him. He shouldn't be prosecuted for it. That's amazing to me. I think we're really seeing a young man, again, in trouble, perhaps a substance abuse problem, someone spiraling out of control asking for help.
We're sort of ignoring it. There are no consequences so far to his actions. I think what's fascinating, before he turned himself in. He posted on Instagram telling people, check out my new album. He's not taking this very seriously. Perhaps it's time for a wake-up call. I don't know why his parents are, Carol. I mean, what's going on?
COSTELLO: His dad supposedly parties with him.
HOSTIN: Allegedly.
COSTELLO: He's a very wealthy young man. He going to listen to his mom when she says stop it son? I don't know. I would because I was in deathly fear of my mother, but who knows?
HOSTIN: Same here.
COSTELLO: Sunny Hostin, thanks so much.
Once again, the fate of Amanda Knox rest in the hands of an Italian court. More than two years after being acquitted in the murder of a British exchange student, Knox and her ex-boyfriend wait to hear if they will be ordered to stand trial in Italy yet again. Knox already spent four years in prison for that murder. Erin McLaughlin is in Florence, Italy this morning to tell us more. Good morning.
ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. We're hearing most of the lawyers for the prosecution and the defense have returned to the courtroom awaiting a verdict. The judge instructing the court earlier today not to expect a verdict before 11:00 a.m. Eastern, 5:00 p.m. local time. We expect one of the defendants, Amanda Knox's former boyfriend to be present in court to hear the verdict.
He was there earlier this morning. His father telling CNN he's absolutely terrified. He wants to face justice. We also expect the family of Meredith to be present in court as well. Her brother, Lyle and sister, Stephanie will be there. We understand from her attorney when the verdict is read out which we're expecting in coming hours -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Erin McLaughin reporting live from Florence, Italy this morning, thanks so much.
From Atlanta to Birmingham, warmer temperatures can't come quick enough. The Deep South remains paralyzed for a second straight day. In Alabama, more than 1,600 students still stuck at school. Another 10,000 kids and their teachers were able to go home yesterday. Schools, businesses, governments across the south are shut down again today.
Here in Atlanta, snowplows and salt trucks are busy clearing the roads. In the past minutes, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal spoke to Fox News where the Republican governor apologized for the problems many faced on Tuesday. He said the first priority in the crisis was getting to stranded children.
Right now more than 2,000 cars are still abandoned across Atlanta. Starting this hour, some of those drivers that had to walk away because of the storm will finally get help to free their cars. CNN George Howell is in Atlanta with more. GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. We're starting to see people walking to their cars, thousands of cars on the highways here, especially on interstate 75 Corridor, if we could drive to show you. We'll switch to another camera to give you another perspective. There are plenty of cars out there. Today is the day for people to go out, carol, and find those cars. There are two locations in the city of Atlanta for people to go to meet up with officials.
Officials will take them over to find their cars. The second thing that's happening, cars are being picked up. That's good news. Second thing here -- want to step out if you'll bear with me. It's 19 degrees in Atlanta now, expected to get up to 41 degrees which is balmy for me coming in from Chicago. There's plenty of ice on the roads.
The challenge for drivers especially when you get right along those highways, overpasses and under the highways as well, just watch out for the patches of ice. As the temperature picks up, Carol, the good news is we'll start to see the ice melt away. We're seeing it I happen now.
Carol, make no mistake about it. There's plenty of ice on the sides of the road, on the highways, under the underpasses. Drivers here in metro Atlanta need to take heed.
COSTELLO: All right, get out of the road. That car going by you scared me. George, thanks so much.
All right now, let's share stories of ordinary people sharing extraordinary heart. TJ is one of those people. He heard of stranded motorists walking home two to three hours temperatures in the teens. He jumped into action firing up his four wheel drive heat. He packed hot coffee. He's got a cast of brandy. TJ joins me now. Thanks for coming in.
T.J. REILLY, RESCUED STRANDED DRIVERS: Appreciate you having me.
COSTELLO: You jump in your jeep. Where did you head?
REILLY: It happened our night went as normal. We are dentist, closed our office early. Got our kids home, had a normal fun day in the snow with kids, got them to bed. My wife and I were literally a click of the light away of falling asleep.
She finds a page on Facebook called snowed out in Atlanta. We had been following the stories throughout the day. The resounding area was our streets right outside our subdivision. She was one who commented and said should we get up and do something? We got the four wheel drive jeep. That was it. We got up, and that was about 9:00 p.m. We got home about 1:00 a.m.
COSTELLO: So you're driving carefully around the streets in your jeep. You come upon the first stranded person and what happens?
