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CNN NEWSROOM

Trump Lashes Out at Accuser, Pulls Campaign From Virginia; Accuser Jessica Leeds Talks Trump; Supporters Stand by Trump Amid Allegations; Michelle Obama Delivers Emotional, Powerful Speech Against Trump; Thailand Mourns Loss of King Bhumibol Adulyadej; 21 Nigerian Schools Girls Released by Boko Haram. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired October 14, 2016 - 02:00   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:00:09] JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Here we are again. This is CNN NEWSROOM, live from Los Angeles.

Ahead this hour --

(HEADLINES)

VAUSE: Hello. Welcome to our viewers around the world. Great to have you with us. I'm John Vause. We are now in the third hour of NEWSROOM, L.A.

Donald Trump is on the attack, going after the women who accuse him of sexual misconduct. On Thursday, he said they are horrible liars, and said the allegations are all part of a gigantic conspiracy. Trump is also pulling resources out of a crucial swing state, leading to some to wonder if his campaign is in the midst of a meltdown.

Sara Murray had details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: These vicious claims about me, of inappropriate conduct with women are totally and absolutely false.

SARA MURRAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With less than four weeks until Election Day, Donald Trump is adamantly denying allegations of sexual assault that are emerging from multiple women across the country.

TRUMP: These claims are all fabricated. They're pure fiction and they're outright lies.

(SHOUTING)

TRUMP: These events never, ever happened.

(CHEERING)

MURRAY: At the presidential debate, Donald Trump insisted his vulgar comments about sexually assaulting women were only words.

TRUMP: I have tremendous respect for women. And women have respect for me.

ANDERSON COOPER, DEBATE MODERATOR: Have you ever done those things?

TRUMP: And I will tell you -- no, I have not.

MURRAY: But right now, women are stepping out to allege that Donald Trump did do the thing he boasted about.

One woman telling "The New York Times," Trump groped her on a plane more than three decades ago.

JESSICA LEEDS, ACCUSES TRUMP OF INAPPROPRIATE TOUCHING: He was an octopus. It was like he had six arms. He was all over the place.

MURRAY: While another alleges she introduced herself to Trump in 2005. And he suddenly started to kiss her on the cheeks and on the mouth.

And a reporter for "People" magazine, assigned to write a story about Donald and Melania's first anniversary in 2005, writes that when Melania went to change outfits, Trump offered her a tour of Mar-a- Lago, during which he pinned her against a wall and began, quote, "forcing his tongue down my throat," telling her, "You know we are going to have an affair, don't you."

Some of the allegations are strikingly similar to the behavior Trump bragged about in footage in "Access Hollywood" in 2005.

TRUMP: It's like a magnet.

(LAUGHTER)

And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.

MURRAY: Amid the revelations, Trump is fighting back. His lawyer IS calling for a reaction from "The New York Times" story and threatening to sue. "The Times" has declined to retract the story, saying any harm to Trump's reputation was brought on by his words.

As Trump attacks the credibility of his accusers from the campaign trail.

TRUMP: These people are horrible people. They're horrible, horrible liars.

MURRAY: The GOP nominee reserving some of his harshest criticism for the "People" magazine reporter.

TRUMP: Why wasn't it part of the story that appeared 12 years ago? It would have been one of the biggest stories of this year.

MURRAY: Even seeming to suggest the reporter was not attractive enough for him to sexually assault. TRUMP: You take a look, look at her, look at her word, you tell me

what you think. I don't think so.

MURRAY: Trump's approach comes as he and top aides have argued that the women who accused of Bill Clinton of sexual assault in the 1990s deserve the benefit of the doubt.

TRUMP: Bill Clinton was the worst abuser of women ever to sit in the Oval Office.

MURRAY: And yet another sign of the Trump campaign struggles, a source confirms the campaign is pulling resources out of the battleground state of Virginia, acquiescing crucial territory at the same time Clinton is looking to expand the map.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: One of Trump's accusers, Jessica Leeds, said that Trump touched her wherever he could find a landing spot during their encounter on a plane more than 30 years ago and she spoke to Anderson Cooper.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEEDS: I can't help but think that within the next 24 hours, Trump and Trump's organization will maneuver or create some sort of news story that's going to make mine all go away, but apparently there are a number of women who are now coming forward. So that's kind of rewarding.

