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Rick's List
D.C. Protesters Rally in Support of Obama's Health Care Reform; Sexual Assault Investigation of NFL Player Ben Roethlisberger
Aired March 09, 2010 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez.
There is a development in the health care debate. And it has to do with a new group, a new group that rallied today in Washington, D.C., not against President Obama's health care reform, but for it. We're going to be telling you about it in just a little bit.
And here's what else we have got coming your way on this show.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ (voice-over): Here is what is making the LIST.
Too many drinks, an inappropriate come-on to a staffer, and a resignation.
ERIC MASSA (D), FORMER REPRESENTATIVE, NEW YORK: Do you know how awkward it is to have a political argument with a naked man?
SANCHEZ: What is this congressman's real story? Because this is starting to not add up.
He reached a barely controllable 94 miles an hour.
JIM SIKES, PRIUS DRIVER: My thought was going over the side of the hill.
SANCHEZ: He says he could not stop his Prius. I'm bringing in a Ph.D. on this one.
A woman who accuses quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of sexual assault reportedly now wants to quit school. And police are saying there is a videotape.
This state senator is a passionate anti-gay rights crusader. Guess what?
ROY ASHBURN (R), CALIFORNIA STATE SENATOR: I am gay.
SANCHEZ: What?
ASHBURN: I am gay. Those are the words that have been so difficult for me.
SANCHEZ: His conflict part of the national conversation. The lists you need to know about. Who's "Today's Most Intriguing"? Who's making news on Twitter? It's why I keep a list, pioneering tomorrow's cutting-edge news right now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Welcome to the LIST. I'm Rick Sanchez.
Topping the LIST this hour -- a noisy protest in Washington, D.C. It's a new development in the health care debate, because this involves a group protesting for health care reform. Here's a taste.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: Health care for America now!
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: Health care.
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: When do we want it?
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: Now!
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: What do we want?
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: Health care!
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: When do we want it?
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: Now!
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: What do we want?
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: Health care!
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: When do we want it?
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: Now!
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: What do we want?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: All right. This is a group that decided to go to Washington, D.C., on the same day that there were lobbyists there representing the health organizations and the health insurance companies.
They're protesting a bunch of stuff, they say. Here, let me read you what we got on the information that they put out. They say they're fed up with skyrocketing premiums, denials of care and claims, insurance companies spending tens of millions of dollars to kill or manipulate reform. That is the name they use for it.
And they call themselves Health Care for America Now, HCAN. The group they were protesting against directly is America's Health Insurance Plans, AHIP. Those are the lobbyists that represent the health insurance companies, who they say are jacking up the prices and manipulating the truth on health care reform.
So, there you have it. There's the situation.
Joining me now is Richard Kirsch. We got a -- a hold of Mr. Kirsch because he is a national campaign manager for Health Care for America Now, the organization that was out there.
Mr. Kirsch, thanks for being with us, sir. Appreciate it.
RICHARD KIRSCH, NATIONAL CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR HEALTH CARE FOR AMERICA NOW: Glad -- glad to be here today, Rick. How you doing?
SANCHEZ: So -- so, what were you guys trying to say? What -- what -- here, you have time to tell us what your pitch is. What's your pitch?
The message is very simple.
Congress, it's time to listen to us, not the insurance industry. And we had thousands of people today outside the insurance company lobby issuing citizen's arrests to the insurance companies for their CEOs and the people -- and their head lobbyists, because what they're doing, their regular business practice, the way they make more money is jacking up premiums to make huge profits, record profits last year.
At same time, three million people, they kicked off their rolls.
SANCHEZ: Uh-huh.
KIRSCH: And, basically, this is an industry that preys on people, denies their care, drives people into bankruptcy. They get richer as America pays more for health care and gets less health care for the dollar. We're saying, Congress, you have a choice. You've got to listen to us or listen to the insurance industry.
SANCHEZ: How --
KIRSCH: Which is it going to be?
SANCHEZ: How many people were arrested?
KIRSCH: We didn't have people arrested. We had people engaged in civil disobedience. They blocked the entrance to the hotel, and the police escorted them away. The police decided not to arrest them. They --
SANCHEZ: OK.
KIRSCH: -- did escort them away.
SANCHEZ: Oh, that's interesting. Well, that's news to us. Originally, we had heard that there may have been some arrests, but so -- so -- so they were taken away. They were detained, but not actually booked?
