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American Morning
In Two Hours, Martha Stewart Learns Her Sentence; Wildfires in Southern California Forcing People to Evacuate
Aired July 16, 2004 - 08:00 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: In two hours, Martha Stewart learns her sentence. Can her lawyers keep her out of prison?
The jury in the Scott Peterson trial will hear his words to reporter Gloria Gomez. She talks to us this morning.
And caught in the firestorm...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jeff?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're doing all right, honey. You're doing good. You're doing good, baby.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Reporters go to the wildfire, barely making it back on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Bill Hemmer.
COLLINS: Good morning, everybody.
I'm actually Heidi Collins.
Bill is on vacation. Soledad is resting in these last few weeks of her pregnancy.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And I'm not Bill Hemmer.
I'm Anderson Cooper.
COLLINS: Ad you're not pregnant.
COOPER: Not at all.
Some of the news making headlines this morning.
Martha Stewart could know soon whether it will be prison or something else for her. Her sentencing is scheduled for this morning, in about two hours. We're going to look at what will happen, also talk to her former media adviser about the case for leniency.
COLLINS: Also, you may have heard the story about the American Airlines passengers who made a really nice gesture for a group of U.S. soldiers coming back from Iraq. They gave up their first class seats for them. So in a few minutes, we'll talk to a flight attendant who was there and hear about how the whole idea came about.
COOPER: Also, an important decision by the government that could affect millions of people who are overweight. Well, let's talk about that.
And, of course, Jack Cafferty is off today.
COLLINS: Right.
COOPER: But Toure' is sitting in with the e-mail Question of the Day. We're going to hear from him in just a few minutes.
COLLINS: That's right.
But as you know, for about two hours from now, Martha Stewart faces a federal judge to hear her punishment for committing perjury and obstructing justice.
Deborah Feyerick is live at the courthouse here in New York with the very latest now this morning -- Deborah, hello.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Heidi.
Well, the judge has reviewed hundreds and hundreds of letters, some of them from Martha Stewart's high profile friends; but others from supporters and fans who simply decided that they would write the judge and tell the judge how they feel about Martha Stewart and the kind of impact that she has had on their lives.
Now, Martha Stewart is facing 10 to 16 months in federal prison. This is a mandatory sentence under federal guidelines. However, the judge can issue what's called a downward departure and give her somewhat of a lighter sentence.
Now, expect federal prosecutors to argue very much against that. They are going to say that there's simply no legal grounds for her to get any sort of a lighter sentence.
Now, Stewart's legal team hoping the judge will opt not for incarceration, but for community service. And as a matter of fact, they've even picked a perfect group. It is called the Women's Venture Fund. It's a group that helps women start up their own businesses, low income women. Stewart's sentencing consultant says it is an ideal fit.
Meantime, Stewart's broker, Peter Bacanovic, he has remained largely in her shadow. He will be sentenced later on today at 2:30 -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Deborah, tell us a little bit about what Martha's been doing over the past few weeks.
She's been out and about, right? FEYERICK: She has been out and about. She has been going to various functions. She was at the Council of Fashion Designer Awards. She's gone to movie openings, things like that. She's really carrying on as normal. But she's also been getting some of her financial affairs in order. She did sell a large apartment that she has here in lower Manhattan and she also cashed out some of her stock options. That's the first time she's done that since she began her company -- Heidi.
COLLINS: What about this sentence now, too, Deborah? Could she go to prison right away?
FEYERICK: Very unlikely. What will most certainly happen is that the judge will either set a date or she will wait to see whether any sort of appeal rings with a higher court. That's what they're going to be waiting for. Some experts, some legal experts say that she may not serve any time until really at the beginning of next year -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Deborah Feyerick watching this story for us.
Appreciate it, Deborah.
Thanks.
And while awaiting her sentence, as we have said, Martha Stewart has maintained a public profile.
Could that possibly be a factor in the judge's decision?
Attorney Lanny Davis is Martha Stewart's former media adviser.
He's joining us this morning from Washington to talk about it.
So what about that, Mr. Davis?
She has been out in public, in the Hamptons, at a Calvin Klein event and so forth.
Why is she doing that? Why is she being so public?
LANNY DAVIS, STEWART'S FORMER MEDIA ADVISER: Well, first of all, she's being Martha Stewart. She is probably one of the most effective communicators alive today with a public following that is very significant. She's also, in my personal experience with her, one of the most authentic and charming people when she is herself. And she is looking to life after incarceration, which I hope will be brief and I hope that the judge, on the merits, will regard this situation as unique.
COLLINS: But Mr. Davis, do you think that that visibility could actually become a liability in terms of her sentencing?
DAVIS: No. I think this is a very esteemed judge who will view this purely on the merits and will not hold it against Martha for being herself and for not thinking her life is over if she is incarcerated. The judge has criteria to look at and among the criteria is exactly what happened at the trial. I think this is a prosecution that never should have been brought.
Remember, she was convicted of lying about a crime that the government chose not to charge her with, which is an amazing...
COLLINS: But, again, in terms of the sentencing, isn't is true that when a judge sentences in a case like this, remorse is part of what he or she, in this case she, would look at?
DAVIS: Well, I think remorse is one issue. But that's why the exact crime that she was convicted of, we have to ask why was she prosecuted in the first place when the government chose not to charge her with the underlying crime, but only with the denial that she made publicly. That's a part of why the remorse issue may be unique here.
But at the end of the day, this is a very, very good judge. She will not blame Martha Stewart for being Martha Stewart. What has made her successful is her willingness to be herself. And rightly or wrongly, Martha Stewart, in my experience with her, is very charming, is very authentic and she is out there...
