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American Morning
Holloway Investigation Continues in Aruba; Teens in Abusive Relationships
Aired June 10, 2005 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
Tropical storm Arlene slamming into Cuba. Now setting sights on the Gulf Coast. A live report on where that storm is headed next.
Day 12 in the search for Natalee Holloway. Authorities in Aruba grasp for new leads and now police in South America are getting involved.
And one of Michael Jackson's faithful fans getting slapped with a restraining order outside of court. Inside, deliberations continue. We're on a verdict watch on a Friday on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
HEMMER: Good morning, everybody.
8:00 in New York on a Friday.
Good morning.
A complete look at where tropical storm Arlene is headed next, eyes there.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, first, though, we have to get to tropical storm Jack.
HEMMER: That's right. T.S. Cafferty.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, easy.
Coming up in "The Cafferty File," allegations the White House climate reports on global warming may have been altered by some guy who used to work on behalf, I think, of the oil companies or something. It's a pretty nasty little story.
If you have the urge to pinch a politician's cheeks, chances are you won't vote for him. And if I find one that'll let me pinch his cheeks, I damn sure won't vote for him.
And Mike Brady beats up on Tony Soprano, coming up in "The File."
COSTELLO: It sounds very cool today.
Thank you, Jack. HEMMER: The storm is stirring.
Thank you, Jack.
Now to Cafferty -- we mean, Arlene, now.
Folks along the Gulf Coast keeping a lookout today as this tropical storm moves closer and closer. This after a tropical storm watch was issued earlier today, about 5:00 a.m. Eastern time, from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle. Arlene now churning its way over the western Caribbean, drenching Cuba, too, with heavy rain and 40 mile an hour winds, making its way north at about eight miles an hour. And folks along the northern Gulf Coast stocking up for some rough weather, mindful of last year's heavy storm damage.
Chad is off today.
Rob Marciano is watching, with a very close eye on Arlene.
What do you see in this hour -- Rob.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: The latest update as of the 8:00 hour, Bill, is that the National Hurricane Center has upped it to 55 mile an hour winds now. That's still a tropical storm in the mid range, and now merging into the Gulf of Mexico just to the northwest of the western tip of Cuba.
Still poorly organized, but getting better organized. And already the rain bands are heading into South Florida and winds have been gusting there to 30 miles an hour.
All right, so here's the forecast track into the Gulf of Mexico. Heading toward the northwest. Increasing in intensity and then making landfall some time tomorrow afternoon, between New Orleans and maybe Pensacola, Florida. Right now, the forecast is for it to remain a tropical storm, but it will be a strong tropical storm when it makes landfall, and for that reason, a tropical storm watch has been issued from Morgan City, Louisiana, around the mouth of the Mississippi River, in through Indian Pass, Florida, tropical storm force winds and conditions are expected in the next 36 hours. And already the rainfall across the western side of Florida and the gusts. We also had a little waterspout indicated by Doppler radar out of the Keys of Florida.
Another item of interest, tornadoes possible again today across the central part of the country.
We'll keep you updated on both fronts from the CNN Weather Center.
HEMMER: All right. You do that.
Thank you, Rob.
MARCIANO: You bet.
HEMMER: That's our first story.
The rest of the headlines now with Valerie Morris here, too -- good morning.
VALERIE MORRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill.
Good morning, Carol.
And good morning, everyone.
Now in the news, one of the suspects in an alleged terror plot in California is expected to appear in federal court this afternoon. Hamid Hayat and his father are accused of making plans to carry out attacks against the United States. They were charged with making false statements to the FBI. At least three other Pakistani natives near Sacramento have also been detained on immigration violations.
The U.S. has confirmed former Alabama Attorney General Bill Pryor for a seat on the federal appeals court. Pryor becoming the third of President Bush's controversial judicial picks to be confirmed under a deal to end a filibuster fight.
But the nomination of John Bolton as U.N. ambassador is still being held up. Some Senate Democrats say they will not allow a vote until the White House hands over some classified documents.
In California, jurors in the Michael Jackson trial get back to work today. Deliberations are set to resume less than four hours from now, after a short session on Thursday. Fans have been gathering outside the courthouse to show their support. Jackson has been waiting out the verdict at his Neverland Ranch.
In Texas, a pilot was killed when his small plane crashed into a home. The house burst into flames, but fortunately no one was inside at the time of the accident. Aviation officials say there was no radio contact with the pilot.
And Belmont Stakes set for tomorrow. Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo among the 11 horses competing in the one-and-a-half mile race. But Preakness winner Afleet Alex is the favorite to win. The Belmont Stakes is the third leg of the Triple Crown.
And that's the very latest -- Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: Valerie, thanks for that.
Now back to the search for clues in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. Now spreading beyond Aruba into South America. Two of the latest suspects are from a country there. The other is the son of a judge back in Aruba. We're also learning more details about what Natalee Holloway did with these three men the night she left that club. And so far no one has been charged with a crime.
Attorney Chris Lejuez represents Abraham Jones, one of the first to be arrested. He's our guest back again in Palm Beach, Aruba.
Sir, thanks for your time and for coming back and talking with us.
I know you've seen the statements of the three men who were arrested recently, but only two of the three statements were released.
What explains why that's the case?
CHRIS LEJUEZ, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I have no explanation for that, sir. I could speculate, but I'd rather not do that.
