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CNN Live Today
Blast Kills Former Lebanese Prime Minister; Jury May Deliberate in Zoloft Murders
Aired February 14, 2005 - 10:00 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: You guys, we are out of time. Let's go right to Daryn and Rick. They are at the CNN Center and are going to take you through the next couple of hours at CNN LIVE TODAY.
I can ship some of this down to you guys, if you want. Happy Valentine's Day.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: I'm pleased that you actually brought the valentine on Valentine's Day, unlike Jack's birthday.
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: Oh, girl! That was so cold.
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: But she's right.
ANDY SERWER, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: She forgets to like you.
KAGAN: Well, got this one right. That's great.
O'BRIEN: Thank you. I try. Every so often I get one.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Thanks, guys.
KAGAN: Happy Valentine's Day.
SANCHEZ: Welcome back to Daryn Kagan, by the way, coming back from a little time off.
KAGAN: Thank you. Yes, good to be back. And we wasting no time getting into the live events, aren't we?
SANCHEZ: We do. As a matter of fact, we should have President Bush should just going to be coming up in a little bit. This is going to be a swearing in ceremony that we're going to be bringing you. And the swearing in -- what's that? I'm hearing someone talking to me. I'm sorry.
The swearing in ceremony is for, of course, Alberto Gonzales the attorney general. We'll bring that to you as soon as it happens.
Meantime, here's what's happening right now in the news. In Beirut, Lebanon a massive explosion has kill at least 10 people, including former Lebanon Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Now, the blast left a 15-foot crater in the posh seafront district and is considered one of the largest explosions in Beirut in nearly 15 years. We are going to take you there live and ask if this could possibly signal the start of another civil war in Lebanon.
In the Iraqi city of Tikrit, a changing of the guard. Earlier this morning, the U.S. Army's First Infantry Division handed over its military command, the 42-Infantry. It will now oversee military operations in Saddam Hussein's hometown. The First Infantry had spent a year on duty in Iraq and lost 36 soldiers.
There is big news in the business world to report this morning. Verizon, the nation's largest phone company has agreed to buy MCI. The proposed deal is worth some $6.7 billion in cash. Stock and special dividends and it follows a bidding war against rival suitor Quest as well.
Closing arguments are scheduled in the trial of a 15-year-old South Carolina boy who admits to killing his grandparents. However, he says he did it because they put him on the antidepressant Zoloft, which apparently had made him worse, his lawyers will charge. Now, prosecutors and the drug's manufacturer reject that defense. If convicted as an adult, Pittman could face 30 years in prison.
And once again, we welcome you here. I'm Rick Sanchez.
KAGAN: I'm Daryn Kagan.
Let's go live to Washington, D.C. Alberto Gonzales is being sworn in a ceremony with Sandra Day O'Connor and President Bush as new the attorney general. Let's listen in.
(APPLAUSE)
KAGAN: A lot of applause for Alberto Gonzales. This is -- well, here's Sandra Day O'Connor. Let's listen in.
SANDRA DAY O'CONNER, JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT: It's an honor and a privilege to be able to administer the oath of office to our 80- attorney general of the United States. A few more than we've had presidents, but nonetheless, not so many in the overall scheme of things. And to be among so many Texans, not only the new attorney general, Senator Cornyn. But I, myself was born in Texas. So this is...
(APPLAUSE)
(CHEERING)
O'CONNOR: ... not to mention the president and Mrs. Bush. So let's do this thing. Now, put your left hand on the Bible. And raise your right hand. And repeat after me, I, Alberto R. Gonzales...
ALBERTO GONZALEZ, U.S. ATTNY. GEN.: I, Alberto R. Gonzales. O'CONNOR: ... do solemnly swear...
GONZALEZ: ... do solemnly swear...
O'CONNOR: ... that I will support and defend...
GONZALEZ: ... that I will support and defend...
O'CONNOR: ... the Constitution of the United States...
GONZALEZ: ... the Constitution of the United States...
O'CONNOR: ... against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
GONZALEZ: ... against all enemies, foreign and domestic...
O'CONNOR: ... that I will bear true faith...
GONZALEZ: ... that I will bear true faith...
O'CONNOR: ... and allegiance to the same...
GONZALEZ: ... and allegiance to the same...
O'CONNOR: ... that I take this obligation freely...
GONZALEZ: ... that I take this obligation freely...
O'CONNOR: ... without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion...
GONZALEZ: ... without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion...
O'CONNOR: ... and that I will well and faithfully discharge...
GONZALEZ: ... and that I will well and faithfully discharge...
O'CONNOR: ... duties of the office...
GONZALEZ: ... duties of the office...
O'CONNOR: ... on which I'm about to enter...
GONZALEZ: ... on which I'm about to enter.
O'CONNOR: So help me God.
GONZALEZ: So help me God.
