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Hala Gorani Tonight
Battle in Syria for Aleppo; Last Hours Before the New Hampshire Primary; Trump and Bush Trade Barbs; North Korea Rocket Launch Sparks Outrage; Chicago Cop Sues Estate of Teen He Killed; Women and Hillary; Zika Virus Threat Not Dampening Carnival Festivities. Aired 3-4p ET
Aired February 08, 2016 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:00:00] HALA GORANI, "THE WORLD RIGHT NOW" HOST: We could be seeing one of the civil war's most important battle. CNN is on the ground inside
Syria.
Then, American candidates scramble to reach voters in the last hour before the New Hampshire primary. What can they do to win over the undecided?
Also this hour, a rocket launched in North Korea sparks outrage around the world, and the U.S. is threatening to respond.
And later, the threat of Zika is not dampening the carnival festivities in Brazil. We are live in Rio de Janeiro.
Hello everyone, I'm Hala Gorani, we're live in CNN London for you, this is THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.
(MUSIC)
Well, it could be one of the determining battles that determines the course of Syria's civil war, and that is the battle of Aleppo. Key supply lines
to the rebel-controlled city have been cut, Russian air power is helping regime forces advance on the area they don't control. And the state of
hundreds of thousands of civilians once again hangs in the balance, take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: With the full force of Russia's military behind them, Syrian government forces are sweeping rapidly toward Aleppo. If they
managed to control the whole city, the battle could prove to be a game changer in Syria's civil war. Aleppo is the most strategically important
territory held impart by opposition forces, Syria's largest city, and since they lost control of Homs last year, the only major urban area where the
rebels are still strong.
But over the past few weeks, Syrian government forces backed up by the Russian air force have been tightening their grip around Aleppo,
solidifying their control in the rural areas around the city. Last week Assad's forces even took control of the main supply route into the city.
If as expected they target this area of the north, next the rebels could become entirely cut off. Rebel fighters and civilians face the prospect of
life under siege.
They already endure frequent airstrikes. The bombardments have sent tens of thousands fleeing to the Turkish border, where many are being held in
makeshift camps. The rapid advance of Assad's forces into these parts Aleppo signifies how Russian evolvement is changing the tide of the
conflict. The offensive already detailed the U.N.-led peace talks, which have been put on hold until later this month.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: With all the movement on the ground, a decisive battle for the rebel-held part of Aleppo could be eminent, let's cross the Syrian capital
of Damascus.
CNN's Frederik Pleitgen joins me now live from inside Syria. What's the view from Damascus on the regime's latest military moves in Aleppo Fred?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's really interesting Hala, because when you speak to people here who support
the regime here in the government-controlled side of Damascus, they're obviously more optimistic than I personally have seen them over the past
two and half years that I've been coming here. We were speaking to people here, regular folks all around, we've been speaking to officials here in
Damascus as well.
And both of them believe that the battle for Aleppo, if ended it plays out in the government's favor could be a crushing blow to the opposition. Of
course at this point in time, they consider, everybody in the opposition (inaudible), and they say that that could be a crushing blow to them. They
also say the terrible amount of Jabhat al-Nusra, so al-Queda fighters inside of Aleppo, and they believe that this is something that they could
sort out with the sort of siege that they seem to be putting in place at this point in time. But the optimism is something that I haven't seen here
before in the past couple of years.
If you look around Damascus as well, the people will tell you, they believe this could be coming to an end at some point, even though they'll tell you
they still believe that the battle for Aleppo is one that could take a considerable amount of time, Hala.
GORANI: And could this have been done without Russian help?
PLEITGEN: Well, you know, when you speak to people here on the ground, when you speak to officials, they obviously will tell you, they believe
that it was the Syrian army that was in the lead in winning back these territories, but of course it's no secret that before the Russian
engagement here started in earnest, and before it started turning the tide, the Syrian military was having a lot of problems with the various rebel
factions, that is was loosing territory to -- in many places in country.
You look at the south, whether it was a big rebel offensive at some point, you look at some of the territories that were taken by ISIS, places like
Palymyra for instance. The Russian is something that people will acknowledge ...
(AUDIO GAP)
... the difference on Ethiopia (ph), but it's not only that, it is of course also various other militia factions, many of them backed by Iran,
like for instance Hezbollah, like for instance some Iraqi fighters as well that have also made a bid difference on the battlefield.
[15:05:07] But, if you speak to stoush (ph) regime supporters here in Damascus, they certainly will be first and foremost to praise their own
military that they believe has done a lot to also win back these territories as well.
GORANI: All right, we'll have a lot more from Syria with your reporting in Damascus Fred a little bit later, thanks very much.
The latest there on this potentially decisive battle over Aleppo. Aleppo is not the administrative capital but of course it's the largest city in
Syria. And while these airstrikes over Aleppo intensify, thousands of people are fleeing toward the Turkish border. Once again civilians caught
in the crossfire.
It's also worth remembering that if indeed regime forces surround rebel- controlled parts of Aleppo, that many tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of civilians will be stuck there along with the rebels, more
misery for those civilians.