What do I want out of it? Or what do I expect out of it? It would be nice if some men could have some sort of inkling that their behavior leaves a mark, leaves a scar, leaves a lot of pain. It may just be fun and games to them, but it's not for a lot of women.

[02:05:48] COOPER: Has this left a mark on you?

LEEDS: Yeah. Oh, sure. Oh, sure. It -- but it was part of -- I'm working, I'm going to survive. We are going to move on. And I'm going to take care of my family and I'm going to try to enjoy what I enjoy. So -- but, oh, yeah, it leaves a mark.

COOPER: Even though it's something a lot of women have to deal with, but back then, had to deal with it, and you at the time sort of thought, well, this is -- this is the cost of being on the road. But it hurts?

LEEDS: I have -- I have hopes or aspirations that things are better for women working now. I'm not so sure.

There was another letter that I wrote to the "Times" that had -- that was response to a story they did about Ivana (sic) where she had been whistled at by the construction workers at one of her father's hotels in a construction zone.

COOPER: Ivanka? LEEDS: Ivanka. But she was -- they were absolutely distraught when

they found out she was the boss' daughter. And I'm thinking, she at least has the protection of being the boss' daughter when a lot of women out there don't have that and they are subject to all sorts of ridicule and harassment. They have no -- they have no -- they just to steam through it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: Jessica Leeds speaking to Anderson Cooper.

Well, Trump's supporters have been famously loyal to the nominee and at a rally in Florida, Randi Kaye reports, they showed little concern about the latest sex allegations.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Donald Trump supporters on defense.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's never abused women. He's a good father and a good husband.

KAYE (voice-over): How do you know he's never abused women?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How do I know? Because I know people who know him personally.

KAYE (voice-over): Still, the list of accusers is growing with more women coming forward with claims they were groped by the Republican nominee.

(on camera): Why would these women come forward if it wasn't true?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Does it really matter? Does it matter?

KAYE: What he allegedly --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With the problems this country has, if he did grope a woman, is it that important, or do we have bigger fish to fry?

KAYE: Why would they come forward even if it wasn't true?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who care? Who cares?

KAYE (voice-over): Many here, men and women, don't care if Trump ever tried to put his hand up a woman's skirt on airplane or suddenly kissed another woman on the lips in an elevator or anywhere else. In fact, they don't even care if he was telling the truth on debate night when Anderson Cooper asked him if he'd ever groped or kissed a woman without consent.

(on camera): Anderson Cooper had to ask three times if he had ever done these things, groped a woman. He said no. Does it bother you if that wasn't true?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, it doesn't bother me.

KAYE: Would it matter if Donald Trump lied on the debate stage and --

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hillary lies every single day. Hillary lies every day. Stop it.

KAYE (on camera): Many, like him, tried to shut down any conversation about Trump's troubles and pivot to attacking Hillary and Bill Clinton.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here's the rapist that's going to be in the White House if Hillary wins. Nobody seems to worry about this.

KAYE: After that interview, her friend chased us down in an effort to influence our reporting.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All your questions were negative for Trump. Why don't you ask about Hillary?

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why don't you ask us what we think about Hillary?

KAYE (on camera): She said plenty of what she thought about Hillary.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You didn't ask it. That's my point. You didn't ask it.

KAYE: I'm doing a story about the latest allegations with Trump. I'm at a Trump rally. Not a story about Hillary Clinton today.

(voice-over): Most here believe these latest allegations against Trump are politically motivated.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think if there was any merit to it at all, they would have come out long ago. And now, all of a sudden, 20-something days until the election and, you know, come out like that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not saying that it's something that shouldn't be brought up. It is an important thing. But these are also things brought up that 30 years later? Why wasn't it brought up before?

[02:10:08] KAYE: And despite these salacious stories, supporters here, including women, are still firmly in Trump's corner.

(on camera): As a woman, would these latest allegations make you think twice about voting for Donald Trump?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, not at all.

