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Experts: Beware of Hackers at Olympics; Court to Show Movie Theater Shooting Video; Jay Leno Ends "Tonight Show" Run
Aired February 06, 2014 - 10:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now in the NEWSROOM, hacking is the new Olympic sport -- new fears as Americans arrive in Sochi.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The safety and security of our athletes and our whole delegation is always our primary concern.
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COSTELLO: Leave the smart phone, laptop and tablet at home or they'll probably be hacked.
Also a bombshell from the world of baseball -- pitching great Curt Schilling revealing he has cancer. This morning support is pouring in for the 47-year-old.
Plus, come on in.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What I can say is that with all the scientific evidence that we have --
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COSTELLO: The water in West Virginia --
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can use your water however you like --
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COSTELLO: Is ok to drink. So why are schools still closing because of it? You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me.
For athletes and thousands of Americans headed to Russia for the Olympics, do not expect any privacy not even in your hotel rooms at least online anyway. That's according to the U.S. State Department. And experts are warning that cyber criminals, hackers that even the Russian government are trying to get information off of your computer, tablet and cell phone.
Some people oh like Jay Leno -- well you know he had to make mockery of this one.
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JAY LENO, TALK SHOW HOST: Well the Olympics start on Friday as you know and Russia is implementing the most intensive security in Olympic history. During the game the government will monitor every e-mail, they will monitor every social media message and they will listen in on every phone call. In fact people are now comparing Russia to the United States that's how bad it is.
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COSTELLO: Seriously though. CNN analyst and tech expert Brett Larson joins me now. Thanks for being here.
BRETT LARSON, CNN ANALYST, TECH EXPERT: Thanks for having me Carol.
COSTELLO: So NBC's reporter Richard Engel said he went to Sochi and he opened his laptop and it was immediately hacked. How does that happen?
LARSON: Right. You know it's similar to when you go to say a Starbucks or a coffee shop or you go somewhere where you're on a shared wireless network where there are multiple people sharing one connection to the Internet which is the case now in Sochi where we've got all of these reporters, and all of these spectators and all of these athletes sharing this one form of communication to get out of the country.
And that is an easy target for hackers. Because all they have to do is connect to that same network and they can start to sniff out the traffic that's passing in front of them or through them or past them on this same network.
COSTELLO: Do we have any idea who these hackers might be?
LARSON: A large -- a variety of things actually. There are some hacking groups -- hacktivists -- that are saying they are intentionally targeting not only the reporters but they are targeting Web sites of companies that are sponsoring the Olympic Games or participating in the Olympic Games. We've had hacktivists similar to Anonymous but over in Russia saying that they are going after all of these Olympic related sites and they're bringing them down.
And we've already seen in the past week, we've seen some Olympic related sites in Russia be taken down. So they are being -- they are being successful in their tasks of hacking.
COSTELLO: It's not like Russia isn't technology advanced. Why didn't they think of this?
LARSON: Right. Well you know this is a hard thing to plan for it's -- the Internet is this -- is this mass of data that is going around. As we learned with the NSA you can sit on a network and sniff all the traffic that comes past you.
So it's a little harder than we -- than we know to block and to prevent these things from happening. They could have done something along the lines of making sure every single person had some security software to insure that their conversations and their communications were encrypted. But it sounds like the Russian government wants to keep tabs on all of the information that's passing through us or through their networks from us.
COSTELLO: Unbelievable. Brett Larson, thanks for filling us in this morning. We appreciate it.
LARSON: Thanks for having me.
COSTELLO: Earlier this morning President Barack Obama joined faith leaders and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle for the National Prayer Breakfast. He talked about his personal faith but he also talked about the importance of religious freedom making special note of two Americans in prisons abroad.
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BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We pray for Kenneth Bae, a Christian missionary who has been held in North Korea for 15 months, sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. His family wants him home. And the United States will continue to do everything in our power to secure his release because Kenneth Bae deserves to be free.
We pray for the Pastor Saeed Abedini who's been held in Iran more than 18 months, sentenced to eight years in prison on charges relating to his Christian beliefs. And as we continue to work for his freedom today, again we call on the Iranian government to release Pastor Abedini so he can return to loving arms of his wife and children in Idaho.
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COSTELLO: Our chief national correspondent John King joins us now. Welcome John.
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning Carol.
COSTELLO: Well John the President called for promoting religious freedom quote, "A key part of U.S. foreign policy." How does the White House champion that cause?