But now back to those fleeing to Turkey, CNN's Arwa Damon filed this report earlier from the key border crossing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Turkey is planning on setting up something of a more permanent camp on the other side of the
border. We heard from local officials earlier that they would be sending in toilets, showers, mobile kitchens and they're planning on building up to
2,000 tents. So, for those who were hoping to reach some sort of safety it's not going to be in Turkey, at least not for now.
There could potentially be hundreds of thousands that end up having to flee what seems to be an immanent decisive battle for control over Aleppo. And
rebel commander say that if the status quo continues, if they do not receive some sort of additional support they're going to be left with very
few options and all of them are less than ideal. Among them is the options of surrendering to the regime which understandably no one wants to do.
They could ally themselves with the Kurdish fighting force but there's not a lot of trust between the Kurds and the Arabs.
They could ally with the al-Queda-linked Nusra Front, and some units are even considering out of sheer desperation forming an allegiance with ISIS.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: And that was Arwa Damon reporting from that key crossing point. As I mentioned to you early, we'll have a lot more in Syria a little bit
later in this program.
Now, let's talk about U.S. politics. The next critical test in the race for the White House is just a day away when New Hampshire holds its
primary, and the candidates are making a last minute push for votes.
CNN's Poll of Polls shows Donald Trump leading the Republican pack in that state with 31 percent, followed by Marco Rubio with half the amount of
support, declares support in this poll at 15 percent.
On the Democratic side our Poll of Polls shows Bernie Sanders on top with 54 percent. Now remember this is for New Hampshire, this is not
nationally, and we have Hillary Clinton polling at 40 percent support in New Hampshire.
CNN's Chris Frates joins me now live from Windham, New Hampshire with more. All right, so Chris let's talk a little bit, first -- I know you're not our
weather forecaster but there's a big problem here potentially with a snowstorm, is that going to affect turnout, and if so who would have
benefit?
CHRIS FRATES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well I'll tell you Hala, that storm is coming in, and right now they don't think it's going to be so big that it
is going to affect the election. In fact we just got a -- done here in a town hall for John Kasich where the room was packed and it was snowing
pretty hard when that started. So lots and lots of people still getting out to hear these candidates. And it was interesting to listen to Kasich,
he's an Ohio Republican governor and he's trying to win that establishment lane here in New Hampshire. That includes former Florida Governor Jeb Bush
and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. They're all vying for second or third place here.
And he's kept a very positive campaign, he refuses to throw any mud at some of the other candidates, and he was asked about that by a voter here. I
want everybody to take a listen to see what was asked and how he answered it, Hala.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What I'm concerned about is you seem to be a really nice guy and we saw for John McCain that didn't worked out so well, how are
you going to hit back at Hillary, and really just if you need, you know, to start flying, you need someone who's going to get a little sort of jerky
(ph).
GOV. JOHN KASICH, (R-OH) U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm a nice but I want to tell you something, you don't want to mess with me. You -- I'm
telling you, nobody wants to mess with me, including Putin or whoever, you know, Z or any of these other people, you don't mess with me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRATES: So there you have it, a little bit of tough talk from John Kasich making the argument that, you know, he can get a little dirty if needed.
But he stayed mostly positive and that's helped him in the polls. He -- they believe that they can come in second place here. That would be huge
for John Kasich. You know he needs -- he said to himself that he really needs to win here, that if he gets smoked in New Hampshire, he's out of the
race.
Now of course, Donald Trump, number one here in New Hampshire, he's trying to get his first win, and then Ted Cruz and Macro Rubio going back and
forth with third here, Hala.
[15:10:13] GORANI: OK, let's talk a little bit about Donald Trump and Jeb Bush, they have been trading insult. It's a bit primary school, let's be
honest. I want to tell our viewers about what happened, and both candidates by the way spoke to CNN. The long-running feud between Jeb Bush
and Donald Trump, it started out on Twitter, Jeb Bush fired a shot over Twitter referring to negative comments Trump had made about Senator John
McCain.
Bush twits, real Donald Trump, you aren't just a loser, you are a liar and a whiner, John McCain is a hero. Over and out.
Trump responded in a phone interview with my colleague Wolf Blitzer, listen.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, (R) U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He's a sad person who has gone absolutely crazy. I mean this guy is a nervous wreck, I've never seen
anything like it, and he's saying things like that, I get along very well with John McCain, you know, I was on John McCain's committee for his
election, to try and help him get elected, it didn't worked for him but that's OK. He was, you know, John McCain, he's fine, I like John McCain.
And, I know he says that I called John McCain also -- I call everybody, and actually the person I called the names is Jeb because Jeb is in favor of
common core, in other words children has to be taken care of from Washington. He's weak on immigration, I mean just look at his segments,
remember he said, it was in your show, I saw. They come as an act of love, immigration.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
GORANI: There you have it Donald Trump and Jeb Bush, calling each other name. So, just first of all, it's -- I mean to me it's a little strange
that Donald Trump would go after Jeb Bush because Jeb Bush is not polling in the top tier here, what's the strategy?