O'CONNOR: Congratulations.
GONZALEZ: Thank you, Justice.
(APPLAUSE) SANCHEZ: This is a man who's seen a lot of ceremony, a lot of pomp and circumstance in last couple of weeks. It's interesting because when you spend time with him, you find out he's not really into this kind of thing. He's very quiet, unassuming guy for the most part.
KAGAN: Yes. He has been sworn in as attorney general. This is the just to go through it with the president. He's going to come up and make some remarks. But first, I believe we're going to hear from President Bush.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Good morning.
Laura and I are pleased to be here with Al Gonzales, his wife Becky and his wonderful family.
Thank you all for coming.
I turned to Al and said, "It seems like they're cheering pretty loud." He said, "Most of them work for me now."
(LAUGHTER)
For the past decade, Al has been a close adviser, an honorable public servant and a dear friend.
Now he assumes a new title: Today it is my honor to call this son of Humble, Texas, the 80th attorney general of the United States.
(APPLAUSE)
I appreciate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor for administering the oath and admitting publicly that she was born in Texas.
(LAUGHTER)
I want to thank the current and former members of my Cabinet who are here.
I appreciate Senator Pat Leahy, Senator Judd Gregg and Kathy, Senator John Cornyn and Sandy, Senator Mel Martinez for joining us today.
BUSH: I thank Congresswoman Grace Napolitano for joining us. I thank the other distinguished guests who are here. And I thank the Texans who have come up.
(APPLAUSE)
As Attorney General Gonzales begins his service, he will build on the outstanding work of Attorney General John Ashcroft.
(APPLAUSE)
Over the past four years, Attorney General Ashcroft has started the Department of Justice on the right course in the war on terror. He's helped reduce violent crime to a 30-year low. He's taken vital new steps to protect children from exploitation.
John Ashcroft has worked tirelessly to make our nation safer and more just and America's thankful for your lifetime of service.
(APPLAUSE)
Attorney General Gonzales now joins every employee at the Department of Justice in an urgent mission to protect the United States from another terrorist attack.
Few periods in our history have demanded so much of this department.
BUSH: With Al's principled leadership, the Department of Justice will continue this important mission and will defend the security of all Americans and the liberty of all Americans.
The men and women of this department are meeting your duty every day, from your headquarters in Washington, to U.S. attorney's offices across the country, to dangerous posts overseas.
You have reorganized your resources to confront the threats of this new war. You have devised effective methods to investigate and prosecute terrorists. Some of you have volunteered for demanding new duties in complex areas such as intelligence and counterterrorism.
Our nation is grateful for your dedication and sacrifice.
And in return, we must provide you all the tools you need to do your job.
And one of those tools is the Patriot Act, which has been vital to our success in tracking terrorists and disrupting their plans.
Many key elements of the Patriot Act are now set to expire at the end of this year. We must not allow the passage of time or the illusion of safety to weaken our resolve in this new war.
To protect the American people, Congress must promptly renew all provisions of the Patriot Act this year.
(APPLAUSE)
Your mission to ensure equal justice for every American extends far beyond the war on terror. By aggressively prosecuting gun criminals and drug dealers, you make neighborhoods safer for all families.
BUSH: By holding corporate wrongdoers to account, you build confidence in our economy. By protecting victims of child abuse and domestic violence, you help guarantee a compassionate society. And by defending the civil rights of every American, you affirm the dignity of every life and you set an example of liberty for the entire world.
As we strive to provide equal justice, we must ensure that Americans of all races and backgrounds trust the legal system. By spreading the use of DNA analysis, we can solve more crimes, lock up more criminals and prevent wrongful conviction. So I've asked Congress for more than $1 billion over five years to expand this vital technology.
And to help ensure the death penalty is applied justly, I have also requested new funding to train prosecutors, judges and defense counsels in capital cases.
To maintain confidence in the legal system, we must ensure that judges faithfully interpret the law, not legislate from the bench.
I have a constitutional responsibility to nominate well-qualified men and women for the federal courts. I have done so.
And I have benefited greatly from the sound judgment of Attorney General Gonzales on picking qualified people to serve on our benches. I will continue to rely on his advice.
And the United States Senate must also live up to its constitutional responsibility. Every judicial nominee deserves a prompt hearing and an up-or-down vote on the floor of the United States Senate.
(APPLAUSE)
BUSH: As he embarks on all these duties, Attorney General Gonzales has my complete confidence.
From his early days of selling soda at Rice University football games, to his time in the Air Force, to his distinguished legal career and service on the White House staff, Al has been a model of courage and character to his fellow citizens.
I've witnessed his integrity, his decency, his deep dedication to the cause of justice.
Now he will advance that cause as the attorney general and ensure that more Americans have the opportunity to achieve their dreams.
Attorney General, or General, congratulations.
