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Hala Gorani Tonight
Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty On Two Counts; South Korean Coronavirus Cases Rise, Many Linked To Shincheonji Group; President Trump On Two-Day Visit To India; Global Markets Slammed As Cases Surge In South Korea And Italy; Italy Becomes Site Of Largest Cluster Outside Asia; Sanders Surging Ahead Of South Carolina And Super Tuesday; Kobe Bryant And Daughter, Gianna Honored At L.A. Staples Center. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired February 24, 2020 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:00:56]
ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Hello, everyone. Live from CNN London, I'm Isa Soares in for Hala Gorani.
Tonight, disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein is found guilty of rape in the third degree and committing a criminal sex act. We'll have the latest
on this breaking verdict.
Plus, the coronavirus outbreak, surging in South Korea. Our exclusive report on the religious group at the heart of the dramatic increase in
cases.
And, U.S. Democratic presidential hopefuls, not throwing in the towel just yet after Bernie Sanders' big win in Nevada.
But first, a jury has found Harvey Weinstein guilty of committing a criminal sex act and third degree rape. The disgraced movie mogul faces at
least five years in prison now.
Supports of the #MeToo as well the Time's Up movement say the verdict marks a new era of justice for sexual assault victims. The jury reached the
verdict Monday after more than 26 hours of deliberation. The Manhattan district attorney says that thanks to the women who came forward, this is a
new landscape for survivors of sexual assault. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CY VANCE, MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEY; The message is, this is a big day. This is a new day, and I hope women will -- I hope women will understand
the significance of the jury verdict today.
My hope is, with this verdict, survivors of sexual assault, whether it's of Mr. Weinstein or whether it's of someone else, will come forward and -- and
our office and others like our office will, I hope, be there to -- to listen to them and to help them move forward.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Let's get more on the story. Let's go outside the courthouse, that's with (ph) Jean Casarez, she joins me now. Jean, they deliberated --
as I was saying, just a few minutes ago -- for over 26 hours. Talk us through the convictions against Weinstein and critically, what they mean.
JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Well, there were five charges, but they were not able to convict on all of the charges because of
nuances in New York law that some of the elements were included in some of the bigger crimes.
But here is what he was convicted of and found not guilty of. Count number one, predatory sexual assault, very serious sexual felony, maximum
imprisonment of life in prison, and he was found -- Harvey Weinstein -- not guilty.
Count two, criminal sexual act in the first degree, it is a felony, it is punishable by up to 25 years in prison and that is in regard to one of the
accusers who alleged that she was violently sexually assaulted in Harvey Weinstein's apartment here in New York City, guilty on that count.
Count three, predatory sexual assault, once again, not guilty. Finally, rape in the first degree, not guilty. But rape in the third degree of
Jessica Mann, who alleged actually a violent rape in a New York City hotel room, guilty on that. And the penalty is maximum four years, and it is one
that can be probation in New York.
So he's facing two felonies. Sentencing is on March 11th at this point. The maximum is 24 years in prison, but the minimum is five years in prison.
SOARES: Jean, I know -- give us some context because I know you've covered this case right from the beginning, but I also know you covered the Bill
Cosby trial. How did this criminal trial differ?
CASAREZ: It's very interesting. And I appreciate that question because I saw distinct differences. First of all, the defense in this case, when they
cross-examined the accusers, they were methodical, they were non-emotional, they were not victim-bashing, they were strong when they had to be, they
pulled back and they were softer at some points.
In the Bill Cosby second trial, the retrial, the defense was so aggressive to the accusers. And there were five prior bad (INAUDIBLE) witnesses in the
Bill Cosby case; there were three in this case. But other people that said, I was sexually assaulted by this defendant, they were in the Bill Cosby
case, absolutely aggressive beyond anything.
[14:05:15]
And you're just sitting in the courtroom and even if someone would be for the defense, you'd feel so bad for the women. You didn't have that in this
case, they were tempered the defense was, the entire way.
Second, in the Bill Cosby case, there were accusers that were in that courtroom. Maybe they weren't a part of the criminal trial, but I'm sure
you remember. Women came from all over the country, and they sat in the Bill Cosby courtroom, day after day after day because they wanted justice.
In this trial, I did not see accusers in that courtroom. There was so much media in this courtroom, so many international press, day after day after
day, as well as from the United States. And there was a public area for people to sit, but it was not the accusers that we saw in the Bill Cosby
case.
SOARES: No victim-shaming, or shall we call (ph) them, victim survivors, really. Jean Casares, there in New York for us. Thanks very much, Jean.
Fantastic work.
Well, Weinstein's publicist says they already have a lawyer in the process of filing an appeal, following the two guilty verdicts that Jean was saying
there.
Let's bring in CNN legal analyst Areva Martin in Los Angeles.
Areva, you know, the jury were hung on some counts on Friday, if you remember correctly. What do you make of their final decision? I mean, how
historic, from a legal perspective, is this, first of all?
AREVA MARTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yes. This is a groundbreaking day for victims and for the prosecution of these kinds of cases, Isa. We can't
underscore how significant it is, what happened in this courtroom today. And although there were not guilty verdicts on the most serious charges,
the fact that he has been found guilty of rape and sexual assault is huge in terms of the #MeToo movement.
