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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports
Bush Press Conference Addresses Social Security, Iraq, More; Wolfowitz Nominated to Head World Bank; Iraqi National Assembly Sworn In; Jose Canseco to Testify in Hearings on Steroids in Baseball
Aired March 16, 2005 - 17:00 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.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Happening now: there is a verdict for TV star Robert Blake. Will he be found guilty of murder or acquitted?
Also, there are new developments in the search for that missing Florida girl, Jessica Lunsford. After weeks with no leads, authorities are about to name someone they are calling a person of interest in their investigation. You'll see it live here this hour.
And to his critics around the world, President Bush announces another so-called in your face appointment, this time to head the World Bank.
Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): From national security to Social Security.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's important to talk about a permanent fix. Something that will last forever.
BLITZER: The president speaks his mind.
From poison gas to plague. Just a day after an anthrax scare, a list leaks out, cataloging all the ways terrorists could attack America.
On the eve of St. Patrick's Day, why are key Irish-Americans speaking out against the IRA? I'll ask Senator Edward Kennedy.
Steroids in sports. His tell-all book names names. Now Congress wants to know more. I'll speak with former slugger Jose Canseco.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Wednesday, March 16, 2005.
BLITZER: Thanks for joining us.
We're keeping an eye on two breaking stories we're following this hour. The jury in actor Robert Blake's murder trial in Los Angeles has now reached a verdict, according to the Associated Press, on two of the three charges against the actor. We're expecting the verdict to be read just a short time from now. We'll have live coverage when that happens.
Blake has been on trial on charges that he killed his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, in May 2001. She was shot -- shot to death outside a restaurant in Studio City. The 71-year-old Blake has maintained he's not guilty. He could face life in prison if convicted. The jury has been deliberating for eight days. We'll go there live. Once it's read, the verdict.
Also we're awaiting a news conference in Florida. Police there are releasing new information about the so-called person of interest in the case of that missing 9-year-old girl. The man they're expected to identify is said to be a convicted sex offender.
Jessica Lunsford disappeared from her home late last month. She was last seen in her bedroom. We'll go to Florida live for that news conference, as well.
But let's begin with the president at the White House. The kitchen sink wasn't mentioned, but almost everything else came as President Bush held up -- held a wide-ranging news conference earlier today, including the Middle East, the price of gas and even baseball and steroids. But it seemed the president wanted to speak most about Social Security.
Let's go over to the White House, our correspondent there, Dana Bash, standing by -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf. Well, it definitely was a wide-ranging news conference. The president even tried to downplay how much he thinks about his legacy, joking that he doesn't wonder the Oval Office, asking portraits about his standing.
But you're right. It did seem to be the reason that he came into the -- into the briefing room. It seemed to be Social Security and the uphill climb he has getting that through Congress.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BASH (voice-over): The president came before reporters to urge lawmakers to start looking for permanent solutions to keep Social Security out of the red.
BUSH: I think it's important that we talk about a permanent fix, something that will last forever.
BASH: But Mr. Bush still refused to offer his own ideas to make the system solvent, even as he concedes the crux of his plan doesn't do the trick.
BUSH: Personal accounts do not solve the issue. Personal accounts will make sure that individual workers get a better deal with whatever emerges as a Social Security solution.
BASH: Bush aides admit it's a crucial time for his top domestic goal. Members of Congress will be home meeting with constituents and facing a well-organized opposition, already buoyed by polls showing the president's plan in trouble.
Mr. Bush wants reforming Social Security for his legacy. The Iraq war still defines his presidency. He said he spoke to Italy's prime minister and tried to downplay his ally's decision to start withdrawing troops from Iraq in September.
BUSH: Any withdrawals would be done in consultation with allies and would be done depending upon the ability of the Iraqis to defend themselves.
BASH: The president hailed the first meeting of the Iraqi National Assembly as a brat moment for the region and again pressed for free elections in Lebanon. But walked a fine, even precarious line on the possibility of Hezbollah, which he again called a terrorist group, winning power at the polls.
BUSH: Maybe someone will run for office saying, "Vote for me. I look forward to blowing up America." I don't know. I don't know if that will be their platform or not. But I think people generally say, "Vote for me. I'm looking forward to fixing your potholes."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: And in that 48-minute news conference, the president also defended the post-9/11 new policy that essentially allows suspected terrorists to be arrested on the streets and sent back to their countries of origin -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Dana Bash at the White House, thanks very much.
A key architect and major proponent of the war in Iraq is being tapped for a new job. President Bush is nominating Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz to be the next head of the World Bank.
CNN's Mary Snow is standing by live in New York with more on what's being described as a controversial pick -- Mary.
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, Paul Wolfowitz this afternoon saying that he is honored by the nomination, that he believes passionately in the World Bank. Treasury Secretary John Snow among those praising him this afternoon.
But critics are questioning the choice.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW (voice-over): Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz is best known as one of the architects of the Iraq war. But President Bush cites his management experience at the Pentagon and his role as a former ambassador to Indonesia as his reasons why Wolfowitz should be head of the World Bank.
BUSH: Paul is committed to development. He's a compassionate, decent man who will do a fine job in the World Bank.
SNOW: Wolfowitz won out over other names that have been rumored in recent weeks, such as former Secretary of State Colin Powell, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and Irish rock star Bono.
Current president James Wolfensohn is retiring. While he may not be a household name, some say his job is one of the most important in the world. The World Bank president leads 184-member nations in a mission to fight poverty and foster development around the globe.
By tradition, the U.S. picks the World Bank president. Overseas, Wolfowitz faces opposition.
GREG VALLIERE, POLITICAL ECONOMIST: You'd have to say based on Wolfowitz' entire career he's very qualified for this job but I think many people in western Europe view him for one thing and one thing only, and that's Iraq. And he is a real hot and I think for many in western Europe, this is a very provocative act.
SNOW: And economist Jeffrey Sachs thinks that's exactly why Wolfowitz was picked.
JEFFREY SACHS, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY: It's a kind of in your face move, and who knows what's going to happen?
SNOW: The World Bank loans billions of dollars each year to financially strapped countries. Sachs is among critics who voice concern that aid will be measured not based on need but on support of U.S. policy.
SACHS: Many countries have been waiting decades for getting their debts canceled, but it was Iraq and only Iraq, where the president sent around a personal emissary to cancel Iraq's debts in 30 days.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: Now, since about 1944, the U.S. has traditionally chosen the head of the World Bank, while European officials traditionally choose the head of its sister organization, the International Monetary Fund -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Mary Snow, reporting for us from New York. Mary, thank you very much. And only a few moments ago, Paul Wolfowitz spoke out about this nomination. This is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL WOLFOWITZ, WORLD BANK PRESIDENT NOMINEE: I believe when it comes to poverty reduction, there is a common sense of purpose. I'm a good listener, and I expect to do a lot of listening. But I also believe this is a mission in which people are looking for leadership, and I am -- be honored to be able to provide it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Almost two years after the fall of Saddam Hussein, recently elected lawmakers in Baghdad took their places today in Iraq's newly elected national assembly. But are they ready to start running the country? CNN's Aneesh Raman reports from Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): More than six weeks after Iraq's elections, members of the national assembly are sworn in, set to soon draft the country's constitution and take over day-to-day affairs, including security, an urgent need highlighted this day by mortar attacks in Baghdad and a car bombing in Baqubah.
But absent from the gathering, any nomination of transitional leaders. Negotiations still ongoing.
ADEL ABDUL MAHDI, IRAQI FINANCE MINISTER: We are ready to start deliberations on the formation of the government. I think by the current of next week we'll have a government in Iraq.
RAMAN: One reason for the delay: the majority parties are seeking a unity government with as many groups as possible, ranging from the Sunnis, who chose to boycott the election, to Ayad Allawi's secular Iraqi list. That means resolution on critical issues must be addressed now, such as how significant a role Islam will play as a source of law for the new government. And is why the likely next prime minister, Shia Ibrahim al-Jaafari, is speaking with moderation.
IBRAHIM AL-JAAFARI, IRAQI DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Respect for human rights. The role of women and everything related to freedom is relevant (ph).
RAMAN: And motions are high during this critical stage. Shouts came as a Kurd legislator demanded the oath be read not only in Arabic but in Kurdish, as well. The irony of the day, not lost on anyone, especially the Kurds. This is a 17th anniversary of the gassing in Halabja, when thousands of Kurds were killed by Saddam.
(on camera) But perhaps the most important aspect of today was reminding the Iraqi people, who voted this assembly in at the end of January, that the government is moving forward and that democracy is taking root.
Aneesh Raman, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: A verdict is now in for TV star Robert Blake. That will be announced live this hour. Will he be found guilty of murder or acquitted?
Admissions and accusations about the use of steroids in baseball. Jose Canseco details his experiences in a new book. He joins me live here in Washington just ahead of tomorrow's congressional hearings.
Missing girl mystery. Authorities in Florida holding a news conference this hour to name someone they're calling a person of interest in the disappearance of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford. And disaster scenarios. From the detonation of a nuclear device to the release of poison gas. A new list outlines many ways the U.S. could be attacked. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back.
Tomorrow, a who's who of current and former baseball stars will be here in Washington on Capitol Hill as the House Government Reform Committee opens hearings on steroid use in the sport.
Among those called to testify, former Major League Baseball star Jose Canseco. He's the author of a new tell-all book who will join us live here in a few minutes. First, though, we'll meet a Texas man who will also testify in tomorrow's hearings for a very personal reason.
CNN's congressional correspondent, Ed Henry, is standing by live with his story -- Ed.
ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, that man is Don Hooton, whose family was shattered by steroids. And he's furious at some of the baseball stars, who had been trying to avoid testifying tomorrow.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DON HOOTON, SON COMMITTED SUICIDE AFTER TAKING STEROIDS: They've been cowards in cheating, and using short cuts to set major league records. And what message are we sending the kids now when we're not prepared to stand up like men and take responsibility for what we've been doing?
HENRY (voice-over): Tough talk, but if anyone has the right to speak out, it's Hooton. His son Taylor became hooked on steroids and fell into a depression. Twenty months ago, at age 17, he committed suicide.