(APPLAUSE)
ALBERTO GONZALES, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: Thank you.
From the day the president announced my nomination as the attorney general of the United States three months ago, I have thought often about how to best prepare to meet the awesome responsibilities of this office.
Outside these walls, the cries of those powerless souls who are injured, disenfranchised or otherwise aggrieved may indeed be faint. But those same pleas for help echo powerfully within the Department of Justice. Every day, like a steady drum beat, we are asked to provide an answer to a problem, to secure a remedy, to be a champion. And every day this department responds, as it has done so time and time again throughout the history of our beloved America.
There has been much discussion during my confirmation about the appropriate role of the attorney general: certainly an important and legitimate debate about the individual viewed by many as the primary guardian of our rights and protector of our freedoms.
Undeniably, the attorney general is a member of the president's Cabinet, a part of his team. But the attorney general represents also the American people, and his first allegiance must always be to the Constitution of the United States.
And so, I rise today to reassure you that I understand the special role of this office and to commit to do my best on behalf of the American people to fulfill the confidence and trust reflected in my appointment.
I rise also to express my thanks to all of you here and around the country, particularly in Texas, who have walked with me, even for just a short time, along my journey.
GONZALES: My words, I fear, are inadequate to convey my gratitude for picking me up when I have stumbled.
Can a son repay the debt reflected in a lifetime of sacrifice by his parents?
Can a husband express in appropriate words and deeds his love and respect for the many years of affection and loyalty of a loving wife?
Can a friend compose a message of sufficient gratitude for a president who has been an inspiration and mentor?
Mom, Becky, Mr. President, I do not believe I can. Nor do I intent to even try in this abbreviated ceremony, other than to acknowledge from the bottom of my heart how much each of you has meant in my life.
In the years ahead, I hope that my service as attorney general will serve to honor your faith and trust in me.
Finally, I rise to embrace the employees of the Department of Justice. I assume this office knowing that the dedicated men and women here are focused on protecting the lives and the liberties of our citizens.
Tremendous strides in the war on terrorism were made under the leadership of Attorney General John Ashcroft, and I thank him for his service to our country and to the cause of freedom.
Like John, I am but one instrument in our battle for freedom and the protection of our rights. And I am confident that in the days and years ahead we in the department will work together tirelessly to address terrorism and other threats to our nation and to confront injustice with integrity and devotion to our highest ideals.
America is my home. I believe in her promise and I will do what I can to secure that promise for future generations of our children.
America is great, not because of our military might or economic strength, but because of the greatness of Americans. And I welcome the opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder, side by side with each of you to preserve our heritage, rich in liberty and justice for all.
Thank you. And may God continue to bless the United States of America.
(APPLAUSE)
KAGAN: Alberto Gonzales giving his thanks and accepting his new office as attorney general, the 80-attorney general, first his Hispanic to hold the seat. Having the swearing in with Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, President Bush by his side.
SANCHEZ: And you know, you'll note that he immediately answered some of the questions that his critics had raised. Some senators had questioned whether he would be independent enough, whether he would be more beholden to the president than he would be to the Constitution. Right at the outset of his speech, some of the very first words were something like I will respect the Constitution. I work for the Constitution. Interesting point the way he worded things.
KAGAN: Absolutely. And did not receive overwhelming confirmation. I mean he was confirmed, but 36 senators voting against him. And yet, he is the next attorney general of the United States.
We have other news to get on to today. And we head overseas for that. Today's apparent car bombing in Beirut left the city's fashionable, sea front district a mess of blown out windows and burning vehicles. Hospital officials say the former Lebanese prime minister was among those killed.
Our Beirut bureau chief Brent Sadler is at the scene and he joins us now on the phone -- Brent.
BRENT SADLER, CNN BEIRUT BUREAU CHIEF: Yes, Daryn, good morning. This is a devastating attack against the center of Beirut. Targeting, it seems, the five-times former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. It is confirmed by Hariri entourage, his political allies in Lebanon, that he was immediately killed in a massive explosion that also killed a number of his bodyguards, and seriously injured at least one former minister here.
There are scenes of tears, scenes of widespread mourning, outside the residence of the former Prime Minister Hariri in the center of Beirut. And hundreds of people marching on the residence chanting, "Syria out. Syria out." Now, that alludes to an intense political battle that's been raging here for many, many weeks ahead of May's parliamentary elections here.
Syria, under intense pressure by the U.S. and France to remove what's called Syrian occupation troops from Lebanon. And for Lebanon to free it elf and of the control exercised from Damascus.
Now, this has been a vicious battle of mostly rhetoric. It did explode into violence a couple of months when there was an assassination attempt, a bombing against the former Minister Marwan Hamadi, an ally of Hariri. And Mr. Hamadi is among the mourners at Mr. Hariri's residence right now. And I can tell you there is shocked disbelief at what has happened.
