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CNN Live Today
Nine People Killed in Helicopter in Iraq; Tom DeLay Ethics Probe; Cardinal Tells All
Aired April 21, 2005 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: We have a lot of work to get to ourselves here in Atlanta. Let's take a look at what's happening now in the news.
Debris from a helicopter crash is strewn across an Iraqi field. Nine people were killed when the commercial chopper went down between Baghdad and Tikrit today. U.S. military officials believe the helicopter was shot down.
Israel's defense minister is calling for a three-week delay in the planned Gaza withdrawal. The defense minister wants the pull out to begin August 15 follow a Jewish mourning period. The delay would keep settlers from having to move during their religious observance.
Published reports say President Bush could soon nominate General Peter Pace to be the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Marine Corps officer is seen as closely aligned with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Pace has been vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs since 2001.
It's now been more than 24 hours since Janet Quijano disappeared. An Amber Alert is out for the 16-year-old Kentucky girl. Police say she was abducted by five Hispanic men while waiting for her school bus. The Amber Alert says the men were in a red minivan or SUV.
Good morning. I'm Daryn Kagan.
Let's get started with news from Iraq, a helicopter is apparently shot down in Iraq and a nation's leader escaped a deadly assassination attempt. Nine people are dead in the crash. And the suspected shoot down of a commercial helicopter that comes amid new violence, an attempt on the life of Iraqi's Prime Minister Allawi, and new confusion over the 70 victims of mass killings.
CNN's Ryan Chilcote joins us from Baghdad.
Ryan, let's begin with the helicopter crash.
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What we know about at this point is that this commercial helicopter which belongs to a U.S. company called Sky Link was making its way between Baghdad and the Iraqi city of Tikrit when U.S. officials say they believe it was shot down killing all nine on board.
Now, they say that the nine individuals on board include a crew of three. And they believe that crew of three, this is also coming from Bulgarian Defense Ministry, were actually Bulgarian civilians. They just don't know at this point the nationalities of those six passengers.
KAGAN: And Ryan, it was during this show yesterday we received first word of the discoveries of not one site with the number of bodies, but two. What the latest about you tell us about that developing story?
CHILCOTE: Sure. Startling news. The first batch of news came from the Iraqi president who said that just south of Baghdad they had found the bodies of more than 50 Iraqis in the Tigris River. Since then we've spoken with the Iraqi police. They say they've found the bodies of 57 Iraqis. That includes men, women and children. They've been collecting these bodies, they say, over the course of two weeks. Actually from a portable dam that's on the Tigris there, just south of Baghdad.
Basically, these bodies have been floating down the Tigris getting caught at this dam point -- dam head. And that is where they've been recovering them. As they recover them they have been attempting to identify them. but that has not been possible in all cases. And then they have been burying them.
And then the other location, another location in the northwest of the country in the western city of Hadithah. That is where Iraqi police tell CNN that 20 Iraqi soldiers were shot dead by insurgents. And there what we know is that these soldiers were on leave. They were in civilian dress and they were abducted on a highway in that area. From there, they were brought by the insurgents to a soccer stadium. That's where they were shot up against a bloodstained wall.
KAGAN: And then finally, what can you tell us about this assassination attempt on Iyad Allawi?
CHILCOTE: That was at 11:00 last night here local. We felt the blast ourselves here in the bureau. The prime minister escaped -- the interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi himself escaped that assassination attempt. However, his guards were not as lucky. According to his spokesman, some of them were killed and wouldn't in that attack. He says he's OK. This has not been the first assassination attempt. It's just another moment of the large-scale violence taking place here in Baghdad.
KAGAN: A lot of news coming out of Baghdad and Iraq. Ryan Chilcote, thank you for all of that.
What about Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld? He says despite the recent flare-up of insurgent violence, he says the resistance is stalling.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: Generally, we're going to see the insurgency be less successful over time. Still lethal from time to time. Don't mistake me. But as the security forces increase and as the Iraqis provide greater and greater intelligence to the Iraqi security forces, and then no doubt in my mind but that we will have increasing success in killing and capturing people who run around murdering innocent Iraqis.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Rumsfeld also said the insurgency has less opportunity to take root as Iraqi forces assume greater control of security and citizens provide more intelligence against the militants.
On to Capitol Hill now. Lawmakers in the House and Senate face a debate over how to fund the war in Iraq. The amount of money is not in dispute. Both House and Senate support the $81 billion sought by the White House. The showdown looms over how that money should be spent. Either on military operations or on foreign assistance.