KIRSCH: The police actually escorted them from -- they were blocking the entrance. The police escorted them away, and then let them go. SANCHEZ: Now, and you --
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: You -- you did this on purpose. This -- this is what you -- what -- let me ask you two important questions. First of all, who's behind your organization? Who's -- who's -- who's got the money that's funding this organization? How were these people to get -- able to get to Washington? Who's helping you with your placards, et cetera, et cetera?
KIRSCH: So, there's 1,100 member organizations of Health Care for America Now, and there's 18 organizations in the steering committee which fund the organization. There's also some foundations that fund the organization. And there's individuals who fund them through small contributions.
People got on buses today. Some, they paid themselves. Some, HCAN paid, some other organizations paid. But they're willing to give up days in some cases. People came from Minnesota, Wisconsin, from Maine and North Carolina.
SANCHEZ: So, you're trying to say this is a -- this is, in many ways, a grassroots organization?
KIRSCH: It's very grassroots. We have thousands of people. We -- we had a million e-mails and faxes, not -- calls and faxes to Congress last week because people are so fed up with what's going on --
SANCHEZ: But is it possible --
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: Is it -- is it possible, Mr. Kirsch, that you're grassroots, but you're also funded by -- here, let me read from your own Web site, OK?
9to5 National Association of Working Women, the AFL-CIO, the Alliance for Retired Americans, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Federation of Teachers, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, MoveOn.org, Rock the Vote, Progress Now, League of Young Voters, I mean these are in ways -- in many cases unions or progressive activist groups, right?
KIRSCH: Absolutely.
And they represent people with real health care stories who understand what is going on in this country. Let me give you an example. Today, one of the guys running the sound truck came up to me and said, let me tell you, my parents had to give up all their savings, more than $300,000, to have life-saving treatment for my brother, because he didn't have good insurance.
This is what's going on all around the country. That's why people get on these buses and are protesting, because they're sick of the insurance industry ramming higher premiums -- (CROSSTALK)
KIRSCH: -- and dropping people's coverage.
SANCHEZ: We understand that. Do you need to vilify the insurance companies? Or is it the process? Is it the system? I mean, after all, look, these folks are out there trying to make money. And, you know, they -- they need to get a profit, and they have got to go by what we got in this country?
KIRSCH: Yes, well --
SANCHEZ: Why are you vilifying them?
KIRSCH: Because they make profits by hurting people, by denying people care, by turning people away for preexisting conditions. We need to fix the system. We can't have a system --
SANCHEZ: Ah.
KIRSCH: -- where our entire system is based on these huge for-profit companies who, you know, paid their CEOs $700 million in pay in the last decade, while we can't afford our health care.
SANCHEZ: Let me ask you one --
KIRSCH: And we need to change --
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: Let me ask you one other question before I let you go. This thing we saw today, is this a one-shot deal?
KIRSCH: Oh, it's not --
SANCHEZ: Or -- or --
KIRSCH: It's not a one-shot deal. I mean, Rick, the -- the energy is getting louder, but this has been going on. On Thursday, there's a hearing in Minnesota for people arrested doing this a couple months ago.
We're going to be seeing this all around the country. Tomorrow, we're going to have people --
SANCHEZ: Uh-huh.
KIRSCH: -- bringing the message to Congress, people who have real horror stories in the health care system, and protesting in Congress.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
KIRSCH: You haven't seen the end of this until Congress decides that they're going to listen to us, not the insurance industry.
SANCHEZ: Richard -- Richard Kirsch, I think we're about to lose our satellite, so I'm going to have to let you go.
It's -- Health Care for America Now is your organization. And I thank you, sir, for coming on and answering questions about it.
KIRSCH: And thank you, Rick.
SANCHEZ: I appreciate it.
KIRSCH: You bet.
SANCHEZ: Now this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's not good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, look out, dude. It's going to take this house.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, God.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, look at that satellite dish.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: All right, next on the LIST: a very close view of a tornado. This is in Hammon, Oklahoma. It was shot and sent to us, and we wanted to share it with you. It happened Monday night, by the way, a bunch of homes destroyed, and you are going to see it as it happens. So, hold on to your seat there, folks. We will be sharing that with you.
And then Ben Roethlisberger, he's hired a high-profile defense team to dispute sexual assault allegations against him. There's new information about the woman, the 20-year-old woman who's accusing him of -- of such. And I'm going to bring on B.J. Bernstein. Why? She's a lawyer who's handled sexual assault cases, has specifically worked Baldwin County, where this happened, knows the players, and can share with us inside information.