KING: Well the Bae and the Abedini families on this day Carol certainly will be grateful that the President turned to public spotlight on their family's tragedies. Their family's stress, their family's tensions if you will because they are so frustrated that it's been so long.
But they also would hope and you can see their frustration from time to time that the administration could do more behind the scenes. Because when an American is being held overseas whether it's for his religious beliefs or any other reasons it's usually the behind the scenes work not a public appeal from the President at the National Prayer Breakfast they will ultimately bring the resolution.
But this is an issue out of this attention -- a public tension right now with North Korea and Iran because of those imprisoned Americans. And often private and sometime public tensions with governments around the world. The biggest one in my experience here in Washington has been China. President's back -- I came at the end of the George H.W. Bush administration into -- and then into the Clinton administration, the George W. Bush administration. The Obama administration it has been a constant thorn in U.S.-China relations.
The President today also mentioned tensions in Africa, Nigeria, Central Africa, South Sudan and Sudan. He says this comes up in conversations trying to broker peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians can you guarantee access to religious sites.
So this is a constant in American diplomacy promoting religious freedom abroad and a safe spot actually for the President in that room today because whether it's a Democratic president or a Republican president, it's a top priority for that administration at the moment.
And you had a room full of faith leaders today. It's always a concern to them because remember when the government is not as high profile, often it's churches and missionaries of all different faiths around the world who have to deal with these issues with international governments.
COSTELLO: Speaking of another type of diplomacy, because part of the reason that this prayer breakfast is held every year is to draw the President and lawmakers together you know to create a spirit of bipartisan.
And the funny thing is last year the President talked about that and he said you know I feel like when I leave this room that we forget about bipartisanship and we're right back to where we were before. And he was right because eight months later the government shut down. So does this really help?
KING: It doesn't hurt. Let's put it that way. Does it help? You just mentioned the government shutdown. Look there's little evidence that it's a very good thing for people of all faith and all political beliefs to come together, break bread, bow their heads and reflective and have a moment of prayer.
Louie Gohmert who was on the stage with the President today, he's a prominent Tea Party conservative in the House. He disagrees with the President on just about everything. They shook hand, they talk, they made a joke about criticizing each other. Are they going to now agree on debt ceiling debate this just before, are they going to agree on immigration? Probably not.
The President gave a shout out as he called it to Tom Coburn the Republican senator conservative from Oklahoma who is battling cancer right now and was not at the prayer breakfast this year.
Those things -- they don't necessarily help get you a deal on issue x, or issue y. But Carol if over time they at least build a little bit of personal relations and you start to view the other person as we just disagree, that person is not evil. You know that can't hurt. And every now and then, it helps.
COSTELLO: I hope so. John King, thank you so much.
KING: You're welcome.
COSTELLO: Remember to check out John's new show "Inside Politics" this Sunday morning 8:30 Eastern time right here on CNN.
Still to come on the NEWSROOM, we could -- we could soon see video of that shooting inside a Florida movie theater. You know sparked by an argument over a man texting during the previews.
CNN's Martin Savidge is following that story for us. Hi Martin.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello Carol. Yes it was minor hearing technically going over evidence. But it looked like a trial and emotions ran high. I'll show you the moment that brought a gasp from the courtroom.
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COSTELLO: Tomorrow we could get a look at an infrared surveillance video from inside that Florida movie theater where a 71-year-old man is accused of shooting and killing a young father who had been texting during the previews.
CNN's Martin Savidge joins us now. And this is one emotional hearing.
SAVIDGE: Oh absolutely. Good morning Carol.
This is really -- it was supposed to be a technicality that they were debating here, a serious one. But usually that stuff is extremely dry. This one was not. Take a listen.
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SAVIDGE: Retired Tampa Police Captain Curtis Reeves shed tears in court Wednesday.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He has high blood pressure.
SAVIDGE: His family and friends came at the 71-year-old's defense in a bond reduction hearing that felt more like a murder trial with more than eight hours of emotional testimony.
Reeves pleaded not guilty to second degree murder and aggravated battery charges stemming from a shooting inside this central Florida movie theater January 13th. He's accused of shooting and killing Chad Oulson who had been texting with his 2-year-old daughter's baby sitter during the movie's previews.
CHARLES CUMMINGS, WITNESS: He said "I can't believe he shot me." He took another step and a half and then he collapsed on my son. SAVIDGE: Reeves said he acted in self-defense after being hit in the face with an unknown object in the dark. But witnesses inside the Florida movie theater say the only thing thrown was popcorn. And then Reeves fired a shot killing Oulson and wounding his wife.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I checked his pupils to see if they would react to light and they did not.
