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Anthony Weiner May Face Ethics Probe; CNN Listening Tour; Forced Out by Wildfire

Aired June 07, 2011 - 11:00   ET

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

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Live from Studio 7, I'm Suzanne Malveaux. I want to get you up to speed for Tuesday, June 7th.

Congressman Anthony Weiner say she will not resign, but his political future may be in jeopardy after he admitted posting a lewd picture on his Twitter account and lying about it. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi plans to call for an ethics investigation. Weiner says he doesn't think that he broke the law.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ANTHONY WEINER (D), NEW YORK: I engaged in inappropriate online conversations with people that included photographs. And it was a mistake to do that, but I don't believe that I did anything that violates any law or any rule.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Conditions have improved this morning for firefighters battling one of the largest wildfires in Arizona's history, but the situation remains dangerous. Smoke forced four flights to be diverted. More than 3,000 people have been evacuated.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN YORK, FIRE EVACUEE: We packed up everything that we could --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Memories.

YORK: -- memories and clothes.

RUTH BLAKESLEE, FIRE EVACUEE: When they tell us to leave, we have to leave. We don't want to leave. I'm going to cry. We don't want to leave, but we know for safety's sake, we have to.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: German Chancellor Angela Merkel is at the White House today. She's going receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama. The two world leaders have had their share of disagreements lately on Libya and the global economy, but they'll both be going before the cameras together this hour. We're going to have live coverage. He has repeatedly bashed President Obama's economic plan. Now Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty is outlining what he would do in a speech in Obama's back yard, Chicago. An aide says Pawlenty's plan includes balancing the federal budget, overhauling the tax code, and reducing government regulation.

Explosions rocking Tripoli as NATO warplanes amp up their attack on the Libyan capital. According to Libyan state television, Moammar Gadhafi's compound is being bombarded and Libyan officials say that the state TV network was also hit in that attack.

In Yemen, more than 400 tribal fighters stormed the southwestern city of Taiz. It's another major setback for the government. President Ali Abdullah Saleh was injured Friday when a bomb exploded inside his compound. Now he's in Saudi Arabia, where U.S. officials say he's being treated for burns and a collapsed lung.

A spectacular light show in the skies across Chile. A volcanic -- a volcano shoots ash six miles high. Pictures look like they are from another planet. The volcanic ash and static electricity are grounding flights in Chile and neighboring Argentina. About 3,500 people have fled that area.

A closer look at the political fallout for Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner. Well, Weiner confessed to carrying on inappropriate conversations, explicit e-mails, photos with six women that he met online. He also admitted posting that lewd photo on his Twitter account and lying to cover it up.

Our congressional correspondent, Kate Bolduan, she's joining us from Capitol Hill.

And Kate, a lot of people, they can't stop talking about this. I mean, and we've also seen the fallout. Nancy Pelosi now calling for an ethics investigation.

What do we think this investigation is actually going to reveal?

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Suzanne, it's not quite clear yet, but I can tell you that people are starting to dust off this -- this would be the House Ethics Manual -- because people are pointing to one particular rule in this manual that many are saying could be a point of trouble for Anthony Weiner.

In this rule, it specifically reads that, "Members, officers, and employees of the House should conduct themselves at all times in a manner that reflects creditably on the House."

However, just as quickly people are pointing to this provision as a place for possible trouble for him, I'm also told that this is not often -- this rule is not often used as a standalone reason for a sanction of a member of Congress. It's often used as kind of in conjunction with a more clear violation of the code of conduct.

I have spoken with an ethics expert who says, really, what we're dealing with is an unclear way the rules written at this time, not keeping up with technology, if you will. One ethics expert telling me that it's unclear what the rules really are saying about how a member should or should not conduct themselves online, which they think will be a big question here.

But as we know, the Democratic Leader, in a very rare move, has called for an ethics investigation here, Suzanne, into looking into if official resources of the government, of the House of Representatives, were used by Anthony Weiner here in his conduct, and also if any other violations of House rules did occur. And that's -- those two things are going to be looked at.

Democratic sources do tell us, Suzanne, that, still, questions remain even after that pretty lengthy press conference. One being if official resources were used, and also if any of the women are underage. And that is still going to be looked into -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: And Kate, if he's found that he's guilty by either one of those, some ethics violations, what's the fallout? What's the potential fallout? I mean, voters could vote him out, but would he be censured or would he be punished in some way?

