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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees
Heat Grows on Herman Cain; Crackdown in Syria Continues; Texas Judge Admits beating his Daughter; Alleged Cult was Linked to the Attacks on Amish; Harold Camping on Ridiculist
Aired November 02, 2011 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: It's 10:00 p.m. here on the East Coast.
We begin tonight with breaking news in the Herman Cain story, but it's hard to know exactly where to begin tonight. So much has happened in just the last few hours.
The attorney for one of two women alleging sexual harassment by Cain when he ran the National Restaurant Association met with his client tonight. They talked strategy and discussed whether or not she will come forward.
Also, the AP is reporting a third woman has emerged telling her story, alleging sexual harassment by Mr. Cain when she worked for him at the National Restaurant Association. If that weren't enough, we are also learning details of one of the first two incidents, one of the two that ended in financial settlements and confidentiality agreements. They came from Chris Wilson, a former Restaurant Association colleague, who witnessed, he says, one of the incidents and spoke about it today to Gloria Borger and CNN affiliate KTOK.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CHRIS WILSON, REPUBLICAN POLLSTER: I will tell you at the time, she was a very lower-level staffer. I think she was maybe two years out of college, and this all occurred at a restaurant in Crystal City. And everybody was very aware of it.
And so it is -- it was only a matter of time, because so many people were aware of what took place. So many people were aware of her situation and the fact that she left after this, that it was a -- everybody knew with the campaigns (INAUDIBLE) that this would eventually come up.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
COOPER: Chris Wilson, we should point out, is a Rick Perry supporter.
Gloria Borger asked him about that. She joins us shortly. We'll talk to her for details.
Again, that's not all, though. On top of all of that, according to Forbes.com, Cain is now blaming another campaign operative. A 2004 campaign adviser who's now working for Rick Perry for sparking this whole mess but "Keeping Him Honest," Cain's accusation directly contradicts his own statements about not recalling any sexual harassment allegations or settlements.
We're going to lay all of that out. But the day began with a conservative front-runner not wanting to talk about any of this anymore.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HERMAN CAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Let me say one thing. I'm here with these doctors and that's what I'm going to talk about so don't even bother asking me all of these other questions that you all are curious about. OK? Don't even bother.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: Good question, though.
QUESTION: Are you concerned about the fact that these women do want to --
CAIN: What did I say?
QUESTION: -- who wants to come forward. Are you concerned about --
CAIN: Excuse me. Excuse me.
QUESTION: Rick Ross who was --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Step aside, please.
CAIN: What part of no don't -- these people understand?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Well, there was some pushing, shoving, no answers from the candidate. The questions that began on Sunday when the Politico story hit detailing at least two incidents of alleged sexual harassment in the late '90s when Herman Cain ran the National Restaurant Association.
Today possible corroboration on the at least angle. A third NRA employee spoke to the Associated Press. According to the AP -- quote -- "She said the behavior included a private invitation to his corporate apartment." The report goes on to say that the unnamed woman says Cain made sexually suggested remarks or gestures.
Here's the Cain campaign's response. Quote, "Mr. Cain has said over the past two days at public events that we could see other baseless allegations made against him as this appalling smear campaign continues." The statement goes on -- quote -- "He has never acted in the way alleged by inside-the," excuse me.
"He's never acted in the way alleged by inside-the-beltway media and his distinguished record over 40 years spent climbing the corporate ladder speaks for itself."
And we should point out this third accuser did not file a formal complaint. Now according to the AP she says this happened at about the same time those two other women did file complaints. They're the two featured in the Politico story on Sunday, the story you all remember that Cain had a 10-day warning on but no answer to at first.
Then the next day his memory suddenly seemed to come back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAIN: If the Restaurant Association did a settlement, I am not -- I wasn't even aware of it and I hope it wasn't for much because nothing happened.
I am unaware of any sort of settlement. I was aware that an agreement was reached.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: He attributed the earlier lack of recall to how long ago this happened and confusion over being asked about settlements when he understood them to be -- in his word -- agreements. Yet today talking to a writer at "Forbes" magazine he himself -- he himself blew a big chunk of his own hazy memory excuse to bits.
He says that during his 2004 Georgia Senate campaign he told a consultant Curt Anderson that a sexual harassment claim had been brought against him while he ran the NRA -- quote -- "It was a typical campaign conversation," he says. Quote: "I told him that there was only one case, one set of charges, one woman while I was at the National Restaurant Association."
That conversation happened in 2003. Yet Monday morning and afternoon he had no memory of the incident at all. Then he did but was confused.
So did he forget it between 2003 and Monday, something that back then he remembered, and told his political adviser because he saw it as a potential liability?
That adviser Curt Anderson is now a Perry adviser, something the Cain people are now pointing to as evidence of a smear.
It's confusing, I know.
Joining us now chief political analyst Gloria Borger and senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin.
So, Gloria, you just got off the phone with Joel Bennett, the attorney for one of Cain's accusers who we spoke to last night. What did he tell you? What's the latest?
GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, this evening he's not speaking with us, he is speaking with his client. He's meeting with her and she's the one who 12 years ago alleged sexual harassment against Herman Cain and he told me that it is likely he will ask the Restaurant Association to allow his client to issue a statement under his name -- without her name -- to issue a statement saying that she vehemently denies Cain's remarks and that she was sexually harassed.
And he believes he needs permission from the Restaurant Association because he doesn't -- he wants to get an agreement from them that this would not be construed as a violation of her confidentiality agreement.
COOPER: But he's already said that. I mean, he said that on this program last night. Are you saying he would go farther in the statement, though?
BORGER: Well, I think she feels that she needs to issue an explicit statement. I asked him how much detail would be in it. He did not know but this is what he did say to me.
He said, "She doesn't want to become another Anita Hill. That's not her interest or her expectation. She would like to put this behind her. She put it behind her 12 years ago. She is not a publicity seeker. She's happily married and has a good job."
So it's clear she wants to set the record straight but it seems like she doesn't want to go in front of the cameras.
COOPER: You also talked to Chris Wilson, the former pollster for the National Restaurant Association --
BORGER: Yes.
COOPER: -- who says he witnessed Cain sexually harassing an employee. Did he tell you Cain was inappropriate with this woman?
BORGER: Well, all he would do is confirm essentially what you played at the top of the show which was his interview, but in that interview it was very clear that he believed what she did -- what he did was inappropriate and he also said that, you know, everybody knew with the campaign that this would eventually come out.
And, one other point, Anderson. I raised the question with him, obviously, of whether he was politically motivated and he would say this on the record to me because he does run a political action committee independent from the campaign of Rick Perry but he supports Rick Perry.
So it's an obvious question to ask and he said -- quote -- "I had nothing to do with leaking this in any way and I have never discussed or shared this story with any of my clients, period."
COOPER: It was interesting, though, Chris Wilson, what he said. And I want to get the exact wording, I'm just going to look in my computer. He said, "This occurred at a restaurant in Crystal City and everyone was very aware of it."
BORGER: Right.
COOPER: I'm not sure if that means that people witnessed it and thought it was inappropriate at the time. That means they were aware of it or if it just word was out in the National Restaurant Association that this had occurred.
BORGER: Right. And we really don't know but if everyone was aware of it, you can only surmise that people were talking about it, maybe the next day at the office.
COOPER: Right.
BORGER: Or --
COOPER: So --
BORGER: Then it became a topic of conversation and believe me we're following up on this radio interview.
COOPER: So -- all right, so, Jeff, now a third woman has accused Cain of sexual harassment in an interview with the Associated Press. You said there's a big difference, though, between this accusation and the other two that there was a settlement for.
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Right. I mean just because a woman says something to the Associated Press, I mean, that is not of great importance. I mean what makes the two that Politico originally reported on so important and so significant is that the National Associate -- Restaurant Association paid these women money.
That suggests something went on, enough either to -- you know, settle a case or it was perhaps just nuisance money to get rid of it.
COOPER: Right, let --
TOOBIN: But I mean, but paying money is very different from simply a blank -- a blank accusation.
COOPER: But people settle, you know, and pay money just to make things go away in lawsuits all the time.
TOOBIN: They do.
COOPER: I mean, it's more expensive to go through the litigation --
TOOBIN: Absolutely.
COOPER: -- than just to pay a couple of tens of thousands of dollars.
TOOBIN: That's true. And that may be what happened here, that it's certainly a possibility, but the fact that money changed hands following a sexual harassment allegation is of an order of magnitude, a lot more significant and worthy of investigation, than somebody saying to the Associated Press, this guy did something wrong. COOPER: Gloria, it seems unless one of these women actually comes forward and puts a face on this, I mean, where does this go? Because if you just have some press release from this woman's attorney --
BORGER: Right.
COOPER: I mean, Cain supporters will say -- BORGER: You know --
COOPER: -- well, look, this is terribly unfair. How do you -- how do you, you know, argue against a phantom, somebody who's not showing themselves?
BORGER: You know, I would argue that at some point -- you've covered a lot of these stories as have I and Jeff. At some point I think you kind of have to assume that the story will come out. The full story will come out. And maybe Herman Cain will tell the story and maybe the Restaurant Association will release a report, and it's documentation.
Maybe Herman Cain will ask for that to be released and maybe in the end the women will say, OK, release our names. I mean -- you know, it's very hard to predict --
COOPER: Right. Where it's going to go.
BORGER: -- what's going -- what's going to happen. I mean this is very incremental but I think the fact that she wants to issue any kind of a statement means that she's clearly upset with what she has heard Mr. Cain saying.
COOPER: To get her -- yes.
TOOBIN: It's certainly understandable that she doesn't want her name dragged through the mud. But a piece of paper issued by her lawyer, as you point out, that's really unfair to Herman Cain.
I mean how is he supposed to respond to that?
COOPER: Right.
TOOBIN: That is not a fair airing of the issue. That's simply attacking him blindly and you know, we shouldn't -- I mean, that's not something that should resolve this issue at all.
COOPER: Right.
Jeff Toobin, I got to leave it there.
Gloria Borger, as well.
