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6 FIFA Officials Arrested in U.S. Corruption Investigation; Mother, Children Among Missing in Texas Floods; South African Considers Legalizing Rhino Horn Trade; Bernie Sanders Running Against Hillary Clinton in Presidential Primary. Aired 2:30-3a ET

Aired May 26, 2015 - 02:30   ET

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


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[02:30:24] ERROL BARNETT, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to viewers here in the U.S. and around the world. I'm Errol Barnett.

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Rosemary Church. We want to update you on the top stories.

Iraqi forces, Sunni tribal fighters and Shia militias, staging an offensive against is in two key provinces. Prime Minister Hadi al Abadi says on Iraqi TV the liberation of Anbar is "imminent" -- his word. And Shia militias say they are working to cut ISIS supply routes in the province.

BARNETT: No relief in sight from the searing heat in India. The hardest hit area is the southeast. The hardest hit areas are the southeastern states. Authorities are advising people to stay indoors and drink water.

CHURCH: Swiss police arrested six FIFA officials in Zurich as part unfortunate a U.S. corruption investigation, involving the governing body. The U.S. Justice Department plans to announce corruption charges against 14 senior FIFA officials. Swiss officials say they are being investigated on suspicion of accepting bribes and kickbacks between the early 1990s and the present day, crimes that were prepared in the United States.

And for the latest on this story, let's bring in senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, joining us from London.

Nic, we know 14 FIFA officials are charged. Six of them were arrested overnight. What information do you have on the arrests?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is something we are told that was announced by -- in the United States, late yesterday. That the FBI had been investigating FIFA for the past three years for bribery and kickbacks that date back to the early 1990s. There were 14 people that they, plan to charge. This doesn't include the FIFA president, Sepp Blatter but believed off to include senior-level officials close to him. That's, that's what we understand from U.S. officials. And the reason that the United States believes it can take jurisdiction in this matter of alleged bribery and corruption inside FIFA whose headquarters are in Switzerland is because, U.S. officials believe that some of these crimes were planned and agreed inside the United States. And the money transferred through U.S. banks, which through U.S. banking regulations and laws would give them jurisdiction. What we are hearing from the Swiss, officials, involved in the six arrests this morning. They say that the sums totaled involved in bribery and corruption going on now for the better part of 20 years it appears they say, over 100 million dollars. Involve payments between media organizations and FIFA officials. That would allow the media organizations to -- to get access to -- to FIFA events in Latin America. And again, U.S. officials say, that the money and the deals, these illegal deals were perpetrated inside the United States. So it does seem that at the moment, these six arrests are the first of what U.S. officials are planning could be a total of 14 -- Rosemary?

CHURCH: That's how it is looking. Of course, Nic, FIFA presidential election is due to be held Friday. Sepp Blatter is expecting to, to step up, for his fifth term. Now, as you mentioned, no charges against him, but what impact will this likely have on those elections. Could they possibly be delayed? Postponed?

ROBERTSON: Well, it certainly is the first time the public is hearing charges, allegations of corruption within FIFA. FIFA itself had an investigation that ended in December, last year when they decided there weren't ground to move ahead with questions over payments made involving the bid for the 2018 and 2022 Russia and Qatar World Cups. They decided to end the investigation. However, a senior-level Qatari official was sanctioned in 2011. So these -- these claims -- these allegations have been swirling for a long time. And it does -- appear to tarnish the image of Sepp Blatter internationally on the public forum, if you will. However, within FIFA, Sepp Blatter running for his fifth term in office as president, has not had any of those allegations speak to him so far. So this would be a further tarnishing of FIFA's reputation, by implication, of his own reputation. But so far, as we understand, he isn't one of the 14 expected to be charged. And at the moment, this would put his reputation as president of FIFA not beyond reproach or doubt but he has been able to withstand these allegations so far -- Rosemary?

[02:35:26] CHURCH: He has, indeed. In the hours ahead, we'll hear more perhaps the names of the 14 FIFA officials. The FBI holding a news conference in the hours ahead in Brooklyn.

Many thanks to Nic Robertson joining us live there from London.

BARNETT: Let's turn now to the southern U.S. and northern Mexico where relentless storms have killed 31 people since the weekend. Several others have not been accounted for.

CHURCH: A mother and two young children are among the missing, but their families not giving up hope.

Gary Tuchman reports on the search-and-rescue efforts.

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GARY TUCHMAN, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: Many people are still missing in Hayes County, Texas, after the Blanco River went over its banks and caused catastrophic flooding, the magnitude of which has never been seen here before.

(on camera): Along the banks of the Blanco River in Hayes County, Texas, a sad, solemn sight. Members of the military searching for people missing after last being seen swept into the river. The river flooding catastrophically after huge amounts of rain and there is still a violent and dangerous current.

WILL CONLEY, HAYES COUNTY COMMISSIONER: Our community has been devastated by a tsunami of water, historic tsunami of water that came down the Blanco River, very quickly, in a powerful way.

TUCHMAN: In this small county, people have lost their lives. Many are missing.