And this hour live on Capitol Hill, House lawmakers getting ready to vote on an emergency bill. It may not reach President Bush as soon as he wanted. The Republican-backed measure is similar to one that died in the Senate two years ago. It funds some $8 billion worth of tax breaks. Most aimed a encouraging more domestic production of coal, oil, natural gas and other traditional energy sources. Democrats say alternative energy is being short changed.
Also stirring strong emotions among members of both parties, a possible ethics investigation into a leading Republican.
And for the latest on that, let's go CNN's Kareen Wynter in Washington.
Kareen, good morning.
KAREEN WYNTER: CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you Daryn. What we're seeing here are two parties on different pages. House Republicans say they want to open this investigation. They want to move forward with this ethics probe, in part to help Tom DeLay clear his name of the allegations and also the negative press he's been receiving lately. But Democrats refuse to cooperate because of a change in House committee rules.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WYNTER (voice over): There was pressure from both sides of the aisle. Some Republicans urged House majority leader Tom DeLay to layout his case on allegations he violated House ethics rules, whether lobbyists improperly paid for overseas trips. At least one thinks he should go.
REP. CHRISTOPHER SHAYS (R), CONNECTICUT: Right now, he's still the leader. But if I think -- but that's what I think. I think he should step down.
WYNTER: Democrats continue to demand an investigation. But at the same time, are blocking the work of the ethics committee. They accuse the Republicans of changing the rules to protect DeLay. Under the amended rules one Republican on the evenly divided committee would now have to vote for a full probe of DeLay's fund raising. In an effort to break the deadlock, this announcement message yesterday from House Ethics Committee Chairman Hastings.
REP. DOC HASTINGS (R), WASHINGTON: But because the Democrats have refused to let the committee operate, we are prepared to move directly to an investigation subcommittee.
WYNTER: Hastings said that would allow an investigation of DeLay conduct to move forward and, quote, "remove any doubt about the true intent of these rule changes." But the ranking Democrat on the committee shot down the proposal. Representative Alan Mollohan said it was, quote, "Not an approach that adequately addresses all the concerns expressed."
REP. ALAN MOLLOHAN (D), HOUSE ETHICS CMTE.: It is an effort to impose -- because the majority can impose, through a majority vote, rules upon the ethics committee.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WYNTER: DeLay has repeatedly denied the allegations. Now in a statement yesterday, he said he wants to appear before the committee to get the facts out and set the record straight -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Kareen Wynter joining us from Washington, D.C. Kareen, thank you.
Next hour, senior political analyst William Schneider, Bill, as we call them, will join us to look at the story more closely along with some other Capitol Hill minefields, like judicial nominees and filibusters.
Mark Lunsford will join lawmakers on Capitol Hill today for the introduction of the Jessica Lunsford Act. That bill is aimed at cracking down on sexual predators. It is named for Lunsford's 9-year- old daughter.
We're learning more about the horrors endured by Jessica after she was kidnapped from her home in Homosassa Springs, Florida. Just released documents show the child was molested, tied with stereo wire, stuffed into garbage bags, and in fact, she may have even been buried alive. She apparently died clutching a purple stuffed dolphin. Convicted sex offender John Couey is charged with killing the girl. Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty.
Also stirring strong emotions, story coming up on that in Humphrey, Arkansas. Fire investigators are sifting through ashes, trying to determine the cause of a mobile home fire that killed six people last night. Five of the dead are boys ranging in age from 8 months to 4 years old. The woman who died was apparently baby-sitting for neighbors. Rachel and John Whiteside lost two sons in the fire.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN WHITESIDE, VICTIMS' FATHER: It's hard to understand. And you know, why at 6:00 in the afternoon, you know, that they couldn't get out.
RACHEL WHITESIDE, VICTIMS' MOTHER: If there's any young parents out there, love every minute, every second with your child.
J. WHITESIDE: You tell them every time you get a chance, "I love you."
R. WHITESIDE: Every day you love them. Because in seconds, they're gone just like that.
J. WHITESIDE: The last words my oldest son said to me was, "I love you more, daddy."
R. WHITESIDE: I love you more, daddy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Rachel Whiteside said she dropped off her children for a play date just 10 minutes before that fire broke out.
Well, this brush fire swept through a swamp area in Howard Beach. In that section of Queens this morning, there were some concern about nearby houses. But firefighters did manage to contain the flames.
