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Mexican Drug Lord Captures by Police; Arizona Law, Freedom or Discrimination; Ukraine's Former Prime Minister Out of Jail; College Players Show Off Skills to NFL; Public Enemy Number One Under Arrest; U.S. Falls Behind Russia in Medal Count; Ukrainian Parliaments Votes Yanukovych Out as President

Aired February 22, 2014 - 13:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right, hello, again, everyone. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Here's a look at our top stories that we're following in the CNN NEWSROOM right now. Breaking news, one of Mexico's biggest drug lords has been arrested. Juan Guzman better known as "El Chapo" was captured in a joint operation between Mexican Marines and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

He is the alleged head of this cartel. El Chapo is wanted in the U.S. on federal drug trafficking charges and last year was named public enemy number one by the Chicago Crime Commission. Police caught up with him at a hotel in Mazatlan, Mexico. Guzman has eluded capture for years after escaping from a Mexican prison.

Let's go to Nick Parker, who's in Mexico City.

Nick, what can you tell us about the circumstances of this arrest?

NICK PARKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, as you say, a highly, highly significant event with Chapo Guzman perhaps the world's most notorious drug lord.

We're still hearing this from a source in the United States right here, the Mexican presidency is not commenting right at this stage. But as you say, he was captured overnight in the city of Mazatlan, which is an extremely famous beach resort in Mexico, popular with U.S. tourists. They just reopened cruise lines to it, to that city, which had been closed for a few years.

It's situated in the state of Sinaloa which is -- which is where -- obviously what his cartel was -- where it's based and what it was named after. And I think perhaps the most interesting thing about the events that surround this capture is that he was captured in a hotel overnight in very ordinary circumstances with a companion, and it sounds like at this stage, captured fairly easily.

A lot of the background to Chapo Guzman was that many people believed he was hiding away in the mountains and he was surrounded by a small, personal army and would never be taken alive. And to have him captured like that really reveals that in some ways during this capture, which it sounds like it was something like four or five weeks in the works, he was very much hiding in plain sight -- Fredricka. WHITFIELD: And so -- and so now what? I mean, this cooperation between the Mexican and U.S. authorities, does that mean that he would be prosecuted in Mexico because he was captured there? Or because this was a joint operation might he be prosecuted in the U.S.?

PARKER: Well, certainly, he's wanted in both countries. And what happened previously when the leader of Los Zetas was captured just a few months ago, he was captured and is going to be prosecuted in Mexico first. And at the stage when we were reporting on it, they had not received any extradition requests from the United States, so one would assume that the United States in this kind of cooperation that we've seen, you know, take place during this arrest, would agree perhaps to let El Chapo Guzman be prosecuted first here in Mexico.

But certainly he had a bounty on his head and was a public enemy number one in Chicago. So he certainly has charges to answer there as well -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Nick Parker, thank you so much. Give us more detail as you get it. Thanks so much.

All right. Now to Arizona and the controversial bill that is causing division among people there. This was the scene at the state capital Friday. Protesters slamming a bill that would make it legal for businesses to refuse service to gay people on basis of religious freedoms. Well, the bill already passed the House and Senate. It now goes to Governor Jan Brewer for signature. She said she'll probably make a decision on Friday on whether she would sign it.

Well, here's been some of the reaction on both sides of the debate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSH KREDIT, CENTER FOR ARIZONA POLICY: In America, people should be free to live and work according to their faith.

REP. ADAM KWASMAN (R), DISTRICT 11, ARIZONA: I don't see this as an attack in so far as those who believe when you're protecting your right to, A, practice your religion and not engage in a contract.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's sending a message to progressive world global based companies that this is not a friendly environment to work within or to have a business within.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To me, what this says the Phoenix and Tucson and Flagstaff have nondiscrimination ordnances that protect LGBT people and we and the House of Representative and we and the Senate do not like that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So there are some who believe this bill will allow restaurant owners to discriminate against gay people when they dine, but a lawyer with the alliance defending freedom tell CNN that that's not the case. So I want to bring back my legal guys. Avery Friedman, a civil rights attorney and law professor in Cleveland, and Richard Herman, a New York criminal defense attorney and law professor joining us from Las Vegas.

All right, gentlemen, hello, again.

Avery, you first. You know, you don't have to be -- have someone -- you don't have to be someone with a law degree to interpret this as a potential license to discriminate. So if the governor were to sign it into law, is it almost certainly going to be challenged in court?

AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Well, it should be. I mean, what's remarkable about this, Fredricka, is 50 years ago, we outlawed public accommodation discrimination and the legislature and the governor apparently is thinking about passing a law favoring religion. So I think the law, number one, is unconstitutional. This governor had no problem violating the Constitution when it came to immigration.

I think she's going to do it again and the fact is that this restriction is unconstitutional and it will be challenged immediately.

WHITFIELD: And so, Richard, we just heard the one sound bite from someone who says, you know, essentially not having this law means that it will keep some people from carrying out their religious freedoms. I mean, if that's the argument as to why this bill has been passed, then what's the counter to that?

RICHARD HERMAN, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, their argument, Fred, is that listen, we're not going to practice discrimination. But if we get sued for allegedly practicing discrimination, we can rely on this bill as a defense.

Fred, Arizona is very close to Colorado. Maybe they should take a ride over there and chill out a little bit because this bill, any first year law student, Fred, will know this bill violates the Constitution. It is discrimination and there is no way the governor in Arizona is going to sign this bill. Absolutely she will never sign this bill. This is blatant, blatant profile discrimination.

WHITFIELD: So this is, you know, is a collision between, you know, the religious freedoms and freedom of life and liberty, Avery, so you're talking about constitutional rights that are colliding here.

FRIEDMAN: Well, that's for sure. I mean, you know, these same arguments were made 50 years ago. They said we've heard the advocates for this new legislation of religious freedom that it's protected under the First Amendment. No, it's not. Government balances the idea of freedom against, you know, other issues and the fact is that these are issues that have been litigated before and I actually disagree.

I think the governor's going to sign it because I think it's politically expedient to her base and I have no doubt that a federal district judge is going to hold the action of the government in Arizona is unconstitutional. WHITFIELD: But --

FRIEDMAN: I don't even think it's close. Actually, Richard and I agree on that.

WHITFIELD: But, you know, what's interesting is Governor Brewer has said, you know, in the past and actually most recently, I mean, as a former business owner herself, to say, you know what, if there was someone she didn't want to do business with, she just wouldn't do it, but it didn't necessarily need a law to support that.

HERMAN: That's right, and, you know, Fred, there are six other states that are contemplating similar statutes like this.

FRIEDMAN: That's right. That's right. And if there's one way the Republican Party wants to guarantee the Democrats run for president next round is to propose legislation like this because it's a complete suspension because it's a complete suspension of intellectual thought is ridiculous.

WHITFIELD: So you think this -- there would be other states that would perhaps adopt this kind of measure.

FRIEDMAN: They're proposed in other states, that's right. Right. That's right. Other states are thinking about the same kind of legislation and again I agree. I think it's politically motivated. It has nothing to do with constitutional rights and religious freedom. Nothing.

WHITFIELD: All right --

FRIEDMAN: It violates it.

WHITFIELD: Avery, Richard --

HERMAN: I agree.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, gentlemen love having you in the 1:00 Eastern hour as well.

FRIEDMAN: OK.

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much. Have a good rest of the weekend.

So while people in the LGBT community are fighting for their rights in Arizona, other members of their community in Chicago are celebrating the freedom to marry there. Wedding bells rang early for some couples. That's because a judge ruled same-sex couples in Cooke County and only Cooke County, don't have to wait until June to marry. June is when the state of Illinois will allow marriages between same- sex partners.

All right. And a historic day at the Vatican today. Two Popes at a cardinal ceremony. It happened as Pope Francis appointed 19 new cardinals at St. Peter's Basilica and Pope -- Emeritus Benedict was there as well. After an embrace, Francis installed the new cardinals his first such appointment since he was elected head of the Roman Catholic Church a year ago.

All right, things are moving really fast in Ukraine today. The president has been voted out and opposition leader is arriving back in the capital city. How Washington is reacting, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Protesters in Ukraine are about to see their former prime minister for the first time in years after she was released from jail today. Yulia Tymoshenko is a hero for the opposition. These pictures show her moments after she was released from prison from the hospital at that prison today.

She's expected to arrive in Kiev shortly, and then head to the main square where protests have been taking place.

The parliament voted to release her today after voting to oust President Viktor Yanukovych. He left the capital city of Kiev, but said he will not resign or leave the country in fact and he called the opposition who voted him out, vandals and bandits.