BOLDUAN: It can range, and it ranges, of course, on a case-by- case basis. The Ethics Committee has not given any official word or any statement on this call by the Democratic Leader, not surprisingly, though, because the Ethics Committee is notoriously tight-lipped when it comes to matters before the committee. It could go from they find that there was no violation, to a slap on the wrist, to something much, much more serious, as we've seen in recent times.

But, the fallout, really, at this point is kind of listening to the fallout of Democrats and what Democrats are saying. It's ranging from the reaction, I'll tell you very briefly, kind of a deafening silence of many of his Democratic colleagues, through also the Democratic leaders, the top two members of House Democrats, coming out very quickly to call on this investigation.

Democratic sources are telling us, this is really a show of just how furious Democratic leaders are over this entire mess, and really what Anthony Weiner has done, of course, in lying at first about this whole situation. And they're really trying to distance themselves very clearly from Anthony Weiner and this mess that he has created -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: All right. Kate Bolduan, thank you very much.

The conservative blogger who first published the photo of Congressman Weiner says he feels vindicated. Andrew Breitbart stands by his role in exposing the scandal.

On CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING," Breitbart said that he has another ore graphic picture that he does not plan to make public.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDREW BREITBART, BREITBART.COM: I am not the cruel person that the media and people, certain people on the left, think that I am. And I guarantee you that is a newsworthy photo. I just don't that that -- I don't want to be known as the person that released that photo.

KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: So you'll never release it now?

BREITBART: You know, here's what I'll say -- I'm starting to hear from somebody that they're going to -- if they start going after the girls, if they start releasing stuff about the girls, some of the images that were sent to him as a way to tell girls to not come forward, I have the photo. I have no intention. I can't fathom that he would be stupid enough to start going after the girls and to start releasing photos of them that they've given.

Let it lie. OK?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Congressman Weiner apologized to Andrew Breitbart and, of course, to his wife and his family. He also apologized to the people that he represents in Congress. And here's what some of his constituents are saying about the scandal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's owning up to it and admitted to it, and he did the right thing coming forward.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you think he can go after this, or should he resign?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think he should resign because he should have been truthful from the very beginning. It just shows a little bit of dishonesty there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think his credibility is ruined because he didn't come out and say what really happened.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hopefully he'll get through it and move on. I think he's a great guy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you think you'll vote for him again?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course I would vote for him again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Weiner easily won reelection last November.

We're going to have more on the scandal facing the congressman later this hour when we talk with sex and relation therapist Laura Berman.

Here's a rundown of some of the stories that we are covering today.

The president welcomes German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the White House.

And hearing from the people, "CNN In-Depth," a listening tour to find out how the economy will help decide the next presidential election.

Then, leaving Arizona. People flee as relentless wildfires spread across the state.

(GUNFIRE)

MALVEAUX: A deadly shooting caught on phone cam. Police go all out to confiscate that video.

And Oscar-winning actor Jeff Bridges, he's joining us to talk about ending child hunger.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Going to need more jobs. People need to be working. People need to get houses. They're losing their homes.

That's not fair to some people because they're forced out of their jobs. And we need to bring jobs back to the city, bring it to Manhattan. Get people employed, get people back in their homes. That's our downfall.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: With jobs and the economy on most people's minds, Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty is outlining his economic plan. Pawlenty has blasted President Obama's policies, and he's speaking right now, as you can see, in Chicago, the president's back yard, essentially. An aide says that Pawlenty's plan includes balancing the budget, overhauling the tax code, and reducing government regulation.

Well, "CNN In-Depth" is on a listening tour to hear your concerns about the economy and how those concerns are shaping your views on the presidential race. Our correspondents, fanning out across the country, visiting diners, job fairs, even sporting events.

Ted Rowlands joins us from Toledo, Ohio.

Ted, that's where you are. What are folks telling you?

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Suzanne, as you can imagine, the economy, a huge issue.

We've been talking to people here at Rudy's Hot Dog, an institution in Toledo, six locations since 1920. Three hot dogs for $4. What a deal.

Robin White has been working here for -- well, we won't say -- more than 30 years -- 39 years. She hears people's concerns. She knows pretty much everybody here.

What are you hearing from people? What do they want out of Washington? And what are their concerns?

ROBIN WHITE, MANAGER, RUDY'S HOT DOGS: The most important one, the gas. Gas prices have to go down. It's ridiculous.

