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Frightening Hot Air Balloon Accident at Balloon Festival in Virginia; Family Members Protest Placing Remains of 911 Victims in the Museum; Whistleblower's Evidence in Growing VA Scandal; Nigerians Talking about Their Government Not Taking Any Action against Boko Haram
Aired May 10, 2014 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, you are in the "CNN NEWSROOM." I'm Randi Kaye. Two major news stories developing this hour and we're closely following both of them.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They are grave robbers, and they're doing it for money.
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KAYE: She's talking about the decision made on where to permanently keep the remains of her son and many other people killed in the World Trade Center attacks on 9/11. Some families are furious saying it disrespects the dead.
And talk about frightening. A hot air balloon catches fire and goes down in Virginia. There are confirmed deaths and not everyone who was on board has been found yet. Witnesses who watched a hot air balloon burst into flames say they saw people fall or jump from a terrifying height. It happened last night, part of a balloon festival near Richmond, Virginia. Three people were riding in the gondola when everything went wrong and those on the ground were powerless to help. Erin McPike is in Ruther Glen, Virginia right now. Erin, emergency officials just spoke to reporters. What are you learning at this hour?
ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDEN: Well, Randi, earlier in the day we learned that they had recovered two of the victims' bodies but they are still working to locate the third. They say they will continue the search throughout the night until they find that person. Now, they're not identifying the victims just yet, though, they have spoken with all the families. Now, we at CNN, though, have learned that the two passengers in addition to the pilot, the two passengers worked for the University of Richmond women's basketball program, Randi, but authorities may not be releasing their identities to the public until sometime on Monday or Tuesday.
KAYE: And, Erin, eyewitnesses, they're talking about what they saw, what they heard from this accident. It just sounds horrible from what they've been saying. Is any of that helping investigators determine what exactly happened there? MCPIKE: Absolutely. In fact, investigators have asked eyewitnesses to call in and they've heard from dozens and dozens of people as we have as well. I spoke to one man this morning who came out here to actually help the search. He said that he was about two miles away and heard and saw the explosion from that far away. But they have about 100 people searching through this search area right now so that they can finish this search. They have found some of the debris that was inside the gondola, the part of the balloon and so they have a more concentrated search area. But they said, the first two victims, that they found had about 1,500 yards distance in between them. So it has been a difficult search today, Randi.
KAYE: Certainly sounds that way, and a very, very disturbing story. Erin McPike, thank you so much.
In New York, a silent procession as the unidentified remains of more than 1,100 people killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center were returned to the trade center site. Their final resting place. The basement of the soon-to-open National September 11TH Memorial Museum, but the move isn't sitting so well with some families. They're upset because they were not consulted about this plan. Rosa Flores is following that story here in New York for us. Hi, there.
ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi. So, I think we should start off by saying that the 9/11 museum pays tribute to the almost 3,000 people who died on that tragic day. Now, unfortunately a lot of those people are still not identified, and so there are these unidentified remains that are in the custody of the medical examiner. So, the procession that you're seeing on your screen now, that's the procession that took place earlier today to move these unidentified remains from the medical examiner's office to a repository that's actually underground that's at the site of ground zero, where this museum is actually at. Now, there was a process to determine when these remains would be moved, these unidentified remains would be moved. And a lot of the families were part of the process. Here is what one of those families had to say.
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MONICA IKEN, HUSBAND KILLED IN 9/11 ATTACKS: This is where they died. This is where they took their last step, their last breath. It's not about them. It's about our loved ones right now, and we're going to focus on Michael and all those who are not identified and that's what most important today.
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FLORES: Now, this move did not come without some major controversy.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I dare you. I dare you! How dare you, how dare you say that the remains belong, belong in a museum. Shame on you. Why are you even ...
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FLORES: Now, you're taking a look at some of the families who are not happy with the movement of those remains to this particular site. Now, take a look. Here are some of those families' concerns. They're saying in part that they wanted a vote as to the final resting place of these unidentified remains. They wanted a burial site that is above ground and not below ground. And they don't want any fees to pay respect to unidentified 9/11 victims imposed on friends. Now, families have access to the repository without paying a fee and only families are actually able to access this repository that has the unidentified remains. But here's what some of the unhappy families had to say --
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SALLY RESENHARD, OPPOSITES TRANSFER OF UNIDENTIFIED REMAINS: I can't think of anyone who would agree to have their child, the remains of their child, taken over by a municipal agency like the city of New York and put into a museum. It's barbaric. It's inhumane. It's really un-American.