COLLINS: Yes.
DAVIS: ... telling everybody that there will be life and a success story after she returns from incarceration.
COLLINS: And she certainly does, as you know, she certainly does have quite a few fans; in fact, thousands of letters, even a petition to the president in support of her and about her sentencing.
What does Martha think of all of this support from her fans?
DAVIS: Well, I haven't talked to her since the lunch that we had with Jeffrey Toobin and two very brief telephone conversations since. When Jeff Toobin wrote that "New Yorker" article, he and I were struck with her amazing enthusiasm for the average woman who isn't famous, who isn't wealthy, who can be successful at what she was teaching about all of the great skills that she brought to the public.
Whatever happens to Martha Stewart, she will be back and she will be successful. She certainly impressed me with her charm, with her communicating skills. And I think all those skills we'll see after she goes through this ordeal.
COLLINS: And we will find out very soon this morning.
Lanny Davis, former media adviser for Martha Stewart, thanks so much.
DAVIS: You're welcome.
COOPER: The destructive wildfires in Southern California are forcing people to evacuate this morning. More than three separate wildfires burned about 25,000 acres just this week. Fast moving fires are blazing through the Angeles National Forest north of L.A. and about 2,000 firefighters are still battling that massive blaze near Lake Hughes. These wind blown flames are charring the countryside. More than 500 residents were evacuated. Some positive news, however. One wildfire close to San Bernardino National Forest is now 95 percent contained.
An army of firefighters battling to control a sweeping wildfire in Nevada, as well. Five people hurt, hundreds evacuated and the wildfire has moved so swiftly, anybody near the flames can find themselves in extreme danger in just a matter of seconds.
A news crew from KRNV found themselves literally inside a firestorm.
Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bill, go quick. I want you to go that way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm good.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If I hit a tree, am I in trouble?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, just go. That a girl. You've got it. Go.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stop.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jeff?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're doing all right.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jeff?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're doing all right. You're doing good. You're doing good, babe.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jeff?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good job. Good job. Keep going. You're doing fine. Good job. Way to go!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Well, CNN's Ted Rowlands is live at the fire command center near Carson City, where the flames quickly wiped out over 20 buildings.
Ted, what's the latest?
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, the latest is that firefighters did not get the help that they were hoping for overnight in terms of a break in the weather. The fire continues to burn on the western side of Carson City, up on the hillside here. And as you look at these flames this morning, there are about 1,000 homes that are considered threatened. There are specifically two subdivisions in the area that you're looking at right now that are very concerning for firefighters here this morning. The winds continue to rip through, making this a very difficult fire to control.
That started early Wednesday morning. In all, 7,200 acres have burned. Fourteen homes have been lost. The southern end of this fire has started to burn itself out. That is good news. The northern end will be the point of attack this morning, as soon as day breaks here in the West, which is coming in the next hour or so. They will be able to get back up into the air and drop retardant and water on the leading edge of these flames.
But the bad news is that firefighters were hoping that overnight these -- the flames would die down a bit. They did not. More acreage has gone and more homes are now threatened.
This morning, a lot of people out of their homes, very, very nervous. We'll see what kind of damage took place overnight at first light -- Anderson.
COOPER: And, Ted, I understand five people have been injured, four of them firefighters, though thankfully none seriously.
Ted Rowlands, thanks very much for that.
Can those firefighters get a break today? That's the question. Maybe some cooler temperatures? Let's hope so.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: On Capitol Hill, the House has deleted the words of a Democratic law maker from Florida who said the GOP "stole the 2000 election."
Congresswoman Karin Brown made the remark.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. CORRINE BROWN (D), FLORIDA: Over 1,700 people -- that's technologists, lawyers, political scientists -- says that the technology that we're using in the upcoming election is flawed. I come from Florida, where you and others participated in what I call the United States coup d'etat. We need to make sure that it doesn't happen again. Over and over again, after the election, when you stole the election, you came back here and said get over it. No, we're not going to get over it. And we want verification from the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: The House voted 219-187 to remove Brown's words from the permanent record.
It is just about 8:15 right now.
Time for a look at some of the other news with Daryn Kagan -- hi, Daryn. DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Heidi, let's start in Virginia, where Marine Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun is continuing his repatriation process. Hassoun arrived at a base there yesterday. A military source saying that he is tired, but he appears to be in good physical condition. Investigators are now trying to verify how Hassoun made it from his post in Iraq, eventually to Lebanon.
A new airline screening program is reportedly in the works. Under the new proposal, airline passengers' names could be checked against an expanded terrorist watch list. Published reports say that the plan would replace a controversial system which would have used personal information to rank travelers according to terrorist risk levels.
New York Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton says that she is honored and delighted to speak at this party -- at her party's national convention. The former first lady will introduce her husband, the former president, on the first night of the convention.
Senator Kerry personally called Mrs. Clinton from the campaign trail, asking her to speak.
Officials in Florida are on the lookout for more than $800,000 worth of diamonds. Police say that 10 masked gunmen beat and robbed two Israeli salesmen yesterday at a gas station near Miami. Both men say that they were shaken, but they are OK. The thieves also took their wallets, watches and personal jewelry.
And finally, embattled track and field star Marion Jones is going to the Athens Olympics. She won the long jump, soaring 23 feet, four inches last night at the U.S. track and field trials in Sacramento. This jump, the second longest in the world this year, and her best effort since 1988. Jones, of course, is embroiled in an ongoing drugs investigation. She'll try to qualify for the 200 meters this weekend.
