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New Day Saturday

American Hostage Killed in Rescue Mission; Chokehold Protests Paralyze Cities; Typhoon Pushing Toward Philippines; U.S. Hostage Killed in Failed Rescue in Yemen; Major Doubts About "Rolling Stone" UVA Story; Arrest in U.S. Teacher's Mall Stabbing

Aired December 06, 2014 - 07:00   ET

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

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: I always so grateful for your company, I'm Christi Paul.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Victor Blackwell. Seven o'clock here on the East Coast.

PAUL: Yes, I need to share some breaking news with you this morning. The Obama administration is calling the murder of an American hostage barbaric and brutal.

BLACKWELL: We're talking about Luke Somers. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel confirms that the photojournalist died as U.S. forces were trying to rescue him from his captors, AQAP, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Hagel used the word "murder", though. Hagel who's in Afghanistan right now says the group al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula killed Somers. It's believed the raid took place in Yemen's Shagwa Province. Now, the militants also killed a South African hostage. This was the second rescue mission in two weeks, to try to get Somers to safety.

PAUL: Secretary Hagel says President Obama ordered the raid because there were compelling reasons to believe that Somers' life was in imminent danger. And just this week, the militants released a video threatening to kill Somers if Washington didn't meet its demands. And Secretary of State John Kerry is speaking out this morning saying the murder of Luke Somers by his captors during a rescue operation is a reminder of the brutality of the terrorists of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

BLACKWELL: CNN's Jim Sciutto is live in Kabul, Afghanistan, with the latest. Jim, what are we learning about the details of this rescue attempt?

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, this is the news we were not hoping to get. We had heard that the raid was planned and it was just a short time ago that Secretary Hagel confirmed that both hostages were killed by their captors as the raid was under way. The details we're learning are that a fire fight broke out as the U.S. Special Forces arrived at the scene, that the captors in the words of Secretary Hagel murdered the hostages. So, this is not a case where the hostages got caught in the cross fire, but rather, it was once the operation was under way, the captors killed those hostages.

And a defense official telling our Barbara Starr that one of those hostages, although we haven't been able to identify which one, was still alive as they left the scene of this rescue attempt, died on the way out via helicopters. Both of them unfortunately dead in the final tally here, as Luke Somers. The American photojournalist, and as well as the South African, who's an aid worker there. U.S. official saying that they had intelligence that their lives were in imminent danger.

You may remember that in that hostage video that came out said that Luke Somers would be killed within 72 hours if their demands were not met. And also intelligence gave the indication that would take place in the next 24 hours. And there was word they would be killed on somebody would be killed at dawn on Saturday, today, so they went in.

A very risky operation, as you mentioned, a second attempt to rescue Luke Somers. And keep this in mind, Christi and Victor, when you look over the past several weeks, the U.S. has attempt three hostage attempts two in Yemen to rescue Luke Somers, the American, and another in Syria to rescue James Foley. Unfortunately, in these cases they were not successful. In the case of James Foley by the time they got to the location, and he was moved. Even in the earlier operation earlier this week, when they got to the operation, Luke Somers had been moved. But they came to the right place, but unfortunately, during the fire fighter, Somers was killed by his captors.

I know in traveling with Secretary Hagel, they were hoping for better news from this operation. Of course, they got the worst.

BLACKWELL: Absolutely. And the criticism is coming in. We're also getting reaction from administration officials. Jim Sciutto reporting from Kabul -- Jim, thank you so much.

SCIUTTO: Thank you.

PAUL: We want to go to CNN's Sunlen Serfaty now, joining us from the White House.

Sunlen, thanks for being with us. What are you hearing from the president this morning?

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Christi, very strong words from President Obama this morning. He just released a statement saying, quote, "The United States strongly condemns the barbaric murder of Luke Somers at the hands of al Qaeda terrorists during a rescue operation conducted by U.S. forces in Yemen, in partnership with the Yemeni government. On behalf of the American people, I offer my deepest condolences to Luke's family and to his loved ones."