REILLY: It was as simple as saying you need a ride? Where you going? No one declined. That was it. We kept making the eight mile loop right near 75. People were just getting off leaving their cars. Then I'd get them as far to East Cob as I could.
It was amazing. Sometimes we picked up groups of people that knew each other. Others it would be one person -- another person -- the bonding that happened in this crisis and the suffering they were going -- it was a beautiful thing.
COSTELLO: When you got in your car you had what looked like a thermos of coffee, blankets and flask of bourbon. What were you doing with that exactly?
REILLY: That was the second morning. I woke up the next morning and thought these people probably spent the night in their cars and there's another influx of walkers. There was. My wife and I were more prepared. We got the hot tea, blankets. We made hot butter rum in our kitchen. I had the bottles sitting there. It was the last thing I grabbed. Every guy I offered it to, their face like -- the tea, I'm OK. The bourbon -- it was awesome.
COSTELLO: I'm going to ask you a question, it's a serious one. Who do you blame for the mess in Georgia?
REILLY: I was thinking about that. I've been in the green room watching the coverage of this. As with most things, I believe it's hard to blame one person. The mayor, governor, school people, whatever. Come on. It's always a group concerted effort. Somewhere along the lines, someone should have known. I say someone like I'm talking about one person. Again, there are groups of people --
COSTELLO: Is it safe to say you think public officials failed the city of Atlanta and state of Georgia?
REILLY: Absolutely.
COSTELLO: Absolutely. If it happens again, you will what?
REILLY: Help out.
COSTELLO: You're such a nice person. In fact --
REILLY: What time am I getting out?
COSTELLO: Go to city hall or the state house, right? Thanks so much for coming in. We really appreciate it. Thanks for helping people. That's awesome.
REILLY: My pleasure.
COSTELLO: TJ Reilly, thank you.
Still to come in the newsroom, what's the place of Peyton in the quarterbacks? Joe Montana joins us next to talk about that and all things big on Sunday's big game. Hi, Joe.
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COSTELLO: Checking our top stories, 16 minutes past the hour. The Royal Caribbean cruise ship plagued with the norovirus has the new record for most passengers sickened in the past 20 years. The CDC says only 600 passengers and 54 crew members had symptoms consistent with the norovirus.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Very ill, vomiting and diarrhea, and it was that way for about a good 24 plus. I was lying down. I was so sick.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The ship returned from sea yesterday. Some people actually had to be taken away on stretchers. The cruiseline is sanitizing the ship. Passengers get a 50 percent discount on a future cruise and 50 percent refund.
Officials tell CNN six bodies have been recovered. Three people are missing and presumed dead. Two survivor, father and 11-year-old child have been flown to Nashville with severe burns. Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire.
Edward Snowden has been nominated for the Noble Peace Price. Two Norwegian lawmakers made the nominations. They said the leaks may have damaged the security interest of several nations. Snowden is wanted in the United States on charges.
Peyton Manning faces a dual challenge in Sunday's Super Bowl. Can the Broncos quarterback lead his team to victory over the Seahawks? Can Manning has one Super Bowl ring. If he wins a second Sunday, is his push enough to elevate him to the second of greatest quarterbacks of all time? Say it isn't so.
If Manning and the Broncos win, all things considered, Peyton will be the number one quarterback in the history of the NFL. That is a quote. We say, really? Better than four-time Super Bowl winner Joe Montana? Joe, good morning.
JOE MONTANA, 4-TIME SUPER BOWL CHAMPION: Good morning, how are you?
COSTELLO: I'm good. I'll pose that question to you. If Peyton Manning wins the super bowl, will he be the best quarterback in the history of the game?
MONTANA: There's always a great argument for that. The numbers he's thrown up has been tremendous. He's having a great career. When you look at all the guys named there, the game has changed so much. Enjoy everyone while they're playing. Whoever you want to argue can be up there. You can make a case for anybody on that list. I enjoy watching him play. He's fun, having a great time.
COSTELLO: That's so diplomatic. Is he better than you were?
MONTANA: Well, if I said he was better than me, I shouldn't be sitting here. We're all competitive. Right now he's better than me for sure. COSTELLO: Right at this very moment, but not back in the day. That's right. What's it like to be considered the greatest at your profession?
MONTANA: It's kind of scary feeling when people talk to you that way. Like I said, there are a lot of great players back in the time. I'm happy people put me in the category and enjoy what had I did so many years. The only bad part is, I wish I was still playing.
