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Christie Leads GOP Govs To Fundraising Record; Report: WCBS Video Shows NYC Mayor's Caravan Speeding, Ignoring Stop Signs; Ukraine Rivals Sign Peace Deal, But Rioters Remain On Bloodied Streets; First Lady On Daughters: They Want Nothing To Do With Us, They Really Want Normalcy; Nugent: "I Apologize" For Obama Remarks; San Francisco Giants Fan Beater Released; Feds Immediately Arrest Him Again

Aired February 21, 2014 - 14:30   ET

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

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: This was, you know, going to be a clear steppingstone to the next thing. It may well be if he survives his scandal, but it does help him on a lot of fronts. Doesn't hurt to have people owe you something in politics?

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: It seems a little odd. I don't know if schizoid is the word. He is getting all of this pundits and support from his Republican colleagues, but back at home, you hear some people saying that, you know --

BORGER: Yes.

LEMON: He's against the wall with this the bridge gate scandal.

BORGER: Well, you know, look, the story in New Jersey and we saw yesterday, he had a town hall, the story, in New Jersey is sort of two folds. You have Sandy recovery in which Christie went out of his way yesterday to tell a town hall, look, I spent 40 percent of my time still on Sandy recovery reminding them of the brand that they liked when he was in charge of Sandy recovery, when that occurred.

The second thing he's got though back home is the bridge gate scandal, very aggressive investigation in the state legislature, subpoenas, hanging over the heads of two former aides who are so far not cooperating with the committees, and so I think that, you know, he's got to proceed on two different tracks because he doesn't know where the bridge gate scandal will go.

He spoke his peace and said he knew nothing about it, but it will take on a life of its own. So all that he can control is what he does. That's what they are trying to do.

LEMON: It signaled a life of its own and it appears that other lives. This scandal has more than nine lives. Some people have entire shows night after night about the Christie bridge gate scandal. It's just amazing, just amazing.

BORGER: Well, look, you know, it's interesting to a certain group of people. There may be more to come out of the state legislature. We are doing our own reporting and the legislature is trying to get the information. We'll just have to keep reporting it as it goes along -- Don.

LEMON: Gloria Borger in Washington, Thank you. Hope it's not as foggy there as it is here. You could barely see --

BORGER: It's foggy.

LEMON: Thank you, Gloria. See you soon.

Speaking of New York, New York City's mayor, Bill De Blasio's caravan was reportedly speeding and violating other traffic laws just two days after the mayor announced a plan to make city streets safer. A New York TV station CNN affiliate WCBS shot video of De Blasio's two-car caravan apparently speeding through city streets and blowing off traffic lights. Blasio said police operate his caravan and he hunted other questions until later.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR BILL DEBLASIO (D), NEW YORK: We talked to them about that. We are very serious about this and committed to it. We are going to keep moving forward. There is a press conference later on today. You can ask all the questions you need after we talk to the hospital. You can ask any other questions you like about this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, New York Police Department said the handling of police vehicles transporting any protectee is determined solely by police personnel based on their specialized training.

President Barack Obama doing something he doesn't do very often calling Russian President Vladimir Putin that is all over this deadly uprising in the streets of Ukraine. This as a former Ukrainian leader essentially jailed by the president, the Ukrainian prime minister could be release from prison any day now.

A huge development showing just how desperate this government is to end scenes like this one -- that's Kiev looking more like a war zone after its deadliest day in months of protests. The president and the leader of these anti-government protests have signed a peace deal.

Joining me now is CNN's Phil Black live from Kiev. So Phil, protesters have 24 hours to leave the streets and turn in any weapons. But we are hearing some have refused to leave. This time last night, it was 9:30 p.m. and people were dying in the streets. What is it like there now?

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is very emotional, Don, particularly for that reason. Only a day ago, people were falling and being gunned down in the streets surrounding this square. So there is tremendous sorrow here for those fallen protesters. This is not a celebration although these protesters have really the key concessions that they were after.

It is still a compromise. They are not thoroughly pleased with it, but they realize it is perhaps the only constructive way forward. This is not a celebration. They are not angrily rejecting it. A lot of emotion. They are exhausted. They have been occupying this square for some months now.