Nearby New Jersey is under a red flag warning, weather conditions considered ideal for brush fires.
Some secrets already coming out from a confidential conclave, what really happened behind the doors of the Sistine Chapel? One cardinal is telling all.
And a bizarre connection, members of the Aryan Nation and al Qaeda; find out how the two extreme groups may be linked.
Plus, a prize possession valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars stolen from her car. Coming up, a young musician joins me pleading for the safe return of a very valuable violin.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Pope Benedict XVI meets today with the men who selected him as the new pontiff. He's scheduled to meet the congregation of cardinals today. Yesterday in his first Mass, the pope outlined the cardinals' the goal of his papacy. They include unifying Christians and reaching out to other their religions.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected pope under a vow of secrecy and shroud of concealment. But our Jim Bittermann has managed to pull back that curtain just a bit to reveal what really went on behind those closed doors before and after the voting took place.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As the new pope inspected his new office and tried out his new desk, a picture has been emerging of how a determined and highly organized Cardinal Ratzinger, with a boost from of his predecessor, was able to win election to the papacy after within less than 24 hours of voting. His fellow cardinals began to warm to Ratzinger at John Paul II's funeral. His homily hit just the right notes, some believe. But then it was John Paul himself who put Ratzinger in the position to deliver that homily when he approved him as the Dean of the College of Cardinals. And that position gave him an even more important platform. As dean, Ratzinger ran the daily meetings of the cardinals to deal with church business and discuss issues. Several cardinals commented he was masterful at it, calling on each cardinal by name; using his fluency in seven languages to answer them in their own tongue, and repeatedly suggesting pastoral means for solving problems rather than the legalistic approach he once enforced as head of the church's Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith. Some were clearly impressed.
CARDINAL KEITH O'BRIEN, ARCHBISHOP, EDINBURGH: He just conducted those meetings in a very orderly manner, in a manner which pleased everyone.
BITTERMANN: But what happened next could have backfired. Just before the cardinals entered the conclave, the German cardinal made his blunt and direct appeal to for a return to church fundamentals. Several cardinals, who could have gone one way or another on Ratzinger, found they liked his moral certainty.
Once inside the Sistine Chapel, the veil of secrecy descended. Still, it's known from talking to some present that there were four rounds of voting. The first produced a dozen or more favorites and no winner. Cardinal Ratzinger was out at in front, but it's not clear by how much.
The next morning as the cardinals again prayed for the Holy Spirit's help filling out their ballot papers, the result produced what one cardinal describes as a handful of names. But again, Cardinal Ratzinger had not mustered two-thirds of the vote. Even though there still was no white smoke, by the third unsuccessful vote, it's believed Ratzinger had a clear majority. And here, the man who would become pope may have again been helped by his predecessor.
(on camera): John Paul changed the voting rules so that a cardinal could be elected pope by 33 ballots by a simple majority, not a two-thirds vote. The cardinals were nowhere near 33 ballots. But Cardinal Ratzinger apparently did have a majority. So it would have been clear to some cardinals that drawing of the process would only bring about the same result as an immediate two-thirds vote.
(voice over): The fourth ballot carried the day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When he reached 77 everybody applauded because we all knew then he had the two-thirds vote.
BITTERMANN: Cardinal Ratzinger had won, even though he was splitting the vote with at least two other opponents right to the end. We don't know for the moment who they are.
Jim Bittermann, CNN, Rome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: Not surprising with the recent news out of the Vatican that a popular, religious thriller is enjoying a new chapter of success. The "Da Vinci Code," have you read it? It has been named Britain's book of the year despite the outrage it ignited amongst some Christians. The best seller suggests -- well, I'm not going to toll you what because it gives away a part of the book while you read it. So I'm going to -- I'm going to skip that part.
Anyhow, it's an interesting book. You might want to check it out. In accepting the award, he did it via videotape, the author, Stan Brown, he reminded critics that his novel was a work -- and it is, a work of fiction.
And for more on religious matters and the new papacy now under way, turn to our special Web site. That address is cnn.com/pope.
Orelon, have you read "Da Vinci Code"?
ORELON SIDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You know what? I haven't but I've seen some documentaries on it. And I'm looking for actually the audio book. I don't have a lot of time to sit down and read these days.
KAGAN: Well, I'm telling you. With this book, once you start reading forget everything else. Because you will do nothing else, everything else goes away.