So, stand by. More on the Ben Roethlisberger case coming up right here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Number two on our video list: taking you inside a tornado right now, as you probably have never seen it before. I'm taking you to Hammon, Oklahoma. This was yesterday. These are folks who get real close to these things and take real good pictures -- and sound. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) roar.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That is not good. I hope those people are all right.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my God. Back up. Reverse.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, we're good now. We're good. It's not -- it's going to go right --
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I know. I know. I know. I know.
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: That argument between the driver and the guy with the camera. Back up. No, it's OK. No, no, we better -- look, this is crazy. Aerials. A twister was on the ground for about 15 to 20 minutes. You saw what it was doing. This is what it did. Hammon is a small town. It's about 500 people. Warning sirens went off.
No reports of people injured, thank goodness. Lots of power lines are down, roofs ripped off, vehicles flipped over. The power and gas is out in much of Roger Mills County. Our best to the folks out there who had to deal with this overnight. This is about 110 miles west of Oklahoma City, by the way.
All right. Have you seen what happened in the news, just as we were getting ready to go on the air? See that guy on the right with the pink tie? That's a former CBS producer who is pleading guilty to attempted blackmail of David Letterman. You probably missed this, but I want to play some of it for you. He's getting six months in jail. You're going to be able to hear what he said when he came out apologetically.
Also, our Kareen Wynter has been following this story. She's going to have a live report on what's going on with the David Letterman saga as well. Stay right there. We have got this coming your way, as well as more on these protests. You're listening and watching the LIST. And it scrolls on.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez.
Let's do number three on the LIST.
A Pennsylvania woman is indicted in a plot to recruit a violent jihadist. These are fighters that could possibly commit murders overseas. Her name is Colleen R. LaRose, AKA Fatima LaRose, AKA JihadJane, charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to kill in a foreign country.
Jeanne Meserve is at our special desk, where we follow everything having to do with homeland security. And she's joining us now to bring us up to date on this.
Wow. What a wild revelation this is coming in just within the last hour, Jeanne.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: That's right. And we have -- we have learned from law enforcement officials that in fact she was arrested back in October in Philadelphia, and they have kept this under wraps as this investigation has continued.
(CROSSTALK)
MESERVE: She's being held in a detention facility up there.
The indictment just unsealed today charges her, as you said, with providing material support to terrorism and conspiracy to kill in a foreign country. According to this indictment, she posted a YouTube video under the name JihadJane, saying she was desperate to do something somehow to help the suffering Muslim people.
Eventually, she made contact with a man through this posting from an unidentified South Asian country. They talked about marrying, so he could use her to get into a European country. And, then, according to this indictment, he instructed her to commit murder, saying: Go to Sweden. Find the location of "blank" -- this name is not provided -- it's a resident of Sweden -- and kill him. This is what I say to you.
She responds, according to this indictment, "I will make this my goal until I achieve it, or die trying."
Then, according to this, she does, in fact, go overseas to train for jihad, and also was involved in raising money for jihad. And, eventually, she is arrested by law enforcement, as I say, on October 15 of this year.
But she says, at one point, according to this indictment, in some of these online correspondence, it's an honor and a great pleasure to die or kill for this unidentified Asian -- South Asian male, and pledging that, only death will stop me here that I am so close to the target.
Apparently, she never did make it to that target. Law enforcement made it to her. We're still trying to piece together a lot of this, Rick.
SANCHEZ: Yes. Well, and it sounds like an indictment that makes us all safer. So, I'm glad you're on it.
Jeanne Meserve, at our homeland security desk, our thanks to you, Jeanne.
Look at this.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
ASHBURN: I am gay. Those are the words that have been so difficult for me.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Difficult? Here's what has got a lot of folks screaming hypocrisy. This is a California state senator -- his name is Roy Ashburn -- who's voted every single time he's had a chance against anything having to do with gay rights, anything. And now he comes out, to the shock of everyone watching or who knew him, to say that he's gay. Huh?
There's our most intriguing. Who is it? We're going to be telling you in just a little bit. Hint: She was basically unknown until someone famous began following her online.
And Beth -- pardon me -- Ben Roethlisberger, big story in the news, new details -- and we will share.
Stay right there. The LIST scrolls on.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: We have been following a lot of news, including this protest that was taking place today in Washington, D.C. And I drilled down on the organizers of the protest, trying to find out what they were all about, who's sponsoring them, where they get their money.
And that didn't sit well with some of our viewers. And, as a matter of fact, let's check with some of these viewers now to see what they're saying. We also keep a list of folks who are following the show. We also keep a list of people who are relevant.