If you think about, just prior to 2017, none of the allegations against Harvey Weinstein had been made public, and it was the reporting in
several, you know, newspapers and magazines that brought forth the hundreds -- well, close to a hundred victims that were willing to share their
stories.
I have been involved in these cases in a civil context prior to 2000. And in the '90s, women who came forward to tell their stories about being
victimized by rich and powerful men like Harvey Weinstein were often met with victim-shaming, you know, they were --
SOARES: Yes.
MARTIN: -- humiliated, they were embarrassed, they were fired from their jobs. So I think victims all over this country, even those that have not
been able to tell their stories, are thanking the prosecutors and the witnesses for coming forward in this trial because I think it gives them a
voice that they haven't had.
SOARES: And like you said, Areva, you know, what they did not do is convict on two of the most serious charges, that's predatory sexual assault
and rape in the first degree. Why was it so hard to prove on those counts? Just explain for our international audience, that.
MARTIN: I think it was so difficult because those charges relied pretty heavily on the testimony of Annabella Sciorra. She's an actress who came
forward to testify that Harvey Weinstein had raped her. But she couldn't remember the exact date, she couldn't remember key details. So I think the
jurors probably struggled with that testimony, I'm not saying they didn't believe her,
But this was a very difficult case. And we should talk about the fact that the prosecutors went forward with this case even though both of the victims
involved in this case had continued communications with Harvey Weinstein, even after the attacks on them.
And that was a big part of the defense in this case, is trying to prove that these women weren't assaulted or weren't engaged in any kind of
nonconsensual activity, but that in fact they were consensual -- almost relationships, is the way that it was couched in terms of the defense. They
put on a lot of evidence: e-mails, text messages between Harvey Weinstein and both of the women after the attacks.
So, again, the prosecutors did an outstanding job, the witnesses did an outstanding job, very difficult cases to prosecute. But we heard that New
York prosecutor say, this is a new day and I believe him firmly, that women who have been the victims of sexual assault can feel good, hopefully,
knowing that they can come forward and their stories of victimization will be believed.
SOARES: And that's a key word there, Areva Martin, the fact they will be believed. Areva Martin, thank you very much. Appreciate it.
MARTIN: Thank you.
SOARES: Let's get more on the Weinstein verdicts. I want to bring in Caroline Heldman, who's associate professor with Occidental College in Los
Angeles. You know, what Areva was saying really is a big victory for the #MeToo movement, a critical moment for the women who have come forward,
even for those who perhaps haven't because they are so scared, scared perhaps of not being believed. This is amazing courage, isn't it, by these
women?
[14:10:01]
CAROLINE HELDMAN, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF POLITICS, OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE: It is. And I would say that there's a little complexity here in that three of
the women actually weren't believed, right? So when you look at the charges, some of the --
SOARES: Yes.
HELDMAN: -- women were believed, and others weren't. And so I think that actually sends a really negative message to survivors. Even though this is
a big victory -- I'm not saying it's not, we have come an awfully long way since Tarana Burke first used #MeToo as a hashtag back in 2006, we've
definitely made progress.
But to put this trial into context, you have 100 women coming forward and saying, this man engaged in this pattern of violent behavior. You have six
women who testify, it appears that two are believed when you look at the charges, and this is what we are claiming as a victory in this movement.
And, again, I think that it is, but I want to put it into context because only one percent -- actually it's less than, 0.7 -- seven-tenths of one
percent of rapists will ever see a day in jail in the United States. It's a little better in the U.K., it's 5.6 percent. But globally, this is still a
huge uphill battle and this is one small victory, which I would say is a little tempered by the fact that not all of the charges stuck.
SOARES: Such a good point, Caroline. I think that's really important to really put into context for our viewers.
Now, we have heard from Time's Up -- if we can bring up the statement, part of their statement -- "While we celebrate this historic moment" -- I think
it ties into what you're saying here -- "our fight to fix the broken system that has allowed serial abusers like Harvey Weinstein to abuse women in the
first place continues. Abusers everywhere and the powerful forces that protect them should be on notice: There's no going back."
At the same time, there is -- it must be a measure of comfort here, Caroline, that the justice system has worked.
HELDMAN: Absolutely. And in fact, I would add that one really bright moment here is the same thing I witnessed, sitting through the Cosby
trials, which is that "prior bad act" witnesses are especially -- in the second Cosby trial and now in the Weinstein trial, "prior bad act"
witnesses were allowed to testify, and that was the basis for the verdict.
Versus evidence, physical evidence, which is often simply not available in cases like this. It doesn't mean you weren't raped, it just means you can't
prove that with physical evidence. So the fact that judges in high-profile cases are actually saying, well, if enough women are coming forward, we're
actually going to believe them, that means something. That's actually -- it's very much a new day in terms of prosecuting these cases.
SOARES: And it's also, Caroline -- I mean, it's -- you know, these women that we heard from, they took huge risks, great, immense risks.