KAYE: Do you get a sense there's a pattern emerging here, though?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

KAYE: And that doesn't disturb you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

KAYE: You'd still vote for him?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Twice, if I could. I think Hillary is a crook.

KAYE: None of this would make you think twice about voting for Donald Trump?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not at all. Not at all. I mean, it's a nonissue.

KAYE: What don't you like about Hillary Clinton?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: Randi Kaye there with some very loyal Trump supporters.

U.S. First lady Michelle Obama has delivered one of the most emotional and powerful speeches of the campaign. She didn't mention Trump by name but made it clear she did not approve of his words or actions.

Jeff Zeleny has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: I can't stop thinking about this. It has shaken me to my core in a way that I couldn't have predicted.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Michelle Obama delivering a blistering rebuke of Donald Trump and his crude comments about women.

OBAMA: It would be dishonest and disingenuous to me to move to the next thing like this was all just a bad dream. This is not something that we can ignore. It's not something we can sweep under the rug of another disturbing footnote in a sad election season.

ZELENY: She is weighing in with a usually pointed and personal denunciation of Trump, a call to arms for women, men and, she said, basic human decency.

OBAMA: We all know if we let Hillary's opponent win this election then we are sending a clear message to our kids that everything we are seeing and hearing is perfectly OK. We are validating it.

ZELENY: A coordinated message with Hillary Clinton.

HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I hope you will see Michelle Obama's speech in New Hampshire.

(CHEERING)

CLINTON: Once again, she not only made a compelling and strong case in the stakes in the election but who we are as Americans.

ZELENY: In their fight to hold the White House, Democrats believe Mrs. Obama offers the most compelling argument for Mrs. Clinton, speaking from the moral high ground or what is left of it in American politics. She is weighing in deeper than before and far further than she intended to in this campaign.

Aides tell CNN she was disgusted by Trump's words from a decade ago, revealed in a tape last week.

OBAMA: Too many are treating this as just another day's headline, as if our outrage is overblown or unwarranted, as if this is normal, just politics as usual.

(CHEERING)

OBAMA: This is disgraceful. It is intolerable.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: And it doesn't matter what party you belong to.

ZELENY: The Trump campaign says it plans to make Bill Clinton's sex scandals a bigger issue in this campaign.

Appearing on "The View," vice presidential candidate, Tim Kaine, said the former president isn't running.

SEN. TIM KAINE, (D), VIRGINIA & VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are the two on the ballot. I mean, that's the relevant comparison.

ZELENY: All this as hacked e-mails from the Clinton campaign continued to muddy the waters, portraying the painstaking calculations behind nearly every move, even sending out a tweet signed by Hillary Clinton herself. Far from spontaneous, Clinton aides engaged in a remarkable back and forth about language she should use in a tweet. In the fight to raise the minimum wage, communications director, Jennifer Palmieri, writing, "If we tweet, we will immediately get asked if we support 15 and then attacked when we answer we do not. Doesn't seem worth it."

With 26 days until Election Day, Clinton's path to 270 electoral votes is widening. Polls show she has a growing command of the race in most battlegrounds, yet Democrats are worried about complacency, a point Mrs. Obama addressed head on.

OBAMA: We can't allow ourselves to be so disgusted that we just shut off the TV and walk away.

(CROSSTALK)

OBAMA: Because, remember this, when they go low, we go --

(SHOUTING)

OBAMA: Yes, we do.

ZELENY (on camera): Complacency and contempt for the campaign is what Clinton's advisers are worried about most. It's why Democrats are deploying Michelle Obama across the country to make the case to voters to turn out in November.

Now, Secretary Clinton, at a fundraising event here in California, said she knows many voters want to turn off the news. She urges them to wait at least four more weeks.

Jeff Zeleny, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[02:14:41] VAUSE: Still to come, some families in Nigeria have their girls back. Boko Haram has freed 21 of almost 300 young women they kidnapped more than two years ago.

Also, Thailand's prime minister calling for calm, urging vigilance after the death of a king.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VAUSE: In the coming hours, the king of Thailand's body will be moved from a Bangkok hospital to the grand palace in a parade. The king died Thursday at the age of 88. For seven decades he served as a unifying figure in a country that has often been divided.