Here's what they're saying: "I get really upset with you, because it seems you have a double standard. No questions asked of the Tea Party that way." And then "Rachel Maddox"?
Also, "Those storm chasers are nuts."
And this guy loves me. Look at this: "You're terrible. I don't know why CNN keeps you on the air."
They like my kids.
All right, she's a Twitter user, but, hey, who isn't? I am as well. You know that. And I'm one of the followers, but that alone does not make this person make our list for today's most intriguing.
Nineteen years old, and she's the talk of Twitter today. Why? Because she says that former "Tonight Show" host Conan O'Brien has changed her life. When Conan announced that he will follow just one person on Twitter, he randomly chose the user LovelyButton.
What started as a goof has mushroomed. LovelyButton's new online fame and some donations are allowing her now to afford to get married this year.
Show her, Roger. That's right. She is LovelyButton. Sarah Killen is her real name. Her followers went from three to nearly 18,000 in a matter of hours. And you can find her on Twitter as well and congratulate her for being one of CNN's most intriguing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have been talking to Mr. Ed Garland. And he is in the process of making arrangements for us to talk with Mr. Roethlisberger and all the individuals that were with him in the party on the night of the incident.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has now hired a high-profile defense attorney, as some of you know. That attorney, as he's paid to do, is disputing the allegations of sexual assault by a 20-year-old college student, who we understand is now thinking about quitting school.
B.J. Bernstein has handled cases like this one many, many times. You remember B.J. She worked with me on the Genarlow Wilson stories that we did. She has worked Baldwin County. You could call her a legal expert in that area. And she's standing by to join me in just a little bit to take me through this case. There she is, as a matter of fact.
B.J., good to see you. Come on up and have a seat, and we will be talking about this.
All right. Stay there. We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: I once got a lot of acclaim for working on a story that I was devoted to. It was the story of a young man named Genarlow Wilson. The woman who turned me on to that story and the woman who was fighting for him in the courtroom was B.J. Bernstein.
And she's good enough to join us now.
And --
B.J. BERNSTEIN, ATTORNEY FOR GENARLOW WILSON: Good to see you, Rick.
SANCHEZ: Good to see you as well.
The reason I have reached out to you this time is because you're an attorney who handles sexual assault cases.
BERNSTEIN: I have, Rick.
SANCHEZ: You have worked in Baldwin County.
BERNSTEIN: Right.
SANCHEZ: And, in Baldwin County, there's a case that has the potential to become one of those stories that's going to be in the news for a long, long time. Or it could be dropped. Who knows.
BERNSTEIN: Or it could be dropped. Exactly.
SANCHEZ: It -- it could go either way. So, let -- let me take the viewers through what we know. Obviously, we're talking about Beth -- Ben Roethlisberger. I don't know why I keep wanting to call him Beth. He's a Super -- Super Bowl -- two-time Super Bowl quarterback, superstar NFL quarterback, signed a $100 million contract. He has got a lot of dough.
Let's put up a picture of Ben, just so our viewers who maybe don't watch the NFL know who we're talking about. There's Big Ben, as they call him. Big Ben has a house not far from Atlanta in one of the lake sections around Georgia.
He went partying this last weekend with some friends, as 28-year-olds are bound to do. There, he ran into a 20-year-old woman. This 20- year-old woman is now alleging, has gone to police, did so the moment it happened, that he sexually assaulted her. She was sent to the hospital, where she had DNA samples -- or -- pardon me -- where she had -- where -- where she was checked out at the hospital.
And now police say that they want to interview as many as eight different people. That's pretty much the scenario, as we know it right now. There's a lot of information moving today as well. His lawyer, of course, is saying, one of the high -- by the way, this lawyer -- Garland is his name?
BERNSTEIN: Ed Garland, great lawyer.
SANCHEZ: You know him, right?
BERNSTEIN: He and Don Samuel -- yes, absolutely.
SANCHEZ: Superstar lawyer?
BERNSTEIN: Superstar lawyer, almost as good as me.
SANCHEZ: You pay them enough money, and they will say you're innocent?
BERNSTEIN: Oh, hold on.
(LAUGHTER)
BERNSTEIN: I mean, you know, you have got to watch it.
(LAUGHTER)
BERNSTEIN: But, you know, this is the thing. With any sexual assault allegation, you really have to slow the train down. And that's what Ed is doing.