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FLORES: Now, I did check with the city of New York City about those unidentified remains being part of the museum. And, Randi, they tell me that is not the case, that the general public will not be able to see these unidentified remains because they are in the custody of the medical examiner. There's about 8,000 unidentified remains and they are working day in and day out, of course, to try to identify those remains.
KAYE: So, of course, these families clearly upset that they're going to be, what, in the basement there instead of above ground somewhere where they can honor them.
FLORES: They're in a repository and it is underground and some of the families tell me that that was part of the plan. So in 2002 there was an advisory committee that came together and families were also part of this committee and they voted and decided on what to do with these unidentified remains and that's what they decided years ago.
KAYE: And I think that that area had flooded, correct? At some point.
FLORES: And that's some other concern.
KAYE: That's also why they are very concerned.
FLORES: Yeah, yeah, that's what some of the concerns of the families who are not happy. They said after Hurricane Sandy that area flooded, we don't want the remains of our loved ones to be in that particular location. So, there's a lot of controversy. In reality it's just really sad to see because at the end of the day, I mean, it's a tragedy that touches so many lives.
KAYE: Right. FLORES: Which every American can relate.
KAYE: Yeah, absolutely. Rosa, thank you very much. Appreciate that.
Well, this just in, CNN's investigation of potentially deadly delays for U.S. veterans seeking medical care has triggered a leadership change. You first heard shocking allegations of secret wait lists and falsified records right here on CNN. Now we've learned the Veterans Affairs Department has named a new boss for the troubled Phoenix VA hospital accused of keeping secret wait lists. Steve Young is the new acting director, he's overseen VA hospitals in Chicago and Salt Lake City. CNN's investigation has prompted other action as well. The government is investigating to determine how many veterans died while waiting for medical care. Also VA Secretary Eric Shinseki will testify Thursday before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Meanwhile, our own Drew Griffin has uncovered new allegations of a VA cover-up, this time in Texas.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Randi, in the week ahead, we're expecting to hear much more on this entire investigation, especially on what happened in Phoenix at the VA when Secretary Shinseki appears before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. But in the meantime, there's a new investigation under way, which is why we are reporting from San Antonio.
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GRIFFIN: San Antonio, Texas, is the latest location where investigators from the VA's office of the inspector general are on the ground, trying to determine if managers at this sprawling VA hospital were trying to hide the fact veterans had been waiting months to get care. And if any veterans died as a result. The allegations come from this clerk who works in the hospital's medical administrative services and is speaking publicly for the first time. Brian Turner says his job is to help veterans secure appointments. He says he was told to fudge the numbers. He was to meet the VA's own national timeline goal for setting appointments. That goal, no more than 14 days from when a veteran wants an appointment called the desired date. The problem, he says, the appointment deadlines cannot be met, so he says he was instructed to simply schedule the appointment months and months in advance while making a note that this is the veteran's desired date.
BRIAN TURNER, SCHEDULING CLERK, SAN ANTONIO VA HOSPITAL: What they're saying and what we've been instructed was that the -- they're not saying fudge. There's no secret wait list. But what they've done is come out and just say zero out that date. First, report the following day if someone has a wait period that's longer than the 14 days. The standard is the one to 14 days within the timeline of a desired date.
GRIFFIN (on camera): Irregardless of when the appointment took place.
TURNER: It doesn't matter when. Correct.
GRIFFIN: So, it could be three months and it looks like 14 days. TURNER: It could look - it could be three months and look like no days. It looked like they had scheduled the appointment and got exactly what they want.
GRIFFIN: So, fudging the books is my ...
TURNER: That's your ...
GRIFFIN: That's my ... TURNER: I would call it that, you would call it that. The VA doesn't call it that. They call it zeroing out.
GRIFFIN: Zeroing out.
TURNER (voice over): In a statement to CNN the V.A.'s public affairs office says Turner's allegations were investigated and that "based on our internal fact-finding conducted April 25th through 28th, we found the claims by this employee were not substantiated." But Turner questions just how much fact-finding went on. He says no one asked him about his allegations and, in fact, he says when he began e- mailing his concerns to other staff members, he was told to stop it.
TURNER: They sent me up the very next day.
GRIFFIN (on camera): The very next day.