HELDMAN: And I would argue that they will pay the price for that. If you look at -- so if you look at the origins of the #MeToo movement, right?
Tarana Burke, over a decade ago. But the campus anti-rape activists in 2013, who really put it on the national agenda in the U.S.; and Barack
Obama, who then furthered that, and then the women from "Fox News" who came forward; and the Cosby survivors who came forward; and now, you know, over
a hundred actresses regarding Harvey Weinstein and other prominent men in Hollywood, all of them have paid a price.
If you look at who's working and where and who's getting hired, these women will pay the price. And this is what happens with social movements, which
require such an incredible well of courage to come forward, the early folks on the kind of front lines of the battle end up making a lot of big
sacrifices.
SOARES: Yes. Caroline Heldman, thank you very much. An important day for us to be covering this story. Thank you, Caroline.
HELDMAN: Thank you.
SOARES: Now, coronavirus cases are multiplying in several places in fact, and that's outside of China. And the epidemic is making a huge impact on
the stock markets. The World Health Organization says it's preparing for a potential pandemic, but they say it's too early and not exactly helpful to
use that world right now.
There are more than 79,000 cases around the world, most of them in mainland China. More than 2,600 people have died. South Korea's president says the
country is -- I'm quoting here -- "at a watershed moment": the number of cases has rocketed past 800 and at least seven people have died.
Two regions of Italy are facing travel restrictions as the country tries to really (ph) limit the spread of the outbreak. Seven people have died, and
there are more than 200 infections.
And the virus is spreading as well in the Middle East, Iran's government has confirmed 61 cases and 12 deaths, but one lawmaker says there are
likely dozens more.
Let's have a look at the stock markets because they've been taking major hits today, with steep losses in Asia and in Europe and the Dow really
losing all its 2020 gains. Look at it now, down almost three -- more than 3.5 percent.
Let's get more on this. Alison Kosik's tracking the numbers of the New York Stock Exchange. And, Alison, you know, for investors, this is such a hard
one to predict.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It really was. We woke up and there it was, futures were pointing lower and now we are seeing the Dow at its
lowest point of the day, the Dow down 1,023 points.
[14:15:03]
This, coming after news that the number of coronavirus cases increased -- not just increases, but multiplying in different countries. This is
creating fear on Wall Street that containment could be an issue if the virus spreads to countries that are unable to contain the virus.
You know, we did see Wall Street kind of complacent over the past several weeks. We saw the major indices reach record highs, but it was that news
that sent markets plunging -- Isa.
SOARES: Alison, from those you've been speaking to, are companies worried about meeting sales, meeting profit targets? Is this something that they're
telling you?
KOSIK: Well, we certainly heard from Apple, just a couple of weeks ago, with its surprise warning that it's going to miss sales and revenue
targets. The interesting thing is, we saw Wall Street just shrug that off though others may have seen that as the canary in a coalmine.
Look, you see China's involvement in the global economy, and if you compare it to, let's say, 2003 during the SARS epidemic, it really just doesn't
compare. China made up four percent of global GDP in 2003. Now, China makes up 18 percent of global GDP. That is why you're seeing the shivers kind of
run throughout Wall Street because China is certainly being dealt a blow in its economy, and the worry is, is that the U.S. will feel that impact as
well.
Once again, just that example of Apple, coming out and stating that the coronavirus could impact -- they're expecting the coronavirus to impact
their revenue and sales. That's just one of many companies, and that's why you're seeing investors reprice stocks based on the new landscape, the
landscape involving the coronavirus, which is highly unpredictable.
If you want an analogy, you look at the U.S.-China trade war, that was kind of the wild card for 2018, 2019. The X factor for 2020 is the coronavirus,
the real unpredictability of that, that is what's spooking Wall Street -- Isa.
SOARES: Absolutely. On predictability, the markets, trying to make sense of which way it will go. And of course, we've seen demands for goods, for
services in China. Also worth bearing in mind, Alison, that many people in China haven't been able to work, and that fears (ph), of course, that it
will have an impact on GDP.
KOSIK: Well, exactly. Because that means that products aren't getting out. You look at the auto industry being hit hard, China is the biggest place
where cars are made or car parts are made. And if those car parts or those cars aren't made, that has a ripple effect throughout the global economy.
And if people aren't getting to work, that creates pressure on demand. It's why we're seeing oil prices fall, because there's an expectation that
demand will fall.
SOARES: Alison Kosik there for us with the Dow Jones down 3.5 percent. Thanks very much, Alison, keep an eye on the Dow Jones for you throughout
the hour.
Now, the dramatic jump of cases in South Korea has people worried that will be the next coronavirus hotspot, already (ph) prompting 15 countries to
restrict travel from there. Schools have been delayed, flights have been suspended and the highest level emergency has been called within the
country. Over half of the cases are linked to a religious group in the southern region. There is worry the group may have infected others, and not
just in South Korea.
CNN's Paula Hancocks gives us an exclusive look into the group.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Duhyen Kim was a member of a Shincheonji religious group for 11 years, the group at the heart of South
Korea's spike in coronavirus cases. He says he was the International Affairs director and interpreter for its founder and chairman Lee Man-hee.