ROWLANDS: What about you?

WHITE: Four dollars a gallon. I mean, I put $25 in my car and I didn't even get half a tank yesterday.

ROWLANDS: What about you, Robin? You obviously have a lot of opinions. What would you, if you had a chance to tell politicians in Washington that are watching right now, what would you tell them? What message from you would you send Washington?

WHITE: I'd say everybody get together and work on this and get these gas prices lowered and get our guys out of Iraq.

ROWLANDS: Get them out of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Robin wants an end to the war.

We've heard from Republican, Democrats. One of the themes that we're hearing, Suzanne, is people want the two parties to get along a little better and get something accomplished.

Bob Huntley, who works at the Chrysler plant -- he works security there -- he said he only works because of the health benefits. Otherwise, he'd be retired. He's had a long career.

Bob, your biggest concern? We just heard from Robin it was gas prices. You agree. You think there's some monkey business going on with the manipulation of prices.

BOB HUNTLEY, CUSTOMER, RUDY'S HOT DOG: Yes, I think the oil companies are actually controlling the price of gas. One day it's $3.50. The next day it's $4. Now, how does it jump 50 cents in one day? I don't understand that.

I think they're manipulating everybody. You know? It affects the car industry and everything, which affects everybody else in the country.

ROWLANDS: And you don't believe that Washington is helpless on this. You think that maybe there is something they can do.

HUNTLEY: I think they can be investigated a little bit more and find out why the prices keep jumping up and down all of the time when the same oil and the same tanks here go up 50 cents a gallon. That's ridiculous. You know?

Right before holidays and that, that's raising prices, I don't feel they're trying to control the price of oil that well. They keep saying, well, it's imports, imports. More of that has to be to it than just that.

ROWLANDS: All right.

Well, Suzanne, we've been getting a lot of opinions, a lot of stuff on the economy, as you might imagine, a lot of complaints about the parties bickering and not accomplishing things. We'll be here all day and we'll be around the country all week, taking the pulse of American voters leading up to next week's debate and of course the upcoming election -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: OK, Ted. Very interesting to hear what folks have to say, and obviously how that's going to impact who they decide to vote for.

Thank you, Ted. Appreciate it.

Next Monday, CNN will host the New Hampshire presidential debate. Join us as Republican hopefuls take on the issues, as well as each other. The New Hampshire presidential debate, that is next Monday, June 13th, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, only on CNN.

(NEWSBREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Another politician caught in a scandal, another tearful confession, and more apologies.

The latest, Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner. Weiner admitted posting that lewd photo on his Twitter account and lying to cover it up. He also confessed to other bad behavior.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WEINER: Over the past few years I have engaged in several inappropriate conversations conducted over Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, and occasionally on the phone with women I have met online. I've exchanged messages and photos of an explicit nature with about six women over the last three year. For the most part, these communications took place before my marriage, though some have sadly took place after. To be clear, I have never met any of these women or had physical relationships at any time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Joining us from Chicago is sex and relationship therapist Laura Berman. She's an author and host of "In the Bedroom With Dr. Laura Berman" on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

We keep see these stories, Dr. Berman, of powerful men behaving badly, whether it's Arnold Schwarzenegger, John Edwards. Now it's Congressman Weiner.

What gives here? Why is this even happening?

DR. LAURA BERMAN, SEX AND RELATIONSHIP THERAPIST: Well, I think it's something that's happening across the board in relationships. I'm certainly hearing about it on a daily basis. But these are public figures for whom the scandals become public for the rest of us to see. But these high-powered politicians, or high-powered men, they do have several things in common that may make them more prone to act out this way.

MALVEAUX: What do you suppose he was thinking? Is this about bad judgment, is it about bad morals, or is something biological going on?

BERMAN: I think it's a perfect storm of all three of those.

First of all, he clearly has the physical signs and the behavioral signs of someone with high testosterone, because men, typically, with the receding hairline, strong jaw line, who act out aggressively, tend to be more assertive and competitive, higher sex drive and higher risk takers. So, the combination of that, with the fact that politicians are kind of used to justifying the blurry line between fact and fiction, they can justify lots of things in their minds. That's part of the job in many case, and so that might make him prone to be able to justify in his mind why this wasn't sex or this wasn't cheating.

But he's not unlike a lot of men. I think this is a conversation that couples have to have about what's OK and not OK to do online.