TURNER: The very next morning I was called in to an office and told not to e-mail another person.
GRIFFIN (voice over): Turner, an Army veteran himself has asked for whistleblower protection and became a witness in an investigation now being conducted by the VA's office of inspector general. The investigation focusing on delayed care, alleged falsification of records and possible medical harm to veterans at the San Antonio, Texas, VA hospital.
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GRIFFIN: This investigation here in Texas, another in Phoenix, others popping up across the country, Randi, as the VA tries to explain why veterans have been dying waiting for care. Randi?
KAYE: Drew, thanks very much.
Up next, the U.S. Army veteran reacts to the VA controversy. We'll tell you how he's working to improve veterans' medical care. Be right back.
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KAYE: We're back now with more on CNN's explosive investigation of potentially deadly wait times for U.S. Veterans seeking medical care. CNN has uncovered allegations of secret wait lists and falsified records. We just learned the VA Department has named a new leader for the troubled Phoenix hospital accused of keeping secret wait lists, also the government is investigating to find out how many veterans may have died while waiting to see a doctor. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki will face tough questions Thursday when he testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Joining me now Alex Nicholson, legislative director for the group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and a Retired U.S. Army member himself.
Alex, hello to you. So, another group now, the Concerned Veterans for America, is calling for Secretary Shinseki to resign. Do you agree, I mean do you think Shinseki should go or should he stay?
ALEX NICHOLSON, LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR, IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS OF AMERICA: Well, first of all, Randi, let me just correct. I'm not a retired military, I am a veteran. I just wanted to make that distinction. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the organization I work for is in the middle right now of collecting the viewpoints of our members, our members are very important to us. Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are the new generation of veterans. And it's something that we want to -- we're a membership-driven organization and so we are collecting their views in the process of determining what we're going to decide on that issue.
KAYE: Have you ever had trouble seeking medical care?
NICHOLSON: You know, I was fortunate not to be injured in service. And so I've never had to use the VA. But I can tell you tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, of our members tell us every day that they've encountered obstacles, they've encountered frustrations and it's unfortunate because the VA is a really good health care system, it's one of the world's best. It has some problems. It has some bad apples. But, you know, we want to make sure that veterans continue to go, especially if you're in crisis, if you need help, if you need care, continue to utilize that system. It's a fantastic health care system, but it's got some issues that need to be dealt with. And that's what we're trying to keep the pressure on, to make sure it actually happens. These problems are fixable, but there's some administrative issues at the top and middle levels that have to be dealt with in order to get the VA to where it needs to be to serve veterans.
KAYE: So, in terms of just trying to narrow down what the problem is, I mean do VA hospitals have enough doctors and staff to meet this 14- day waiting period or is that really unrealistic, I mean given the current staff numbers, is this a question of resources I guess, is what I'm asking or is it just a problem with management?
NICHOLSON: Well, that's a good question, because I think the answer is both. It is a question of resources. And I think the VA does need more doctors, they need more mental health counselors, they need more psychiatrists, that's one of the things we're trying to address, especially with our suicide prevention focus. The VA has a dearth of psychiatrists and mental health professionals. And I'm sure another specialties as well. But the other thought of that is that Congress has given the VA every dime it has asked for to try to accomplish its mission and still it is not able to staff up or it's not willing to staff up to the levels that it needs or it's not willing to come clean about its actual staffing needs and so on the one hand you have, you know, for example, the House Veterans Affairs committee Chairman Jeff Miller says over and over again, we have given the VA every dime it has asked for. And still they are having staffing shortages. They're having mishaps. They're having preventable deaths. And so it really is at the same time I think an administrative and leadership issue within the VA.
KAYE: Alex Nicholson, thank you so much. Appreciate your time today.
NICHOLSON: You're very welcome.
KAYE: Nigeria's president makes a promise to the world today, one that many people hope will happen including first lady Michelle Obama.
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KAYE: Welcome back. First lady Michelle Obama is putting her voice to this picture, "Bring back our girls," reads the sign in this photo that went around the world on Twitter this week. The first lady is joining the global effort to free more than 200 schoolgirls from the hands of kidnappers in Nigeria. Today in Washington Mrs. Obama delivered the White House weekly address by herself.