And, Anderson, there's actually, ironically, a chance she could still qualify for the 100 because one of the runners who qualified has failed a drug test. So there might be a slot for Marion Jones in that event just yet.
COOPER: All right, we'll be watching.
Daryn, thanks very much.
The judge in the Scott Peterson trial will allow the jury to see TV interviews Peterson did before his arrest. How much of the interviews will be shown hasn't been decided, whether it's just going to be the aired portions or the unedited portions. The prosecution claims the interviews point to Peterson's guilt.
Gloria Gomez, reporter for Sacramento TV Station KOVR, is covering the trial.
Her own interview with Scott Peterson is among the tapes the jury will be shown.
She joins us now -- Gloria, thanks for being with us this morning.
GLORIA GOMEZ, KOVR-TV REPORTER: Good morning, Anderson.
COOPER: What is the importance of these interviews? What does the prosecution hope to show with them?
GOMEZ: Well, I think the prosecution wants to show that Scott Peterson lied over and over and over again, not only that, contradicted himself throughout the interviews, maybe even showed a consciousness of guilt. So they want to show that from the very beginning of this interview, when I interviewed him, and others did, as well, he continually lied about Amber Frey, about telling his wife Laci about the affair. He told me in my interview that he had told police about his affair. Then police turned around and said that's not true, we learned about the affair from Amber Frey.
So all of these contradictions they want to present to the jury to show that he's a lying cheat.
COOPER: Gloria, let's show some of your interview with Scott Peterson from a while back.
Let's play that now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, COURTESY KOVR-TV)
GOMEZ: And then, even after Laci went missing, you continued to romance this girl?
SCOTT PETERSON: No.
GOMEZ: She claims that you called her on the 24th and told her...
PETERSON: I informed Amber about Laci's disappearance and the fact that I was married.
GOMEZ: On the 24th?
PETERSON: No.
GOMEZ: December 24th?
PETERSON: No, not on the 24th. I believe it was probably the -- it was a few days after.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: He does not come off very well.
GOMEZ: No. As a matter of fact, I continue to press him about that and I said well didn't you tell Amber that you were with your family in Maine and eventually you were going to Brussels? This is information he didn't know I had. And, of course, he abruptly stopped the interview and he said listen, I'm not going to go with this line of questioning anymore. He goes I want to get back to the focus of this, and that's Laci.
So you could tell he was very uncomfortable during that interview. And, of course, you know, I went on to talk about other issues, about him washing his clothes after he got home from fishing. He says well, as far as I'm concerned, when you go out to the Bay, you get wet, you come home and you wash your clothes. So that's the kind of answers he was giving me.
COOPER: Gloria, let's talk a little bit about what has been going on in the trial.
Detective Dodge Hendee was cross-examined by Mark Geragos about what he found when searching Scott Peterson's warehouse.
What's the significance of what came out of that?
GOMEZ: It's very significant because Detective Dodge Hendee says that when he searched Peterson's warehouse, he found what looked like to be cement residue and it looked like five rings, indicating that Scott Peterson made five homemade anchors, but only one was found. So what happened to the rest of them?
Well, in cross-examination, Geragos trying to, you know, punch holes in that theory, showing the picture of the so-called rings and saying they look more light right angles than rings. And then mocking the detective, saying, well, is this a ring? And is this a ring? Is this a circle?
And some people in the courtroom laughing at that sarcasm.
Of course, I looked at the jury. Most of them were not laughing.
COOPER: So you don't think that played -- that kind of sarcasm played well with the jury?
GOMEZ: I don't think it did. I was watching the jury during that. Two jurors were laughing. The rest were almost nodding their head in disgust. And, of course, this witness was very credible from the very beginning, very articulate, very thorough investigations. So for Geragos to try to mock him on that didn't really work.
COOPER: Interesting.
All right, Gloria Gomez, thanks very much.
GOMEZ: OK.
COOPER: Heidi?
COLLINS: Still to come, it is time to grab a pen or pencil. Toure' is stopping by with another vocabulary lesson. One of the words today, "furkid."
COOPER: Furkid?
COLLINS: You've got some time to think about it. So do we. We're happy about that, because I have no idea either.
COOPER: Also ahead, U.S. soldiers experience a random act of kindness 12 times over. We'll explain that ahead.
COLLINS: Plus, all the news and rumors fit to print -- we'll look at why one of the nation's most respected newspapers cannot resist some juicy campaign gossip. Give Me A Minute ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: In 10 years as a flight attendant for American Airlines, Lorrie Gammon has had her share of memories, but nothing quite like the gesture she witnessed on a flight from Atlanta to Chicago last month. A dozen passengers in first class gave their seats to a group of soldiers returning from Iraq for two weeks of R&R.
Lorrie Gammon joins us now from Dallas to talk about the experience.
Lorrie, good morning.
LORRIE GAMMON, AA FLIGHT ATTENDANT: Good morning.
COOPER: How did this sort of random act of kindness times 12 happen?
GAMMON: It all started in the boarding process. First class boards first. And typically they take their seats. This time they didn't. A couple of them were standing. And they were watching as -- when the first soldier came on board and started walking back toward the main cabin. He stopped him.
He goes, "Excuse me. What seat are you going to?"
And the soldier turned around and said, "Well, I'm going to seat 22E," which is a middle seat.
The first class passenger said, "No, you're not. You're taking my seat in 4A."
And the first class passenger took his boarding pass and started walking back. The next thing I knew, one by one the first class cabin stood up and gave their seats to our soldiers and servicewomen.
COOPER: So everyone in the entire cabin did it?
GAMMON: Everyone except for two. There were only 12 soldiers and there were 14 seats. The two remaining wanted to give their seats. Unfortunately, there were just no more soldiers.
