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CNN NEWSROOM

Actor James Gandolfini Dies; Jury Selection Complete for Zimmerman Trial; Preview of NBA Finals Game 7

Aired June 20, 2013 - 15:30   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon. It's the bottom of the hour here.

We're watching two breaking news stories today on CNN. The Dow down about 340 points right now, and a jury has been selected in the George Zimmerman murder trial.

We'll continue to follow both these stories.

But first, this story developing as well. People wondering, why so young? How did he die so young?

People worldwide are mourning the death of James Gandolfini. The 51- year-old star of "The Sopranos" died of an apparent heart attack yesterday in Italy.

Gandolfini turned the mobster stereotype upside-down with his portrayal of Tony Soprano, a mobster who saw a therapist, a gangster prone to panic attacks.

In real life, Gandolfini is being remembered as a gentle giant. And CNN's Miguel Marquez looks back at some of his most impressive roles and his life accomplishments.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMES GANDOLFINI, ACTOR: I'm in the waste management business. Everyone assumes you're mobbed up. It's a stereotype. And it's offensive. And you're the last person I would want to perpetuate it.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tony Soprano, the mob dad with a soft spot the size of New Jersey for his daughter ...

GANDOLFINI: There is no mafia. All right, look, Meg, you're a grown woman, almost. Some of my money comes from illegal gambling and whatnot.

MARQUEZ: ... could be a nasty piece of work, profane, violent, even racist.

GANDOLFINI: I've got business associates who are black. They don't want my son with their daughters and I don't want their sons with mine. MARQUEZ: In the hands of James Gandolfini, Tony Soprano the thug became human, familiar, vulnerable, maybe in spite of ourselves, likable.

LORRAINE BRACCO, ACTRESS: You know, not all impotence is a result of the medication.

GANDOLFINI: You're saying there's something wrong with me?

BRACCO: When's the last time you had a prostate exam?

GANDOLFINI: Hey, I don't even let anybody wag their finger in my face.

MARQUEZ: in 2000 when he won his first Emmy for the role ...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the Emmy goes to James Gandolfini.

MARQUEZ: ... his reaction says it all, the son of a bricklayer makes good, his acceptance speech, humble, almost shy, classic Gandolfini.

GANDOLFINI: I can't really explain this except for I think the Academy has an affinity for slightly overweight bald men.

MARQUEZ: Nominated six times for his portrayal of Tony Soprano, he won three.

Here's how the former bouncer and nightclub manager described the character on his first win.

GANDOLFINI: He tries to do the right thing and screws everything up by doing that kind of like a Ralph Cramden kind of Honeymooners kind of thing, just a little more dangerous, that's all.

MARQUEZ: The New Jersey native had range, spot on as then CIA director Leon Panetta in "Zero Dark Thirty," an all too believable New York City mayor in "The Taking of Pelham 123."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Somebody just hijacked the six train. It's stopped in the tunnel between 51st and 42nd.

GANDOLFINI: Another idiot with a gun.

MARQUEZ: He could even play wickedly funny, nominated for a Tony for his role as a Brooklyn parent in "God of Carnage."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your virtue went straight out the window once you decided to be a killer.

GANDOLFINI: I absolutely did not murder the hamster.

MARQUEZ: ... or the peacenik general in the British comedy "In the Loop."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Inaudible).

GANDOLFINI: It's kicked up a little. They're talking invasion, reasonably seriously.

MARQUEZ: His interest in the military went beyond fiction, producing two HBO documentaries about the effects of war on the men and women who fight them.

He visited troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Here he is from a USO tour in 2010.

GANDOLFINI: I always like coming out here to the bases. It's a good change of pace for the guys and the ladies. And I know that it makes me appreciate the whole thing more.

MARQUEZ: Twice married with two kids, Gandolfini mostly stayed away from the limelight.

He spoke to James Lipton in 2004.

JAMES LIPTON, HOST, "INSIDE THE ACTORS' STUDIO": Finally, Jim, if heaven exists, what would you like to hear god say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

GANDOLFINI: Take over for a while. I'll be right back. No. No, no, no. No, no, no.

LIPTON: That's it. That's it.

GANDOLFINI: No, no, no, no.

LIPTON: You dare not change it. It's too good. It's too good.