His mother-in-law was Lee's partner.
He says the nature of the group makes it easier for a virus to spread. He says friends from within the group told him they were banned from wearing
masks as it's disrespectful to God.
DUHYEN KIM, FORMER DIRECTOR, SHINCHEONJI INTERNATIONA AFFAIRS: They're packed together like sardines in one area. They are forced to sit, line in
line, and literally your knees will be touching the other person's knee.
HANCOCKS (voice-over): Missing services because of illness was not an option, he says.
KIM: You take roll call. You're given a card, like a little credit card. And when you go to church, you have to swipe it like you're going to work.
HANCOCKS (voice-over): The group itself says it deeply regrets the outbreak, but insists they are cooperating with authorities.
SIMON KIM, SPOKESPERSON, SHINCHEONJI GROUP (through translator): We are sincerely urging everyone, recognize that Shincheonji Church and its
devotees are the biggest victims of the coronavirus. And refrain from hate and groundless attacks.
HANCOCKS (voice-over): But Daegu Police say 600 officers had been tasked with tracking down hundreds of missing members, knocking on doors, tracking
phone calls, scouring CCTV footage to track members' movements.
Kim says members from around the world may have been in South Korea twice in recent weeks, once for an annual gathering like this one from a few
years ago, and the funeral of the leader's brother from January 31st to February 2nd in a hospital in Cheongdo.
[14:20:08]
Numerous coronavirus infections and deaths have since been recorded at the same hospital.
HANCOCKS: This isn't just a Korean issue, this is --
KIM: This is not just a Korean issue because since those people from overseas all gathered together at once, what happens is we don't know how
many of those people who went back overseas are infected as well.
HANCOCKS (voice-over): Shincheonji claims it has 230,000 members with bases in the United States, China, South Africa and Germany, to name a few.
Professor Tark Ji-il has been studying the group for many years.
TARK JI-IL, PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY, BUSAN PRESBYTERIAN UNIVERSITY: Shincheonji people hide who they are and then to recruit people, they go
into the church and try to recruit the Christians.
HANCOCKS: All branches of the Shincheonji group have been closed here in South Korea, and they are being disinfected to try and stem the spread of
the virus. Though President Moon Jae-in said that this was a move not to restrict religious freedom, but to save lives.
Paul Hancocks, CNN, Seoul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Now, German police are not ruling out that a car ramming incident at a carnival parade was an attack. An official in the central Hesse state
says the car was deliberately driven into the crowd at high speed. At least 30 people were injured, some severely.
CNN affiliate RTL says the victims include small children. Police say the suspect is a 29-year-old local man who was also injured, and authorities
say he'll go before a judge as soon as he's able.
Still to come tonight, U.S. President Donald Trump gets a rock star welcome in India. We'll tell you what he had to say about doing business with Delhi
amid recent trade tensions.
And then later this hour, Democrats battling to replace Mr. Trump kick off a critical week. We'll see how South Carolina's primary could be do-or-die
from some struggling campaigns. Do stay right here with CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Now, America loves India, America respects India. That was U.S. President Donald Trump's message at a packed stadium event dubbed, "Namaste
Trump." Mr. Trump is on a two-day visit to India, his first as president. And he and the first lady stopped at the iconic Taj Mahal, as you can see
there.
The president lavished praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the coming hours, the two leaders will get down to business, signing a $3
billion military deal, and they'll talk security as well as trade amid heightened trade tensions.
CNN White House Correspondent, Kaitlan Collins is live for us from New Delhi. And, Kaitlan, there was, I think it's fair to say, plenty of love
between these -- both these leaders, with both men really praising on each other. But besides the adulation as well as the optics -- critically --
what can we expect to come out of this?
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you -- the question is, what is going to come out of this. Because you did see, it was a
largely optics-focused first day, where the president was here. And it's a pretty short trip.
[14:25:03]
And of course, you know there is nothing the president loves more than a good crowd size, and the prime minister certainly seemed to notice that,
and he wanted to make a memorable impression on President Trump.
But the question when President Trump departs here is going to be more than just how many people were at that rally the two of them shared there on
stage. Of course, in Modi's home state.
It's also going to be, did they make any progress on a trade deal? And the president didn't seem to hint that we should expect any kind of lengthy
deal to be signed while he's here, saying they were really just in introductory phases of that, and that he feels that Modi is a pretty tough
negotiator.
And the other question that we're going to have is whether or not the president has actually pushed him when they're meeting behind closed doors,
on the recent criticism that Modi has been facing over this new religious law they -- for citizenship for migrants. And the question over that is
still to be determined.
We know the White House says that they do expect President Trump to bring that up, but he did not mention it during his speech on-stage there,
instead talking about the unity and diversity of India. So that's going to be another big question, of course, as well as what exactly that defense
spending bill -- or that defense agreement they're signing is going to look like.
Those are the substance over more than just the appearance that you saw today.
SOARES: Indeed. Kaitlan Collins there for us, thanks very much Kaitlan. Good to see you.