COOPER: How did you react to this? I mean I know you see a lot on your plane. I don't think you've probably seen anything like this.
GAMMON: Oh, we were very emotional. We started crying. It was very moving. We were very touched by it. COOPER: How did the soldiers react? I mean we're seeing a photo of them. They obviously seem to be enjoying the experience.
GAMMON: They had a great time. They were a bit shy at first, didn't really know how to take it. It was just so unexpected. But toward the end of the flight, they were having a ball and they basically just wanted to say thank you to the first class passengers who gave up their seats.
COOPER: Yes, how did they decide to say thank you?
GAMMON: Well, on return they actually signed Iraqi money they had brought back from Iraq and gave it to all the first class passengers and the crew who gave up their seats.
COOPER: Of, I guess you've been with American Airlines -- we were talking before -- about 10 years. Is this perhaps your most memorable day?
GAMMON: Absolutely. It was incredible.
COOPER: It is a random act of kindness times 12.
It's a nice one, indeed.
Lorrie Gammon, thanks for being with us.
GAMMON: Thank you.
COOPER: Let's check in with Toure'.
COLLINS: You've got to love that.
TOURE': Yes.
COLLINS: A lot more room. You can recline, I think, almost all the way back. I've never been up there but...
COOPER: It's a real seat, too. The guy who gave up first class for a middle seat, middle seats are...
COLLINS: Yes.
TOURE': That's a big sacrifice.
COOPER: Yes.
TOURE': That's a big sacrifice.
COLLINS: Yes.
TOURE': So...
COLLINS: All right, the Toure' experience yet again.
TOURE': Yes. Yes, well, we've got more new words for the people. I love it when you have a sense of something, but there's no word for it and then you find that new word that fills a void in the language. So...
COOPER: There are so many voids in our language.
TOURE': Well, there's so many.
COOPER: Yes.
TOURE': There's so many.
COLLINS: Like bling bling.
TOURE': Like bling bling. Well, there was -- I mean bling bling, which we started talking about yesterday -- we got some e- mails. What does bling bling really mean? I think many people already know what it means. But it means -- it first means expensive or gaudy jewelry. It also means a flashy or kind of tasteless display of wealth. You can also say "blinging" or just bling. And bling bling is actually in many dictionaries. It was started by Southern rappers. And it begins life as an automonopeah (ph), you know, the actual way it looks when diamonds are flashing, kind of bling bling.
But it has become just the general sense of being flashy and fabulous. For example, did you see Andy Serwer last night in his white mink? So bling bling.
COOPER: Oh, I get it now.
COOPER: Yes. It has expanded.
TOURE': That's right.
COOPER: Yes. All right.
TOURE': There's.
COOPER: Do you have some other words?
TOURE': We have some other ones.
"Blirting" is flirting on a Blackberry. So, oh, my God.
COOPER: Blirting. I've never heard that.
TOURE': Heidi Collins is blirting with me again.
COLLINS: Uh-huh. That happens all the time.
TOURE': All the time.
COLLINS: I can hardly contain myself.
COOPER: She's a chronic blurter, yes.
TOURE': All the time. "Multislacking" is having multiple non-work related Web sites open on your computer at once.
COOPER: Ooh, that's good.
TOURE': Yes?
COLLINS: Oh, I've had that.
TOURE': And then your boss comes, you click a button and your real work site comes up. So, you know, you don't get caught multislacking.
(CROSSTALK)
TOURE': A furkid is a pet treated like a child. She had to leave the party and go home and deal with her furkid.
COOPER: Where are you getting these words?
TOURE': Furkid...
COOPER: Are you just making these up?
TOURE': No, no, no. Furkid is from wordspy.com, a great site. These are real words.
COOPER: Furkid.
TOURE': "Jetiquette"...
COOPER: I like it.
Oh, jetiquette, I've used that. Yes.
TOURE': Jetiquette, polite behavior while on board an airplane. For example, British Airways says proper jetiquette includes staying within your personal space, not telling your life story to your neighbor and giving up your seat for those who have fought for your country.
COOPER: But it's most often used when talking about private planes, apparently.
TOURE': Right. But it also fits...
COOPER: But what jetiquette is there on a private jet?
TOURE': But it also fits for -- I mean in commercial air space...
COOPER: Sure.
TOURE': ... we've got to be able to be able to like deal with each other.
COLLINS: A question, though. What's the jetiquette with your furkid?
TOURE': In the back. In steerage. Get him out of here.
COOPER: No, if it's a furkid, you don't even fly with them, because you don't want to, you know...
TOURE': That's right.
COOPER: ... put your kid in...
TOURE': Leave your furkid...
COLLINS: Well, you want to fly first class with the furkid.
COOPER: Well, but it depends on the size of the dog. Anyway, we could go into it -- we could talk about this for hours.
TOURE': Is it the size of the dog or the dog of the size of the dog and the fight or -- OK.
COLLINS: Who knows? This is -- it is Friday and we have direct evidence of that now.
Still to come...
TOURE': Hey, lady.
COLLINS: ... a disappearing act of sorts. Folks in Washington want to know why they're seeing a lot less of Donald Rumsfeld lately.
Also ahead, was it a snub or just a flub? Senator Hillary Clinton gets a role at the dramatic -- dramatic? Excuse me. Democratic convention after all. But the flap, you know, it just might not be over.
Stay with us here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Get the latest news every morning in your e-mail. Sign up for AMERICAN MORNING quick news at cnn.com/am.
