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Campbell Brown
Democratic Party in Trouble?; Interview With North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan
Aired January 06, 2010 - 20:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CAMPBELL BROWN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Tonight, here are the questions we want answered. Do body scanners really protect us from terrorists?
BRUCE SCHNEIER, SECURITY TECHNOLOGIST: It won't detect things that are not very dense, so if the explosive is spread out over a large area.
BROWN: Are we about to spend millions for a false sense of security?
SCHNEIER: This is a stupid game. We can't win. And we should stop playing it.
BROWN: Plus, congressional Democrats dropping like flies. Could they get swept out of power this year? Tonight's newsmaker, Senator Byron Dorgan, I will ask him why he won't run again.
Also tonight, our special investigation continues. Is a nationwide chain of yoga centers actually a cult? Some ex-employees say so. And one claims the founder sexually assaulted her.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Lee (ph) tells me, "This is the first time I'm hearing of such accusations."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Don't touch me. Please, don't touch me.
PHILLIPS: And then his bodyguards knock down our camera.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please don't touch the camera.
BROWN: Dahn Yoga says it's not a cult and there was no assault. Tonight, we will hear both sides.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: This is your only source for news. CNN prime time begins now. Here's Campbell Brown.
BROWN: Hey there, everybody. We are going to start tonight as always with the "Mash-Up." We are watching it all, so you don't have to. And our top story tonight, a grand jury indicts the Nigerian man accused of trying to blow up a jet plane on Christmas Day. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: The six- count indictment charges Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the 23-year-old Nigerian, with the following.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.
MESERVE: Attempted murder of the 289 other people on that Northwest Airlines aircraft.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Attempting to willfully destroy and wreck an aircraft.
BLITZER: And three other counts involving a destructive device and possession of a firearm.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On Friday, Abdulmutallab will be arraigned and informed of his rights as a criminal defendant.
KATIE COURIC, HOST, "CBS EVENING NEWS": If convicted, the 23- year-old Nigerian will not face the death penalty.
MESERVE: There's no mention of terrorism in the charges, although President Obama has characterized the events of Christmas Day as an attempted attack by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Much more on the story coming up tonight. We are going to take an in-depth look at those airport body scanners. Would they have really prevented the alleged Christmas bomber from getting on that plane? Separating fact from fiction on that front coming up shortly.
Over to world of politics and a big blow to Democrats' hopes of holding on to the Senate. Within hours of each other, two veteran lawmakers announced they are calling it quits.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: One of President Obama's closest and most powerful allies has essentially decided you won't have him to kick around anymore. We're talking about Chris Dodd. And he is not the only Democratic senator bowing out.
COURIC: In the past 24 hours, two veteran Senate Democrats announced they are retiring, Chris Dodd, who was facing a tough reelection battle in Connecticut, and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota.
BRIAN WILLIAMS, HOST, "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS": Dorgan, for himself, said he didn't even have a Republican opponent yet. He said he wants to do other things. His retirement will mean an uphill battle for Democrats to hold on to that seat.
COURIC: That means the Democrats will be defending four open Senate seats this year. And it's increasing the pressure on them and the president to get their agenda, including health care, approved this year.
GLORIA BORGER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Usually, presidents in their first term lose seats In their midterm elections, OK? And that is clearly going to happen to Barack Obama.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's enough to make Rush Limbaugh's day.
RUSH LIMBAUGH, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: They're running for the hills. These Democrats drank the Obama Kool-Aid, and they are committing political suicide.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Senator Byron Dorgan will join us in just a few minutes. I will get his response to charges he's abandoning his fellow Democrats when they need him most.
Senators aren't the only Democrats throwing in the towel today, a Colorado governor also. Colorado Governor Bill Ritter also ended his campaign for reelection, citing the old faithful of political excuses, his family.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. BILL RITTER (D), COLORADO: I would say it this way. I haven't found the proper balance where my family is concerned. I have not made them the priority that they should be.
So, today, I'm announcing the ending of one of my roles. I'm no longer going to be a candidate for reelection.
SEN. CHRISTOPHER DODD (D), CONNECTICUT: Now, there's nothing more pathetic, in my view, than a politician who announces they're only leaving public life to spend more time with their family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Ouch. Still, Senator Dodd admits he does look forward to more quality time with his wife and kids.
Behind Washington, much of the rest of the country locked in a vicious cold snap that is only going to get worse.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Frigid temperatures are hitting as far south as Florida, where farmers are scrambling to protect millions of dollars worth of strawberries and oranges. JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN MIAMI BUREAU CHIEF: This is a honeybell orange. And if we cut it open, you can see, the viewers can see, it's still filled with juice. Look at that. It's all juice. This is good. If it had fallen below 28 for those four hours, all of this would have been frozen.