I mean, Ed has said to the Milledgeville Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, who has now taken up this case, because, clearly, it's overwhelmed a small town that's two hours outside of Atlanta, to say, hold on. You have got to talk to people and find out what's really going on before -- there's not even been an arrest. SANCHEZ: Well, we know that, but we do know now that police are looking at eight different witnesses, and they say there's several videotapes that they're going to be examining. That stuff can hurt you.
BERNSTEIN: It can hurt you and it can help you. You just mentioned Genarlow Wilson. Genarlow Wilson, the tape which initially got him arrested is what got him acquitted of certain sexual allegations.
SANCHEZ: Look, there are some questions of judgment here, but it's OK to be stupid in the United States. Nobody is going to throw you behind bars for being stupid, going some place and acting -- for having too many drinks and doing what you're doing when you're a multimillionaire NFL quarterback who has just recently signed a contract.
Notwithstanding that, his judgment and stupidity, what are the chances that he is going to be able to go in here and get away without being charged based on the fact this woman is saying this man did this to me? How do you say to the woman, no, he didn't?
BERNSTEIN: Well, we don't know what sexual act we're even talking about. OK?
They've used the words "sexual assault." Under the law, that can be a number of things. It can be anything from a simple misdemeanor, just a touching of her intimate parts, to something far more serious like rape. We don't even know what that allegation is.
But doesn't everything have to do with whether she was in compliance? I mean, if two people get out of hand, one person is not allowed to then say he made me do it. But they're actually talking in this case about a charge. I think it's criminal manipulation.
What is that?
BERNSTEIN: I'm not sure on that one. That's not really on our books. What I would say is there's misdemeanors such as sexual battery, then there are far more serious offensives -- rape, aggravated sodomy. I mean, we don't know what the charges are.
SANCHEZ: What's the standard? Does he have to -- if she can try and show that he forced her to do something she didn't want to do, does it have to be physical?
BERNSTEIN: Well, a definition of force is very broad. It can be physical force, or it could be a threat to her to force her to do it. And you're tying in on a key point here, which is there's the issue of consent. Did she or did she not consent to any sexual act?
SANCHEZ: Right.
BERNSTEIN: That's one thing. And that could be the dividing line between a misdemeanor or -- to then to jump it up to a serious felony, the state would have to prove that there was force. And again, that can be physical, than can be threatening, and then you start getting into sticky issues if you're saying it's just his size. He's a big guy, she's a smaller person.
SANCHEZ: Well, that's true. He's a huge guy.
There's a lot of talk out there that this may have happened in a restroom. If it happened in a female restroom, is this damaging for him?
BERNSTEIN: Not necessarily. Again, because we're talking in the context of a college bar. And if someone is looking for privacy, and if you've ever been in to these big bars back in the day --
SANCHEZ: Thank goodness I'm a boring, married guy with four kids and a dog. OK?
BERNSTEIN: Good. And that keeps you out of trouble. But a lot of my clients, they're young. And you know what? They do sneak into a room and make out with someone else. So, you can't say that just because they went to a place that it's creepy, it doesn't sound good, we're talking young people here. He's 28; she's 19, 20.
SANCHEZ: Final question. These guys in Baldwin County, in Milledgeville, Georgia, most Americans have never heard -- what can you tell us about these guys? You've worked with them before.
Are they competent? I hate to ask that question.
BERNSTEIN: Fred Bright is the district attorney there. He's been the D.A. for a while. And it's interesting, because from the press remarks it's clear that his office is really looking at this because if there are charges, they would be handling it.
So, as opposed to what initially started, which was a report to the small police department in Milledgeville, clearly the --
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: So these guys know what they're doing. You've worked with them, these guys know what they're doing.
BERNSTEIN: They do. They do.
SANCHEZ: A lot of people are wondering why, for example, he wasn't kept there. I mean, a woman is accusing him of sexual assault, and he leaves the state.
BERNSTEIN: Because he's not arrested. And, in fact, you want an investigation to occur. And we saw from the horrifying cases like the Duke rape case, that when you let the media push it, just because someone is famous, or there's some salacious allegations, it can be out of control.
SANCHEZ: That's fair.
That's fair, and I'm glad I had you here to take us through. Good to see you again.
BERNSTEIN: Good to see you.
SANCHEZ: All right. Likewise.
Let's talk about this now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The way he's been driving and the fact that he's in a Jeep, it's almost impossible at this point.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Can you believe this? No, it's not a Toyota, B.J. I knew you were thinking that.
This is a Jeep, and it has some problems of its own making. Details on this chase is coming up after the block.
Also, a new development in the Letterman blackmail case. The CBS producer comes before the cameras for the very first time, and he cops. A live report just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: We don't usually cover car chases, not when they're going on live. Just don't need to.