Foreign affairs reporter Elise Labott is live for us now in Washington.

So, Elise, President Obama had a phone conversation with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, about Ukraine, but that was before the Ukrainian president was voted out of office by parliament, so what kind of sentiments are being expressed now from whether it'd be the U.S. State Department or even the White House today?

ELISE LABOTT, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS REPORTER: Fred, speaking to some senior administration officials in recent hours, they just don't know what to make of it right now because, you know, usually presidents would have to sign any legislation passed by the parliament, so they have to see what's going to happen with President Yanukovych. But officials say to some extent it's a little bit irrelevant because other things have to happen as part of this power sharing deal.

There needs to be a unity government. The international community needs to step up and start working with the Ukraine and this new government and the IMF to stabilize Ukraine's fragile economy. They're going to hold elections. Unclear when. A lot of people are calling for those elections in coming months, but at least it will be by the end of the year. And they also want to see what happens on the street.

Obviously, the protesters are very happy about what's taken place, but it's unclear whether this agreement is going to be enough. Some of the opposition have called for President Yanukovych's ouster, so it remains to be seen right now what's happening on the ground.

For now, we know that Deputy Secretary William Burns will be traveling to Kiev next week obviously to work with presumably maybe the president, but certainly, others in the government to try and implement this agreement and move forward.

WHITFIELD: And what kind of reaction is coming from Ukrainians in the U.S.?

LABOTT: Well, CNN spoke to some Ukrainians in New York earlier in the week as this violence was unfolding and they looked at what happened. We haven't spoken to them since the agreement was announced, but take a listen to a little bit of the sentiment. This agreement -- this whole issue in Ukraine had really started because of a fight between what's going to happen to the future of Ukraine. Is it going to go towards Europe or is it going to go more towards Russia and the iron fist of Russia? And now people are saying look, it's not really about that. It's about larger issues with the president himself.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's about corruption. It's not a -- it's not a question about European Union. It's about safety. It's about freedom. It's about future of the country. Future for ourselves, future for our children. Because with this president, with this government, there is no future for Ukraine.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I won't come back to some days to my country and to being safe here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LABOTT: But, Fred, you have to recognize that this country is -- very divided. They're not all wanting to move towards Europe. There's a lot of people, particularly in the east of the country, which is a Russian stronghold, where President Yanukovych's political base are. That still have leanings towards Russia. So this is what people are going to be looking at over the next couple of days.

Can the country unite? Get a new government in. Maybe President Yanukovych won't be the head of that government, but certainly move forward away from the violence and towards a more democratic future.

WHITFIELD: All right. Elise Labott, thanks so much from Washington.

All right. College players get a chance to show off their skills to NFL coaches and scouts today and one man in particular is drawing a whole lot of buzz after announcing that he is gay. Two former NFL players weigh in on how that might impact this player.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: College football players are showing off their stuff today to coaches and scouts in the NFL. And all eyes seem to be on Missouri defensive end, Michael Sam, who announced earlier this month that he's gay.

There's been a lot of buzz since that announcement about what impact that might have on him in the NFL, potential draft, all of that. I'm joined now by former NFL player, Chris Draft, from Los Angeles, joining us there, and then -- from very far away and then Randy Frost right here.

Good to see both of you, gentlemen.

RANDY CROSS, FORMER NFL PLAYER, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right, so a lot of pressure on Michael Sam. I mean, already the combine, this whole week long process of getting to know the NFL, the teams, them getting to know you. He's got a lot more pressure on him, it seems. So not only are they, Randy, sizing him up physically, can you play the game, but mentally, and to a whole different level for him. Explain that.

CROSS: Well, if you look at this, though, from a PR standpoint, the way he came out, the masterful job I think his people did, really sculpting who he is and how he wants to be perceived, he did this all on his terms.

WHITFIELD: OK.

CROSS: It wasn't the innuendo from --

WHITFIELD: Yes.

CROSS: -- the senior bowl and the crazy questions in the combine rooms.

WHITFIELD: That's true.

CROSS: He got out there. He said it. They've mastered it. They got together, you know, both the ESPN and the "New York Times."

WHITFIELD: It's a brilliant interview.

CROSS: I think it was an unbelievable job. One of the people should study how you sort of define something like this by the way they handled it.