HEMMER: Well, in the statements that were released, then, what have you learned?
LEJUEZ: That the three had been with Natalee that night. They were at the nightclub, where they saw her. And she left with them in the car. They went to a beach by the lighthouse here in Aruba. After that, they brought her to the hotel and they left her there.
HEMMER: And what happened after they left this club?
It's my understanding that in this affidavit or in this statement that there was some sort of sexual contact. How much was that involved in this event from 10, 11 nights ago?
LEJUEZ: Yes, there was. There was kissing and there was fondling and there was sexual contact between her and one of the accused. This, the accused is the one that has, of whom I don't have the statement. The other two both testified to the police that there had been kissing and sexual contact with her.
HEMMER: So then the time they left the club and the time they say they dropped her off at the hotel, how much time elapsed there?
LEJUEZ: Approximately half an hour. They dropped her off at the hotel at approximately 2:00 in the morning.
HEMMER: And so when they say they dropped her off, they also noted a black man with a black t-shirt with a witch who then approached her and appeared to be some sort of security guard inside the hotel.
Is that your understanding?
LEJUEZ: They said he appeared to be a security guard, but the security guards at that hotel don't wear black t-shirts. They don't wear black trousers. They wear green trousers with like a khaki colored shirt, no t-shirt.
HEMMER: So what would explain this description, then?
LEJUEZ: I don't know. Perhaps it could have been another man. Perhaps it could have been a security guard from some other place being there. Perhaps he does not exist. I have no idea, sir.
HEMMER: Are there cameras, surveillance cameras, at this hotel?
LEJUEZ: Apparently there are, because I read somewhere that they looked at the videos and they could not find anything of Natalee on the videos. And there was another statement and I found that very curious, too. The security guard on duty from 12:00 at night until 8:00 in the morning reported to the police that he saw nothing strange, nothing suspicious. And I would imagine that if a girl 18 years old, who was drunk at the time, so drunk she fell to the floor, together with a black man fully dressed in black, were at the hotel at that hour, the security guard might have remembered that.
HEMMER: Well, here is the problem, then. If these three men say they dropped her off at the hotel around 2:00 in the morning and there's no videotape of it at the hotel, then what explains their story?
LEJUEZ: I can't explain that, sir.
HEMMER: When will you be back in court with your own client?
LEJUEZ: Before the eight days are gone, somewhere before, if necessary, unless they release him. They can release him any time within these eight days.
HEMMER: Is this the main story that everybody is focused on in Aruba?
LEJUEZ: Yes. This is the only story that everyone is focusing on right now in Aruba, sir. And Aruba is a very quiet island. It's a very peaceful island. We have a very low crime rate, the lowest in the Caribbean area. And this is something so shocking that nobody is talking about anything else.
HEMMER: Attorney Chris Lejuez represents Abraham Jones from Aruba.
Again, sir, thank you for your time today.
COSTELLO: Michael Jackson and the world still waiting for a verdict in his child molestation trial. Some court watchers point out juries often reach a conclusion on Friday, so a verdict today is that much more of a possibility.
Outside the courthouse, one of Jackson's most ardent supporters may have crossed the line. B.J. Hickman, the so-called Jackson super fan, was served a restraining order on Thursday for verbally abusing Court TV reporter Diane Diamond. Hickman has been ordered to stay at least 20 yards away from Diamond and not to contact her at all.
Plus, Jackson's attorney, Thomas Mesereau, still trying to control mixed messages from the Jackson camp. And it's not always working, in part because of what we do right here. Who else but CNN's Nancy Grace pointed that out? She spoke with celebrity justice correspondent Jane Velez-Mitchell on Thursday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE NANCY GRACE SHOW")
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, "CELEBRITY JUSTICE" CORRESPONDENT: Yesterday, Thomas Mesereau, Jackson's lead defense attorney, sent a very stirring message saying he hadn't authorized anyone to hold any news conferences. The family backed that up, the Jackson family, with their own message. And today guess what? No news conferences at all.
NANCY GRACE, HOST: Well, hello. Wait just a minute. I believe I saw the Reverend Jesse Jackson on "AMERICAN MORNING" on CNN.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, I mean he may have given interviews privately, but he wasn't here at what they call the blue monster...
GRACE: Privately?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: The big...
GRACE: Privately? CNN?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well...
GRACE: Hello! Cable News Network, and it goes all around the globe?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: OK, you make a very good point.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: That's right, because Reverend Jesse Jackson was on live. He spoke with Mesereau and Mesereau's statement, he says, was not directed at him, so, according to Jesse Jackson, he had every right to talk to us.
HEMMER: Yes, what is it, 90 million homes in America, 214 countries around the world and territories?
COSTELLO: It's a pretty big press conference.
HEMMER: Whoo.
In a moment here, a disturbing trend among American teens, abusive relationships. Looking today at a closer look at an alarming new study on that, Carol, in a moment.
COSTELLO: Also, a former president says it's time to get rid of GITMO. The "Gimme A Minute" gang on the future of the controversial prison camp.
HEMMER: Also, interesting questions today back in Aruba. How can police arrest five suspects in this case without formally charging them? A look at the justice system based on Dutch law in Aruba, a bit later this hour.
Back in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Violence in a relationship is often thought to be an adult problem. But a new study suggests that is not the case. A new survey of 700 youths found that one teen in three knows a peer in an abusive relationship.
