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CNN Live Sunday

Lynch's $1 Million Book Deal Criticized

Aired September 07, 2003 - 16:15   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.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Former prisoner of war, Jessica Lynch, recently signed a $1 million book deal to tell the story of her capture and rescue in Iraq, but the father of another soldier killed in the attack on Lynch's Army unit accuses the former Army private of cashing in on an event that happened while she was serving her country. Jesse Dagollato with CNN affiliate, KSAT, has more now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDY KIEHL, SON KILLED IN IRAQ: Pretty severe, isn't it, that she makes money off of the death of my son and off of the death of so many others.

JESSE DAGOLLATO, KSAT REPORTER (voice-over): Strong words as Randy Kiehl sits at his late son's computer desk. Along with his keepsakes is the official report of the ambush at Nasiriyah.

KIEHL: She was in the back of the Humvee. They were trying to get out at a high rate of speed and ran into the back of a tractor- trailer. What did Jessica Lynch do that these other people didn't do?

DAGOLLATO: In a statement, Jessica Lynch has said her book, due out in November, is a story about growing up in America and what she remembers of her capture and now famous rescue.

KIEHL: I'm glad she came home alive.

DAGOLLATO: Jessica Lynch is not the problem, says Randy Kiehl.

KIEHL: The ones that have convinced her. The ones who have waved that million dollar check in front of her.

DAGOLLATO: And yet, by splitting the check with the author...

KIEHL: Now she's a profiteer because what she did was in the line of duty.

DAGOLLATO (on camera): Does randy plan on reading Jessica's book? Most certainly, he says, because he wants to see what it says about his son.

KIEHL: Where's the million-dollar book deal for the other members of the 507th that were killed? How do they tell their story?

DAGOLLATO: What if Jessica Lynch's publisher made Randy Kiehl the same million dollar offer? DAGOLLATO (on camera): Would you take it?

KIEHL: No, my son didn't die for money. My son died spreading our freedoms. How does he tell the story of how the radios failed, how their weapons jammed, how they got misguided information.

DAGOLLATO (voice-over): Based on the official report of the ambush at Nasiriyah, Kiehl says an author in Austin is researching those details for a yet to be titled book.

KIEHL: The author just wants to get down the facts for historical value.

DAGOLLATO: That's why Kiehl says he's among those cooperating with the author.

KIEHL: Am I getting any proceeds? Is Jill getting any proceeds? No.

DAGOLLATO: He says his grandson, Nathaniel's financial future is already secure, thanks to the generosity of others, including scholarships.

KIEHL: We're not doing this for money.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: That report from Jesse Dagollato with our affiliate KSAT. Jesse -- Jessica Lynch, rather, is expected to grant her first television interview around the time her book is released.

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 September 7, 2003 - 16:15   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Former prisoner of war, Jessica Lynch, recently signed a $1 million book deal to tell the story of her capture and rescue in Iraq, but the father of another soldier killed in the attack on Lynch's Army unit accuses the former Army private of cashing in on an event that happened while she was serving her country. Jesse Dagollato with CNN affiliate, KSAT, has more now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDY KIEHL, SON KILLED IN IRAQ: Pretty severe, isn't it, that she makes money off of the death of my son and off of the death of so many others.

JESSE DAGOLLATO, KSAT REPORTER (voice-over): Strong words as Randy Kiehl sits at his late son's computer desk. Along with his keepsakes is the official report of the ambush at Nasiriyah.

KIEHL: She was in the back of the Humvee. They were trying to get out at a high rate of speed and ran into the back of a tractor- trailer. What did Jessica Lynch do that these other people didn't do?

DAGOLLATO: In a statement, Jessica Lynch has said her book, due out in November, is a story about growing up in America and what she remembers of her capture and now famous rescue.

KIEHL: I'm glad she came home alive.

DAGOLLATO: Jessica Lynch is not the problem, says Randy Kiehl.

KIEHL: The ones that have convinced her. The ones who have waved that million dollar check in front of her.

DAGOLLATO: And yet, by splitting the check with the author...

KIEHL: Now she's a profiteer because what she did was in the line of duty.

DAGOLLATO (on camera): Does randy plan on reading Jessica's book? Most certainly, he says, because he wants to see what it says about his son.

KIEHL: Where's the million-dollar book deal for the other members of the 507th that were killed? How do they tell their story?

DAGOLLATO: What if Jessica Lynch's publisher made Randy Kiehl the same million dollar offer? DAGOLLATO (on camera): Would you take it?

KIEHL: No, my son didn't die for money. My son died spreading our freedoms. How does he tell the story of how the radios failed, how their weapons jammed, how they got misguided information.

DAGOLLATO (voice-over): Based on the official report of the ambush at Nasiriyah, Kiehl says an author in Austin is researching those details for a yet to be titled book.

KIEHL: The author just wants to get down the facts for historical value.

DAGOLLATO: That's why Kiehl says he's among those cooperating with the author.

KIEHL: Am I getting any proceeds? Is Jill getting any proceeds? No.

DAGOLLATO: He says his grandson, Nathaniel's financial future is already secure, thanks to the generosity of others, including scholarships.

KIEHL: We're not doing this for money.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: That report from Jesse Dagollato with our affiliate KSAT. Jesse -- Jessica Lynch, rather, is expected to grant her first television interview around the time her book is released.

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