FRATES: Well, remember Hala, this goes all the way back to the beginning of the campaign when Jeb Bush really was a prohibitive frontrunner, he
raised a ton of money, the was the establishment favorite. And Donald Trump went after him right out of the gate in that first debate calling him
low energy, saying that he's an exciting candidate, that he doesn't have enough, you know, he's not manly enough to become president of the United
States. And Jeb for while he took those shots, but then he become one of the only establishment candidates to punch back, and that has really Jeb
Bush, his poll numbers have gone up here in New Hampshire every time that he takes Donald Trump on.
Just on Saturday in fact, he landed a pretty heavy blow against Donald Trump on immanent domain, you know, the government taking your property to
build roads and school, saying that Trump favored it, you know, for his business purposes and kicked little old ladies out of their houses for his
casino. So, Jeb Bush fighting Donald Trump with fire here and then calling out the rest of the field and say that he's really the only guy who will go
mano a mano with Donald Trump. Trying to show that he does have, you know, some fight left on him here, Hala.
GORANI: Well see if that helps him, you know, come primary day tomorrow.
Briefly, I want to talk about the Democrats, I mentioned to our viewers that Bernie Sanders is pooling way ahead of Hillary Clinton in New
Hampshire, nationally that's not the case, but for this particular state, 54 percent to 40 percent. Let's talk a little bit about the strategy for
both candidates here, what does Hillary need to do?
FRATES: Well Hillary Clinton is making the case that essentially Bernie Sanders, a senator from Vermont is on his home turf, that he has home field
advantage here. New Hampshire is right next to Vermont, and if she does OK here, she compete here, that will be a win for her. Now of course Bernie
Sanders say, look I'm going against the most powerful political operation in the country, in the Hillary Clinton campaign and he needs a win here.
Remember he came very close to a win in Iowa to upset Hillary Clinton, he lost by a couple of tenths of a percent.
He needs a big win here in New Hampshire to continue to move on, that will essentially even the score as they go into South Carolina. Bernie Sanders
already looking towards South Carolina, trying to build support among the African-American community, last week he got the endorsement of former
NAACP President Ben Jealous. And Hillary Clinton is not surprised why Bernie is tying to shore up some of those voters, Hillary Clinton very
strong among the African-American community going forward.
But everybody does expect Bernie Sanders will win here, and then the contest moves on to South Carolina in Nevada.
GORANI: All right, well certainly Clinton might have an edge there, thanks Chris Frates in New Hampshire.
A lot more to come this evening, the United States and the world reacts after North Korea says they launched a satellite over the weekend. Hear
what they have so say in a few minutes.
Also ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think it's going to end like any soon, and I don't think anyone is winning.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: We hear from people on the streets of Damascus directly, as the battle for Aleppo intensifies, what do ordinary Syrians in the capital
think? That's still to come at this hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:15:00]
Despite a weekend of global condemnation there is a celebratory mood in North Korea today. In fact so celebratory that fireworks literally lit up
the sky over Pyongyang to commemorate what the government says was satellite launch this weekend. And there's concern around the world that
the launch was actual cover for a ballistic missile test.
U.S. was among the first countries to express alarm over what happened and we've heard more reaction from Washington in the past few hours. Our
Global Affairs Correspondent Elise Labott is there and joins us now. What's being send in Washington about this reported -- this reported rocket
launch Elise?
ELISE LABOTT, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well Hala, the U.S. does believe that North Korea was able to launch a satellite or some kind of
object they're assuming is a satellite into space. And obviously this is concerning not just because of the satellite and the launch but the fact
that North Korea is continuing to advance its missile technology as it also advances its nuclear technology.
Now, the U.S. and South Korea have been talking ever since this launch and have said in the last few hours that they are planning to deploy what they
call the THAAD missile defense system in Seoul, that could be within weeks, and this missile system is able to shoot down rockets aimed from -- lobed
from North Korea at a very high altitude, so the feeling is this is a more precise missile system.
GORANI: All right Elise Labott, thanks very much in Washington there with an update on world reaction to what happened over the weekend in North
Korea. A lot more coming up, Coldplay was the main band on stage but did Beyonce steal the show? We'll have a full Super Bowl half-time debrief
next.
And does a woman's vote for Bernie Sanders equal a vote against feminism? I will debate the issue with two women, one who supports Sanders, the other
who supports Hillary Clinton. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:20:00]
Welcome back, it's another bruising day on Wall Street, we were down about 400 points just a while back and we're off session lows here. The Dow
Jones Industrial average though still significantly lower, 273 points right now, 15,931. Still there are concerns about the health of the world wide
economy. We'll keep our eye on that and we'll try to get you live to New York for an update shortly.
Now, in the United States the Super Bowl was watched by nearly 112 million people, making it the third most watched U.S. program in history. Denver,
Colorado is celebrating after the Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers, but it was the music at half-time that had a lot of people talking.
Now, Coldplay may have been the main act but some say it was Beyonce who really stole the show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
The superstar joined Coldplay and Bruno Mars on the field dishing her newest release, "Formation," the dancers were berets and black leather, a
staple of the African-American Nationalist Group the Black Panther Party.
