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American Morning
Spoils of War?
Aired April 24, 2003 - 09:33 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Federal charges already filed against a Fox News employee for the alleged theft of paintings and Iraqi bonds. Michael J. Garcia, acting assistant secretary, with the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is here to talk more about it. Michael is live in San Diego.
Good morning to you there on the West Coast.
Talk about these AK-47s, 15 paintings, these are not items taken from the museum, we believe, but rather found in palaces and other areas throughout Baghdad. Value right now could be what, Michael, on this?
MICHAEL GARCIA, BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT: The value could be anything -- as an intrinsic value, obviously gold- plated AK-47 would have some value, obviously value is loot from Iraqi palaces, but really the value is its association with the fallen regime over in Iraq. And clearly, value that belongs rightfully to the Iraqi people.
HEMMER: In total, five members of the media covering that story, coming back from Iraq to the U.S. have been essentially stopped and question. Will you press charges against them?
GARCIA: Already there are charges filed against the Fox cameraman in the eastern district of Virginia.
HEMMER: And will more come?
GARCIA: I believe so. Obviously, we're pursuing vigorously all these investigations. Those charges are public.
HEMMER: If convicted after these charges, what's the penalty?
GARCIA: Under the statue, penalties can range, depending on the number of counts that are brought, five, 10 years. Obviously, that would depend on the facts.
HEMMER: Michael, is there any evidence that anything coming back into this country has been taken from that world famous museum in Baghdad?
GARCIA: No, we haven't seen anything from the museum so far. These are items that were looted from palaces, from other government facilities.
HEMMER: And another question about that museum, there are indications today in "The Washington Post" that a number of the items might be coming back to the museum. Held and protected by Iraqis who saw the looting take place, they went in, took their own to keep it for safekeeping. Are you getting word about that where you are in San Diego?
GARCIA: I haven't heard that story, Bill. What we have been doing over there is helping to catalog items that were missing. I haven't heard the story about items being returned.
HEMMER: Michael Garcia, San Diego Garcia. Thank you, Michael. We'll track you as we grow older on this story.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired April 24, 2003 - 09:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Federal charges already filed against a Fox News employee for the alleged theft of paintings and Iraqi bonds. Michael J. Garcia, acting assistant secretary, with the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is here to talk more about it. Michael is live in San Diego.
Good morning to you there on the West Coast.
Talk about these AK-47s, 15 paintings, these are not items taken from the museum, we believe, but rather found in palaces and other areas throughout Baghdad. Value right now could be what, Michael, on this?
MICHAEL GARCIA, BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT: The value could be anything -- as an intrinsic value, obviously gold- plated AK-47 would have some value, obviously value is loot from Iraqi palaces, but really the value is its association with the fallen regime over in Iraq. And clearly, value that belongs rightfully to the Iraqi people.
HEMMER: In total, five members of the media covering that story, coming back from Iraq to the U.S. have been essentially stopped and question. Will you press charges against them?
GARCIA: Already there are charges filed against the Fox cameraman in the eastern district of Virginia.
HEMMER: And will more come?
GARCIA: I believe so. Obviously, we're pursuing vigorously all these investigations. Those charges are public.
HEMMER: If convicted after these charges, what's the penalty?
GARCIA: Under the statue, penalties can range, depending on the number of counts that are brought, five, 10 years. Obviously, that would depend on the facts.
HEMMER: Michael, is there any evidence that anything coming back into this country has been taken from that world famous museum in Baghdad?
GARCIA: No, we haven't seen anything from the museum so far. These are items that were looted from palaces, from other government facilities.
HEMMER: And another question about that museum, there are indications today in "The Washington Post" that a number of the items might be coming back to the museum. Held and protected by Iraqis who saw the looting take place, they went in, took their own to keep it for safekeeping. Are you getting word about that where you are in San Diego?
GARCIA: I haven't heard that story, Bill. What we have been doing over there is helping to catalog items that were missing. I haven't heard the story about items being returned.
HEMMER: Michael Garcia, San Diego Garcia. Thank you, Michael. We'll track you as we grow older on this story.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
