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Police Have Evidence against Smollett; Kelly Indicted on Aggravated Sex Abuse; Kraft Accused of Soliciting Sex; Building Removes Trump's Name; Knicks Snap Losing Streak; "Green Book" Wins Oscar. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired February 25, 2019 - 08:30   ET

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

[08:30:00] AREVA MARTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Which is why with Jussie Smollett, who had such a promising career as an actor and a singer, why would he put all of that at risk? And he answered that question. He said, based on the evidence, it was for financial gain.

At this point now I think this needs to play out in a court of law. Jussie is entitled to a presumption of innocence and it don't think it helps the matter to have the police chief out giving more, you know, interviews like he just gave to "GMA" talking about the evidence. We have a clear understanding as the public about what the case is that the prosecutors are going to present. Jussie's lawyer said they're going to mount an aggressive defense of these charges. He continues to deny the charges. So, at this point, I think he's entitled to, you know, pursue this matter in court. And if he tends to go to trial and defend his actions, then let him do that. I don't think the police chief tainting the jury pool with these, you know, inflammatory statements that he's making about evidence is helping the cause at all.

CAMEROTA: Next topic, and, Areva, I'll start with you on this one. R. Kelly, one of the most successful R&B recording acts of all time doesn't have $100,000 to make bail to get out of jail on these ten counts of sexual assault at this point.

So, what's next?

MARTIN: Well, sadly, I'm not surprised that he doesn't have $100,000. If you look at his lifestyle -- and we've heard so much about the lifestyles of different, you know, pop singers like R. Kelly. And, sadly, many of them don't end up with a lot of money.

What's next is today he's going to appear again in a Chicago courthouse. A chief judge is going to assign a trial judge to his case. And the prosecutors are going to start turning over what they have already indicated to be really damaging and damning evidence against him.

I was pleased to see on Saturday his attorney at a press conference step away from his inflammatory statement that all of these victims are liars. He at least said that, so far, based on the evidence that he does have, that he's going to mount some defense based on consensual acts. We don't know where that goes, but it's really offensive to me and to victims to hear an attorney who hasn't even seen the evidence, you know, go on the attack and call these victims liars. We've seen that kind of shaming happen before. It doesn't work in this era of Me Too and Time's Up. And, you know, he's entitled to his presumption of innocence, but he doesn't have to attack the victims in the way that we saw at that Friday night press conference.

CAMEROTA: Joey, how do you make the argument for consensual acts with underage girls?

JOEY JACKSON, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: I mean you can't make the argument for consensual act with underage girls because the law presumes that it's not consensual if they're under age. And so the issue is, if it happened, then it's over.

The fat of the matter is, is that the attorneys do have to walk a fine line. On the one hand, you want to challenge the veracity of the statements they make. On the other hand, you cannot re-victimize victims and demonize people who were young girls who have been suffering for all too much time.

And then the other issue is this, the sheer volume of women who are coming forward as it relates to the indictment and then prior bad act evidence that may be admitted against him. It's damning. And, of course, it's just a new era. It's a new day. Wheels of justice move, but they move -- you know, they move slowly, but they do move. And so in the event that this is true, we have a different tone in America right now, and that relates, and is very important, to a jury that's empaneled that will consider the evidence in the case.

CAMEROTA: Areva, next topic, Robert Kraft, the billionaire, obviously owner of the Patriots, he's been arrested for soliciting prostitution. Separate and apart from the human trafficking claims against the massage parlor, what's Bob Kraft looking at?

MARTIN: Well, not very much, Alisyn. These are low level misdemeanors. I read that there's going to be a warrant issued for his arrest. But in the state of Florida, his attorney can actually show up in court. He doesn't have to personally show up. The charges only carry 60 days in a county jail. So he's maybe looking at 120 days.

I don't think the real issue here is the legal, you know, the jeopardy that he faces. I think this gives us an opportunity to talk about a bigger issue, and that's prosecutors going after the buyers of commercial sex and cutting off the demand. I applaud these prosecutors and those around the country who are stop -- who are looking at these Johns who are purchasing commercial sex and not victimizing or re- victimizing women who are involved in sex trafficking. There's this notion that somehow they want to be there, that they are somehow profiting from this kind of activity. And, in many cases, that's far from the truth. These are victims. They're subjected to all kinds of criminal and horrific violence. And I think this case stands as an opportunity for us to talk about how we go after and really look at the demand and start to criminalize these men oftentimes who are purchasing sex and who, as we see in this case, it wasn't just Robert Kraft. There were 50 others caught up in this sting.

