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Any Moment: Authorities Will Hold News Conference On Balloon Accident; Monica Lewinsky Breaks Her Silence; Clinton Looking Like A Candidate; Alleged New Sterling Audio Leaked; Lawyer: Shelly Sterling Wants To Retain 50 Percent Ownership Of Team

Aired May 10, 2014 - 12:00   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, this week Anthony Bourdain eats and drinks his way through Russia, a country struggling to find its identity. Will its soviet past hold back its capitalist future? I asked Anthony if he felt any tension during his visit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTHONY BOURDAIN, HOST, CNN'S "PARTS UNKNOWN": We felt very much, I don't know whether you call it tension, but you do a fair amount of casual eating and drinking with Russians at oligarchs, and those that have done well under Putin and those who have suffered for daring to have an opinion under Puting, eating with ordinary people who either suffered or benefitted from life in the new imperial Russia, you get a sense of how the world is going there.

Ukraine did not I have to say, hardly a pundit or geopolitical expert. What's happening in Crimea came as no surprise to me after a little time eating and drinking in Russia, it is no mystery what happened or what will happen. You have a hammer lock on the country.

WHITFIELD: OK, what do you mean, you mean people openly were discussing their thoughts, their fears, their wishes, trepidation about all of that?

BOURDAIN: Most Russians feel that Ukraine is part of greater Russia, even (inaudible) felt that Ukraine was part of greater Russia. Protests against Putin is a dangerous thing. Whoever you are, however powerful you will be, you serve at his pleasure. You start talking about Putin's corruption and could be stripped of things and in jail.

This is something we felt strongly there. As far as what's happening in Ukraine, I would say sadly that there's -- don't look for the Russian people to rise up in protests over what they're doing in Ukraine and Crimea, it seems to be sadly a pretty popular move.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, Sunday night, you can see more of Anthony Bourdain's interaction with the Russian people in an all new Anthony Bourdain, "PARTS UNKNOWN," 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and then at 10:00 Eastern. It's an all new Morgan Spurlock, "INSIDE MAN." Morgan takes you inside religion in America. Makes his debut in the pulpit to give his first sermon. We have much more straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM, which begins right now. Hello again, everyone. I am Fredricka Whitfield. Here are the stories that we are following in the CNN NEWSROOM.

A terrifying scene at a Virginia festival, a hot air balloon burst into flames and authorities are searching for victims in a wooded area. A news conference is moments away.

And staking her claim, the wife of embattled L.A. Clippers owner, Donald Sterling makes her case for keeping the team just as a new CEO takes the helm.

And could Monica Lewinsky's affair with Bill Clinton end up haunting Hillary Clinton in 2016? Lewinsky's new tell all article fuels speculation about impact on the potential presidential race.

First up, that horrifying hot air balloon accident in Richmond, Virginia. Flames engulfed the balloon after it hit a power line. One person is confirmed dead. Two other people who were on board remain missing. Search crews are looking in a wooded area where debris has been spotted. At any moment now, authorities will be holding a news conference on the progress of the search. We will bring that to you live as it happens.

All right, but first, let's turn to Erin McPike who is in that search area joining us live now. Erin, what have officials been saying about the missing victims?

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, they haven't identified any of the names yet, but have spoken to the families of all three of those passengers who were on board. We heard from the press conference earlier this morning, though, that this has gone from a rescue operation to a recovery mission, meaning they believe there are no survivors. That spokesman for the Virginia police shed a little bit more light on what happened last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CORINNE GELLER, VIRGINIA STATE POLICE PR DIRECTOR: According to witnesses, they say they heard an explosion and it was after that that the basket and the balloon actually separated. We are still in the process, we spent all night searching for the wreckage, of the basket, the balloon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCPIKE: They also said they have located some of the debris that was inside the basket that separated from the balloon. They have not yet seen the basket or the balloon. We may hear more about that in the upcoming press conference. But they do believe they have found some more concentrated search area -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: And then Erin, while they are images here and there are lots of eye witness, we do know that this balloon festival has since been canceled. What are investigators able to glean from some of these images and the eyewitness account? MCPIKE: Well, from what we have heard from a number of eyewitnesses, some of whom have come by here this morning to talk to us about what they have seen, they have all said how horrifying it was to see. Here is one woman that described just what it felt like to watch it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We heard like a loud bang. We thought it was just a fire work, something like that, then remembered the balloon festival, and all of a sudden my boyfriend came running out, oh, my god, look at the sky, the balloon is on fire. All we seen was stuff falling from the sky, the basket, the balloon, everything was on fire. I said please, god, tell me there's nobody in there, I don't want to know that somebody is hurt. And all of a sudden we started seeing stuff falling through the sky.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCPIKE: And another man told me this morning that he could both hear and see the explosion from about two miles away -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Erin McPike, thanks so much. Of course, we're waiting for new information from the news conference scheduled to take place any moment now. You're seeing live pictures at the podium. We're just waiting for someone to step up. We'll take that live as it happens.