And still to come this morning, international intrigue involving Bobby Fischer. The former chess champ may soon find himself in the hands of U.S. authorities. We'll explain ahead, on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired July 16, 2004 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: In two hours, Martha Stewart learns her sentence. Can her lawyers keep her out of prison?
The jury in the Scott Peterson trial will hear his words to reporter Gloria Gomez. She talks to us this morning.
And caught in the firestorm...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jeff?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're doing all right, honey. You're doing good. You're doing good, baby.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Reporters go to the wildfire, barely making it back on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Bill Hemmer.
COLLINS: Good morning, everybody.
I'm actually Heidi Collins.
Bill is on vacation. Soledad is resting in these last few weeks of her pregnancy.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And I'm not Bill Hemmer.
I'm Anderson Cooper.
COLLINS: Ad you're not pregnant.
COOPER: Not at all.
Some of the news making headlines this morning.
Martha Stewart could know soon whether it will be prison or something else for her. Her sentencing is scheduled for this morning, in about two hours. We're going to look at what will happen, also talk to her former media adviser about the case for leniency.
COLLINS: Also, you may have heard the story about the American Airlines passengers who made a really nice gesture for a group of U.S. soldiers coming back from Iraq. They gave up their first class seats for them. So in a few minutes, we'll talk to a flight attendant who was there and hear about how the whole idea came about.
COOPER: Also, an important decision by the government that could affect millions of people who are overweight. Well, let's talk about that.
And, of course, Jack Cafferty is off today.
COLLINS: Right.
COOPER: But Toure' is sitting in with the e-mail Question of the Day. We're going to hear from him in just a few minutes.
COLLINS: That's right.
But as you know, for about two hours from now, Martha Stewart faces a federal judge to hear her punishment for committing perjury and obstructing justice.
Deborah Feyerick is live at the courthouse here in New York with the very latest now this morning -- Deborah, hello.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Heidi.
Well, the judge has reviewed hundreds and hundreds of letters, some of them from Martha Stewart's high profile friends; but others from supporters and fans who simply decided that they would write the judge and tell the judge how they feel about Martha Stewart and the kind of impact that she has had on their lives.
Now, Martha Stewart is facing 10 to 16 months in federal prison. This is a mandatory sentence under federal guidelines. However, the judge can issue what's called a downward departure and give her somewhat of a lighter sentence.
Now, expect federal prosecutors to argue very much against that. They are going to say that there's simply no legal grounds for her to get any sort of a lighter sentence.
Now, Stewart's legal team hoping the judge will opt not for incarceration, but for community service. And as a matter of fact, they've even picked a perfect group. It is called the Women's Venture Fund. It's a group that helps women start up their own businesses, low income women. Stewart's sentencing consultant says it is an ideal fit.
Meantime, Stewart's broker, Peter Bacanovic, he has remained largely in her shadow. He will be sentenced later on today at 2:30 -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Deborah, tell us a little bit about what Martha's been doing over the past few weeks.
She's been out and about, right? FEYERICK: She has been out and about. She has been going to various functions. She was at the Council of Fashion Designer Awards. She's gone to movie openings, things like that. She's really carrying on as normal. But she's also been getting some of her financial affairs in order. She did sell a large apartment that she has here in lower Manhattan and she also cashed out some of her stock options. That's the first time she's done that since she began her company -- Heidi.
COLLINS: What about this sentence now, too, Deborah? Could she go to prison right away?
FEYERICK: Very unlikely. What will most certainly happen is that the judge will either set a date or she will wait to see whether any sort of appeal rings with a higher court. That's what they're going to be waiting for. Some experts, some legal experts say that she may not serve any time until really at the beginning of next year -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Deborah Feyerick watching this story for us.
Appreciate it, Deborah.
Thanks.
And while awaiting her sentence, as we have said, Martha Stewart has maintained a public profile.
Could that possibly be a factor in the judge's decision?
Attorney Lanny Davis is Martha Stewart's former media adviser.
He's joining us this morning from Washington to talk about it.
So what about that, Mr. Davis?
She has been out in public, in the Hamptons, at a Calvin Klein event and so forth.
Why is she doing that? Why is she being so public?
LANNY DAVIS, STEWART'S FORMER MEDIA ADVISER: Well, first of all, she's being Martha Stewart. She is probably one of the most effective communicators alive today with a public following that is very significant. She's also, in my personal experience with her, one of the most authentic and charming people when she is herself. And she is looking to life after incarceration, which I hope will be brief and I hope that the judge, on the merits, will regard this situation as unique.
COLLINS: But Mr. Davis, do you think that that visibility could actually become a liability in terms of her sentencing?
DAVIS: No. I think this is a very esteemed judge who will view this purely on the merits and will not hold it against Martha for being herself and for not thinking her life is over if she is incarcerated. The judge has criteria to look at and among the criteria is exactly what happened at the trial. I think this is a prosecution that never should have been brought.
Remember, she was convicted of lying about a crime that the government chose not to charge her with, which is an amazing...
COLLINS: But, again, in terms of the sentencing, isn't is true that when a judge sentences in a case like this, remorse is part of what he or she, in this case she, would look at?
DAVIS: Well, I think remorse is one issue. But that's why the exact crime that she was convicted of, we have to ask why was she prosecuted in the first place when the government chose not to charge her with the underlying crime, but only with the denial that she made publicly. That's a part of why the remorse issue may be unique here.
But at the end of the day, this is a very, very good judge. She will not blame Martha Stewart for being Martha Stewart. What has made her successful is her willingness to be herself. And rightly or wrongly, Martha Stewart, in my experience with her, is very charming, is very authentic and she is out there...
COLLINS: Yes.