Now, keep in mind, This mission was a direct call made by President Obama himself yesterday, and he said he made that decision based on three things. He says this morning it was based on the intelligence, the operational plan, and the fact that Luke Somers in his had own words, he says was, quote, "in imminent danger".

Now, the White House has been receiving some criticism that they delayed, maybe even hesitated on this decision, and that led to ultimate outcome. And the president, he pushed back on that this morning. He says he used every tool at his disposal to secure Somers release -- Christi.

PAUL: Do we -- we know that the group that captures Somers have threatened to kill him if their demands weren't met. Do we have any indication what those demands were?

SERFATY: It was really an unclear and vague unclear demand made on the part of the group when this video surfaced on Wednesday morning. We do know that they were given a 72-hour deadline from the terror group. The White House made note of that saying we knew about the 72- hour deadline. Clearly, this is the second rescue mission as we've been talking about in the last two weeks for Luke Somers. But unfortunately, it did not have a good end -- Christi.

PAUL: All righty. Sunlen Serfaty, we appreciate it. Thank you.

We want to bring in CNN global affairs analyst, Lieutenant Colonel James Reese now.

BLACKWELL: Colonel Reese, we're learning more details about the rescue mission, that there was a firefight that broke out, and both hostages were taken to the B-22 to a nearby ship. Is this a failure of planning or operations in any way?

LT. COL. JAMES REESE (RET), CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: No, Victor, it's not. This is just the bad luck that comes with probably the most difficult operation you can do in a military operation in a hostage rescue. It has to take precision. I said in the last hour, this is like brain surgery.

And the real tough thing is the actionable intel. The minute there's actionable intel, that force, however they're getting in, is literally spun up. They're ready to go. And once they get executed authority from the president, they launch.

But during that time, from launch to the time they get on target, anything can happen.

PAUL: We know that this was the second attempt. And Jim Sciutto was telling us last hour, that that first -- in that first attempt, they got there and al Qaeda had already moved Somers.

Do you think that al Qaeda had an indication that the U.S. was moving in on that first attempt?

REESE: Well, Christi, we know this, that in today's digital world and information world, as they were flying in on the helicopters, unfortunately, we can't cloak these helicopters. So, there's people -- there's tweets going out. There's early warning systems these terrorists have, just people picking up a phone and saying, I see helicopters coming.

And when you're seeing out in the middle of a desert, on some base camp somewhere, on the Saudi Arabian border, it's not that difficult to get an early warning. And, you know, it can take a minute or two to get in a van and drive away and you miss.

PAUL: Sure.

BLACKWELL: You know, one of the important we're getting some more details from U.S. officials telling our Barbara Starr that there were fighter jets patrolling overhead, drones as well. And that the area was somewhat more populated than the last time.

Is there a time at which, an environment at which this has been more successful? Or how do you avoid all of these as you just detailed possible pitfalls and links to the cell holding the hostages?

REESE: Well, Victor, the most difficult thing right now is, you know, it's where the location of the force can get. In a place like Yemen, there's only a couple of areas in Yemen that have any population where force could infiltrate its way in, get to a safe house and sit there and wait and start developing that actionable intel. And literally, it's like getting in the red zone. It's the closer you can get to the hostages can be, the quicker you can launch in.

If you have to make an hour flight, 30-minute flight, whatever. That distance becomes a criticality. And I would doubt they had aircraft doing circles over the top, probably offset. But these guys know how to do this. The JSOC forces know how to do this very well. And they've been doing it for almost 40 years.

And, unfortunately, like I said, sometimes, you know, it's like the receiver drops the ball. There's not much you can do.

BLACKWELL: All right. Colonel James Reese, thank you so much for your expertise. Stick with us throughout the morning.

PAUL: We appreciate it.

And just want to give you a heads up, that we are getting word, Secretary Hagel is going to be speaking live at 7:30. So, in just about 20 minutes. He's going to be talking about troops in Afghanistan, U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and what that means. Will there be more going? Will there be some coming home? We do not know, but we will carry that live for you in about 20 minutes, when he steps to the podium.

