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American Morning
Zacarias Moussaoui Wants Trial Televised
Aired January 07, 2002 - 08:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now it's time for jack and his very special segment called, "Here's What I Don't Get."
The problem is there are so many things we don't get collectively, that this could just go on and on and on. How are you?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: I'm good. This is a very long program, isn't it? I used to come in at 8:30. This used to be the first thing I did. Now it's three hours.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Oh come one, three hours just flies by, Jack, like that.
CAFFERTY: It's like a telethon in search of a disease. Goes on and on and on.
ZAHN: Come on. It's not that bad.
CAFFERTY: No. It's terrific. Glad to be here.
ZAHN: Chock full of information.
CAFFERTY: This suspected terrorist is the way they have to talk about him because he hasn't been convicted yet. Dirt bag would be another synonym for this Zacarias Moussaoui.
ZAHN: Right.
CAFFERTY: The guy who is accused of conspiracy in conjunction with the events of 9-1-1. Apparently he was supposed to be on one of those hijacked airplanes. He's going to trial, federal trial, on charges of conspiracy. He has requested that we televise his trial. Maybe we should get him like an agent so he could do a book and movie deal, too.
ZAHN: I know. Listen. There's so many people in America offended by the notion this guy would be allowed that bully pulpit.
CAFFERTY: Huzpuh is not a word that's used commonly in the Afghan, Islamic community. But huzpah would be a word that would apply to this, right?
ZAHN: But, a judge hasn't made a decision on this.
CAFFERTY: No.
ZAHN: This could very well happen. Maybe not likely, but there's a possibility.
CAFFERTY: It is isn't likely, and the reason it's not likely is there is apparently, under the federal rules of criminal procedure, dating back to 1946, this would be in a federal courtroom as opposed to the state court, prohibits the broadcasting of trials. So in all likelihood it's not going to happen.
But imagine if did. Al Jazeera could record it and they could edit up little snippets however they wanted. It would give this guy...
ZAHN: Well, you know exactly how those would be cut up and edited...
CAFFERTY: Of course. I mean, it's just a -- it's a crazy idea. It would give him a platform obviously, for -- you know, turn the trial into a giant circus. I mean, why don't they put him in front of one of these military tribunals and get it over with. And then if he really wants something televised, we can televise his execution. That's assuming, of course, that this suspected terrorist is found guilty...
ZAHN: Is found guilty.
CAFFERTY: ...suspected, alleged. But we can televise that part, the end of his life, good-bye. Say good-bye now.
ZAHN: Very carefully -- it's very interesting how carefully all of us had to couch, in the early days of September 11th, the hijackers as alleged hijackers. I think by now people, with the exception of one paper, comfortably calling them the hijackers. Not the alleged or the suspected hijackers.
CAFFERTY: This guy, in fairness, has not been convicted of anything yet, but my sense is he probably will be.
ZAHN: All right. Jack, thanks.
CAFFERTY: Good to be with you.
ZAHN: Nice to be with you.
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