CAMEROTA: Yes. Yes, Joey, 10 seconds.

JACKSON: Just really quickly. I mean, but there's a larger issue. In my view the larger issue is human trafficking. There's going to be a demand out there because, you know, men are engaging in this activity. You have to look at the larger, broader context of what human trafficking means, where it's evolving and how we can stop it. And if you get to that, but I do agree with Areva in as much as it needs to be a dual approach.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

[08:35:00] JACKSON: Not only the Johns, but if you get to the core of the issue I think we'll be OK. And Robert Kraft lends credence and gives -- really highlights the issue of human trafficking.

CAMEROTA: Supply and demand.

JACKSON: Absolutely.

CAMEROTA: Joey Jackson and Areva Martin, thank you very much for the conversation.

JACKSON: Thanks, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: John.

MARTIN: Thanks, Alisyn.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, President Trump's name removed from the side of a building. Why Trump Place has no place in the city where he made his name. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: The final residential building in New York City with the Trump name on it will soon be taking it down.

CNN's Vanessa Yurkevich is live outside Trump Place, what is currently Trump Place, but maybe not much longer, with that story.

Vanessa.

VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN DIGITAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi. Good morning, John.

Yes, this start about two years ago right when President Trump was elected into office. One by one, residents in these six buildings here on Riverside Boulevard started voting whether or not to take down this Trump Place sign. And four of them have already voted to do so. The remaining two buildings, the residents here voted to have them taken down just last week.

[08:40:02] We spoke to residents on both sides of this debate.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

YURKEVICH (voice over): Trump has been voted out by the residents of the final two condo buildings bearing his name on Manhattan's west side.

JANE ALTHEN, RESIDENT, 120 RIVERSIDE BOULEVARD: We voted to take it off the building. We just feel that the Trump brand has come to mean exclusion. And it didn't -- doesn't represent the people that live in the building, the people that work in the building, the people that live in the neighborhood. It just doesn't feel -- it didn't feel right to us.

YURKEVICH: The letters spelling Trump Place on 120 and 220 will be the last to come down from the six buildings on Riverside Boulevard. The condo owners at each address voted to remove the president's name.

Jane Althen and her husband bought their apartment at 120 Riverside in 2014.

ALTHEN: It was a bit of a thing between my husband and myself because I already wasn't crazy about Donald Trump. I was not happy about it. But I -- I could live with -- that was 2014. I could live with it. Now it just came to mean something I really wasn't comfortable being associated with.

YURKEVICH: They joined their neighbors at the four other buildings on Riverside Boulevard who already elected to remove the name. The signage was taken down by construction crews when a resident circulated an online petition urging other condo owners to dump the Trump name after Donald Trump took office in 2016.

But not everyone's happy about the name being erased from the luxury buildings.

RESIDENT, 120 RIVERSIDE BOULEVARD: This name was associated with prestige. So the people actually bought into the building, probably because of the name, and now they're selling or removing sign for exactly the same reason. So what's going to happen to this building in 20 years when the political climate change, possibly change?

YURKEVICH: Trump built the sprawling development starting in the 1990s, eventually selling off the complex. But he licensed his name to keep it on the buildings. Even without the branding, the Trump Organization will continue to manage three of the six properties. For this resident, the loss of these ten letters has her considering a different neighborhood.

RESIDENT: I would like to sell the apartment. I don't like to be associated with people who remove the sign.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

YURKEVICH: And we reached out to the Trump Organization for comment on these last two building signs being taken down. We have not heard back, John. But when this is happening, a letter from the management company to the residents here at 120 Riverside Boulevard said that they should be looking for a company to get these signs taken down, John, in the next couple weeks.

BERMAN: Who's paying for them to come down, Vanessa? YURKEVICH: Yes, exactly. It's going to be the residents. I spoke to

one board member here at 120 Riverside Boulevard who said that the starting price to get this Trump Place sign taken down behind me is going to be starting at about $15,000. If you break that down, that's about $1,500 per letter. And as I said, John, the residents are going to be paying for this, whether or not they voted for or against this sign being removed.

BERMAN: All right, Vanessa Yurkevich, thank you very much, outside which is still currently Trump Place, but not much longer.

Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: All right, John, there was some sports news that was so big last night that Samuel L. Jackson had to interrupt the Oscars to deliver it.

Andy Scholes tells us more in the "Bleacher Report."

Hi, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hi. Good morning, guys.