I want to dig deeper now with Tea Party organizer and BigJournalism.com editor Dana Loesch. Also "The Washington Post's" "Right Turn" blogger and columnist Jennifer Rubin, and Democratic strategist James Carville. So, Dana, for the Cain campaign, their most recent response to this is basically to call the -- is for a call for the Perry campaign and Politico to apologize. They're clearly trying to shift the blame. Do you think that's going to work?
DANA LOESCH, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I don't think it's going to work. And in fact, I think what this is going to do is -- it's going to backfire with the Cain campaign immediately. This is -- this is something that they tried to avoid. Now that they have all of this. Like you were saying earlier.
It's very interesting that Herman Cain said Monday that he had no knowledge or as soon as these accusations came out Monday that he had no knowledge at all of any kind of settlement, and then yet today the story came out that, well, he actually did talk to Curt Anderson and they discussed it in detail. Their words, not mine.
So he opens the door to all of these questions and I think it's just going to -- I think it's just going to be ended up being bad for him. And I am very interested in seeing his polling numbers from Quinnipiac and everything else today to how this translates later on, how this is going to affect him. I just think it's -- this was a bad move. This was sloppy. And the Cain campaign has been handling this in a very sloppy fashion.
COOPER: Yes, Jennifer Rubin, I mean, obviously, I mean to Dana's point, the Cain campaign has been making more than a few missteps over the last couple of days. I guess the question is, are they doing anything right here?
JENNIFER RUBIN, COLUMNIST, "WASHINGTON POST": Not that I can see. First of all, they have attacked another individual in the race which is probably not going to endear him to conservatives. And it sort of steps on his excuse. Remember, up until today his excuse was that this was some kind of liberal conspiracy to get rid of a black conservative.
Well, how does Rick Perry fit into that scheme? And just about everything he does pours oil on the flames here.
What you didn't mention was that Mark Block was actually one of the individuals who tipped Politico off to yet another incident and this concerns an Iowa talk show host who says that Cain came in to his studio and made some inappropriate comments to his employees, so it just seems that the Cain campaign -- I don't imagine they're doing this intentionally but they just seem to be building and building and building, and making this worse every single day.
COOPER: James Carville, you put out a share of fires in your time. What do you make -- I mean how do you assess all this?
JAMES CARVILLE, CNN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR: I'm glad I'm not in the middle of this. I assess -- obviously Cain was not telling the truth when he said that. Obviously this came from Perry. Who benefits by it? Perry does. I mean any detective in the world would say -- I shouldn't say obviously. He is the most likely suspect by far. No Democrat would leak this. And --
COOPER: Why do you say no Democrat? Because at this point they would hold on to it or --
CARVILLE: A Democrat doesn't want to get rid of Cain right now. I mean -- come on, get real. It was all a bunch of silliness. Some of these charges maybe some women felt like they were sexually harassed. Maybe Cain didn't feel like he sexually harassed them, although this stuff doesn't have a clear cut definition. We find out that one of these women was paid $35,000. Well, as Senator Graham points out, if you take out attorney's fees, that's not a heck of a lot of money but I -- you know, sure Cain's not telling the truth. Sure Perry's behind this. And I would -- if I was Perry, I don't blame him for being behind it. He's got to do something and he gains from it.
COOPER: Where do you --
CARVILLE: We still --
COOPER: But James, where do you think this goes? I mean, if it's true, to Gloria's reporting, that the -- that the lawyer is just thinking about having this woman release a statement, not coming forward, does that end it or I mean --
CARVILLE: I don't know. It just probably end under its own weight and people will know that he wasn't candid coming out the chute, people will know that something happened. They probably will know -- they'll make a judgment on it.
I mean, look, in terms of these things this is a kind of category 3. I have been through category 5. But I mean the idea that Perry wasn't behind this, if it's not him, then who? The Restaurant Association? They look terrible in there. The Democrats? They don't want do get rid of Cain. Obviously it's not Romney. He's the -- he's not in it. So if it's not Perry, give me -- give me a suspect.
COOPER: Dana, I know you guys want to -- we've got to take a quick break.
LOESCH: Yes.
COOPER: But we're going to have more with you and Jennifer, and James on the other side of the break.
Join us. Let us know what you think. We're on Facebook. Follow me on Twitter @AndersonCooper.
Tweet us tonight who you think is involved in all this or what do think of all of it.
More next on the Cain story. We'll talk to our panel, especially the candidate's surprising and continued strength in the polls. We will see if that continues. We'll see what effect if any of this has -- maybe an opposite effect.
Also, a very disturbing video that exploded on YouTube. Whether you're a parent or not, this video is going to stop you in your tracks. It shows a Texas judge, a family judge, beating his disabled daughter with a belt. There's new fallout tonight. We'll show some of what's on this video. Frankly, too disturbing really to show you much of it.
We're going to tell you the story behind it, though. First, let's check in with Isha Sesay who's back. Isha, you're back.
ISHA SESAY, CNN ANCHOR: I'm back, Anderson. I missed you.
COOPER: Missed you, too.
SESAY: See. Yes. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
A strange story out of Ohio to tell you about. Four Amish men have been victims of beard cutting attacks. That's right. Beard cutting attacks.
Tonight we have new information about the men accused of the attacks and the strange sect it's believed they belong to.