Meantime, the saga of embattled L.A. Clippers owner, Donald Sterling is getting even more bizarre. In a new recording released yesterday, a man alleged to be Sterling says he was jealous and that's why he made those racist remarks. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD STERLING: Who thinks anybody is going to tape something? What the hell, I'm talking to a girl. The girl is black. I like her. I'm jealous that she's with other black guys. I want her. So what the hell can I in private tell her? You know, I don't want you to be with anybody. I mean, do I have -- am I a person? Do I have any freedom of speech?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: That audio from radar online, still unclear who recorded it, supplied it, et cetera. In the midst of this fire storm, Sterling's wife Shelly says she's not giving up her half of the team. Alexandra Field is following the latest on this story and she joins us live outside the NBA headquarters there in Manhattan. Alexandra, has the team responded to Shelly Sterling in that she is holding on, in her words, for the rest of her life?

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So much for this team to contend with over the last few weeks, Fredricka. And you know the players have to try and keep their head in the playoff games now. We know how they feel about Donald Sterling. They made themselves very clear when they staged that protest after that first racist rant, that recording was released, remember the players came out and had shirts turned inside-out.

A clear statement of their feelings toward Donald Sterling. So how do they feel about Shelly Sterling, how would they feel if she did indeed retain some ownership of the team? That question was asked of their coach, Doc Rivers. Here is how he put it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOC RIVERS, L.A. CLIPPERS COACH: I think it would be a very hard situation if you want me, I'll say that much. I think it will be very difficult. I guarantee you every person wouldn't be on board with that.

FIELD: So currently the Clippers are owned by the Sterling family trust. An attorney for Shelly Sterling means that she's entitled to ownership of half the team. What she would like to see happen is keep her 50% of the team, have an investment group own the other half of the team in place of Donald Sterling.

We should point out here while Donald Sterling has been sanctioned by the NBA, he has been banned from NBA activities for life. He has been fined $2.5 million. He is still an owner of this team. The NBA has not voted on whether or not to force him to sell his share, but there have been no sanctions against Shelly Sterling -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: She's still allowed to be court side and promises she will continue to be. Now let's talk about leadership of that team in the form of the CEO, the former Citigroup and Time Warner Chairman Richard Parsons now named interim CEO. He made a statement this goes beyond the NBA and beyond the L.A. Clippers, doesn't it?

FIELD: Yes, absolutely, Fred, taking this opportunity to make a statement, talk about the gravity of the situation, not just his role as interim CEO. That's where he wants people to focus attention on how to move forward from this, what we can learn from this, what needs to be fixed. He released this statement.

He says in part, quote, "This is a large an important issue. Not just for the clippers or the NBA, but for the country in some ways. All eyes are on this and how we work our way through it is important. Parsons goes on to describe himself as a lifetime, lifelong fan of the NBA. He says he has felt in recent weeks the same pain that the other fans and team has felt, so this hopefully is a step forward for the team -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: Alexandra Field, thanks so much. Appreciate it.

All right, so a new audio recording raising a whole lot of new questions, legal questions as well, in the Donald Sterling scandal. Our legal guys are on this case, straight ahead this hour.

And reliving the Monica Lewinsky, Bill Clinton scandal. Her new tell-all. What impact it might have on Hillary Clinton, we'll talk about that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, any moment now we are expecting new information on that hot air balloon accident in Virginia live news conference about to take place. You are looking live pictures right now of the podium. When that news conference happens, we'll take it live.

