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CNN Live Today

Interview With Harvey Levin

Aired June 05, 2003 - 10:50   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: We now cast our eye on entertainment news this morning, and no one is drawing more eyes than embattled domestic maven Martha Stewart these days, and it appears that her legal battles are just beginning.
Our guest this morning, Harvey Levin, is executive producer of "Celebrity Justice" and also he is himself an attorney. Good to see you, Harvey.

HARVEY LEVIN, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "CELEBRITY JUSTICE": Hi, Leon.

HARRIS: Now that the charges have come out, any surprises there to you?

LEVIN: I got to tell you, the big surprise to me was watching the way the government positioned this. I saw somebody from the SEC this morning on one of the morning shows, and he said, We went after a plumber last week for insider trading and for this kind of stuff, so we didn't go after her because she's a celebrity. How dumb do they think we are?

Of course she did. I mean, come on. This is so obvious. Doesn't mean that she didn't do it. Doesn't mean she shouldn't be found guilty, but they've got to be honest about this. She was a big target for them, a big, fat target. And they needed a target, because they've taken a lot of heat for Enron and they got it.

HARRIS: Well, all things considered, is that such a bad thing, considering the fact that this would actually probably scare or deter any other executive, any top level executive even more than what we're seeing happen to the Enron executives?

LEVIN: I think you're right that it will have more of a deterrent effect because of how high profile she is. At the same time, you have to ask: is it fair to make her that example, that sacrificial lamb? And is she really getting equal justice, if that's the point? I mean, there are two ways of looking at it.

HARRIS: All right. So is there any way that she can dig herself out of this and save whatever may be left of the Martha Stewart image? Or is the image itself now totally shot?

LEVIN: Well, I think this is a woman who set herself out as perfect, and the government has really choreographed this so it's not about insider trading. It's about lying and cheating and obstructing. So they're really casting this as good versus evil. She's going to have a hard time. Honestly, I was thinking about it today. I think the best thing she can do is almost let the government overplay its hand and maybe people would actually feel sorry that she may have taken $45,000 that she shouldn't have, but do you vilify her? Do you send her to prison for 30 years? And if they kind of create Martha Stewart, victim, maybe that can salvage a little bit. But obviously, this is hugely damaging.

HARRIS: All right. Quickly, on the way out, Bacanovic, her financial adviser, the guy that was making the trades for her, is she the anchor that drags him down, or is there any way for him to save himself?

LEVIN: Well, right now, there's no deal that was made. One is not rolling over on the other. Bacanovic's assistant has made a deal, and is going to testify and could be damaging to both, but right now it looks like they're holding that fort down, the two of them, Stewart and Bacanovic, and unless somebody turns, I think both of them are going to trial.

HARRIS: All right. There is going to be plenty for you to talk about for some time to come.

LEVIN: One would think.

HARRIS: And you will do it right here with us.

LEVIN: OK, Leon.

HARRIS: We got to go now, but thanks, Harvey. Appreciate it.

LEVIN: OK.

HARRIS: Harvey Levin, "Celebrity Justice."

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 June 5, 2003 - 10:50   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We now cast our eye on entertainment news this morning, and no one is drawing more eyes than embattled domestic maven Martha Stewart these days, and it appears that her legal battles are just beginning.
Our guest this morning, Harvey Levin, is executive producer of "Celebrity Justice" and also he is himself an attorney. Good to see you, Harvey.

HARVEY LEVIN, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "CELEBRITY JUSTICE": Hi, Leon.

HARRIS: Now that the charges have come out, any surprises there to you?

LEVIN: I got to tell you, the big surprise to me was watching the way the government positioned this. I saw somebody from the SEC this morning on one of the morning shows, and he said, We went after a plumber last week for insider trading and for this kind of stuff, so we didn't go after her because she's a celebrity. How dumb do they think we are?

Of course she did. I mean, come on. This is so obvious. Doesn't mean that she didn't do it. Doesn't mean she shouldn't be found guilty, but they've got to be honest about this. She was a big target for them, a big, fat target. And they needed a target, because they've taken a lot of heat for Enron and they got it.

HARRIS: Well, all things considered, is that such a bad thing, considering the fact that this would actually probably scare or deter any other executive, any top level executive even more than what we're seeing happen to the Enron executives?

LEVIN: I think you're right that it will have more of a deterrent effect because of how high profile she is. At the same time, you have to ask: is it fair to make her that example, that sacrificial lamb? And is she really getting equal justice, if that's the point? I mean, there are two ways of looking at it.

HARRIS: All right. So is there any way that she can dig herself out of this and save whatever may be left of the Martha Stewart image? Or is the image itself now totally shot?

LEVIN: Well, I think this is a woman who set herself out as perfect, and the government has really choreographed this so it's not about insider trading. It's about lying and cheating and obstructing. So they're really casting this as good versus evil. She's going to have a hard time. Honestly, I was thinking about it today. I think the best thing she can do is almost let the government overplay its hand and maybe people would actually feel sorry that she may have taken $45,000 that she shouldn't have, but do you vilify her? Do you send her to prison for 30 years? And if they kind of create Martha Stewart, victim, maybe that can salvage a little bit. But obviously, this is hugely damaging.

HARRIS: All right. Quickly, on the way out, Bacanovic, her financial adviser, the guy that was making the trades for her, is she the anchor that drags him down, or is there any way for him to save himself?

LEVIN: Well, right now, there's no deal that was made. One is not rolling over on the other. Bacanovic's assistant has made a deal, and is going to testify and could be damaging to both, but right now it looks like they're holding that fort down, the two of them, Stewart and Bacanovic, and unless somebody turns, I think both of them are going to trial.

HARRIS: All right. There is going to be plenty for you to talk about for some time to come.

LEVIN: One would think.

HARRIS: And you will do it right here with us.

LEVIN: OK, Leon.

HARRIS: We got to go now, but thanks, Harvey. Appreciate it.

LEVIN: OK.

HARRIS: Harvey Levin, "Celebrity Justice."

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