HOOTON: There's no words you can put into it. Your whole life is your kids.
HENRY: Taylor was a right-handed pitcher with a nasty fastball. He'd been playing since he was 5 and wanted to make it to the big leagues like his dad's cousin, Burt Hooton.
Taylor was already 175 pounds, but a coach urged him to bulk, so he started secretly taking steroids and put on 30 pounds, but soon developed side effects from acne to terrible mood swings.
HOOTON: On at least two occasions, he took -- he's a pitcher now. He'd take his fist and drove them through a sheetrock wall, only to find out 10 minutes later, find him downstairs crying, telling his mom and his dad that he felt sorry for what he did.
HENRY: There were other danger signs, all of them missed.
HOOTON: We used to, you know have to bring him bottle after bottle of mouthwash. We couldn't figure out, what are you doing with all of this mouth wash? Well, as it turned out, one of the symptoms of steroid abuse is bad breath.
HENRY: On a plane ride back from a family vacation, Taylor wrote a long love letter to his high school sweetheart and talked about marriage. The next day, he took his own life.
HOOTON: Here was a kid who was looking about the future, planning his future, and just one day later would take his life. It just doesn't make sense.
HENRY: So Don Hooton is on a mission, speaking at high schools like this one, where nine teens had just gotten caught using steroids. And Hooton is testifying on Capitol Hill.
HOOTON: Today's high school student has no fear getting caught.
HENRY: It's difficult for Hooton to discuss. But a grief counselor told him that every time he talks about his loss, it takes away a little bit of the pain.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HENRY: Don Hooton has gotten his wish. CNN has learned that all of the current and former major league ballplayers who have been subpoenaed will be testifying at this hearing on Capitol Hill tomorrow.
But CNN has also confirmed that none of the current or former players will be granted immunity from prosecution. That is upsetting Jose Canseco in particular. His attorney is saying that he may invoke the Fifth Amendment on some of the questions offered by the committee -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right. Ed Henry, thanks very much for that report.
This additional note on the subject of steroids and professional baseball. A new poll by ABC News and ESPN finds 62 percent of those asked think players who are found to have used steroids should not be able to keep the records they set. And 66 percent think those same players should be barred from the baseball hall of fame.
When we come back, steroids and baseball. His book tells all. Now Congress wants to know more. Jose Canseco, he's here in the studio. He's standing by to join us live. He'll tell us, will he answer questions tomorrow from members of the U.S. Congress?
Plus, there's a new development in the case of that missing 9- year-old Florida girl. We're expecting an announcement regarding a so-called person of interest.
And we're also expecting the verdict for TV star Robert Blake. Just been announced there will be a verdict shortly. We'll have live coverage of that, as well.
And later, a break in tradition. Why Senator Edward Kennedy is snubbing Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams this St. Patrick's Day. My interview with the senator, that's still to come.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back.
Police in Citrus County, Florida, are releasing new details about that so-called person of interest they're seeking in the case of a missing 9-year-old girl. CNN's John Zarrella is keeping track of all the latest developments. He's on the phone now from Homosassa in Florida.
What have you learned, John?
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the press conference expected to begin within 10 minutes. But the police here already releasing a statement saying the name of the man they are looking for, and they have released a picture, is 46-year-old John "Johnny" Evander Couey.
And the bottom line is, he is a registered sex offender. He was, according to this police report, staying with relatives near the Lunsford -- Jessica Lunsford's home. And at some point in time, some one of the relatives actually gave him a bus ticket for Savannah, Georgia. That's where he's last reported to have been.
Now Couey is a sex offender because in 1991 he was arrested on charges of sex offense for fondling a child under the age of 16. Police are insisting, however, that they do not know what, if any, involvement he had in Jessica Lunsford's disappearance, Wolf. But they do want to talk to him, and they add, he is prone to violence when under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
So the picture that we have seen here now is the man that police in Citrus County want to talk to in relation to the disappearance of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford about three weeks ago -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right. John Zarrella breaking that story for us. Thanks, John, very much. We'll stand by for that news conference in 10 minutes or so.
Let's move on now. We return to baseball and steroids. Former major leaguer Jose Canseco has written about his experiences with steroids in his tell-all book entitled "Juiced." As we mentioned, he's among those scheduled to testify at tomorrow's congressional hearing. And he has not, repeat not, been granted immunity.
For that reason, Jose Canseco joins us now here in Washington along with his attorney, Rob Saunooke. Thanks, Rob, for joining us and Jose, thanks to you, as well.
You're going to appear before these members of Congress tomorrow. They're going to ask you to swear in, say you're telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. And then they're going to ask you questions. When they start asking you questions, Jose, what are you going to say?
JOSE CANSECO, FORMER PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYER: I think my attorney can elaborate more on that, on what really needs to be done.
BLITZER: Because you have not been granted immunity. The question, Rob, is he going to answer questions?
ROB SAUNOOKE, CANSECO'S ATTORNEY: We're going to take it on a question by question basis. Obviously, the questions that are somewhat easily answered like what's your name, where do you live, we'll answer those. But things that deal directly with his involvement of steroids in baseball, we intend to plead the fifth on.
BLITZER: Well, once you start answering any questions, can you selectively decide where you want to plead the fifth and not plead the fifth? I was under the assumption is you want to take the fifth you can't answer any questions.
SAUNOOKE: Well, not every question is a Fifth Amendment question. What your name is is not something that might lead to incriminate you. That would be something that the Fifth Amendment would not have application to. But you can take it on a question by question basis.
All along we have said that we want to be there. We want to help Congress. We want to get to the bottom of this problem, which is steroids in baseball. That's why we were the only people who asked for immunity. We're the ones who have the most to fear.
BLITZER: Well, what do you specifically have to fear? He's written a whole book about steroids and baseball. What possibly could he fear by testifying now before a U.S. congressional committee?
SAUNOOKE: Well, as you know, it's one thing to say something in a book or on TV. It's another thing to swear it under oath, where you are sworn to tell the truth with ramifications of perjury and truthful statements. Jose's on probation right now. We've experienced some very -- we believe to be unfair handling by state attorneys in Florida of his cases down there. And he don't want to expose him to more liability if he truthfully answers about steroids now.
BLITZER: So you'll be largely mum tomorrow, Jose, once the substantive questions about steroid use in baseball start going forward. Is that your conclusion?
CANSECO: Depending on what the line of questioning is, yes.
BLITZER: All right. Well, let's talk about some of the things that you've written in this book. I want to play a brief excerpt of what Barry Bonds, who will not be testifying tomorrow, because he's involved in some other federal investigations, what he says about your allegation that he used steroids. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARRY BONDS, BASEBALL PLAYER: To me, Canseco, you got to come with a whole lot more than what you're talking about. And fiction is fiction, man. I mean, there's a whole bunch of those books and stories out there. Basically, you know, it's just -- it's to make a buck. It's all it is. It's about making money.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: All right. That's what the accusation is. A lot people have made that accusation, Jose. You're simply out to sell a lot of copies of this book and make a lot of money.
CANSECO: Well, my dealings with Barry Bonds wasn't really direct. I mean, I never injected him in any way, shape or form. Never really talked about steroids in any direct way. It was just an incident which I actually mention in the actual book.
We had a home run competition in Las Vegas, the year he actually broke the home run record, or severed the home run record completely. And he saw me, and I think I weighed about 255 pounds or something like that. He saw me and he went, you know, right across the room, like, "What the hell have you been doing" with a more vulgar word and how ironic. You know, I happened to go on and win that competition, and all of a sudden, he puts on 30 pounds in spring training and he's just enormous and he breaks the homerun record.
BLITZER: But that's total speculation on your part. You have no direct first-hand knowledge that Barry Bonds ever injected himself or took pills or took steroids.
CANSECO: No, no direct first-hand knowledge. I was asked my opinion about it, and with the trained eye I've got, I definitely think Barry Bonds was using steroids.
BLITZER: But isn't that just an opinion?
CANSECO: Yes.
BLITZER: You're trying to smear the home run king, if you will. You're trying to smear him. Don't you need a lot more than just an opinion?
CANSECO: Well, that's all I really -- I only had on him was an opinion, absolutely. And I speak about that. I've mentioned that a whole bunch of times.
BLITZER: Let's talk about Mark McGwire. He totally denies your accusation, as well. "I feel sorry to see someone turn to such drastic measures to accomplish a personal agenda at the expense of so many. The relationship that these allegations portray couldn't be further from the truth."
He then goes on to say, once and for all, "I did not use steroids or any other illegal substance."
CANSECO: Mark McGwire was a totally separate entity, obviously. I injected him. He knows that. I injected him. And...
BLITZER: Injected him with what?
CANSECO: With steroids. And we spoke about it quite frequently. Steroid use in baseball, absolutely.
BLITZER: How many times?
CANSECO: It was definitely once or twice. I'm not really sure because back then, I mean, it wasn't a big deal to use steroids. It was like having a cup of coffee, and we weren't counting.
BLITZER: How many other players did you inject?
CANSECO: There were a few other players, the ones that were mentioned in the actual book.
BLITZER: Give us a ballpark estimate.
SAUNOOKE: Wolf, I don't want him to answer questions about his handling or distribution or anything involved with steroids and drugs, because that's some of the things they're going to ask us in Congress tomorrow that because we haven't been given immunity we're not going to deal with.
BLITZER: So you can't give that, even though you write about that in the book.
SAUNOOKE: He doesn't write about injecting a lot of people, except for the Mark McGwire incident. The rest of them he just talks about mostly the information he shared with them.
And you have to remember that this book is written about his life. It wasn't meant to attack any players. It wasn't meant to name names, just for the simple reason that they're there. These are people he came in contact with. I would write a book tomorrow and guess who I'd put in it. I'd put Wolf Blitzer in it, because tonight I'm on Wolf Blitzer.
BLITZER: But you wouldn't necessarily say I was injecting myself with steroids before the interview.
SAUNOOKE: It depends on what we do after the interview maybe.