And still to come tonight, a famous festival in Venice is cancelled thanks to coronavirus making an unwelcome appearance in Northern Italy. Talk about
what the country's doing to keep its citizens as well as visitors safe.
And then we're heading into a critical stretch: how U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders could almost wrap up the Democratic
race in the next week and a half.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Bringing (ph) more now on one of our top stories, and that is the growing coronavirus outbreak, really taking a toll on the global economy.
As cases spike in South Korea and Italy.
If we bring in the markets -- there, as you can see, right around the world markets in Europe and Asia, it's suffering losses throughout the day, red
arrows right across the board. And look at Milan, down 5.5 percent.
If -- I want to show you now the markets currently, the Dow in fact plummeting (INAUDIBLE), at one point, dropping more than a thousand points
or more than 3.5 percent, is now down just shy -- just under three percent.
It's interesting, looking at the index, lost more than 1,300 points in the span of just three trading days, really wiping out the Dow's gains for the
entire year. So we'll keep an eye on those numbers. But clear as you're seeing, from the Dow Jones, from the U.S. to Europe to also Asia, how
really the contagion is spreading.
[14:30:02]
CNN's John Defterios joins me now from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
And, John, you know, we've seen new cases in the Middle East as well from a man to Iran. And also I've heard today the UAE basically telling its
citizens not to travel to key countries.
Now, I know you're in Riyadh and you'll be speaking to G20 finest ministers. How concerned are they, John, about this contagion and how this
could impact their economies?
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN BUSINESS EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: Well, we cannot ignore the market selloff today it's because it's telling us something
about the future and the concerns down the road because of the slowdown that we see in China.
It's almost a classic textbook risk adverse selloff, if you will. It started in the high yield in emerging markets and they cracked basically
with drops of three to five percent that spilled into the oil market where we saw falls of four to five percent. We've come off the lows of the day.
But you noted this coming into me about the charts and what you saw in Europe. What is the unusual twist here is that the European markets were
down equal to those in the emerging market because of the concerns in Italy.
So from Iran and the vantage point here, in the Middle East, the mood has changed radically at the airport here in Riyadh, and those flying into the
city here with mask and health authorities. That was not something you'd see even a month ago, two weeks ago, even that has changed.
And also in Italy, because the core of Europe is slowing down. So what does that mean in terms of stimulus going forward? The Asian economies that were
at the G20 summit this weekend were saying, if you have surplus capital, this is the time to deploy it. Because we see the wheels of commerce
grinding to a halt in Asia is something that could spread to the Middle East to Europe.
Right now, it seems like a far distance to the United States, but even Wall Street is taking that jolt.
SOARES: Yes. If we have a look, if we can, John, I'll ask my producer to bring up those graphics up again, just to look at the numbers that you were
pointing out there, John. You saw them Italian MIB down five and a half percent. Well, we'll get to Italy in just a moment.
But, John, you know, about a week or so ago, we were talking about cautious optimism stock markets. Did -- you know, did they misjudge this? Did
investors misjudge this?
DEFTERIOS: Well, it's a fantastic question because somebody pulled the punch bowl. Everybody thought this was a one way ticket only going north on
Wall Street and some of the other markets around the world because a very high liquidity, low interest rates, and nothing else to park your money
into besides real estate right now.
This has changed that narrative a bit. Isn't it brought to the fore that Europe is slowing down quite radically, oil prices correcting radically,
which will hit the Middle East. And even the tone from the International Monetary Fund's Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, last week, when I
spoke to her in Dubai said, I'm expecting the V-shape recovery from China.
Now, the language issue brief the finance ministers and the central bankers here in Riyadh about 24 hours ago was that China is slowing down quite
radically down to 5.6 percent this year doesn't sound awful. That's the slowest growth in three decades in China and the Asia partners Japan, South
Korea, Singapore, are all saying, look, we can see the connection with China and the slowdown. We cannot wait in the West to respond.
So it brings back this final point, is the G20 ready to revive itself after the global financial crisis in 2009 and '10? It's almost been dormant and
the Saudi Arabian leadership in the presidency in 2020 would like to see that change, Isa.
SOARES: Such important work and context there for our, John Defterios, there in Riyadh, thanks very much, John, good to see you.
Now, Italy is trying to pinpoint the source of its coronavirus outbreak. The head of Italy civil protection agency said it's important to find
patient zero to really stop the chain of transmission where more than 200 cases reported, and at least seven deaths.
The country has the biggest outbreak outside of Asia. Most of the cases are in two northern regions which are facing restrictions on travel and public
gatherings, and that includes the famous Venice Carnival, which is now suspended.
Melissa Bell is in Venice.
Melissa, just talk us through, really, the scenes what you have seen today out in Venice.
MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: Well, all kinds of questions because, of course, this is the first time that in Europe we've seen those
sorts of quarantines that we've seen in Asia before entire villages and towns that have been closed off the residents inside, essentially trapped,
he said, and this is a real test.
It is the first time that a Western liberal democracy has put these measures in place for the coronavirus. So that is something of a shock. And
I think what's happened over the course of the weekend is just the massive increase in the number of cases, this explosion really in the spread here
in Europe, this first outbreak outside of Asia.