Well, this was big news if you are a New York Knicks fan, like Spike Lee. The team winning their first game at Madison Square Garden since December 1st. The win over the Spurs snapping an 18-game home losing streak. And Samuel L. Jackson, well, he delivered the news to Spike before announcing he won his first Oscar for best adapted screen play for "BlacKkKlansman."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAMUEL L. JACKSON, ACTOR: Oh, Spike, so glad you're sitting down. After 18 consecutive home losses, the Knicks won tonight. I repeat, the Knicks won tonight, defeating San Antonio 130-118.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Love how Spike was sitting there yelling back at Samuel L. Jackson. We're trying to tank. He wants Zion Williamson in New York.

Good news for Spike. Knicks still have the second worst record in the NBA.

All right, and this was the best sports highlight from the weekend. Happened at the Alliance of American Football game in Orlando.

Eurie the dog setting a world record catching a Frisbee toss that traveled 83 yards. And Eurie was there early. Could have caught it if it would have flown 100. Guys, I'm impressed that the handler can throw a Frisbee 83 yards. That one was probably just as impressive as the catch.

CAMEROTA: Yes, I don't know who I'm more impressed by.

[08:45:01] BERMAN: Sign him up, man. Sign him up. That's an 80-yard Hail Mary. That's an insane highlight, Andy.

SCHOLES: Awesome. I -- you know, playing Frisbee with my dog, one of the most fun things I do every day. I'm just impressed that dogs just automatically know what to do.

BERMAN: How do you know?

SCHOLES: Like they're born that way.

BERMAN: Maybe it was years of practice. Don't sell him short. Eurie's worked very hard to get where he's gotten.

All right, Andy Scholes, thank you very much.

SCHOLES: All right.

BERMAN: Backlash for the best picture winner at the Oscars. Spike Lee, you just saw him before, speaking out after "Green Book's" big win. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:50:06] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JULIA ROBERTS, ACTRESS: And the Oscar goes to -- "Green Book."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Some surprising twists at the Oscars. Hollywood's biggest night. None bigger than "Green Book" winning best picture.

Joining us now, Brian Stelter, CNN's chief media correspondent, anchor of "Reliable Sources," and Nischelle Turner, CNN contributor and host of "Entertainment Tonight."

I say none bigger than "Green Book" winning. I think "Green Book" was on some people's list as a possible winner, Nischelle.

NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: It was definitely. Yes. Yes.

BERMAN: But it still is controversial. Why?

TURNER: Well, it's controversial in a lot of ways. Yes, you're right, it did have momentum going into awards season. It won the Golden Globe for best picture comedy or musical. Just won the Producers Guild Award as well. So it didn't come completely out of left field.

I think what was controversial about it is the film, there had been a simmering undertone throughout awards season that since the film came out that they've -- people felt like it was a bit of a homogenized version of what was really going on. There was no mention of Victor Hugo Green, who ultimately developed and wrote what was then the green book back then for African-American motorists.

So that's what -- that's what the issue was. They felt like this was very one-sided and from, you know, the viewpoint of -- I'm sorry, the last name, Vallelonga -- Tony Vallelonga, the gentleman who was driving Don Shirley.

BERMAN: Right.

TURNER: So I think the --

BRIAN STELTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The white guy, yes.

TURNER: (INAUDIBLE) like that.

STELTER: It was from the white perspective. The film was from the white perspective.

TURNER: There you go.

STELTER: And that was a big critique.

TURNER: Well, exactly. And that a lot of times African-American viewers have an issue with like the white hero coming in at the end of the day in these type of movies. You think about "The Help" and certain things like that when you have like the white hero. And so I think that was the issue.

And, forgive me, because I haven't had a lot of sleep (INAUDIBLE) issues.

CAMEROTA: Yes. We're going to get to the -- we're going to get to you at the Oscars in a moment, but I'm saving that.

TURNER: (INAUDIBLE) "Green Book." And Spike Lee personified it last night when he was visibly upset about "Green Book."

CAMEROTA: Yes, so let's about it.

STELTER: Yes.

CAMEROTA: So Spike Lee was upset and he had his reasons. I mean obviously he wanted "BlacKkKlansman" to win. But here's what he said after some champagne.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SPIKE LEE, DIRECTOR: I'm snake bit. I mean every time somebody is driving somebody, I lose.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: You heard the crowd. I mean that was provocative. Every time somebody drives somebody because he lost to "Driving Miss Daisy" last time around.

TURNER: Yes.

