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CNN Live Today

Michael Jackson Enters Not Guilty Plea to 10 Felony Count Indictment

Aired April 30, 2004 - 11:30   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Daryn Kagan.
At half past the hour, let's check the headlines. Michael Jackson's arraignment on child molestation charges should be getting under way now in Santa Maria, California. The second arraignment became necessary when a grand jury indicted the pop star. The indictment is expected to be made public later today.

Tomorrow marks a year since President Bush's aircraft carrier landing, declaring an end to major combat in Iraq. Since then, close to 600 troops have been killed, including roughly 424 from hostile fire.

Controversy for ABC's "Nightline." Sinclair Broadcasting Group is ordering its seven ABC affiliates to preempt tonight's program. Anchor Ted Koppel plans to read a list of the names of the U.S. troops killed in the Iraq war. Sinclair says that "Nightline" appears to be motivated by a political agenda that will undermine the war effort. ABC says that its broadcast is a tribute to America's fallen soldiers.

And workers are cleaning up a diesel fuel spill in a marshy area east of San Francisco today. An underground pipe ruptured. It spread 40,000 gallons of diesel over portions of 600 acres. The marsh is a key nesting ground for birds, and news reports say some ducks have been killed.

All eyes are on California this morning. Pop star Michael Jackson is being arraigned this hour on child molestation charges brought by a grand jury.

Our national correspondent Gary Tuchman is keeping an eye on things at the courthouse in Santa Maria.

Gary, good morning.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, good morning to you.

And court is scheduled to begin at this very minute. We don't know for sure, because no cameras are allowed inside, and the reporters that are in the court right now aren't allowed to talk to us outside of the court. But we've been assured that it's supposed to start 8:30 Pacific Time, 11:30 Eastern Time.

But right now, outside the courthouse, hundreds of Michael Jackson fans from all over the world, and everything so far very orderly. Michael Jackson, during his first court appearance in January, showed up 20 minutes late, made the judge very angry. Did not happen this time. Instead he showed up 50 minutes early, navigating his way through the fans. But it was a lot different than last time, because when he arrived here last time, his SUV stopped in the street, he was mobbed by fans as he went in. Today much different security procedures put into place. About 100 police officers from Santa Barbara County and the city of Santa Maria, and they told Michael Jackson, your car will have to go inside a fenced-in area in the parking lot, so you can't get that close to the fans so we don't have any problems.

Michael Jackson got out of his car, went inside the courthouse, and then there was a little controversy. Michael Jackson got in the way of the camera that has been allowed by the judge to be inside the courthouse. It's one camera that all the news media's using. And then his security people, and he's hired new security people. He's not using people from the Nation of Islam this time, a private security firm, one of the security men, at least one, then grabbed the camera to cover up the shot of Michael Jackson going inside.

Jackson will be apprised of what the grand jury decided. A grand jury met to consider the charges, the seven counts of lewd acts on a child, two counts of giving the child alcohol. And the grand jury had to decide how many of those charges, all those charges, few of those charges, or even more of those charges, they thought there was a probable cause to bring Michael Jackson to a trial for. That announcement will be made by a judge. We may learn a trial date. Then Michael Jackson will come out. Last time in January after he came out, he jumped on top of his car, did a few dance steps, the people here went crazy, started following the car into the street. The police say they will not allow that this time.

As we speak, they have backed up a stretch limo and SUVs, two SUVs into a parking lot, so they can make a quick getaway when Michael Jackson comes out. Police say they don't expect any of the so-called antics they had last time. But with Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, one of the most famous faces in the world, you can never be sure what will happen.

Daryn, back to you.

KAGAN: Which is why this has turned into a four-camera story. Thank you so much. Gary Tuchman, appreciate your coverage from Santa Maria.

Let's bring in "Celebrity Justice" executive producer Harvey Levin to talk about the case. He's now at our studios in Glendale, California.

Harvey, good morning again.

HARVEY LEVIN, EXEC. PROD., "CELEBRITY JUSTICE": Hi, Daryn.