Meanwhile, a key al Qaeda operative as we said is dead after a raid in Northwest Pakistan. This is according to Pakistan's army. Officials say the 39-year-old was born in Saudi Arabia, grew up in the U.S., had been placed on the FBI's most wanted terrorist list. He was indicted for his alleged role in the terror plot with the U.S. and abroad, including the New York City subway. Most recently, he's been operating as a senior commander for al Qaeda.

BLACKWELL: Well, interstates shut down and bridges blocked off. That was the scene as protesters took to the streets over the controversial chokehold death of Eric Garner. Up next, how peaceful protests are now changing.

PAUL: Plus, powerful typhoon packing high winds, heavy rains heading for the Philippines right now. We'll tell you what's happening there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: So glad to have you back with us. "This is what democracy looks like", that was the rallying cry from waves of angry protesters last night and demonstrations, in some cases paralyzed. We know they were in at least 17 cities.

BLACKWELL: In the Northeast, all the way to California. These protesters are angry over the controversial chokehold death of Eric Garner. It filled the streets demanding justice and law enforcement reforms.

PAUL: Some of the largest protests were in Boston. Police say about 1,000 people marched through downtown. Look at that.

BLACKWELL: Similar scene in Miami, though. Look at this. You'll see traffic backed up. And this goes on for miles as the protesters flooded the interstates here.

PAUL: While demonstrations were peaceful, we want to point out, protesters in New York, they did something different here. They stormed into popular stores to stage die-ins. We do know at least two people were arrested.

BLACKWELL: And let's bring in Cristina Alesci in New York to talk about --

CRISTINA ALESCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm not hearing anything.

BLACKWELL: You're not hearing me? All right. We're having Cristina -- I'm going to try one more time. Cristina Alesci in New York, you got me?

OK. So, we don't have Cristina there. Let's bring our legal team.

PAUL: Panel.

BLACKWELL: Let's first talk about the Justice Department, because I want to talk about the legal angle of this. Justice Department is opening these federal civil rights inquiries, or at least one into Garner's death. Attorney General Holder says Garner's death is not an isolated case.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's very important if we do this, our voice is heard internationally in a peaceful way, because peace is going to conquer all of this hate. And if we can focus on the peace, then we'll be fine with everything else that we need to accomplish, which to have love in our heart. All of these people have love, and they don't want, you know, the violence. And they just want some accountability for what's going on.

They don't want to be violent. They don't want to be destructive. But they're mad because there's no accountability in the system that we all love so much.

ERIC HOLDER, ATTORNEY GENERAL: His death is one of several recent incidents across our great country that have tested the sense of trust that must exist between law enforcement and the communities they are charged to serve and to protect. This is not a New York issue, nor a Ferguson issue alone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: Joining us now, CNN commentator and legal analyst Mel Robbins, and HLN legal analyst and criminal defense attorney Joey Jackson.

So, we know -- let me go to you first, Joey. There's a federal investigation. What will they focus on differently than the grand jury proceedings?

JOEY JACKSON, HLN LEGAL ANALYST: Good morning, Christi. Good morning, Victor. Good morning, Mel.

So, what happens is, the federal government has to be committed to the issue of justice because you see the protests throughout the country. And certainly, you don't want massive sparks of violence. And fortunately the protests to this point have not been there that. And people have just expressed their views.

But I think what the attorney general is going to look at is whether or not there were civil rights that were violated here. The federal government certainly has an obligation to do that. What you have here, Christi, is you have the benefit of a videotape that you'll see right there.

And so, they'll be looking at was there a deprivation of Garner's civil rights. Was it done intentionally? Was it done evilly? And could having have been done differently. And I think if the federal government finds that, they'll pursue federal charges against the officer or officers.