SIDNEY: I'll remember that then. Send the boyfriend off. Just start reading.
KAGAN: Nothing.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: Coming up ON CNN LIVE TODAY, two girls looking for a thrill. Hmm, they got a little bit more than they were expecting. How about dangling 900 feet above Las Vegas? Ah! Their story's coming up.
Plus, you want a thrill? Always a thrill to have Gerri Willis and her "Top 5 Tips."
Hi, Ger.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, Daryn. Good to see you. It's springtime. Time to enjoy the garden around the house, maybe be outside a little bit more. But it's also time for those creepy, crawly critters. We'll tell you how to get rid of them when CNN LIVE continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: After a long winter you're probably getting ready to get out and enjoy the warmer weather. But you know what? The bugs are out as well. So be sure that they don't get into your house. Our personal finance correspondent Gerri Willis here with today's "Top 5 Tips, The Home Edition" on pest control.
Hi, Ger.
WILLIS: That's right. Hi, Daryn. Good to see you. Americans spend nearly $3 billion a year dealing with termites alone. But they aren't the only creepy critters that can do serious structural damage to your home. Carpenter bees destroy wood and can cause serious damage if not caught in time and treated. Other pests that eat through wood, carpenter ants, powder post beetles. Besides hurting your home, bugs and pests can sting, bite, cause allergies; you name it. They make you run screaming. So get your house ready for pest season.
You will want to start from the top. Head to your the roof and clean out gutters. Excess debris and leaves may just look like a mess for you, but for pests it's food. Seal up the cracks and holes on the outside of your house, including the areas where utilities and pipes enter. Frequent vacuuming can eliminate tiny pests that feed on other tiny pests.
KAGAN: What lovely pictures for our friends on the West Coast eating breakfast with us this morning.
(LAUGHTER)
KAGAN: How about a big bowl of termites? And so with that, let's talk about mice droppings.
WILLIS: Yes, let's talk about those mice droppings.
KAGAN: Why not?
WILLIS: Daryn, rodents leave clues to let you know where they're lurking, like mice droppings and tracks, as well as nine because they're constantly sharpening their teeth. Outside of the home check for bureau, grease marks. Mice can bring fleas, mites, ticks and lice into your home. So make sure all the holes larger than the diameter of a pencil are sealed. Remember, mice can squeeze through spaces as small as a nickel.
If you do discover a problem but you don't want to create an eyesore, try a trap that fits into the landscape. Rock-shaped rodent stations are childproof and can only be opened with a key.
KAGAN: Well, speaking of landscaping, one person's lovely bush or flower could be some bug or pests little home. Couldn't it?
WILLIS: That's right. You don't want to bring the outside in. Keep those tree branch and shrubbery well away from the house, two to three feet at a minimum. Also make sure vents are screened and gaps around windows and doors are sealed. And when you come into the house, check those boxes and grocery bags and other packaging to make sure there aren't any insects hitchhiking in those bags. Even in the summer, store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house and five inches off the ground. You can help reduce mosquito- breeding sites by replacing all standing water at least once a week. And this includes the birdbaths, the ponds, the unfiltered pools.
KAGAN: Hmm. It's the time of year where you want to open your the windows and all that fresh air in. But fresh air might not be the only thing that's coming in.
WILLIS: I can tell you, Daryn, believe it or not there are some pests out there that can fly through your window screens. They're so tiny. So you may want to keep those windows closed as much as possible.
I just want to remind viewers out there we're going to be talking about this topic and others this weekend on "OPEN HOUSE" at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. We've got lots of great topics to talk about, including a new economic sign that the housing boom may be slowing down.
KAGAN: Hmm. So if you want to get bummed about the price of your house and you haven't seen enough mouse droppings, wake up and tune in.
(LAUGHTER)
KAGAN: You can make it pleasant. Thank you, Ger.
WILLIS: You're welcome, Daryn.
KAGAN: Good to see you.
Story coming up about an extremist group with a very clear mission.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The end goal would be a white United States, the whole country white only.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Still to come, neo-Nazis teaming up with radical Islamists? We're going to take a look at a very strange connection there.
Plus no, strings, no bow, no music. The search is on for one very expensive violin.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: We are coming up on the half hour. Good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan. Let's take a look at what's happening now in the news.
Nine people died when this commercial helicopter crashed between Baghdad and Tikrit. Military sources tell us a chopper may have been shot down. It was operated by the U.S. based charter company called Sky Link USA. There is no on the nature of the flight or who exactly was on board.