All right, it is time to burn the beret and bury the blue dress. That's what the woman who had an affair with President Bill Clinton, Monica Lewinsky, is saying in a new article. CNN's Suzanne Malveaux covered the scandal when it broke back in 1998 and is in our Washington Bureau to tell us more about what to expect from the bombshell -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: hello, Fred. It was 16 years ago that I covered Monica Lewinsky and I saw her often outside the Watergate apartment, occasionally run into her in a coffee shop. She was always gracious and kind, but clearly in was a very difficult and anguishing time for her. She says she's speaking out now because at 40 years old, she wants to move on with her life and give some purpose to her past. To show those who experienced public humiliation like she did you can survive.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX (voice-over): In her tell all "Vanity Fair" essay Monica Lewinsky says she's opening up about her scandalous past in an effort to move forward. "I would give anything to go back and rewind the tape," Lewinsky writes about her affair with President Clinton. She provides insight into the nature of their relationship beyond the salacious details splashed across the headlines.

"It was an authentic connection with emotional intimacy, frequent visits, plans made, phone calls, and gifts exchanged." Now 40, the world's most famous White House intern examines the situation with new perspective. "I look back now, shake my head in disbelief and I wonder what was I, what were we thinking?"

Lewinsky has remained mostly reclusive, an effort to protect herself from the shame she felt when the affair went public.

FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON: I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky.

MALVEAUX: Following President Clinton's initial vehement denial and subsequent admission.

CLINTON: Indeed I did had a relationship with Ms. Lewinsky that was not appropriate, in fact, it was wrong.

MONICA LEWINSKY: I felt like a piece of trash and I felt dirty and I felt used.

MALVEAUX: Lewinsky says the scandal changed the entire trajectory of her life making her virtually unemployable. She remains very much stuck in time, never getting married or having children. She writes, "With every man I date, yes, I date, I go through some degree of 1998 whiplash."

Lewinsky said she considered the consequences of telling her story on the Clinton universe and felt compelled to speak out now before Hillary Clinton's potential 2016 presidential bid, something which means more to her than just the possibility of having a female president.

"When I hear of Hillary's perspective candidacy, I cannot help but fear the next wave of paparazzi, the next wave of where is she now stories. But should I put my life on hold for another eight to ten years?"

(END VIDEOTAPE

MALVEAUX: It is interesting, Lewinsky also plans out her life on the political calendar, anticipating when is the next time she could be thrown into the spotlight, if and when Hillary Clinton decides to run, the 2016 election, and the books that will follow.

But she said this. She said she thought about Tyler Clemente, the Rutgers student that killed himself after video of him kissing another man went viral online. She says she wishes she could have talked to him and shown him that even in your darkest moments of humiliation, your life can go on -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Suzanne Malveaux, thanks so much in Washington. So does this potentially derail Hillary Clinton's momentum or clear the air for Monica Lewinsky. Let's bring in our panel, John Avlon is a CNN political analyst and editor-in-chief of "The Daily Beast" and Sally Kohn is a CNN political commentator. OK, John, to you first. Why did Monica Lewinsky write this article? Talking about timing now. Why now?

JOHN AVLON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I think it has to do with the fact that she's 40, inflection point in her life. As Suzanne pointed out she's anticipating the potential of a Hillary Clinton presidential run and to get out ahead of it, tell her story in her own words on "Vanity Fair," and then hopefully get off the table so to speak during Hillary's book tour and a possible presidential. She wants to be able to turn the page in her own life. That's why she took the reins to tell her own story this time.

WHITFIELD: So sadly get off the table and anything that makes it more prominent, there are a lot of people didn't know about it. Now they're voting Americans. Does this clear the air for Monica Lewinsky or does it really kind of drudge it all back up again?

SALLY KOHN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: For Monica, I imagine it clears the air. She made the decision to. And it seems like she never addressed it quite this way, it was always looming over her personal life and career. She makes that clear. For Hillary I think, you know, most of the voters already knew this happened. Still like Hillary. She still has the highest likability, and favorability of any contender. And for younger folks that don't remember, I think they're accustomed to sex scandals in politics at this point.

AVLON: Yes, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Go ahead, John?