BLACKWELL: So, there may be some discrepancy between what we're hearing from the mayor and what we're hearing from the police commissioner. I'm going to come to you with this, Mel. We're hearing from the mayor that what happened to Eric Garner is personal. This is what he said the other day.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO (D), NEW YORK CITY: That painful sense of contradiction that our young people see first that our police are here to protect us, and we honor that. At the same time, there's a history we have to overcome because for so many of our young people, there's a fear. And for so many of our families there's a fear.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: OK. So, he's also calling for changes in police training, but listen what we're hearing from the head of New York's police union. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PATRICK LYNCH, PRESIDENT, PATROLMEN'S BENEVOLENT ASOCIATION: What police officers felt yesterday after that press conference is that they were thrown under the bus. That they were out there doing a difficult job in the middle of the night, protecting the rights of those, to protest, protecting our sons and daughters. And the mayor was behind microphones like this throwing them under the bus.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: All right. So, is the mayor throwing them under the bus? And can we see what the mayor is calling for from the top implemented when the leader of the union there says that they feel they're being thrown under the bus here, Mel?

MEL ROBBINS, CNN COMMENTATOR: Victor, it's an excellent question and good morning, everybody.

You know, I think this is like a gigantic hair ball that you've got to untangle because there's multiple issues. From the mayor's perspective, he's looking at changes that need to help at a local level which would involve training, which would involve the way in which these cases are investigated. And also, it would involve local tactics to engender a sense of trust between the communities in New York and the NYPD. That's one issue.

The Justice Department is looking at this as a national issue, and what needs to happen on a national basis, in terms of addressing the issues of distrust that are mounting. And as we, you know, kind of move from what's happening in New York, I think so many of us, Christi and Joey and Victor, are looking towards Cleveland, in the shooting death of the 12-year-old Tamir Rice, and the fact that that is now going to go to a grand jury. And there's some extremely troubling facts coming out about the police officer that pulled the trigger there.

So, I think you're looking at local folks trying to figure out how to handle this, and the federal government as well. Was he throwing the police officer under the bus? I don't think so. I think the police are back on their heels and this an example of the fact that there's a lot of tension right now. There's tension between police officers that are doing an excellent job, communities that are frustrated, and the bad apples committing crimes that are not being held accountable, Victor.

PAUL: Well, and the tension was really evident last night in all of this protest around the country.

And I want to bring Cristina back in. She is with us, because one of the thing that is different that we saw in New York, were protesters going into stores, and staging die-ins, literally laying down on the floors of these floors.

Cristina, do we know how do the stores react to that? And how long were they there? ALESCI: Well, it's really interesting because the stores didn't seem

to really react at all. As I mentioned before, these stores are really accustomed to seeing large groups of people walking in around the holidays. Obviously, they knew they were protesters when they started lying down on the floor.

But I just mentioned that we're reporting that the protesters are fairly peaceful. And they also keep moving. So, they weren't in the stores very long, because you know, if they congregate in anyplace too long, it increases the likelihood that police begin to arrest people. So, they've been moving. They've been mobile.

You know, I was listening to my colleague Jason Carroll reporting last night that the protesters eventually moved to one of the biggest train stations in the city, grand central, and the protesters weren't there for longer than 10 minutes. Also, there are organizers behind these protests that are directing the protesters on how to behave, make sure you're not carrying any drugs or give police any other reason to conduct an arrest. But there were fewer people, I should mention, out in the street last night, in New York City. Part of that had to do, of course, with the weather, it was really cold and rainy, and probably that also contributed to the decision to bring some of these protests indoors.

But, you know, we could see more of them. Today, Reverend Al Sharpton is planning a press conference this morning with Eric Garner's family. And then, that starts in Harlem. And then they plan to go to Staten Island and lay a wreath at the site of Eric Garner's death.

So, we could see some people gathering around those events. And we're also starting to look for more details on social media to see what is in store for later tonight. But we could see these protests for a prolonged period of time.

BLACKWELL: All right. Cristina Alesci, at least that's what we're hearing from organizers that they're not going anywhere whenever they're asked how long will this go on. Thank you for the report.

Mel Robbins, Joey Jackson, thank you as well.

Stick around with us throughout the morning. We're going to talk more about this and other legal issues that we're following this morning.