COSTELLO: We do too. I enjoyed watching you play. That's for sure. We have to talk about the other Super Bowl quarterback, Russell Wilson because he's been kind of ignored, talk about Russell Wilson. Will it be difficult for him with everybody thinking manning is going to beat him?
MONTANA: It is easier. It takes pressure off the young guy. I think the reason he's getting ignored the last five or six games, he hasn't been outing up numbers he's had before. They've got a guy called beast mode over there have talking the ball and running with it.
When you put your ball in that guy's hands and ride him to the super bowl, you're going to do it. The nice thing about Russell, he doesn't make a lot of mistakes. That's what you need in this game. You've got to not make a lot of mistakes. Any time you can run the ball and control and keep manning on the sideline, you've got a good chance to win.
COSTELLO: Absolutely. Let's talk about the price of a Super Bowl ticket, actually the price of a football game ticket. It's far beyond most fans' budgets. Do you think football games are getting to be too expensive for the average fan?
MONTANA: Salaries are creeping up to catch up to a lot of other -- like the NBA and Major League Baseball. There are a lot more games. That's the price is going up. Every game they play is critical. I played baseball in high school. I loved the game. You play 162 games. It's easier to go to a game. When you've only got 16 of them and they mean that much -- like I said, salaries are going up. Somebody has got to pay unfortunately.
COSTELLO: Unfortunately that's the fan. Do you see a game coming -- it's great to watch in the comfort of your living room. Cheap beer, right? Better food. So the incentive to go to the game isn't there such. If you watch on your HDTV, it's a great experience. My question to you, for more fans aren't live in person at the game, will that affect the game itself?
MONTANA: Well, yes. It's always fun to have the stadium full and hearing people cheering even though you don't pay attention to them much especially at the quarterback position until they get too loud where it makes it hard to hear the signals.
In most cases you love to have the fans there. You want the stadium full. As a player you notice when they're not there for sure. Whether that tells you if your team is doing well or not, probably says you're not doing well if stands aren't full. Usually those are pretty packed.
COSTELLO: Joe Montana, thank you for being with me this morning. I appreciate it. We'll be right back.
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COSTELLO: The president makes another stop on his post state of the union road trip taking his message to Wisconsin today pitching his plan to get middle class Americans back on solid footing. His economic message may be overshadowed by issues surrounding gun control. Brianna Keilar is at the White House this morning with more on this. Good morning, Brianna.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol. That's because the high school outside of Nashville that President Barack Obama will go to both a 15-year-old victim who passed away and a 17-year-old sophomore charged with shooting that victim, students at this very high school. The travel was arranged by the White House before this incident happened on Tuesday.
We would expect President Barack Obama to address this as he visits the high school today. We also understand he'll be touting his economic message as originally planned.
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KEILAR (voice-over): President Obama is promoting his go around Congress economic message from the state of the union address. But as he pitches his plan, the issue of gun violence is following him to Nashville where he's scheduled to tout new public private partnerships today at a high school reeling after a student was killed by gun violence Tuesday.
A 17-year-old student is charged with killing his 15-year-old friend inside his apartment building. Witnesses told police that the shooter was playing with a gun when it discharged. Last year, gun control was front and center at Obama's state of the union.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: The families of Newtown deserve a vote.
KEILAR: But after a failed vote in Congress to expand background checks --
JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: The amendment is not agreed to.
KEILAR: Gun issues got just a mention in this year's state of the union.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: I intend to keep trying with or without Congress to help stop more tragedies from visiting innocent Americans in our movie theaters, in our shopping malls or schools like Sandy Hook.
KEILAR: On Wednesday there were campaign style stops to push an increase in minimum wage in a Costco warehouse in Maryland. PRESIDENT OBAMA: Nobody who works full time should ever have to raise a family in poverty and that is why I firmly believe it's time to give America a raise.
KEILAR: And a new kind of retirement account for Americans who don't have 401(k)s at a steel plant in Pennsylvania.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Wherever I can take steps to expand opportunity for more families regardless of what Congress does, that's what I'm going to do.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: Now we are told, Carol, by authorities, that counselors have been brought in to this high school in Nashville that President Barack Obama will be visiting. It's unclear talking to aides at the White House how the president will address the terrible incident. We expect he will. It will be difficult for him to avoid as he is there at the high school.
COSTELLO: Understood. Brianna Keilar reporting live from the White House this morning.
CNN's Jake Tapper will sit down with President Obama for his first interview since the state of the union. You can see that interview tomorrow morning on "NEW DAY" and on "THE LEAD" with Jake Tapper at 6:00 a.m. Eastern on CNN.
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