AVLON: Just add to that, I mean, you know, the youngest Bill Clinton voter is 36. For a lot of folks, this is literally history. Pretending it doesn't exist doesn't make it go away. By addressing it early, makes it less likely going to dominate the conversation.

WHITFIELD: All right, well, you know, this is interesting because even in her article, she doesn't necessarily reveal just herself, she says it revealed a lot about, you know, feminists. She felt while this was a relationship, she writes it was consensual, a bad decision, yes, but she also felt abandoned by the feminists and was stunned by Hillary Clinton's response to it all, blowing a fuse with Bill Clinton behind closed doors.

Is this helping Lewinsky gain understanding, support or sympathy? Is this really an indictment against feminists as well, Sally, that they weren't there for her and that in her view they should have been?

KOHN: I mean, there's a lot bound up in there. I think Monica has a legitimate critique of the feminist community in particular, we scrutinize Hillary and I have scrutinized Hillary's experience as well. But feminists in general, not all, but in general were certainly like President Clinton politically, defended it personally.

And in some cases said mean things about Monica Lewinsky. If this coming up again gives everyone a chance to rethink, recast, apologize for some of that, that's good. I wouldn't put the blame too much on the feminists. Even Monica does this as well.

It was the right wing media machine that was growing its baby legs, starting to walk back then that really is what drug her through the mud and tarnished her reputation and slandered her and shamed her. Let's be really clear about that.

WHITFIELD: John, you can't wait to respond. You have to after we take a short break. We are going to continue this conversation. How is that for a cliff hanger? We will be back to talk about this Lewinsky tell all, how it impacts Hillary Clinton, if at all. We will have more on that after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: At any moment we are expecting new information on the hot air balloon accident in Virginia. This is the podium where officials will take to the microphone and give more details on the search for two victims. One body was found from the hot air balloon accident, but still missing two people who were on that balloon that crashed. More on it as we get it.

All right, meantime, she is not an official candidate for president, but Hillary Clinton is making the rounds, and she's sounding a lot like she might make another run for the White House. Her time as secretary of state could be a double edged sword. Here is CNN's Brianna Keilar.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REPRESENTATIVE PETER KING (R), NEW YORK: For the life of me, I cannot understand why secretary of state did not want to designate Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organization.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Republicans raising questions about Hillary Clinton's decision not to classify Boko Haram as a terrorist group when she was secretary of state. Clinton had pointed words for the Nigerian government for its response to Boko Haram's kidnapping of hundreds of girls.

HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: The government of Nigeria needs to get serious about protecting all of its citizens.

KEILAR: But sources close to Clinton tell CNN the State Department didn't want to legitimize the group or energize its recruitment.

CLINTON: What is it you want to achieve?

KEILAR: Republicans are attacking Clinton's record at the State Department as she prepares to launch her book tour next month. Meanwhile, Clinton is racking up miles and millions with a schedule of mostly paid speeches.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Miss Clinton, if you don't represent women in politics in America as future president, who will?

KEILAR: Answering friendly questions in friendly forums with one exception. Last month, a woman threw a shoe at her in Las Vegas. Clinton concentrates mainly on social issues near and dear to her heart. But her political opponents are trying to chip away at her tenure at the State Department, something voters consider a political positive according to polls. House Republicans forming a select committee to investigate the 2012 attack on the consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

REPRESENTATIVE TREY GOWDY (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: We're going to send subpoenas and we're going to expect her to comply.

KEILAR: But Clinton has dismissed the need for further investigation.

CLINTON: I do not believe there is any reason for it to continue in this way, but they get to call the shots in the Congress.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: If Hillary Clinton decides to run for president, many sources in her camp tell me they don't think it is an election that will be won or lost on foreign policy. However, they're very sensitive to this part of her resume taking a hit. As Secretary of State Clinton had a reputation as a very good boss, it helped to help erase stains from her campaign in 2008, soften her political image, and her allies don't want Republicans to diminish that. Brianna Keilar, CNN, Washington. WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Brianna. Not only is Hillary Clinton dealing with Monica Lewinsky breaking her silence, she's now facing more scrutiny over Benghazi and what she knew about the terrorist group that kidnapped those Nigerian girls.