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 April 21, 2005 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: We have a lot of work to get to ourselves here in Atlanta. Let's take a look at what's happening now in the news.
Debris from a helicopter crash is strewn across an Iraqi field. Nine people were killed when the commercial chopper went down between Baghdad and Tikrit today. U.S. military officials believe the helicopter was shot down.
Israel's defense minister is calling for a three-week delay in the planned Gaza withdrawal. The defense minister wants the pull out to begin August 15 follow a Jewish mourning period. The delay would keep settlers from having to move during their religious observance.
Published reports say President Bush could soon nominate General Peter Pace to be the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Marine Corps officer is seen as closely aligned with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Pace has been vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs since 2001.
It's now been more than 24 hours since Janet Quijano disappeared. An Amber Alert is out for the 16-year-old Kentucky girl. Police say she was abducted by five Hispanic men while waiting for her school bus. The Amber Alert says the men were in a red minivan or SUV.
Good morning. I'm Daryn Kagan.
Let's get started with news from Iraq, a helicopter is apparently shot down in Iraq and a nation's leader escaped a deadly assassination attempt. Nine people are dead in the crash. And the suspected shoot down of a commercial helicopter that comes amid new violence, an attempt on the life of Iraqi's Prime Minister Allawi, and new confusion over the 70 victims of mass killings.
CNN's Ryan Chilcote joins us from Baghdad.
Ryan, let's begin with the helicopter crash.
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What we know about at this point is that this commercial helicopter which belongs to a U.S. company called Sky Link was making its way between Baghdad and the Iraqi city of Tikrit when U.S. officials say they believe it was shot down killing all nine on board.
Now, they say that the nine individuals on board include a crew of three. And they believe that crew of three, this is also coming from Bulgarian Defense Ministry, were actually Bulgarian civilians. They just don't know at this point the nationalities of those six passengers.
KAGAN: And Ryan, it was during this show yesterday we received first word of the discoveries of not one site with the number of bodies, but two. What the latest about you tell us about that developing story?
CHILCOTE: Sure. Startling news. The first batch of news came from the Iraqi president who said that just south of Baghdad they had found the bodies of more than 50 Iraqis in the Tigris River. Since then we've spoken with the Iraqi police. They say they've found the bodies of 57 Iraqis. That includes men, women and children. They've been collecting these bodies, they say, over the course of two weeks. Actually from a portable dam that's on the Tigris there, just south of Baghdad.
Basically, these bodies have been floating down the Tigris getting caught at this dam point -- dam head. And that is where they've been recovering them. As they recover them they have been attempting to identify them. but that has not been possible in all cases. And then they have been burying them.
And then the other location, another location in the northwest of the country in the western city of Hadithah. That is where Iraqi police tell CNN that 20 Iraqi soldiers were shot dead by insurgents. And there what we know is that these soldiers were on leave. They were in civilian dress and they were abducted on a highway in that area. From there, they were brought by the insurgents to a soccer stadium. That's where they were shot up against a bloodstained wall.
KAGAN: And then finally, what can you tell us about this assassination attempt on Iyad Allawi?
CHILCOTE: That was at 11:00 last night here local. We felt the blast ourselves here in the bureau. The prime minister escaped -- the interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi himself escaped that assassination attempt. However, his guards were not as lucky. According to his spokesman, some of them were killed and wouldn't in that attack. He says he's OK. This has not been the first assassination attempt. It's just another moment of the large-scale violence taking place here in Baghdad.
KAGAN: A lot of news coming out of Baghdad and Iraq. Ryan Chilcote, thank you for all of that.
What about Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld? He says despite the recent flare-up of insurgent violence, he says the resistance is stalling.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: Generally, we're going to see the insurgency be less successful over time. Still lethal from time to time. Don't mistake me. But as the security forces increase and as the Iraqis provide greater and greater intelligence to the Iraqi security forces, and then no doubt in my mind but that we will have increasing success in killing and capturing people who run around murdering innocent Iraqis.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Rumsfeld also said the insurgency has less opportunity to take root as Iraqi forces assume greater control of security and citizens provide more intelligence against the militants.
On to Capitol Hill now. Lawmakers in the House and Senate face a debate over how to fund the war in Iraq. The amount of money is not in dispute. Both House and Senate support the $81 billion sought by the White House. The showdown looms over how that money should be spent. Either on military operations or on foreign assistance.