Let's go live to our Senior Media Correspondent Brian Stelter, he is in New York. So Brian I watched this -- the half-time show on BCC, it wasn't
quite as exiting I think as watching it in the U.S. But I got to say once Bruno Mars showed up, once Beyonce showed up, you were like, yeah, this is
the show right here. I mean ...
BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, Coldplay who?
GORANI: Right ...
STELTER: Yeah, you're absolutely right. Beyonce dominated the conversation, to some extend Bruno Mars also overshadowed Coldplay. And in
the ratings you just mentioned, the half-time show was the most popular part of the entire Super Bowl. You know, some people thought the actual
game was a super snooze, because the Broncos were ahead for the whole second half.
But clearly this half-time show is memorable, and Beyonce in particular, you know, consider what she accomplished. She released this new song
"Formation" on Saturday, she gave her fans 24 hours to listen to it, and then she performed at the half-time show of the Super Bowl. How many other
artist will be able to pull that off, you know, releasing new music and then playing it on the biggest stage in the world?
GORANI: Listen, if I was a performer, the last person I would choose to be my sidekick/ sort of subperformer is Beyonce. Obviously she's going to out
stage you no matter what. I mean it was a peculiar -- was it imposed on Coldplay, did Coldplay picked Beyonce, how does that work?
STELTER: It's usually arranged by Pepsi, Pepsi is a sponsor of the half- time how, they've been sponsoring it for many, many years. So they worked with different music labels and different, you know, basically middlemen to
arrange the artists that are going to be performing at the half-time show. For Beyonce the timing was really effective because she announced a world
tour at the end of the half-time show. So, basically it was a free ad for Beyonce to introduce her plans for this tour. I have a feeling Coldplay
was just happy to be on the same stage as Beyonce though.
GORANI: Yeah, absolutely, who wouldn't be? And Bruno Mars also, great job there. So, let's talk about the ads, I've tried to watched them all but as
I've mentioned, I was watching it on British television and so I didn't get the ads, so I had to go on YouTube and Google them and eventually watch
them, I've tried to -- which one stood out the most, which one got the most buzz?
STELTER: Well today really is the odd ball because of what people like you are doing, watching them on YouTube and rewatching them. And there were
some that were over the top, very funny, very silly, Mountain Dew introducing a new animal, a new creation called puppy monkey baby or, maybe
it was monkey puppy baby, I'm not quite sure, I'll have to rewatch it.
Taco Bell introduced a new product called Quesalupa or something like that. There's always these sort of new product introductions, but there was no ad
that was truly horrifically controversial this year. Some of the companies had fun, there was a lot of Americana, a lot of (inaudible) patriotic
commercials, nothing that was incendiary that has people angry today. So maybe that's a victory for the advertisers.
GORANI: All right Brian Stelter, thanks very much joining us from New York with the latest with our little post-Super Bowl chat, viewed all over the
world as you know Brian as well.
[15:25:07] I mean, I don't know, I think possibly -- last time I understand it was possibly up to -- I don't know, was it up to a billion, I'm going to
have to check that number.
All right, coming up, a lot more on THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, CNN goes on the streets of Damascus, apologies, to ask Syrians who they view -- how they
view the regime's advances near Aleppo. That's just after the break, stay with us.
Also ahead, the Chicago police officer files a lawsuit against the estate of the teen he shot and killed. The details on a very controversial case
are coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Welcome back, a quick look at our top stories. The battle between Syrian forces and rebels around Aleppo intensifies. Turkey's Prime Minister says
30,000 Syrian refugees are currently amassed at the Turkish-Syrian border. He says they'll be let in "when necessary," and added that his country
should not be expected to shoulder the entire burden of the humanitarian crisis.
Also among our top stories, the bitter rivalry between Republican Donald Trump and Jeb Bush is getting nastier. Trump called Bush a looser and an
embarrassment to his family a short time ago on CNN. This after Bush referred to Trump as a looser, a liar and a whiner in a Twit about Senator
John McCain. Trump is leading in the polls ahead of Tuesday's primary in New Hampshire.
Now the White House is expected to request $1.8 billion from Congress to help fight the Zika virus, that request reported includes $200 million to
develop a vaccine, to fight the disease. Zika has been linked to severe birth defects in Brazil.
All right, we showed you the markets a moment ago. The Dow Jones is once again having a pretty bad day, though we are off sessions lows thankfully.
But you can see there the Dow Jones Industrial average off by 263 points. Cristina Alesci joins me now live from New York. What is the concern now
among investors Cristina?
CRISTINA ALESCI, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: A very bad day, one of the major index is here, the S&P 500 is set to close at the lowest level in almost
two years. Investors not just here but around the world very nervous about concerns ranging from Chin's growth prospect to tepid U.S. employment
numbers. Remember, we got those just Friday.
And then, we have a very big concern about the energy industry, specifically, you know, the major oil producing countries around the world
have really failed to come together on an agreement on how to address the supply glut that is happening right now.