PAUL: And this monster storm, we've got to talk about this. It's heading straight to the Philippines. This is a legion that lost -- 6,000 people died in a storm just a year ago. And now, they're bracing for that monster you see on the right-hand side of your screen. On the left hand, live pictures of what's happening there. We'll tell you more.

BLACKWELL: Plus, major doubts about "Rolling Stone's" bombshell report in the University of Virginia. Some women say the details don't matter. They're standing with Jackie if you've seen that hashtag online. We've got the story, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PAUL: Twenty-seven minutes past the hour. So much to talk to you about this morning. Here's your "Morning Read."

First of all, typhoon Hagupit is barreling for the Central Philippines right now. Look at the radar. Heavy rain already being doused there. The government is telling people you need to evacuate to higher grounds now.

BLACKWELL: CNN meteorologists say Hagupit could cause a 15 to 20-foot storm surge and could also slam the islands with winds of 74 miles per hour. You know, the same area is still recovering from a devastating typhoon that hit around this time last year.

PAUL: One person is in custody after stabbing four people including the conductor on an Amtrak train. Eleven people were taken to the hospital. None of the injuries are thought to be life-threatening fortunately. But police responded to a 911 call and arrested the suspect in Niles, Michigan. No word yet on the motive. The Amtrak arranged an alternate transportation for 172 passengers.

BLACKWELL: The group that hacked Sony is not done wreaking havoc at least they say. In a new e-mail, the hackers say they hope to destroy Sony Pictures and that employees who do not cooperate will, quote, "suffer damage and their families will be in danger." The group hacked into the studio's computer system last month in one of the biggest cyber security breaches in history.

"Rolling Stone" is backing down from a bombshell report on sexual assault, now saying it has doubts about the woman who told her story of a brutal sex attack at a fraternity house at the University of Virginia. We got the apology and why the fraternity in question says the allegations simply are not true.

PAUL: Plus, hear the exclusive interview with the ex-husband of the American teacher stabbed to death in Abu Dhabi.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: Mortgage rates inched up this week. Here's your look.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: All right. So, we're 29 minutes to the top of the hour. We're expecting to hear from soon from outgoing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. He's making his last trip to Afghanistan as Pentagon chief.

PAUL: Yes. And he's expected to hold a press conference really any moment now to talk about the troops that are there. So, we're going to bring you that press conference as soon as it begins.

BLACKWELL: OK. So, earlier today, Defense Secretary Hagel confirmed that the 33-year-old photojournalist was killed -- he used the word "murdered" -- as U.S. forces were trying to rescue him from his al Qaeda captors in Yemen. Hagel confirmed that al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, also known as AQAP, killed Somers. It's believed the raid took place in Yemen's Shagwa Province. Militants also killed a South African hostage. And this was the second rescue mission in two weeks to try to get Somers to safety.

PAUL: We know that President Obama ordered the raid because there were compelling reasons, they say, to believe that Somers' life was in imminent danger. In fact, just this week, the militants release a video threatening to kill Somers if Washington didn't meet its demands.

We also just a short time ago heard from Secretary of State John Kerry who says, quote, "the murder of Luke Somers during a rescue operation is a reminder of the brutality of the terrorists of al Qaeda in the Arabian peninsula."

But, again, we're waiting to hear from Secretary Hagel who is going to be addressing the public, the world really, any moment now from Kabul, the presidential palace. So, as soon as he comes up with that microphone and he's live, we'll take you there live.

BLACKWELL: So, let's talk about this: "Rolling Stone" back off about the report of a brutal gang rape at the University of Virginia. In the article, a woman that they called Jackie claimed she was assaulted at a paternity party in 2012. Well, the magazine says it has doubt it's of her story and has issued an apology on its Web site.

PAUL: But at UVA what hasn't stopped some women speaking out about sexual assault on campus in general. In fact, last night, dozens of people participated in an evening vigil and more protests we understand are planned for later today.