KAGAN: Please try to refrain from putting your hand in front of the camera.

LEVIN: That's right. KAGAN: Stick with us there.

LEVIN: It's all the rage.

KAGAN: What are you looking for today to learn from these proceedings?

LEVIN: Obviously, we want to see what the charges are here. And from what we understand, it will be somewhat of a blueprint from the original charges filed, the molestation and the giving a minor intoxicant charges.

But in addition, you know, we knew that the prosecutors were looking at the possibility of a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor because of these allegations of giving the accuser wine and also showing the accuser, allegedly showing the accuser and his brother, pictures of naked women. So they may be added there. But as far as we know, there is absolutely no other charge involving any other alleged victim.

KAGAN: The case has moved along this far. So far, though, things have been, as they proceed, easier for the prosecution. Things start going uphill after this point.

LEVIN: Right, because now the defense will be privy to the information that came before the grand jury. They will know the specific charges. And they'll also -- and Daryn, we talked about this last hour. They also know that this boy and his mother had a rough time, even before the grand jury. And obviously, that's interesting to them, because this boy seems somewhat fragile and on cross- examination the question is how will he endure?

KAGAN: Harvey, you stay with us right there.

Miguel Marquez was inside the courtroom as the arraignment was taking place. He has the exact list of charges. Let's bring Miguel in and see what he has to say -- Miguel.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Daryn, the judge came out and took no time getting to the point. His first words were, "I have opened the indictment." It is a 10-count indictment with two special allegations. Mr. Jackson, the first count is a felony count, read by the judge, of conspiracy. He says there are 28 individual overt acts containing child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion. That is just the first count. Counts two through five are the similar counts we had previously, lewd acts upon a child under 14 years of age. Count six is an attempt of a lewd act to a child under 14 years of age. And counts seven through 10 are also similar that we've seen before. Two counts -- seven through 10 are three counts of administering an intoxicating agent to a minor to carry out those lewd and lascivious acts. So one count added to this. No other victims.

But two special allegations. The judge was indicating to the defense and the prosecution exactly how he was going to do this, saying that he has in advance prepared a redacted copy of the indictment so that he can release it to the press. He is handing that to the defense and the prosecution now, so they can look over that redaction and approve it, and they will proceed most likely with Mr. Jackson saying guilty or not guilty, and his lawyers say he'll plead not guilty -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Was there any reaction from Michael Jackson as the judge was speaking, Miguel?

LEVIN: There was no reaction whatsoever from either him or from the attorneys present. It was -- you know, this judge, Rodney Melville, is very straightforward. He walked right out and got right down to business and read the charges immediately, and started going into the administration of it and how they were going to go about the rest of their day. And we felt it important to come out here and let our viewers know exactly what those charges were.

KAGAN: We do appreciate that. And we'll be back to you in Santa Maria. Also keeping our eyes as Michael Jackson steps out of the courthouse.

Meanwhile, let's bring back in Harvey Levin,from "Celebrity Justice."

Harvey, sounds like the list is growing and becoming even more serious against Michael Jackson.

LEVIN: Well, Daryn, I have to tell you, one of the things that really caught my interest, and I was trying to write it down as Miguel was talking, was this -- the felony conspiracy charge involving extortion and child abduction. One of the things that we know that they have been looking at for a long time. They have argued that Michael Jackson and his people intimidated the boy and his family, and even tried to get them out of the country to Brazil, and that was something that they were on the hunt with for a long, long time. And I think we've talked about these two people, the Jackson -- that worked for Jackson, Vinnie Amen and Frank Tyson, who are both on the East Coast now, that prosecutors believe basically threatened this family. And it seems like if there's a conspiracy charge, there might be more in the way of other indictments coming down. We know that they looked at other people. And this is a really new and kind of stunning charge, and it appears that that's the direction the prosecution is going in -- threatening, threatening.

KAGAN: Threatening. So 10 felony counts, and then the two special allegations. How does that change things?

LEVIN: Well, you know, the biggest change that I see -- and I kind of want to look at it before I comment -- but the biggest change is that Michael Jackson has been accused basically before of child molestation and supplying a minor intoxicants.