We've just had confirmed to us by Italian authorities the seventh death from coronavirus here in Italy. The number of confirmed cases now up to 230
because that includes those who have sadly died from it.
[14:35:59]
But again, it is Italy trying to grapple as Asia did before it with the idea of how to contain it and ensure public safety without leading to a
sense of panic that would be unnecessarily large.
Now, here in Venice, as you say, the carnival is brought to an abrupt end last night. It was due to and only on Tuesday, still a few people milling
around with Mars, but the numbers of tourists decidedly down.
Saint Mark's square where I'm speaking to you from tonight was simply not as busy as it normally is. The Basilica behind me remain closed for the
day. All kinds of changes and a great deal of questions really about what happens next.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BELL (voice-over): Swapping one mask for another. Locals and tourists missed out on some of the usual sights and sounds of Carnival, as Venice
became an unlikely epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak outside of Asia.
FRANCO GABRIELE CECAMORE, OWNER, KARTARUGA CANOVACCIO (through translator): Eight hundred years since the plague in Europe and therefore also in
Venice, and now the same situation is reemerging as the authorities persists, then it is mandatory for me to be wearing the plague doctor's
mask.
BELL: Authorities canceled the last two days of annual festivities as they work to contain the spread of the virus. Saint Mark's Square remains open
for now, and revelers continue to flood the streets with elaborate and ornate costumes, some even wearing masks upon masks.
LUCA ZAIA, GOVERNOR, VENETO REGION (through translator): I never thought I would have to sign an order to close the Venice carnival. I would never
have thought of closing schools, churches, museums, or aggregation centers. I know it is asking for a sacrifice to the Venetians, but it is true that
the Venetians know that when the going gets tough, we Venetians all work as a team. The team has no political color.
BELL: Eleven Italian municipalities with a combined population of nearly 100,000 have fallen under quarantine. Officials maintain however, that it
is safe to travel to Italy.
ANGELO BORRELLI, HEAD OF ITALIAN CIVIL PROTECTION AGENCY (through translator): We have registered two outbreaks in our country, and we have
intervened through strong and important measures. So I think that our country is able to guarantee security and the people can come with peace of
mind.
BELL: Other high-profile events have also faced disruption. Giorgio Armani's show at Milan Fashion Week was livestreamed from an empty theater
due to coronavirus concerns.
Videos posted on social media show empty shelves and long queues of customers at supermarkets.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has said residents could face weeks in lockdown in an effort to sit out the virus.
And while fears of a potential pandemic continue to spread, locals here are asking, what is the government doing?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm scared of it because I work with the massive number of people coming from all the world, but I don't think it's that
dangerous and they're cutting our legs.
BELL: Up to three million visitors descend on Venice each year for carnival. For those hoping to masquerade their bejeweled artist on masks,
normally a symbol of the city, will this year be disappointed?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BELL: Now, Isa, as Europe begins to grapple with those very problems Asia has grappled with for weeks, now, remember there is this particularity open
borders and public health systems that are not harmonized across the EU. So leaders trying to grapple with that all of its neighbor watching very
closely what's happening here in this country.
And tomorrow, there'll be a meeting in Rome between the Italian Health Minister and the French health minister as they try to get their act
together about how to prevent the spread across European borders. Isa?
SOARES: Melissa Bell there for us. Thanks very much, Melissa.
Now four authorities finding Italy's patient zero is the number one priority.
Luigi D'Angelo from the Italian Civil Protection Department is joining us now.
Luigi, thank you very much for being with us. We have seen Italy go from three cases...
LUIGI D'ANGELO, OPERATIONAL DIRECTOR FOR EMERGENCY COORDINATION, ITALIAN CIVIL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT: thank you. Thank you very much.
SOARES: You're welcome. From free cases on Friday to more than 200 today. What is your agency doing to try and contain the virus?
D'ANGLEO: Yes. The National Authorities of Civil Protection and the world government is very much involved and committed in order to face these
emergencies in the last week. And we have a huge increase of numbers.
Now, we are -- we count 229 infected people and unfortunately seven deaths. But today, we have a lower increase of the numbers. So we have a positive
attitude for today because we have made some very important contemplative measures. We have identified the 10 municipalities in province of part of
Lodi, and one municipality and province of Padua. And the people there now are contained and we are very much restricted the movement of these people
in order to avoid the spread of the coronavirus that, unfortunately, hit some of our territories.
[14:40:07]
SOARES: But, Luigi, you know you still -- Italy still hasn't been able to track down or identify, I should say, patient zero, the person that who
first walked coronavirus to Italy. Without this information, doesn't it make it so much harder to predict or even forecast new cases?
D'ANGELO: Yes, of course, the past -- of course, the patient zero is a very important information for the whole investigation. The health authority
have been worked a lot on that.
But on the other side, we have some people and patients that have been identified. And according to their contacts and movements, we have been
able to track almost 1,000 people and they have been old test in these few days.
So we have now a very precise, a very sharp geographical area where people are contained. So we are very much satisfied of the investigation done so
far and we have been able to identify an area where people are now restricted.