The car bomb was a weapon of choice in this city, once known as the terror capital of the world during the dark days of the civil war. Nothing on this scale has been seen here since the end of that war. And it does send seismic shockwaves to not only Lebanon, but to the region, because Rafik Hariri, not only was the self-made billionaire, a big-term political politician here. Also a close friend of the president, the French President Jack Chirac, cordial, good terms with President George W. Bush, and seen as a key regional player; not only in Lebanon/Syria relations but also in the Middle East peace process itself.
KAGAN: Brent Sadler in Beirut. Much more from you just ahead. Thank you.
SANCHEZ: When CNN LIVE continues, we're going to be focusing on two high profile trials.
KAGAN: One involves a well-known entertainer, the other a well- known drug.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Right now, we're at the courthouse in front of the -- in Charleston, South Carolina, inside closing arguments are happening in the trial of Chris Pittman.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: We're going to tend to legal news now. Question about a boy, did he know what he was doing when he killed his grandparents and burned down their home? Or was he influenced by an antidepressant drug? The jury could get to decide later today.
Our Elizabeth Cohen is covering that trial from Charleston, South Carolina -- Elizabeth.
COHEN: Daryn, closing arguments are going on right now in the courthouse behind me in Charleston, South Carolina. The prosecutor is speaking now and he says that all of these arguments that Zoloft, an antidepressant made Chris kill; well, he says those arguments are a smoke screen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COHEN (voice-over): There's no question 12-year-old Chris Pittman killed his grandparents. he confessed.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I got the shot gone out of the cabinet. I went in their room. I just aimed at the bed, I shot four times. COHEN: The question is why. "Voices in his head," he said.
DR. LANETTE ATKINS, DEFENSE PSYCHIATRIST: Echoes from inside his head saying, kill, kill, do it, do it.
COHEN: The defense said an antidepressant drug, Zoloft, sent the boy spinning out of control. Relatives said it changed the child.
MELINDA RECTOR, PITTMAN'S AUNT: He says it's like I'm burning under my skin. I can't put it out.
DANIELLE PITTMAN FINCHUM, DEFENDANT'S SISTER: He was constantly up and down in and out of the house. He was just crazy.
COHEN: Chris, now 15, was diagnosed with depression. In some cases the government says, these antidepressants can lead to an increased risk of suicidal behavior by younger patients. But the FDA has not linked drugs like Zoloft to violence against others.
DR. JAMES BALLENGER, PROSECUTION PSYCHIATRIST: You know, I think he did it because he was very mad, very angry.
COHEN: The prosecution said Chris killed his grandparents in a fit of anger for disciplining him. They said he burned down the house in an effort to cover up the crime.
DR. PAMELA CRAWFORD, PROSECUTION PSYCHIATRIST: It shows not only that he knew it was wrong, but he knew that it was legally wrong to do this, that he knew there would be some consequence.
COHEN: In the end, this battle of the psychiatrists is left to 12 ordinary citizens to settle, to look into the mind of a boy and to try to sort out his thinking.
DANIEL PIEPER, TRIAL JUDGE: Who can tell me the facts in people versus...
COHEN: Teaching a law class, this is the way the trial judge explained the law and the question given this jury.
PIEPER: An act does not make one guilty unless the mind is guilty. That is, unless the intent is criminal.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COHEN: Now, we just heard the judge in this case say that the act wouldn't make Chris Pittman guilty, the mind has to be guilty as well. And in South Carolina, the presumption is that a child under age 14 is incapable of forming criminal intent. And Chris was 12; Chris Pittman was 12 at time that he committed the killings. So that's the presumption.
The prosecution has a pretty big task in front of it. It has to overcome, or rebut that presumption. So there are four choices that the jury is going to have when they start deliberating. The first one is not guilty. In other words, they find that he was not guilty. That he did not have that criminal intent in his mind. Not guilty by reason of insanity means that they buy the argument Zoloft made him involuntarily intoxicated, as the law says. If you will, insane for that period of time.
Also, they could find him guilty. Meaning that they feel the prosecution did overcome that presumption, that under 14 you can have criminal intent. He can also be guilty but mentally ill. If he's guilty but mentally ill, he serves his entire sentence. Just part of that service would probably be in a psychiatric institution -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And what happens to him if he's not guilty but mentally ill?
COHEN: Well, not guilty by reason of insanity would be that option. And he walks. He goes. He's not guilty.
KAGAN: All right. Elizabeth Cohen from Charleston, South Carolina, we will be watching it. Thank you.
SANCHEZ: This is one that a lot of people may relate to. It happens in offices and in job sites all over the country. Even here from time to time at CNN.
