Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Sterling Legal Drama Returns To Probate Court; Senator: Cuba Behind Prostitution Rumors; Could Jailed U.S. Marine Go Home Tomorrow?; Deported Honduran Children Highlight Growing Plight Of U.S. Immigration; Brazil, Germany In 2002 World Cup Final Rematch

Aired July 08, 2014 - 15:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Bottom of the hour, you're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Let's talk about the L.A. Clippers. The owner there, Donald Sterling, he lost round one in his legal battle to keep his estranged wife, Shelly, from selling their NBA franchise. Now his effort to move the case to federal court that was rejected. So now it's back in state court where both parties are expected for day two of testimony.

That by the way begins in just about an hour from now. So to L.A. we go to our correspondent there following this for us, Sara Sidner. Sara Sidner, we know that Donald Sterling, as we were watching, he was a no-show yesterday. Some courtroom theatrics surrounding that. What happened to him? Will he be in court today?

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, he is expected in court today, but there was some old fashioned courtroom drama yesterday when this trial began. Basically what happened was Team Shelly, their attorneys called their first witness, with a grand gesture, Attorney Pierce O'Donnell said our first witness, Donald Sterling, crickets. The courtroom was quiet.

He said again, Donald Sterling, knowing that Donald Sterling did not show up in court. So the judge stopped. He said, all right, let's call him. Let's call his other attorney, Mr. Bleacher, and they did so, but then the attorneys agreed because he still didn't show up, the attorneys agreed to go forward with opening statements.

So that was the bit of drama that we all saw unfold. But then it went forward, and basically what happened is we heard a couple of opening statements from both sides of this case. Shelly Sterling's attorney and Donald Sterling's attorney, and then they went forward with the first witness who was a neurologist, one of the two doctors who certified that Donald Sterling was indeed mentally incapacitated and could not be a trustee for the Sterling family trust, which you know owns the Clippers.

Now the big headlines though, today, will likely come out of Donald Sterling himself. He is expected to be in court today. They're expecting to have him as a witness as well today. Of course, we have to wait and see if that happens. But the big drama may come from what is a revered attorney. His name is Burt Fields. He is known being feared as a litigator. He will question Donald Sterling, and they were asked about that yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BERT FIELDS, SHELLY STERLING'S ATTORNEY: It's just desperation by Donald Sterling, destructive desperation by this man who will do anything to keep this sale from going through. Why? Because of his own ego.

BOBBY SAMINI, DONALD STERLING'S ATTORNEY: I can promise you one thing. If there's any crying in the courtroom, it's very unlikely it will be coming from Donald, but it might be coming from some other places.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: Now, Donald Sterling's attorneys contend that he was tricked into seeing these doctors that he was defrauded by Shelly Sterling, and they're trying to prove that in court as well --Brooke.

BALDWIN: We'll watch to see if there are any other crickets or fireworks in the court today. Sara Sidner, thank you so much in Los Angeles for us.

A heavy-hitting U.S. senator says Cuba's communist government spread damaging rumors about him and fooled the FBI into investigating him because he's opposed to loosening sanctions against the Castro regime. This is from Democrat Robert Menendez, head of the Foreign Relations Committee, who was accused in 2012 of having sex with these underaged Dominican prostitutes.

The FBI probed the allegation. They found nothing, but Menendez remains under investigation for his relationships with at least two donors. CNN's chief congressional correspondent, Dana Bash, you just saw her with Bob Menendez, she joins me now from Washington. You talked exclusively with the senator a short time ago.

From what I heard of your interview, Dana, you were asking Menendez where he got the story about Cuba supposedly spreading rumors about him. He said to you, go ask "The Washington Post" because they're the ones who published the story today, but the post cites people close to Menendez among their sources. What gives?

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A little bit of ring around the rosy, but "The Washington Post" does also have a government source talking about what they say is a CIA finding that Bob Menendez was the potentially the victim of Cuban intelligence plotters. It's very hard -- it's very hard to follow.

BALDWIN: I'm with you.

BASH: Exactly. But the bottom line is that, no, he's saying he doesn't have the proof. He's saying it's the government and the government that should investigate. But he's also not -- not only not denying it, but really feeding into the possibility, the very real possibility that this did happen.