BLITZER: No. You can't be -- you're dealing with people's reputations. You're dealing with people's lives. And it's one thing to have an opinion, and Mark McGwire says it didn't happen. You say, Jose, it did happen.
CANSECO: Right.
BLITZER: Why should people believe you, given your track record?
CANSECO: Well, it's an accurate accounting. And I think the bottom line -- the bottom line is going to be, let's see what happens tomorrow. And certain other things are going to fall into place that will definitely show that what I'm writing in this book is the absolute truth.
BLITZER: Because when you were on "The Today Show" with Matt Lauer about a month or so ago, you said wait a month and you'll see something amazing that will confirm what you're saying. What were you referring to?
CANSECO: I really can't give that away. But it will happen. Eventually, the whole world will that what this book says is the truth.
BLITZER: Well, give us a clue. What are you alluding to?
CANSECO: I cannot give that away.
BLITZER: Are you referring to the hearings in Congress?
CANSECO: No. I cannot give that away.
SAUNOOKE: That's actually part of the hearings. What we're talking about more, there's no smoking gun. We don't have a letter or any kind of firm proof that's out there. We are looking at ways to confirm the veracity of what he says, including a polygraph test and including other things.
But, as far as credibility, that's what our biggest confusion right now is. We wanted to be able to say freely at Congress what had happened. And by not giving us immunity, they basically cut our legs off. And this comes down to credibility. That is what it comes down to.
BLITZER: I want to ask both of you to stand by a moment. I want to go to that news conference in Homosassa, Florida, that little 9- year-old girl that's been missing.
The sheriff is now speaking. I want to just listen in briefly.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
JEFFREY DAWSY, CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFF: My investigators and Savannah Police Department and FBI have been all through Savannah, have checked the areas that he was staying at and we were not able to locate him.
I do not see any reason to wait any longer and I thought it was important to bring you back together and give you the information as soon as possible, so, as you've done in the past, you can help us and maybe try to locate this individual a little bit earlier. So, that's really the reason why I've asked you to come in a day earlier than what initially was thought.
Very simply, as you well know, when this investigation started, we looked in the immediate area for anybody that met the sexual predator, sexual offender issue. Couey did not fit that M.O. of being in the immediate area. We progressed with our investigation and, as you were made aware of, we expanded our sexual offenders to not only the area around Jessica's house, but also into Citrus County and to surrounding counties in our community.
That was done very quickly, but there is quite a few, as we're well aware, and as of -- I think in the news release, it came to our attention. February 28 is when we started to try to make contact with this individual. We realized that he was not at that residence. Again, we had no belief that he was in the immediate vicinity of Jessica.
But my detectives then flagged him. And then, as of March 1, as you see, he was classified as an absconder. This is where it gets very interesting for us. We started getting some information through your help, getting the information out there, some leads, that this guy, Couey, should have been in a residence very close to Jessica's.
We also started doing some investigations and we were able to verify that. We went to the residence in question and one of the relatives to Couey denied that he was staying at that residence. With that information, we left. We continued on our investigation. One of our task force investigators -- Detective Farkus I believe was the detective -- was involved in a professional relationship with one of the relatives from another case of Couey.
And when that investigation started to surround Couey, he reached out to this person and says, yes, Couey was staying at that residence and we may be giving all the frank and correct information. We then went back to that residence, as you see in the press conference, and it was that -- I guess the relative did admit that Couey was staying at that residence. And that's a whole other issue that we'll deal with. And then, as we went further into an investigation in the latter part of last week...
BLITZER: Announcing -- the sheriff in Florida announcing that they are looking for this so-called person of interest, John Evander Couey, 46 years old.
Let's go to California, Van Nuys, California. The jury has reached a verdict in the case of Robert Blake. You are seeing Robert Blake live in the courtroom right now, 71 years old, accused of murdering his former wife.
Let's listen to the judge.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
JUDGE DARLENE SCHEMPP, LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT: Very unusual not -- for a trial of this length not to have some disruption. And on behalf of counsel and the court, I truly appreciate that.
As for the alternates, I don't know of a case where -- of this length where I have had just as many alternates that I started out with back in December. But thank you so much. You have played an important role. It was very reassuring to know that, just in the event an emergency arose, that one of you would have your name drawn out of a hat. And I hope that you did find it an interesting experience, even though you were not able to participate in the deliberations.
So, again, thank you very much. You have certainly been a very faithful, dedicated and very attentive jury.
All right, at this point in time, I will read the question. "We the jury in the above entitled action request -- well, it's not a request -- "have reached the following. In count one, a decision was reached. In count two, we are deadlocked. In count three, decision reached, this 16th day of March, foreperson juror No. 5."
As to count two, I don't wish to know how you stand, whether it's guilty or not guilty, but would you give me the numerical breakdown, if it's 6-6, 10-8.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's 11-1.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Eleven to one. OK. Thank you.
As to the verdicts, then, would you please hand them to the bailiff?
Would the clerk please read the verdicts?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, People of the State of California vs. Robert Blake.
We the jury in the above entitled action find the defendant, Robert Blake, not guilty of the crime of first-degree murder of Bonny Lee Bakley, in violation of Penal Code Section 187, Subsection A, as charged in count one of the information, this 11th day of March, 2005, signed by the foreperson, juror No. 5.
Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, People of the State of California vs. Robert Blake. We the jury in the above entitled action find the defendant, Robert Blake, not guilty of the crime of solicitation of murder, in violation of Penal Code Section 653-F, Subsection B, to solicit Gary McLarty to commit and join in the commission of the murder of Bonny Lee Bakley, as charged in count three of the information. This 14th day of March, 2005, signed by the foreperson, juror No. 5.
SCHEMPP: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, are these your verdicts? So say you one, so say you all?
JURY: Yes.
SCHEMPP: Do either of you wish to have the jury polled? OK. No. All right.
As to the count that you were hung on, count two, at this point in time, does counsel have any objection if I inquire whether it was for guilty or not guilty, the 11-1 division?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (OFF-MIKE) Your Honor, we (OFF-MIKE)
SCHEMPP: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (OFF-MIKE) the court. We had a discussion on (OFF-MIKE)
SCHEMPP: All right. I won't make that inquiry yet. I'm going to ask that the jurors step back into the jury room, then, for a moment. Let me counsel at the side.
BLITZER: And so there he is, Robert Blake, not guilty, not guilty first-degree murder, not guilty solicitation of murder, a very, very excited former star of "Baretta."
Let's get some analysis of what has just happened. Our senior legal analyst, Jeff Toobin, is on the phone.
You were watching this together with all of us. You've been watching this trial pretty closely over the past couple of years.
This whole case, Jeff, what do you make of it?
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SR. LEGAL ANALYST: I'll be darned. I'll tell you, Wolf, I'm pretty surprised.
I mean, it sure seemed like there was no other suspect even remotely plausible as the person who killed -- who killed Bonny Lee Bakley. And, you know, the evidence of motive was overwhelming. But there was no eyewitness. There was no murder weapon established. The victims -- the witnesses against him, particularly the people he was alleged to have solicited, were terrible lowlifes.
And the jury didn't buy it and the jury didn't buy the whole prosecution's case. But count me as surprised.
BLITZER: Explain what it means, this 11-1. We don't know which way it went on this second count, lying in wait. There was a hung jury, clearly, on that. What does that all mean in English?
TOOBIN: Well, I think, given the other two verdicts, you have to assume -- and I bet we will find out, perhaps in a couple of minutes, that this was 11-1 for acquittal. I can't imagine that they rejected the rest of the case, but 11-1 wanted to find him guilty.
The way -- the charge against him was murder with the circumstance of lying in wait. Lying in wait makes him eligible for life in prison. This was not a death penalty case, but lying in wait is something that makes things worse.
BLITZER: All right, hold on, Jeff, a little bit. We're listening to the judge again.
SCHEMPP: Is it guilty or not guilty, the 11?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Eleven-to-one split was for not guilty.
SCHEMPP: OK. So, one person was for guilt?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Correct.
SCHEMPP: OK. All right, then, I will declare a hung jury on that count, and OK.
I have a jury instruction, then, to give you before you are asked to step back into the jury room. There will be -- the jury clerk will be in there to talk to you. And if you wish to talk to the attorneys, I don't know whether they'll both be available, but, anyhow, that will be up to you. Let me give you the jury instruction that I just lost. Here we go.
All right, this is the last instruction you'll have to listen to, maybe until next year, when your turn comes up.
(LAUGHTER)
SCHEMPP: Members and alternate members of the jury, you have now completed your service as jurors in this case. On behalf of the Superior Court, I want to thank you for giving your time and efforts to the administration of justice.
BLITZER: All right, so, Judge Darlene Schempp, Judge Darlene Schempp, Los Angeles Superior Court, reading instructions to the jury.
Clearly, he is shaken, but he's thrilled. Robert Blake, 71 years old, many of us remember him as the star of "Baretta" on television. Not guilty, not guilty first-degree murder, not guilty solicitation of murder, 11-1 not guilty, basically, 11 said, in terms of lying in wait, that special circumstance.
Jeff, you accurately predicted precisely what the judge wound up saying on that 11-1 issue. There was no clear decision on that; 11-1, though, seems pretty significant.
What does it mean for his legal problems, though, down the road?
TOOBIN: Well, at least in theory, I believe, the prosecution could retry him on that one count. But it seems to me almost unheard of and unlikely that the prosecution, having had their case so roundly and totally rejected, try to salvage this sliver.
Robert Blake is 70 years old. The prosecution had its chance to convict him. They failed in spectacular fashion. I can't imagine they would cling to this one juror's decision as an opportunity to, you know, make the taxpayers of Los Angeles pay for another very long and expensive trial.
BLITZER: The -- I mean, for those of us who weren't following this case all that closely, you were following it pretty closely -- you were surprised by this verdict.
TOOBIN: I was. I mean, this really was a story out of a bad novel. And just to summarize it briefly, Bonny Lee Bakley was kind of a grifter, a woman who both sides acknowledge kind of tricked Robert Blake into having sex with her and getting pregnant.