SAVIDGE: Oulson's widow wept in the front row as Reeves sat in court in civilian clothes and no handcuffs. Reeve's daughter asked that her elderly father be released.
JENNIFER SHAW, DAUGHTER: He has arthritis in his hands. He kept all of his tools because he just knew that his hands would get better and he'd be able to do it again. But it hasn't happened.
SAVIDGE: An off duty deputy attending the movie with his son said he heard Reeves talking to his wife about the shooting after the gunshot.
ALAN HAMILTON SR., WITNESS: She postured and she said that was no cause to shoot anyone. And then he leaned back around, stuck his finger out, you know, as to scold her and said, you shut your (EXPLETIVE DELETED) mouth and don't say another word.
SAVIDGE: The judge in the case granting a big win for the prosecution, allowing them to play infrared surveillance video of the shooting in an open court when the hearing continues Friday morning.
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SAVIDGE: And it was, you know, very dramatic to hear the officer. He happened to be off duty. He was the first responder. He took the gun out of the hand of the shooter.
COSTELLO: That's just unbelievable. So this surveillance video, what do you think it shows?
SAVIDGE: I haven't seen it. But I have spoken to people who have. And of course, it's a darkened theater but it's looking infrared which means it generally is like monochromatic -- it's black and white. But it does reportedly capture the shooting from a side view.
Think of the camera mounted on the wall on the side of the theater and you're looking down the rows of seats. And off to the right on the extreme periphery you do apparently see a gun flash and you do see men arguing. There is no sound, I am told. So we will look at it.
COSTELLO: But do you see, -- do you see Mr. Oulson actually falling?
SAVIDGE: That kind of detail --
COSTELLO: We don't know.
SAVIDGE: -- we don't know.
And it's likely we'll get to see it tomorrow because that's what all this debate has been about. Florida has very open laws when it comes to discovery and the public being able to see the evidence against the suspect. Now, there's one stipulation that says you can't show video if it shows someone being killed. The prosecution says this is vital for our case.
So they've worked it out. It's going to be shown in the courtroom and the media will see some of it.
COSTELLO: All right. And you'll be following that for us.
SAVIDGE: Definitely.
COSTELLO: Martin Savidge, thanks so much. I'll be right back.
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COSTELLO: Checking our top stories at 49 minutes past the hour.
Someone will be riding the Pope's Harley off into the sunset. An anonymous bidder bought the bike today for more than $285,000. Another bidder spent more than $68,000 Pope Francis' motorcycle jacket. Both were gifts to Pope Francis. Proceeds from the auction go to a soup kitchen in Rome.
Have you heard of this basketball fans? A player fouls out but gets to stay in the game? It happened to the Lakers/Cavaliers game last night. L.A. had only eight players going into the game. Two players got injured -- another fouled out. Now under NBA rules you have to have five players in the game. The second guy that fouled out stayed in. Get this, the Lakers won the game. Oh Cleveland.
Former Major League pitcher and current ESPN analyst Curt Schilling has cancer. No word on what type of cancer r the prognosis. Schilling clans have taken a leave of absence from the Sports Network. Schilling won three World Series titles, two with Red Sox and one with Diamondbacks. Our best to Curt Schilling.
All right now, it seems like winter will never end but it will.
Baseball players report to spring training beginning next Thursday and it is just 42 days until spring. Doesn't that picture look nice? It's time to start planning a trip to somewhere.
In today's travel insider, come with me to Baltimore.
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COSTELLO: I'm Carol Costello. This is my city -- Baltimore, Maryland. Most people come here to come to visit the inner harbor, the National Aquarium or Fort McHenry. But I prefer to show people the quirkier side of Baltimore.
Welcome to the Poe museum in Baltimore. It's kind of chilly in here and kind of eerie frankly. Hi Mr. Poe. But Edgar Allen Poe wrote some of his biggest the biggest masterpieces in this house. This is one of the coolest features in the whole house. This was Edgar Alan Poe's laptop, if you will. You can see it's sort of a traveling, writing table.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the oldest place he lived that's still in existence.
COSTELLO: He died in Baltimore. But it still remains a mystery to this day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
COSTELLO: Supposedly this is the last place Edgar Allen Poe had a drink before he collapsed and later died. Word is he still haunts this place.