Gary Tuchman's "Crime & Punishment" investigation -- when 360 continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Our breaking news tonight: Joel Bennett, the lawyer for one of Herman Cain's accusers is meeting tonight with his client discussing their strategy ahead. He says that she's told him she wants to remain anonymous, saying she doesn't want to become another Anita Hill -- Professor Hill being Clarence Thomas' accuser 20 years ago.
Meantime, there's new polling out showing Herman Cain's strength growing -- going in to this scandal. New numbers from Quinnipiac University tonight showing Cain out front among Republicans at 30 percent followed by Mitt Romney at 23 percent, Newt Gingrich in third. The poll was taken October 23 through the 31st. The numbers do not yet reflect the news this week.
Back now with our panel, Jennifer Rubin, James Carville and Dana Loesch.
Dana, I know you wanted to comment before we went to break. But do you think these charges could actually help Cain among -- I mean the sense among some conservatives that he's being victimized by the media or by other campaigns?
LOESCH: I think to an extent. There's two quick points that I want to make concerning this. I think in the beginning initially there was an absolute racial aspect to a lot of the media attacks on Herman Cain. I mean you had people calling him an Uncle Tom in "The New York Times." They were referring to him as being a minstrel. I mean it goes on and on. So there definitely has been a racial aspect to this. However, I think that's separate from what is happening right now with the way that the Cain campaign is handling this. I think Mark Block was reckless and irresponsible to go on national television and say without a shred of proof that Rick Perry is responsible for leaking this.
They had no proof whatsoever except what --
COOPER: Mark Block, the chief of staff...
(CROSSTALK)
LOESCH: Or chief of staff. Sorry. One man on the National Restaurant Association board was a Perry donor. There's also donors on that board who are -- who donate to Mitt Romney, as well. In fact, we could play the game that, well, maybe Mitt Romney is behind this. There's definitely a lot of speculation.
I myself had had questions about whether or not Herman Cain is a stalking horse for Mitt Romney. So, I mean, to say that -- you know, that Perry is behind this, it could very easily be said that Romney is behind this.
Cain endorsed Romney in 2008. He didn't attack him in any of the debates. I mean we could go on and on. So if that's silly then the idea that Rick Perry is behind this --
(CROSSTALK)
RUBIN: Well, let me give you some facts, if I can.
COOPER: Yes, Jennifer?
RUBIN: Yes, if I can introduce some facts.
LOESCH: It's exponentially silly.
RUBIN: I actually spoke to the -- I actually spoke to the Perry campaign on the way over. I said, do you have any facts tying Mitt Romney to this? Because they did throw that out. And they say, other than the fact one of his guys was on the board, no. And so when I asked, is this the same as you're being accused behind the Cain campaign of being the source of this, I got no response. So I think this is an effort that is wasted and in fact --
COOPER: And Jennifer, what do you make of those who say that the race played a role in this early on? That's what Dana has just been saying.
RUBIN: I don't think race played any role in the allegations. I think this was a legitimate story. Mr. Cain brought it on himself and I find it very peculiar, frankly, that a lot of conservatives particularly on the talk show circuit would play the race card, would say that Mr. Cain is not responsible for all this. There's some giant plot out there to get him because he's a black conservative. There's no evidence of that. This is now --
(CROSSTALK)
LOESCH: "New York times," "The Washington Post."
CARVILLE: Anderson?
RUBIN: The Cain campaign, the essential facts that Politico reported, so I think this is a mess of his own making. COOPER: James?
LOESCH: What are the facts that Politico has reported? Politico has reported a bunch of hearsay from women who are nameless.
RUBIN: No. Cain has confirmed it. Cain said, yes, there were settlements. Yes, he was accused. It's all coming back.
LOESCH: There were sexual gestures? What are the gestures? I mean there's gestures, there's harassment. I mean it's hyperbole.
COOPER: Well, at this point we don't -- we don't --
RUBIN: No. It's not hyperbole. It was a settled case.
COOPER: We certainly don't know -- we don't know the details because so far these people have not come forward.
LOESCH: Right. No one wants to touch this.
COOPER: James, James, you -- I see you laughing. What's going on?
CARVILLE: Yes. How can -- what can I respond? Cain is stalking horse for Romney but yet Romney leaked it on Cain. I mean, please. I mean, come on. Of course it's Perry. The guy works for a Perry super PAC.
LOESCH: He's too popular.
CARVILLE: Excuse me. Excuse me.
COOPER: Just let -- one at a time, Dana.
CARVILLE: I mean the idea that we're going to sit here on an intelligent television network and say that Cain is Romney's stalking horse but yet Romney leaked this, when in fact the guy who works for Perry's super PAC is the one calling the press and say, gee, I never told anybody.
I mean, come on. This is not the way that politics works and it doesn't make sense anybody other than Perry.
LOESCH: No, no. You're being unfair right now.
COOPER: Let him finish. Let him finish.
CARVILLE: It doesn't make any sense. LOESCH: Please.
COOPER: Do you believe that there was ever race involved in this?
CARVILLE: No, no. No.