Now, it has gone further. And what they're getting into is this alleged conspiracy where there are overt acts of extortion and child abduction. So you know, if that's exactly the way it reads, the way Miguel was talking about it, you know, it's really taken it to a whole new level. The prosecution in this case, all along we know they want to paint a picture not just of what the boy says versus what Michael Jackson says. They want to show a guilty conscience. They want to show that Michael Jackson and his people were trying to keep this family under wraps, and ultimately get this family out of the country, and this alleged Brazil trip, which was supposed to have happened a year ago in January, but didn't, is something that they have really been focusing on, where Frank Tyson and Vinnie Amen were going to take this family out of the country.

Frank Tyson told me on the phone he was planning on doing it, but only for three weeks, and then the mother changed her mind. But if that's where they're going, trying to show basically that they were getting rid of this family, it raises it to a whole new dimension.

KAGAN: I think you make an interesting point, especially when you're comparing it to the charges that he faced earlier here, and also 10 years ago, that there has been this intense investigation.

Harvey, isn't it possible that this -- these extra charges could have come from the investigation, or it could be like with Al Capone, where you're trying to get the defendant for something when you can't get him on the exact charges that you want to get him on?

LEVIN: You know, Daryn, in this case, it's not Al Capone-like. I know that they served search warrants last December, really trying to piece together what they believe was a conscious effort to hide the family. They believe that that alleged conscious effort will show that Michael Jackson and his people had a guilty conscience. And why did they have a guilty conscience? Well, that's what the jury is going to have to decide. But this isn't where they're just trying to get him on, you know, the technicality of the tax evasion. This is the core of the case, not just relying on an accuser, but showing a pattern of conduct involving Jackson and his people, trying to allegedly threaten the family and ultimately get rid of them.

And I've got to tell you, I have talked to one of the key guys in this case, Frank Tyson, and that's the person that the prosecution believes was the point person for Michael Jackson. He confirmed to me that right around the time that controversial documentary was airing, he did send somebody down to Brazil to scout out a location, and he was planning on bringing the family down there, he says only for three weeks. The prosecution believes it was going to be for a lot longer than that.

KAGAN: All right, Harvey Levin from "Celebrity Justice," thanks for your insight and your reporting this morning. Much appreciated.

We're getting word from Santa Maria, California that the court is in recess for now. No sign yet again of Michael Jackson. We'll keep our cameras trained on that courtroom door, also on the courthouse outside.

Once again, Michael Jackson has been indicted this morning on 10 felony counts, including four counts of committing lewd acts on a child, and one count of an attempted lewd act. He's also charged with three counts of administering an intoxicating agent to further the commission of a felony.

Much more coverage from California. Right now, a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Democrat John Kerry is preparing to discuss what he calls a moment of truth in Iraq on the eve of the one-year anniversary of President Bush's famous aircraft carrier speech.

Judy Woodruff has the story and more in our voter update.

Judy, good morning.

JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there, Daryn.

Well, Senator Kerry was invited to speak this afternoon at the same Missouri College where Vice President Cheney criticized the Democrats' national security record earlier this week. Kerry is expected to outline how he would move forward in Iraq, calling this America's last chance to get it right.

According to excerpts released by his campaign, on the challenges in Iraq, Kerry will say, quote, "In light of all the mistakes that have been made, no one can guarantee success."

Kerry heads to Missouri after campaigning yesterday in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, where he made an unscheduled stop to chat with young people. Meantime, Kerry aides are touting financial success. They say they've reached their $80 million fund- raising goal three months early. That is still less than half as much as the Bush campaign has raised.

Tomorrow Vice President Cheney gives the commencement speech at Florida state University. More than 200 students there e-mailed the school's president, asking him to urge Cheney to avoid what they called another political diatribe. That was a reference to the speech that Cheney gave Monday at Westminster College, which prompted the school's president to invite Senator Kerry to speak there today.