Jane Randel is a vice president with the Liz Claiborne Corporation, who sponsored this study. She joins us from Washington.
And here in New York with me is Ivette Diaz. Ivette, now 17, was once in an abusive relationship with a boyfriend and she is on the Liz Claiborne advisory board on teenage dating, violence and abuse.
Welcome to both of you.
IVETTE DIAZ, TEEN VIOLENCE VICTIM: Thank you.
JANE RANDEL, VICE PRESIDENT, LIZ CLAIBORNE INC.: thank you.
COSTELLO: Ivette, let's start with you and your story.
How old were you when the abuse began with your boyfriend?
DIAZ: I was around the age of 15.
COSTELLO: Fifteen years old?
DIAZ: Yes.
COSTELLO: And tell us about it.
DIAZ: It at first primarily started off just being emotional, verbal and mental abuse. And this was after like a span of six months of being together. And it commenced into physical by the time I was pregnant with his daughter. And the first time he ever hit me was when I was two months pregnant.
COSTELLO: Did you tell anybody about it?
DIAZ: I had -- I really didn't tell anybody, mostly only his family knew. But I really didn't tell anybody anything.
COSTELLO: You probably didn't have much experience in relationships.
Did this behavior seem expected or normal to you?
DIAZ: Thus, you will hear a lot of girls say well, it felt normal. I knew it wasn't normal and I knew it was wrong. But I was terrified to leave because he would threaten me, he would threaten to do something to himself, he would threaten to do something to the baby. So I knew it was wrong. I really knew it was wrong. I just -- it was difficult for me.
COSTELLO: How old was he?
DIAZ: When I was 15, he was 17. And by the time I was 16, when I was pregnant, he was 18.
COSTELLO: Jane, let me ask you a question.
RANDEL: Sure.
COSTELLO: Ivette says a lot of teenagers don't really think that this behavior is abnormal or wrong, they just think it's sort of expected in a relationship.
Is that what you found?
RANDEL: What we found is that they don't really know what to think. They don't, they don't know, as they start out these relationships, what's acceptable, what's unacceptable, what's the healthy relationship, what's not a healthy relationship. And even if they do, like Ivette, have a sense that this isn't right, they don't know who to turn to or maybe that there even is someone to turn to, that there are people that can help them.
COSTELLO: Yes, I want to run down a list of statistics that you found.
RANDEL: Sure.
COSTELLO: One in three teens say they know a friend or a peer being abused; nearly one in five girls say they've been threatened with abuse; 13 percent of girls report being hit or physically hurt; one in four girls say they are pressured to have sex.
One of the other findings in your study is that very rarely do teenagers -- teenaged girls -- go to their moms or dads to tell them about this abuse. They're more likely to tell a friend.
Why is that?
RANDEL: You know, I think that it's partially being a teen. I think it's also being embarrassed, being ashamed, which is something that is unfortunately a stigma attached to this issue generally, whether you're a teenager or an adult. And that's why we wanted to launch, at Liz Claiborne, this national curriculum in schools to help the kids realize, understand what a healthy relationship is, understand the power and control issues that surround domestic violence, again, whether you're an adult or a teen, and let them know that there are resources out there to help them.
And then a side benefit, which is really great, is that it also educates the educators on what the issue is, again, how to help the teens that may be affected. Because once you start to raise awareness of an issue, you can pretty much guarantee that people are going to come forward and you need to be able to help them if they do come forward.
COSTELLO: I want to ask Ivette about this, because I know that many parents out there are saying oh, I just can't believe my child wouldn't come to me when they're being hurt physically or abused mentally.
So, Ivette, what should parents say to their kids?
DIAZ: Well, the first thing, with my parents, I never went up to them because I knew they would take action and...
COSTELLO: Against your boyfriend?
DIAZ: Yes. I knew they would take action against him, because my parents love me and they're devoted to me and my sisters, and they would take action.
COSTELLO: But, see, that might confuse some people, because clearly some action needed to be taken against him.
DIAZ: Yes, but they weren't aware, no one was aware because I never said anything.
COSTELLO: But you didn't want action taken against him. That's why you didn't go to your parents. Help us understand.
DIAZ: OK. Well, I can't sit here and say I didn't love him, so a part of me not wanting anything to happen to him. A part of me, like she said, being embarrassed and shamed because everybody sees me to be this strong person and then to see me in a totally, you know, different light, like Ivette is not as strong as we thought, that was what held me back a lot, too.
COSTELLO: OK, so, Jane, and hearing Ivette's answer, as a parent, what do you do?
RANDEL: I think you talk to your kids. I think that you let your kids know that you're available always. You listen to your kids and you look for the signs. I'm sure Ivette and some of the other young girls that we've spoken to, you know, their behaviors changed. A lot of times in abusive relationships you become isolated or your grades drop or you are, you know, you can -- the parents can see the kind of controlling behavior.
You know, when you're 14, it's hard to know when someone calls you on your cell phone, you know, 15, 16, 50 times a day, always wanting to know where you are, when you're 14 years old, it's hard to know, you know, does that just mean he loves me? Or does that mean, you know, is that a warning sign?
And, I think, again, by educating people in the schools, the students, the teachers, another byproduct is helping to educate parents about this issue, because I think they need to know. You know, parents know to talk about drugs and sex in a general way, but this is an issue that just kind of is ignored and we want to change that.