So, yes, we didn't identify the patient zero, but a lot of work has been done. The investigation are still ongoing, but we are satisfied of what we
have done so far in order to contain the spread of the virus.
SOARES: OK. But patient zero here is critical. So, are you any closer to finding patient zero here? Talk us through what you are do -- what your
agency is doing to try and fight patient zero.
D'ANGELO: Yes. The investigation is ongoing and, of course, we are looking at all the different recent history of the patient one which is a boy of 38
years, which is now in an intensive care in province of Padua, bothering municipality of Codogno.
And, of course, according to all his movements and the contacts, we are still working. But accordingly to all these activity, we had already
identified, as I said, almost 1,000 of relatives and friends that have been in contact with him in the last month.
And that have been given the possibility to us due to trace exactly. There were circle of people around them and we got some 10 municipalities that
have been now confined and, of course, the local people cannot move from their municipalities, but now, we are very much involved in guaranteeing
all the lifelines to these people, to this community.
SOARES: Luigi, can I just double check what you said? Just confirm something. You said that a man, a 38 years of age is in -- from Padua. Do
you believe he's patient -- do you think he's patient zero? Is that what you're saying?
D'ANGELO: No. I say that the boy of 38 years old is now in province of Lodi, because we have two main areas. One is in the province of Lodi and
the patient one is this boy of 38 years old, which is in intensive care now.
And then we have another area in Regione Veneto in province of Padua, in just one municipality, where we have got some people infected, and we are
investigating where there's these two different areas are somehow connected.
And all the other cases that we had in Italy in the surrounding areas are in a sense related to the patient of Lodi, so the patient one, that's why
we have been able to identify in Italy just two areas and no more.
SOARES: Are you worried, Luigi? Should Italians be worried?
D'ANGELO: I'm very much confident that Italian authorities at the national level and the regional and municipal level are doing their best effort to
contain.
And as I said, today, we have a positive approach because the number of infected people have been increased. So we have 229 patient. Today, we have
only some few units added. Of course, we work a lot during the weekend. But today, we had the different figures.
So we have a positive approach. We -- now, we set up all the contaminative measures in their municipalities that they have in the red zone, as I said,
and we are ready, of course, to extend these measures or to the other area of Italy. But of course, we don't hope to do this.
SOARES: Luigi D'Angelo, Italy Civil Protection Agency, thank you very much for joining us, Luigi.
[14:45:02]
Still to come right here on the show. Time is running out for Bernie Sanders' democratic rivals to try to stop his momentum as he heads into the
next U.S. presidential primary, pretty stronger than ever.
Plus, Vanessa Bryant, wife and mother, is dealing herself to address a packed Staples Center during an emotional memorial of the late NBA star,
Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna. We'll bring you that story, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Now, fresh off a huge win in Nevada U.S. Democratic presidential frontrunner, Bernie Sanders, says he's put together a diverse coalition of
supporters that's going to sweep the nation.
Well, his next big test is just a days away in a state long considered a Joe Biden stronghold. South Carolina is critical for the former vice
president to keep this campaign alive. He and other contenders already battling slow Sanders' momentum before the Super Tuesday primaries happened
next week.
Let's bring in democratic strategist, Basil Smikle. He is a former executive director of New York State Democratic Party.
Basil, thank you very much for being here with us. All right.
BASIL SMIKLE, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: My pleasure.
SOARES: Break this all down for us then for our international viewers, what can we expect going into South Carolina? I mean, it seems like Bernie for
us is on a roll, stream rolls through Nevada. Can he ride momentum and rack it up?
SMIKLE: Well, the Sanders train is rolling, and it's rolling pretty quickly and pretty hard into South Carolina. That state was always meant to be, as
Joe Biden himself has described, his firewall, the number of African American voters and the strength of their support. For Joe Biden was meant
to be the sort -- the moment where if he was faltering beforehand, he would make his stand there.
The challenge for Joe, however, is that he's -- he hasn't been doing well in the in the -- in the -- in the three primaries subsequent to South
Carolina so there are questions about, whether or not, those black voters are going to be looking for someone else.
One of the strong political leaders in the state representative, Jim Clyburn, is prepared to endorse Joe Biden. We'll see if that has any
effect. But the truth is that Sanders, even though in the caveat, is that we only have about three percent of all the delegates available in this
election have already been allocated, so it's a small number, but the momentum counts for a lot. And Bernie Sanders certainly has that going into
this weekend.
SOARES: It does indeed. And I was looking at some of the numbers because African-Americans you were saying, Basil, I mean, they're really the
kingmakers, aren't they in this state? Counting roughly for 60 percent of the vote?
I mean, if Bernie -- if Bernie steals Biden support here, I mean, what can -- what does he have to do to steal it?
SMIKLE: Well, I think what he has to do has already been done in some respect. He's actually gotten 42 percent of non-white voters in Nevada. And
what that suggests to me is that he is forming this multi-generational multi ethnic coalition that coming into this race, his campaign had been
criticized for not really having any evidence of.