WHITFIELD: So, then, I wonder, Chris, does this give him an advantage? Does he -- you know, is he in, you know, the driver's seat, so to speak, or does it put him at a disadvantage as it pertains to the scrutiny that a player is already going to be receiving?

CHRIS DRAFT, FORMER NFL PLAYER, ATLANTA FALCONS: I think he's at an advantage in that he got out front of it. But he's still at a disadvantage because you have general managers right now they're asking themselves a question. Will he be a distraction? And so you have the NFL Combine, he's going to go out, he's going to play, and he should really confirm what everybody already knows is he's a physical specimen and he had a great, great season, and he's a guy that can be a difference maker.

The key right now is with the interviews. The interviews are going to be the most important thing here at the combine. It's better to try to assess --

WHITFIELD: What are they going to ask him? What are the questions that are asked?

DRAFT: Well, they're going to try to be slick in how they ask the questions and they're going to do a lot of investigation that's outside of it, but the key is, do you want to be an advocate or do you want to be a football player? Are you a guy that's a hard hat, lunch pail type of guy, which is really code for "I am all about football"? Or a guy that wants to be an advocate, which then could potentially be a distraction for the team.

WHITFIELD: So, Randy, you're nodding, yes, yes, yes. That's about it. Is there more?

CROSS: Yes, you know, I don't -- you know, I think there's a lot to this. But it's football. Football's a results business. For all the attention.

WHITFIELD: Right.

CROSS: Tim Tebow, people bring up --

WHITFIELD: You have to deliver.

CROSS: People bring up the Tebow thing. He was a distraction. He was a distraction right up until people figured out, hey, this guy can't play quarterback in the NFL. Then he wasn't even on a team anymore. There was nothing -- he's the greatest, in my mind, the greatest quarterback or the greatest football in college we've seen in the last 20 years.

WHITFIELD: You're talking about Michael Sam?

CROSS: No, I'm talking about Tim Tebow.

WHITFIELD: Tebow -- OK.

CROSS: But he couldn't play in the pros. That was a distraction. I don't think Michael Sam is a distraction once he gets in the NFL locker room.

WHITFIELD: You think he'll be able to deliver?

CROSS: That's the bottom line. If he can play, if he can rush like the pass like Dwight Freeney --

WHITFIELD: Yes.

CROSS: Also 6'1", about 260, no one will care about his sexual preference.

WHITFIELD: Right. And he's something like 6'5" or something. And did I hear someone say that they didn't -- they were -- they were not sure if he's big enough?

CROSS: No, he's 6'1", 260 and he's going to be an edge rusher or outside linebacker.

WHITFIELD: OK.

CROSS: We thought he was 6'3". In college, he was listed at 6'3", 255.

WHITFIELD: Interesting.

CROSS: At the senior bowl he was measured at, you know, two inches short.

WHITFIELD: The scrutiny. OK. Let's talk about something else, which really has been kind of a distraction if you will. Maybe for the NFL, too. And really speaking to a real image problem, that the NFL just might have. We're talking about a host of stories including NFL players, former NFL players.

CNN's Andy Scholes brings us up to date on a little bit of what is being discussed these days.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS (voice-over): The video is jarring. Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice caught on tape dragging his seemingly unconscious fiancee out of an elevator. TMZ says the shocking footage showed the aftermath of a fight between the couple last week inside an Atlantic City casino.

According to police, Rice and his fiancee both struck each other; Rice's blow knocking Janay Palmer out cold. Both have pleaded not guilty to simple assault charges.

The Baltimore Ravens are reviewing their disciplinary options and released a statement to CNN that reads in part, "We have seen the video. This is a serious matter and we are currently gathering more information."

And a former NFL player also finding himself in legal trouble. NFL Network analyst Darren Sharper pleaded not guilty to charges of rape in a Los Angeles court. According to an affidavit Sharper allegedly drugged two women before raping them. Sharper is now under investigation in five states in connection with a total of eight rape cases according to authorities in both Los Angeles and Miami.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. So you've got this case involving Rice, Sharper and even the situation with Richie Incognito.

So, Randy, does the NFL have a problem whether it'd be with existing or former players of, you know, control -- you know, just bad news following them? What do you make of this and what does this do to the league?