Well, Howard Dean could be in line for his own syndicated TV talk show. According to variety.com, the former Democratic presidential candidate is in Hollywood, talking with producers about the prospect. Larry Little, who produces "Judge Judy," described Dean as Howard Beal, Dr. Phil, and Phil Donahue, all rolled into one. Dean will be our guest, by the way, on Monday on "INSIDE POLITICS."

Is it a good thing to draw attention away from your boss? Our Bill Schneider says sometimes it can be. And he'll tell us all about it this afternoon when he awards his "Political Play of the Week."

Plus, one year after the president's mission accomplished speech, we'll take a look at the political implications of those two words. How much damage have they done? We'll have that, plus much more when I go inside politics at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.

Right now, back to Daryn in Atlanta.

KAGAN: Are you talking about our crazy Bill Schneider who we saw hanging out at NASCAR, all done up...

WOODRUFF: Crazy Bill, the very same, the one and only.

KAGAN: He's a wild one, look forward to that.

Judy, thank you for that.

We are just moments away from President Bush stepping out into the Rose Garden of the White House with the Canadian prime minister. It will be a live news event, and you'll see it here on CNN.

Right now, a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: And we're looking at a live picture from Santa Maria, California. Just moments ago, Michael Jackson entering a not guilty plea to the 10 felony count indictment that he now faces. There is a new charge that Michael Jackson faces, and is a charge of conspiracy to abduct. More details on that as parts of the indictment will be released to the public later.

Michael Jackson, his attorneys, and his family and friends still inside that courthouse in Santa Maria. We'll be keeping an eye on that. We're also keeping an eye on the White House. President Bush expected to walk out into the Rose Garden anytime soon. He has with him visiting today Paul Martin, the prime minister of Canada. So that news event will be brought to you live as well.

Much more ahead. Right now, another break here on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET UPDATE)

KAGAN: Also, in California, in Santa Maria, California, Michael Jackson entering a not guilty plea to a 10 felony-count indictment earlier today. Michael Jackson facing child molestation charges.

Also, there's a new conspiracy count. Much more from Santa Maria.

(INTERRUPTED BY LIVE EVENT)

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Aired April 30, 2004 - 11:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Daryn Kagan.
At half past the hour, let's check the headlines. Michael Jackson's arraignment on child molestation charges should be getting under way now in Santa Maria, California. The second arraignment became necessary when a grand jury indicted the pop star. The indictment is expected to be made public later today.

Tomorrow marks a year since President Bush's aircraft carrier landing, declaring an end to major combat in Iraq. Since then, close to 600 troops have been killed, including roughly 424 from hostile fire.

Controversy for ABC's "Nightline." Sinclair Broadcasting Group is ordering its seven ABC affiliates to preempt tonight's program. Anchor Ted Koppel plans to read a list of the names of the U.S. troops killed in the Iraq war. Sinclair says that "Nightline" appears to be motivated by a political agenda that will undermine the war effort. ABC says that its broadcast is a tribute to America's fallen soldiers.

And workers are cleaning up a diesel fuel spill in a marshy area east of San Francisco today. An underground pipe ruptured. It spread 40,000 gallons of diesel over portions of 600 acres. The marsh is a key nesting ground for birds, and news reports say some ducks have been killed.

All eyes are on California this morning. Pop star Michael Jackson is being arraigned this hour on child molestation charges brought by a grand jury.

Our national correspondent Gary Tuchman is keeping an eye on things at the courthouse in Santa Maria.

Gary, good morning.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, good morning to you.

And court is scheduled to begin at this very minute. We don't know for sure, because no cameras are allowed inside, and the reporters that are in the court right now aren't allowed to talk to us outside of the court. But we've been assured that it's supposed to start 8:30 Pacific Time, 11:30 Eastern Time.