(CROSSTALK)
LOESCH: Let me raise -- let me raise a point here. CARVILLE: Perry people are trying understandably, I don't blame them. Why do you think this guy from Oklahoma that worked for all these Perry contributors? You don't think he called and said, hey, I'm going to help you guys out?
LOESCH: He worked for Romney, too.
CARVILLE: I mean to not believe that is to not believe --
RUBIN: May I offer a point here?
LOESCH: He worked for Romney in 2008. He worked for Romney in 2008.
RUBIN: May I offer a point?
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: OK. Wait, wait, wait. One at a time. Because I got to tell you, no one listens when people are jumping all over each other.
LOESCH: Yes.
COOPER: Jennifer, what are you going to say then we got to go?
RUBIN: You know, who cares? The facts are the facts. What is the signature issue here and what is the point for voters to assess is first of all does he have a serial problem? There's a lot of people coming out of the woodwork.
And secondly, what does this tell him about him? Is he ready for prime time? Has he done anything right in the last few days? And this is of course soon the other problem that he has which is he's guilty of serial ignorance.
The Chinese he's discovered is now trying to get the bomb. Oh my. Ever since 1964. He can't remember his own tax plan. He's wishy- washy on abortion. He's a walking disaster. And I think the voters and the electorate for the Iowa and New Hampshire and early primary states should take a look at that and say, is this the guy we want to go with?
COOPER: We --
RUBIN: It's good and well to say someone else leaked it. But what difference does it make? He's the candidate.
COOPER: We got to leave it there.
Dana Loesch, Jennifer Rubin, James Carville, appreciate it.
Turning now to a disturbing story out of Texas, a shocking video surfacing on YouTube showing a county judge beating his daughter. It was shot years ago. It's just been released. The police investigating -- the police investigation is just getting started. We have the latest on this. Really, you should see this. Plus, the Syrian government signaling it is ready to end the brutal crackdown on its own people? This coming from the government. This isn't the first time the Assad regime made similar promises. Ahead: why a deal announced today could mean this time may be different, but I'm not holding my breath.
And members of a breakaway Amish sect launching a string of humiliating attacks on other Amish members, mainstream members. We're talking about beard-cutting, hair-cutting, strange stuff -- Gary Tuchman's investigation when we continue.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: "Up Close" tonight: new developments in a story that has just exploded online.
In the last 24 hours, this man, William Adams, a county judge in Texas, has become the focus of a police investigation apparently triggered by his own daughter.
Today, Judge Adams agreed to temporarily step down from his duties. Last week a woman who identified herself as his daughter Hillary Adams posted an extremely disturbing video on YouTube. It has gone viral in just the last couple of days. The video was allegedly shot on a Web cam seven years ago by Hillary who was then 16 years old.
The video shows Judge Adams beating her with a belt and cursing at her for disobeying him. We're going to show you a short clip. And we warn you, it is not easy to watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM ADAMS, ARANSAS COUNTY, TEXAS, JUDGE: Bend over that bed.
HILLARY ADAMS, JUDGE ADAMS' DAUGHTER: Dad.
WILLIAM ADAMS: Bend over the bed.
HILLARY ADAMS: Stop. Stop!
WILLIAM ADAMS: Bend over the bed! I'm going to hit you in the face. Roll over.
HILLARY ADAMS: Stop!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST: We showed you just 24 seconds of the video. The full video lasts an entire 7 1/2 minutes. It goes on and on. The mother gets involved as well and then the father comes back and continues to hit her with a belt. Martin Savidge is joining me right now.
You know, Martin, we've been reporting over the last couple of weeks, Gary Tuchman on series of un-Godly discipline. And it's interesting hear him -- he keeps using the word spank. He's whipping her with that belt. That the father has acknowledged that it was him in this video, hasn't he?
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He has indeed, yes. That was the first thing that came out today. A number of things actually, you know, naturally, this has sparked outrage, not only in the internet but also in the real word. And Judge Adams here is a family court judge. That's something else to keep in mind as you listen and watch that horrible evening.
COOPER: So he's determining how other families should govern themselves? He's determining what happens with other families when he's doing this? It's fascinating.
SAVIDGE: Exactly. Exactly. Which is why some of many people find this not only physically sickening, but also very egregious with the job that he holds. And so here's what's happen.
He's agreed with the district attorney that he's going to step down from his job for at least two weeks. Another judge is going to take over for awhile. Two investigations have begun.
Now, we point out that the first thing that the investigation is going to want to do is verify if the video is real. Well, it would appear that Judge Adams has done that himself. He spoke to a Texas affiliate KIRS. Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM ADAMS: In my mind, I did not do anything wrong other than discipline my child after she was caught stealing and I did lose my temper. But since, I apologize. It looks worse than it is. There is a story and it will come out in due time. OK?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: So you acknowledge that's you in the video?
WILLIAM ADAMS: Yes absolutely, that's me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: Meanwhile, the judge's office has just been flooded, this is in Aransas County, Texas and there have been flooded with phone calls and almost every one of them has been threatening against the judge himself.
COOPER: Do we have any information as to why the daughter would post this years after the incident?