Blake didn't want to have anything to do with her, married her to be able to take care of her child, but it was -- the child that they had together, but it was a terribly unhappy marriage. They went to dinner one night at a restaurant in the San Fernando Valley. They were -- according to Blake, they were -- they left together. They parked in a car. He says he went back in to find his gun, which he left there. When he came back, he found his wife murdered. It was a peculiar story. But the gun that Blake had was not the murder weapon. The murder weapon could never be found or tied to him. And there was no eyewitness to how this woman was killed.
But, boy, it sure seemed like he was the only person with the opportunity, the motive and the means to kill her, but the jury didn't agree.
BLITZER: So, basically, he walks out of this courtroom right now a free man? Is that right, Jeff?
TOOBIN: One hundred percent, free as he can be.
BLITZER: And that's it. His lawyer -- his lawyer was a well- known criminal defense attorney.
TOOBIN: His lawyer is a well-known criminal defense attorney.
And, interestingly, one of the big issues in this case, another thing -- this case just dragged on and on, from 2001, the murder, to today's acquittal. The key moment in the case was when Robert Blake was released on bail. His lawyer at that time was Thomas Mesereau, who is now, of course, Michael Jackson's lawyer.
Blake had a falling-out with Mesereau. Mesereau left the case. But Mesereau did him a tremendous, tremendous service, because he had been in jail for more than a year, being held without bail. But Mesereau got him out on bail, and he never went back in. And now it looks like he's never going back in.
BLITZER: Let's show our viewers once again the reaction of Robert Blake when the judge, when he heard the words not guilty. Let's listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, People of the State of California vs. Robert Blake.
We the jury in the above entitled action find the defendant, Robert Blake, not guilty of the crime of first-degree murder of Bonny Lee Bakley, in violation of Penal Code Section 187, Subsection A, as charged in count one of the information, this 11th day of March, 2005, signed by the foreperson, juror No. 5.
Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, People of the State of California vs. Robert Blake. We the jury in the above entitled action find the defendant, Robert Blake, not guilty of the crime of solicitation of murder, in violation of Penal Code Section...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: All right, so there it is, Robert Blake, the videotape showing his -- he's crying out of thrill. He is so happy right now that I guess totally understandable, what has gone through.
The proceedings, Jeffrey, are continuing right now., his attorney there standing alongside Robert Blake, but Robert Blake presumably reborn right now after what he has gone through. We'll continue to watch what's happening in the courtroom. We'll stand by for reaction outside the courtroom.
We'll have much more coverage of this all through the night here on CNN. We'll take a quick break, though.
When we come back, baseball and steroids. Jose Canseco, he's still here. He's the player right now at the heart of this storm, the testimony scheduled tomorrow before a House committee. More with Jose Canseco and his attorney when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: As you saw live here on CNN just a few moments ago, Robert Blake not guilty, not guilty first-degree murder, not degree solicitation -- not guilty solicitation of murder. And now the other third count, lying in wait, the judge has dismissed that; 11-1, that was the vote inside the jury. But the judge decided to dismiss that count. He is now a free man.
In fact, the judge has just announced, Darlene Schempp, that they are returning his passport to Robert Blake. He is a free man. He can go about and do whatever he wants that's legal right now. You see him exhausted, emotionally drained, clearly, clearly thrilled by what has happened.
We'll continue to follow that story.
But let's get back to Jose Canseco, who is scheduled to testify tomorrow without immunity at a congressional hearing on steroid use in Major League Baseball. We're joined again once again by Jose and his attorney, Rob Saunooke.
You were watching all of this with all of us unfold. You've had enormous legal problems yourself, Jose. And I'm sure, while you were watching the not-guilty verdict for Robert Blake, you were thinking about yourself. What were you thinking?
CANSECO: Well, how stressful it must have been to be under that situation there, where you are looking at the death penalty. It must have been devastating.
BLITZER: The thing about your testimony tomorrow -- and just to update our viewers who may just be tuning in, you're not going to be granted immunity from prosecution. As a result, you will be there, but you will not answer a lot of the questions, most of the questions and take the Fifth, so you don't incriminate yourself.
You realize, though, every time you say that, people watching on television are going to simply assume you've got something to hide and you must be guilty.
CANSECO: My attorney can elaborate why we're actually taking this route.
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: Just -- but you understand the impression, the perception, Rob, that you're going to leave by letting your client -- by making your client take the Fifth.
SAUNOOKE: Well, we understand exactly what the perception is going to be. The problem is, we've been willing to come forward. It's not the Congress that we're afraid of. It's overzealous state attorneys, who might take this opportunity to prosecute Jose.
He's on probation right now. And if he says, for instance, I'm taking steroids now that are legally prescribed by a doctor, perfectly legal to do so, but they could then prosecute him, hold him in violation of probation, lock him up, while I have to go then litigate that issue.
BLITZER: You begged, literally, appealed to the chairman, Tom Davis, of this committee, the ranking Democrat, Henry Waxman, for immunity and they turned you down. What did they say? Why?
SAUNOOKE: Well, they didn't tell us exactly why. But what is surprising to us is, we were told over and over again, this is not a witch-hunt. We're not worried about personalities. We're not trying to get anyone individually.
But the only person whose credibility was being attacked is Jose Canseco. And, if it's credibility that is at issue, he has to be free to defend that credibility. He can't do so without immunity. And what you are saying is 100 percent correct. The perception will be that he has something to hide. And he doesn't. The book does elaborate on some of the things that went on in his life, some of the people he dealt with. Without immunity, we can't tell the whole story. It makes me question why Congress is convening this hearing.
BLITZER: Has anyone, Jose, come forward and sued you as a result of the allegations that you've made in your book?
CANSECO: No one individual, no.
BLITZER: Has anyone, Rob, threatened lawsuits or anything like that?
SAUNOOKE: No. It would be foolish to do so. The same questions would come up, the same testifying under oath. The civil cases, we're not worried about. It's the criminal cases, the criminal ramifications that are of concern to us right now.
BLITZER: All right, Well, let's talk a little bit about the big issue that members of Congress want to deal with tomorrow, the use of steroids in baseball. How widespread, in your experience, is it right now?
CANSECO: Right now, I think it's very minimal because of this book that came out, "Juiced." I think all players have stopped steroid use. I think they want to see what's going to happen with Congress, how much is Congress going to intervene in this. And, basically, they want right now, certain individuals, certain players, Major League Baseball to protect them. So we have to wait and see what Congress does.
BLITZER: Well, when you were a player, how widespread was it?
CANSECO: I truly believe that, at the peak of the steroid use, it was probably about 80 percent.
BLITZER: The reason you decided to start using these dangerous drugs, Jose, you write about it in the book, but it was a very personal decision that you made.
CANSECO: Yes, there's a chapter that explains, when my mom passed away in 1984, I was playing with the Modesto A's. I was called to fly back home to Florida by my sister Teresa. She never told me why. She just said, well, mom is real sick. Come home.
And I flew home. From the airport, I went to the hospital, went inside the room and my mother was dead, gone. A huge brain aneurysm had ruptured in her head and she died. My mother had never seen me play baseball before. And, you know, I wanted to do something for her. And I promised her that right there on her deathbed that I'd become the best baseball player, the best athlete in the world.
BLITZER: But who told you that using steroids would make you a better player?
CANSECO: Well, I didn't know that at the time.
After about a month and a half later, I went back to single-A. I then went to -- called instructional league. I played there, went back home. And then, just from friends -- you know, I was looking for a way to get bigger, faster, stronger, have more knowledge of the game of baseball. And I promised that to my mother. And I told myself, I'll go to any lengths to become the best player in the world.
BLITZER: But your mother, who loved you very much, would not have been happy knowing you were putting this poison in your body.
CANSECO: Back then, I don't think they would even know what it was, really. Steroids was not really as well known as what they are now.
BLITZER: But knowing what you know right now, this was a bad decision you made.
CANSECO: Well, I definitely don't recommend steroids for everyone. In my case...
BLITZER: Wait a second. For everyone? Do you recommend them for anyone?
CANSECO: I do. In my case, because -- I mean, steroids were invented for medicinal reasons. In my case, because I was from high school, graduated 5'10'', 160 problems, I had constant major back problems. I could remember coming home, let's say, from practice and falling to the ground and being paralyzed for 30 minutes.
BLITZER: But it's one thing if a doctor gives you a prescription for steroids. You may need it. There may be a medical need. It's another thing to do it just so that -- for -- to get bulkier or to be able to hit the ball further.
CANSECO: No, exactly. And I'm mentioning that, for myself, personally, it worked for me, because I truly believe, if it weren't for certain use of steroids, I would be a physical wreck right now, because I was not genetically disposed as other people, meaning, I -- at the high school level, I already had developed scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, arthritis.
So, for me, it helped. But I don't recommend it to kids. I don't recommend it to anyone. I would rather people find out information about it before actually using it. And they are illegal. You do have to have a prescription for them.
BLITZER: We know that, that we'll be knowing a lot more about it after this hearing tomorrow.
CANSECO: Yes.
BLITZER: Jose Canseco has written a book entitled "Juiced."
Thanks very much for joining us.
CANSECO: Thank you for having me.
BLITZER: Rob Saunooke, his attorney, is here as well.
Thanks to you as well.
SAUNOOKE: Thanks, Wolf.
BLITZER: We'll be watching these hearings tomorrow.
CANSECO: Right.
BLITZER: We'll have extensive coverage here on CNN throughout the morning and afternoon.
And, to our viewers, here's your chance to weigh in on this story. Our Web question is this: Should baseball players be banned from the game if they use steroids? You can vote right now. Go to CNN.com/Wolf. We'll have the results when we return.
We'll take a quick break. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: Here's how you are weighing in on our Web question of the day. Should baseball players be banned from the game if they use steroids? Take a look at this; 82 percent of you say yes; 18 percent of you say no. Remember, though, this is not a scientific poll.
A reminder, you can always catch WOLF BLITZER REPORTS weekdays at this time, 5:00 p.m. Eastern. I'm also on the air weekdays, noon Eastern.
Until tomorrow, thanks very much for joining us.