Oh my God -- it is you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Indeed yes, it is.
COSTELLO: This is (inaudible) David. You portray Edgar Allen Poe in a lot of plays all around the country. When you walk the streets of Baltimore, are you in character, how does that feel?
DAVID KELTZ, ACTOR: It feels to me very mysterious and wonderful. I certainly enjoy going around thinking, this is what he saw.
COSTELLO: The bartender and owner say they see evidence of ghosts all the time.
KELTZ: I'll have to come back more often.
COSTELLO: Of course, you must end your visit here at Edgar Allen Poe's grave. Take a look. You wouldn't have been the first.
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COSTELLO: The Olympic Games are less than a day away. And we're still getting reports of half finished hotels, tiny beds and nasty weather. President Putin, comedians love you.
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CONAN O'BRIEN, TALK SHOW HOST: The Olympic torch arrived in Sochi. Yes, but Vladimir Putin immediately put it out because he thought it was too flaming.
DAVID LETTERMAN, TALK SHOW HOST: Yes the Russians are not ready. You heard it here first. They're not ready for the Olympics. The Russians are not ready. You know, I'm blaming it on Obamacare.
JAY LENO, TALK SHOW HOST: The games haven't started yet and already there are people complaining about the horrible accommodations at the Sochi Olympic village. Toilets don't flush, the faucets spew discolored water. They say it's like being on a Royale Caribbean Cruise. (END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: That late night comedian Jay Leno will say his final good- bye tonight as host of "The Tonight Show".
George Mason University took a look at some of the top targets of Leno's jokes during -- some of his more than 4,600. Bill Clinton actually got the most looked with over 4,600 jokes told by Leno. Former President George W. Bush got about 3,200 jokes -- just over one thousand jokes were dedicated to Al Gore and President Obama made the list at about a thousand too. Hillary Clinton was the focus of about 900 jokes during Jay's tenure.
Nischelle Turner has more for you now.
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JOHNNY CARSON, FORMER TELEVISION HOST: Here's a man who needs no introduction -- Jay Leno.
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Endorsed by Johnny --
CARSON: I love this guy.
TURNER: -- and confirmed by Hollywood.
BILLY CRYSTAL, COMEDIAN: I mean he just continues to be number one all of these years.
TURNER: But in the end, it was Jay Leno himself who killed as host of "The Tonight Show" 4,610 times in all.
CRYSTAL: The country has turned to him for all these 22 years to keep it going.
TURNER: Known for his fierce loyalty, it's no surprise Leno's final guest will be the same as his first. Good friend Billy Crystal.
CRYSTAL: The build-up for this, you know, has been tremendous, and I just want to say, I'm going to miss you.
He called me and asked me. I said, of course, I'll do it. And it will bring the whole -- his whole incredibly successful run to a full circle.
TURNER: Leno's swan song also includes country music legend Garth Brooks.
CRYSTAL: I can't say we're working on a song but we're going to do a couple of few special things to help him out the door.
TURNER: Out the door and on to his next adventure along with his popular web series "Jay Leno's Garage".
LENO: We've got to take it up on the freeway. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Exactly.
TURNER: First up for Jay will be stand-up.
MIKE LACEY, OWNER, COMEDY AND MAGIC CLUB: If there's anything Jay is, he's a stand-up. And, you know, he -- I am sure everything I've heard from him he plans on doing even more of that.
TURNER: A lot more, in fact, Leno already has dates booked for Miami, Detroit, Las Vegas and, of course, his regular post at Mike Lacey's Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, California where the 63-year- old legend has been performing Sunday nights for 35 years.
LACEY: If it wasn't for Jay, I'm sure the club would have closed years ago. Through all the rough times he's always consistently there for his friends.
TURNER: The latest friend to feel Leno's love?
JIMMY FALLON, TALK SHOW HOST: Thank you, Jay Leno.
TURNER: His successor.
FALLON: I'll do my best to make you proud every single night. Thank you.
"The Tonight Show" starring Jimmy Fallon kicks off February 17th.
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TURNER: Now, I recently sat down with Bill Carter of the "New York Times" who wrote the book on late night to talk to him about Jay Leno for the special that I did, Carol. And I asked Bill what do you think Jay Leno's legacy is? And he simply said two words -- "a winner".
COSTELLO: Thank you so much -- Nischelle Turner.
And thank you for joining me today. I'm Carol Costello. "LEGAL VIEW" with Ashleigh Banfield starts now.