SAVIDGE: Yes, 2004 is when this allegedly happened. And of course, he comes out now what, seven years later. She was 16 then. Hillary which is Hillary Adams is the woman. She's now 23. Apparently she says, and her mother also says, that the father has been carrying out physical and verbal abuse, mental abuse against them for years. Recently she was on the phone with her father. Hillary says she was once again going at her verbally. And she said she had enough. She had this video. She kept it. She posted it. Interestingly enough now, she's been shocked by the outcome and she regrets that she actually posted that video.
COOPER: Has law enforcement given any indication as to what the outcome of this might be?
SAVIDGE: Well, there are some problems with this. First and foremost, of course 2004, which means, the law has changed a lot since then. Then there is statute of limitations, not quite clear yet whether you can actually be charged with anything. What would it be, child abuse or will it there were any welts or anything like that. They will of course heal over time. Child endangerment, maybe, but again we don't know exactly if there is a statute of limitations that comes in the play here.
Also, keep in mind, it's Texas. In Texas, a lot of people believe in corporal punishment down there. So, there are a lot of factors that weigh in here. However, he's an elected official and he would face re-election in three years and people going to remember this video? It's hard to forget. There is no doubt about that.
COOPER: Yes. We'll continue to follow it. Appreciate it Martin Savidge, thanks.
There's lot more to follow on tonight. Isha is back with the 360 news and business bulletin, Isha.
ISHA SESAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, a deal announced today could signal that the Syrian government is ready to end months of violence against their own people. The Arab Leader said President Bashar al- Ashad regime agreed to remove troops from the street and release political prisoners. For the first time, international journalists and the Arab league will be allowed to monitor the progress.
Greece's cabinet voting unanimously for a national referendum on the EU bailout plan. The country's prime minister shocked the world by making it a condition for the deal meant to stabilize the country's debt crisis. No date is set for the vote.
And Anderson, take a look at this. It may look like the end of a movie chase scene. But this is what really happens when a car hit a fire hydrant in San Diego. The force of the water lifting the back of the car as you see until crews removed it.
COOPER: Wow.
SESAY: Is that crazy?
COOPER: That is crazy.
SESAY: Yes. My driving is bad enough as it is.
COOPER: You drive on the wrong side of the road.
SESAY: I'm going to choose to ignore that.
COOPER: We will check back with you a little bit later, Isha. Coming up on much more serious story in the quiet corner of Ohio, an unthinkable crime has shattered an Amish community sense a safety. Those bizarre of all of the attackers are armed with scissors and clippers and there other (inaudible).
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF FRED ABDALLA, JEFFERSON COUNTY, OHIO: This is very degrading to an Amish man. The on e Amish said he would rather die than have his beard cut off.
That's how bad it is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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COOPER: In crime in punishment, a series of attacks as unexpected as they are bizarre in the federal investigation that now bringing unwanted attention to a community that cherishes its privacy, the Amish.
In a normally quiet corner of Ohio, these five men have been arrested on kidnapping and burglary charges. All five, are believed to belong to an Amish sect, the mainstream Amish consider a cult. The victims of the alleged crimes are also Amish, not outsider. The details of the story can sound really strange. May be even (inaudible).
Authorities said the suspects are armed with scissors and battery operated clippers when they attacked. Their intent was to humiliate the victims by maiming a core symbol of their faith. Gary Tuchman investigates.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In rural eastern Ohio, the Amish have lived for generation in peace and solidarity. But recently in the middle of the night, an Amish woman in this house, Arlene Miller, called 911.
911 OPERATOR: Carroll County, 911.
ARLENE MILLER, CALLER: We have terrorists here. Someone terrorizing us.
TUCHMAN: And then her husband Myron took the phone.
MYRON MILLER, VITIM OF BEARD-CUTTING ATTACK: I opened my door and asked them what they want. The one guy reached in and grabbed me by my beard and pulled me out.
TUCHMAN: Grabbed him by his beard and started to cut it off. Myron Miller is one of at least four Amish men in Ohio who have been victims of beard bizarre beard cutting attacks. That's right, beard cut canning attacks.
Fred Abdalla is the sheriff in Jefferson County, Ohio.
ABDALLA: this is very degrading to an Amish. The one Amish say he'd rather die that have his beard cut off. That's how bad that is.
TUCHMAN: Myron Miller which attacked by five men, he escaped before his entire beard was cut. He talked, but like many Amish who do not like publicity, did not face the camera.
MYRON MILLER: It doesn't make sense to us either, why somebody would start cutting off beard you know terrorize people.
TUCHMAN: Myron Miller's wife did not want her face on camera at all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There we go.
TUCHMAN: OK. This is my first time putting a horse on a buggy.
But she did offer to take me on a buggy to talk about the fear and the community.
Amish people aren't used to be scared. It's such a peaceful lifestyle, right?
ARLENE MILLER: We never lock our doors before this happened. But now that this has happened, we are locking our doors.
TUCHMAN: And this is who they say they are trying to keep out. These Amish men who were arrested in connection with the beard-cutting case Myron Miller. This was a court hearing for three of the five men arrested. They are all now free out on bond. But the sheriff says that men were ordered to do the beard cuttings by one particular man.
ABDALLA: I've dealt with a lot of Amish. They are just beautiful people. But I can't compare Sam Mullet to the ones that I've met.