I think the feeling very much is that this represents the best way forward at this stage. The only hope of trying to turn their country on the direction they believe it should be headed towards the west, towards democracy.

LEMON: So Phil, we know there is this tug of war between the European Union and Russia and we know hear that President Obama is calling Vladimir Putin, but what influence, if any, does the U.S. have in all of this?

BLACK: Well, we know from recent history, though, in Russia digs its heels in sometimes very little if anything could be done to persuade it, to look at a situation differently. So they can try to convince President Putin that in Ukraine it doesn't have to be a zero choice for this country between the east and the west. This can benefit all.

He may not be very lucky, but the United States and Europe in particular, I think had been very effective in applying diplomatic pressure to the Ukrainian regime, particularly over the last week or so, particularly announcing the possibility of targeted sanctions against those they believe are responsible for the violence that has been taking place here.

I know members of the opposition that that pressure has played a role in bringing the government to the negotiation table and perhaps resulted in the deal that has taken place yesterday -- Don.

LEMON: Phil Black, appreciate your reporting thank you very much. Coming up here on CNN, rocker, Ted Nugent apologizing today for some comments he made about President Obama. He called the president a subhuman mongrel. Nugent talked to Ben Ferguson's radio show earlier today. Ben Ferguson joins me next.

Later one of the men charged in the brutal beating of a baseball fan was released today and then arrested again this time on federal charges. You will hear why.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: This next story is -- eew. First Lady Michelle Obama hanging out with Jimmy Fallon on the "Tonight Show," I'm going to explain standby. She kept it real with him and had some fun at the same time. The first lady joined Fallon and Will Ferrell in a sketch for a fake Nickelodeon show called "Eew." That's why I said that.

She told them exercise is not eew, but then she shared something a lot of parents know about. You know how some kids can be when they don't want their parents around because they think they will look lame. Well, it turns out the first lady deals with the same thing with her girls.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY: They want nothing to do with us.

JIMMY FALLON: Really?

OBAMA: I am so serious. I mean, Malia said please just don't come to my school. Keep your SWAT team and your -- and they really want normalcy. The White House is not normal. They go other places. I will say don't you want to invite your friends over to watch a movie. She said no one wants to come here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Give them about ten years. They will be happy about that. The first lady also told Fallon that she wants people to use social media to show how they are moving, dancing or exercising. It's part of her "Let's Move" campaign, which started four years ago this week.

Take a seat and watch us. Reach out to me on social media. Let me know what you think as I'll be looking at it during this interview. Ted Nugent said he's sorry. Did he really? He called the president subhuman and more precisely a subhuman mongrel.

Nugent's choice of words caught fire this week and given conservative leanings, the explosive remarks have brought pressure on certain Republicans to condemn him. Here's Ted Nugent with CNN political commentator, Ben Ferguson, on Ferguson's radio show.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEN FERGUSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Subhuman mongrel is a derogatory term. Most people agree with that. Did you cross the line by calling the president of the United States of America that and if you saw Barack Obama, would you apologize to him for saying that about him?

TED NUGENT (via telephone): Yes, I would. I did cross the line. I do apologize. Not necessarily to the president, but on behalf of much better men than myself like the best governor in America, Rick Perry. The best --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, Rick Perry, by the way, is one of those Republicans who actually denounced Ted Nugent's slurs against the president. Ben Ferguson joins me now. That was a powerful interview. Listen, was that an apology? It doesn't sound like an apology. Here's an apology. An apology is Ben, I'm sorry. That's an apology.

FERGUSON: It's also Ted Nugent. So I doubt he is going to just say I'm sorry and stop talking. I also asked him to clarify after the break, a lot of you were saying, all is that a real apology. I asked him again, I said if the president is listening, right now, do you apologize to him and he said yes.

Because I want to make it very clear. Ted Nugent is a guy who doesn't use very few words. He uses a lot and so you ask him a question. He is going to keep going and tell you where he's coming from. That's why I tried to ask him to clarify the second time and make it very clear. Are you apologizing to the president and he said, yes, he is.