COSTELLO: Yes, and your program is only in a couple of schools nationwide. Hopefully it will spread to more.
Jane Randel of the Liz Claiborne Corporation and Ivette Diaz.
Thank you so much for joining us this morning.
RANDEL: Thank you.
DIAZ: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Bill.
HEMMER: Our best to them, too.
Twenty minutes past the hour now, Carol.
In a moment here, Howard Dean's comments about Republicans have angered the GOP and have some Democrats, as well, getting some distance from themselves and their leader.
Can the harm be repaired, though? We'll get into that, part of our "Gimme A Minute" segment, still to come this hour.
Back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back and good evening.
It's 8:23 here in New York, p.m. time.
CAFFERTY: You know, I'll tell you, the power bill around here is something this month. It seems dark in here.
HEMMER: Well, it's the storm outside. The clouds are looming. Things are getting dark.
What's on your mind?
CAFFERTY: Well, you know, Chad Myers' handed us the weather. Just calm down a little. Just tell him, that's Chad's deal.
HEMMER: I'm on it.
CAFFERTY: Two hundred thousand new millionaires created last year in this country, which means there's -- out of every 110 of us, one of us has a million clams. According to a world wealth report by Capgemini Merrill Lynch, two-and-a-half million Americans now have more than a million dollars in assets, which is a 10 percent increase from a year ago.
The question is what's behind the surge in America's millionaires?
Gabe writes from Coral Springs, Florida: "You failed to mention that while the rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer and the middle class is disappearing. Maybe that's why we have so many new rich -- you can't have winners without losers."
Stephen in California: "Exploitation of cheap undocumented labor, outsourcing jobs to cheap labor markets, high gas prices, tax cuts for the rich and a corporate owned White House."
James in British Columbia: "The reason for all the new millionaires in America is what I call the Venezuelafication of the country. Thanks to corporate controlled media and government, we face a future with enormous disparities between the bottom 80 percent and the upper 20 percent."
And then he adds and parentheses: "That's your lot of chattering know nothings."
HEMMER: Yes!
CAFFERTY: Patricia in -- James woke up cranky.
Patricia in California writes: "Whatever it is, pass it over here. Between my hospital bills and rent, I need a sugar daddy."
HEMMER: Keep looking, Patricia.
I wonder how many millionaires there were when the Nasdaq was up around 5,000.
CAFFERTY: Oh, a lot more than there are now.
HEMMER: Indeed, there were.
COSTELLO: It seems like that, right?
CAFFERTY: Yes.
COSTELLO: They're very poor now, some of them.
We've been hearing and seeing a lot of Tom Cruise lately. Now his latest love, Katie Holmes, is doing some talking of her own.
"The Late Show's" David Letterman spoke with the actress about her headline making romance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN, COURTESY CBS/WORLDWIDE PANTS)
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST: This must be a very exciting time for you.
KATIE HOLMES, ACTOR: It's amazing.
LETTERMAN: Because you're in love with Tom Cruise and from what I've seen, Tom has gone nuts. So, and, as well, and, you know, I would, also.
HOLMES: Hey...
LETTERMAN: Believe me, I would go nuts. Look, I'd go nuts.
HOLMES: Do you want me to go nuts?
LETTERMAN: No. Somebody's got to, somebody's got to be thinking straight here.
How long have you known Tom? HOLMES: I -- fortunately, I have known Tom for about six weeks.
LETTERMAN: Six weeks? Wow! So this thing has still got some heat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Oh.
HEMMER: Did she climb on a couch?
COSTELLO: No, she did not climb on the couch. But she did profess her love for Tom Cruise and...
HEMMER: I see.
COSTELLO: ... of course, he asked her the marriage question and she was mum on that.
HEMMER: Yes, she said give me another six weeks?
COSTELLO: Give me another six weeks.
HEMMER: Hang in there.
In a moment here, the business of bright teeth. It's booming out there. Hi. Is danger looming for those addicted to having a white smile? We're paging Sanjay on that in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Good morning, everybody, from a rainy New York City.
It's 8:30 on a Friday.
I'm Bill Hemmer.
COSTELLO: Oh, you knew it was coming with all the hot weather we've had.
HEMMER: Right.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes.
I'm Carol Costello in for Soledad this morning.
We're tracking tropical storm Arlene this morning.
HEMMER: We are.
So, too, is Rob Marciano.
Straight away to Rob, where this thing is going to make landfall what, some time 36 hours away?
What do you think -- Rob. MARCIANO: Yes, that's about right, late tomorrow afternoon, tomorrow evening. And it's heading into the Gulf of Mexico. And, as you know, that means it's surrounded by U.S. land and it's going to make landfall in the U.S.
It's our first tropical storm of the season. It has strengthened right now about there, about 50 miles north of the western tip of Cuba. Notice, everything is off toward the east and northeast. It's being blown apart by winds here. And when it's lopsided like this, that's good, because it doesn't -- it means that it probably isn't going to strengthen a whole lot in a rapid amount of time. But it is strengthening and it's down about -- up to about 55 miles an hour at last check.
The forecast track still brings it into the Gulf of Mexico and then, yes, over the next 36 hours, somewhere between, say, Pensacola and New Orleans, we expect it to make landfall. The next official forecast will come out in about three hours and then we'll see if the National Hurricane Center will up the forecast to hurricane status. Right now it keeps it below hurricane status and that's good news.