But right now, outside the courthouse, hundreds of Michael Jackson fans from all over the world, and everything so far very orderly. Michael Jackson, during his first court appearance in January, showed up 20 minutes late, made the judge very angry. Did not happen this time. Instead he showed up 50 minutes early, navigating his way through the fans. But it was a lot different than last time, because when he arrived here last time, his SUV stopped in the street, he was mobbed by fans as he went in. Today much different security procedures put into place. About 100 police officers from Santa Barbara County and the city of Santa Maria, and they told Michael Jackson, your car will have to go inside a fenced-in area in the parking lot, so you can't get that close to the fans so we don't have any problems.

Michael Jackson got out of his car, went inside the courthouse, and then there was a little controversy. Michael Jackson got in the way of the camera that has been allowed by the judge to be inside the courthouse. It's one camera that all the news media's using. And then his security people, and he's hired new security people. He's not using people from the Nation of Islam this time, a private security firm, one of the security men, at least one, then grabbed the camera to cover up the shot of Michael Jackson going inside.

Jackson will be apprised of what the grand jury decided. A grand jury met to consider the charges, the seven counts of lewd acts on a child, two counts of giving the child alcohol. And the grand jury had to decide how many of those charges, all those charges, few of those charges, or even more of those charges, they thought there was a probable cause to bring Michael Jackson to a trial for. That announcement will be made by a judge. We may learn a trial date. Then Michael Jackson will come out. Last time in January after he came out, he jumped on top of his car, did a few dance steps, the people here went crazy, started following the car into the street. The police say they will not allow that this time.

As we speak, they have backed up a stretch limo and SUVs, two SUVs into a parking lot, so they can make a quick getaway when Michael Jackson comes out. Police say they don't expect any of the so-called antics they had last time. But with Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, one of the most famous faces in the world, you can never be sure what will happen.

Daryn, back to you.

KAGAN: Which is why this has turned into a four-camera story. Thank you so much. Gary Tuchman, appreciate your coverage from Santa Maria.

Let's bring in "Celebrity Justice" executive producer Harvey Levin to talk about the case. He's now at our studios in Glendale, California.

Harvey, good morning again.

HARVEY LEVIN, EXEC. PROD., "CELEBRITY JUSTICE": Hi, Daryn.

KAGAN: Please try to refrain from putting your hand in front of the camera.

LEVIN: That's right. KAGAN: Stick with us there.

LEVIN: It's all the rage.

KAGAN: What are you looking for today to learn from these proceedings?

LEVIN: Obviously, we want to see what the charges are here. And from what we understand, it will be somewhat of a blueprint from the original charges filed, the molestation and the giving a minor intoxicant charges.

But in addition, you know, we knew that the prosecutors were looking at the possibility of a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor because of these allegations of giving the accuser wine and also showing the accuser, allegedly showing the accuser and his brother, pictures of naked women. So they may be added there. But as far as we know, there is absolutely no other charge involving any other alleged victim.

KAGAN: The case has moved along this far. So far, though, things have been, as they proceed, easier for the prosecution. Things start going uphill after this point.

LEVIN: Right, because now the defense will be privy to the information that came before the grand jury. They will know the specific charges. And they'll also -- and Daryn, we talked about this last hour. They also know that this boy and his mother had a rough time, even before the grand jury. And obviously, that's interesting to them, because this boy seems somewhat fragile and on cross- examination the question is how will he endure?

KAGAN: Harvey, you stay with us right there.

Miguel Marquez was inside the courtroom as the arraignment was taking place. He has the exact list of charges. Let's bring Miguel in and see what he has to say -- Miguel.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Daryn, the judge came out and took no time getting to the point. His first words were, "I have opened the indictment." It is a 10-count indictment with two special allegations. Mr. Jackson, the first count is a felony count, read by the judge, of conspiracy. He says there are 28 individual overt acts containing child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion. That is just the first count. Counts two through five are the similar counts we had previously, lewd acts upon a child under 14 years of age. Count six is an attempt of a lewd act to a child under 14 years of age. And counts seven through 10 are also similar that we've seen before. Two counts -- seven through 10 are three counts of administering an intoxicating agent to a minor to carry out those lewd and lascivious acts. So one count added to this. No other victims.

