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President Bush's Niece in Jail This Morning in Florida

Aired July 18, 2002 - 11:32   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush's niece is in jail this morning in Florida because she violated a court-ordered drug treatment plan.

Here is CNN's John Zarrella reporting from Orlando.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): behind the walls of Orange County Jail, in a woman's housing unit, Noelle Bush, the daughter of Florida Governor Jeb Bush, is locked up, from now until Friday.

TIMOTHY RYAN, CHIEF, ORANGE COUNTY JAIL: We received a court order indicating that there is a charge of indirect contempt of court, a charge in Florida statute. The judge has sentenced her to three days in custody for that charge.

ZARRELLA: The 24-year-old Noelle was sentenced by a drug court judge after she was found in possession of a prescription drug in violation of the terms of her treatment program. The program had been mandated following an incident in January in Tallahassee, where she was arrested for falsifying a prescription for Xanax. Xanax is taken to treat anxiety and calm nerves.

The governor was in Orlando Wednesday night, where he comment on what he calls a very private family matter.

GOV. JEB BUSH, FLORIDA: Today's been a difficult day for my wife and I. And I'm saddened and disappointed in my daughter not complying with the court-ordered drug treatment plan. It breaks my heart that people that have addictions don't recover in a perfect way. My daughter is not perfect.

ZARRELLA: Earlier in the day, in response to daughter's Noelle's latest troubles, the governor issued a statement, saying, in part -- quote -- "We love Noelle, but she is an adult, and I respect the role of the courts in carrying out our state's drug treatment policy" -- end quote.

The governor's daughter is expected to resume her treatment when she is released. If Noelle Bush violates the terms of her program again, she could very well face a stiffer penalty than three days in jail. That's something her father probably reminded her of when he stopped by jail to visit her for a few minutes while he was here in Orlando.

John Zarrella, CNN, Orlando, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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