STELTER: That's absolutely right. And I'm glad he spoke out and I'm glad he expressed himself in the moment and again later. This is a very important subject. You know, the way that Hollywood depicts race, the way Hollywood sometimes side steps these issues. You know, a few years ago it was all about Oscar is so white, that hashtag on Twitter, appropriately it was trending. Now we have seen real progress. The Academy is diversified. Many of the winners last night, we saw an incredibly diverse array of winners. And yet, at the end of the day, it's this teddy bear hug of a movie "Green Book" that's supposed to make you feel good but, you know, it's certainly polarizing for the reasons Nischelle was saying that ultimately takes home best picture.

BERMAN: I've got to say, we talk about surprises last night.

STELTER: Yes.

BERMAN: When people filled out their Oscar ballots, the first one they often checked off was best actress. People said that Glenn Close was a near sure thing for "The Wife." That's what all my best sources told me, Nischelle. So how is it that Olivia Coleman won for "The Favorite"?

TURNER: Well, first of all, she was brilliant. That's one reason.

BERMAN: That helps.

TURNER: But the second reason was, you know, the Academy loves a film like "The Favorite" and they do love, you know, Olivia Coleman. And the performance was worthy. So I'm not going to take anything away from her because I -- "The Favorite" was my favorite movie besides "Black Panther" and "BlacKkKlansman" this year and I thought it was so -- I know, right, (INAUDIBLE) --

TURNER: Third favorite or fourth favorite and "The Meg."

TURNER: Well, all of them were my favorite. But I thought she was so great and quirky and crazy as Queen Anne. So she was deserving. But because Glenn Close had won everything, people thought she was a sure thing. Her dress weighed 42 pounds last night. That alone should have let her come up there and get that trophy.

CAMEROTA: Wow, that -- there should be an award.

TURNER: Right, and she's been nominated seven times for this. So, it can happen. Maybe her and Gaga's votes were canceled out and Olivia Coleman came in there and split those votes.

CAMEROTA: OK.

TURNER: So, you know, it does happen. It happened to Eddie Murphy a few years ago in "Dream Girls."

CAMEROTA: OK, we have to get to Gaga. So everybody's wondering what happened after the romantic duet where Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga sang so close to each other and some people thought they were going to kiss. So what happens next, right? What happens today because --

TURNER: Irina Shayk happened next. (INAUDIBLE) about the kiss him with his girlfriend watching.

CAMEROTA: Right. So that's his serious girlfriend with whom he has a child, and there are pictures of Lady Gaga and his girlfriend hugging.

BERMAN: There we go.

TURNER: Yes.

CAMEROTA: OK, so maybe everything's fine. And then there's this picture of Bradly Cooper kissing his girlfriend right next to Gaga. That's got to hurt, Brian.

BERMAN: Oh, come on.

CAMEROTA: That's got to hurt.

STELTER: These are professionals.

TURNER: What are you trying to say?

STELTER: Both of them doing their jobs.

CAMEROTA: I went right back to thinking that they're in love and that that hurts.

Come on.

OK, Nischelle, give us the inside scoop. Are they -- they in love?

[08:55:05] TURNER: I wish -- I mean I've never seen chemistry like this in my life on screen. I mean, really I never have.

BERMAN: Their heads were touching.

TURNER: You know what, I think they're both in love with the art. I think they're both in love with the movie. I think that Gaga has such a deep affection for him because he brought something out of her in this film that I don't think she knew she had in her.

STELTER: Oh.

TURNER: So, you know, it can happen. I think they do love each other in a certain way. I don't necessarily think they are -- want to be a couple, but it does give us something to talk about. (INAUDIBLE).

STELTER: And now I just really want to go watch "A Star is Born" again.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

STELTER: So I think they knew what they were doing.

CAMEROTA: OK, but there was one hotter moment -- there was one hotter moment than even the potential kiss that didn't happen. It was Nischelle in her dress. We've got to pull this up. Look at this. Oh, my God, girl! Call the fire department. What's happening here?

TURNER: Child, listen, yoga does good to me, so that -- no, you know what, Mark Zunino (ph) is such a great designer. And we've collaborated on three different gowns now. And I, you know, he fits my body so well, and I just -- I give it all to him. I give it all to him.

CAMEROTA: All right, well, that was the highlight of the night for me.

BERMAN: He's your Bradley Cooper. I get it now. I get it. It all is coming together.

TURNER: In the shallow.

CAMEROTA: All right, thank you, Nischelle. Thank you, Brian.

STELTER: Thank you.

TURNER: Bye, guys.

CAMEROTA: Bye.

TURNER: Thank you, Irina Shayk.

CAMEROTA: The president departs for the Kim Jong-un summit very shortly. CNN will have it for you. Stay tuned.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END