But two special allegations. The judge was indicating to the defense and the prosecution exactly how he was going to do this, saying that he has in advance prepared a redacted copy of the indictment so that he can release it to the press. He is handing that to the defense and the prosecution now, so they can look over that redaction and approve it, and they will proceed most likely with Mr. Jackson saying guilty or not guilty, and his lawyers say he'll plead not guilty -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Was there any reaction from Michael Jackson as the judge was speaking, Miguel?

LEVIN: There was no reaction whatsoever from either him or from the attorneys present. It was -- you know, this judge, Rodney Melville, is very straightforward. He walked right out and got right down to business and read the charges immediately, and started going into the administration of it and how they were going to go about the rest of their day. And we felt it important to come out here and let our viewers know exactly what those charges were.

KAGAN: We do appreciate that. And we'll be back to you in Santa Maria. Also keeping our eyes as Michael Jackson steps out of the courthouse.

Meanwhile, let's bring back in Harvey Levin,from "Celebrity Justice."

Harvey, sounds like the list is growing and becoming even more serious against Michael Jackson.

LEVIN: Well, Daryn, I have to tell you, one of the things that really caught my interest, and I was trying to write it down as Miguel was talking, was this -- the felony conspiracy charge involving extortion and child abduction. One of the things that we know that they have been looking at for a long time. They have argued that Michael Jackson and his people intimidated the boy and his family, and even tried to get them out of the country to Brazil, and that was something that they were on the hunt with for a long, long time. And I think we've talked about these two people, the Jackson -- that worked for Jackson, Vinnie Amen and Frank Tyson, who are both on the East Coast now, that prosecutors believe basically threatened this family. And it seems like if there's a conspiracy charge, there might be more in the way of other indictments coming down. We know that they looked at other people. And this is a really new and kind of stunning charge, and it appears that that's the direction the prosecution is going in -- threatening, threatening.

KAGAN: Threatening. So 10 felony counts, and then the two special allegations. How does that change things?

LEVIN: Well, you know, the biggest change that I see -- and I kind of want to look at it before I comment -- but the biggest change is that Michael Jackson has been accused basically before of child molestation and supplying a minor intoxicants.

Now, it has gone further. And what they're getting into is this alleged conspiracy where there are overt acts of extortion and child abduction. So you know, if that's exactly the way it reads, the way Miguel was talking about it, you know, it's really taken it to a whole new level. The prosecution in this case, all along we know they want to paint a picture not just of what the boy says versus what Michael Jackson says. They want to show a guilty conscience. They want to show that Michael Jackson and his people were trying to keep this family under wraps, and ultimately get this family out of the country, and this alleged Brazil trip, which was supposed to have happened a year ago in January, but didn't, is something that they have really been focusing on, where Frank Tyson and Vinnie Amen were going to take this family out of the country.

Frank Tyson told me on the phone he was planning on doing it, but only for three weeks, and then the mother changed her mind. But if that's where they're going, trying to show basically that they were getting rid of this family, it raises it to a whole new dimension.

KAGAN: I think you make an interesting point, especially when you're comparing it to the charges that he faced earlier here, and also 10 years ago, that there has been this intense investigation.

Harvey, isn't it possible that this -- these extra charges could have come from the investigation, or it could be like with Al Capone, where you're trying to get the defendant for something when you can't get him on the exact charges that you want to get him on?

LEVIN: You know, Daryn, in this case, it's not Al Capone-like. I know that they served search warrants last December, really trying to piece together what they believe was a conscious effort to hide the family. They believe that that alleged conscious effort will show that Michael Jackson and his people had a guilty conscience. And why did they have a guilty conscience? Well, that's what the jury is going to have to decide. But this isn't where they're just trying to get him on, you know, the technicality of the tax evasion. This is the core of the case, not just relying on an accuser, but showing a pattern of conduct involving Jackson and his people, trying to allegedly threaten the family and ultimately get rid of them.

And I've got to tell you, I have talked to one of the key guys in this case, Frank Tyson, and that's the person that the prosecution believes was the point person for Michael Jackson. He confirmed to me that right around the time that controversial documentary was airing, he did send somebody down to Brazil to scout out a location, and he was planning on bringing the family down there, he says only for three weeks. The prosecution believes it was going to be for a lot longer than that.