WILLIAMS: This next wave of winter weather is not your average air mass. Before it's over, it will impact an estimated 180 million Americans. That is over 60 percent of the people in this country. There are advisories posted tonight in 27 out of the 50 states, out- and-out weather warnings in 16 states.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The conditions here are harsh, blowing snow, bone-chilling cold. This weather has claimed at least seven lives so far, and it's about to get worse.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano is predicting a brief warmup tomorrow, before temperatures plunge again on Friday.
Turning now to Palm Springs, California, where it's 73 degrees and sunny. Must be nice out there. Palm Springs the setting for a video that is going viral in a big way. Witness the divine Ms. Mariah Carey accepting a breakthrough acting award last night at the Palm Springs International Film Festival for her role in "Precious."
She seems very, very happy, perhaps a little too happy. Check it out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here you go, baby.
MARIAH CAREY, SINGER: Oh, my goodness. I love you. Please forgive me, because I'm a little bit...
(LAUGHTER)
CAREY: Yes.
Oh, my goodness. I was like, what? And I need you to listen to me. I need you to -- what do you call it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take your makeup off?
CAREY: No, I don't think that's what -- you could take my makeup off, right? I don't look like that (EXPLETIVE DELETED) from the thing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, God.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Whatever. She is fabulous. Congratulations, Mariah.
And that brings us to the "Punchline" tonight. This is courtesy of David Letterman showing no mercy to a down-and-out superstar.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART")
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, "THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN": AT&T fired Tiger Woods as spokesman. And I don't know. Is that a little hypocritical? It doesn't seem fair to me. I mean, after all, for years, their slogan was reach out and touch someone.
(LAUGHTER)
LETTERMAN: Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: David Letterman, everybody.
That is the "Mash-Up."
Still ahead tonight: Did the founder of a national chain of yoga and wellness centers sexually assault an employee? A woman says, yes, he did. Dahn Yoga says it's not true. We have a special investigation looking into this coming up.
Plus, the government has ideas to make air travel safer, from new screening machines to passenger profiling. But critics say it's all a waste of time and money.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: Right now, the rush is on worldwide to put full body scanners in airports because of the failed Christmas Day bombing attempt. Well, here at home, the federal government is spending $25 million in stimulus money to purchase 150 scanners, with other federal money going to buy 300 more.
Britain and Canada are racing to put scanners at their airports as well. But there is one big question here. Do they even work?
Tonight, we are taking a close look at airport security, including those controversial scanners.
And Randi Kaye has been talking with experts who say, if you think security is much better since 9/11, well, maybe think again.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We take our shoes off, remove our laptops, and toss our bottled water, all in the name of safety. But are we safer any today than we were before 9/11? Not exactly, says Bruce Schneier, author and security technologist.
BRUCE SCHNEIER, SECURITY TECHNOLOGIST: We take away guns and bombs, the terrorists use box cutters. We take away box cutters and knitting needles, and they put explosives in their shoes. We screen shoes, they use liquids. We limit liquids, they strap explosives in their underwear. This is a stupid game. We can't win, and we should stop playing it.
KAYE: But the game goes on. The TSA tried puffer machines, which blow air on you to release explosive material. They didn't work and are being phased out. And those airport pat-downs?
SCHNEIER: Any pat-down that you experience that doesn't embarrass you physically is one that is not very effective.
KAYE: Schneier does give metal detectors higher marks.
(on camera): He says metal detectors likely forced the would-be Christmas Day bomber to build an inefficient bomb for his underwear, which needed a syringe and a home-brew detonator that failed. But the next guy may be better at it.
(voice-over): Would those X-ray body scanner do the trick?
SCHNEIER: It won't detect things that are not very dense, so if the explosive is spread out over a large area. Maybe it's in a fabric.
KAYE: Like the explosive PETN sewed into underwear.
(on camera): For some, without a magic machine that is terrorist-proof, the answer is profiling countries and individuals. The Obama administration says now travelers from countries considered state sponsors of terrorism and other countries of interest will face extra scrutiny.
(voice-over): Does profiling work? Candice DeLong was an FBI profiler for 20 years.
CANDICE DELONG, FORMER FBI PROFILER: These are things that we know have worked in the past for various law enforcement agencies in zoning in on certain people.
KAYE: DeLong says the answer is a combination of ethnic profiling and behavioral profiling, someone sweating on an otherwise cool day, or a traveler avoiding eye contact. Others argue ethnic profiling makes us less safe.
SCHNEIER: We don't have a perfect profile. Terrorists come in all shapes and size. It's nice to say that it's Muslim men, but it isn't always.