DAVIS: ... telling everybody that there will be life and a success story after she returns from incarceration.
COLLINS: And she certainly does, as you know, she certainly does have quite a few fans; in fact, thousands of letters, even a petition to the president in support of her and about her sentencing.
What does Martha think of all of this support from her fans?
DAVIS: Well, I haven't talked to her since the lunch that we had with Jeffrey Toobin and two very brief telephone conversations since. When Jeff Toobin wrote that "New Yorker" article, he and I were struck with her amazing enthusiasm for the average woman who isn't famous, who isn't wealthy, who can be successful at what she was teaching about all of the great skills that she brought to the public.
Whatever happens to Martha Stewart, she will be back and she will be successful. She certainly impressed me with her charm, with her communicating skills. And I think all those skills we'll see after she goes through this ordeal.
COLLINS: And we will find out very soon this morning.
Lanny Davis, former media adviser for Martha Stewart, thanks so much.
DAVIS: You're welcome.
COOPER: The destructive wildfires in Southern California are forcing people to evacuate this morning. More than three separate wildfires burned about 25,000 acres just this week. Fast moving fires are blazing through the Angeles National Forest north of L.A. and about 2,000 firefighters are still battling that massive blaze near Lake Hughes. These wind blown flames are charring the countryside. More than 500 residents were evacuated. Some positive news, however. One wildfire close to San Bernardino National Forest is now 95 percent contained.
An army of firefighters battling to control a sweeping wildfire in Nevada, as well. Five people hurt, hundreds evacuated and the wildfire has moved so swiftly, anybody near the flames can find themselves in extreme danger in just a matter of seconds.
A news crew from KRNV found themselves literally inside a firestorm.
Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bill, go quick. I want you to go that way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm good.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If I hit a tree, am I in trouble?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, just go. That a girl. You've got it. Go.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stop.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jeff?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're doing all right.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jeff?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're doing all right. You're doing good. You're doing good, babe.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jeff?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good job. Good job. Keep going. You're doing fine. Good job. Way to go!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Well, CNN's Ted Rowlands is live at the fire command center near Carson City, where the flames quickly wiped out over 20 buildings.
Ted, what's the latest?
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, the latest is that firefighters did not get the help that they were hoping for overnight in terms of a break in the weather. The fire continues to burn on the western side of Carson City, up on the hillside here. And as you look at these flames this morning, there are about 1,000 homes that are considered threatened. There are specifically two subdivisions in the area that you're looking at right now that are very concerning for firefighters here this morning. The winds continue to rip through, making this a very difficult fire to control.
That started early Wednesday morning. In all, 7,200 acres have burned. Fourteen homes have been lost. The southern end of this fire has started to burn itself out. That is good news. The northern end will be the point of attack this morning, as soon as day breaks here in the West, which is coming in the next hour or so. They will be able to get back up into the air and drop retardant and water on the leading edge of these flames.
But the bad news is that firefighters were hoping that overnight these -- the flames would die down a bit. They did not. More acreage has gone and more homes are now threatened.
This morning, a lot of people out of their homes, very, very nervous. We'll see what kind of damage took place overnight at first light -- Anderson.
COOPER: And, Ted, I understand five people have been injured, four of them firefighters, though thankfully none seriously.
Ted Rowlands, thanks very much for that.
Can those firefighters get a break today? That's the question. Maybe some cooler temperatures? Let's hope so.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: On Capitol Hill, the House has deleted the words of a Democratic law maker from Florida who said the GOP "stole the 2000 election."
Congresswoman Karin Brown made the remark.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. CORRINE BROWN (D), FLORIDA: Over 1,700 people -- that's technologists, lawyers, political scientists -- says that the technology that we're using in the upcoming election is flawed. I come from Florida, where you and others participated in what I call the United States coup d'etat. We need to make sure that it doesn't happen again. Over and over again, after the election, when you stole the election, you came back here and said get over it. No, we're not going to get over it. And we want verification from the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: The House voted 219-187 to remove Brown's words from the permanent record.
It is just about 8:15 right now.
Time for a look at some of the other news with Daryn Kagan -- hi, Daryn. DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Heidi, let's start in Virginia, where Marine Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun is continuing his repatriation process. Hassoun arrived at a base there yesterday. A military source saying that he is tired, but he appears to be in good physical condition. Investigators are now trying to verify how Hassoun made it from his post in Iraq, eventually to Lebanon.
A new airline screening program is reportedly in the works. Under the new proposal, airline passengers' names could be checked against an expanded terrorist watch list. Published reports say that the plan would replace a controversial system which would have used personal information to rank travelers according to terrorist risk levels.
New York Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton says that she is honored and delighted to speak at this party -- at her party's national convention. The former first lady will introduce her husband, the former president, on the first night of the convention.
Senator Kerry personally called Mrs. Clinton from the campaign trail, asking her to speak.
Officials in Florida are on the lookout for more than $800,000 worth of diamonds. Police say that 10 masked gunmen beat and robbed two Israeli salesmen yesterday at a gas station near Miami. Both men say that they were shaken, but they are OK. The thieves also took their wallets, watches and personal jewelry.
And finally, embattled track and field star Marion Jones is going to the Athens Olympics. She won the long jump, soaring 23 feet, four inches last night at the U.S. track and field trials in Sacramento. This jump, the second longest in the world this year, and her best effort since 1988. Jones, of course, is embroiled in an ongoing drugs investigation. She'll try to qualify for the 200 meters this weekend.
And, Anderson, there's actually, ironically, a chance she could still qualify for the 100 because one of the runners who qualified has failed a drug test. So there might be a slot for Marion Jones in that event just yet.