"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now with Pitty Pilgrim -- Kitty Pilgrim, Kitty Pilgrim -- sorry -- standing by.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired March 16, 2005 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Happening now: there is a verdict for TV star Robert Blake. Will he be found guilty of murder or acquitted?
Also, there are new developments in the search for that missing Florida girl, Jessica Lunsford. After weeks with no leads, authorities are about to name someone they are calling a person of interest in their investigation. You'll see it live here this hour.
And to his critics around the world, President Bush announces another so-called in your face appointment, this time to head the World Bank.
Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): From national security to Social Security.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's important to talk about a permanent fix. Something that will last forever.
BLITZER: The president speaks his mind.
From poison gas to plague. Just a day after an anthrax scare, a list leaks out, cataloging all the ways terrorists could attack America.
On the eve of St. Patrick's Day, why are key Irish-Americans speaking out against the IRA? I'll ask Senator Edward Kennedy.
Steroids in sports. His tell-all book names names. Now Congress wants to know more. I'll speak with former slugger Jose Canseco.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Wednesday, March 16, 2005.
BLITZER: Thanks for joining us.
We're keeping an eye on two breaking stories we're following this hour. The jury in actor Robert Blake's murder trial in Los Angeles has now reached a verdict, according to the Associated Press, on two of the three charges against the actor. We're expecting the verdict to be read just a short time from now. We'll have live coverage when that happens.
Blake has been on trial on charges that he killed his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, in May 2001. She was shot -- shot to death outside a restaurant in Studio City. The 71-year-old Blake has maintained he's not guilty. He could face life in prison if convicted. The jury has been deliberating for eight days. We'll go there live. Once it's read, the verdict.
Also we're awaiting a news conference in Florida. Police there are releasing new information about the so-called person of interest in the case of that missing 9-year-old girl. The man they're expected to identify is said to be a convicted sex offender.
Jessica Lunsford disappeared from her home late last month. She was last seen in her bedroom. We'll go to Florida live for that news conference, as well.
But let's begin with the president at the White House. The kitchen sink wasn't mentioned, but almost everything else came as President Bush held up -- held a wide-ranging news conference earlier today, including the Middle East, the price of gas and even baseball and steroids. But it seemed the president wanted to speak most about Social Security.
Let's go over to the White House, our correspondent there, Dana Bash, standing by -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf. Well, it definitely was a wide-ranging news conference. The president even tried to downplay how much he thinks about his legacy, joking that he doesn't wonder the Oval Office, asking portraits about his standing.
But you're right. It did seem to be the reason that he came into the -- into the briefing room. It seemed to be Social Security and the uphill climb he has getting that through Congress.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BASH (voice-over): The president came before reporters to urge lawmakers to start looking for permanent solutions to keep Social Security out of the red.
BUSH: I think it's important that we talk about a permanent fix, something that will last forever.
BASH: But Mr. Bush still refused to offer his own ideas to make the system solvent, even as he concedes the crux of his plan doesn't do the trick.
BUSH: Personal accounts do not solve the issue. Personal accounts will make sure that individual workers get a better deal with whatever emerges as a Social Security solution.
BASH: Bush aides admit it's a crucial time for his top domestic goal. Members of Congress will be home meeting with constituents and facing a well-organized opposition, already buoyed by polls showing the president's plan in trouble.
Mr. Bush wants reforming Social Security for his legacy. The Iraq war still defines his presidency. He said he spoke to Italy's prime minister and tried to downplay his ally's decision to start withdrawing troops from Iraq in September.
BUSH: Any withdrawals would be done in consultation with allies and would be done depending upon the ability of the Iraqis to defend themselves.
BASH: The president hailed the first meeting of the Iraqi National Assembly as a brat moment for the region and again pressed for free elections in Lebanon. But walked a fine, even precarious line on the possibility of Hezbollah, which he again called a terrorist group, winning power at the polls.
BUSH: Maybe someone will run for office saying, "Vote for me. I look forward to blowing up America." I don't know. I don't know if that will be their platform or not. But I think people generally say, "Vote for me. I'm looking forward to fixing your potholes."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: And in that 48-minute news conference, the president also defended the post-9/11 new policy that essentially allows suspected terrorists to be arrested on the streets and sent back to their countries of origin -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Dana Bash at the White House, thanks very much.
A key architect and major proponent of the war in Iraq is being tapped for a new job. President Bush is nominating Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz to be the next head of the World Bank.
CNN's Mary Snow is standing by live in New York with more on what's being described as a controversial pick -- Mary.
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, Paul Wolfowitz this afternoon saying that he is honored by the nomination, that he believes passionately in the World Bank. Treasury Secretary John Snow among those praising him this afternoon.
But critics are questioning the choice.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW (voice-over): Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz is best known as one of the architects of the Iraq war. But President Bush cites his management experience at the Pentagon and his role as a former ambassador to Indonesia as his reasons why Wolfowitz should be head of the World Bank.
BUSH: Paul is committed to development. He's a compassionate, decent man who will do a fine job in the World Bank.
SNOW: Wolfowitz won out over other names that have been rumored in recent weeks, such as former Secretary of State Colin Powell, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and Irish rock star Bono.
Current president James Wolfensohn is retiring. While he may not be a household name, some say his job is one of the most important in the world. The World Bank president leads 184-member nations in a mission to fight poverty and foster development around the globe.
By tradition, the U.S. picks the World Bank president. Overseas, Wolfowitz faces opposition.
GREG VALLIERE, POLITICAL ECONOMIST: You'd have to say based on Wolfowitz' entire career he's very qualified for this job but I think many people in western Europe view him for one thing and one thing only, and that's Iraq. And he is a real hot and I think for many in western Europe, this is a very provocative act.
SNOW: And economist Jeffrey Sachs thinks that's exactly why Wolfowitz was picked.
JEFFREY SACHS, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY: It's a kind of in your face move, and who knows what's going to happen?
SNOW: The World Bank loans billions of dollars each year to financially strapped countries. Sachs is among critics who voice concern that aid will be measured not based on need but on support of U.S. policy.
SACHS: Many countries have been waiting decades for getting their debts canceled, but it was Iraq and only Iraq, where the president sent around a personal emissary to cancel Iraq's debts in 30 days.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: Now, since about 1944, the U.S. has traditionally chosen the head of the World Bank, while European officials traditionally choose the head of its sister organization, the International Monetary Fund -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Mary Snow, reporting for us from New York. Mary, thank you very much. And only a few moments ago, Paul Wolfowitz spoke out about this nomination. This is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL WOLFOWITZ, WORLD BANK PRESIDENT NOMINEE: I believe when it comes to poverty reduction, there is a common sense of purpose. I'm a good listener, and I expect to do a lot of listening. But I also believe this is a mission in which people are looking for leadership, and I am -- be honored to be able to provide it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Almost two years after the fall of Saddam Hussein, recently elected lawmakers in Baghdad took their places today in Iraq's newly elected national assembly. But are they ready to start running the country? CNN's Aneesh Raman reports from Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): More than six weeks after Iraq's elections, members of the national assembly are sworn in, set to soon draft the country's constitution and take over day-to-day affairs, including security, an urgent need highlighted this day by mortar attacks in Baghdad and a car bombing in Baqubah.
But absent from the gathering, any nomination of transitional leaders. Negotiations still ongoing.
ADEL ABDUL MAHDI, IRAQI FINANCE MINISTER: We are ready to start deliberations on the formation of the government. I think by the current of next week we'll have a government in Iraq.
RAMAN: One reason for the delay: the majority parties are seeking a unity government with as many groups as possible, ranging from the Sunnis, who chose to boycott the election, to Ayad Allawi's secular Iraqi list. That means resolution on critical issues must be addressed now, such as how significant a role Islam will play as a source of law for the new government. And is why the likely next prime minister, Shia Ibrahim al-Jaafari, is speaking with moderation.
IBRAHIM AL-JAAFARI, IRAQI DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Respect for human rights. The role of women and everything related to freedom is relevant (ph).
RAMAN: And motions are high during this critical stage. Shouts came as a Kurd legislator demanded the oath be read not only in Arabic but in Kurdish, as well. The irony of the day, not lost on anyone, especially the Kurds. This is a 17th anniversary of the gassing in Halabja, when thousands of Kurds were killed by Saddam.
(on camera) But perhaps the most important aspect of today was reminding the Iraqi people, who voted this assembly in at the end of January, that the government is moving forward and that democracy is taking root.
Aneesh Raman, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: A verdict is now in for TV star Robert Blake. That will be announced live this hour. Will he be found guilty of murder or acquitted?
Admissions and accusations about the use of steroids in baseball. Jose Canseco details his experiences in a new book. He joins me live here in Washington just ahead of tomorrow's congressional hearings.
Missing girl mystery. Authorities in Florida holding a news conference this hour to name someone they're calling a person of interest in the disappearance of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford. And disaster scenarios. From the detonation of a nuclear device to the release of poison gas. A new list outlines many ways the U.S. could be attacked. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back.
Tomorrow, a who's who of current and former baseball stars will be here in Washington on Capitol Hill as the House Government Reform Committee opens hearings on steroid use in the sport.
Among those called to testify, former Major League Baseball star Jose Canseco. He's the author of a new tell-all book who will join us live here in a few minutes. First, though, we'll meet a Texas man who will also testify in tomorrow's hearings for a very personal reason.
CNN's congressional correspondent, Ed Henry, is standing by live with his story -- Ed.
ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, that man is Don Hooton, whose family was shattered by steroids. And he's furious at some of the baseball stars, who had been trying to avoid testifying tomorrow.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DON HOOTON, SON COMMITTED SUICIDE AFTER TAKING STEROIDS: They've been cowards in cheating, and using short cuts to set major league records. And what message are we sending the kids now when we're not prepared to stand up like men and take responsibility for what we've been doing?
HENRY (voice-over): Tough talk, but if anyone has the right to speak out, it's Hooton. His son Taylor became hooked on steroids and fell into a depression. Twenty months ago, at age 17, he committed suicide.
HOOTON: There's no words you can put into it. Your whole life is your kids.