So back with us now, CNN political analyst, John Avlon and CNN political commentator, Sally Kohn. John, before the break, I wanted to give you a chance to respond to what Sally was saying earlier about Lewinsky affair that really it was an opportunity for the right wing media machine. You were shaking your head.

AVLON: First of all, the process that led to Monica Lewinsky actually did come out of what Hillary famously characterized as a vast right wing conspiracy, not so vast, more loose. No question about it, it was part of a process drummed up by was the -- do this thought experiment. Imagine if Monica Lewinsky had an affair with a Republican president, imagine the protesting outside the White House then. And you didn't hear that. That's how partisan spin ends up in all stories, whether Benghazi or Monica Lewinsky.

WHITFIELD: Now, let's shake or move on and talk instead about Lewinsky, shake things up a bit. Let's talk about Benghazi. You know, the House GOP, forming that investigative committee. Sally, are these legitimate inquiries or is this just politics? Is this, too, about timing and where Hillary Clinton is in the political hemisphere?

KOHN: You know, two points. First of all, yes, they're legitimate inquiries to want to know what happened that night, and in general what happens when our embassies are attacked. It was the only one in 2013 that were attacked. We have security issues, it is appropriate to investigate them. That's already happened. We had 13 hearings, 50 briefings, 25,000 pages of documents. We know what happened that night.

There are reports by congressional committees, but Republicans refuse to acknowledge it. To be honest, Fred, this really isn't that different from Monica. Benghazi is how Republicans pronounce Monica Lewinsky in 2014. They're so desperate for some way to attack Hillary Clinton. And by the way, they're doing it because they have no interest in solving the real problems America faces, they just want to play politics.

WHITFIELD: John, there has been this real piling on, you know, of Hillary Clinton, if it is not Benghazi, now we're talking about the Nigerian group, Boko Haram, she had an opportunity to label them as a terrorist group and didn't when she was secretary of state, and that, too, is a big problem. And now her name is being tossed into the blame game as pertains to the Nigerian girls missing as a result of the Boko Haram. Is this too much? Is this legitimate? How do you interpret it?

AVLON: That's more legitimate, interesting and troubling question than Benghazi, which is an inquiry after the fact. "The Daily Beast" Josh Rogan actually broke this story about when Hillary was secretary of state, the State Department resisted naming Boko Haram a terrorist organization. WHITFIELD: She didn't want to empower them with that title.

AVLON: That's correct.

WHITFIELD: And there are other critics that say if you did that, however, it may have meant devoting certain resources to fight that group. It might have meant kind of disarming them in a way of what has become a power.

AVLON: That's a fair characterization. The concern is how loose a terrorist affiliate was it at the time and would they draw attention to it. Problem is when you ignore a problem, they don't tend to go away, they tend to coalesce and congeal. Look, Hillary Clinton has been consistently as secretary of state and certainly after the fact an advocate for women's rights. She has been relentless in that, which is why the kidnapping of these 300 plus school girls by Boko Haram is an especially horrific irony and urgent problem right now.

But inquiring why the State Department really resisted this. It is something that is legitimate. We're going to need more answers about that. Hillary Clinton's State Department tenure is an enormous asset in the presidential campaign. She also has to answer for the record for her tenure and there will be uncomfortable questions. That's just a reality.

WHITFIELD: And so Sally, will this be a detriment to Hillary Clinton, while there's great praise for her being secretary of state, then you have at least two of these matters that are constantly being brought up. The drum beat continues to get louder.

KOHN: I don't think so. Specifically on Benghazi, I think the American public is fed up with millions and millions of tax dollars being wasted on these investigations, but also in both stories understand the danger of politicizing foreign policy. There were reasons to give certain information and not certain information with active terrorist investigations.

Similarly, there are reasons to not embolden, empower, buy into the hands of the Nigerian government at the time the decision was made and Boko Haram was a regional concern and didn't need the attention nor accolades of getting internally in their own sort of warped minds of getting attention from the United States government.

We could look at these things in a reasonable and fair and responsible and American kind of way or we can, you know, try and fund raise off them as Republicans and turn them into political stunts. I think it is sad.

WHITFIELD: All right, Sally Kohn, John Avlon, thanks to both of you. Appreciate it.