Our Sara Ganim joins us live from Charlottesville, Virginia, where UVA is, of course.

What's going on there this morning there, in light of this apology, Sara?

SARA GANIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Victor and Christi, good morning.

It does appear that "Rolling Stone" no longer stands by its reporting of that horrific gang rape on campus or the woman who was the center of that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CROWD: Not one more!

GANIM (voice-over): After an article that prompted outrage at the University of Virginia, "Rolling Stone" magazine has apologized for discrepancies about an alleged gang rape on a Charlottesville campus. "Rolling Stone" editor say they made the choice not to contact key figures on the alleged attack on Jackie, the woman who was the subject of the article, for fear of retaliation against her.

The magazine said, "In the face of new information, there now appear to be discrepancies in Jackie's account and we've come to the conclusion that our trust in her was misplaced."

The article also chronicled the school's failure to respond to that alleged assault, which in turn prompted a UVA suspension of all fraternity activities until January, and a zero tolerance policy toward sexual assault cases.

TERESA SULLIVAN, PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: We must find where it hides out, and root it out.

GANIM: According to the magazine, Jackie claimed she was raped by seven men during a party at the Phi Kappa Psi paternity house. However, the university says there was no party at the night of the alleged attack in September 2012, and the chapter's lawyer says he has the records to prove it. He also discredits other parts of the story.

Meanwhile, "The Washington Post" is reporting that a group of Jackie's close friends believe something traumatic happened to her but they also have come to doubt her account, because details have changed over time. But "The Post" is also reporting that Jackie stands by her story. She told "The Post", "I never asked for this. What bothers me is that so many people act like it didn't happen."

Despite the latest developments in the story, students still turned out at a campus vigil last night, determined to keep the focus on combating sexual assault against women.

ANNE LEISTER, UVA STUDENT: It's terrible that they are going against her now and placing the responsibility upon her as someone who is untrustworthy because I feel like they should have known form the beginning publishing that story that it was something that they could never exactly what happened, and again, it's not the single issue here. The issue is the wider problem of sexual assault on college campuses.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GANIM: Now, it's important to remember what isn't being called into question here is the university's overall response to reports of sexual assault on campus. You know, the university in the last few weeks has admitted that it has never expelled a single student, even when they admitted to sexual assault.

You know, Victor and Christi, I've been here on campus, the last couple of days, I've talked to several other women who are survivors of sexual assault on this campus, and they talk a lot of the culture here. About people talk openly how ruffies are just another part of a Friday night, or how when they first came forward to friends they were told things like, that doesn't sound like rape to me because it wasn't as horrific as the details that were described in the story.

So I think it's important to remember that Jackie's story aside, there may be discrepancies but there's a matter for police. But there's another issue here and that is how the university responds to sexual assaults, and I think it's important that their stories don't get lost in all of this.

PAUL: Very, very good point to make there. Sara Ganim, thank you.

BLACKWELL: Let's discuss this with CNN commentator and legal analyst Mel Robbins.

Mel, I want to talk about what Sara was just talking about. The details and what we're hearing from women on campus.

Listen to some of the students there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Even if it's not real, it's a problem. Even if that particular story wasn't real, it's probably still a problem. So as much as it matters that the article is telling the truth or not, I think we should still focus on the problem that it is a problem.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think people want to take this argue it's a negative aspect, I think the university should take it in a positive way and like move forward in fixing the problem that's clearly prevalent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: It's important to validate these women's voices and not to let at least what "Rolling Stone" says are questionable details of the story, not let that nullify or discredit other credible claims of sexual abuse or sexual assault on campus. And that may be difficult considering that this is such a huge reversal for the magazine.

MEL ROBBINS, CNN COMMENTATOR: Yes, Victor, it's so troubling. When I first heard this news yesterday, I said, wait a minute, so the fraternity that's in the middle of this firestorm has concerns about the account. And now, suddenly, "Rolling Stone" is walking back on the entire story. And in addition to walking back, because a fraternity has concerns about it, they're throwing the victim under the bus?

It is absolutely disgusting, honestly, Victor.