KAGAN: But they can be very tricky. We're talking about office romances and our Gerri Willis has dos and don'ts.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: That's right. Are you having a crush on your co-worker? We'll tell you what you need to know when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired February 14, 2005 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: You guys, we are out of time. Let's go right to Daryn and Rick. They are at the CNN Center and are going to take you through the next couple of hours at CNN LIVE TODAY.
I can ship some of this down to you guys, if you want. Happy Valentine's Day.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: I'm pleased that you actually brought the valentine on Valentine's Day, unlike Jack's birthday.
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: Oh, girl! That was so cold.
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: But she's right.
ANDY SERWER, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: She forgets to like you.
KAGAN: Well, got this one right. That's great.
O'BRIEN: Thank you. I try. Every so often I get one.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Thanks, guys.
KAGAN: Happy Valentine's Day.
SANCHEZ: Welcome back to Daryn Kagan, by the way, coming back from a little time off.
KAGAN: Thank you. Yes, good to be back. And we wasting no time getting into the live events, aren't we?
SANCHEZ: We do. As a matter of fact, we should have President Bush should just going to be coming up in a little bit. This is going to be a swearing in ceremony that we're going to be bringing you. And the swearing in -- what's that? I'm hearing someone talking to me. I'm sorry.
The swearing in ceremony is for, of course, Alberto Gonzales the attorney general. We'll bring that to you as soon as it happens.
Meantime, here's what's happening right now in the news. In Beirut, Lebanon a massive explosion has kill at least 10 people, including former Lebanon Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Now, the blast left a 15-foot crater in the posh seafront district and is considered one of the largest explosions in Beirut in nearly 15 years. We are going to take you there live and ask if this could possibly signal the start of another civil war in Lebanon.
In the Iraqi city of Tikrit, a changing of the guard. Earlier this morning, the U.S. Army's First Infantry Division handed over its military command, the 42-Infantry. It will now oversee military operations in Saddam Hussein's hometown. The First Infantry had spent a year on duty in Iraq and lost 36 soldiers.
There is big news in the business world to report this morning. Verizon, the nation's largest phone company has agreed to buy MCI. The proposed deal is worth some $6.7 billion in cash. Stock and special dividends and it follows a bidding war against rival suitor Quest as well.
Closing arguments are scheduled in the trial of a 15-year-old South Carolina boy who admits to killing his grandparents. However, he says he did it because they put him on the antidepressant Zoloft, which apparently had made him worse, his lawyers will charge. Now, prosecutors and the drug's manufacturer reject that defense. If convicted as an adult, Pittman could face 30 years in prison.
And once again, we welcome you here. I'm Rick Sanchez.
KAGAN: I'm Daryn Kagan.
Let's go live to Washington, D.C. Alberto Gonzales is being sworn in a ceremony with Sandra Day O'Connor and President Bush as new the attorney general. Let's listen in.
(APPLAUSE)
KAGAN: A lot of applause for Alberto Gonzales. This is -- well, here's Sandra Day O'Connor. Let's listen in.
SANDRA DAY O'CONNER, JUSTICE, SUPREME COURT: It's an honor and a privilege to be able to administer the oath of office to our 80- attorney general of the United States. A few more than we've had presidents, but nonetheless, not so many in the overall scheme of things. And to be among so many Texans, not only the new attorney general, Senator Cornyn. But I, myself was born in Texas. So this is...
(APPLAUSE)
(CHEERING)
O'CONNOR: ... not to mention the president and Mrs. Bush. So let's do this thing. Now, put your left hand on the Bible. And raise your right hand. And repeat after me, I, Alberto R. Gonzales...
ALBERTO GONZALEZ, U.S. ATTNY. GEN.: I, Alberto R. Gonzales. O'CONNOR: ... do solemnly swear...
GONZALEZ: ... do solemnly swear...
O'CONNOR: ... that I will support and defend...
GONZALEZ: ... that I will support and defend...
O'CONNOR: ... the Constitution of the United States...
GONZALEZ: ... the Constitution of the United States...
O'CONNOR: ... against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
GONZALEZ: ... against all enemies, foreign and domestic...
O'CONNOR: ... that I will bear true faith...
GONZALEZ: ... that I will bear true faith...
O'CONNOR: ... and allegiance to the same...
GONZALEZ: ... and allegiance to the same...
O'CONNOR: ... that I take this obligation freely...
GONZALEZ: ... that I take this obligation freely...
O'CONNOR: ... without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion...
GONZALEZ: ... without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion...
O'CONNOR: ... and that I will well and faithfully discharge...
GONZALEZ: ... and that I will well and faithfully discharge...
O'CONNOR: ... duties of the office...
GONZALEZ: ... duties of the office...
O'CONNOR: ... on which I'm about to enter...
GONZALEZ: ... on which I'm about to enter.
O'CONNOR: So help me God.
GONZALEZ: So help me God.
O'CONNOR: Congratulations.
