Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Padilla Lawyer Says Her Client is Being Held Unlawfully

Aired June 11, 2002 - 13:36   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Another big story that we're covering for you today. New details on the background, the alleged ambitions and the capture of Abdullah Al Muhajir, the former Jose Padilla.

CNN justice correspondent Kelli Arena joins us now with the latest on that story -- Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well Kyra, the very latest is that the lawyer for Jose Padilla who was assigned to his case before he was transferred over to military custody, today filed a motion saying that he is being held unlawfully.

And the lawyer, whose name is Donna Newman, says that the last time that she saw her client was on Friday. And she says she had no idea that he was going to be declared a military combatant.

Now, the judge is considering the motion, but it's not clear at this point what authority, if any, the court has over Padilla because, as you know, he is in military custody.

Meanwhile, the administration has been defending its decision to detain him indefinitely in a military brig in South Carolina.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: As we run down these killers, or would-be killers, we'll let you know. And this guy, Padilla, is one of many who we have arrested. As I said in the speech to West Point, the coalition we put together has hauled in over 2,400 people. And we call it 2,401 now. And there's just a full-scale manhunt on him. Padilla is where he needs to be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENA: Attorney General John Ashcroft also joined the chorus today, saying that Padilla's detention is proper because of the seriousness of the threat that he poses. Now, Justice has not ruled out eventually bringing criminal charges against Padilla, but Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld says that the U.S. is more interested in information.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: We're not interested in trying him at the moment. We're not interested in punishing him at the moment. We're interested in finding out what in the world he knows. Here is a person who unambiguously was interested in radiation weapons and terrorist activity, and was in league with al Qaeda.

Now, our job, as responsible government officials, is to do everything possible to find out what that person knows.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENA: But so far, at least according to intelligence sources, Padilla is not talking.

Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: Kelli Arena, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com