BLACKWELL: Let's talk about "Rolling Stone's" handling of this. Some say it's blaming the victim saying it has doubts about her story. The managing editor had to go to Twitter and clarified that it was "Rolling Stone's" mistake not to double-check her details.

Are they handling this properly now that they are getting more details about this?

ROBBINS: No. They're not handling it properly. They didn't handle it properly from the beginning, the fact that they wrote a first person account, which, by the way, they did check. They did talk to people at UVA. They did confirm that there has never once been a student expelled from that university, even after admitting that they had raped somebody on campus.

And so, they did fact-check, they just didn't go to the fraternity. And now, Victor, what the fraternity is citing with claims to say that a gang rape didn't exist is simply preposterous, Victor.

BLACKWELL: Let's talk about who could be exposed to some legal reaction, some legal action. First, Jackie herself. If there is some way to confirm or to discredit any of these questions, does she face legal action here?

ROBBINS: Only if she lied. Truth in any kind of liable or slander case is a rock solid defense.

And let's be honest, Victor, what are the discrepancies they're talking about? That there wasn't a party at the fraternity? I'm sure what the fraternity is saying, hey, we didn't have an advertised party, but we all know that parties go on every single night in the basements of fraternities across this country.

They're also alleging that it wasn't rush season. And she said it was. Well, I'm sure there are guys in that fraternity that may have been talking about pledging or rushing, and the details about the season is inconsequential. Whether or not one of the fraternity brothers actually had a paid position in the aquatics department at UVA, inconsequential.

What they don't address, Victor, is whether or not the rape happened or didn't happen. They're not saying the rape didn't happen. They're simply saying, whoa, we've got push back from the fraternity that's now at the center of us. So, what we're going to do is blame the victim, push her story aside -- which is exactly what UVA has done, which is exactly what people do across this country do when women come forward and allege sexual assault. It's an absolute disaster and a disservice to victims everywhere -- Victor.

BLACKWELL: Yes, the reporting here is that the fraternity says it has no knowledge of the rape, no knowledge of it.

Mel Robbins, thank you so much.

We'll continue to talk about this throughout the morning. And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: A woman from the United Arab Emirates has been arrested on suspicion of fatly stabbing an American teacher and mother of three in a bathroom at a mall in the United Arab Emirates.

BLACKWELL: The woman identified only as in her 30s and a UAE national, is also accused of placing a handmade bomb in front of an American doctor's house. Sources tell CNN that the woman is being interrogated by authorities and the investigation into the stabbing is ongoing.

PAUL: Now, Paul Ryan, who is the ex-husband of that woman, that teacher that was killed, spoke to CNN's John Defterios about the gruesome murder.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PAUL RYAN, EX-HUSBAND OF IBOLYA RYAN: Well, obviously, I'm totally horrified by what happened. One just needs to look at the video, the images of that bathroom, and it is -- it knocks you out, knocks you out. I still hope my children have not seen that. Those beautiful children I have, making sure that they get the comfort and the sense of their mother and their future that I protect them as best I can.

JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's a suspect in custody, what's your initial feeling? Was this a person operating as a lone wolf or part of a much grander agenda that we don't see yet?

RYAN: She is thought of as a lone wolf. As an American, I can easily view that with some skepticism. And actually, along the way, initially, my thought, well, why couldn't it be part of a terrorist cell. We've had terrorist cells in a number of places, even in the West. Why couldn't it exist here?

There might be a cell involved, certainly. But after seeing the video of how she was captured and what was in her car, she had everything there, all for herself, ready to go. She didn't even care about the blood prints on her steering wheel. She could easily have done this all by herself.

DEFTERIOS: After witnessing such a tragedy and as an American and the victims here targeted were Westerners, how do you feel about what has transpired?

RYAN: How do I feel as an American? I'm still fearful of all of that. However, I've come to feel that it's quite different. I'm actually starting to believe, though my ex-wife was always telling me, that it's safe.

DEFTERIOS: You still feel that way are this horrendous tragedy earlier this week?