TUCHMAN: Sam Mullet is the bishop of break way Amish sect that is in a deep rift with a mainstream Amish who say he's dangerously manipulative over his flock. But why the beard cutting? It's a profound insult to the Amish. And Mullet's followers have used it as a weapon to punish people who might have insulted them. Three of those arrested are the sons of Sam Mullet.
ABDALLA: He's a dominating individual. Nothing moves the night to me without him say it's OK. He calls all of the shots and they are literally scared to death of him. And I've said that he's a cult leader over the years because they will do and he tells them to do. The ones said they will die for their father. That's how severely he has them brainwashed.
TUCHMAN: So we went to the tiny town of Bergholz, Ohio, in search of Sam Mullet and we found him. He wasn't very pleased to see us.
TUCHMAN: If the sheriff says that you're a cult, what do you say to that?
SAM MULLET, AMISH BISHOP: We're not a cult. TUCHMAN: But did you order to cut beards off?
MULLET: I did not order that, of anything.
TUCHMAN: But Sam Mullet does not deny that his sons or the other men committed the beard attacks.
MULLET: They do what they think is right and, yes, I probably could have said, you're not going to do this and maybe they wouldn't have right then but sooner or later it would have happened anyway.
TUCHMAN: Well, why do you think these people have their beards cut off?
MULLET: We're getting into deep. It's too long a story. It goes way back. I'm just not interested.
TUCHMAN: Do you think those people did something wrong?
MULLET: I'm telling you, I'm not interested. Can you hear me?
TUCHMAN: To Myron Miller's wife Arlene who later decided said she would appear on camera, there's no doubt whose behind the attack.
Who do you think is responsible for these attacks?
ARLENE MILLER: Sam, Sam Mullet.
TUCHMAN: She says that Sam Mullet is angry at her family because her family helped when one of Mullet's son leave his father's group.
ARLENE MILLER: If they ever arrest him and he's able to get out on bond, he's not going to go down easy.
TUCHMAN: Sam Mullet has not been arrested but authorities say that they are building a case against him.
ABDALLA: I can't take any chances with this guy.
TUCHMAN: Meanwhile, no arrest has been made in another case. An Amish woman was victimized by a haircutting attack. Amish women consider hair to be God's glory. The police report stating that the victim removed her bandana and revealed several patches of hair missing. The sheriff says that Mullet is behind that attack and now the federal government has decided to get involved.
TUCHMAN: The FBI is involved in this situation. What is your feeling about that?
MULLET: We are not guilty so I have nothing to hide. If they want to come and check us out, we'd be glad to see them here.
TUCHMAN: Sam Mullet claims that people have a vendetta against him. That he just wants his people to be left alone and that he is the righteous one. MULLET: People are spreading lies around about us and the way that they are treating us, but getting the sheriff, getting the law and everything are asking for a big punishment from the man up above.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Gary, it's so fascinating. This is happening, you know, in the United States in this day and age. How did the Amish attackers get away?
TUCHMAN: Well, this is another intriguing part of the story. Most of us know that Amish people are not supposed to drive cars. But the fact is, they can't be behind the wheel but they are allowed to be in cars, get or hire a driver.
With these particular cases, we're told from the sheriff that they had a hired driver taken to each of these houses but the sheriff said the hired driver did not what was going on. He has not been charged with the crime. Just dropped them off at the houses, and they ended up taking these men out of their household, held them down, using the scissors, cutting off their beards, hopped in the car and drove off.
COOPER: And we still don't know -- well, it's fascinating. I'm amazed that you were able to get everybody to talk on camera, too.
TUCHMAN: I mean, one of the things that we told the victim was, we understand that Amish people are very private and don't like to talk to outsiders but it would be much more effective story if you able to go on camera and talk to us. And we said the same thing to Sam Mullet. We said we have a lot of accusations against you. We're going to do the story either way and he ultimately decided to spend about a half an hour with us talking to us.
COOPER: Gary, appreciate the reporting. Thanks.
Donald Kraybill joins me now. He is a sociologist and professor to Elizabethtown College of Pennsylvania and the author of several books about the Amish. Thanks for being with us.
I mean Amish on Amish crime are virtually unheard of. Is beard cutting a common form of discipline?
DONALD KRAYBILL, SOCIOLOGY PROFESSOR, ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE: No, I have never, Anderson, heard about beard cutting as a form of discipline. This is just unheard of, malicious behavior, and this Sam Mullet is a cult leader. He fits perfectly, the socio logically deaf figures of a cult. He left the mainstream community about fifteen years ago. He was a provocative person at that point. Moved to 100 miles east to Jefferson County to a remote area and he basically operates alone. He's not in fellowship or working with other groups. So he's invisible. Amish people have said, he thinks he's a prophet, and doing whatever he wants to do.
COOPER: And what is his problem with the other Amish?
KRAYBILL: His problem with the other Amish is that all of the men whose beard's was cut are bishops who have spoken out publicly against him, against his malicious behavior and so he's angry about that. And this is a form of retaliation back against those church leaders who have spoken out because they perceive him to be very dangerous and they are worried about the danger of children and adults in his little cult.