LEMON: He said yes, but he went on and I apologize for using the term, but I don't apologize to him. That doesn't sound like it. It sounds like apologizing to himself or powerful Republicans who might have gotten him to take it back and do it fast.

FERGUSON: Well, I think if you listen to what he said, he said look, I obviously feel bad for the people that I was trying to help that I may have hurt. I obviously feel bad for the words as he put it to me that I used and said he would not use the words again. That's why I asked him that second time, are you apologizing directly t the president on this and he said yes, he is.

I think he realizes that it did not help Greg Abbott that this came out and as he put it 40 days earlier when he actually said this. He didn't say it at the campaign event. He said I've learned from others and I would not use those words again. Now it's pretty obvious from what he said today during the interview that he said he's not a fan of Barack Obama. He's not going to apologize for that. But the words he used, as he said to me would not use those again.

LEMON: Are you talking about what he said on your radio show or are you talking about what he said on Twitter? Because what I got from your radio show is that he was not apologizing to the president. He said I'm apologizing, but I'm apologizing for it and I don't want to keep going through this. It didn't sound like an apology to me. As I said, an apology comes without caveat. If you are sorry, you are sorry. There no strings attached. It doesn't sound like an apology to me and to most people.

FERGUSON: Well, you may not take his apology. I asked him to clarify. Again, the second part I asked him a direct question and he said he was sorry, yes. He has apologizes to the president. He does not like the words he used. He said he would not use those words again. I mean, he is a man of, like I said, many words. You can hear that during the interview and I posted it up on Twitter.

I mean, it wasn't like it was 5 minutes. We talked for 20 minutes. He explained everything that he thought about this and how it went down and what happened. So for him and looking at Ted Nugent, this is the best apology that he has ever done as he put it to me, ever in his life. I think it was sincere for the harm that was done and those he was surrounding himself with.

LEMON: Perhaps he needs some lessons in apology and in apologizing. Does this mean that Ted Nugent though can campaign again with Republicans without being politically radioactive?

FERGUSON: I think Ted Nugent from the way that he was talking to me realizes now that at least for the short-term, he does not want to hurt any candidate that he supports. I doubt he would go out right now with anyone. He is probably going to enjoy hunting and relax a little bit. He will come back in the future. I'm sure if someone asked him to. I mean, he is not bashful about that, but he also I think from his tone of voice, I have been around Ted enough to know when he is being Ted Nugent over the top. And today I thought it was more Ted Nugent, the real guy. He doesn't want to hurt any candidates that he supports. You won't see him out there soon.

LEMON: Fair enough. OK, good. So you won't see him out there. So he is going to take a seat now because he is realizing he is doing more harm than good, right?

FERGUSON: Well, I think on this issue. It's what he said to me. If I can go back 40 days ago, I would not have used those words. That's what Ted said. So if you look at that. Obviously he is saying, I realized what I said was a mistake. I shouldn't have used the term --

LEMON: This is not the first time that he said something really offensive about the president, about other people. This is not the first time. So again, he should probably just realize he should take a seat because he is doing more harm than good, or maybe for Democrats they'll say -- keep talking, you are making yourself look bad and Republicans.

FERGUSON: Here's the thing. He is not a politician. He's not a pastor. He is not a priest. He's a rock star that is a crazy rock star. Ted Nugent is not going to be, I want to make this clear. He's not going to stop being Ted Nugent. He also does not want to hurt candidates that he truly supports on second amendment issues.

LEMON: OK, I have to go, Ben.

FERGUSON: I don't think Ted Nugent is going to go away.

LEMON: OK. I have a lot to say, but I won't. Thank you very much. Always good. I will see you this weekend on CNN.

Coming up, one of the men convicted in the brutal beating of a basketball fan was released and then immediately arrested again this time on federal charges. What he was changed with today is next.

