Emotional Dennis Rodman Seems To Imply Knowledge Of Bae's Guilt In North Korea
DETROIT (CBS Detroit) The mystery surrounding Kenneth Bae, an American citizen convicted of trying to overthrow the North Korean government, seemed to deepen Tuesday during an interview with former Detroit Pistons star Dennis Rodman.
Rodman has made international headlines with several visits to North Korea's dictator Kim Jong Un, and his descriptions of the two as pals. Promoting one of his visits, Rodman was asked on CNN if he would "speak up for Kenneth Bae." Bae was sentenced in April to 15 years behind bars, reportedly doing eight hours of farm labor a day as penance for carrying a computer disc during a visit to North Korea with photos of starving orphans.
Last spring and summer Rodman said he would ask North Korea's leader to release Bae.
This time, Rodman seemed to imply Bae is guilty of something, and that he's privy to the information.
"If you understand what Kenneth Bae did, then you understand what he did in this country," Rodman said.
The interviewer responded with "you tell me what he did."
And Rodman started yelling "no, you tell me, you tell me!"
Appearing to veer off track, an emotional Rodman started pointing to people around him and accusing the interviewer of not understanding that there are "10 guys here" who love their families and left them to "help their country."
"I don't give a rat's a** what the hell you think," Rodman said. "Look at these guys here! Look at them! They came here! They came here!"
He went on to say "We have to go back to America and take the abuse ... Do you have to take the abuse? Well, we're going to take it. Do you, sir? ... One day, one day, this door is going to open."