KAYE: Remember the shoe bomber, Richard Reid? He was British with a Jamaican background. Dirty bomb conspirator Jose Padilla was Hispanic American.
A University of Texas found that profiling high-risk categories is no better than random screening, because the screeners in effect become blind to anyone that doesn't fit the profile. Imagine if they are profiling only Middle Eastern men. Would they even spot one of al Qaeda's most wanted, American Adam Gadahn?
And Schneier says profiling is also ineffective because terrorists learn how to beat it, by picking people who don't fit the profile, people like a Nigerian with a U.S. visa perhaps leaving from Amsterdam.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: And our security expert, Bruce Schneier, says, whenever you design two ways through security, the bad guys figure out how to get through the easy way.
So, if we have two lanes through security, the lane of the profiled people who get screened more and the lane of the rest of us who get screened less, there is a good chance the terrorist is going to figure out how to get on the less screened lane. Not very comforting, is it?
BROWN: No. This is a much bigger challenge than one thing is going to solve.
KAYE: Yes.
BROWN: Randi Kaye -- thanks very much, Randi
Tonight, the government, as we told you, planning to spend $25 million to buy body scanners for airports. But, as Randi just said, terrorists may still be able to slip through their X-ray vision. We're going to have more on that specifically when we come back in a minute.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: How do you stop a terrorist from getting on a plane with explosives? Well, some people, a lot of people, are saying the answer is these body scanners that we are hearing so much about. The machines cost upwards of $180,000 each.
The federal government is ready to buy nearly 500 of them for our airports. But are they really the answer?
Well, Richard Bloom is with us to talk about that. He's the director of terrorism, intelligence and security studies at Embry- Riddle University in Prescott, Arizona. Arnie Barnett of MIT's Sloan School of Management has worked on security with the government, the airports, and the airlines. And he's joining us as well.
Richard, since the attempted Christmas Day attack, we have heard from many people that technology is the answer here. If the Christmas Day bomber had gone through a body scanner, sort of break it down for us. Would it have caught the powder, the syringe in his underwear?
RICHARD BLOOM, TERRORISM AND SECURITY EXPERT: Well, first of all, thank you, Campbell, for the invitation to be on your great show.
Now, when it various kinds of to technologies, unfortunately, none of them have a 100 percent accuracy rate when they are tested in a lab, when they're field-tested or when they're employed operationally.
Number two, a sophisticated terrorist entity has its own intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability. It's easy enough to find out what the capabilities of technology will be, how it's going to be used, and then you can plan to beat it, to go around it in, or launch another terrorist attack at another aviation environment, another transportation modality, or pick one of the infinite venues and locations in which terrorism can occur.
Technology, any kind of technology, is certainly not the be-all or end-all.
BROWN: Arnold, what about the cost here, too? As we have been reporting, so far, $25 million tapped to pay for more machines. A lot more money is going to be needed to cover every airport. Why in your view is it worth it?
ARNOLD BARNETT, AIRLINE SECURITY EXPERT: It's worth it, I believe, because it has some chance of success, not 100 percent, as the people are saying. And when we consider the catastrophic consequences of successful terrorism against aviation, the prices you're talking about are really very small in comparison.
BROWN: Well, Richard, let me go back...
(CROSSTALK)
BLOOM: I would like to disagree with that, if I could. We are actually talking a couple of hundred million dollars minimally to buy equipment, to cover all the security checkpoints domestically and internationally, when you count how much it costs to buy equipment, the operations, the maintenance costs, and other financial factors involved in fielding the system.
(CROSSTALK)
BROWN: But let me stop you for a second, Richard, because what specifically would you worry about getting through these machines?
(CROSSTALK)
BROWN: If they can stop maybe 87 percent of what is getting through, I would be OK with that -- the cost. I think it's -- obviously nothing is going to be 100 percent. So, why not at least try to get something up there that is some sort of stopgap measure, right?
BLOOM: Well, I think it's inappropriate to look aviation security and aviation as some kind of special fetish on the part of terrorists.
The point is, you can use all this money to try to solve one of an infinite amount of problems within aviation security, when it's easy enough for terrorists to pick up and go to a different transportation modality or other venues and locations where they can engage in terrorist behavior.
Given that you only have a finite amount of financial resources to use for security, you have to spread it out globally. We are actually involved in a war right now, a global war, a war of values and ideas for people who are using extraordinary, violent behavior.
BROWN: All right. And that's a fair point, Arnold. Are these body scanners in some ways kind of a knee-jerk reaction to what happened on Christmas? I mean, they don't necessarily address the overall problem here.
BARNETT: Well, that's true.