MALVEAUX: Is it considered cheating? Do you think that the definition of cheating, the line, has moved in some way?

BERMAN: I think it's cheating. I think any time you do say or behave in some way that you wouldn't do, say or behave with your partner standing right next to you, you're acting in a questionable way.

However, it's amazing what we can convince ourselves of, you know, being OK. And that's why you have to have the conversation.

And this is -- I'm seeing it every day in my office, it's coming up on the shows that I do. This is something that's affecting people's lives, because there's no understanding of how to navigate the social networking in relationships. And unless you have a conversation, it is cheating if you communicate with another person in any kind of sexual way, if you send sexual pictures of yourself. I mean, that is cheating, and you have to have that conversation.

MALVEAUX: What compels someone to do this, to send pictures of themselves to strangers? Is it an exhibitionist thing or --

BERMAN: Well, there may be an exhibitionist thing. I find that a lot of people do that from the standpoint of, "I'll show you mine if you show me yours." I think at least from some of the e-mails and texts that I've read, that have been printed in the media, at least one woman was saying that he was asking for feedback.

A lot of times people send the pictures so that they can hear how sexy and attractive they are because their ego needs that kind of stroking. And it sort of becomes addictive.

MALVEAUX: Dr. Laura Berman, thank you so much. Appreciate your time. We'll be checking in on your show as well. Thank you.

BERMAN: Thank you.

MALVEAUX: Flames are spreading in Arizona and smoke now is pouring into New Mexico. One of the largest wildfires in Arizona's history threatening more communities.

In five minutes I'm going to talk with one homeowner who was forced out by the approaching fire.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Ahead "On the Rundown," the president meeting now with Germany's chancellor as she prepares to receive our nation's highest civilian honor.

Next, wildfires raging in Arizona, and neighboring New Mexico starting to feel the heat.

Also, a deadly police shooting caught on phone cam. Then officers go after the phone with guns drawn.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh my God. He's got to be dead.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: In Arizona, firefighters are worried about gusty winds spreading wildfires even more. Twenty-five hundred firefighters are battling the fires, and at least 3,000 people have already been evacuated.

Smoke triggered air quality alerts for several New Mexico counties bordering Arizona. Four planes were diverted from Albuquerque yesterday.

And people in Greer, Arizona, have been told now to evacuate. Alpine already has been evacuated. Springerville and Eagar have been told to leave, but leaving can be tough.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JESSE WALKER, EVACUATED FROM HOME: What a person doesn't realize is how hard it is to face something like that. And you think you're prepared for it. You think you're mentally prepared for it, physically prepared for it. You're not. I cried all of the way down.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You did?

WALKER: It's hard. I've got to go.

(END VIDEO CLIP) (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've still got a brother up there. He wants to fight for what's his. And I don't blame him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: That man's brother, Marshell Reed, finally left his home, but reluctantly.

Take a look at this map. This is (INAUDIBLE). This is where Marshell Reed's home is located. Reed is now at his daughter-in- law's, and he shows us -- he's going to be joining us on the phone.

Mr. Reed, you finally left. What convinced you to go?

MARSHELL REED, FIRE EVACUEE: The wind.

MALVEAUX: The wind?

REED: The wind was blowing about -- yes, we had sustained winds about 60 -- probably 60 miles an hour, up to 70.

MALVEAUX: Did you see fire?

REED: Yes, I did. It was a matter -- looked like it was probably 20, 30 minutes before it got to us, and it was just blowing so hard. It boggled. It got scary.

MALVEAUX: And why did you stay so long?

REED: I got about 60 chickens and a couple dozen baby chicks that had to take care of. I didn't want them starving or thirsting to death.

MALVEAUX: Were you able to take them with you?

REED: Oh, no. There's -- you have to -- you'd have to have an awful lot of pens or build a chicken coop in the back of your truck to get them out of there. And then where you're going to put them, you know?

MALVEAUX: So, you have to leave your 60 chickens behind, is that right?

REED: Yes. I stopped to talk to a forest service supervisor, he said as long as he was in there. He would check on them, maybe. But they weren't sure they were going to be able to stay in that area, the wind was blowing so hard.

MALVEAUX: Do you have any idea the condition of your home now?

REED: I don't.