Now, after they're caught on tape, we can show you something that looks just downright bizarre.
Let's do "Fotos."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The fact he's in the Jeep is almost impossible at this point.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: It's almost fun just to watch this thing. Where is he going?
He's going into people's back yards, he's going through fences. It's a stolen Jeep. Apparently, there's a woman inside.
He leads police through neighborhoods, goes the wrong way on a highway, exceeds speeds of 90 miles an hour, crashes through another gate. Gets back on the highway, crashes into the barricade.
I mean, it's one near miss after another, going head-on with traffic. Then the driver bails, and then finally he gives up.
The driver was wanted on several outstanding felony warrants, by the way. And we're glad we brought you that. Now, why isn't that guy still behind bars?
All right. It's getting rowdy and angry. This is Paris.
These are people who work for France's major oil company, Total. They're not happy with the company's planned closure of a refinery.
They're smashing windows, they're slugging it out with police at the company's headquarters. The company says, look, nobody's going to lose their jobs, but they don't buy it. These protesters are saying they don't think that their company is telling the truth, and that's why they showed up in droves.
Those are the "Fotos."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Halderman pled guilty to attempted grand larceny by extortion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: There is a new development making our list. That is David Letterman. He is the one who someone had to put someone over on.
The guy's name is Robert Joe Halderman, former CBS News producer. He came before the cameras just before we went on the air, and he basically copped to what he did, stood before a judge.
We're going to take you through his sound and let you hear for yourself what Joe Halderman had to say. A live report coming up next.
Number six on our list -- former CBS News producer Robert Joe Halderman pleading guilty to shaking down David Letterman over sexual affairs with staffers. Halderman gets jail time, probation and community service.
It's interesting to watch as he comes out before the cameras. Look at his demeanor as his lawyer is talking as well.
Let's listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT "JOE" HALDERMAN, FMR. CBS PRODUCER: Again, I apologize to Mr. Letterman, his family, to Stephanie Birkitt, her family, and certainly to my friends and family. I will not be doing any interviews, and I thank you all for your patience.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: What a story.
Kareen Wynter has been following up on this story. She's our CNN entertainment correspondent, and she's joining us now.
You know what I was thinking as I was watching him? When his lawyer was talking, he almost seemed like he was ashamed, like his head was down, Kareen. KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rick, wouldn't you be? I mean, this is awful to have happened to anyone.
You know, David Letterman, on one hand. Halderman on the other. And so he's embarrassed by all of this.
And the only reason I believe he even stepped in front of that microphone to make any sort of statement, albeit a little one, was to, you know, clear the air and say don't hound me, at least for today, this is all I have to say. So I think that's why he felt obligated to do that.
SANCHEZ: There's that shot I was talking about. Let's see, his lawyer is talking. And the whole time he was just kind of like looking at his shoes.
What are insiders saying about this thing, Kareen?
WYNTER: Oh, you can bet they're weighing in. I spoke to several earlier today, and they said the person who's come out on top, of course, David Letterman.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
WYNTER: And Rick, that's, quite frankly, because of how he handled this out of the gates. He was on top the scandal. He came out of ahead of everyone, everything before this even broke by addressing it on his show, saying, hey, I've got to tell you something, I've got to be up front. I'm human, I'm not perfect, in fact I'm far from it, and here's what happened. And, by the way, that's not the worst part. The worst part is that there's this guy trying to extort $2 million from me.
So there was definitely that sympathy factor there. So insiders are saying that this only really buries the scandal further, that Letterman is going to be able to move on.
And the implications here ratings-wise, we'll have to see what happens. People may tune in today or tomorrow to see if he addresses it.
They're saying, don't hold your breath, that he wants to create as much distance as possible between the scandal and his image. But Rick, I found something really interesting.
You know, the second time that Letterman addressed this -- first, he put it out there, that this had happened, and said, no, I'm not going to talk about it again. Well, he addressed it again because of all of the media interest.
That was back in October, October 6th. And the ratings for that show back then, 5.7 million versus a season average of 4.8 million.
So, again he came ahead, came out on top when this happened.
SANCHEZ: Yes, and think of the irony, though. David Letterman comes out on live television and tells his audience that he's cheated on his wife repeatedly, essentially, right?
WYNTER: Yes.
SANCHEZ: I mean, that's pretty much what he did. I've got to come clean here because this person is doing this.