CNN's Will Ripley has more on his life and legacy and how Thailand is mourning his loss.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(CHANTING)

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "Long live the king," they chant. Outside the oldest hospital in Bangkok, thousands wait for hours, finally getting the news they hoped wouldn't come. The announcement broadcast on all TV stations across Thailand.

UNIDENTIFIED NEWS ANCHOR (through translation): On Thursday, October 13, 2016, at 3:52 p.m. local time, His Majesty, the king, passed away peacefully.

RIPLEY: Outside the hospital where the king died, thousands who gathered to pray are overwhelmed with relief. The only king most of them have ever known is gone.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was a father to everybody, a father who work every day for past 70 years, without holiday, without even vacation.

[02:20:02] RIPLEY: For millions of Thais, King Bhumibol Adulyadej was the soul of their nation, the glue that held together a society deeply divided. He helped maintain stability through a dozen military coups. In a country where citizens were once forbidden to even look at their monarch, King Bhumibol made it a mission to meet his people and improve their lives.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a king that would never take anything for himself and keep giving until his last moment.

RIPLEY: In a speech to the nation after the king's death, Thailand's prime minister urged citizens to stay united.

PRAYUT CHAN-O-CHA, THAILAND PRIME MINISTER (through translation): Do not let his passing destroy his ambition to see his kingdom prosper and his people content.

RIPLEY: Thailand is now in a mourning period. Government employees are asked to wear black to work for a year and state agencies will fly their flags at half-mast for 30 days. Even Bangkok's red light district, nearly empty, citizens and tourists asked to show respect.

The government is waiting for a more appropriate time to formally announce when the king's successor will take the throne. The prime minister told journalist, "Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn needs time to jointly mourn his father along with the Thai people. What happens next can wait."

Thais right now are grieving their beloved king who ruled for 70 years, the longest reign in Thailand's history.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RIPLEY: Right now, a sea of black on the streets of Bangkok. Hundreds if not thousands of people are queued up here to get to the hospital where the parade will begin, where King Bhumibol's body will be moved from the hospital to the royal palace. Late this evening, the crown prince will preside over a bathing ceremony, in accordance with Buddhist tradition, to get the king ready for public viewing, which we believe could last a year or longer, going by past royal funerals as an example.

People here wearing black, not just today, John, but for the next year, I In many cases, when they go to work and school to show respect for the king they lost.

VAUSE: Will, what are the plans for the crown prince to ascend to the thrown throne?

RIPLEY: This is what we don't know as far as the time line. We know the crown prince, back in 1972, was named as the heir to the throne. However, when parliament met in a special meeting last night, it was expected they would announce the crown prince was the new king. That was what everybody's indication was. Yet, when the announcement came out, the prime minister said the crown prince himself asked for more time to mourn alongside the Thai people before assuming the title of king. Right now, we don't know the time line for the succession. We don't know how that's will work or look. Certainly, and this is clear to anyone who knows anything about the

Thai monarchy, to fill the shoes of a king that served for 70 years and is so well loved, as evidenced by the turnout of people young and old on the streets and everywhere you walk you see people in black around Bangkok, huge shoes to fill and a very difficult task. And the crown prince saying right now he wants to focus on grieving his father like so many others in this country of 65 million -- John?

VAUSE: OK. Will Ripley, thank you. Will Ripley, live from Bangkok.

Nigerians are hoping it might be the start. 21 schoolgirls released by Boko Haram. They are among the 276 young women militants kidnapped from their school in 2014. Some escaped soon after they were captured. Around 200 remain missing. The Nigerian government insists captured Boko Haram militants were not exchanged for the girls who were welcomed home on Thursday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YEMI OSINBAJO, NIGERIAN VICE PRESIDENT: The whole country has been waiting for you to come back. All of these many months, the whole country has been waiting that one day we will see you again. And we are very, very, very happy to see you. Very happy to see you back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: That was Nigeria's vice president.

Senior international correspondent, Nima Elbagir, has been covering the story since the girls were taken. She has more on their release.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's been a long, tortuous journey. These grainy stills, the first sightings of the 21 released Chibok girls. This border town their 3:00 a.m. handover point.