BALDWIN: Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SENATOR ROBERT MENENDEZ (D), NEW JERSEY: It should be pretty appalling that a foreign government would be engaged in trying to affect an election and/or the position of a United States senator. If that can happen, then I think there's real consequences for our democracy. So I hope that the authorities will investigate and come to the bottom of who was engaged.

BASH: Is that what you think happened? That you are somebody of Cuban descent. You have not ever made it a secret that your opposition to the Cuban government. You're about to become the chair of the Foreign Relations Committee? You think that's what it was?

MENENDEZ: Well, let's put it this way. For 22 years between the House and the Senate, I have had a firm position in opposition to the Cuban regime that violates the human rights, the democracy of the people of Cuba. I have been outspoken in that regard and I wouldn't be surprised that the regime would do anything they can to stop me from being in a position that ultimately would impede their hopes of being able to get a different relationship with the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So Dana, the discredited story about the prostitutes, how, if at all, does that then fit with the probe into Menendez and his donors?

BASH: Unclear, but you make an important point, which is there is an ongoing federal probe that Senator Menendez is still caught up in. It surrounds one of his top political donors who is under investigation for a number of things, including the fact that he was a doctor, might have committed Medicare fraud. There are other questions about whether Senator Menendez helped get him -- worked on a contract that benefitted this donor.

So those are all still outstanding issues. The question is whether or how these allegations that Cuba was part -- was trying to sort of stir the Hornet's nest by slandering him, whether that mucks up the federal probe, all of the federal probes. That's unclear right now.

I actually asked Senator Menendez about that, whether or not, as I said, just to play the devil's advocate, that this might be a reason why Menendez's attorneys want this in the public now. He shot back saying that "The Washington Post" has its own sources and they wouldn't just put this out there to help me.

BALDWIN: OK. So the mucking to be determined. Dana Bash with the exclusive for us today. Dana, thank you so much.

We are keeping a close eye following the breaking news out of Israel. These air raid sirens. They're going off. A CNN team on the ground in Jerusalem hearing explosions. We have a live report from Israel next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: All right, want to take you back to Israel specifically as we have just gotten some video in, as we're watching these tensions obviously escalate back and forth. Small rockets, larger rockets lobbed back and forth, Gaza and Israel. These are pictures, as you can see, of people running off the beach. This is near Tel-Aviv. You can listen. Those are the air sirens that have begun sounding.

As we watch this, let me bring in our correspondent, Diana Magnay, who is in Southern Israel, as she was reporting, we were talking moments ago. Rockets being lobbed over her head. Diana Magnay, tell me again what you're seeing and hearing where you are.

DIANA MAGNAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Brooke. It's pretty tense. There were just some flairs and everyone turned around and took a look, which is why I was looking that way, too. About an hour ago, we had a barrage of rockets going over our head to the north of Israel towards cities like Tel-Aviv. Presumably, those were the same air raid warnings as you were showing.

We know two rockets were intercepted. One south of Tel-Aviv. One above Tel-Aviv by Israel's iron dome missile defense system. We also know some were intercepted over Jerusalem. This is a significant up- tick in Hamas' operations, that they're using their long-range missiles now against these very, very important cities.

In fact, Hamas has just made a statement on its TV, which is owned by Hamas, saying that its missiles have reached as far as the north of Israel. So this really is a very significant escalation. Air raid sirens are sounding across Israel. Retaliation for continued air strikes by Israeli defense forces into Gaza, 150, they say so far today.

We were down overlooking the Gaza strip. You could just see plumes of smoke as they attacked targets inside of the Gaza strip. Also civilian casualties there also, two children being killed, we're hearing, Brooke, amongst those air strikes.

BALDWIN: Diana Magnay, thank you so much. We'll stay in close contact with you throughout, of course, the rest of the day as these rockets continue to go back and forth.

Now to this, U.S. Marine Corps reservist, Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi said he's more hopeful than ever and is expecting he will be released from a Mexican prison tomorrow, more than three months after he was imprisoned for driving into Mexico with three firearms in his truck.

He talked to CNN from the prison where he's being held, and CNN's Jake Tapper, our chief Washington correspondent, host of "THE LEAD" joins me from Washington. So you talked to him on the phone today. This is a day ahead of his hearing. What did he say to you?