AVLON: Thanks, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Thank you. All right, and she's in the middle of a very different scandal, but you know what, she is not quiet about it at all. Shelly Sterling says she wants to hold onto the L. A. Clippers, even if the NBA gets rid of her husband because of his racist rant. Our legal guys weigh in next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Live right now. Let's go to Virginia. More information on the hot air balloon accident. Here is Corinne Geller.

CORINNE GELLER, VIRGINIA POLICE: They're working the subdivision nearby. At this time, we have now located two of the occupants from the hot air balloon that crashed Friday night. We still have crews on the ground now searching for the third occupant. We are not going to be identifying the gender or information concerning the second one or located a little while ago.

Our searches are continuing. We actually have more than 100 personnel on the ground. They have been searching since daybreak today. We have them divided into multiple teams. These include Virginia State police troopers as well as deputies with the Caroline County Sheriff's Office. We have civil air patrol and several multiple search and rescue canine teams mixed in and on the ground, walking the immediate vicinity within Caroline Pines and Glendale area.

They will continue to keep searching until the wreckage can be found. We still have not located the basket or the balloon. We do continue to keep finding debris and various items that would have been on the hot air balloon. And that is encouraging to search crews, it keeps us targeted and focused in the vicinity and help with the searches. It is extremely wooded, rural area. Terrain is difficult.

A lot of underbrush. That's why foot patrols are so important on this. The grid searches. We also have aviation support. We have Virginia State Police Aviation up through the day, assisting the search crews on the ground. Got a little more information. There were a total of 13 hot air balloons that took flight Friday evening. They had pilot chosen landing sites. They landed in a particular location on Ruther Glen.

It wasn't pre-designated landing zone, it is an actual landing site. One balloon landed there, based on witness accounts, a second balloon landed, the third was landing there. This was a landing site that would end the flight. Then they have a tracking car that follows them. Then those people, passengers and pilot would have gotten in that vehicle and folded up the balloon, then come back here.

So that's how the right would have taken place. That's what happened with 12 others. They had tracking cars and balloons landed in various locations throughout the area as part of this event yesterday. At this point I don't have much more information to release. I'll take some questions in a minute.

We have reached out to the NTSB. They're also here. They've got investigators here that are also conducting their search, and when they have information to release, they will come forward. Greg, did you want to release anything?

GREG HICKS, VP, MEADOW EVENT PARK: Make a quick comment. Greg Hicks, VP of the Meadow Event Park. It's very stressful situation for everybody.

WHITFIELD: Live news conference there out of Virginia as it pertains to the hot air balloon accident taking place yesterday. You just heard from Corrine Geller, the spokesperson for the Virginia State Police say that they have located a second body still searching for a third. Three people were inside this balloon. There were reports of explosion and it hitting a power line. Again, no identities revealed of victims.

They continue to search for a third person on that balloon. They have not located the balloon or basket. But they have located debris. It is a treacherous search. The terrain is very difficult. Thirteen balloons in all part of this festival and tragedy. We will have more on the investigation as it becomes available. We will have much more in the NEWSROOM after this.

We're going to talk about Donald Sterling's wife, and how she's continuing to promise it will be indeed a big legal fight to maintain her half of the L.A. Clippers after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Welcome back. Now to the latest on the Donald Sterling scandal. The L.A. Clippers, the team, the players, managed to fight through distractions surrounding the team last night, but they couldn't defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Clippers co-owner, Shelly Sterling was at the Staples Center for the game. Game three of the second round of the playoff series.

The Clippers now trail in the series two games to one. Meanwhile, the Sterling scandal has taken yet another turn with the release by radar online of a new audio recording. Here is our Brian Todd.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He says he wasn't full of hate, but was full of testosterone.

DONALD STERLING (via telephone): I am talking to a girl. I'm trying to have sex with her. I'm trying to play with her. You know, if you to have sex with a girl and you're talk to go her privately, and you don't think anybody's there, you may say anything in the world. What difference does it make?

TODD: Radar Online which released the recording says this is Donald Sterling explaining why he made those racist comments to V. Stiviano. CNN can't independently verify that the voice is Sterling's and we don't know who he is speaking to.