MALVEAUX: Have you been able to talk to anyone, any officials to get an update on how close that fire might be to your home? REED: No, I haven't. I wore myself to a frazzle, bidding fire line, and going from my place to everybody else's place that I could. I got a back hoe. And I ran around places until I ran out of gas, and refuel. And I was told that if I left to get fuel, I couldn't come back. So, then I started chopping leaves by hand and wind was blowing so hard you couldn't hardly stand up.

You chop a weed, it would blow over to the neighbor's house, you build up a pound, you have to go and gather it up, take it out in the middle of the field and put chicken wire down to hold it down. It was just -- it was scary --

MALVEAUX: It sounds so -- go ahead. It sounds so scary.

REED: When I was young, I was kind of a thrill-seeker. I rode bulls and climbed poles and painted multi-story buildings when there's just iron framework, no stairs, floors or stairs, so I don't scare easy. And this had me (INAUDIBLE).

MALVEAUX: Are you with family now? Do you -- is there anybody who you left behind who is still potentially in danger?

REED: No. I was the last one out of there. There was two other neighbors there and they left several hours before I did. The hotshot crews came by several times just begging us to leave. And they finally put out when that wind didn't die down. In fact, it just kept getting stronger and the weather was calling for 40, 45-mile-an-hour gusts and I guess the fire was probably creating its own weather. It had to be gusting 75 miles an hour.

MALVEAUX: Well, Mr. Reed, we were so glad that you are actually out of your house, that you are safe, that you are with family. We hope for the very best with your home and your chickens as well. And we'll be keeping in touch with you to see how that goes, OK?

REED: It was the toughest decision I've made in many years, I'll tell you.

MALVEAUX: I'm sure it was. Well, we will keep in touch and we will find out what is actually taking place at your home. Thank you, Mr. Reed.

REED: Thank you very much.

MALVEAUX: I want to get a look at the weather picture right now. Our Rob Marciano is in the CNN severe weather center.

And, Rob, you know, what's the situation with all of the winds in Arizona. I mean, it sounds like this is a really tough situation for this guy.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It's dry, windy and hot. That's a combination you don't want. Obviously, they get that a lot this time of year, especially in the desert. And this storm or this fire itself right now is ranking third in the all-time list in Arizona, with zero containment right now. It's burned over 233,000 acres of land.

Fairly rugged terrain in this area, and with that, comes obviously added headache, got over 2,500 personnel that are in this area. Some of these are mountains -- especially off to the west can go up to 11,000 feet. Obviously we got steep drop-offs in some of the valley locations. There's alpine, one of the communities that sits under the gun here.

Here's an interesting satellite taken yesterday. And you can see the plume of moisture headed this way. Or not moisture, this is the smoke getting over into New Mexico. Now, the eastern edge of this thing is just a few miles, really, from the eastern edge of New Mexico. And we do expect to see winds today out of the Southwest. So, out of this area, over 30 miles an hour, with humidity levels that will be 5 percent to 15 percent.

So, we don't look for lot of improvement today, Suzanne, but over the next few days, the winds may wane just a little bit and then we shouldn't see winds gusting to 70 miles an hour like that gentlemen described that system itself that produced. That is moving off towards the Northeast. But things don't get much better in a hurry.

Back to you.

MALVEAUX: OK. All right, thanks. Well, Rob, I'm sure Marshell Reed would be happy to hear the wind is going to be dying down at least just a little bit.

Well, a reminder to vote for today's "Choose the News" winner. You can vote by texting 22360.

Text "1" to hear more about the growing debate in Washington that could impact every U.S. service member fighting in Afghanistan.

Text "2" to learn more about a secret note handed to journalists in Libya, warning them not to believe residences' claims.

And text "3" for how a mis-click on Facebook turned a planned sweet 16 party into an all-out riot.

The winning story will air next hour.

We are now looking at some live pictures of the White House where we are waiting for German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Obama. The two have been in disagreement lately on several issues, one of them on Libya, another on how to approach fixing the global economy. The two leaders will likely face questions on both of those points.

We're going to have live coverage for you as soon as it begins.

Well, a man that pulled off the road to record a police shooting ends up in a dangerous situation himself.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

MALVEAUX: Hear how he saved that video.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: A man who used his cell phone to record a fatal police shooting in Miami Beach ends up with a gun pointed at him. It's all on video.

Our CNN's Brian -- I'm sorry, we're going go to President Obama at the White House, with the press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel has just started. They are now walking up to the podium. They'll make opening statements and we expect that the two perhaps will take questions.

(INTERRUPTED BY COVERAGE OF A LIVE EVENT)