JAKE TAPPER, CNN CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: One of the big questions, of course, is how he feels about this hearing? This will be his first moment where he is able to make his argument in front of a judge. Marine Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi was arrested by military at the border, Mexican military and Mexican border agents on March 31st. Tomorrow, the 100th day he has spent behind bars in Mexico. He's been transferred from one prison to another. He didn't feel safe in the first one. This is what he had to say when I asked him what he's looking forward to tomorrow and whether or not he's optimistic.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

U.S. MARINE SERGEANT ANDREW TAHMOORESSI (via telephone): I think the chances are looking pretty good. Tomorrow, basically, what's going to happen is I'm going to give my statement to the judge and then two of the border patrol officers that were supposedly there that night with me are going to give their statement as well, and hopefully the judge will see that my story is probably, you know, maybe like 99 percent accurate or 100 percent accurate and their stories are maybe like 15 percent or 20 percent accurate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: The situation like this is not unprecedented. Two years ago, a similar incident happened, and that American was ultimately released under time served. We'll see what happens tomorrow, but obviously, there are a lot of Americans especially Sergeant Tahmooressi's family who are very, very worried and hoping tomorrow the judge will let him come back to the United States.

BALDWIN: We'll watch for that entire interview on "THE LEAD" in 15 minutes. Jake Tapper, thank you so much.

TAPPER: Thanks, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Coming up next, putting a human face on this border crisis in this country. We will show you where some of these deported children end up once they leave the United States and some of the conditions they face, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: America's growing immigration plight will be certainly on the agenda when President Obama travels to Texas tomorrow. He will be meeting with Governor Rick Perry about the humanitarian and national security crisis along the southern U.S. border. Meantime, CNN's Rosa Flores shows us what is happening right now as

bus load after bus load of Honduran children begin arriving back home after being deported.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): the dreams of dozens of Honduran children shattered when their trek to the U.S. ends in their home country on a bus filled with deported minors. Some so young they're carried in their mothers' arms. Honduras preparing for a new wave of deported children.

(on camera): The first stop off the bus is here, to this processing center, where all minors are processed. In the case of unaccompanied minors, parents must provide proof of legal guardianship. The kids who are not claimed end up here in this dormitory. Take a look around. The conditions are very basic. The ceiling is open, there is strip lighting and there is no air conditioning, but for now, it's a roof over their heads.

(voice-over): The emotions are raw when young teens reunite with family. Francie says she was one of 28 minors the guy or modern-day human smuggler was taking by U.S. by bus. The price tag $3,000, paid for by her mother who lives in Memphis, Tennessee. "I want to be with my mother," she says. "I haven't seen her in eight years." She was one of the lucky ones, deported without incident.

This young man says he was robbed and kidnapped in Mexico and held until his family delivered ransom. "I turned myself over to immigration authorities," he says. Now I want to stay in my country and leave the rest to God. Uncertainty and fear is part of the game. On one end, minors waiting to be claimed and on the other parents hoping their child has made it out alive. "I have faith everything will be OK," says this mother of a 15-year-old boy. Sometimes it's the parents who are kept waiting. Rosa Flores, CNN, Honduras.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Rosa, thank you.

Coming up, World Cup fans getting ready for the showdown between two soccer powerhouses. Brazil takes on Germany. Next, live to a spot where fans of both teams are gearing up for the big game.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Aussie rules football is a physical sport. Die-hard fans must have been surprised what they witnessed in this matchup of the weekend. One guy is on top of the other one, collides, slams into the ground in what looks like a bar fight than what you would see on the grass. When a player appears to choke the other guy, before you see the whole scrum cam over, hold off. He has been suspended now. Not for choking, Laura Rutledge of CNN Sports. What the heck happened?

LAURA RUTLEGDE, CNN SPORTS: Man, you know, that video is truly disturbing. Brian Lake, the guy who is doing the choking, he actually turns out he is like the AFL's equivalent to NFL Super Bowl MVP. He is really well respected. He says he wasn't trying to choke Drew Petri here. He was just trying to get hold of his jersey. The AFL tribunal has handed down a four-match suspension for Lake for this incident.

BALDWIN: Is that enough?