But, first of all, in terms of the cost, I think I have to disagree a bit with Professor Bloom. Who can even imagine the cost of 9/11, which among other things was the -- proceeded two wars in which we're engaged.
So, when we talk about millions of dollars, that is small against the billions upon billions, as well as the cost in human life, associated with successful terrorism.
Secondly, I think we have to remember the terrorists have been fascinated by aviation, if not utterly obsessed by it. Even after 9/11, people said, well, they will move on. Next time, it will be a shopping mall or a seaport or subway.
And, yet, if we look at what they have gone to, again and again, they have gone back. The shoe bomber. We had this bomb in the underwear. We had the attempt to liquid explosives. There was supposedly a plot to crash a plane into the tallest building on the West Coast.
So, aviation is not just one of many possible venues for terrorism. It seems to be the one that most fascinates the terrorists.
BROWN: All right, gentlemen, I appreciate your time tonight.
Richard Bloom and Arnold Barnett both joining us, many thanks.
BLOOM: Thank you very much, Campbell.
BARNETT: Thank you.
BROWN: Congressional Democrats are almost an endangered species these days. Really? Not really, actually. But five senators have decided not to run again. We are going to ask the most recent to bow out, North Dakota's Byron Dorgan, about his decision.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BYRON DORGAN (D), NORTH DAKOTA: It's very hard to get here and also very hard to leave. You know, the fact is a lot of people stay here for a very, very long time. And I guess I'd just much prefer that people wonder why I left so soon, rather than why I stayed so long.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: Today, yet another Democratic senator, Chris Dodd of Connecticut, announced he won't be seeking reelection, bringing the total now to five Democrats who won't run in 2010. Are they perhaps just reading the political tea leaves? In a moment, we're going to talk with one of the newest senators to leave the race.
But, first, Tom Foreman is here with what this could mean in the fight for control of Congress -- Tom.
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Campbell.
These are the all states where there are going to be Senate races in 2010. And these are the states where Democrats will have open seats in the election next fall, meaning seats that they hold, but where incumbents are not seeking reelection. They also have places where the incumbents are in trouble, for example, Nevada out there, where Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid appears to be having some difficulties.
Republicans would just love to snatch up some of these seats. But Democrats are looking at this map, where the Republicans will also have some open seats this fall, too, and where they have their own problems.
So, Campbell, if you look at that first map and this one, they look pretty much even, wouldn't you say?
BROWN: Well, yes, but we have also learned in the health care bill that this is really not as important that it be even that it be 60.
FOREMAN: That is absolutely right. And that's the key issue here, because 60 is the number of seats the Democrats are currently controlling in the Senate.
The Senate is really what matters here. You can have the House. If you don't have the Senate, you still don't have anything. You have to have 60, because, under the rules, that is how you stop a filibuster by the opposition. We learned it during the health care debate.
If the Dems did not have this number, 60, over here, health care would be dead already. So, you see how important it is. So, if Democrats lose control of even one seat over here in the net balance of these elections to the Republicans, that will substantially change the game.
And although congressional Democrats have had many months of public support, where they have been ahead of the Republicans, look at this poll from just last month. Now the two parties are almost tied, 40 percent for Democrats, 39 percent for Republicans, compared to last August, when there was a substantially different opinion there -- Campbell.
BROWN: Indeed. And just to be clear, Tom, we are not talking about the Republicans seizing the majority in the House or the Senate at this point, right?
FOREMAN: No, the majority, probably not. Some Republicans are saying that. And maybe I shouldn't say probably not. Possibly not. Some Republicans think they can get the majority.
But more likely, what most of the political prognosticators say is that we are going to see the Republicans make some gains that could put some wild cards onto the table. And the first one is negotiations. President Obama has yet to prove that he can get substantial Republican support for his agenda.
If they win, this ability to kill his initiatives by defeating the 60, then he is going to have to find a way to work with them or watch his presidency grind to a halt.
Second, fund-raising. This is a rule of politics. Parties in power raise money easily. Those that are falling often don't. So, if you are rising, you get money. If you're falling, you don't.
And, third, there are questions here about incumbency. Here's a simple equation. When you're in power in Washington, every day is a struggle to keep that power. That is where the Democrats are right now, because they are the incumbents. There's a lot of anti-incumbent sentiment in this country, so they can be hurt the most, Campbell.
That is where we stand now. A lot can change before the fall, but that is what it's looking like at the moment.
BROWN: All right, Tom Foreman for us tonight -- Tom, thanks.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BROWN: One of the biggest surprises among the departing Democrats, Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota.
And he's joining me right now from Capitol Hill.
And, Senator, in a letter to your staff, you said -- quote -- "I believe if I were to run for another term, I would be reelected. "
So, why are you leaving?