HENRY: Taylor was a right-handed pitcher with a nasty fastball. He'd been playing since he was 5 and wanted to make it to the big leagues like his dad's cousin, Burt Hooton.
Taylor was already 175 pounds, but a coach urged him to bulk, so he started secretly taking steroids and put on 30 pounds, but soon developed side effects from acne to terrible mood swings.
HOOTON: On at least two occasions, he took -- he's a pitcher now. He'd take his fist and drove them through a sheetrock wall, only to find out 10 minutes later, find him downstairs crying, telling his mom and his dad that he felt sorry for what he did.
HENRY: There were other danger signs, all of them missed.
HOOTON: We used to, you know have to bring him bottle after bottle of mouthwash. We couldn't figure out, what are you doing with all of this mouth wash? Well, as it turned out, one of the symptoms of steroid abuse is bad breath.
HENRY: On a plane ride back from a family vacation, Taylor wrote a long love letter to his high school sweetheart and talked about marriage. The next day, he took his own life.
HOOTON: Here was a kid who was looking about the future, planning his future, and just one day later would take his life. It just doesn't make sense.
HENRY: So Don Hooton is on a mission, speaking at high schools like this one, where nine teens had just gotten caught using steroids. And Hooton is testifying on Capitol Hill.
HOOTON: Today's high school student has no fear getting caught.
HENRY: It's difficult for Hooton to discuss. But a grief counselor told him that every time he talks about his loss, it takes away a little bit of the pain.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HENRY: Don Hooton has gotten his wish. CNN has learned that all of the current and former major league ballplayers who have been subpoenaed will be testifying at this hearing on Capitol Hill tomorrow.
But CNN has also confirmed that none of the current or former players will be granted immunity from prosecution. That is upsetting Jose Canseco in particular. His attorney is saying that he may invoke the Fifth Amendment on some of the questions offered by the committee -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right. Ed Henry, thanks very much for that report.
This additional note on the subject of steroids and professional baseball. A new poll by ABC News and ESPN finds 62 percent of those asked think players who are found to have used steroids should not be able to keep the records they set. And 66 percent think those same players should be barred from the baseball hall of fame.
When we come back, steroids and baseball. His book tells all. Now Congress wants to know more. Jose Canseco, he's here in the studio. He's standing by to join us live. He'll tell us, will he answer questions tomorrow from members of the U.S. Congress?
Plus, there's a new development in the case of that missing 9- year-old Florida girl. We're expecting an announcement regarding a so-called person of interest.
And we're also expecting the verdict for TV star Robert Blake. Just been announced there will be a verdict shortly. We'll have live coverage of that, as well.
And later, a break in tradition. Why Senator Edward Kennedy is snubbing Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams this St. Patrick's Day. My interview with the senator, that's still to come.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back.
Police in Citrus County, Florida, are releasing new details about that so-called person of interest they're seeking in the case of a missing 9-year-old girl. CNN's John Zarrella is keeping track of all the latest developments. He's on the phone now from Homosassa in Florida.
What have you learned, John?
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the press conference expected to begin within 10 minutes. But the police here already releasing a statement saying the name of the man they are looking for, and they have released a picture, is 46-year-old John "Johnny" Evander Couey.
And the bottom line is, he is a registered sex offender. He was, according to this police report, staying with relatives near the Lunsford -- Jessica Lunsford's home. And at some point in time, some one of the relatives actually gave him a bus ticket for Savannah, Georgia. That's where he's last reported to have been.
Now Couey is a sex offender because in 1991 he was arrested on charges of sex offense for fondling a child under the age of 16. Police are insisting, however, that they do not know what, if any, involvement he had in Jessica Lunsford's disappearance, Wolf. But they do want to talk to him, and they add, he is prone to violence when under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
So the picture that we have seen here now is the man that police in Citrus County want to talk to in relation to the disappearance of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford about three weeks ago -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right. John Zarrella breaking that story for us. Thanks, John, very much. We'll stand by for that news conference in 10 minutes or so.
Let's move on now. We return to baseball and steroids. Former major leaguer Jose Canseco has written about his experiences with steroids in his tell-all book entitled "Juiced." As we mentioned, he's among those scheduled to testify at tomorrow's congressional hearing. And he has not, repeat not, been granted immunity.
For that reason, Jose Canseco joins us now here in Washington along with his attorney, Rob Saunooke. Thanks, Rob, for joining us and Jose, thanks to you, as well.
You're going to appear before these members of Congress tomorrow. They're going to ask you to swear in, say you're telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. And then they're going to ask you questions. When they start asking you questions, Jose, what are you going to say?
JOSE CANSECO, FORMER PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYER: I think my attorney can elaborate more on that, on what really needs to be done.
BLITZER: Because you have not been granted immunity. The question, Rob, is he going to answer questions?
ROB SAUNOOKE, CANSECO'S ATTORNEY: We're going to take it on a question by question basis. Obviously, the questions that are somewhat easily answered like what's your name, where do you live, we'll answer those. But things that deal directly with his involvement of steroids in baseball, we intend to plead the fifth on.
BLITZER: Well, once you start answering any questions, can you selectively decide where you want to plead the fifth and not plead the fifth? I was under the assumption is you want to take the fifth you can't answer any questions.
SAUNOOKE: Well, not every question is a Fifth Amendment question. What your name is is not something that might lead to incriminate you. That would be something that the Fifth Amendment would not have application to. But you can take it on a question by question basis.
All along we have said that we want to be there. We want to help Congress. We want to get to the bottom of this problem, which is steroids in baseball. That's why we were the only people who asked for immunity. We're the ones who have the most to fear.
BLITZER: Well, what do you specifically have to fear? He's written a whole book about steroids and baseball. What possibly could he fear by testifying now before a U.S. congressional committee?
SAUNOOKE: Well, as you know, it's one thing to say something in a book or on TV. It's another thing to swear it under oath, where you are sworn to tell the truth with ramifications of perjury and truthful statements. Jose's on probation right now. We've experienced some very -- we believe to be unfair handling by state attorneys in Florida of his cases down there. And he don't want to expose him to more liability if he truthfully answers about steroids now.
BLITZER: So you'll be largely mum tomorrow, Jose, once the substantive questions about steroid use in baseball start going forward. Is that your conclusion?
CANSECO: Depending on what the line of questioning is, yes.
BLITZER: All right. Well, let's talk about some of the things that you've written in this book. I want to play a brief excerpt of what Barry Bonds, who will not be testifying tomorrow, because he's involved in some other federal investigations, what he says about your allegation that he used steroids. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARRY BONDS, BASEBALL PLAYER: To me, Canseco, you got to come with a whole lot more than what you're talking about. And fiction is fiction, man. I mean, there's a whole bunch of those books and stories out there. Basically, you know, it's just -- it's to make a buck. It's all it is. It's about making money.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: All right. That's what the accusation is. A lot people have made that accusation, Jose. You're simply out to sell a lot of copies of this book and make a lot of money.
CANSECO: Well, my dealings with Barry Bonds wasn't really direct. I mean, I never injected him in any way, shape or form. Never really talked about steroids in any direct way. It was just an incident which I actually mention in the actual book.
We had a home run competition in Las Vegas, the year he actually broke the home run record, or severed the home run record completely. And he saw me, and I think I weighed about 255 pounds or something like that. He saw me and he went, you know, right across the room, like, "What the hell have you been doing" with a more vulgar word and how ironic. You know, I happened to go on and win that competition, and all of a sudden, he puts on 30 pounds in spring training and he's just enormous and he breaks the homerun record.
BLITZER: But that's total speculation on your part. You have no direct first-hand knowledge that Barry Bonds ever injected himself or took pills or took steroids.
CANSECO: No, no direct first-hand knowledge. I was asked my opinion about it, and with the trained eye I've got, I definitely think Barry Bonds was using steroids.
BLITZER: But isn't that just an opinion?
CANSECO: Yes.
BLITZER: You're trying to smear the home run king, if you will. You're trying to smear him. Don't you need a lot more than just an opinion?
CANSECO: Well, that's all I really -- I only had on him was an opinion, absolutely. And I speak about that. I've mentioned that a whole bunch of times.
BLITZER: Let's talk about Mark McGwire. He totally denies your accusation, as well. "I feel sorry to see someone turn to such drastic measures to accomplish a personal agenda at the expense of so many. The relationship that these allegations portray couldn't be further from the truth."
He then goes on to say, once and for all, "I did not use steroids or any other illegal substance."
CANSECO: Mark McGwire was a totally separate entity, obviously. I injected him. He knows that. I injected him. And...
BLITZER: Injected him with what?
CANSECO: With steroids. And we spoke about it quite frequently. Steroid use in baseball, absolutely.
BLITZER: How many times?
CANSECO: It was definitely once or twice. I'm not really sure because back then, I mean, it wasn't a big deal to use steroids. It was like having a cup of coffee, and we weren't counting.
BLITZER: How many other players did you inject?
CANSECO: There were a few other players, the ones that were mentioned in the actual book.
BLITZER: Give us a ballpark estimate.
SAUNOOKE: Wolf, I don't want him to answer questions about his handling or distribution or anything involved with steroids and drugs, because that's some of the things they're going to ask us in Congress tomorrow that because we haven't been given immunity we're not going to deal with.
BLITZER: So you can't give that, even though you write about that in the book.
SAUNOOKE: He doesn't write about injecting a lot of people, except for the Mark McGwire incident. The rest of them he just talks about mostly the information he shared with them.
And you have to remember that this book is written about his life. It wasn't meant to attack any players. It wasn't meant to name names, just for the simple reason that they're there. These are people he came in contact with. I would write a book tomorrow and guess who I'd put in it. I'd put Wolf Blitzer in it, because tonight I'm on Wolf Blitzer.
BLITZER: But you wouldn't necessarily say I was injecting myself with steroids before the interview.
SAUNOOKE: It depends on what we do after the interview maybe.
BLITZER: No. You can't be -- you're dealing with people's reputations. You're dealing with people's lives. And it's one thing to have an opinion, and Mark McGwire says it didn't happen. You say, Jose, it did happen.