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Aired June 10, 2005 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
Tropical storm Arlene slamming into Cuba. Now setting sights on the Gulf Coast. A live report on where that storm is headed next.
Day 12 in the search for Natalee Holloway. Authorities in Aruba grasp for new leads and now police in South America are getting involved.
And one of Michael Jackson's faithful fans getting slapped with a restraining order outside of court. Inside, deliberations continue. We're on a verdict watch on a Friday on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN broadcast center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
HEMMER: Good morning, everybody.
8:00 in New York on a Friday.
Good morning.
A complete look at where tropical storm Arlene is headed next, eyes there.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, first, though, we have to get to tropical storm Jack.
HEMMER: That's right. T.S. Cafferty.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, easy.
Coming up in "The Cafferty File," allegations the White House climate reports on global warming may have been altered by some guy who used to work on behalf, I think, of the oil companies or something. It's a pretty nasty little story.
If you have the urge to pinch a politician's cheeks, chances are you won't vote for him. And if I find one that'll let me pinch his cheeks, I damn sure won't vote for him.
And Mike Brady beats up on Tony Soprano, coming up in "The File."
COSTELLO: It sounds very cool today.
Thank you, Jack. HEMMER: The storm is stirring.
Thank you, Jack.
Now to Cafferty -- we mean, Arlene, now.
Folks along the Gulf Coast keeping a lookout today as this tropical storm moves closer and closer. This after a tropical storm watch was issued earlier today, about 5:00 a.m. Eastern time, from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle. Arlene now churning its way over the western Caribbean, drenching Cuba, too, with heavy rain and 40 mile an hour winds, making its way north at about eight miles an hour. And folks along the northern Gulf Coast stocking up for some rough weather, mindful of last year's heavy storm damage.
Chad is off today.
Rob Marciano is watching, with a very close eye on Arlene.
What do you see in this hour -- Rob.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: The latest update as of the 8:00 hour, Bill, is that the National Hurricane Center has upped it to 55 mile an hour winds now. That's still a tropical storm in the mid range, and now merging into the Gulf of Mexico just to the northwest of the western tip of Cuba.
Still poorly organized, but getting better organized. And already the rain bands are heading into South Florida and winds have been gusting there to 30 miles an hour.
All right, so here's the forecast track into the Gulf of Mexico. Heading toward the northwest. Increasing in intensity and then making landfall some time tomorrow afternoon, between New Orleans and maybe Pensacola, Florida. Right now, the forecast is for it to remain a tropical storm, but it will be a strong tropical storm when it makes landfall, and for that reason, a tropical storm watch has been issued from Morgan City, Louisiana, around the mouth of the Mississippi River, in through Indian Pass, Florida, tropical storm force winds and conditions are expected in the next 36 hours. And already the rainfall across the western side of Florida and the gusts. We also had a little waterspout indicated by Doppler radar out of the Keys of Florida.
Another item of interest, tornadoes possible again today across the central part of the country.
We'll keep you updated on both fronts from the CNN Weather Center.
HEMMER: All right. You do that.
Thank you, Rob.
MARCIANO: You bet.
HEMMER: That's our first story.
The rest of the headlines now with Valerie Morris here, too -- good morning.
VALERIE MORRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill.
Good morning, Carol.
And good morning, everyone.
Now in the news, one of the suspects in an alleged terror plot in California is expected to appear in federal court this afternoon. Hamid Hayat and his father are accused of making plans to carry out attacks against the United States. They were charged with making false statements to the FBI. At least three other Pakistani natives near Sacramento have also been detained on immigration violations.
The U.S. has confirmed former Alabama Attorney General Bill Pryor for a seat on the federal appeals court. Pryor becoming the third of President Bush's controversial judicial picks to be confirmed under a deal to end a filibuster fight.
But the nomination of John Bolton as U.N. ambassador is still being held up. Some Senate Democrats say they will not allow a vote until the White House hands over some classified documents.
In California, jurors in the Michael Jackson trial get back to work today. Deliberations are set to resume less than four hours from now, after a short session on Thursday. Fans have been gathering outside the courthouse to show their support. Jackson has been waiting out the verdict at his Neverland Ranch.
In Texas, a pilot was killed when his small plane crashed into a home. The house burst into flames, but fortunately no one was inside at the time of the accident. Aviation officials say there was no radio contact with the pilot.
And Belmont Stakes set for tomorrow. Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo among the 11 horses competing in the one-and-a-half mile race. But Preakness winner Afleet Alex is the favorite to win. The Belmont Stakes is the third leg of the Triple Crown.
And that's the very latest -- Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: Valerie, thanks for that.
Now back to the search for clues in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. Now spreading beyond Aruba into South America. Two of the latest suspects are from a country there. The other is the son of a judge back in Aruba. We're also learning more details about what Natalee Holloway did with these three men the night she left that club. And so far no one has been charged with a crime.
Attorney Chris Lejuez represents Abraham Jones, one of the first to be arrested. He's our guest back again in Palm Beach, Aruba.
Sir, thanks for your time and for coming back and talking with us.
I know you've seen the statements of the three men who were arrested recently, but only two of the three statements were released.
What explains why that's the case?
CHRIS LEJUEZ, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I have no explanation for that, sir. I could speculate, but I'd rather not do that.
HEMMER: Well, in the statements that were released, then, what have you learned?