Among the missing, a mother and two children, Laura McComb, 6-year-old son Andrew and 4-year-old Leyton. Her husband, the children's father, John, survived but was seriously hurt and us in the hospital.

Joe McComb is John's father.

JOE MCCOMB, FATHER OF JOHN MCCOMB: It is difficult for him right now, obviously. He is heavily sedated in the hospital.

TUCHMAN: John was tossed in the river with his family.

MCCOMB: We really don't know how long he was in the water being tossed around. Slammed up against trees and rocks and things.

TUCHMAN: John's wife actually called her sister when the House was uprooted and started floating on the river.

MCCOMB: From what I understand and just basically said, the house is floating. I just wanted to tell you all I love you. I don't know what is going to happen but I just want you'd to know I love you and I am with my kids and husband. That was the last of the phone call.

TUCHMAN: So far, no signs at all of the mother and children.

About 70 homes have been destroyed in the county. 1400 houses damaged.

This home owned by a woman who says in 40 years of coming here she has never even had minor flooding.

(on camera): Could you ever have imagined this much destruction from this river?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. But I respect it now, I tell you that.

TUCHMAN (on camera): The fury of the waters tossed vehicles look they were toys. This was a V.W. Jetta.

(voice-over): Police and emergency officials say they're hoping for miracles. They still consider this a search-and-rescue mission. (on camera): The Blanco River well above flood stage, a great concern

because the extended forecast is a lot more rain. In addition, the concern is the current. This is normally a placid river. Give you an idea to illustrate how strong this current is, I'm just go up to my shins. Once I get close on the tree, I have to avoid tumbling. Imagine someone smaller than I am. That's the West. This is the east. The searchers are behind me right now looking for the missing. It was 89 years ago that they had the record flood stage here. This past weekend, they broke that by a lot.

This is Gary Tuchman, CNN, Hayes County, Texas.

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BARNETT: Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri joins us to talk more about this.

We had a chat during the story. Stunned at how quickly this happens. The family uprooted and torn apart now. They had time to make a phone call. Wasn't enough time to get help.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: The amount of force the water exerts, three inches of moving water, 20 pound on your legs. Six inches goes up to 80 pounds, four times as much. Think of an earthquake. The scale going from five to six, not one magnitude, it is exponential. Much the same, water and the speed at which the water moves. Really is heartbreaking to see this region. So densely populated where the heaviest rainfall has come down.

Going to show you, because flooding still going to be a major concern. Pulled up some rain gauges. River gauges I should say. 186 rivers across Texas, portions of Arkansas into Oklahoma experiencing at or above flooding stage at this point. Any amount of water, one to two inches will do damage. Look at this perspective. Officials out in Harris County -- by the way, the county, city of Houston is the third- largest county in the United States, by population. Average 5.3 percent of rainfall Monday night. You do the math with the land area. That is 1262 billion gallons of water. How much water released in six hours over Texas, 600 billion, 600 billion liters of water for international audience. Take a look. This water would fill a stadium 500 times over, over a densely populated city. Biggest cities in the United States. Major problems. When the sun came up on Houston, thousands of vehicles stranded over the region. The steering currents in the atmosphere, in prime condition. Drawing the gulf moisture in Texas. This is what you don't want few see. Models bring in one, two inches, 50 millimeters, in Houston. Get up toward Dallas, Oklahoma City. Pick up four to six inches of rainfall in the coming couple of days.

Next week, above-average rainfall possible in portions of the southern United States, especially around eastern Texas. So this is something that we are very concerned about because of the levels of waters sitting out over the region. That is what we are dealing with here. This is something you would see in the estimations we have from national oceanic and atmospheric. One in a 50 to 75 year event to get this much rainfall in this particular area in 12 hours, what occurred Monday.

[02:40:41] BARNETT: Yeah.

CHURCH: Again, we talk so much about all of this rain and the inability for the ground to absorb it, and, of course, the impact of that.

JAVAHIRI: Yes, all run-off now. The ground water reached maximum. All run-off at any point.

BARNETT: Pedram Javaheri, thank you.

There is talk in South Africa about legalizing the rhino horn trade.

CHURCH: Coming up, why one man says this could save the species.

We're back in a moment.

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[02:45:16] BARNETT: Right now arrests are being made in a corruption investigation of FIFA. Swiss justice officials say six FIFA officials have been taken into custody in Zurich.

CHURCH: The U.S. Justice Department is expected to announce charges against up to 14 officials of world football's governing body. Swiss officials say they're being investigated on suspicion of accepting bribes and kickbacks between the early 1990s and the present day. Crimes that were allegedly prepared in the United States. Swiss police say the illegal payments total more than $100 million. Incredible.

BARNETT: We'll hear from correspondents and experts over the next few hours on CNN.

Once considered a safe haven for rhinos, poaching has become too common in South Africa.

CHURCH: Now, to help save the species the government is considering legalizing the horn trade.

We must warn you some of the pictures here are graphic and disturbing.

Diana Magnay has the story.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have to get around into the right position so we can.