COOPER: And the Amish are pacifists. So I mean any kind of violence against men, against women, I mean that's particularly shocking for other Amish people.
KRAYBILL: They clearly are pacifists and all of his behavior much of his malicious behavior the last several years is a direct contradiction, a direct violation of basic Amish teaching and Amish practices and Amish convictions.
So, that's why Amish people they say he's not one of us. He is not Amish and he's running his own little operation in a cult like style often as remote area of Jefferson County.
COOPER: It's - I mean I just find it fascinating. Professor Kraybill, I really, really appreciate you joining us tonight. Thank you.
KRAYBILL: My pleasure.
COOPER: Up next on the program in court today -- this is a bizarre transition -- Lindsay Lohan admitting she violated her probation. The judge sending her back to jail, details on that.
Plus, one of our favorite rapture forecaster gets the math wrong again. But tonight, it's the nth time haters who are on the ridiculous.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SESAY: Anderson's back in a moment. First, the 360 bulletin. A Federal jury today convicted former service air officer of armed dealing as spying to kill Americans who would once widely known as the merchant of death could face life in prison when he sentenced in February.
In Georgia, four alleged Militia members charged with plotting the bomb and poisoned government official appeared in court today. They were arrested yesterday after allegedly describing the plot to an FBI informant.
And in Los Angeles judge has sentenced Lindsay Lohan to 30 days in jail for a violation of her probation on a necklace theft conviction. Lohan was ordered to report to jail next week. Anderson?
COOPER: Erin Burnett Our Front is ahead at 11:00. Let's check in. Erin, what's up?
ERIN BURNETT, HOST, OUT FRONT: Alright, well Anderson, we're going to be talking to Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich tonight. He's been jumping in the polls, three percent a couple of months ago. Now he's up to 10 percent. We're going to talk about his plan to fix the American economy and also he's going to weigh in on whether another campaign really leaked these allegations of sexual harassment about Herman Cain. He calls a campaign that would do that a pa rye yes, the act repulsive. You're going to hear from Newt Gingrich tonight.
Plus, we are going to talk about four militia men in Georgia who wanted to target Federal buildings were willing to put a biological toxic agent called rice in out on the highways. We're going to find out exactly who these men were. Anderson, it's really going to surprise you when you actually see them, hear about them. We've got that coming up in the next hour. Back to you.
COOPER: Erin thanks so much. We look forward to that.
Ahead in the program, our favorite, end of world predictor gets it wrong again? But we still have faith. So, all you after haters, we're saving a place for you on the ridiculous, next.
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COOPER: Time now for ridiculous. And tonight we're ad adding all you rapture doubters out there. Yes, that's right. Anderson Cooper is getting biblical and apparently talking about himself in the third person. Not sure why. We'll stop that right now.
So, here's the deal. You might remember the back in the spring a man named Harold Camping who runs a Christian broadcasting network called family radio announced to anyone that would listen, which turned out to be the entire world's press corps that he had learned through study of the bible that the end of the earth, the rapture, the destruction of all living things would occur on May 21st. And heist, spoiler alert, it didn't, which was great because the next morning I had a really good bagel.
Anyway, a few days later Mister Camping held a news conference and said while the world did not end, the wheels of the rapture were indeed in motion. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAROLD CAMPING, host, radio family: On May 21, 2011, we didn't feel any difference. We didn't see any difference in the world, but we know from the bible that God brought judgment day to bear on the whole world. The whole world is under judgment day, and this is a -- it will continue right up until October 21, 2011, and at that time the whole world will be destroyed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: A lot of beige going on in that office. Anyway, what's with him changing the date?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAMPING: We aren't changing a date at all. We're just -- we're just learning that we have to be looking at all of this a little bit more spiritual, but it won't be spiritual on October 21, because the bible clearly teaches that then the world is going to be destroyed all together, and -- but it will be very quick.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Look, I'm not going to lie. It bummed me out a little bit because October 21st was a Friday. I really wanted to go see "paranormal activity 3," that night and the rapture kind a conflicted with that. But lucky me, and let's face it, it's all about me, working television, there was no rapture on October 21st.
Now, Harold Camping is now speaking out on his radio network discussing why his latest prediction went buffed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAMPING: And when it comes to trying to recognize the truth, the prophecy, we're finding out it was very, very difficult. Why didn't Christ return on October 21? It seems embarrassing for family radio, but God was in charge of everything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Seems just a little bit embarrassing for family radio still, but it does sound like he just passed the buck to God, didn't it? Now, I don't doubt Mister Camping is a devout man, but I'm pretty sure God didn't call that press conference.
But here's a thing, rapture doubters, Mister Camping is not done yet. Oh, no.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAMPING: Amongst other things, I have been checking my own notes more carefully than ever, and I do find that there is other language in the bible that we still have to look at very carefully and will impinge upon this question very definitely, and we should be very patient about this matter.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: So there you have it. Mister Camping is checking his notes, if you'll just be patient. So, all you rapture doubters out there, pipe down. Make yourselves comfortable, and let me know if you see a sign at the end times on the ridiculous.
Hey, that's it for us. Thanks for watching. Erin Burnett out front starts now.