GANDOLFINI: Think of the possibilities.

MARQUEZ: Gandolfini, who spent part of his younger years in Naples, Italy, was set to receive an award at the (inaudible) film festival in Sicily when he died.

Saying good-bye won't be easy.

Miguel Marquez, CNN, Hollywood.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: James Gandolfini, just 51-years-old.

We're continuing to follow two breaking news stories here on CNN. The Dow is tanking. There it is, down 358 points right now, and not very much left in the trading day. We're going to update you on that.

And a jury is selected in the trial of George Zimmerman. We're going to go live to Sanford, Florida, coming up, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: The breaking news this hour on CNN, a jury has been selected in the George Zimmerman murder trial.

Sunny Hostin is with me here. She is our legal analyst.

So, Sunny, I just got this from our southeast bureau chief, Marilyn Ryan. She says Judge Debra Nelson just told jurors they will report 9:00 a.m. Monday morning for opening statements. Court is in recess and will resume with the Fry hearing, shortly.

Fry?

SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yeah, Fry hearing is to determine whether or not the science being used is generally accepted within the scientific community.

LEMON: The voice recording?

HOSTIN: And so this is about that voice recording.

LEMON: 9:00 a.m. Monday, is that ...

HOSTIN: I'll be there.

LEMON: Is that quick or that's about normal?

HOSTIN: It's about normal because this jury is going to be sequestered. So there's no question this judge wants to make sure they can go home, get all their affairs settled because they're going to be in for the long haul.

And I will be there on Monday.

LEMON: And all women?

HOSTIN: All women.

LEMON: All women so far. Two men as alternates.

HOSTIN: As alternates.

LEMON: Thank you. We appreciate it.

Stick with me here. I'm going to need you throughout this half hour here on CNN until we get to "The Lead With Jake Tapper" coming up at 4:00 p.m. Eastern.

A second case of violence is now linked to the New England patriots Aaron Hernandez. Boston affiliate WCVB reports a Connecticut fan is suing the football player claiming Hernandez shot him in the face, but police in Miami have no record of the incident.

Meanwhile, police in Massachusetts have searched Hernandez's home in an unrelated investigation involving a body found less than a mile away near a car rented by Hernandez. Hernandez has refused comment on the investigation.

OK. So this is it, folks. A series for the NBA history books conclude tonight in Miami, the Heat, the Spurs, game seven of epic confrontation. So CNN's Rachel Nichols is in Miami, and she's been digging in on this. She's in the middle of things there.

Rachel found out for herself in possession of LeBron's headband. Will he be wearing it tonight? Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN SPORTS: Like about a minute to go in game six. Security guards come out. They start putting that yellow tape around the floor. They get ready to wheel that championship trophy in, give it to the Spurs.

LEBRON JAMES, PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYER, MIAMI HEAT: We felt like that was basically burying us alive, throwing dirt on us before it was over.

At the end of the day, it's still more game to play. Let's finish this game out and see what happens.

NICHOLS: All right. We have to talk about the headband. Of course, I have one here for you.

Do you recognize this? This is your old friend. Do you keep this guy next to you at all times?

JAMES: He's a little mad at me right now. We have to talk in an hour or so. I haven't not played with it in so long.

NICHOLS: Dwayne Wade said, I'm going to try to see, I'm going to talk him into not wearing it game seven. Can you give us the exclusive?

JAMES: I don't know. It's a very tough decision. I got to decide if I'm going to wear it or not wear it. I think I will. He's been a part of this journey, the ups and downs of my career so far. So we'll see what happens.

NICHOLS: No man left behind.

JAMES: No man left behind.

NICHOLS: How much of game seven is about Xs and Os and how much is about heart?

JAMES: I think it's all heart. At the end of the day, Xs and Os, coaching staff going to put you in position to succeed. But you've got to go out and do it. I think it's about heart and determination at this point. Which team is going to win the victory.

NICHOLS: You know, we want to reunite you with your friend.

JAMES: Sorry, buddy. Still love you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: This is going to be epic. There she is. Rachel Nichols. Did you have to bust out the man's headband, Rachel?

NICHOLS: You know, I have my methods Don, come on.

I think no question, his friend, as he says, has been with him through thick and thin. He's going to start the game wearing it.