DORGAN: Well, Campbell, I started at age 26 in statewide elective office. I've served now 10 years in the state capital and 30 years in the U.S. Congress. That's 40 years.
And it's -- it just seemed to me that if there's ever an -- an intersection for me to get off and do something else -- and I want to do some other things -- this is probably the time to do it. And so I made that decision and want to move on to some other things, although I think it's a rare gift to be able to serve in Congress and have always enjoyed this. But it's time to do some other things.
BROWN: I probably don't have to tell you this. A lot of Democrats are pretty angry at you tonight. Your seat was considered safe, and your decision has put their control of the Senate in jeopardy.
How do you respond to them?
DORGAN: Well, again, I served 40 years in statewide elective office. A press person -- one of the news people today said, do you think you have betrayed your state by leaving?
I said, after 40 years? I mean, that's a pretty sizable career.
BROWN: But...
DORGAN: And I...
BROWN: ... you know, this is that rare moment where -- where Democrats have a supermajority and are able to get through what they wanted to accomplish. And so there are people -- fairly or unfairly -- who are saying, why are you doing this to us now?
DORGAN: But -- but, Campbell, first of all, these are six-year terms. So a decision now means that this year, the last year of this term, plus another, you're making a commitment for seven years.
And in a -- incidentally, this seat itself is not the only one in play. You've got, I think, six Republicans that are retiring. A number of those seats are in play.
You know, I made a decision that makes sense for me after serving 40 years in public service. I'm enormously proud of my party, proud of my service in the Congress. But we have a deep bench. And we have a great political party that will prevail.
BROWN: So bottom line, do you think Democrats will hold on to the Senate in November?
DORGAN: Hold on to the Senate. Yes, of course. You know, 60 votes, I don't know.
BROWN: A super majority, 60 votes?
DORGAN: Well, I don't know the answer to that. There are a number of Republican seats of retirees on the Republican side that are going to be in play. My hope is that the Democrats will retain the 60 vote control in the Senate, but we'll see.
You know, this country needs a lot of help. My hope is that there's more cooperation in the Senate going forward. We've got a lot to do, but it's going to require more than just 60 votes. On one side, it requires some cooperation from both sides.
BROWN: And to that point, politically, how tough has it been given President Obama's very ambitious agenda on everything from health care, on energy regulation. Especially for a conservative Democrat, how tough did that make your political life?
DORGAN: Well, whatever you tackling or talking about big issues, it's more difficult than talking about the smaller things. But look, this president inherited the biggest batch of trouble of any president since FDR, and he's trying to put this country right, put it back on track. You know, I give him great credit. And I believe, I'm an eternal optimist. I really believe we're beginning to see the road ahead back to some economic health once again.
BROWN: Finally, I wanted to ask you, you said you've been there for a long time. You said it yourself. What if anything are you going to miss the most?
DORGAN: Well, there's a lot to miss about the United States Congress. It's very hard to get here and also very hard to leave. You know, the fact is a lot of people stay here for a very, very long time. And I guess I just much prefer that people wonder why I left so soon rather than why I stayed so long. It's been a great honor for me.
BROWN: And what are you happiest to be leaving behind?
DORGAN: Well, you know, you know because you worked up here in these areas. You are actually a captive of the schedule of the Congress. And when the Congress is in session, you know, in the Senate, you're not able to be more than 15 minutes away from the capital. It doesn't matter what's going on your life. You've got to be here and so you are a captive of a schedule. And I've been a captive of that schedule for 30 years, willingly with great honor. But I'm anxious to leave that kind of schedule behind.
BROWN: Senator Byron Dorgan tonight, who is finding freedom. We appreciate you joining us. Thanks, senator.
DORGAN: Thanks. Thanks, Campbell.
BROWN: Coming up tonight, our special investigation looks at the national chain of Dahn Yoga centers. Some former employees accuse it of being a cult. One claims the founder sexually assaulted her. Dahn Yoga and its founder deny it all. You're going to hear from both sides tonight.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: More must see news happening now. HLN's Mike Galanos is here with tonight's "Download."
Hi, Mike.
MIKE GALANOS, HLN PRIME NEWS: Hey, Campbell. Look, quite a piece of video here for you. It's a collision between a Japanese whaling ship and a conservation group's small boat. This happened today in the frigid waters off Antarctica. The conservation group's boat had its bow sheered off, started sinking. Six crew members had to be rescued. Now the conservationists say their small boat was intentionally rammed, but Japan's fisheries agency says the smaller boat slowed suddenly in front of the whaling ship. They couldn't avoid the collision. Again, quite a scene there.