GONZALEZ: Thank you, Justice.
(APPLAUSE) SANCHEZ: This is a man who's seen a lot of ceremony, a lot of pomp and circumstance in last couple of weeks. It's interesting because when you spend time with him, you find out he's not really into this kind of thing. He's very quiet, unassuming guy for the most part.
KAGAN: Yes. He has been sworn in as attorney general. This is the just to go through it with the president. He's going to come up and make some remarks. But first, I believe we're going to hear from President Bush.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Good morning.
Laura and I are pleased to be here with Al Gonzales, his wife Becky and his wonderful family.
Thank you all for coming.
I turned to Al and said, "It seems like they're cheering pretty loud." He said, "Most of them work for me now."
(LAUGHTER)
For the past decade, Al has been a close adviser, an honorable public servant and a dear friend.
Now he assumes a new title: Today it is my honor to call this son of Humble, Texas, the 80th attorney general of the United States.
(APPLAUSE)
I appreciate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor for administering the oath and admitting publicly that she was born in Texas.
(LAUGHTER)
I want to thank the current and former members of my Cabinet who are here.
I appreciate Senator Pat Leahy, Senator Judd Gregg and Kathy, Senator John Cornyn and Sandy, Senator Mel Martinez for joining us today.
BUSH: I thank Congresswoman Grace Napolitano for joining us. I thank the other distinguished guests who are here. And I thank the Texans who have come up.
(APPLAUSE)
As Attorney General Gonzales begins his service, he will build on the outstanding work of Attorney General John Ashcroft.
(APPLAUSE)
Over the past four years, Attorney General Ashcroft has started the Department of Justice on the right course in the war on terror. He's helped reduce violent crime to a 30-year low. He's taken vital new steps to protect children from exploitation.
John Ashcroft has worked tirelessly to make our nation safer and more just and America's thankful for your lifetime of service.
(APPLAUSE)
Attorney General Gonzales now joins every employee at the Department of Justice in an urgent mission to protect the United States from another terrorist attack.
Few periods in our history have demanded so much of this department.
BUSH: With Al's principled leadership, the Department of Justice will continue this important mission and will defend the security of all Americans and the liberty of all Americans.
The men and women of this department are meeting your duty every day, from your headquarters in Washington, to U.S. attorney's offices across the country, to dangerous posts overseas.
You have reorganized your resources to confront the threats of this new war. You have devised effective methods to investigate and prosecute terrorists. Some of you have volunteered for demanding new duties in complex areas such as intelligence and counterterrorism.
Our nation is grateful for your dedication and sacrifice.
And in return, we must provide you all the tools you need to do your job.
And one of those tools is the Patriot Act, which has been vital to our success in tracking terrorists and disrupting their plans.
Many key elements of the Patriot Act are now set to expire at the end of this year. We must not allow the passage of time or the illusion of safety to weaken our resolve in this new war.
To protect the American people, Congress must promptly renew all provisions of the Patriot Act this year.
(APPLAUSE)
Your mission to ensure equal justice for every American extends far beyond the war on terror. By aggressively prosecuting gun criminals and drug dealers, you make neighborhoods safer for all families.
BUSH: By holding corporate wrongdoers to account, you build confidence in our economy. By protecting victims of child abuse and domestic violence, you help guarantee a compassionate society. And by defending the civil rights of every American, you affirm the dignity of every life and you set an example of liberty for the entire world.
As we strive to provide equal justice, we must ensure that Americans of all races and backgrounds trust the legal system. By spreading the use of DNA analysis, we can solve more crimes, lock up more criminals and prevent wrongful conviction. So I've asked Congress for more than $1 billion over five years to expand this vital technology.
And to help ensure the death penalty is applied justly, I have also requested new funding to train prosecutors, judges and defense counsels in capital cases.
To maintain confidence in the legal system, we must ensure that judges faithfully interpret the law, not legislate from the bench.
I have a constitutional responsibility to nominate well-qualified men and women for the federal courts. I have done so.
And I have benefited greatly from the sound judgment of Attorney General Gonzales on picking qualified people to serve on our benches. I will continue to rely on his advice.
And the United States Senate must also live up to its constitutional responsibility. Every judicial nominee deserves a prompt hearing and an up-or-down vote on the floor of the United States Senate.
(APPLAUSE)
BUSH: As he embarks on all these duties, Attorney General Gonzales has my complete confidence.
From his early days of selling soda at Rice University football games, to his time in the Air Force, to his distinguished legal career and service on the White House staff, Al has been a model of courage and character to his fellow citizens.
I've witnessed his integrity, his decency, his deep dedication to the cause of justice.
Now he will advance that cause as the attorney general and ensure that more Americans have the opportunity to achieve their dreams.
Attorney General, or General, congratulations.
(APPLAUSE)
ALBERTO GONZALES, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: Thank you.