[15:30:00] So all of these concerns together, are really making investors very nervous.
GORANI: Is it -- but if there a bit of an over reaction? What are analysts and experts saying because fundamentally, corporate earnings have
not been disastrous. Chinese growth is still relatively robust.
The falling oil prices really hurt only a handful of industries and benefit others, so why are we seeing such an extreme reaction?
ALESCI: Well, oil and other commodities are really a gage for growth, right? I mean, the more that a country demands for oil and other raw
materials, really, is just another metric for how many goods they're going to produce, what the economic activity is in those countries. And that's
why people get nervous when oil prices and raw commodities -- raw materials dropped so much.
But in terms of -- is this an over reaction? I mean, several analysts are, right now, going over their models and rejiggering them for a lower growth.
And as such, people are starting to question evaluations. OK, is this the right value, given the fact that these companies probably won't grow over
the next two years?
So now that companies have cut (inaudible), wherever they could, where the profit is going to come from? And if they're not coming from growth, it
means they're going to be flat. So, this is a real reset especially in the U.S. for corporate valuations.
GORANI: All right, Cristina Alesci, we'll see of course as we also hear from companies themselves about their forecast as to whether or not some of
the stocks deserved to be valued higher or lower or stay where they are.
ALESCI: Right.
Thanks very much, Cristina Alesci, in New York.
More now on our top story, the battle for Aleppo, Syria's largest city, while government forces fight rebels for control, the battle for public
opinion is also being waged inside Syria.
CNN's Fred Pleitgen took to the streets of Damascus to see how residents of the capital view their army's latest offensive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: The Syrian armies' recent advances against rebel groups have bolstered the Assad regime's position. And they fairly also had an impact
here if government controlled Damascus.
More traffic, more people out on the streets and more optimism among regime supporters.
"Things are getting better. Thanks to the leadership of President Assad", this man says. "And thanks to the Syrian army and the paramilitary
forces."
This man answer (ph), "Our army is winning. It's a strong army and it's protected by God."
But for much of last year, the Syrian government was loosing grounds. Various rebel factions closed and non-government strong holds in the north
and the south of the country.
But Russian airpower and help from pro-Iranian militias appear to be turning the tied in this five-year conflict, leading some to question the
points of diplomacy.
While the U.N. and the United States continue to say that only diplomacy can solve the Syrian crisis in increasing number of people here in
government-controlled territory seem to believe that there could be a military solution to the conflict, that is if Bashar al-Assad's army can
build on the gains it's made in recent weeks.
But the government offensive comes at a high price, tens of thousands fleeing toward the Turkish border looking to escape the onslaught.
Meanwhile, speculation that Assad's main adversaries, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, might be planning incursions into Northern Syria leading to this
warning from the foreign minister.
"Any troops that invade our territory will go home in wooden coffins", Walid Muallem said.
And even on the streets of Damascus, not everyone is sure the government's momentum will carry on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think it's going to end like soon. I don't think anyone is willing. I guess it's a no one. I don't know. It's my
personal opinion.
PLEITGEN: Even with the optimism brought on by the recent gains, one thing remains the same for Syrians, the uncertainty of what the future will
bring.
FRED PLATGEIN, CNN Damascus.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: That was bizarre legal case out of Chicago. A police officer -- you may remember this case, a police officer who shot and killed a 19-year-
old, who got a baseball bat on him because his dad called the police saying, "My son is angry."
The police officer who killed the 19-year-old is now suing the teen's estate. Authority say Quintonio LeGrier was shot multiple times on
December 26th. The police officer who killed him, Robert Rialmo, alleges the teen insulted him with a baseball bat.
Before he open fire killing LeGrier as well as an innocent bystander, Officer Rialmo is suing LeGriers family for $10 million.
[15:35:03] He claims the shooting and the attack by the teen with a baseball bat is causing him extreme emotional trauma.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOEL BRODSKY, RIALMO'S ATTORNEY: This is an emotional and psychological trauma that Officer Rialmo is going to have to carry with him for the rest
of his life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Chicago police and the city's mayor have already faced a lot of criticism after a series of shootings of young black man.
Let's get more with CNN Legal Analyst, Joey Jackson. He's live for us in New York.
Joey, let me get this straight. So this cop has called to their home of a man who says, "My son is acting -- he's acting up, he's acting angry. I
need the police to come help me control the situation."
Somehow, this degenerates into a situation where a cop shoots the 19-year- old Quintonio LeGrier four times. Is that correct?
JOEY JACKSON, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Shoots him six times, Hala, in addition to killing a neighbor and as much as a bullet went through the 19-year-
old's arm and hit a neighbor who was standing behind him. That neighbor, Ms. Jones, is also dead, so there're two people dead.
And as you're getting into, the officer who did the shooting is suing the dead teen's family's estate as a result of emotional trauma that he
suffered that you heard as attorney say, "He would have to live with for the rest of his life." We should also note that he has a life, the person
we're looking at on the screen, doesn't.