And this hour live on Capitol Hill, House lawmakers getting ready to vote on an emergency bill. It may not reach President Bush as soon as he wanted. The Republican-backed measure is similar to one that died in the Senate two years ago. It funds some $8 billion worth of tax breaks. Most aimed a encouraging more domestic production of coal, oil, natural gas and other traditional energy sources. Democrats say alternative energy is being short changed.
Also stirring strong emotions among members of both parties, a possible ethics investigation into a leading Republican.
And for the latest on that, let's go CNN's Kareen Wynter in Washington.
Kareen, good morning.
KAREEN WYNTER: CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you Daryn. What we're seeing here are two parties on different pages. House Republicans say they want to open this investigation. They want to move forward with this ethics probe, in part to help Tom DeLay clear his name of the allegations and also the negative press he's been receiving lately. But Democrats refuse to cooperate because of a change in House committee rules.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WYNTER (voice over): There was pressure from both sides of the aisle. Some Republicans urged House majority leader Tom DeLay to layout his case on allegations he violated House ethics rules, whether lobbyists improperly paid for overseas trips. At least one thinks he should go.
REP. CHRISTOPHER SHAYS (R), CONNECTICUT: Right now, he's still the leader. But if I think -- but that's what I think. I think he should step down.
WYNTER: Democrats continue to demand an investigation. But at the same time, are blocking the work of the ethics committee. They accuse the Republicans of changing the rules to protect DeLay. Under the amended rules one Republican on the evenly divided committee would now have to vote for a full probe of DeLay's fund raising. In an effort to break the deadlock, this announcement message yesterday from House Ethics Committee Chairman Hastings.
REP. DOC HASTINGS (R), WASHINGTON: But because the Democrats have refused to let the committee operate, we are prepared to move directly to an investigation subcommittee.
WYNTER: Hastings said that would allow an investigation of DeLay conduct to move forward and, quote, "remove any doubt about the true intent of these rule changes." But the ranking Democrat on the committee shot down the proposal. Representative Alan Mollohan said it was, quote, "Not an approach that adequately addresses all the concerns expressed."
REP. ALAN MOLLOHAN (D), HOUSE ETHICS CMTE.: It is an effort to impose -- because the majority can impose, through a majority vote, rules upon the ethics committee.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WYNTER: DeLay has repeatedly denied the allegations. Now in a statement yesterday, he said he wants to appear before the committee to get the facts out and set the record straight -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Kareen Wynter joining us from Washington, D.C. Kareen, thank you.
Next hour, senior political analyst William Schneider, Bill, as we call them, will join us to look at the story more closely along with some other Capitol Hill minefields, like judicial nominees and filibusters.
Mark Lunsford will join lawmakers on Capitol Hill today for the introduction of the Jessica Lunsford Act. That bill is aimed at cracking down on sexual predators. It is named for Lunsford's 9-year- old daughter.
We're learning more about the horrors endured by Jessica after she was kidnapped from her home in Homosassa Springs, Florida. Just released documents show the child was molested, tied with stereo wire, stuffed into garbage bags, and in fact, she may have even been buried alive. She apparently died clutching a purple stuffed dolphin. Convicted sex offender John Couey is charged with killing the girl. Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty.
Also stirring strong emotions, story coming up on that in Humphrey, Arkansas. Fire investigators are sifting through ashes, trying to determine the cause of a mobile home fire that killed six people last night. Five of the dead are boys ranging in age from 8 months to 4 years old. The woman who died was apparently baby-sitting for neighbors. Rachel and John Whiteside lost two sons in the fire.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN WHITESIDE, VICTIMS' FATHER: It's hard to understand. And you know, why at 6:00 in the afternoon, you know, that they couldn't get out.
RACHEL WHITESIDE, VICTIMS' MOTHER: If there's any young parents out there, love every minute, every second with your child.
J. WHITESIDE: You tell them every time you get a chance, "I love you."
R. WHITESIDE: Every day you love them. Because in seconds, they're gone just like that.
J. WHITESIDE: The last words my oldest son said to me was, "I love you more, daddy."
R. WHITESIDE: I love you more, daddy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Rachel Whiteside said she dropped off her children for a play date just 10 minutes before that fire broke out.
Well, this brush fire swept through a swamp area in Howard Beach. In that section of Queens this morning, there were some concern about nearby houses. But firefighters did manage to contain the flames.
Nearby New Jersey is under a red flag warning, weather conditions considered ideal for brush fires.