He makes no promises on finishing it that way. Things aren't going well, we might see him slip it off. We'll have to find out how it goes.

LEMON: I was just going to say for casual fans, they may have just learned that San Antonio is a pretty good darn team.

NICHOLS: San Antonio is an excellent team. Tim Duncan going for his fifth NBA championship ring. That's pretty staggering.

It's a very small list if you think about it. And, you know, the entire team is packed with potential hall of famers, with all-stars. Several guys there going for their fourth ring.

This is a team that nobody expects to just fall apart in the final minutes of the game. They were up by five with less than 30 seconds to go in game six, the championship trophy being literally wheeled out on to the court for them.

They let the Heat storm back. A team that normally has a little bit tougher championship bite let one slide there.

We'll have to see what happens in game seven, whether they can close the door or whether it will be LeBron James and the Miami Heat who go and claim what will be his second ring.

LEMON: Nice assignment there, Ms. Nichols. Enjoy. We'll all be watching tonight.

NICHOLS: Thank you so much.

LEMON: Up next, a hearing is under way on Capitol Hill, prompted by Edward Snowden's leaks on the NSA surveillance tactics. New questions about people who have access to top security in this country.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Welcome back, everyone. I'm Don Lemon here. We're following lots of breaking news here on CNN. Dow down almost -- it's 370 points right now.

And a jury has been chosen in the George Zimmerman trial. We'll continue to give you updates as we get them on CNN.

But first, some other news to tell you about, a Senate hearing into the system that decides who gets access to the government's most secret security details. You're looking at live pictures there. And you can probably guess why lawmakers have called this. Edward Snowden, 29-years -old, a high school dropout, was not even working directly for the federal government when he revealed documents that showed the NSA is snooping into your private information.

The inspector general for the Office of Personnel Management is going to testify about how broken the system is that approving federal employees and contractors like Snowden.

Inspector general found one woman who did credit checks. Well, she made up details on 1,600 reports. He also learned 20 employees have either been convicted or will plead guilty to falsifying background checks.

Listen to what the inspector general told senators in the last hour.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PATRICK MCFARLAND, INSPECTOR GENERAL, OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT: I'm here to inform you that there is an alarmingly insufficient level of oversight of the federal investigative services program.

The lack of independent verification of the organization that conducts these important background investigations is a clear threat to national security.

If a background investigation is not conducted properly, all other steps taken when issuing a security clearance are called into question.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: How did this happen? What's going to be done next? All those questions.

Joining me now is attorney John Berry who has worked with multiple clients seeking security clearance.

So, John, describe the process your clients went through. Anything about it in particular that strikes you?

JOHN BERRY, ATTORNEY, BERRY & BERRY PLLC: In terms of just the general security clearance process, it's pretty straightforward.

You go through, you're interviewed by an investigator. The investigator interviews your friends, your relatives, other individuals and tries to provide a good basis for the investigation.

I mean, it's a real -- it's supposed to be a comprehensive investigation. But the problem is, is we're finding now that there are a lot of problems in the process.

LEMON: Does it surprise you that a man like Edward Snowden received security clearance? He is an Army veteran who once worked for the CIA. A former military -- is he a shoo-in?

BERRY: I would say he probably had a pretty clear-sailing process. I mean, he had a number of clearances. He was with the CIA.

They probably wouldn't have done too much follow-up when he left the CIA and moved into the contracting field.

It's just -- it's one of those things where he wouldn't have raised too many red flags.

LEMON: OK. I want to read a detail, a little detail about Snowden reported in "The Guardian." It says his allegiance to Internet freedom is reflected in the stickers on his laptop, all right. "I support online rights, Electronic Frontier Foundation," reads one of them.

Of course, we have no idea when he puts the sticker on, but something that small, could that be a red flag?

BERRY: It might. It would have to depend on what -- you know, what he said to others.

And I mean, again, he was working for a contractor which is going to have a little less oversight than if you're working for a federal agency.

So among the real problems is because there are so many new contractors receiving these top-secret clearances, there's just less and less oversight.

And I think Mr. McFarland really needs to get on the ball here because a lot -- there needs to be a lot more oversight. I believe that there needs to be some more in-sourcing because a lot of investigations are conducted by contractors.