GORANI: I just don't get it. I mean, honestly, I don't legally even get it. I mean, he -- regardless of what then a legal case might establish
happened of who is responsible, whether or not this cop should be held liable for having used deadly force in a way that wasn't necessarily wanted
at the time. How can he then take legal action against the family of the teen that he shot and killed?
JACKSON: Well, Hala, you may not be the only one who doesn't get it, the court may not get it. And let's just dissect this for one moment.
First of all, anyone has an opportunity to sue, it's a free country, simply because you can sue, it doesn't mean you should sue nor does it mean that
lawsuit has merit.
Now, let's get into the specifics of a merit. Before you can get into the emotional trauma that the officer eligibly suffered at the hands of the
dead teen, who caused his own death, you have to get into whether or not the shooting was even justified from a civil perspective.
Now, we know that the independent review authority in Chicago, which is that entity that reviews police's shooting is evaluating this. We also
know the federal government is evaluating this.
But looking at it from a civil perspective, the question that's going to be raised, "Was the officer in imminent fear (inaudible)?" That's going to be
a question. Does that baseball bat in their questions factually in terms of whether or not the teen was right in front of them, he swung it and the
officer just missed and ducked, it would have hit him or the officer went back 20-feet away.
GORANI: But was the team not shot in the back -- I'm sorry. Was the team not shot in the back?
JACKSON: Four times. Yes, but I think ...
GORANI: In the back?
JACKSON: ... what happens when you look at those things, apparently an autopsy revealed, Hala, that there were six shots, four of them in the
back.
Now, of course, in cases like this, arguments are constantly made that it could have been because the teen was twisting away, or moving away, or
trying to get out of the bullet's view, not necessarily that he was shot in the back but it's a factual question.
But now, you get to the imminencey of the threat, was there an imminent threat? Then you get to, was the force used proportionate to that threat?
And six times versus a baseball bat, does the used of force continuum? Should there been a Taser? Should there been have (inaudible)? Should
there been some other measure other than a fatal shot and then finally that the officer act reasonably.
You get to all of that before you get to even the essence of the emotional trauma, which is, Hala, that you're an officer. It's inherent in your job
that this, in fact -- and, you know, dealing with the public is going to occur an emotional trauma for what your trained is going to occur.
So, their what to expect now, should you be permitted to sue as a result of that? And I think that's why there's certainly is going to be a motion to
dismiss made in this case and there's so much precedent that dissect. Should officers now is a standard matter? When they kill victim, should
they be allowed to sue for emotional trauma caught?
GORANI: So, in this -- but the family as well of Quintonio LeGrier is also taking its legal action of its own?
JACKSON: Yes, correct. The family is suing in wrongful death and you see that in this cases where someone is killed and the family sues the estate
of the decedent that is the person who died. The family sues because of wrongful death.
They argue that there's some negligence, that there's some excessive force that was improper and inappropriate that there didn't need to be at
shooting, that the officers should have been better trained, better equipped and didn't need to escalate it and elevate it into such a deadly
encounter. And out of that lawsuit comes this counter claim with the officer says, "No, I'm the one who suffered a trauma."
And so, this is going to have a major precedent setting affect. And I think the courts are going to look upon this with great skepticism not
because officers don't have a very incredibly dangerous job, not because they don't -- are not there to serve and protect but because are you going
to allow an officer with their inherent dangers associated with the job
[15:40:05] Many of them emotional to start data fitting in terms of finances for people that are victims of their shooting, whether that
shooting is just a fight or not.
And so, again, I do think there'll be a motion to dismiss made and I do think that it very well, may be granted based upon the inherent dangers of
being a police officer.
GORANI: All right. Well, if either way, we'd like to talk to you again, Joey Jackson, about this case because it's a -- really a fascinating case
especially from the outside looking into what's going on in the U.S. Sometimes there are head scratchers that are more, you know, interesting.
JACKSON: This certainly is one of those.
GORANI: Than others.
Thank you very much, Joey Jackson, for joining us in New York.
JACKSON: My pleasure.
GORANI: Don't forget, you can get all the latest news, interviews and announces on our Facebook page, facebook.com/halagoraniCNN.
This is THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.
The battle over feminism inside the Democratic Party, "Why younger feminist are choosing not Hillary Clinton but Bernie Sanders?"
Let's speak to two women, one who supports Hillary Clinton, the other move back Bernie Sanders.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: All right. We're turning now to the race for president of the United States and the generational divide playing out inside the Democratic
Party.
Young female Democrats seemed to be flocking not to Hillary Clinton campaign but to Bernie Sanders'. And the response from established
feminist like Gloria Steinem has been pretty harsh with it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GLORIA STEINEM, AMERICAN FEMINIST: First of all, women get more radical as we get older. When you're young, you are thinking, you know, "Where are
the boys, the boys of this Bernie?" or you know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, there was this comment as well from former U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright during her campaign event for Hillary Clinton this
weekend.
Listen to this one.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MADELINE ALBRIGHT, FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Thank you so much. And a lot of you younger women, you don't think you have to -- it's been done.
It's not done. And you have to help Hillary Clinton, who will always be there for you. And just remember, there's a special place in hell for
women who don't help each other.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: All right. Let's get into the debate with some voters.