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MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY: In these girls, Barack and I see our own daughters. We see their hopes and their dreams. And we can only imagine the anguish their parents are feeling right now. This unconscionable act was committed by a terrorist group determined to keep these girls from getting an education. Grown men attempting to snuff out the aspirations of young girls. The girls themselves also knew full well the dangers they might encounter. Their school had recently been closed due to terrorist threats, but these girls still insisted on returning to take their exams. They were so determined to move to the next level of their education.
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KAYE: Mrs. Obama said the president has directed his administration to do everything possible to help the Nigerian government find and free the kidnapped girls. We'll have a live report from Nigeria right after this break.
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KAYE: People around the world are worried about the more than 200 girls that were kidnapped in Nigeria. Let's get straight to CNN's Vladimir Duthiers in Nigeria. So, Vlad, how can the United States and other countries help there?
VLADIMIR DUTHIERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Randi. Well, what they can do and what they're offering to do is to provide some logistical support, to provide intelligence-gathering support, aerial reconnaissance if it comes to that, they've even got law enforcement officers that are going to be taking part in this to provide hostage rescue, hostage techniques if they should ever come to that in the moment where they would actually get in front of the terrorists to do some kind of negotiation. What we know, though, is that up until this moment people have said that they've not seen any kind of significant search and rescue operation. Now, for his part the Nigerian president speaking today said that he is confident that he'll bring these girls home, he promised the world that he would bring these girls home. On the other hand, the families that we've spoken to in Chibok say that up until this moment they've seen nothing on the ground to suggest that. In fact, their greatest fears have been realized, Randi, because you saw the video from Abubakar Shekau, U.S. intelligence are now saying the girls may have been split up into neighboring Chad- Cameroon on Niger, Randi.
KAYE: And then you also have, Vlad, this report from Amnesty International, which says the Nigerian government knew about the plot in advance and didn't act. Maybe they even knew as many as four hours before it even happened. What's the reaction there to that?
DUTHIERS: Yeah, Nigerian military, vehemently denying that report, they say it's simply not true. They say that, in fact, they were called in for reinforcements during the attack and that they had started to send those reinforcements when those reinforcements also came under fire from militants. Again, one of the fathers we spoke to said that there were probably 14 or 15 guards at the school. They were poorly armed. They were outgunned, outmanned, and they actually dove into the bush with the residents of the town once the attack began. They also told me that the threat of Boko Haram is so great, Randi, that he and his family and others in the town are still sleeping in the bush. They are afraid to sleep in their beds.
KAYE: And you mentioned the Nigerian president vowing that the girls are going to be rescued. I mean have you seen any evidence of any hard plan in place at all or when that might come?
DUTHIERS: Yeah, we've reached out to the Nigerian military for some kind of statement about exactly what is happening. That's been the problem all along, Randi. I think that the international spotlight that is focusing now on Nigeria, it's come about because the defense ministry, the Nigerian military have been so opaque about what they're doing. They haven't shared any information, they haven't given us any operational details, we understand that there are probably our national security issues at hand, but some kind of information sharing with the press, with the media to just let people know that they are, in fact, on the search and rescue mission looking for these girls would have gone a long way before we are at this point, Randi.
KAYE: So, at this point it sounds like they're really not any closer to finding these girls, Vlad, is that correct?
DUTHIERS: You know, the Nigerian president admitting a few days ago that he simply did not know where they were. In fact, the U.S. has also said that they don't have a real clear idea of where these girls might be. In that video that despicable video by Abubakar Shekau, the supposed leader of Boko Haram, he said that he intended to sell these girls in a market for humans because it's what Allah wanted him to do. And we know that Nigeria is a point of trafficking for humans across various borders and so, parents' greatest fears being realized at this moment, Randi.
KAYE: Vladimir Duthiers, thank you so much, I appreciate your reporting there.
Twin brothers David and Jason Benham have lost their opportunity to host their own HGTV show. This comes after comments surfaced about the pair labeling them as antigay. In the wake of their own controversy I asked them about another national debate making headlines this week.
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KAYE: Before I let you go, though, I mean, in all this talk about free speech and corporations being allowed to do what they want to do, I guess, I wanted to ask you about the NBA. Now trying to oust Donald Sterling. What do you make of that having said his racist comments and them being recorded on tape, what do you think of that?
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KAYE: Next hour hear their response and whether they think Sterling should get to keep ownership of the Clippers.
CNN NEWSROOM continues at the top of the hour. Right now, though, keep it here for SANJAY GUPTA, M.D.