CANSECO: Right.
BLITZER: Why should people believe you, given your track record?
CANSECO: Well, it's an accurate accounting. And I think the bottom line -- the bottom line is going to be, let's see what happens tomorrow. And certain other things are going to fall into place that will definitely show that what I'm writing in this book is the absolute truth.
BLITZER: Because when you were on "The Today Show" with Matt Lauer about a month or so ago, you said wait a month and you'll see something amazing that will confirm what you're saying. What were you referring to?
CANSECO: I really can't give that away. But it will happen. Eventually, the whole world will that what this book says is the truth.
BLITZER: Well, give us a clue. What are you alluding to?
CANSECO: I cannot give that away.
BLITZER: Are you referring to the hearings in Congress?
CANSECO: No. I cannot give that away.
SAUNOOKE: That's actually part of the hearings. What we're talking about more, there's no smoking gun. We don't have a letter or any kind of firm proof that's out there. We are looking at ways to confirm the veracity of what he says, including a polygraph test and including other things.
But, as far as credibility, that's what our biggest confusion right now is. We wanted to be able to say freely at Congress what had happened. And by not giving us immunity, they basically cut our legs off. And this comes down to credibility. That is what it comes down to.
BLITZER: I want to ask both of you to stand by a moment. I want to go to that news conference in Homosassa, Florida, that little 9- year-old girl that's been missing.
The sheriff is now speaking. I want to just listen in briefly.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
JEFFREY DAWSY, CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFF: My investigators and Savannah Police Department and FBI have been all through Savannah, have checked the areas that he was staying at and we were not able to locate him.
I do not see any reason to wait any longer and I thought it was important to bring you back together and give you the information as soon as possible, so, as you've done in the past, you can help us and maybe try to locate this individual a little bit earlier. So, that's really the reason why I've asked you to come in a day earlier than what initially was thought.
Very simply, as you well know, when this investigation started, we looked in the immediate area for anybody that met the sexual predator, sexual offender issue. Couey did not fit that M.O. of being in the immediate area. We progressed with our investigation and, as you were made aware of, we expanded our sexual offenders to not only the area around Jessica's house, but also into Citrus County and to surrounding counties in our community.
That was done very quickly, but there is quite a few, as we're well aware, and as of -- I think in the news release, it came to our attention. February 28 is when we started to try to make contact with this individual. We realized that he was not at that residence. Again, we had no belief that he was in the immediate vicinity of Jessica.
But my detectives then flagged him. And then, as of March 1, as you see, he was classified as an absconder. This is where it gets very interesting for us. We started getting some information through your help, getting the information out there, some leads, that this guy, Couey, should have been in a residence very close to Jessica's.
We also started doing some investigations and we were able to verify that. We went to the residence in question and one of the relatives to Couey denied that he was staying at that residence. With that information, we left. We continued on our investigation. One of our task force investigators -- Detective Farkus I believe was the detective -- was involved in a professional relationship with one of the relatives from another case of Couey.
And when that investigation started to surround Couey, he reached out to this person and says, yes, Couey was staying at that residence and we may be giving all the frank and correct information. We then went back to that residence, as you see in the press conference, and it was that -- I guess the relative did admit that Couey was staying at that residence. And that's a whole other issue that we'll deal with. And then, as we went further into an investigation in the latter part of last week...
BLITZER: Announcing -- the sheriff in Florida announcing that they are looking for this so-called person of interest, John Evander Couey, 46 years old.
Let's go to California, Van Nuys, California. The jury has reached a verdict in the case of Robert Blake. You are seeing Robert Blake live in the courtroom right now, 71 years old, accused of murdering his former wife.
Let's listen to the judge.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
JUDGE DARLENE SCHEMPP, LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT: Very unusual not -- for a trial of this length not to have some disruption. And on behalf of counsel and the court, I truly appreciate that.
As for the alternates, I don't know of a case where -- of this length where I have had just as many alternates that I started out with back in December. But thank you so much. You have played an important role. It was very reassuring to know that, just in the event an emergency arose, that one of you would have your name drawn out of a hat. And I hope that you did find it an interesting experience, even though you were not able to participate in the deliberations.
So, again, thank you very much. You have certainly been a very faithful, dedicated and very attentive jury.
All right, at this point in time, I will read the question. "We the jury in the above entitled action request -- well, it's not a request -- "have reached the following. In count one, a decision was reached. In count two, we are deadlocked. In count three, decision reached, this 16th day of March, foreperson juror No. 5."
As to count two, I don't wish to know how you stand, whether it's guilty or not guilty, but would you give me the numerical breakdown, if it's 6-6, 10-8.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's 11-1.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Eleven to one. OK. Thank you.
As to the verdicts, then, would you please hand them to the bailiff?
Would the clerk please read the verdicts?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, People of the State of California vs. Robert Blake.
We the jury in the above entitled action find the defendant, Robert Blake, not guilty of the crime of first-degree murder of Bonny Lee Bakley, in violation of Penal Code Section 187, Subsection A, as charged in count one of the information, this 11th day of March, 2005, signed by the foreperson, juror No. 5.
Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, People of the State of California vs. Robert Blake. We the jury in the above entitled action find the defendant, Robert Blake, not guilty of the crime of solicitation of murder, in violation of Penal Code Section 653-F, Subsection B, to solicit Gary McLarty to commit and join in the commission of the murder of Bonny Lee Bakley, as charged in count three of the information. This 14th day of March, 2005, signed by the foreperson, juror No. 5.
SCHEMPP: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, are these your verdicts? So say you one, so say you all?
JURY: Yes.
SCHEMPP: Do either of you wish to have the jury polled? OK. No. All right.
As to the count that you were hung on, count two, at this point in time, does counsel have any objection if I inquire whether it was for guilty or not guilty, the 11-1 division?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (OFF-MIKE) Your Honor, we (OFF-MIKE)
SCHEMPP: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (OFF-MIKE) the court. We had a discussion on (OFF-MIKE)
SCHEMPP: All right. I won't make that inquiry yet. I'm going to ask that the jurors step back into the jury room, then, for a moment. Let me counsel at the side.
BLITZER: And so there he is, Robert Blake, not guilty, not guilty first-degree murder, not guilty solicitation of murder, a very, very excited former star of "Baretta."
Let's get some analysis of what has just happened. Our senior legal analyst, Jeff Toobin, is on the phone.
You were watching this together with all of us. You've been watching this trial pretty closely over the past couple of years.
This whole case, Jeff, what do you make of it?
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SR. LEGAL ANALYST: I'll be darned. I'll tell you, Wolf, I'm pretty surprised.
I mean, it sure seemed like there was no other suspect even remotely plausible as the person who killed -- who killed Bonny Lee Bakley. And, you know, the evidence of motive was overwhelming. But there was no eyewitness. There was no murder weapon established. The victims -- the witnesses against him, particularly the people he was alleged to have solicited, were terrible lowlifes.
And the jury didn't buy it and the jury didn't buy the whole prosecution's case. But count me as surprised.
BLITZER: Explain what it means, this 11-1. We don't know which way it went on this second count, lying in wait. There was a hung jury, clearly, on that. What does that all mean in English?
TOOBIN: Well, I think, given the other two verdicts, you have to assume -- and I bet we will find out, perhaps in a couple of minutes, that this was 11-1 for acquittal. I can't imagine that they rejected the rest of the case, but 11-1 wanted to find him guilty.
The way -- the charge against him was murder with the circumstance of lying in wait. Lying in wait makes him eligible for life in prison. This was not a death penalty case, but lying in wait is something that makes things worse.
BLITZER: All right, hold on, Jeff, a little bit. We're listening to the judge again.
SCHEMPP: Is it guilty or not guilty, the 11?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Eleven-to-one split was for not guilty.
SCHEMPP: OK. So, one person was for guilt?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Correct.
SCHEMPP: OK. All right, then, I will declare a hung jury on that count, and OK.
I have a jury instruction, then, to give you before you are asked to step back into the jury room. There will be -- the jury clerk will be in there to talk to you. And if you wish to talk to the attorneys, I don't know whether they'll both be available, but, anyhow, that will be up to you. Let me give you the jury instruction that I just lost. Here we go.
All right, this is the last instruction you'll have to listen to, maybe until next year, when your turn comes up.
(LAUGHTER)
SCHEMPP: Members and alternate members of the jury, you have now completed your service as jurors in this case. On behalf of the Superior Court, I want to thank you for giving your time and efforts to the administration of justice.
BLITZER: All right, so, Judge Darlene Schempp, Judge Darlene Schempp, Los Angeles Superior Court, reading instructions to the jury.
Clearly, he is shaken, but he's thrilled. Robert Blake, 71 years old, many of us remember him as the star of "Baretta" on television. Not guilty, not guilty first-degree murder, not guilty solicitation of murder, 11-1 not guilty, basically, 11 said, in terms of lying in wait, that special circumstance.
Jeff, you accurately predicted precisely what the judge wound up saying on that 11-1 issue. There was no clear decision on that; 11-1, though, seems pretty significant.
What does it mean for his legal problems, though, down the road?
TOOBIN: Well, at least in theory, I believe, the prosecution could retry him on that one count. But it seems to me almost unheard of and unlikely that the prosecution, having had their case so roundly and totally rejected, try to salvage this sliver.
Robert Blake is 70 years old. The prosecution had its chance to convict him. They failed in spectacular fashion. I can't imagine they would cling to this one juror's decision as an opportunity to, you know, make the taxpayers of Los Angeles pay for another very long and expensive trial.
BLITZER: The -- I mean, for those of us who weren't following this case all that closely, you were following it pretty closely -- you were surprised by this verdict.
TOOBIN: I was. I mean, this really was a story out of a bad novel. And just to summarize it briefly, Bonny Lee Bakley was kind of a grifter, a woman who both sides acknowledge kind of tricked Robert Blake into having sex with her and getting pregnant.