Nomiki Konst, who's a democratic strategist and a Sanders' supporter, she joins me from Manchester in New Hampshire.
Heidi Hartmann is a feminist economist who supports Hillary Clinton. Heidi is in Washington.
Thanks to both of you.
First, I want to ask you, Heidi, what was your reaction as a Hillary Clinton supporter to what Madeleine Albright said, "There was a special
place in hell for women who don't help each other.", what was you initial reaction when you heard that?
HEIDI HARTMANN, FEMINIST ECOMIST & CLINTON SUPPORTER: Well, I mean, she has said that many times, but I think it wasn't exactly the right setting,
perhaps, to say that it was probably unfortunate that she said it where she did. But many of us do believe that and most of us would always try to
help another woman in many other contexts. So, I think it was, you know, unfortunate the way it was said but many of us believe in that, of course.
[15:45:06] GORANI: But, do you believe in the general idea that because a woman is running for president, if you are naturally leaning toward the
Democratic Party that it is your duty as the female to help the first woman make it to the highest office?
HARTMANN: Well, first of all, I am an economist but I have looked at a lot of political science and there's a lot of literature that says it's very
important to have the representational democracy, people who look like us and people who really represent our ideas.
And in the U.S. today, we are very under-representative. We're only 25 percent of the house in the Senate, that's outrageous. And we're not going
to get there unless we have -- a woman president would be a very helpful in getting there, who would help encouraged more women to run for office.
And we know if a woman is either Republican or a Democrat woman are much more likely to support women's issues once they get into office.
There's -- the studies that have shown this. So, I think if you are particularly concerned about women's issues, yes, it would be in your
interest to vote for a woman.
GORANI: So, let me ask you -- and by the way, is it Nomi or Nomiki Konst? Correct -- can you give me the proper?
NOMIKI KONST, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST &SANDERS SUPPORTED: Nomi.
GORANI: Nomiki, OK, I've got (inaudible).
So, Nomi, you heard Heidi Hartmann there say, "Look, women are chronically under-represented, both on Congress, certainly, there's never been -- I
mean, American female President."
As a woman who cares about feminist issues, you know, essentially, you should try to do your best to vote for a female candidate if that's all
possible. What do you say to that?
KONST: I totally agree. And especially if they are pro-choice female candidates who represent the issues that you care about.
I mean, listen, the woman who are the leaders of the Democratic Movement fought for a lot of the issue that my generation is very grateful to have.
You know, the ability to vote and choose who we support based on the values that they represent.
The issue here as we really want to get to the roots of why there are not a lot of women in. And obvious -- yes, there's an institutional divide but
the -- with our some organizations out there that are choosing women to run for office that sit to certain match up. They have to raise a certain
amount of money. And that automatically disqualifies a whole vast majority of women out there who maybe interested.
(CROSSTALK)
GORANI: But I want -- I'm interested. Nomi. Sorry to jump in. I'm interested in why you're supporting Bernie Sanders and not Hillary Clinton,
particularly, in those instances as young female.
KONST: Well, let me get to that.
GORANI: Go ahead, yes.
KONST: As a young female, I mean, the people that hurt most in this economy right now are young women. And in Bernie Sander's, he's attacking
the root cause of the problems, the institutional problem that we face today.
Unfortunately, you know, I respect Hillary Clinton and I respect her on woman's right. But she's still accepting money from Wall Street. She's
still part of that establishment that really hasn't done with what they say have done for my generation.
I think that's why millennial women, in particular, are very turned away from her campaign. I mean, we respect her as a leader but she's fighting
for the economic issues, which affect women. It's not just about (inaudible) legislation, it's about saying, "Let's targeted the root
because we can connect the dots".
GORANI: And, Heidi, how do your respond to that? Because I've heard that from many women who support Bernie Sanders, "Hillary Clinton is part of The
Old Guard, the establishment. She won't radically change anything for me as a young woman if she's elected."
HARTMANN: Well, actually, I think she will -- I mean, obviously, I'm supporting her campaign because I think she will help, not only young women
but older women and young men and older men. I think she's the best for the country.
I think that, you know, Bernie Sanders has 35 years in that government and yet, he can run as an outsider. Hillary can't possibly run as outsider,
she would be -- he's completely dismissed. She has to run as a person who's saved (ph) by all the rules, who has a ton of experience, who can do
the job.
Bernie doesn't even have to address that issue. So, it just -- so, he can be the outsider and say, "Oh, I'm a Democratic Socialists. Oh, I'm for
free tuition. Oh, I'm for Medicare for everybody."
Hillary, just by nature, being a woman, unfortunately, perhaps has to show that she can do the job. So, she has to present issues and policies that
she thinks she can get when she's in office. Otherwise, she would be just completely trashed and dismissed if she was saying what Bernie was saying,
she'd be outraged.
GORANI: And, Nomi. Yes. And Nomi, let me ask you, though, if Hillary Clinton is the Democratic Party's nominee and I know you support Bernie
Sanders, would you then vote for Hillary Clinton?