In April of 2014, we traveled to Chibok meet with shell-shocked families reeling from the abduction of the almost 300 girls. Nearly 60 managed to escape their captors, but the fate of the remaining girls remained uncertain.

(SINGING)

ELBAGIR: The world waited along with their families, campaigners tirelessly worked to maintain pressure on the government to bring the girls home.

Today's release and the negotiations that facilitated it perhaps the fruits of that pressure.

[02:25:16] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is a release after painstaking negotiations. We consider it a critical first step in the eventual release of all the Chibok girls in captivity.

ELBAGIR: More girls could soon be on their way home.

Nima Elbagir, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: The Chibok girls have been missing for more than 900 days. Boko Haram gunmen abducted 276 girls from a boarding school on April 14th, 2014. Within weeks, protests began over the government's failure to find them. They demonstrated throughout the country. They used the #bringbackourgirls on social media. By May, the hash tag had been tweeted one million times by many around the world including politician and celebrities. April 2015, Mohamed Bouhl Bahari (ph) won Nigeria's presidential election. He vowed to curb Boko Haram's violence. That brings us to the past April. CNN obtained a video showing 15 of the girls and shared it with their parents. The girls' captors sent the video as proof of life.

Coming up next for our viewers in Asia, "State of the Race," with Kate Bolduan.

For everyone else, we'll have details on a new wave of violence hitting Aleppo. You will hear from the Syrian president on why retaking Aleppo is so important.

Also more accusations Russia is interfering in a U.S. presidential election.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:30:16] JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: You are watching CNN NEWSROOM, live from Los Angeles. I'm John Vause.

Let's check the headlines.

(HEADLINES)

VAUSE: 17 people were killed on Thursday when a car bomb exploded near the Syrian/Turkish border. Most killed were rebels. It's not clear who is behind the bombing but ISIS has recently carried out border attacks since Turkey started to fight the terror group inside of Syria.

Bashar al Assad said Turkey has violated international law by moving troops into Syria, reportedly calling it an invasion.

Assad explained why retaking Aleppo is important.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BASHAR AL ASSAD, SYRIAN PRESIDENT: First of all, it has political gain.

(CROSSTALK)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Political.

ASSAD: Then from the strategy point of view, it is going to be the spring board as big city to move to another area, to liberate other areas from the terrorist.

(CROSSTALK)

ASSAD: This is the importance of Aleppo now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: CNN's Muhammad Udo (ph) joins us now from Abu Dhabi.

Mohammad, we're hearing this striking sort of defiant tone from Assad. This man who seems more confident than ever.

MUHAMMAD UDO (ph), CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know what's interesting about this -- and we have to remember, this has been Assad's tone from day one. To him, this is some ort of existential battle in the world of Bashar al-Assad between his forces and the rebels that he calls terrorists. When the Russian air strikes first started, he came out with a provocative statement. He said the Syrian army was going to recapture, quote, "every inch of territory that they lost." And that created friction between him and the Russians, as well.

The problem with the approach, John, is it ignores a lot of realities on the ground. The rebels are so deeply entrenched in the countryside and if you can defeat them you have a problem where there's this ideological battle that has to be fought, so much anti-Assad sentiment in parts of Syria, that even if you root out the rebels from the cities, which is what Assad wants to do, specifically they are referencing Aleppo, what do you do about the ideology? That is not something you can get rid of overnight.

VAUSE: As far as Assad is concerned, if he can retake Aleppo and move on to Idlib, he is confident he will solidify his hold over the country.

UDO (ph): That's why Aleppo is crucial in this battle. It was the industrial heartland and financial heartland, the second-biggest city, of tremendous symbolical importance, both for the Syrian army and the rebels. Of course, once this conflict started, about four years ago, you have to remember that Aleppo has been bombed on nearly a daily basis the last three or four years, and somehow the rebels in the eastern part of the city are still holding out. The rebels show it is proof they can be entrenched and successful in their battle against Bashar al-Assad. And that's why we seem them dug in so deeply and it is the gateway to a lot of the countryside and regions that Assad is trying to penetrate in it to.