Later a woman confesses to a horrific crime on camera. She approached a local news crew and makes a stunning admission. You will see how it played out on TV.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We are just getting this in. One of the men convicted in the brutal beating of the San Francisco Giants fan was released from jail, but has just been arrested again. Marvin Norwood was sentenced to four years. Louis Sanchez got eight. I want to you listen to what the judge said about them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE G. LOMELI, LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE: You are the biggest nightmare for individuals that attend public events such as sporting events or concerts. My son and I have season tickets to college football and my biggest fear, which is probably true for most people that appear there, you don't have to stare at me, but I know you are paying attention to me. That we have run into people like you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Judge George Lomeli called them complete cowards who showed no remorse, that was during sentencing. Norwood was released for time served. Our justice reporter, Evan Perez has been following us and he joins me now from Washington. That was -- what was he charged with? Basketball beating earlier and baseball, I apologize for that, but what was Norwood charged with?

EVAN PEREZ, CNN JUSTICE REPORTER: Well, today, he was charged with federal gun charges. He was -- right after this beating. The feds and the local officials there did a search of his home and they found several rifles, pistols inside -- a lot of ammunition. Today, he was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. So he could get up to 10 years in federal prison if he is convicted on these charges - Don.

LEMON: The family, the Stow Family no doubt is going to have high medical expenses. Who is going to pay for that?

PEREZ: Well, yes, I mean, the Stow family is going to have their lives changed by this. In court yesterday, the family said that he can't even bathe himself. He was a paramedic. He had two kids. Their lives are forever changed. They have high medical expenses as you said.

They are suing the Los Angeles Dodgers for having lax security after this game. This is not the first time something like this had happened. Obviously nothing like severely like this, but the Dodgers have increased security at these game, but obviously this family, it's too late for them -- Don.

LEMON: All right, Evan Perez, thank you very much. Appreciate that. Up next, a woman walks up to a reporter during a TV report, makes a chilling confession about her mother. I will show you the video.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: A local news crew gets a shocking scoop up covering the near fatal stabbing of a 61-year-old woman. They were at the scene when out of nowhere. The victim's daughter approached them incredibly confessed to the crime all with the camera rolling. Here's the story from WVLT's Hilary Magacs.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HILARY MAGACS, WVLT REPORTER (voice-over): The person talking lives at Sanjay's Apartment and is close friends with the 61-year-old woman who was stabbed a few doors down early Tuesday morning. She doesn't want her face shown, but tells me the woman's daughter, Katie Nichols, is to blame.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She is not emotionally stable and does the best she can, but needs quite a bit of help.

MAGACS: She said after the stabbing, Nichols took off with her young daughter.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I almost kind of hope that she does come back here so that we can get the authorities to get her.

MAGACS: Not 5 minutes later it happened. Nichols walked up to the camera.

KATIE NICHOLS, STABBING SUSPECT: The satanic cult in the city has been casting satanic spells on me for three or four days. I'm exhausted. I came home. I found out my mom was the ringleader and she was trying to kill my daughter.

MAGACS: Nichols tells me she had to act because her mom was putting curses on them.

NICHOLS: I had to kill her. She was going to kill both of us. She was so powerful. I had no idea. I had no idea that my mother was that powerful.

MAGACS: The deputy say Nichols's mother was stabbed in the neck, chest, and stomach, and was rushed to the hospital for surgery.

NICHOLS: When I left, she was still breathing. I stabbed her three times and she should have died. She was still breathing. I don't know what happened to her afterwards. I don't know where they took her or what happened, but she was the anti-Christ. She did not die.

MAGACS: Nichols says afterwards, she and her daughter hid out.

NICHOLS: We went in my car and we ended up in a rural area and we just waited for the sign that it was safe to come back.

MAGACS: Now that Nichols is in custody, neighbors say they are hopeful she will get the help she needs. But Nichols is convinced she did everyone a favor.

NICHOLS: She had symbolic representations of my death and my daughter's death and every nuclear explosion that was supposed to happen that is not going to now because all of the satanic cult has been rounded up and killed now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: That was Hilary Magacs from our affiliate from WVLT reporting.

Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon. It's the top of the hour, following this breaking news, it's more about President Obama's phone call to Russian President Vladimir Putin. We know the violence in the Ukraine was one of the topics of that conversation.

I want to head out straight to our senior White House correspondent, Mr. Jim Acosta. He is at the White House. Jim, what do you know so far? JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: So far, Don, all we can tell is what White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said about an hour ago during the White House press briefing. That call was going to occur roughly around that time period so we do believe the two presidents have spoken.