From the day the president announced my nomination as the attorney general of the United States three months ago, I have thought often about how to best prepare to meet the awesome responsibilities of this office.
Outside these walls, the cries of those powerless souls who are injured, disenfranchised or otherwise aggrieved may indeed be faint. But those same pleas for help echo powerfully within the Department of Justice. Every day, like a steady drum beat, we are asked to provide an answer to a problem, to secure a remedy, to be a champion. And every day this department responds, as it has done so time and time again throughout the history of our beloved America.
There has been much discussion during my confirmation about the appropriate role of the attorney general: certainly an important and legitimate debate about the individual viewed by many as the primary guardian of our rights and protector of our freedoms.
Undeniably, the attorney general is a member of the president's Cabinet, a part of his team. But the attorney general represents also the American people, and his first allegiance must always be to the Constitution of the United States.
And so, I rise today to reassure you that I understand the special role of this office and to commit to do my best on behalf of the American people to fulfill the confidence and trust reflected in my appointment.
I rise also to express my thanks to all of you here and around the country, particularly in Texas, who have walked with me, even for just a short time, along my journey.
GONZALES: My words, I fear, are inadequate to convey my gratitude for picking me up when I have stumbled.
Can a son repay the debt reflected in a lifetime of sacrifice by his parents?
Can a husband express in appropriate words and deeds his love and respect for the many years of affection and loyalty of a loving wife?
Can a friend compose a message of sufficient gratitude for a president who has been an inspiration and mentor?
Mom, Becky, Mr. President, I do not believe I can. Nor do I intent to even try in this abbreviated ceremony, other than to acknowledge from the bottom of my heart how much each of you has meant in my life.
In the years ahead, I hope that my service as attorney general will serve to honor your faith and trust in me.
Finally, I rise to embrace the employees of the Department of Justice. I assume this office knowing that the dedicated men and women here are focused on protecting the lives and the liberties of our citizens.
Tremendous strides in the war on terrorism were made under the leadership of Attorney General John Ashcroft, and I thank him for his service to our country and to the cause of freedom.
Like John, I am but one instrument in our battle for freedom and the protection of our rights. And I am confident that in the days and years ahead we in the department will work together tirelessly to address terrorism and other threats to our nation and to confront injustice with integrity and devotion to our highest ideals.
America is my home. I believe in her promise and I will do what I can to secure that promise for future generations of our children.
America is great, not because of our military might or economic strength, but because of the greatness of Americans. And I welcome the opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder, side by side with each of you to preserve our heritage, rich in liberty and justice for all.
Thank you. And may God continue to bless the United States of America.
(APPLAUSE)
KAGAN: Alberto Gonzales giving his thanks and accepting his new office as attorney general, the 80-attorney general, first his Hispanic to hold the seat. Having the swearing in with Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, President Bush by his side.
SANCHEZ: And you know, you'll note that he immediately answered some of the questions that his critics had raised. Some senators had questioned whether he would be independent enough, whether he would be more beholden to the president than he would be to the Constitution. Right at the outset of his speech, some of the very first words were something like I will respect the Constitution. I work for the Constitution. Interesting point the way he worded things.
KAGAN: Absolutely. And did not receive overwhelming confirmation. I mean he was confirmed, but 36 senators voting against him. And yet, he is the next attorney general of the United States.
We have other news to get on to today. And we head overseas for that. Today's apparent car bombing in Beirut left the city's fashionable, sea front district a mess of blown out windows and burning vehicles. Hospital officials say the former Lebanese prime minister was among those killed.
Our Beirut bureau chief Brent Sadler is at the scene and he joins us now on the phone -- Brent.
BRENT SADLER, CNN BEIRUT BUREAU CHIEF: Yes, Daryn, good morning. This is a devastating attack against the center of Beirut. Targeting, it seems, the five-times former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. It is confirmed by Hariri entourage, his political allies in Lebanon, that he was immediately killed in a massive explosion that also killed a number of his bodyguards, and seriously injured at least one former minister here.
There are scenes of tears, scenes of widespread mourning, outside the residence of the former Prime Minister Hariri in the center of Beirut. And hundreds of people marching on the residence chanting, "Syria out. Syria out." Now, that alludes to an intense political battle that's been raging here for many, many weeks ahead of May's parliamentary elections here.
Syria, under intense pressure by the U.S. and France to remove what's called Syrian occupation troops from Lebanon. And for Lebanon to free it elf and of the control exercised from Damascus.
Now, this has been a vicious battle of mostly rhetoric. It did explode into violence a couple of months when there was an assassination attempt, a bombing against the former Minister Marwan Hamadi, an ally of Hariri. And Mr. Hamadi is among the mourners at Mr. Hariri's residence right now. And I can tell you there is shocked disbelief at what has happened.