CROSS: You know, I think it comes on the heels of the Incognito case. I know when you -- on my radio show in the mornings, the morning show at 9290 game in Atlanta, we field a lot of these questions and people want to know, is this the typical performer in the NFL?

If there's 1900 NFL players and there's three or four that are in trouble, I think it's their problem, but the NFL is unbelievable.

WHITFIELD: What do you mean?

CROSS: And public relations and kind of molding things and correcting things. And I think whether it's the Incognito case, the potential problems with the Sam situation or these legal problems, they'll deal with them very severely. Those that are still active. Those that are not active --

WHITFIELD: Yes.

CROSS: You know, that's not so much that.

WHITFIELD: Can't do anything about it.

CROSS: So, then, Chris, do you see that the NFL has, you know, a big job on its hands that it is time to do something about the image of the player or the NFL as a whole or is it doing enough?

DRAFT: Well, this is ongoing. You know, the idea of dealing with some of these problems, but I think just as Randy said, it's when you look at the number of players in this game, you're talking about basically 60 guys per team during the season that goes over 1900s. So when you see a few guys that are getting in trouble, it's not good.

I mean, what we see in these instances from Miami to, you know, what's happening with Sharp, what's happening with Ray, those aren't good situations, but when we look at this game as a whole, what we know is there's tons of other guys out there that are doing some great things and they're just living their lives.

You know, it's just unfortunate when you see those few they can overshadow the other ones that are out there really just living and playing a game that they love.

WHITFIELD: All right. And NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell did say the NFL is going to work on a code of conduct in the off-season try to ensure professional working environment in every locker room.

All right, gentlemen, thanks so much, Randy Cross, Chris Draft.

CROSS: Pleasure.

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much. Thank you, gentlemen. Appreciate it.

All right. And a major Mexican drug lord is now under arrest. What impact might this have on the battle against drugs in the U.S. and in Mexico?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. And this breaking news you right now. One of Mexico's most notorious drug lords has been arrested. Joaquin Guzman, but are known as El Chapo, was captured in a joint operation between Mexican Marines and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. He is the alleged head of the Sinaloa cartel.

El Chapo is wanted in the U.S. on federal drug trafficking charges and last year, was named public enemy number one by the Chicago Crime Commission. Police caught up with him at a hotel in Mazatlan, Mexico. Guzman has eluded capture for years after escaping from a Mexican prison.

Rafael Romo has a closer look at his criminal past.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN SR. LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR (voice-over): As the reputed leader of the Sinaloa cartel, the largest Mexican criminal gang, El Chapo's believed responsible for shipping as much as eight tons of cocaine to the U.S. a year.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "Chapo" is the face. He is the guy who is currently at war against the government of Mexico, against law enforcement and military forces.

ROMO: Guzman was also recently named Chicago's public enemy number one, a title once held by Al Capone. He's accused of trafficking between 1500 and 2,000 kilos of cocaine through Chicago per month.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can say that he virtually has his fingerprint on the guns that are killing the children of this city.

ROMO: The 58-year-old grew up poor in the mountains of the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa. He learned the secrets of the drug trade with Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo, also known as "The Godfather," a powerful drug lord in the late '80s.

He was arrested in 1993 on murder and drug charges, but allegedly kept on running the business from prison until his escape in 2001 in a laundry cart.

"Forbes" magazine has called Guzman the world's most powerful drug trafficker, estimating his fortune at $1 billion and naming him the 63rd most powerful person in the world in 2012.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, let's bring in Elise Labott now. She is our foreign affairs reporters, but you know how big this capture is. Explain how bit is it.

LABOTT: It's a big fish, Fred, basically not only has he been trafficking to the United States and responsible a lot of people believe for the real brutal drug war and violence that's been plaguing Mexico since the last few years, he's considered one of the most powerful people in Mexico if not more powerful than President Nieto himself.

And he's been expanding his drug empire into Europe. So U.S. officials telling me right now it's huge.

WHITFIELD: All right, Elise Labott, thanks so much. Keep us posted as you hear anymore information about whether he would find his way in a U.S. if not just the Mexican court. Thanks so much.

All right. A paratrooper was killed and two others seriously injured in a training accident At Fort Bragg, North Carolina. According to a statement from the '87 air borne division five others were treated but are OK. The accident happened Friday, but the army isn't saying anymore about it. An investigation is under way.