LEMON: But are these things reviewed? His security clearance would expire and they check again, correct? There's a review process. You just don't have it forever?

BERRY: Yeah. No, it's typically five years. But the problem is the government now is delaying reinvestigations because of the furlough, so I mean it's a real problem.

LEMON: All right. John Berry, thank you. We appreciate it.

BERRY: Thank you, Don.

LEMON: All right. Up next, continuing to follow the two breaking news stories, the Dow down almost 350 points now, and a jury chosen in the George Zimmerman trial.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We are just minutes away from the closing bell on what's been a really rough day on Wall Street.

Right now the Dow is down 341 points, investors suffering a case of jitters from Fed chairman Ben Bernanke's outline of a possible wind down of the Fed's bond-buying program.

Rana Foroohar is CNN global economic analyst and assistant managing editor for "Time" magazine, and she joins us now.

The Fed chairman said the Fed might start buying fewer bonds later this year if the economy continues getting better.

Is Wall Street overreacting right now, Rana?

RANA FOROOHAR, CNN GLOBAL ECONOMIC ANALYST: Well, I'm not sure I'd say overreacting. You know, I've been writing for some time that the Fed's bond- and asset-buying purchases really have buoyed markets.

I mean, they've created a kind of a disconnect actually between markets, which have really been up over the last couple of years, and the real economy, where people are not feeling so great.

You have unemployment higher than average. I think what we're seeing now is the real economy starting to reconnect with markets and they're going to meet somewhere in the middle.

LEMON: So, Rana, just real quickly, if you can give me this, we got a report today showing that manufacturing is slowing down in China, right? Is that playing a role?

FOROOHAR: Yes. And, you know, it's interesting, I just came from two weeks of reporting in China. It is definitely slowing down there.

But I don't want to overplay this because we have known for some time that China was going to slow down and, in fact, China needs to slow down. It actually needs to rebalance its economic model, which has been too reliant on cheap exports and start to create a consumer economy.

But they're in this very fuzzy period now as they do that. So there's going to be a lot of risk.

If you think of the three legs on the stool that is the global economy, China is one, Europe is one and the U.S. is one. The U.S. is the only really solid leg right now.

LEMON: All right, thank you, Rana. We appreciate it.

As we speak, the Dow down 328 points. We'll continue to follow that. It's almost the end of the closing day right now. End of the day right now, the closing bell is going to ring at any moment.

There he is, George Zimmerman, the volunteer neighborhood watchman. A jury has been selected in his trial, all women. What does it mean for him?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Breaking news now on CNN, there is George Zimmerman. Those are live pictures down in Sanford, Florida. A jury has been selected in his murder trial. Jean Casarez joins me now from Sanford, Florida. Jean, the jury went from 40 to six, just like that, all women, two men, though, as alternates.

JEAN CASAREZ, HLN LEGAL ANALYST: That's right, all women, an all- female jury. You know, here in Florida, if it is not a capital crime or a life-in-prison felony, it is a six-member jury, which is unique to Florida, truly.

But it is six women, and, you know, as I have looked at them, as I told you previously, five of the six are mothers. And, also, I've been looking at their medical experience, if any, because the injuries to George Zimmerman, I think, are going to become an issue in this case.

It's the defense position that he broke his nose. I believe from what I've heard in open court the prosecutor may say that a nose was not broken. He did not go to the hospital, merely a clinic, didn't get the attention that was needed to get if you had a broken nose.

Here are the facts. This is a juror that is a certified health safety office. There is a juror that has practiced as a chiropractor, which would mean they had medical courses. And also someone, a certified nursing assistant.

LEMON: So we will be watching all of this.

And, again, this is expected to take about two to four weeks. The judge says Monday morning, 9:00 a.m. report. The opening statements are going to start then.

Thank you very much. We appreciate it. Jeanne Casarez, down in Florida, she has been following this story from the very beginning and was there for the entire jury selection process.

Big news here on CNN, the selection of a jury in the George Zimmerman murder trial, and also the Dow down, tanking now, and the closing bell about to happen in just seconds.

That's it for me. I'm Don Lemon. Thank you so much for watching.

"THE LEAD WITH JAKE TAPPER" starts right now.