The car bomb was a weapon of choice in this city, once known as the terror capital of the world during the dark days of the civil war. Nothing on this scale has been seen here since the end of that war. And it does send seismic shockwaves to not only Lebanon, but to the region, because Rafik Hariri, not only was the self-made billionaire, a big-term political politician here. Also a close friend of the president, the French President Jack Chirac, cordial, good terms with President George W. Bush, and seen as a key regional player; not only in Lebanon/Syria relations but also in the Middle East peace process itself.
KAGAN: Brent Sadler in Beirut. Much more from you just ahead. Thank you.
SANCHEZ: When CNN LIVE continues, we're going to be focusing on two high profile trials.
KAGAN: One involves a well-known entertainer, the other a well- known drug.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Right now, we're at the courthouse in front of the -- in Charleston, South Carolina, inside closing arguments are happening in the trial of Chris Pittman.
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KAGAN: We're going to tend to legal news now. Question about a boy, did he know what he was doing when he killed his grandparents and burned down their home? Or was he influenced by an antidepressant drug? The jury could get to decide later today.
Our Elizabeth Cohen is covering that trial from Charleston, South Carolina -- Elizabeth.
COHEN: Daryn, closing arguments are going on right now in the courthouse behind me in Charleston, South Carolina. The prosecutor is speaking now and he says that all of these arguments that Zoloft, an antidepressant made Chris kill; well, he says those arguments are a smoke screen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COHEN (voice-over): There's no question 12-year-old Chris Pittman killed his grandparents. he confessed.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I got the shot gone out of the cabinet. I went in their room. I just aimed at the bed, I shot four times. COHEN: The question is why. "Voices in his head," he said.
DR. LANETTE ATKINS, DEFENSE PSYCHIATRIST: Echoes from inside his head saying, kill, kill, do it, do it.
COHEN: The defense said an antidepressant drug, Zoloft, sent the boy spinning out of control. Relatives said it changed the child.
MELINDA RECTOR, PITTMAN'S AUNT: He says it's like I'm burning under my skin. I can't put it out.
DANIELLE PITTMAN FINCHUM, DEFENDANT'S SISTER: He was constantly up and down in and out of the house. He was just crazy.
COHEN: Chris, now 15, was diagnosed with depression. In some cases the government says, these antidepressants can lead to an increased risk of suicidal behavior by younger patients. But the FDA has not linked drugs like Zoloft to violence against others.
DR. JAMES BALLENGER, PROSECUTION PSYCHIATRIST: You know, I think he did it because he was very mad, very angry.
COHEN: The prosecution said Chris killed his grandparents in a fit of anger for disciplining him. They said he burned down the house in an effort to cover up the crime.
DR. PAMELA CRAWFORD, PROSECUTION PSYCHIATRIST: It shows not only that he knew it was wrong, but he knew that it was legally wrong to do this, that he knew there would be some consequence.
COHEN: In the end, this battle of the psychiatrists is left to 12 ordinary citizens to settle, to look into the mind of a boy and to try to sort out his thinking.
DANIEL PIEPER, TRIAL JUDGE: Who can tell me the facts in people versus...
COHEN: Teaching a law class, this is the way the trial judge explained the law and the question given this jury.
PIEPER: An act does not make one guilty unless the mind is guilty. That is, unless the intent is criminal.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COHEN: Now, we just heard the judge in this case say that the act wouldn't make Chris Pittman guilty, the mind has to be guilty as well. And in South Carolina, the presumption is that a child under age 14 is incapable of forming criminal intent. And Chris was 12; Chris Pittman was 12 at time that he committed the killings. So that's the presumption.
The prosecution has a pretty big task in front of it. It has to overcome, or rebut that presumption. So there are four choices that the jury is going to have when they start deliberating. The first one is not guilty. In other words, they find that he was not guilty. That he did not have that criminal intent in his mind. Not guilty by reason of insanity means that they buy the argument Zoloft made him involuntarily intoxicated, as the law says. If you will, insane for that period of time.
Also, they could find him guilty. Meaning that they feel the prosecution did overcome that presumption, that under 14 you can have criminal intent. He can also be guilty but mentally ill. If he's guilty but mentally ill, he serves his entire sentence. Just part of that service would probably be in a psychiatric institution -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And what happens to him if he's not guilty but mentally ill?
COHEN: Well, not guilty by reason of insanity would be that option. And he walks. He goes. He's not guilty.
KAGAN: All right. Elizabeth Cohen from Charleston, South Carolina, we will be watching it. Thank you.
SANCHEZ: This is one that a lot of people may relate to. It happens in offices and in job sites all over the country. Even here from time to time at CNN.
KAGAN: But they can be very tricky. We're talking about office romances and our Gerri Willis has dos and don'ts.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: That's right. Are you having a crush on your co-worker? We'll tell you what you need to know when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.
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