VAUSE: What's behind Turkey's more aggressive, assertive moves of late?

UDO (ph): Yeah, that's a really good question. It's not just Turkey's aggressive posture in Syria, but also Iraq. Turkey, at one point, had a policy, they called it no problems. They didn't want to have problems with their neighbors. But this failed coup that took place gave the Turkish leadership a new mandate and we are seeing Turkey flex its muscles a little bit. We have to remember Turkey has been victimized by terrorist attacks on their own soil. We have seen them talk about joining the offensive. They say it is measure of self defense. But, of course, Assad, as we saw in the big interview today, has come out and said the Turkish troops aren't welcome on Syrian soil. So technically, according to international law, Bashar al Assad is accusing the Turks of invading his country.

But, of course, you know, with this new mandate that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has in Turkey, they are showing no signs they will stop taking measures unilaterally. So we could be heading to a dangerous phase and escalation in the Syrian conflict.

[02:35:26] VAUSE: It is complicated and seems to get worse by the day.

Muhammad, thank you. Muhammad Udo (ph) there in Abu Dhabi.

Accusations are flying that Russia continues to try to influence the presidential race. U.S. officials have told CNN there's evidence Moscow is using a new method to circulate stolen e-mails tied to Hillary Clinton's campaign.

We get the details from Jim Sciutto.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There's growing evidence that Russia is using WikiLeaks as a delivery vehicle for hacked e-mails and other information. U.S. officials with knowledge of the investigation tell CNN the method of the disclosures, quote, "suggest that Moscow is at least providing the information or is possibly directly responsible for the leaks," said one U.S. official.

Asked about possible ties between WikiLeaks and Russia, the director of the CIA, John Brennan, told CNN --

JOHN BRENNAN, CIA DIRECTOR: I think the government has announced there are concerns that there are some efforts to try to interfere in the electoral process.

SCIUTTO: CNN tried to contact WikiLeaks for comment but received no response. WikiLeaks has previously denied any connection to or cooperation with Russia.

Reports that Russia's state-backed Russiatoday.com tweeted and published a story on the latest stolen e-mails of Clinton campaign manager, John Podesta, before WikiLeaks posted them. WikiLeaks quickly responded on Twitter saying, quote, "No, they didn't. The release was visible to anyone looking at the WikiLeaks site well before our first tweet."

Russia is dismissing accusations out-right that they are behind the hacks on Democratic Party officials or U.S. state voting systems. The White House says it is planning a, quote, "proportional response," a response that Russia is seemingly dismissing.

SERGEI LAVROV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: If they decided to do something, let them do it. But to say that Russia is interfering in the United States domestic matters is ridiculous.

SCIUTTO: So far, more than 20 states have experienced attempted hacks on their voter databases.

U.S. officials are emphasizing the U.S. voting system is strong enough and decentralized enough to prevent hackers from affecting the election's outcome.

BRENNAN: The electoral infrastructure is very diversified because it is state owned and operated. So the ability of foreign actors to get into the system and try to do something that's going to have the nationwide implications is very, very remote.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: Our thanks to CNN's chief security correspondent, Jim Sciutto, for that report.

Still to come here on NEWSROOM L.A., the Swedish Academy opens the door for a novel choice for its literature prize. Bob Dylan's musical coup in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:40:20] VAUSE: The times, they are a changing. First time ever a song writer won the Nobel Prize for literature. Bob Dylan's name had been whispered as a possible for years, but still he was a surprise choice.

Here's Jeanne Moos.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We'd love to ask Bob Dylan --

(SINGING)

MOOS: -- to win the Nobel Prize in literature but we couldn't get a hold of him.

There was shock when the Swedish Academy made the announcement.

ANNOUNCER: Bob Dylan.

(APPLAUSE)

MOOS: A week earlier, "The New Republic" asked, "Who will win the 2016 Nobel Prize in literature," and their answer was, "Not Bob Dylan."

Yet now, he will have another medal to hang with his Medal of Freedom.

The news left writer, Jason Pinter, tweeting, "If Bob Dylan can win the Nobel Prize for literature, then I think Stephen King should be elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Round one.