This afternoon, the mayor of Baltimore announced she is resigning next month. Sheila Dixon is giving up her job as part of a deal with prosecutors and because of her recent embezzlement conviction.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHEILA DIXON, BALTIMORE MAYOR: And I'm sad not because of the decision I made but because I have a great staff who work hard. And I love them for -- and I love the city. And I love the people of this city.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GALANOS: Dixon was accused of taking gift cards intended for the poor. She'll be on probation for four years.
In New York, a prisoner makes a daring escape. It's all caught on tape. Watch closely here as the prisoner makes a run for the Staten Island ferry terminal. He broke away -- there's supposed to be chains linking the prisoner. He somehow got out of there, makes the mad dash. He was quickly captured. And that's the way that ended.
Campbell, back to you.
BROWN: All right.
GALANOS: And quite a scene there, huh?
BROWN: Yes, indeed. Mike Galanos for us tonight. Mike, thanks.
GALANOS: Yes.
BROWN: Still to come tonight, our special investigation, a nationwide yoga chain accused of being a cult and a whole lot more. Tonight, former employees come forward to tell their story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JESSICA JADE HARRELSON, EX-DAHN YOGA EMPLOYEE: He just slowly took my clothes off of me and pushed me where he wanted me to go. And I numbly like a robot just responded.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Why didn't you tell him to stop?
HARRELSON: I had been so taught and trained that he was a holy person, a holy object, and he was my connection to divinity. And again, just to say no to him and to refuse him was to refuse everything that I wanted for myself. (END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Dahn Yoga and its founder deny all the allegations. Our special investigation coming up tonight.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: Tonight, part two of our special investigation of a nationwide chain of yoga and wellness centers that some former members say is a cult. In a federal suit filed on behalf of 27 former members of Dahn Yoga, one of the central allegations is that the chain's founder sexually assaulted a woman who had devoted herself to the organization. The lawsuit also claims the ex-employees were manipulated into serving the financial ends of its leader.
Dahn Yoga and its founder deny any wrongdoing and say it's not a cult, and many of its current employees have been e-mailing CNN defending the group. Here now Kyra Phillips with our special investigations unit report. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jade Harrelson says she was honored by the extra attention paid to her by Ilchi Lee, the founder of Dahn Yoga. He even gave her the spiritual name of Dahn Sun Lee (ph).
JESSICA JADE HARRELSON, EX-DAHN YOGA EMPLOYEE: To me it was never outright spoken that he was godlike. That was never the message, but that he was prophet-like. And so, I took his word as holy almost. We go to the sauna. Sometimes he would have me over to his apartment to watch television.
PHILLIPS: Rare treatment because Ilchi Lee, who often travels with body guards, is practically unapproachable. And Lee encourages his followers to think of him as a prophet. Just listen to him in the spring of 2009, as he rallied his supporters comparing his book "Brain Wave Vibration" to the bible.
ILCHI LEE, DAHN YOGA FOUNDER (through translator): Brain wave vibration is a scripture, the Holy Scripture. Do you all understand?
It's a Holy Scripture. Do you all understand?
PHILLIPS: Jade Harrelson says she not only understood. She believed even following her new guru to Seoul, South Korea, at his request and to his apartment every time he called for her.
PHILLIPS: You trusted him.
HARRELSON: I trusted him.
PHILLIPS (on camera): Were you attracted to him at all?
HARRELSON: Absolutely not. PHILLIPS (voice-over): But that trust she says abruptly vanished after a night in 2007, propelling this devotee into a life-changing world of doubt.
HARRELSON: He just slowly took my clothes off of me and pushed my where he wanted me to go. And I numbly like a robot just responded.
PHILLIPS (on camera): Why didn't you tell him to stop?
HARRELSON: I had been so taught and trained that he was a holy person, a holy object, and he was my connection to divinity. And again, just to say no to him and to refuse him was to refuse everything that I wanted for myself.
PHILLIPS (voice-over): Harrelson concedes she never filed a police report and waited two years to file a civil suit. We asked for an on-camera interview with Ilchi Lee and were turned down, so we followed him here to the grand opening of Mago Earth Park near Sedona, Arizona, and this 39-foot statue representing what his followers call the soul of mother earth.
(on camera): Mr. Lee, I'm Kyra Phillips from CNN. And we just want your response to the allegations of sexual assault against one of your former Dahn masters. We just want your side of the story, sir.
So our CNN photographer who speaks Korean translated.
(voice-over): Lee tells me this is the first time I'm hearing of such accusation.
Please don't touch me. Please don't touch me.
And then his bodyguards knocked down our camera.
Please don't touch the camera.
Lee's lawyer later told CNN all claims of sexual assault are false.