And a big GOP backlash against rocker and frequent Obama administration critic, Ted Nugent. Top Republican lawmakers are distancing themselves from him after he used a slur to describe President Obama. He was asked on a conservative radio talk show yesterday if he wanted to apologize for those comments.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TED NUGENT, MUSICIAN/ACTIVIST: 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, Governor Rick Perry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People were saying it wasn't a real apology, so again for the record, are you apologizing to the president of the United States, Barack Obama, for calling him a subhuman mongrel?

NUGENT: Yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Greg Abbott, GOP hopeful in the Texas governor's, race has been on the campaign trail with Nugent.

All right, now to the investigation into academic irregularities of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The university has hired former Justice Department attorney Kenneth Waynestein, saying he'll review the case and get access to new information. UNCAP Chapel Hill has been dogged with allegations that some students, most of them athletes, have been taking classes where little or no work was required.

Earlier this year a CNN investigation uncovered a whistleblower study which showed some student athletes were reading below a third grade level.

All right. And it is now the second to the last day for the Sochi Olympic Games. And the U.S. has now fallen behind Russia in the medal count.

Is there enough time left to finish on top?

Amanda Davies is in Sochi, Russia for us.

So, Amanda, what put the Russians ahead so suddenly? AMANDA DAVIES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, I started this morning saying all was looking good for Team USA. I'm sorry I haven't got any better news. The Russians are really finishing up full steam to get to the top of this medal board at the end of their games of course. And what makes it worse for team USA is that it is that man again, the American born Russian Vic Wild, who has helped Russia to the top of the medal table.

He's claimed his second gold medal of the games, that the snowboarder who frankly met a girl, fell in love and decided that he would join Russia to represent them at these games instead of the USA because he felt that the U.S. snowboarding funding was being cut, so Vic Wild celebrating his second gold.

Russia has also claimed a gold in terms of the biathlon, so a lot of team USA hopes now focused up by the fact he's sliding center up in the mountains with Stephen Holcomb and the four-man bobsled. We're at the halfway stage. The climax is tomorrow. He's of course pilot of the winning crew in Vancouver four years ago. He held the two-man crew to bronze just a couple of days ago.

Holcomb has been struggling a little bit with a calf injury, but he's certainly USA's best hope for gold heading into the final day.

WHITFIELD: And so now what about that hockey match between the U.S. and Finland? What kind of details can you give us on that?

DAVIES: I feel I should apologize again before I go into this one. Because the big question was how will the USA going to bounce back from that defeat, of course the great rivals, the defending champions, Canada, in the semifinal, and to put it bluntly, they couldn't. They were absolutely stopped against Finland.

To be fair to them, they barely had time to wash their kits and hang it up in the locker room before they were back on the ice and it was two goals in a space of just 11 seconds from Finland at the start of the second quarter that really put the USA on the back foot. There was no coming back from there.

The U.S. of course had been the team that has scored more goals in the early stages of the competition than anybody else, but they were shut out by Canada yesterday and again shut out by Finland today, so it's Finland going home with the bronze medal for the second time in a row. The USA going back empty handed and back to the drawing board frankly.

WHITFIELD: Boy. All right. Amanda Davies, thanks so much from Sochi.

All right. Back here in the U.S., a life and death drama unfolds in Miami in the middle of traffic. A baby stops breathing, sparking a frantic rescue effort. The tense and ultimately successful rescue caught on a "Miami Herald" photographer's camera. He'll explain what he saw.

And Ukraine's future is hanging in the balance after a stunning day. We'll take you there live for the latest, next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Protesters in Ukraine are cheering the release of their opposition leader and the country's former prime minister. Yulia Tymoshenko left jail today. You can see her car there surrounded as she was being driven away. This hour, we learned that she had actually arrived in the capital city of Kiev, where many of the protests have been taking place and she is expected to make an appearance in the main square shortly.

So this comes just hours after the parliament voted out President Viktor Yanukovych.

Nick Paton Walsh is live for us in Kiev.

So, Nick, what is the situation there and if Tymoshenko is to appear there right in the square, will she be speaking and what likely would she say?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, she'll doubtless repeat comments she made earlier on today in which she said that many people have given their lives in order to bring the country to this stage and they had to honor their sacrifice in order to see the country move forward.