(BELL RINGING)

MOOS (on camera): The fight boiled down to the question, are lyrics literature?

(voice-over): Some said no, riffing on Bob Dylan's own song.

(SINGING)

MOOS: "The times, they are ending," wrote one journalist, to which someone replied, "Delete your account. Dylan, the greatest poet of 20th century, undisputed genius."

Some worried naming a song writer would open the flood gates. "So 2034 Nobel for literature could go to, you never know," posting repetitive Rihanna lyrics.

(SINGING)

MOOS: The British paper, "The Telegraph," imagined a Nobel Prize being awarded to Donald Trump for lyrical tweeting.

In defense of Dylan, a writer for "Rolling Stone" tweeted, "They'll stone you when you've won the Nobel Prize."

But "The Telegraph" sniffed, "This is the Nobel Prize for literature no Sweden's Got Talent.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you think of yourself as a singer or poet?

BOB DYLAN, SINGER/SONGWRITER: As a song-and-dance man, you know.

MOOS: A prize in literature goes to a man better known for words delivered on the stage than on the page.

(SINGING)

MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN --

(SINGING)

MOOS: -- New York.

(MUSIC)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: Thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM, live from Los Angeles. I'm John Vause. And out of here like a rolling stone.

"World Sport" is up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KATE RILEY, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR: Welcome to "World Sport." I'm Kate Riley at CNN Center.

With the international break done, attention turns to the domestic leagues this weekend. Plenty to talk about, including Chelsea boss Antonio Conte's future. More on that in a moment.

[02:44:46] But the Blue's home game the English Premier League with champions Leicester this weekend. Conte's men looking to avoid back to back home defeats in five years. Following their recent losses to Arsenal and Liverpool. But to the Etihad, though, Pep Guardiola's Manchester City are look to return to winning ways. The table topping citizens face Everton managed by Ronald Cumen. Arsenal will take on Swansea, a match that sees Bob Bradley take charge of the swans for the first time. He will be the first American to take charge of a Premier League team as well.

On Monday, England's two most successful clubs will host Manchester United. A chance to see Mourinho and Klopp come face to face. And what about the Spurs? They are second and only unbeaten team in the Premier League. They travel to West Brom. They look to make it a sixth straight win in all competitions.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Last season, I think the start was a little bit difficult and then we finish the way we finish the season. I think we are more mature now and we are more focused and try to compete in every game to take every game in like a final. And every point is very important. It's for that -- I think that is -- I think that we improve a lot from last season.

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RILEY: That Leicester match is almost a much-win game after Conte after reports that two leading bookmakers have suspended taking bets on his likelihood of being the next Premier League manager to be dismissed. The Blues are currently seventh in the table on 13 points with four wins and a draw. They have lost to both Liverpool and Arsenal recently.

One of the most controversial figures in boxing is making headlines for a different reason today. Britian's Tyson Fury has vacated his world heavyweight titles as he focuses on medical treatment. He is recovering from his battles with depression. It comes as the Britain Boxing Board of Control take Fury's boxing license will be released. This is following anti-doping and medical issues. It trips Fury of his belt, a decision he knew was coming when he posted this statement earlier on Thursday, saying, "I won the titles in the ring and I believe they should be lost in the ring. I'm unable to defend a it this time and taken the hard and emotional decision to officially vacate my treasured world titles and wish the next in line contenders all the very best as I enter another big challenge in my life, like I know I will conquer."

It's been a rocky road for Fury since winning those titles 2015. Here's a reminder of what has unfolded since then. After winning last November to take the three major titles in heavyweight boxing Fury is soon criticized for his views on women and homosexuality. And after months of negotiations, a rematch is set for Manchester in July of this year. But with two weeks to go, Fury pulls out of the bout after suffering an ankle injury in training.

And U.K. anti-doping confirmed they are investigating Fury for a prohibited substance. Then September, 2016, Fury's heavyweight world title rematch with Klitschko is called off for a second time as the management declares him medically unfit to fight. And the U.S.-based sports network ESPN reports a random urine test tested positive for cocaine.

And that brings us to last week's publication of "Rolling Stone" magazine, where Fury confessed to the magazine he had done, quote, "lots of cocaine and was in a very bad place at the moment."