ALAN KAPLAN, ILCHI LEE ATTORNEY: Mr. Lee has denied all of those allegations and we are confident that we will get those claims dismissed in court.
PHILLIPS: Then there's what happened to Julia Siverls.
ALLEN SIVERLS, JULIA SIVERLS' BROTHER: Until this day, we're still affected by this. I just can't describe the pain.
PHILLIPS: Allen Siverls is talking about his sister, Julia, a 41-year-old college professor who grew up in New York City's hard scrabble projects. She thought she had found her life's purpose in the teachings of Ilchi Lee.
SIVERLS: She saw some positive things about the spirituality, the growth, the opportunity to share with the world. PHILLIPS: So Julia dedicated herself to Dahn Yoga, eventually making her way here to its exclusive retreat tucked away among the beautiful red rocks of Sedona, Arizona. She wanted to achieve its highest honor, the rank of Dahn master, and to do that she would have to prove her worthiness in more than words.
SIVERLS: The day before she died, she did communicate to my ex- wife about the exercise that she was embarking on. She was very uneasy about it.
PHILLIP: A gut feeling that would ultimately turn tragic.
(on camera): It was just after 9:00 a.m. on a blisters hot July day that Julia came out to this mountain with other Dahn Yoga members to take on a hike. It was all to show their strength and mental fortitude. However, Julia wasn't doing so well. As a matter of fact, I talked to the off-deputy sheriff's deputy that saw her that day. He said she was struggling and that she looked, quote, "mentally handicapped." And at times other hikers had to drag her along this mountain by her armpits.
Well, Julia Siverls never finished that Dahn Yoga hike on this mountain that day. She died here.
(voice-over): Allen says Julia was made to carry 25 pounds of rocks in her backpack. Each rock a symbol of a goal she was trying to attain within the organization.
(on camera): Tell me why you brought some rocks home?
SIVERLS: It's just a rock to anybody else, but to us it represents the pain, the hurt, the journey that we all embarked on.
PHILLIPS (voice-over): Dahn Yoga settled out of court with the family and says carrying rocks on the hikes was purely voluntary. And sheriffs' investigators say they found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
KAPLAN: It was an unfortunate hiking accident.
PHILLIPS: But for the Siverls, too many details surrounding Julia's death on this mountain remain a mystery.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Now as for Julia's cause of death, the medical examiner says she died of both dehydration and exposure to the elements. As for Dahn Yoga, its Web site boasts an impressive list of scientists and politicians who applaud the work of Ilchi Lee. And since our first segment was broadcast last night, we have been flooded with comments from viewers both pro and con.
BROWN: And, Kyra, I do have a couple of questions. I mean, why does the family still consider Julia's death a mystery?
PHILLIPS: That's a great question. You may remember the off- duty sheriff deputy that I mentioned that I talked with. According to the police report, she died at about 9:00 a.m. in the morning. But the 911 call wasn't made until a little after 4:00 p.m. That's about seven hours. However, Dahn Yoga insists there was no delay in calling for help.
BROWN: Also, in your piece, the head of Dahn Yoga talks about his book, "Brain Wave Vibration." What is that about?
PHILLIPS: Isn't that interesting. We've been receiving that question from a lot of people and we wondered the same thing as well, so we actually went to our CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta. As you know, he's a neurosurgeon. I asked him have you ever heard of it. You know anything about it. This is what he told me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Have you ever heard of brain education or brain wave vibration?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Never heard of it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Bottom line.
BROWN: OK.
PHILLIPS: That was it.
BROWN: That says it all.
PHILLIPS: Yes, and he says a lot more. And the fact that there is just no scientific proof to this method that they claim heals all types of ailments. And you'll see more of that tomorrow night.
BROWN: All right. Kyra, we'll see you tomorrow night.
PHILLIPS: OK.
BROWN: Appreciate it.
Coming up, a pamphlet on how to shoot up illegal drugs has people outraged tonight because the pamphlet was put together for the city of New York. We're going to explain in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: Tonight's breakout is a story that has some people in New York City in an uproar. The problem is a pamphlet written for the city's health department with a message about drug abuse prevention. But some are calling it a heroin how-to guide, eye-popping tips on how to shoot up safely. Alina Cho has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The 16-page pamphlet is called "take charge, take care." Ten tips for safer use. A virtual heroin how-to guide complete with illustrations and detailed tips.
Warm your body. Jump up and down to show your vein. Don't always inject in the same spot. And don't dig for veins. If you don't register, pull out and try again.
PETER VALLONE JR., NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: Jump up and down to show your veins. Find a vein before you try to inject it. You know, where's the health concern there? If you missed a vein, you might get a bruise? That's is a misuse of taxpayer money.