LEJUEZ: That the three had been with Natalee that night. They were at the nightclub, where they saw her. And she left with them in the car. They went to a beach by the lighthouse here in Aruba. After that, they brought her to the hotel and they left her there.
HEMMER: And what happened after they left this club?
It's my understanding that in this affidavit or in this statement that there was some sort of sexual contact. How much was that involved in this event from 10, 11 nights ago?
LEJUEZ: Yes, there was. There was kissing and there was fondling and there was sexual contact between her and one of the accused. This, the accused is the one that has, of whom I don't have the statement. The other two both testified to the police that there had been kissing and sexual contact with her.
HEMMER: So then the time they left the club and the time they say they dropped her off at the hotel, how much time elapsed there?
LEJUEZ: Approximately half an hour. They dropped her off at the hotel at approximately 2:00 in the morning.
HEMMER: And so when they say they dropped her off, they also noted a black man with a black t-shirt with a witch who then approached her and appeared to be some sort of security guard inside the hotel.
Is that your understanding?
LEJUEZ: They said he appeared to be a security guard, but the security guards at that hotel don't wear black t-shirts. They don't wear black trousers. They wear green trousers with like a khaki colored shirt, no t-shirt.
HEMMER: So what would explain this description, then?
LEJUEZ: I don't know. Perhaps it could have been another man. Perhaps it could have been a security guard from some other place being there. Perhaps he does not exist. I have no idea, sir.
HEMMER: Are there cameras, surveillance cameras, at this hotel?
LEJUEZ: Apparently there are, because I read somewhere that they looked at the videos and they could not find anything of Natalee on the videos. And there was another statement and I found that very curious, too. The security guard on duty from 12:00 at night until 8:00 in the morning reported to the police that he saw nothing strange, nothing suspicious. And I would imagine that if a girl 18 years old, who was drunk at the time, so drunk she fell to the floor, together with a black man fully dressed in black, were at the hotel at that hour, the security guard might have remembered that.
HEMMER: Well, here is the problem, then. If these three men say they dropped her off at the hotel around 2:00 in the morning and there's no videotape of it at the hotel, then what explains their story?
LEJUEZ: I can't explain that, sir.
HEMMER: When will you be back in court with your own client?
LEJUEZ: Before the eight days are gone, somewhere before, if necessary, unless they release him. They can release him any time within these eight days.
HEMMER: Is this the main story that everybody is focused on in Aruba?
LEJUEZ: Yes. This is the only story that everyone is focusing on right now in Aruba, sir. And Aruba is a very quiet island. It's a very peaceful island. We have a very low crime rate, the lowest in the Caribbean area. And this is something so shocking that nobody is talking about anything else.
HEMMER: Attorney Chris Lejuez represents Abraham Jones from Aruba.
Again, sir, thank you for your time today.
COSTELLO: Michael Jackson and the world still waiting for a verdict in his child molestation trial. Some court watchers point out juries often reach a conclusion on Friday, so a verdict today is that much more of a possibility.
Outside the courthouse, one of Jackson's most ardent supporters may have crossed the line. B.J. Hickman, the so-called Jackson super fan, was served a restraining order on Thursday for verbally abusing Court TV reporter Diane Diamond. Hickman has been ordered to stay at least 20 yards away from Diamond and not to contact her at all.
Plus, Jackson's attorney, Thomas Mesereau, still trying to control mixed messages from the Jackson camp. And it's not always working, in part because of what we do right here. Who else but CNN's Nancy Grace pointed that out? She spoke with celebrity justice correspondent Jane Velez-Mitchell on Thursday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE NANCY GRACE SHOW")
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, "CELEBRITY JUSTICE" CORRESPONDENT: Yesterday, Thomas Mesereau, Jackson's lead defense attorney, sent a very stirring message saying he hadn't authorized anyone to hold any news conferences. The family backed that up, the Jackson family, with their own message. And today guess what? No news conferences at all.
NANCY GRACE, HOST: Well, hello. Wait just a minute. I believe I saw the Reverend Jesse Jackson on "AMERICAN MORNING" on CNN.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, I mean he may have given interviews privately, but he wasn't here at what they call the blue monster...
GRACE: Privately?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: The big...
GRACE: Privately? CNN?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well...
GRACE: Hello! Cable News Network, and it goes all around the globe?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: OK, you make a very good point.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: That's right, because Reverend Jesse Jackson was on live. He spoke with Mesereau and Mesereau's statement, he says, was not directed at him, so, according to Jesse Jackson, he had every right to talk to us.
HEMMER: Yes, what is it, 90 million homes in America, 214 countries around the world and territories?
COSTELLO: It's a pretty big press conference.
HEMMER: Whoo.
In a moment here, a disturbing trend among American teens, abusive relationships. Looking today at a closer look at an alarming new study on that, Carol, in a moment.
COSTELLO: Also, a former president says it's time to get rid of GITMO. The "Gimme A Minute" gang on the future of the controversial prison camp.
HEMMER: Also, interesting questions today back in Aruba. How can police arrest five suspects in this case without formally charging them? A look at the justice system based on Dutch law in Aruba, a bit later this hour.
Back in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Violence in a relationship is often thought to be an adult problem. But a new study suggests that is not the case. A new survey of 700 youths found that one teen in three knows a peer in an abusive relationship.