STERLING: I have a girl here who has black kids and is partly black I think myself. I love the girl. And so she's telling me you're wrong. I know I'm wrong. What I said was wrong. But I never thought the private conversation would go anywhere out to the public. I didn't want her to bring anybody to my games because I was jealous! TODD: V. Stiviano denies leaking those to the media, says she did not have a physical relationship with him. We couldn't get comment from the NBA or anyone representing Sterling to the latest audio release. Sterling's estranged wife Shelly is facing her own backlash against her claim to keep her 50 percent of the Clippers. Doc Rivers says if she remains part owner.

DOC RIVERS, L.A. CLIPPERS COACH: I think it would be very difficult. I guarantee you every person wouldn't be on board with that. Whether I would or not, I'm not going to say. But I just know that that would be a very difficult situation for everybody.

TODD: Shelly Sterling's attorney responded in an e-mail to CNN, stressing her ownership would be passive and someone else would control the Clippers. We also find it improbable that players and coaches under contract for millions of dollars a year would boycott their teams because of concerns that a 79-year-old woman would rock the boat. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver insists the league only wants to force Donald Sterling out as owner. But one sports attorney says that may change.

BRADLEY SHEAR, SPORTS ATTORNEY: It sounds like at this point things keep getting worse, the Sterling name appears that it may be too toxic for the NBA.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TODD: Shelly Sterling's attorney says if Donald Sterling is forced out as owner and she remains, she will not let Donald have any involvement with management of the team. A source close to her camp says she wants to continue going to the games. Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

WHITFIELD: All right, so Shelly Sterling says she's in charge of the team. What does that mean for the NBA's efforts to force her estranged husband, Donald Sterling, to sell the Clippers? Let's bring in our legal guys, Avery Friedman, a civil rights attorney and law professor in Cleveland. That beautiful green. And Richard Herman, a criminal defense attorney and law professor joining us from New York in a tux, my goodness.

RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: For you, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Just for me. We'll explain what the tux is about in a moment, guys. Yes, boy. First, let's talk about Shelly Sterling. Clearly has no intention, Gentlemen, of giving up her claim to the L.A. Clippers. Listen to what her attorney said in "THE SITUATION ROOM."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PIERCE O'DONNELL, SHELLY STERLING'S ATTORNEY: And we will fight to the death any effort by the NBA to involuntarily sell her asset. Now, at the same time in conversations with the league, with Adam Silver this morning, we hope to resolve this dispute. But make no uncertainty about this, she will defend her right - to decide when and how and for what price she sells her 50 percent interest in the Los Angeles Clippers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, a fight to the death he says. That's what Shelly Sterling is going to do. Richard, does the NBA have any real leverage considering the worst accusations about her role in that apparent discrimination involving the apartments they owned were dropped, would the NBA be able to say we have this morality clause and, you know, Donald has violated it, but we don't have record that she has, so she has to keep her half of the team, right?

HERMAN: Fred, the NBA constitution and bylaws does not have a morality clause, number one. Number two, the commissioner made it crystal clear that his ban is only and solely with respect to Donald Sterling. He specifically said that. He didn't include the wife at all. Personally, I think release of any information, especially the kind that Donald Sterling just did, is what he needs right now because the train is rolling and building up steam down the track. And I don't see how these owners can possibly keep him in.

I think the pressure on them is enormous and you're going to look at 80 to 90 percent of owners voting to oust him. Having said that, Fred, as we talked last week, I think he has serious, serious, real causes of action against stern, against the NBA, and perhaps against the other owners for the snippets of release of an illegally recorded conversation, said in his bedroom.

AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Irrelevant.

HERMAN: This is constitutional smashing in your face, Avery.

WHITFIELD: Richard says him, him, him. He is talking about Donald sterling, not talking about Shelly Sterling. So in your view, Avery, Shelly would be able to maintain her 50 percent and if the owners vote Don Sterling out, can't necessarily vote her out?

FRIEDMAN: I don't agree with that, Fredricka. I mean, you can't -- you have to take a strong stand. You can't be lily livered about these things. The fact is that the commissioner under Article 13 of the constitution has the right, broad discretion, probably unbridled discretion making decisions where there's an adverse action or adverse effect on the league.