Now I should point out, Yulia Tymoshenko has a long political history in the country. She's been prime minister. She was involved in pushing through the last revolution that kicked Viktor Yanukovych out of power back in 2004. And she has a very checked past. When she went to jail, it was under corruption charges that many say were politically motivated. She was mistreated in jail and now emerges very much as the victim, very much a symbolic figure, embodying the anti-Yanukovych opposition.

So clearly wants to try and run for some sort of political office when she does emerge, but the whole landscape of Ukraine has literally changed enormously in the last 24 hours. Quite dramatic. We were talking simply yesterday about deal the E.U. has pushed through, which guaranteed elections as late as December, but only today parliament and a whole host of measures the voted through with massive majority, decided they didn't want Yanukovych to be president anymore and called early elections in May.

Now where is he? He's in eastern Ukraine. He's popped up on social media or on Ukrainian media, making a statement denouncing this a coup, saying it's illegal, but at the end of the day, it seems like he's pretty much marginalized.

Now I think it's unlikely he'll be able to make a comeback given how fast things are moving behind me. And also, Fred, just given simply the sheer number of people in the center of this square and the sheer lack of police. We drove around a lot today, saw one police car. The police are on their back but they moved away. Protesters surrounding parliament and even stationed checkpoints in the way into the capital.

It seems like the opposition and the people have taken over the capital. Their leaders are running parliament and pushing through change and really Ukraine seems to be in a quite different political era than it was simply yesterday -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Yes, and it seems, Nick, I mean, president -- the president does not want to step down. Yet clearly, he doesn't have much power left with parliament voting him out and the power being shifted now to this former prime minister who is taking front and center stage there. So it seems like the majority of the people there in that square are certainly in support of some sort of relationship with the E.U.

Does this kind of revitalize that potential that the European Union would certainly take sides or help support the Ukraine now?

WALSH: Well, it's very messy months ahead. This isn't really a simple change or decision. Viktor Yanukovych, I think it's fair to say, spelled his political death really by ordering or permitting the shooting dead of those dozens of police officers near the hotel where I'm staying. I should say the death toll we've just heard has risen now to 82. But that's quite separate, the broader argument over Ukraine's future.

Many who supported him are in the east in the country who need greater ties to Russia so the industrial economy there and the jobs they have can continue to prosper. And in the west, they want to be closer to Europe and they've seen, you know, transformation in Poland the past two decades and they want a part of that as well.

But those sides are hard to reconcile and government needs to try and do that, but above all, the government has to keep the economy afloat. They need billions of dollars to repay debts simply this year. Russia was offering to bail them out. That looks less likely now their man Yanukovych has fled the capital. He's way out in the east now.

So we don't really know quite how the political landscape amongst Ukraine's people has changed because of the killings of the past three days of quite how that plays as the broader geopolitical balance of the country, but it's a very rocky road, whoever becomes the new leader of Ukraine in the forthcoming few months -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Nick Paton Walsh, thank you so much in Kiev. Appreciate that.

All right. Back now to the U.S. A baby's roadside rescue caught on camera. "The Miami Herald" photographer who snapped the pictures talks about the life or death drama.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Welcome back to the NEWSROOM. I want to take you straight to Indianapolis. Look familiar? Right here. This is Missouri University's Michael Sam. He would be the first openly gay NFL player if drafted. Right now he's at the NFL Combine, and this is when college players kind of talk to -- make themselves available to NFL teams and scouts.

Let's listen in to what he's saying and answering questions there.

MICHAEL SAM, NFL HOPEFUL: A little naive and uneducated but, you know, as time goes on, everyone will adapt.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Michael, you kind of wish that this wasn't a story and we were just talking about Michael Sam, the football player or (INAUDIBLE).

SAM: Heck yes, I wish you guys would just say, hey, Michael Sam, how's football going? How's training going? I would love for you to ask me that question, but it is what it is and I just wish you guys would see me as Michael Sam the football player, instead of Michael Sam the gay football player.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Do you want (INAUDIBLE)?

SAM: I want to play whoever picks me up as a defensive end or outside linebacker to rush that passer, because that's what I do best.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What kind of reaction (INAUDIBLE) combine, from other players and coaches?

SAM: I'm not going to -- I'm not going to say who said it, but one of my friends at the -- Michael Sam, I didn't know you were gay. I was like, I didn't know neither. Apparently the media is just blowing it out of proportion, but, well -- there you go.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Michael, (INAUDIBLE). Was the overall (INAUDIBLE) analysis, how would you say this worked (INAUDIBLE)?