COOPER: All right, we'll be watching.
Daryn, thanks very much.
The judge in the Scott Peterson trial will allow the jury to see TV interviews Peterson did before his arrest. How much of the interviews will be shown hasn't been decided, whether it's just going to be the aired portions or the unedited portions. The prosecution claims the interviews point to Peterson's guilt.
Gloria Gomez, reporter for Sacramento TV Station KOVR, is covering the trial.
Her own interview with Scott Peterson is among the tapes the jury will be shown.
She joins us now -- Gloria, thanks for being with us this morning.
GLORIA GOMEZ, KOVR-TV REPORTER: Good morning, Anderson.
COOPER: What is the importance of these interviews? What does the prosecution hope to show with them?
GOMEZ: Well, I think the prosecution wants to show that Scott Peterson lied over and over and over again, not only that, contradicted himself throughout the interviews, maybe even showed a consciousness of guilt. So they want to show that from the very beginning of this interview, when I interviewed him, and others did, as well, he continually lied about Amber Frey, about telling his wife Laci about the affair. He told me in my interview that he had told police about his affair. Then police turned around and said that's not true, we learned about the affair from Amber Frey.
So all of these contradictions they want to present to the jury to show that he's a lying cheat.
COOPER: Gloria, let's show some of your interview with Scott Peterson from a while back.
Let's play that now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, COURTESY KOVR-TV)
GOMEZ: And then, even after Laci went missing, you continued to romance this girl?
SCOTT PETERSON: No.
GOMEZ: She claims that you called her on the 24th and told her...
PETERSON: I informed Amber about Laci's disappearance and the fact that I was married.
GOMEZ: On the 24th?
PETERSON: No.
GOMEZ: December 24th?
PETERSON: No, not on the 24th. I believe it was probably the -- it was a few days after.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: He does not come off very well.
GOMEZ: No. As a matter of fact, I continue to press him about that and I said well didn't you tell Amber that you were with your family in Maine and eventually you were going to Brussels? This is information he didn't know I had. And, of course, he abruptly stopped the interview and he said listen, I'm not going to go with this line of questioning anymore. He goes I want to get back to the focus of this, and that's Laci.
So you could tell he was very uncomfortable during that interview. And, of course, you know, I went on to talk about other issues, about him washing his clothes after he got home from fishing. He says well, as far as I'm concerned, when you go out to the Bay, you get wet, you come home and you wash your clothes. So that's the kind of answers he was giving me.
COOPER: Gloria, let's talk a little bit about what has been going on in the trial.
Detective Dodge Hendee was cross-examined by Mark Geragos about what he found when searching Scott Peterson's warehouse.
What's the significance of what came out of that?
GOMEZ: It's very significant because Detective Dodge Hendee says that when he searched Peterson's warehouse, he found what looked like to be cement residue and it looked like five rings, indicating that Scott Peterson made five homemade anchors, but only one was found. So what happened to the rest of them?
Well, in cross-examination, Geragos trying to, you know, punch holes in that theory, showing the picture of the so-called rings and saying they look more light right angles than rings. And then mocking the detective, saying, well, is this a ring? And is this a ring? Is this a circle?
And some people in the courtroom laughing at that sarcasm.
Of course, I looked at the jury. Most of them were not laughing.
COOPER: So you don't think that played -- that kind of sarcasm played well with the jury?
GOMEZ: I don't think it did. I was watching the jury during that. Two jurors were laughing. The rest were almost nodding their head in disgust. And, of course, this witness was very credible from the very beginning, very articulate, very thorough investigations. So for Geragos to try to mock him on that didn't really work.
COOPER: Interesting.
All right, Gloria Gomez, thanks very much.
GOMEZ: OK.
COOPER: Heidi?
COLLINS: Still to come, it is time to grab a pen or pencil. Toure' is stopping by with another vocabulary lesson. One of the words today, "furkid."
COOPER: Furkid?
COLLINS: You've got some time to think about it. So do we. We're happy about that, because I have no idea either.
COOPER: Also ahead, U.S. soldiers experience a random act of kindness 12 times over. We'll explain that ahead.
COLLINS: Plus, all the news and rumors fit to print -- we'll look at why one of the nation's most respected newspapers cannot resist some juicy campaign gossip. Give Me A Minute ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: In 10 years as a flight attendant for American Airlines, Lorrie Gammon has had her share of memories, but nothing quite like the gesture she witnessed on a flight from Atlanta to Chicago last month. A dozen passengers in first class gave their seats to a group of soldiers returning from Iraq for two weeks of R&R.
Lorrie Gammon joins us now from Dallas to talk about the experience.
Lorrie, good morning.
LORRIE GAMMON, AA FLIGHT ATTENDANT: Good morning.
COOPER: How did this sort of random act of kindness times 12 happen?
GAMMON: It all started in the boarding process. First class boards first. And typically they take their seats. This time they didn't. A couple of them were standing. And they were watching as -- when the first soldier came on board and started walking back toward the main cabin. He stopped him.
He goes, "Excuse me. What seat are you going to?"
And the soldier turned around and said, "Well, I'm going to seat 22E," which is a middle seat.
The first class passenger said, "No, you're not. You're taking my seat in 4A."
And the first class passenger took his boarding pass and started walking back. The next thing I knew, one by one the first class cabin stood up and gave their seats to our soldiers and servicewomen.
COOPER: So everyone in the entire cabin did it?
GAMMON: Everyone except for two. There were only 12 soldiers and there were 14 seats. The two remaining wanted to give their seats. Unfortunately, there were just no more soldiers.