DIANA MAGNAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is the legal way to dehorn a rhino. A dart stuffed with sedatives, the nervous calf shooed away so the team can do their work.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How is the leg looking>

Get her up on the back leg.

MAGNAY: Both horns are off in minutes, marked and registered in an international database.

(on camera): This piece of horn they removed is two year's growth. You can see they have shaved it off, trimmed it so the rhino feels nothing.

(voice-over): And here's the day's harvest, marked and microchipped, packed away for storage in a secure vault miles from this farm.

JOHN HUME, SOUTH AFRICA'S LARGEST PRIVATE RHINO OWNER: The list was started the year before.

MAGNAY: Imagine then the stockpile this man has there. The crop of 1,000 plus rhinos he breeds, which is why John Hume, South Africa's largest private rhino owner, wants to legalize the sale of horn.

HUME: I will take my stockpile, turn into it money, turn it into rhinos, and breed more rhinos. And so will everybody else.

MAGNAY: But it is not quite as easy as that. Rhino horn sells for around $65,000 per kilogram on the black market thanks to demand from Asia and especially Vietnam. It is seen there as a status symbol, a health elixir, though it is proven that rhino horn does nothing for your health.

LYNN JOHNSON, RESEARCHER: A lot of people who feel they can't afford rhino horn.

MAGNAY: Lynn Johnson has done extensive research on the Vietnam market and the wealthy individuals who typically use rhino horn.

JOHNSON: Everything that we have heard those typical users have genuine rhino horn don't see a farm product as a substitute product. They like a wild animal because it is wild food, has to fight for survival.

MAGNAY: It is a fight for survival. Last year, in South Africa, 1,215 rhinos were slaughtered for their horn.

The South African government set up a panel to look into the pros and cons of legalized trade. But anti-trade lobbyists say legal trade may grow the market and fuel demand. Illegal horn can easily be laundered through the legal market. Plus, no consumer state seems interested in putting the necessary laws in place to manage a legal trade.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are perpetuating a demand in country where we are trying to stop demand. So we keep sending out the wrong message all the time.

MAGNAY: The last rhino in Vietnam killed in 2010, a single bullet to it's leg, its horn removed.

There is own one male northern white rhino left, guarded day and night by rangers in a park in Kenya. South Africa has by far the largest rhino population in the world.

But they're being killed off fast.

Guardian of the diminishing species, the imperative to do or die complicated by the simple sad fact that a rhino is worth more dead than alive.

Diana Magnay, CNN, Johannesburg.

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CHURCH: Very disturbing images there.

We are going to take a very short break. We'll be back in a moment.

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[02:53:41] BARNETT: Welcome back, everyone. Bernie Sanders isn't quite a household name in U.S. politics.

CHURCH: No, he isn't. The Independent Senator from Vermont now officially announced he wants the top job at the White House. And he is running as a Democrat.

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SEN. BERNIE SANDERS, (I), VERMONT & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I am proud to announce my candidacy for president of the United States of America.

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CHURCH: No one expects him to beat Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton in the primaries. Most polls, Sanders trails her by 50 percentage points.

BARNETT: Quite a space to catch up with. As a candidate though, 73- year-old fire brand is out to really influence the issues and the tone of the presidential race.

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SANDERS: As someone who has never run a negative political ad in my life --

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SANDERS: -- my campaign will not be driven by political gossip or reckless personal attacks.

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BARNETT: Now Sanders describes himself as a Democratic Socialist with a platform to the left of Hillary Clinton. So he will be a candidate to watch in the next year.

Speaking of Hillary Clinton, Hillary Clinton campaign store made its debut Tuesday. Yeah.

(LAUGHTER)

You can buy Hillary themed, everyday pant suit tee. Pokes fun at her look.

[02:55:11] CHURCH: Clinton criticized in the past for her fashion sense, but now it seems the self-proclaimed pantsuit expert is embracing the look, even urging supporters to put pantsuit up on Twitter.

(LAUGHTER)

Good to be able to laugh at yourself.

BARNETT: Indeed.

CHURCH: From Democratic pantsuits to Republican sweater vests. Rick Santorum plans to announce today whether he will run.

BARNETT: He may be a familiar face. The conservative sweater vest fan ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination four years ago.

All right. We want to update you on the top breaking story this hour. Swiss justice officials say six FIFA official have been taken into custody in Zurich as part of a U.S. investigation following world football's governing authority.

CHURCH: The U.S. Justice Department is expected to announce charges up to 14 FIFA officials. Swiss officials say they're being investigated on suspicion of accepting bribes and kick backs, from the 90s until today. Crimes allegedly prepared in the United States.

BARNETT: This development is huge. Swiss police say the illegal payments total more than $100 million for marketing, media, sponsorship rights, all in connection with the soccer tournaments in Latin America. A FIFA spokesman said they're seeking clarity on the issue and would not make any further comment.

CHURCH: We will have more on this.

You have been watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Rosemary Church.

BARNETT: I'm Errol Barnett. Please do stay with us.

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