KAGAN: All right, Harvey Levin from "Celebrity Justice," thanks for your insight and your reporting this morning. Much appreciated.

We're getting word from Santa Maria, California that the court is in recess for now. No sign yet again of Michael Jackson. We'll keep our cameras trained on that courtroom door, also on the courthouse outside.

Once again, Michael Jackson has been indicted this morning on 10 felony counts, including four counts of committing lewd acts on a child, and one count of an attempted lewd act. He's also charged with three counts of administering an intoxicating agent to further the commission of a felony.

Much more coverage from California. Right now, a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Democrat John Kerry is preparing to discuss what he calls a moment of truth in Iraq on the eve of the one-year anniversary of President Bush's famous aircraft carrier speech.

Judy Woodruff has the story and more in our voter update.

Judy, good morning.

JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there, Daryn.

Well, Senator Kerry was invited to speak this afternoon at the same Missouri College where Vice President Cheney criticized the Democrats' national security record earlier this week. Kerry is expected to outline how he would move forward in Iraq, calling this America's last chance to get it right.

According to excerpts released by his campaign, on the challenges in Iraq, Kerry will say, quote, "In light of all the mistakes that have been made, no one can guarantee success."

Kerry heads to Missouri after campaigning yesterday in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, where he made an unscheduled stop to chat with young people. Meantime, Kerry aides are touting financial success. They say they've reached their $80 million fund- raising goal three months early. That is still less than half as much as the Bush campaign has raised.

Tomorrow Vice President Cheney gives the commencement speech at Florida state University. More than 200 students there e-mailed the school's president, asking him to urge Cheney to avoid what they called another political diatribe. That was a reference to the speech that Cheney gave Monday at Westminster College, which prompted the school's president to invite Senator Kerry to speak there today.

Well, Howard Dean could be in line for his own syndicated TV talk show. According to variety.com, the former Democratic presidential candidate is in Hollywood, talking with producers about the prospect. Larry Little, who produces "Judge Judy," described Dean as Howard Beal, Dr. Phil, and Phil Donahue, all rolled into one. Dean will be our guest, by the way, on Monday on "INSIDE POLITICS."

Is it a good thing to draw attention away from your boss? Our Bill Schneider says sometimes it can be. And he'll tell us all about it this afternoon when he awards his "Political Play of the Week."

Plus, one year after the president's mission accomplished speech, we'll take a look at the political implications of those two words. How much damage have they done? We'll have that, plus much more when I go inside politics at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.

Right now, back to Daryn in Atlanta.

KAGAN: Are you talking about our crazy Bill Schneider who we saw hanging out at NASCAR, all done up...

WOODRUFF: Crazy Bill, the very same, the one and only.

KAGAN: He's a wild one, look forward to that.

Judy, thank you for that.

We are just moments away from President Bush stepping out into the Rose Garden of the White House with the Canadian prime minister. It will be a live news event, and you'll see it here on CNN.

Right now, a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: And we're looking at a live picture from Santa Maria, California. Just moments ago, Michael Jackson entering a not guilty plea to the 10 felony count indictment that he now faces. There is a new charge that Michael Jackson faces, and is a charge of conspiracy to abduct. More details on that as parts of the indictment will be released to the public later.

Michael Jackson, his attorneys, and his family and friends still inside that courthouse in Santa Maria. We'll be keeping an eye on that. We're also keeping an eye on the White House. President Bush expected to walk out into the Rose Garden anytime soon. He has with him visiting today Paul Martin, the prime minister of Canada. So that news event will be brought to you live as well.

Much more ahead. Right now, another break here on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET UPDATE)

KAGAN: Also, in California, in Santa Maria, California, Michael Jackson entering a not guilty plea to a 10 felony-count indictment earlier today. Michael Jackson facing child molestation charges.

Also, there's a new conspiracy count. Much more from Santa Maria.

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