RUTLEDGE: Well, they say it's actually only for aggressive wrestling, instead of choking. Aggressive wrestling is a lesser penalty. It's different. The Australian Football League markets itself as being super aggressive, very physical. That's how they attract the fans that they do attract. If you notice in the video, they obviously are not wearing pads. They don't have helmets on they have skimpy uniforms, too. There is not a lot going on there. It's similar to the NFL in past decades. It's a situation where I think they're looking at how can they continue to attract fan support and not take too much excitement out of the game, but also be concerned about player safety. We've seen other leagues adjust to that. Maybe the AFL is still trying to figure out how exactly they can adjust.

BALDWIN: It's one thing to be rough, Laura Rutledge, it's another to be like this to another guy.

RUTLEDGE: Pretty scary.

BALDWIN: Thank you so much for swinging by. Appreciate it.

From one kind of football to the other here. Love that animation. Today's semi-final match at the World Cup, clash of the titans. Brazil has five World Cup titles, the most ever, Germany has three. Only one can advance to Sunday's final. Brazil was the favorite to win it all until an injury to Neymar took this young superstar out of the tournament.

CNN's Richard Roth, back to the bar on this Tuesday afternoon. He is live at Stout in midtown Manhattan. Talk to me, Richard Roth, about bad blood between these two teams.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hopefully, we won't see any choking on the field or even this bar. There seem to be more visible Brazilian fans here than German fans, but they're here. The history of these two teams, they are soccer football powerhouses. They played over 100 different matches in the World Cup, but they've only met once in 2002 in Japan. Brazil behind a different Ronaldo ran out as 2-0, victors.

What will happen today? Well, we have some fans here, who may offer an opinion, Deanna, I assume you are rooting for Brazil because you are wearing yellow. Why do you think Brazil will be able to beat Germany?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They are unbeatable. They are the best and will definitely beat Germany. We have the whole country rooting for them.

ROTH: Yes, but you don't have Neymar. Are you worried? No Neymar, no Silva?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, but the whole country is supporting our team no matter what.

ROTH: Robert, you're a major soccer football fan, give me your quick analysis of this match.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think if Brazil can come out score in the first 20 minutes, play with creativity and passion with the fuel of the country behind them, they going to win this game.

ROTH: What about Brazil going in the final without Neymar?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They can make the final. I hope they make the final against Argentina. It's a South American battle.

ROTH: Then we might see some choking, who knows? Look the German coach, Jorgy Love said Brazil was too rough against Columbia, we'll see what kind of tactic. They could have been sending the referee of this match a warning. Brooke, back to you from yet, as you mentioned, another bar.

BALDWIN: OK, Richard Roth, thank you so much. We'll see who comes out the victor, Brazil or Germany, appreciate it. Before we go, quickly here. We're getting some news, breaking news of a tornado warning in West Virginia. Chad Myers, where in West Virginia?

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Between Morgantown and Mesa Town moving to the northeast. This is going to be the theme of the day. There are going to be storms. They will put down tornado warnings and be brief. Maybe a minute, maybe 5 minutes and then the whole storm is dead. They are charging from Buffalo all the way down to West Virginia.

Let me get to the storm that has the warning on it right there. It has moved south of Morgantown moving on up onto Pennsylvania. Every one of these single cells could rotate today. We are going to watch it here all day long, all night long. Eventually, some of these cells will get to I-95 and may hit some of the bigger cities across the northeast.

BALDWIN: OK, Chad Myers, thank you.

Before we go at this very minute, in Washington State, legal marijuana shops opened for business for the very first time. Of course, several states as you know they allow medical marijuana, but in Colorado specifically and now as of today, Washington State, you can buy it recreationally. There are some rules, folks. Let me run through this.

You can only buy up to one ounce at a time. No touching. You cannot handle or sample the marijuana before buying the stuff. You are also banned from opening your baggy of pot, as it were, before you leave the store. Finally, you have to be at least 21 years old to buy it.

A programming note here, Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes a closer look at families faced with tough decisions over medical marijuana. It's a documentary you have to see. It's "Weed 2, Cannabis Madness." Tonight 9:00 Eastern and Pacific only here on CNN.

And that's it for me. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Thanks for staying with me. I'll see you tomorrow. "THE LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts right now.