Jane Randel is a vice president with the Liz Claiborne Corporation, who sponsored this study. She joins us from Washington.
And here in New York with me is Ivette Diaz. Ivette, now 17, was once in an abusive relationship with a boyfriend and she is on the Liz Claiborne advisory board on teenage dating, violence and abuse.
Welcome to both of you.
IVETTE DIAZ, TEEN VIOLENCE VICTIM: Thank you.
JANE RANDEL, VICE PRESIDENT, LIZ CLAIBORNE INC.: thank you.
COSTELLO: Ivette, let's start with you and your story.
How old were you when the abuse began with your boyfriend?
DIAZ: I was around the age of 15.
COSTELLO: Fifteen years old?
DIAZ: Yes.
COSTELLO: And tell us about it.
DIAZ: It at first primarily started off just being emotional, verbal and mental abuse. And this was after like a span of six months of being together. And it commenced into physical by the time I was pregnant with his daughter. And the first time he ever hit me was when I was two months pregnant.
COSTELLO: Did you tell anybody about it?
DIAZ: I had -- I really didn't tell anybody, mostly only his family knew. But I really didn't tell anybody anything.
COSTELLO: You probably didn't have much experience in relationships.
Did this behavior seem expected or normal to you?
DIAZ: Thus, you will hear a lot of girls say well, it felt normal. I knew it wasn't normal and I knew it was wrong. But I was terrified to leave because he would threaten me, he would threaten to do something to himself, he would threaten to do something to the baby. So I knew it was wrong. I really knew it was wrong. I just -- it was difficult for me.
COSTELLO: How old was he?
DIAZ: When I was 15, he was 17. And by the time I was 16, when I was pregnant, he was 18.
COSTELLO: Jane, let me ask you a question.
RANDEL: Sure.
COSTELLO: Ivette says a lot of teenagers don't really think that this behavior is abnormal or wrong, they just think it's sort of expected in a relationship.
Is that what you found?
RANDEL: What we found is that they don't really know what to think. They don't, they don't know, as they start out these relationships, what's acceptable, what's unacceptable, what's the healthy relationship, what's not a healthy relationship. And even if they do, like Ivette, have a sense that this isn't right, they don't know who to turn to or maybe that there even is someone to turn to, that there are people that can help them.
COSTELLO: Yes, I want to run down a list of statistics that you found.
RANDEL: Sure.
COSTELLO: One in three teens say they know a friend or a peer being abused; nearly one in five girls say they've been threatened with abuse; 13 percent of girls report being hit or physically hurt; one in four girls say they are pressured to have sex.
One of the other findings in your study is that very rarely do teenagers -- teenaged girls -- go to their moms or dads to tell them about this abuse. They're more likely to tell a friend.
Why is that?
RANDEL: You know, I think that it's partially being a teen. I think it's also being embarrassed, being ashamed, which is something that is unfortunately a stigma attached to this issue generally, whether you're a teenager or an adult. And that's why we wanted to launch, at Liz Claiborne, this national curriculum in schools to help the kids realize, understand what a healthy relationship is, understand the power and control issues that surround domestic violence, again, whether you're an adult or a teen, and let them know that there are resources out there to help them.
And then a side benefit, which is really great, is that it also educates the educators on what the issue is, again, how to help the teens that may be affected. Because once you start to raise awareness of an issue, you can pretty much guarantee that people are going to come forward and you need to be able to help them if they do come forward.
COSTELLO: I want to ask Ivette about this, because I know that many parents out there are saying oh, I just can't believe my child wouldn't come to me when they're being hurt physically or abused mentally.
So, Ivette, what should parents say to their kids?
DIAZ: Well, the first thing, with my parents, I never went up to them because I knew they would take action and...
COSTELLO: Against your boyfriend?
DIAZ: Yes. I knew they would take action against him, because my parents love me and they're devoted to me and my sisters, and they would take action.
COSTELLO: But, see, that might confuse some people, because clearly some action needed to be taken against him.
DIAZ: Yes, but they weren't aware, no one was aware because I never said anything.
COSTELLO: But you didn't want action taken against him. That's why you didn't go to your parents. Help us understand.
DIAZ: OK. Well, I can't sit here and say I didn't love him, so a part of me not wanting anything to happen to him. A part of me, like she said, being embarrassed and shamed because everybody sees me to be this strong person and then to see me in a totally, you know, different light, like Ivette is not as strong as we thought, that was what held me back a lot, too.
COSTELLO: OK, so, Jane, and hearing Ivette's answer, as a parent, what do you do?
RANDEL: I think you talk to your kids. I think that you let your kids know that you're available always. You listen to your kids and you look for the signs. I'm sure Ivette and some of the other young girls that we've spoken to, you know, their behaviors changed. A lot of times in abusive relationships you become isolated or your grades drop or you are, you know, you can -- the parents can see the kind of controlling behavior.
You know, when you're 14, it's hard to know when someone calls you on your cell phone, you know, 15, 16, 50 times a day, always wanting to know where you are, when you're 14 years old, it's hard to know, you know, does that just mean he loves me? Or does that mean, you know, is that a warning sign?
And, I think, again, by educating people in the schools, the students, the teachers, another byproduct is helping to educate parents about this issue, because I think they need to know. You know, parents know to talk about drugs and sex in a general way, but this is an issue that just kind of is ignored and we want to change that.