The fact is if the players are going to boycott, if the fans are repelled by what's going on, if the sponsors are bailing out, I think at the end of the day Commissioner Silver has to end this. Now, Shelly Sterling will get one half of whatever dough the franchise is sold for, but she's going to have no ownership interest.

In fact, she's characterized as a non-controlling owner. So I think ultimately she's out. Whatever she's saying, she will be gone, get her money, and good-bye to the Sterlings.

WHITFIELD: Richard?

HERMAN: Fred, the team is owned in Sterling family trust, not in the name of Donald or Shelly, it is the sterling family trust. I think it is going to be virtually impossible for the NBA to compel the trust to sell this team. And I think there can be injunctions filed in court to prevent this. Based on this scenario of facts, it may be that the owners hate Sterling for all the years and abuse they believe he has created for the league and everybody else.

But these set of facts that we're facing today really, if this is what's going to be the straw that breaks the camel's back, I don't think it will hold up in court. I think the Sterlings have legitimate claims to stop it.

WHITFIELD: We will talk about it again. Every day there's more material added to this pile of really mess. Before we go, gentlemen, because who can overlook the fact you both look so dashing, but Richard is in a tux, and I do want to mention why.

Richard Herman is going to be receiving a very special honor, being awarded Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the ceremony taking place shortly after he gets off the air from National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations. Awards are given every year to American citizens that distinguished themselves in their ethnic groups while exemplifying the values of the American way of life. Congratulations. You'll be at Ellis Island there later for this award. Congratulations. Well deserved.

FRIEDMAN: Way to go, man.

HERMAN: Thank you, Fred and Avery. I share it with my wife, and others. Thank you so much.

WHITFIELD: Fantastic. Well deserved. Congratulations. Have a wonderful day. What an honor. I can't think of anyone else more deserving than you. Thank you so much. Both of you are award winning. Every time I turn around, Avery and Richard are receiving some incredible distinction. Thanks so much, Gentlemen. We will be back after this.

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WHITFIELD: All right, tomorrow Anthony Bourdain's "PARTS UNKNOWN" takes us to Russia. Bourdain hasn't visited in a while for one sobering reason. Here is what he told Anderson Cooper.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER, HOST, CNN'S "AC360": So you went to Russia, you had not been to Russia for quite a while?

ANTHONY BOURDAIN, HOST, CNN'S "PARTS UNKNOWN": I try to space out my trips because I really have a hard time with the drinking. You know, interviewing, making friends in Russia, getting people to open up and talk to you requires a lot of drinking, and frankly more than even I can be comfortable with.

COOPER: You can drink a fair enough. I have seen your show.

BOURDAIN: But a bottle of vodka has an effect and I need some time in between shows. So it has been quite a while.

COOPER: How long has it been since you were in Russia?

BOURDAIN: A few years. You get a sense of what it is like to live in Putin Russia.

COOPER: Nobody else's, it is his. Did you find it different than where you had visited previously?

BOURDAIN: You really feel in earlier trips any notion that this is a functioning democracy is a joke. They kill journalists there. They're happy to do it and it is OK.

COOPER: People get killed in business dealings there.

BOURDAIN: There is a definite line. Everybody we spoke to comes up against a line to -- you can criticize the government. There are certain things you can say. But when you start to talk about corruption and Putin's possible connection to corruption, you could see it in their eyes. A real fear. We spoke with you know, one -- one billionaire oligarch who had been stripped of absolutely everything.

COOPER: And there are --

BOURDAIN: For expressing his discontent. Bad things happen to you when you cross Vladimir Putin.

COOPER: And food in Russia?

BOURDAIN: Food in people's homes can be really good. Food in mid- range restaurants where they are doing traditional Russian dishes, can be really delicious. The soups, the best restaurants are sort of like you know, 1989 post disco era. You know, pan/Asian fusion horror show. Gene generally speaking, it is -- eating in the best restaurant in Moscow is kind of the worse case scenario.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Have an appetite when you watch tomorrow night. You can see more of Anthony's interaction with the Russian people in an all new Anthony Bourdain, "PARTS UNKNOWN" at 9:00 Eastern, talking about the culture and the food and the vodka. Then at 10:00 Eastern, an all new Morgan Spurlock "INSIDE MAN." He takes you inside religion in America and makes his debut in the pulpit to give his first sermon. More after this.

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