Some secrets already coming out from a confidential conclave, what really happened behind the doors of the Sistine Chapel? One cardinal is telling all.
And a bizarre connection, members of the Aryan Nation and al Qaeda; find out how the two extreme groups may be linked.
Plus, a prize possession valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars stolen from her car. Coming up, a young musician joins me pleading for the safe return of a very valuable violin.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Pope Benedict XVI meets today with the men who selected him as the new pontiff. He's scheduled to meet the congregation of cardinals today. Yesterday in his first Mass, the pope outlined the cardinals' the goal of his papacy. They include unifying Christians and reaching out to other their religions.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected pope under a vow of secrecy and shroud of concealment. But our Jim Bittermann has managed to pull back that curtain just a bit to reveal what really went on behind those closed doors before and after the voting took place.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As the new pope inspected his new office and tried out his new desk, a picture has been emerging of how a determined and highly organized Cardinal Ratzinger, with a boost from of his predecessor, was able to win election to the papacy after within less than 24 hours of voting. His fellow cardinals began to warm to Ratzinger at John Paul II's funeral. His homily hit just the right notes, some believe. But then it was John Paul himself who put Ratzinger in the position to deliver that homily when he approved him as the Dean of the College of Cardinals. And that position gave him an even more important platform. As dean, Ratzinger ran the daily meetings of the cardinals to deal with church business and discuss issues. Several cardinals commented he was masterful at it, calling on each cardinal by name; using his fluency in seven languages to answer them in their own tongue, and repeatedly suggesting pastoral means for solving problems rather than the legalistic approach he once enforced as head of the church's Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith. Some were clearly impressed.
CARDINAL KEITH O'BRIEN, ARCHBISHOP, EDINBURGH: He just conducted those meetings in a very orderly manner, in a manner which pleased everyone.
BITTERMANN: But what happened next could have backfired. Just before the cardinals entered the conclave, the German cardinal made his blunt and direct appeal to for a return to church fundamentals. Several cardinals, who could have gone one way or another on Ratzinger, found they liked his moral certainty.
Once inside the Sistine Chapel, the veil of secrecy descended. Still, it's known from talking to some present that there were four rounds of voting. The first produced a dozen or more favorites and no winner. Cardinal Ratzinger was out at in front, but it's not clear by how much.
The next morning as the cardinals again prayed for the Holy Spirit's help filling out their ballot papers, the result produced what one cardinal describes as a handful of names. But again, Cardinal Ratzinger had not mustered two-thirds of the vote. Even though there still was no white smoke, by the third unsuccessful vote, it's believed Ratzinger had a clear majority. And here, the man who would become pope may have again been helped by his predecessor.
(on camera): John Paul changed the voting rules so that a cardinal could be elected pope by 33 ballots by a simple majority, not a two-thirds vote. The cardinals were nowhere near 33 ballots. But Cardinal Ratzinger apparently did have a majority. So it would have been clear to some cardinals that drawing of the process would only bring about the same result as an immediate two-thirds vote.
(voice over): The fourth ballot carried the day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When he reached 77 everybody applauded because we all knew then he had the two-thirds vote.
BITTERMANN: Cardinal Ratzinger had won, even though he was splitting the vote with at least two other opponents right to the end. We don't know for the moment who they are.
Jim Bittermann, CNN, Rome.
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KAGAN: Not surprising with the recent news out of the Vatican that a popular, religious thriller is enjoying a new chapter of success. The "Da Vinci Code," have you read it? It has been named Britain's book of the year despite the outrage it ignited amongst some Christians. The best seller suggests -- well, I'm not going to toll you what because it gives away a part of the book while you read it. So I'm going to -- I'm going to skip that part.
Anyhow, it's an interesting book. You might want to check it out. In accepting the award, he did it via videotape, the author, Stan Brown, he reminded critics that his novel was a work -- and it is, a work of fiction.
And for more on religious matters and the new papacy now under way, turn to our special Web site. That address is cnn.com/pope.
Orelon, have you read "Da Vinci Code"?
ORELON SIDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You know what? I haven't but I've seen some documentaries on it. And I'm looking for actually the audio book. I don't have a lot of time to sit down and read these days.
KAGAN: Well, I'm telling you. With this book, once you start reading forget everything else. Because you will do nothing else, everything else goes away.
SIDNEY: I'll remember that then. Send the boyfriend off. Just start reading.