SAM: Great. I mean, the positive outweighs the negative. I mean, I'm actually kind of surprised, actually, but, you know, there's a lot of support, a lot of people want this. Just a lot of support out there.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE) brothers and sisters, and your dad, kind of curious as to (INAUDIBLE)?

SAM: You know, it made me -- it made me stronger. It made me who I am today. I wouldn't be talking to you people if it wasn't for --

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Michael, (INAUDIBLE) about your sexuality, were there jokes about it? Did you tell them, I can take jokes and if so how did it go?

SAM: Everyone can be normal around me if they wanted to. We joke around that's because we're -- it's a brotherhood, it's a family, so we can -- we can say things to each other. No harm. We don't draw bloods. It's all fun and games.

(CROSSTALK)

SAM: I'm sorry, what?

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Were you surprised that words never got out during the season?

SAM: Like I said, a lot of good portion of my student body in there. And -- so word did get out but, you know, we protect one another, apparently, I guess, other schools don't.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Michael, how would you feel if you opened the door for other gay players to come out and live freely?

SAM: You know, if I did that, I think it's just great, you know? I just want to do what I love to do, and that's to play football.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: It sounds like you have doubts about how your story might be perceived. And the way people see that over the last couple of weeks, are you surprised?

SAM: I didn't have doubts. I just wanted to get my story out there before anyone else said or told it and so I continue with my life and try to prepare myself for the NFL.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Michael, (INAUDIBLE)?

SAM: I'm going to fight? No. If someone wants to call me a name I'll have a conversation with that guy and hopefully it won't lead to nothing else.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE) -- maybe he will feel more obligated to take you to show that they're (INAUDIBLE)?

SAM: I am not a GM. I do not have control over my dress status. All I can control is me preparing myself to get the best scores out there.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: And (INAUDIBLE)--

SAM: What was that?

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Do you feel like a trail blazer?

SAM: A trail blazer? I feel like I'm Michael Sam.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Michael, in a perfect world (INAUDIBLE)?

SAM: In a perfect world, when I've figured it out? When I knew I was -- this is what I wanted? What -- did you understand that question -- that answer? In a perfect world, I mean, when I was ready, to tell --

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: I'm talking about this right now. Would you want everybody -- after the combine?

SAM: No. I mean I did it -- I think I did it on my time, on my terms. You know? It's out there now. So it doesn't really matter. It's out there. Much. UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: So a football question --

SAM: There you go. Yes, what's that?

(LAUGHTER)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What do you think about this (INAUDIBLE) label? I mean, a lot of guys plays every year is that relevant? Do you think it's legitimate? I mean, what do you think about that?

SAM: What?

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Well, just the questions being asked about, are you (INAUDIBLE)? You know, (INAUDIBLE) can you play off? What about those questions?

SAM: I'm a pass rusher. So if you put knee in a situation to get the quarterback, I'm going to get the quarterback. So whoever coaches or GMs, if they need -- and this league is a passing league. So I'd like to believe myself as a good pass rusher.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Is that supposed to be valid, though? I mean --

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Colorado State defensive tackle. Michael --

SAM: Yes, I can -- I mean, I can jump in -- I can drop back in coverage as well. So like I said, my specialty is rushing the passer.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Michael, you mentioned that the Senior Bowl, how much did that prepare you to (INAUDIBLE) in the process to be around NFL (INAUDIBLE)?

SAM: You know, it was -- it was a new, a new thing. Like, I'm always around, you know, college coaches and seeing it's just a business. This is a legit business. I mean, multibillionaire, billion dollar organization, and it got me to feel what's to expect on that next level.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: How are the interviews go then? Were there any questions --

WHITFIELD: OK. Very poised, confident, at ease. That's Michael Sam there, Missouri's defensive end at the NFL Combine, an opportunity for college players to make themselves available to potential NFL teams and scouts, and he's answering a host of questions, but he says, bottom line I just want to do what I love to do, and that's play football.

And a reporter asking him does he feel like a trail blazer because he came out as a gay player? He would be potentially be the first gay NFL player and he says, you know what? I feel like I'm Michael Sam.

We'll have much more on Michael Sam's story and other stories of the day at 2:30 Eastern Time. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. See you in the NEWSROOM then. Right now, time for Christine Romans.

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