Blake didn't want to have anything to do with her, married her to be able to take care of her child, but it was -- the child that they had together, but it was a terribly unhappy marriage. They went to dinner one night at a restaurant in the San Fernando Valley. They were -- according to Blake, they were -- they left together. They parked in a car. He says he went back in to find his gun, which he left there. When he came back, he found his wife murdered. It was a peculiar story. But the gun that Blake had was not the murder weapon. The murder weapon could never be found or tied to him. And there was no eyewitness to how this woman was killed.
But, boy, it sure seemed like he was the only person with the opportunity, the motive and the means to kill her, but the jury didn't agree.
BLITZER: So, basically, he walks out of this courtroom right now a free man? Is that right, Jeff?
TOOBIN: One hundred percent, free as he can be.
BLITZER: And that's it. His lawyer -- his lawyer was a well- known criminal defense attorney.
TOOBIN: His lawyer is a well-known criminal defense attorney.
And, interestingly, one of the big issues in this case, another thing -- this case just dragged on and on, from 2001, the murder, to today's acquittal. The key moment in the case was when Robert Blake was released on bail. His lawyer at that time was Thomas Mesereau, who is now, of course, Michael Jackson's lawyer.
Blake had a falling-out with Mesereau. Mesereau left the case. But Mesereau did him a tremendous, tremendous service, because he had been in jail for more than a year, being held without bail. But Mesereau got him out on bail, and he never went back in. And now it looks like he's never going back in.
BLITZER: Let's show our viewers once again the reaction of Robert Blake when the judge, when he heard the words not guilty. Let's listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, People of the State of California vs. Robert Blake.
We the jury in the above entitled action find the defendant, Robert Blake, not guilty of the crime of first-degree murder of Bonny Lee Bakley, in violation of Penal Code Section 187, Subsection A, as charged in count one of the information, this 11th day of March, 2005, signed by the foreperson, juror No. 5.
Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, People of the State of California vs. Robert Blake. We the jury in the above entitled action find the defendant, Robert Blake, not guilty of the crime of solicitation of murder, in violation of Penal Code Section...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: All right, so there it is, Robert Blake, the videotape showing his -- he's crying out of thrill. He is so happy right now that I guess totally understandable, what has gone through.
The proceedings, Jeffrey, are continuing right now., his attorney there standing alongside Robert Blake, but Robert Blake presumably reborn right now after what he has gone through. We'll continue to watch what's happening in the courtroom. We'll stand by for reaction outside the courtroom.
We'll have much more coverage of this all through the night here on CNN. We'll take a quick break, though.
When we come back, baseball and steroids. Jose Canseco, he's still here. He's the player right now at the heart of this storm, the testimony scheduled tomorrow before a House committee. More with Jose Canseco and his attorney when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: As you saw live here on CNN just a few moments ago, Robert Blake not guilty, not guilty first-degree murder, not degree solicitation -- not guilty solicitation of murder. And now the other third count, lying in wait, the judge has dismissed that; 11-1, that was the vote inside the jury. But the judge decided to dismiss that count. He is now a free man.
In fact, the judge has just announced, Darlene Schempp, that they are returning his passport to Robert Blake. He is a free man. He can go about and do whatever he wants that's legal right now. You see him exhausted, emotionally drained, clearly, clearly thrilled by what has happened.
We'll continue to follow that story.
But let's get back to Jose Canseco, who is scheduled to testify tomorrow without immunity at a congressional hearing on steroid use in Major League Baseball. We're joined again once again by Jose and his attorney, Rob Saunooke.
You were watching all of this with all of us unfold. You've had enormous legal problems yourself, Jose. And I'm sure, while you were watching the not-guilty verdict for Robert Blake, you were thinking about yourself. What were you thinking?
CANSECO: Well, how stressful it must have been to be under that situation there, where you are looking at the death penalty. It must have been devastating.
BLITZER: The thing about your testimony tomorrow -- and just to update our viewers who may just be tuning in, you're not going to be granted immunity from prosecution. As a result, you will be there, but you will not answer a lot of the questions, most of the questions and take the Fifth, so you don't incriminate yourself.
You realize, though, every time you say that, people watching on television are going to simply assume you've got something to hide and you must be guilty.
CANSECO: My attorney can elaborate why we're actually taking this route.
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: Just -- but you understand the impression, the perception, Rob, that you're going to leave by letting your client -- by making your client take the Fifth.
SAUNOOKE: Well, we understand exactly what the perception is going to be. The problem is, we've been willing to come forward. It's not the Congress that we're afraid of. It's overzealous state attorneys, who might take this opportunity to prosecute Jose.
He's on probation right now. And if he says, for instance, I'm taking steroids now that are legally prescribed by a doctor, perfectly legal to do so, but they could then prosecute him, hold him in violation of probation, lock him up, while I have to go then litigate that issue.
BLITZER: You begged, literally, appealed to the chairman, Tom Davis, of this committee, the ranking Democrat, Henry Waxman, for immunity and they turned you down. What did they say? Why?
SAUNOOKE: Well, they didn't tell us exactly why. But what is surprising to us is, we were told over and over again, this is not a witch-hunt. We're not worried about personalities. We're not trying to get anyone individually.
But the only person whose credibility was being attacked is Jose Canseco. And, if it's credibility that is at issue, he has to be free to defend that credibility. He can't do so without immunity. And what you are saying is 100 percent correct. The perception will be that he has something to hide. And he doesn't. The book does elaborate on some of the things that went on in his life, some of the people he dealt with. Without immunity, we can't tell the whole story. It makes me question why Congress is convening this hearing.
BLITZER: Has anyone, Jose, come forward and sued you as a result of the allegations that you've made in your book?
CANSECO: No one individual, no.
BLITZER: Has anyone, Rob, threatened lawsuits or anything like that?
SAUNOOKE: No. It would be foolish to do so. The same questions would come up, the same testifying under oath. The civil cases, we're not worried about. It's the criminal cases, the criminal ramifications that are of concern to us right now.
BLITZER: All right, Well, let's talk a little bit about the big issue that members of Congress want to deal with tomorrow, the use of steroids in baseball. How widespread, in your experience, is it right now?
CANSECO: Right now, I think it's very minimal because of this book that came out, "Juiced." I think all players have stopped steroid use. I think they want to see what's going to happen with Congress, how much is Congress going to intervene in this. And, basically, they want right now, certain individuals, certain players, Major League Baseball to protect them. So we have to wait and see what Congress does.
BLITZER: Well, when you were a player, how widespread was it?
CANSECO: I truly believe that, at the peak of the steroid use, it was probably about 80 percent.
BLITZER: The reason you decided to start using these dangerous drugs, Jose, you write about it in the book, but it was a very personal decision that you made.
CANSECO: Yes, there's a chapter that explains, when my mom passed away in 1984, I was playing with the Modesto A's. I was called to fly back home to Florida by my sister Teresa. She never told me why. She just said, well, mom is real sick. Come home.
And I flew home. From the airport, I went to the hospital, went inside the room and my mother was dead, gone. A huge brain aneurysm had ruptured in her head and she died. My mother had never seen me play baseball before. And, you know, I wanted to do something for her. And I promised her that right there on her deathbed that I'd become the best baseball player, the best athlete in the world.
BLITZER: But who told you that using steroids would make you a better player?
CANSECO: Well, I didn't know that at the time.
After about a month and a half later, I went back to single-A. I then went to -- called instructional league. I played there, went back home. And then, just from friends -- you know, I was looking for a way to get bigger, faster, stronger, have more knowledge of the game of baseball. And I promised that to my mother. And I told myself, I'll go to any lengths to become the best player in the world.
BLITZER: But your mother, who loved you very much, would not have been happy knowing you were putting this poison in your body.
CANSECO: Back then, I don't think they would even know what it was, really. Steroids was not really as well known as what they are now.
BLITZER: But knowing what you know right now, this was a bad decision you made.
CANSECO: Well, I definitely don't recommend steroids for everyone. In my case...
BLITZER: Wait a second. For everyone? Do you recommend them for anyone?
CANSECO: I do. In my case, because -- I mean, steroids were invented for medicinal reasons. In my case, because I was from high school, graduated 5'10'', 160 problems, I had constant major back problems. I could remember coming home, let's say, from practice and falling to the ground and being paralyzed for 30 minutes.
BLITZER: But it's one thing if a doctor gives you a prescription for steroids. You may need it. There may be a medical need. It's another thing to do it just so that -- for -- to get bulkier or to be able to hit the ball further.
CANSECO: No, exactly. And I'm mentioning that, for myself, personally, it worked for me, because I truly believe, if it weren't for certain use of steroids, I would be a physical wreck right now, because I was not genetically disposed as other people, meaning, I -- at the high school level, I already had developed scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, arthritis.
So, for me, it helped. But I don't recommend it to kids. I don't recommend it to anyone. I would rather people find out information about it before actually using it. And they are illegal. You do have to have a prescription for them.
BLITZER: We know that, that we'll be knowing a lot more about it after this hearing tomorrow.
CANSECO: Yes.
BLITZER: Jose Canseco has written a book entitled "Juiced."
Thanks very much for joining us.
CANSECO: Thank you for having me.
BLITZER: Rob Saunooke, his attorney, is here as well.
Thanks to you as well.
SAUNOOKE: Thanks, Wolf.
BLITZER: We'll be watching these hearings tomorrow.
CANSECO: Right.
BLITZER: We'll have extensive coverage here on CNN throughout the morning and afternoon.
And, to our viewers, here's your chance to weigh in on this story. Our Web question is this: Should baseball players be banned from the game if they use steroids? You can vote right now. Go to CNN.com/Wolf. We'll have the results when we return.
We'll take a quick break. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: Here's how you are weighing in on our Web question of the day. Should baseball players be banned from the game if they use steroids? Take a look at this; 82 percent of you say yes; 18 percent of you say no. Remember, though, this is not a scientific poll.
A reminder, you can always catch WOLF BLITZER REPORTS weekdays at this time, 5:00 p.m. Eastern. I'm also on the air weekdays, noon Eastern.
Until tomorrow, thanks very much for joining us.
"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now with Pitty Pilgrim -- Kitty Pilgrim, Kitty Pilgrim -- sorry -- standing by.
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