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CNN Live Today

Zacarias Moussaoui Hearing Rearraigned

Aired June 25, 2002 - 13:25   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: The only person charged so far in connection with the September 11 attacks is back in court. Zacarias Moussaoui is being rearraigned this hour in Alexandria, Virginia. That's also where CNN justice correspondent, Kelli Arena, is.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Zacarias Moussaoui will be in court today to be formally charged under a new government indictment. The government slightly changed the original indictment against him, although the charges against Moussaoui remain the same. One former prosecutor offered this explanation for why the government may have made the minor changes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETE WHITE, FORMER PROSECUTOR: One is to tighten up details that they have in the indictment, that they have found out that they didn't have exactly the way they wanted them prior to trial. The second is to give a better sense of exactly what it is that they are going to try to prove. They have eliminated some facts. They have put in some additional facts to give the jury when they get the case, a roadmap of exactly what they think their proof is going to be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENA: Moussaoui will be representing himself today, although, the judge has ordered his standby counsel, Alan Yamamato, to be present in court, although not to sit at the defendant's table. Moussaoui has rejected Yamamato and has refused to talk to him.

There will be another lawyer here today as well. His name is Charles Freeman, and he is from Texas, and he is a Muslim.

Now, Moussaoui has indicated a willingness to work with him. He has met with him several times, although Freeman has not registered as Moussaoui's counsel just yet. The judge has given him until Friday to do that.

It's unclear whether or not the issue of counsel will be brought up in court today. We will let you know as soon as it is done.

Kelli Arena, CNN, in Alexandria, Virginia.

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