KAGAN: Nothing.
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KAGAN: Coming up ON CNN LIVE TODAY, two girls looking for a thrill. Hmm, they got a little bit more than they were expecting. How about dangling 900 feet above Las Vegas? Ah! Their story's coming up.
Plus, you want a thrill? Always a thrill to have Gerri Willis and her "Top 5 Tips."
Hi, Ger.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, Daryn. Good to see you. It's springtime. Time to enjoy the garden around the house, maybe be outside a little bit more. But it's also time for those creepy, crawly critters. We'll tell you how to get rid of them when CNN LIVE continues.
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KAGAN: After a long winter you're probably getting ready to get out and enjoy the warmer weather. But you know what? The bugs are out as well. So be sure that they don't get into your house. Our personal finance correspondent Gerri Willis here with today's "Top 5 Tips, The Home Edition" on pest control.
Hi, Ger.
WILLIS: That's right. Hi, Daryn. Good to see you. Americans spend nearly $3 billion a year dealing with termites alone. But they aren't the only creepy critters that can do serious structural damage to your home. Carpenter bees destroy wood and can cause serious damage if not caught in time and treated. Other pests that eat through wood, carpenter ants, powder post beetles. Besides hurting your home, bugs and pests can sting, bite, cause allergies; you name it. They make you run screaming. So get your house ready for pest season.
You will want to start from the top. Head to your the roof and clean out gutters. Excess debris and leaves may just look like a mess for you, but for pests it's food. Seal up the cracks and holes on the outside of your house, including the areas where utilities and pipes enter. Frequent vacuuming can eliminate tiny pests that feed on other tiny pests.
KAGAN: What lovely pictures for our friends on the West Coast eating breakfast with us this morning.
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KAGAN: How about a big bowl of termites? And so with that, let's talk about mice droppings.
WILLIS: Yes, let's talk about those mice droppings.
KAGAN: Why not?
WILLIS: Daryn, rodents leave clues to let you know where they're lurking, like mice droppings and tracks, as well as nine because they're constantly sharpening their teeth. Outside of the home check for bureau, grease marks. Mice can bring fleas, mites, ticks and lice into your home. So make sure all the holes larger than the diameter of a pencil are sealed. Remember, mice can squeeze through spaces as small as a nickel.
If you do discover a problem but you don't want to create an eyesore, try a trap that fits into the landscape. Rock-shaped rodent stations are childproof and can only be opened with a key.
KAGAN: Well, speaking of landscaping, one person's lovely bush or flower could be some bug or pests little home. Couldn't it?
WILLIS: That's right. You don't want to bring the outside in. Keep those tree branch and shrubbery well away from the house, two to three feet at a minimum. Also make sure vents are screened and gaps around windows and doors are sealed. And when you come into the house, check those boxes and grocery bags and other packaging to make sure there aren't any insects hitchhiking in those bags. Even in the summer, store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house and five inches off the ground. You can help reduce mosquito- breeding sites by replacing all standing water at least once a week. And this includes the birdbaths, the ponds, the unfiltered pools.
KAGAN: Hmm. It's the time of year where you want to open your the windows and all that fresh air in. But fresh air might not be the only thing that's coming in.
WILLIS: I can tell you, Daryn, believe it or not there are some pests out there that can fly through your window screens. They're so tiny. So you may want to keep those windows closed as much as possible.
I just want to remind viewers out there we're going to be talking about this topic and others this weekend on "OPEN HOUSE" at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. We've got lots of great topics to talk about, including a new economic sign that the housing boom may be slowing down.
KAGAN: Hmm. So if you want to get bummed about the price of your house and you haven't seen enough mouse droppings, wake up and tune in.
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KAGAN: You can make it pleasant. Thank you, Ger.
WILLIS: You're welcome, Daryn.
KAGAN: Good to see you.
Story coming up about an extremist group with a very clear mission.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The end goal would be a white United States, the whole country white only.
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KAGAN: Still to come, neo-Nazis teaming up with radical Islamists? We're going to take a look at a very strange connection there.
Plus no, strings, no bow, no music. The search is on for one very expensive violin.
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KAGAN: We are coming up on the half hour. Good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan. Let's take a look at what's happening now in the news.
Nine people died when this commercial helicopter crashed between Baghdad and Tikrit. Military sources tell us a chopper may have been shot down. It was operated by the U.S. based charter company called Sky Link USA. There is no on the nature of the flight or who exactly was on board.
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