COOPER: How did you react to this? I mean I know you see a lot on your plane. I don't think you've probably seen anything like this.
GAMMON: Oh, we were very emotional. We started crying. It was very moving. We were very touched by it. COOPER: How did the soldiers react? I mean we're seeing a photo of them. They obviously seem to be enjoying the experience.
GAMMON: They had a great time. They were a bit shy at first, didn't really know how to take it. It was just so unexpected. But toward the end of the flight, they were having a ball and they basically just wanted to say thank you to the first class passengers who gave up their seats.
COOPER: Yes, how did they decide to say thank you?
GAMMON: Well, on return they actually signed Iraqi money they had brought back from Iraq and gave it to all the first class passengers and the crew who gave up their seats.
COOPER: Of, I guess you've been with American Airlines -- we were talking before -- about 10 years. Is this perhaps your most memorable day?
GAMMON: Absolutely. It was incredible.
COOPER: It is a random act of kindness times 12.
It's a nice one, indeed.
Lorrie Gammon, thanks for being with us.
GAMMON: Thank you.
COOPER: Let's check in with Toure'.
COLLINS: You've got to love that.
TOURE': Yes.
COLLINS: A lot more room. You can recline, I think, almost all the way back. I've never been up there but...
COOPER: It's a real seat, too. The guy who gave up first class for a middle seat, middle seats are...
COLLINS: Yes.
TOURE': That's a big sacrifice.
COOPER: Yes.
TOURE': That's a big sacrifice.
COLLINS: Yes.
TOURE': So...
COLLINS: All right, the Toure' experience yet again.
TOURE': Yes. Yes, well, we've got more new words for the people. I love it when you have a sense of something, but there's no word for it and then you find that new word that fills a void in the language. So...
COOPER: There are so many voids in our language.
TOURE': Well, there's so many.
COOPER: Yes.
TOURE': There's so many.
COLLINS: Like bling bling.
TOURE': Like bling bling. Well, there was -- I mean bling bling, which we started talking about yesterday -- we got some e- mails. What does bling bling really mean? I think many people already know what it means. But it means -- it first means expensive or gaudy jewelry. It also means a flashy or kind of tasteless display of wealth. You can also say "blinging" or just bling. And bling bling is actually in many dictionaries. It was started by Southern rappers. And it begins life as an automonopeah (ph), you know, the actual way it looks when diamonds are flashing, kind of bling bling.
But it has become just the general sense of being flashy and fabulous. For example, did you see Andy Serwer last night in his white mink? So bling bling.
COOPER: Oh, I get it now.
COOPER: Yes. It has expanded.
TOURE': That's right.
COOPER: Yes. All right.
TOURE': There's.
COOPER: Do you have some other words?
TOURE': We have some other ones.
"Blirting" is flirting on a Blackberry. So, oh, my God.
COOPER: Blirting. I've never heard that.
TOURE': Heidi Collins is blirting with me again.
COLLINS: Uh-huh. That happens all the time.
TOURE': All the time.
COLLINS: I can hardly contain myself.
COOPER: She's a chronic blurter, yes.
TOURE': All the time. "Multislacking" is having multiple non-work related Web sites open on your computer at once.
COOPER: Ooh, that's good.
TOURE': Yes?
COLLINS: Oh, I've had that.
TOURE': And then your boss comes, you click a button and your real work site comes up. So, you know, you don't get caught multislacking.
(CROSSTALK)
TOURE': A furkid is a pet treated like a child. She had to leave the party and go home and deal with her furkid.
COOPER: Where are you getting these words?
TOURE': Furkid...
COOPER: Are you just making these up?
TOURE': No, no, no. Furkid is from wordspy.com, a great site. These are real words.
COOPER: Furkid.
TOURE': "Jetiquette"...
COOPER: I like it.
Oh, jetiquette, I've used that. Yes.
TOURE': Jetiquette, polite behavior while on board an airplane. For example, British Airways says proper jetiquette includes staying within your personal space, not telling your life story to your neighbor and giving up your seat for those who have fought for your country.
COOPER: But it's most often used when talking about private planes, apparently.
TOURE': Right. But it also fits...
COOPER: But what jetiquette is there on a private jet?
TOURE': But it also fits for -- I mean in commercial air space...
COOPER: Sure.
TOURE': ... we've got to be able to be able to like deal with each other.
COLLINS: A question, though. What's the jetiquette with your furkid?
TOURE': In the back. In steerage. Get him out of here.
COOPER: No, if it's a furkid, you don't even fly with them, because you don't want to, you know...
TOURE': That's right.
COOPER: ... put your kid in...
TOURE': Leave your furkid...
COLLINS: Well, you want to fly first class with the furkid.
COOPER: Well, but it depends on the size of the dog. Anyway, we could go into it -- we could talk about this for hours.
TOURE': Is it the size of the dog or the dog of the size of the dog and the fight or -- OK.
COLLINS: Who knows? This is -- it is Friday and we have direct evidence of that now.
Still to come...
TOURE': Hey, lady.
COLLINS: ... a disappearing act of sorts. Folks in Washington want to know why they're seeing a lot less of Donald Rumsfeld lately.
Also ahead, was it a snub or just a flub? Senator Hillary Clinton gets a role at the dramatic -- dramatic? Excuse me. Democratic convention after all. But the flap, you know, it just might not be over.
Stay with us here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Get the latest news every morning in your e-mail. Sign up for AMERICAN MORNING quick news at cnn.com/am.
And still to come this morning, international intrigue involving Bobby Fischer. The former chess champ may soon find himself in the hands of U.S. authorities. We'll explain ahead, on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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