[14:50:17]
And so it looks like he has put together that type of coalition. And I think if voters are projecting forward a little bit, if we go into Super
Tuesday, Texas and California vote on that day, they are the two most delegate rich states in the country, and Sanders is projected to win those
states, especially because of their high percentage of Latino voters, which he's doing well among.
And so if voters are saying, you know what, I don't know if we can stop Bernie, they may decide to just get on board right away. What I'm looking
for in South Carolina is, whether or not, there are going to be voters that are still looking for that moderate alternative to the Sanders candidacy.
SOARES: Let's talk about this because, you know, from what I've heard of Sanders in last week and a half or so, he's been pretty controversial. I
mean, don't take my word for it. Have a listen to what he says here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: The Democratic Party has moved to you, if anything.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (D-VT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: In many ways they have, and the ideas that seem radical four years ago and now kind of mainstream.
COOPER: The ideas are still pretty radical. I mean, you've been saying with pride that you're making a lot of people nervous. You said Wall Street is
getting nervous, the insurance industry is getting nervous, drug companies are getting nervous, and the democratic establishment is getting nervous.
SANDERS: Yes, that's what I said.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: I mean, he's even decided not to release his health records. I mean, that's being controversial. Does this help him or hinder him?
SMIKLE: Well, he's the front runner in many respects, so there's going to be more attention and scrutiny on the things that he says and the fact that
he has not released his health record. So I expected this next debate, just tomorrow night, that there'll be more questions and more needling of him
than there will be of Mike Bloomberg, even though Bloomberg himself has some ground to cover, to sort of -- to sort of make up for the mistakes of
the previous debate.
But Sanders will be taking a hit that 60 Minutes interview, he declined to speak about the specifics of the policies that he's proposing, how he would
pay for it, and so on and who would bear the brunt of that financially. And so he's going to have to respond to that.
But the truth is, to this point, a lot of his supporters really haven't paid much attention to that. They don't seem to care. And the question is,
will those voters then get combined with the voters that just want to get behind the winner and so that we can all look to November to try to beat
Donald Trump?
SOARES: This is hot discussion. I wish we had more time, Basil. Democratic strategist Basil Smikle there. Thank you very much for joining us.
SMIKLE: Thank you.
SOARES: And just ahead tonight here on the show, family, friends, and fans on the late NBA legend, Kobe Bryant and his daughter at the Los Angeles
Staples Center. We're live outside the massive Memorial, next. Do stay right here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Give you some stories at a packed Los Angeles Staples Center right now, Vanessa Bryant, wife of late NBA legend Kobe Bryant just finished
speaking. The memorial honors the star's lifelong, along with his 13-year- old daughter, Gianna.
The two were laid to rest earlier this month near the family's church in Corona Del Mar. Today holds special significance for Vanessa Bryant, of
course, as she pointed out online dating to his jersey numbers of both Kobe and Gianna and 2 and 24 and the year marks both the 20 years played for the
later -- Lakers, pardon me, and the number of years the couple had been together.
[14:55:09]
Bryant and his daughter last died last month, if you remember in a helicopter crash that also took the lives of seven other people.
Sara Sidner comes to us now from outside the Staples Center. And Sara, I mean, I was watching the remembrance, is also a celebration, is it not, of
their lives? Incredibly, incredibly moving.
SARA SIDNER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I mean, that is sort of the purpose of this, so that the public has their chance to sort of
celebrate what Kobe and Gianna brought to the world, but also to be able to mourn them publicly as well. This was, in some ways, a gift to fans who
have supported Kobe Bryant and the Lakers all these years and it is incredibly emotional today.
Right now, I can tell you, you can't see these pictures, but we can. There is a beautiful symphony being played. And Alicia Keys is now taken to the
stage. And I will tell you, no one, no one had any idea in the crowd who was going to be speaking, who was going to be performing. And all of a
sudden their very first performer was Beyonce.
Not only that she sang the song "Halo," bringing people to tears, it was searing to hear her in front of this crowd of 20,000 people.
And not long after her, you had Jimmy Kimmel come up. He is obviously the late night talk show host, very popular here in the U.S. and around the
world. He could not compose himself at times, breaking into tears if he tried to talk about the fact that Kobe was a father, and he's a father and
to lose someone and for the other children to have their father gone. Terribly emotional.
And then you heard from Vanessa Bryant. No one had a clue that she was going to be speaking with the strength to stand up in front of 20,000 fans
and talk about the worst days of her life having to bury her 13-year-old daughter Gianna and her husband who she called the love of her life.
She first started with Gianna, and we're hearing a lot about Gianna as compared to Kobe because a lot of people know Kobe story, right? They know
all about him, five-time world winner of the NBA basketball championships with the Lakers and couple time MVP, but it was Gianna that has really
taken center stage here talking about her perseverance and talking about what she believed then as well. Isa?
SOARES: Yeah. And what we did have from Vanessa was I'm going to quote her here, "God knew they couldn't be on this earth without each other. He had
to bring them home to have them together." Very incredibly strong and brave of her.
Sara Sidner there for us. Thanks very much, Sara.
And that does it for me. Thanks very much for watching. Do stay right here with CNN. "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS" is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