His ratings go through the roof. In the meantime, his competitors, Leno and Conan O'Brien --
WYNTER: Oh, Conan hadn't --
SANCHEZ: Yes. I mean, one's out of a job and the other one is involved in this huge scandal because they say he's saying -- it's funny, this whole late-night TV thing really did a flip. And you would think the guy who had done something that some people would say is very wrong ended up on top.
WYNTER: He did. And, in fact, when Conan -- you know, we kind of went back, Conan, Leno. Well, for our audience, the backdrop on that is Leno left "The Tonight Show" about nine months ago. His successor, Conan, came on board.
Then there was a controversy because NBC wanted to move Leno back to the 11:00 p.m. slot. So Leno is back. He was back on the job last week.
And since then, Rick, since you brought it up, his ratings have been just amazing. He's reclaimed the top spot that Letterman took over when Leno departed. And so, again, it will be interesting to see how things shape up rating-wise tonight, this week, to see if people are going to be tuning into Letterman to say, hey, OK, now that this has happened, do you have anything final to say about the plea agreement and kind of where things go from here.
SANCHEZ: That's amazing. And by the way, just -- I should be clear. When I said allegations that Letterman had cheated on his wife, actually I do believe that most of the things that were alleged against him was prior to his marriage.
Is that right?
WYNTER: Those are the reports that were sent out to the media. And the clarification was that these -- this misconduct, the sexual misconduct, Rick, happened before his marriage.
SANCHEZ: OK. Just wanted to be clear, didn't want to get that wrong, and wanted to clarify it just in case. It was, nonetheless, the story that everyone was talking about.
Good stuff, Kareen. Appreciate the way this story has developed, and I'm glad we had you there to tell it and take us through it.
WYNTER: Thanks, Rick.
SANCHEZ: Now this. The White House expecting a vote next week on health care. But does Congress see it that way? I'm going to drill down with this in just a little bit with Wolf Blitzer, and the president's new strategy about the bully pulpit thing. We'll be talking to Wolf about that.
Stay right there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: The White House says it wants the vote on health care. You heard when they said it. They said they wanted this done in the next couple of weeks. That would be next week from when they said it. Leaders in the House though seem to be saying it's probably not going to get done that fast.
Wolf Blitzer is joining me now from Washington.
I'm looking at my notes here and it says, Wolf, that Steny Hoyer is saying -- he's the House majority leader -- March 18th date mentioned by the White House last week may not happen.
Should that be a surprise to anybody?
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Look, there have been so many deadlines that have come and gone over the past year, no one should be surprised if they miss yet another deadline, although the president did say pretty aggressively the other day that within the next few weeks. Robert Gibbs was on "Good Morning America" earlier today. He said within the next two weeks.
But they would really like to get it done, if possible, in the House of Representatives before the president leaves for his trip to Asia. That's going to be the middle of next week. And they would like to get the whole thing done before the Easter recess at the end of the month, because then all the members go back to their districts, and they're worried that there will be more protests, more demonstrations, town hall meetings, and all that kind of stuff.
So they're putting the pressure on the House and the Senate to wrap it up this month, but it's by no means a done deal yet, and it's by no means certain it will get done.
SANCHEZ: Well, now there's another kind of protest. Did you see the protest taking place in Washington today? I mean, that's new, protests for health care reform?
BLITZER: Yes, these are activists, mostly liberals, who want to see health care reform, who want to see the president's legislation get passed. They were outside a D.C. hotel where there were some health executives who were meeting, and they're speaking out loudly, making it clear that they think this is the time right now. From their perspective, it's way overdue, so they're being pretty vocal.
SANCHEZ: Yes. And, well, they're liberals. And the other side, the Tea Party group, is, for the most part, conservatives or uber- conservatives. So you've got both sides of the spectrum in America now apparently taking to the streets and trying to get their points across on this thing.
That's healthy, right?
BLITZER: Nothing wrong with that. People have a right to speak out. That's why we have a great country. Everybody can express their opinions, they can do it in a peaceful, nice, good way. That's always useful, but, you know, that's what makes our country great.
SANCHEZ: Wolf Blitzer, thanks so much. Appreciate it.
We'll be looking forward to "THE SITUATION ROOM" coming up in just a little bit.
And then Brook Baldwin is going to join me with this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROY ASHBURN (R), CALIFORNIA STATE SENATOR: I am gay, and those are the words that have been so difficult for me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: What makes this sorry so fascinating is that Roy Ashburn has voted against gay issues every time that they have come up as a state senator. And now he's coming forward to say, oh, by the way, I'm gay.