COSTELLO: Yes, and your program is only in a couple of schools nationwide. Hopefully it will spread to more.
Jane Randel of the Liz Claiborne Corporation and Ivette Diaz.
Thank you so much for joining us this morning.
RANDEL: Thank you.
DIAZ: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Bill.
HEMMER: Our best to them, too.
Twenty minutes past the hour now, Carol.
In a moment here, Howard Dean's comments about Republicans have angered the GOP and have some Democrats, as well, getting some distance from themselves and their leader.
Can the harm be repaired, though? We'll get into that, part of our "Gimme A Minute" segment, still to come this hour.
Back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back and good evening.
It's 8:23 here in New York, p.m. time.
CAFFERTY: You know, I'll tell you, the power bill around here is something this month. It seems dark in here.
HEMMER: Well, it's the storm outside. The clouds are looming. Things are getting dark.
What's on your mind?
CAFFERTY: Well, you know, Chad Myers' handed us the weather. Just calm down a little. Just tell him, that's Chad's deal.
HEMMER: I'm on it.
CAFFERTY: Two hundred thousand new millionaires created last year in this country, which means there's -- out of every 110 of us, one of us has a million clams. According to a world wealth report by Capgemini Merrill Lynch, two-and-a-half million Americans now have more than a million dollars in assets, which is a 10 percent increase from a year ago.
The question is what's behind the surge in America's millionaires?
Gabe writes from Coral Springs, Florida: "You failed to mention that while the rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer and the middle class is disappearing. Maybe that's why we have so many new rich -- you can't have winners without losers."
Stephen in California: "Exploitation of cheap undocumented labor, outsourcing jobs to cheap labor markets, high gas prices, tax cuts for the rich and a corporate owned White House."
James in British Columbia: "The reason for all the new millionaires in America is what I call the Venezuelafication of the country. Thanks to corporate controlled media and government, we face a future with enormous disparities between the bottom 80 percent and the upper 20 percent."
And then he adds and parentheses: "That's your lot of chattering know nothings."
HEMMER: Yes!
CAFFERTY: Patricia in -- James woke up cranky.
Patricia in California writes: "Whatever it is, pass it over here. Between my hospital bills and rent, I need a sugar daddy."
HEMMER: Keep looking, Patricia.
I wonder how many millionaires there were when the Nasdaq was up around 5,000.
CAFFERTY: Oh, a lot more than there are now.
HEMMER: Indeed, there were.
COSTELLO: It seems like that, right?
CAFFERTY: Yes.
COSTELLO: They're very poor now, some of them.
We've been hearing and seeing a lot of Tom Cruise lately. Now his latest love, Katie Holmes, is doing some talking of her own.
"The Late Show's" David Letterman spoke with the actress about her headline making romance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN, COURTESY CBS/WORLDWIDE PANTS)
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST: This must be a very exciting time for you.
KATIE HOLMES, ACTOR: It's amazing.
LETTERMAN: Because you're in love with Tom Cruise and from what I've seen, Tom has gone nuts. So, and, as well, and, you know, I would, also.
HOLMES: Hey...
LETTERMAN: Believe me, I would go nuts. Look, I'd go nuts.
HOLMES: Do you want me to go nuts?
LETTERMAN: No. Somebody's got to, somebody's got to be thinking straight here.
How long have you known Tom? HOLMES: I -- fortunately, I have known Tom for about six weeks.
LETTERMAN: Six weeks? Wow! So this thing has still got some heat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Oh.
HEMMER: Did she climb on a couch?
COSTELLO: No, she did not climb on the couch. But she did profess her love for Tom Cruise and...
HEMMER: I see.
COSTELLO: ... of course, he asked her the marriage question and she was mum on that.
HEMMER: Yes, she said give me another six weeks?
COSTELLO: Give me another six weeks.
HEMMER: Hang in there.
In a moment here, the business of bright teeth. It's booming out there. Hi. Is danger looming for those addicted to having a white smile? We're paging Sanjay on that in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Good morning, everybody, from a rainy New York City.
It's 8:30 on a Friday.
I'm Bill Hemmer.
COSTELLO: Oh, you knew it was coming with all the hot weather we've had.
HEMMER: Right.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes.
I'm Carol Costello in for Soledad this morning.
We're tracking tropical storm Arlene this morning.
HEMMER: We are.
So, too, is Rob Marciano.
Straight away to Rob, where this thing is going to make landfall what, some time 36 hours away?
What do you think -- Rob. MARCIANO: Yes, that's about right, late tomorrow afternoon, tomorrow evening. And it's heading into the Gulf of Mexico. And, as you know, that means it's surrounded by U.S. land and it's going to make landfall in the U.S.
It's our first tropical storm of the season. It has strengthened right now about there, about 50 miles north of the western tip of Cuba. Notice, everything is off toward the east and northeast. It's being blown apart by winds here. And when it's lopsided like this, that's good, because it doesn't -- it means that it probably isn't going to strengthen a whole lot in a rapid amount of time. But it is strengthening and it's down about -- up to about 55 miles an hour at last check.
The forecast track still brings it into the Gulf of Mexico and then, yes, over the next 36 hours, somewhere between, say, Pensacola and New Orleans, we expect it to make landfall. The next official forecast will come out in about three hours and then we'll see if the National Hurricane Center will up the forecast to hurricane status. Right now it keeps it below hurricane status and that's good news.
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