Earlier, CNN's Christina MacFarlane caught up with former heavyweight champion, David Haye. who gave his reaction.

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DAVID HAYE, FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: He is a massive character and love him or loathe him you tune in when he fights and unique personalities to make a port entertaining. He has one of the biggest personalities.

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN WORLD SPORT CORRESPONDENT: As you say, David, this is surrounded in this cloud of mental health issues. You know, he is not alone in having suffered with depression and mental health issues in boxing. We have heard from Frank Bruno in the past. As someone who is in the sport and no doubt seen this quite often happen do you think the sport authorities are doing enough to support boxers who are coming out with these kinds of conditions?

[02:49:53] HAYE: I don't believe there is a process or any protocol that a professional boxer that hits hard times whatever it be after his career or during his career or like Tyson Fury is at the top of his career, at the peak of his career. I don't know of any phone numbers to call. I had an unfortunate situation where I had a bad injury which could have ruled me out of boxing forever. I had some dark times. I understand where Tyson Fury is. Although we come from different paths I could never fight again. I don't know what his issues are. But I know they are very real. You can't measure them with a blood test or take your pulse and figure out. I know depression, I know mental health issues are as real as a broken leg.

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RILEY: David Haye was talking to CNN's Christina MacFarlane there. But coming up on this show, proof you are never too young to be a

fan's favorite. We bring you the story of the teenaged sensation who had an NHL debut he'll never forget.

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RILEY: CNN "World Sport" ends with the stuff that dreams are made of. Talk about making an instant impact. The new NHL season got underway Wednesday night. A teenager from Arizona via California was rewriting his sport history books in a way he will likely never ever forget.

Auston Matthews is who you're talking about. His proud parents were looking on. He gets the Maple Leafs on the board early after having a chance broken up. He pulls to the front of the goal and was there in the doorstep to pop in his first NHL goal. He was just getting started. Then somehow coming away with the park at center ice busting his way down the left side. Great determination there. Stealing the puck away from the center's captain before he rips his second goal from a tough angle. The hat trick came when he found open space in the offensive circle. And sweeps it past the goalie. His third of the game. Craig Anderson, his third of the game. Then mom's reaction, just priceless. Delirious with joy and excitement. We love that here.

Finally, on a two-on-one break, he dishes and gets the puck back and redirects it in for his fourth of the night. Four goals in two periods. But the Leafs would lose 5-4 in overtime. What an occasion for the Matthews family. And Auston is the first player in NHL history to score four goals in his debut.

Mathews turned 19 last month. He was born in California, but raised in Arizona. The desert state not a hot bed for ice hockey. He went to Europe and competed against professional players. Instead of the North American route, be it college, U.S. or Canadian major junior leagues. And it paid off, didn't it? He was selected number one overall in this year's draft.

[02:55:07] Turning back to football now, and a match which had been called United for Peace, this was a tough game for a certain superstar footballer who didn't get the memo about the olive branch. Things began well, though. This match organized by Pope Francis, no less. The South African set up a couple of early goals. This match for peace had a sting in its tail. Maradona as the first half came to a close. A run in there. Diego getting a little hot under the collar there. Things would calm down even though Maradona's team did end up losing. Quick smile for a quick selfie. It all ended well.

That's it from us.

But before we go, if you are a tennis fan and you happen to be watching us in Shanghai, there's only one tournament grabbing your attention. Here's the latest in our "Rolex Minute."

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PAT CASH, CNN WORLD SPORT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The excitement was on center court on day four of the Shanghai Rolex Masters. Rally from a set down against Alexander winning 7-5 in the third and deciding set. The Frenchman reserving his place in the quarterfinals.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm real happy to be here. I played good tennis. I beat one of the best young guys on the tour. Really well. It was good for me to win today.

CASH: The Fuji International Speedway hosts round seven of the World Endurance Championship, sports car racing's big three all have a point to prove. Audi will be aiming to bounce back after misfortune in the last round in Texas. Porsche can all but secure the driver's title for the number two car if they can repeat last year's victory. And Toyota, winners of three of the last four races here, can give their passionate fans something to shout about.

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