A lot of folks are screaming hypocrisy here. Brooke Baldwin, just to my right, is going to be stepping up here in just a little bit, and she's going to be taking us through this story.
Good to see you, Brooke.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: All right. This is one of probably the most interesting stories of the day, because it involves what many folks are calling hypocrisy on the part of a California state senator. His name is Roy Ashburn.
Let me just take you through some of the stuff that he's been against.
He has a longtime voting record of being an opponent with anything having to do with gay rights, over 14 years serving in the state assembly of California. He's voted against same-sex marriage. He's even voted against establishing a day to honor Harvey Milk.
Standing by his vote, standing by his records, but then something happened which is, I guess, what becomes most interesting in this case. I mean, here's a guy who's against everything that is gay rights, everything that gays are proponents of, and then tell our viewers what's up.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And yet, these three little words, three little words that really stopped speculation, set the record straight with this California state senator -- talking about Roy Ashburn, divorced father of four. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ASHBURN: I am gay, and so I -- those are the words that have been so difficult for me for so long.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Now, he didn't just come out, right? I mean, he was kind of forced into this situation because of extenuating circumstances.
BALDWIN: Right. So, the story kind of started to break last week. He was arrested, allegedly, arrested for this DUI. Reports had been that he was at this gay nightclub, and then we heard him on the radio yesterday morning.
And also, as part of this radio, very public, very personal announcement, he said, you know what? This incident led to "restless nights, soul-searching." You mentioned this, gay rights groups may be a little bit slow to embrace Ashburn because of his long history of voting against gay rights issues.
But when Ashburn was asked, you know, "Why did you vote this way?" He said that's what the voters would have wanted him to do.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ASHBURN: My votes reflect the wishes of the people in my district, and I have always felt that my faith and allegiance was to the people there in the district, my constituents.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Wow.
BALDWIN: So we've heard from him, we've actually seen him. He came onto the Senate floor just a couple hours after coming out on the radio, greeted by hugs by some of his colleagues, really before making a quick exit.
Colleagues say, yes, you know what? He's going through this tough time. But Senator Mark Leno, who is gay, he's a Democrat out in California, says Ashburn hopefully will moderate GOP opposition to gay rights legislation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK LENO (D), CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE: It's an opportunity for him to lead his caucus, to bring a new perspective to his caucus, to help them open their eyes a little bit. Hey, guys, how come we opposed hospital visitation rights for same-sex couples? Wasn't that a little stupid?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Wow.
BALDWIN: Wow.
SANCHEZ: He opposed everything.
BALDWIN: He did.
SANCHEZ: Now, we should -- he was stopped in a DUI stop, right, after leaving the gay nightclub?
BALDWIN: After leaving the gay nightclub, correct.
SANCHEZ: Which is kind of what forced him into --
BALDWIN: To ultimately come out, right. And I want to add that we definitely reached out to him to try to get some comment.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
BALDWIN: I mean --
SANCHEZ: No, I invited him to come on the show.
BALDWIN: There you go. We haven't heard back. Maybe if we keep trying, we can hear his side.
But really, the next question is, A, what's he going to be doing next? And B, can he best represent his district? You know, listening to some of the sound, one of the Republican congressmen said, really, that's just yet to be determined.
SANCHEZ: But there's no question this is being seen as a story of hypocrisy, especially by the --
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: That is the word. That's the H-word that I see time and time again in all these different articles, absolutely.
SANCHEZ: Is there any chance that he will change his position on this? Is there any mention of that? Or did he sound to you from everything you've -- I know you've been working on this story for several hours. Is he resolute that, no, my constituents are very conservative Republicans and they don't want me to vote for gay rights?
BALDWIN: I think from what I've heard, what he said on this radio show, you know, yes, I'm gay, and that should not and will not change the way -- change my job, change the way I work, change the way I represent --
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: So he says I'm going to vote for what my constituents want, not what I personally believe in?
BALDWIN: To go that far, you're going to be asking him that when he comes on the show.
SANCHEZ: Yes, you're right. You're right.
BALDWIN: I can't speak for him.
SANCHEZ: That seems to be the way the story has turned at this point, anyway.
BALDWIN: Perhaps. Yes.
SANCHEZ: What a fascinating story.
BALDWIN: It is. It is.
SANCHEZ: Thanks for bringing it to us.
BALDWIN: You got it.
SANCHEZ: And I'm sure we've got a thousand tweets to go through, and I'll read them when I get home, and I'll be answering them for you.
Meanwhile, here's Wolf Blitzer. He's in "THE SITUATION ROOM," by golly.