CHO: The brainchild of New York City's health department. Seventy thousand fliers paid for with 32,000 taxpayer dollars.
JOHN GILBRIDE, DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION: I think it sends out the message and the wrong message that heroin use can be safe. Heroin use cannot be safe. Heroin use can be deadly.
CHO: That's exactly why New York's health Department says these tips are crucial. Accidental overdose is the fourth leading cause of death of New York City, claiming more than 600 lives a year. Another big issue, HIV and AIDS. One-third of Americans living with HIV are infected through injection drug use. One reason why the health Department also encourages users not to share needles but adds there's no healthy use of drugs, just helpful information.
DR. ADAM KARPATI, NEW YORK CITY HEALTH DEPT.: The messages are clear. It's about getting help to stop using drugs. It's about preventing overdose. It's about preventing HIV infection and hepatitis infection. That's the context.
JOHN, HEROIN USER: It was about years ago.
CHO: Information that could have helped this 35-year-old heroin user. We'll call him John. He shoots up several times a week. Two and a half years ago, John was diagnosed with hepatitis C.
JOHN: Most people are going to use. If they're going to use, they're going to find a way to use regardless. I think it's better that somebody has the right information so that, you know, they can do it the right way.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BROWN: And that, again, was Alina Cho reporting for us tonight.
"LARRY KING LIVE" starts in just a few minutes. Larry, what do you have for us tonight?
LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": A good show, Campbell. Rudy Giuliani is with us. We're going to talk about terror and what we should do about getting rid of it and talking about whether he's going to run again for anything. And then we're going get to the Roman Polanski case. It's decades old and still in the news. And we'll tell you what happened in court today next on "LARRY KING LIVE," Campbell.
BROWN: All right, Larry. We'll see you in a few minutes.
Up next, tonight's "Guilty Pleasure." Political kids gone wild.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: Larry King is going to start in just a few minutes. But first, tonight's "Guilty Pleasure." Sometimes it's what happens over the shoulder, behind the back that keeps you fixated.
Case in point, Senator Chris Dodd's kids stealing the limelight as he announced he will be running again, and a pair of canoodling koalas over a tennis star's shoulder. Our Jeanne Moos has eyes in the back of their heads.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sure you can tell everyone where to stand, but getting kids to stand still, good luck.
SEN. CHRIS DODD (D), CONNECTICUT: I'm still driven by the same passions --
MOOS: We were more interested in what Senator Chris Dodd's daughter was whispering.
DODD: So many, many years ago.
MOOS: Than we were in his speech. Four-year-old Christine had her hand on dad's shoulder.
DODD: Wishing that I could have seen --
MOOS: And on mom's nose.
DODD: The political shape of my career.
MOOS: And check out the older daughter going gaga at the mention of her name.
DODD: These young children of mine, Grace, who's 8.
MOOS: When her dad kisses her, she wipes it off. Judging from her parting words, Grace would rather be saying grace.
GRACE DODD, SEN. DODD'S DAUGHTER: I'm starving. I'm starving. I'm starving.
MOOS: But beware what they eat. The man voters picked to be New Jersey's next governor wasn't the only thing picked at his acceptance speech. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR-ELECT: The governor depicts every problem they just want to give a hand up.
MOOS: We've seen enough of the lieutenant governor-elect on getting his hand up. Remember Chief Justice John Roberts' son? He made the papers for escaping his mom's clutches and crawling around as the president introduced his dad.
GEORGE W. BUSH, 43RD PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He's an honors graduate of both Harvard College and Harvard Law School.
MOOS: Young Jack graduated to hand signals and fancy footwork.
BUSH: After he was nominated for the court of appeals in 2001.
MOOS: Eventually Jack had to be marched off the stage.
BUSH: I received good advice from both Republicans and Democrats.
MOOS: Even older kids can't stand still. Letterman made this kid famous.
BUSH: We stand for the fair treatment of faith-based groups that will receive --
MOOS: Of course there was Rudy Giuliani's son all grown up now, but he will ever live down his dad's swearing in as mayor, blowing kisses, joining in the oath?
RUDY GIULIANI, MAYOR OF NEW YORK: I, Rudy Giuliani.
MOOS (on camera): You know, it's one thing when your kids steal the show. But how about when it's a couple of koalas. And we do mean a couple.
(voice-over): Tennis star Andy Roddick was talking to reporters at an Australian koala sanctuary.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDY RODDICK, TENNIS STAR: Because we were fighting about a 35- mile an hour --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: Who cares about the tennis court when you can watch koalas courting.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BROWN: Rather distracting. That is it for us. Thanks for joining us everybody.
"LARRY KING LIVE" starts right now.