RYAN: I'm shocked myself. I'm shocked myself that I've come this far. That I've been changed based on what I'm seeing here.

DEFTERIOS: I know you were concerned about raising funds and there was --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: All right. Our thanks to John Defterios for that. But we want to go to Kabul now where our Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel is speaking. Let's listen in.

(SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

BLACKWELL: All right, obviously, we're not getting the English translation here from the president there of Afghanistan. But as soon as we hear from the secretary of defense, of course, we'll bring you that.

We'll continue to monitor it. And we will be right back.

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BLACKWELL: Dr. Deepak Chopra, he is a very busy man these days. He's now written 81 books.

PAUL: Oh my gosh.

BLACKWELL: I mean, 81 books. And out of those 81, 22 of them have been "New York Times" best sellers.

PAUL: He is in demand, you know, as a public speaker and the cofounder of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing.

Well, his newest book is titled "The Future of God: A Practical Approach to Spirituality for Our Times."

And I recently sat down with him to talk it, not only about the book, which we're going to tell you more about in the next hour, but also some of the big stories that are going on in the news, right now, including the Michael Brown case in Ferguson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. DEEPAK CHOPRA, AUTHOR, "THE FUTURE OF GOD": As I watch actually everything that's happening today the debates that are happening, is that we are so polarized that we think only our point of view is right. OK. We do not have what sociologists call empathy, so I cannot step into the other person's shoes, pretend I'm looking at the world from their eyes. And then I might see something different.

So, but -- you know, we are compelled to take sides, instead of saying who is right, who is wrong, why don't we ask what's the solution? So, whether it's for this or any other thing, we should say what is the solution? How we can we go beyond our narrow-minded ethnocentric, racist, bigoted, prejudiced indoctrination, whether it's white or black doesn't matter.

OK. Can I learn to have the basic fundamentals of emotional intelligence, not even spiritual intelligence? Can I feel what other people feel? Can I speak to them in a respectful manner? Can I recognize that there is injustice or at least the perception of injustice on both sides? Can I refrain from proving the other person wrong because as soon as I prove them wrong, I'm never going to have a conversation with them?

These are very fundamental things that interfere with our ability to find a creative solution. We became activists, you know, either for peace and what do you find, you have angry peace activists. Some of them get Nobel Prizes.

It's bizarre. The whole thing is bizarre. If you ask us, what is the creative solution? How can I heal this? And you get with people who want to know that, there are creative solutions to everything. You just don't look for them.

PAUL: Another thing in the news, of course, is politics and the split in this country. Do you see an answer somehow to bringing this country together?

CHOPRA: I see an answer politics only if politicians agree that most of politics today is about influence peddling, power-mongering, cronyism, corruption, most of it. We have a nice word for people who do that, we call them lobbyists. OK. And even have a legal structure to support that.

So, unless we recognize that those politicians who are engaged in this, you know, corruption or influence peddling or cronyism or power mongering, they represent us. I cannot blame the politicians. We elect them, right? So -- and then there are all kinds of loopholes where you know, we elect them not because they are good for our country, but we elect them because they serve some special interest that I have.

PAUL: Is there anything that you see in the news that you think is not getting enough coverage? Anything that you are passionate about?

CHOPRA: I think I would like to see more coverage in the news about things that are of imminent importance to humanity right now. And these include climate change, the destruction of species and the ecosystem, and reckless, reckless, irresponsible spending in my field which is medicine -- unnecessary surgeries, reckless dispensing of pharmaceuticals, unnecessary tests.

We could save -- we could solve the health care crisis if we eliminated everything that's not necessary and everything that is done so that somebody's benefiting, either the manufacturer of a pharmaceutical or a medical device, or a surgeon who only knows how to sell surgeries.

PAUL: All right. So, that's his take on what's going on in the world. But in the next hour of NEW DAY, we're talking more with him about his book, "The Future of God", and hear his response from scientists who say, there is no God.

The next hour starts in just a couple of minutes. Stay close.

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