KONST: So, I'm a Democrat first and foremost and I'll always be a Democrat, so absolutely, I will support whoever our nominee is because
quite frankly, they're better than everybody on the other side.
I just think that as a country, we've moved passed supporting blue dog Democrats. Our party is 70 percent more progressive than it was 10 years
ago. You know, Hillary Clinton run eight years ago, when it's a vastly more progressively party and we chose somebody else.
[15:50:01] So, I think the question here is why are we not looking for other women to run for president?
We love Hillary Clinton but she's representative of a different generation and not generation quite frankly is very out of touch with millennial
women.
GORANI: All right. Thanks very much to both of you.
Nomiki Konst for joining us from New Hampshire and Heidi Hartmann who supports Hillary Clinton, as you saw there, the latest national poll on
your screens. Thanks to both of you for having these very interesting conversations.
Be sure to in tune in Tuesday for continuing covers of the New Hampshire primary right here on CNN.
We'll have it all day on Tuesday as well as into the evening and into the night, European Time.
Coming up, it is party time in Brazil. These crowds aren't letting fears over the Zika virus get in the way of the good carnival. We're live in Rio
after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: An uninvited visitor in one school in India caused quite of steer (ph) over the weekend. The visitor was a 6-year-old male leopard.
Here's Lynda Kinkade.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR: Leopard on the loose. This big cat caused a panic after it was spotted strolling through the halls of the school in
Southern India.
Police were quickly caught in to try and catch the wild animal but it was not easy. The leopard attacked this man just downside the school next to a
swimming pool, biting his arm as he tried to flee. At least two others were also hurt.
After 14-hour ordeal, authorities finally tranquilized, captured and took and the leopard to nearby wildlife park.
Officials estimate that there are more than 12,000 (inaudible) animals in India and 1,500 in this Southern State alone.
And while the leopard hasn't been seen in the city limit since 2012, authorities say close encounters with the big cats are becoming more
frequent as humans continue to encroach on their habitat.
Lynda Kinkade, CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Carnival is in full swing in Rio de Janeiro despite fears and warnings over the Zika virus, crowds don't care, out in force and it turns
out, hardly, anyone seems to be taking any precautions.
Let's get more. We are live in Rio this hour with CNN's Nick Paton Walsh. Nick?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Hala, you're absolutely right. This crowd behind me not wanting enough close frankly, not taking enough
care about the mosquito, is clearly in there midst and no real sign of repellants or any change in behavior at all. And all we've seen all the
day long is this fantastic (inaudible) daze of (inaudible).
A change to forget the economic problems Brazil is having and maybe they help emergency ahead but certainly fears that this crowd is not thinking
Zika at all.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALSH: This perhaps the most infectious place on earth but it's not just the world's biggest party that's contagious.
A million souls and hedonistic abandoned in Zika, a disease terrifying most because we know so little about it just isn't getting in the way of
anything at all. Try telling this (inaudible) to wear long sleeves.
[15:55:01] (UNKNOWN SPEAKER): In carnival Brazilian people forgets their problems, yes.
WALSH: They're just not thinking Zika at all.
"My family abroad is more worried about Zika", she says.
Huge crowds at the height of mosquito breeding season, that's a bad idea. And if it's in saliva, you're definitely not mean to do this.
And the fear it might transmitted sexually, no, whatever. This man isn't a policeman but is being cautious, he says, "Yes, we're all worried and we're
talking precautions because the virus they insist but not mosquito repellant."
Band plays on man (ph) who've seen other diseases flourish in faith. The way you've dance here with this music on the other side of town where live
those who clean up the mess of the rich partying, Zika is very real. It means a week of work for this maid.
"The only people who really understand Zika", she says, "Are those who've already had it. The attitude on the streets now is wrong. If the country
ignores it, it makes it worst on taking my attitude home with me and for midst, I don't want the mosquito to beat me again, to be beat my family
again."
Hotel occupancy is out even in Zika hot feds (ph) in the north. Party on but maybe sometimes to forget but sometimes terrifying disease in their
midst and maybe hope some morning after these headaches, are from cheap rum alone.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Standby, standby.
WALSH: Now, she can be the party poop here. At all no one would listen to me in the (inaudible). So this is a key moment of Zika here in Brazil.
These many people here, potentially going back to places around the globe, remember you heard their way hearing, lodger occupancy rates are unexpected
because of the currency crash.
This will get a huge injection to the economy here, maybe $764 million. But the key question is, what they're going to do for the health problem
they are facing?
And all eyes are on all distant, the Olympics, the question being, if things spread -- continue to spread off to something as massively infestive
disease and you're going to heard people off coming to the Olympics in August.
And we know the U.S. will say to their athletes, "Hey, you don't think it's safe, you don't have to go." Of course, competitors want to compete but to
seeing like this joyous festive and certainly it's going to have ramifications down the line in terms of how far that virus can be
contained. Hala?
GORANI: All right. Nick Paton Walsh in Rio de Janeiro, thanks very much.
I'm Hala Gorani.
QUEST MEANS BUSINESS is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
