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Troop Support Rally; President Bush, Other Leaders Attending APEC Summit; Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes Wed; Why Arnold Schwarzenegger Is A Political Success; O.J. Simpson Book Controversy Continues
Aired November 18, 2006 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. I'm Fredricka Whitfield in Atlanta.
See these stories in the NEWSROOM.
Search in Iraq. U.S. troops hunting for the American contractors kidnapped on this desert highway.
Plus this from Texas...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm so glad I was here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: ... a father breaking down in tears, thanking a woman who found his missing son.
And if castle walls could talk. An Italian wedding for an all- American couple. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes starring in their own "Roman Holiday".
It is Saturday, November 18th, and you are in the NEWSROOM.
But first, these top stories.
North Korea's nuclear threat a key issue for President Bush and other Pacific Rim leaders. They're in Vietnam's capital this weekend for the Asia-Pacific Economic summit. After wrapping up a full day of meetings, Mr. Bush and other APEC leaders attended a gala dinner.
Coalition forces on the move in Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood. They launched a raid in a bid to recover hostages and disrupt kidnapping and terror cells. The raid took place after intelligence indicated an armed group was holding hostages kidnapped in Baghdad earlier in the week.
In southern Iraq, the search goes on for five kidnapped private contractors, four of them Americans. The fifth an Austrian. They were abducted two days ago along Iraq's border with Kuwait. And the man who is expected to lead Britain after Tony Blair's departure makes a surprise visit to Iraq. British finance minister Gordon Brown flew to Basra today to meet with British troops and Iraqi government officials.
And in college football, it doesn't get any bigger than this, number one versus number two. Ohio State battling Michigan today. The Buckeyes and Wolverines kick off on national TV just 90 minutes from now. It's the first time in over a century of playing each other that the two rivals have met as the nation's top two teams.
New information this hour about the abduction of five Western contractors in Iraq. There are now several unconfirmed claims of responsibility for Thursday's kidnapping, but so far no proof.
Coalition and Iraqi troops are engaged in an aggressive hunt for them in southeastern Iraq. The four Americans and an Austrian haven't been seen since being ambushed at a fake checkpoint near the Kuwait border. They are all employees of a security corporation.
One of the four Americans abducted Thursday is this man, Paul Reuben, a former police officer from suburban Minneapolis. Last week he called his family to say the job was getting too dangerous and he'd be home in a few days. Now Reuben's mother and his sister are gripped with fear.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNNIE REUBEN, PAUL REUBEN'S MOTHER: If there's any goodness or kindness left, or anything that you can show a fellow man, show it. Because that kindness will come back to you.
SUZANNE REUBEN, PAUL REUBEN'S SISTER: I just hope that my brother, whom I love very much, comes home safe and sound.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Reuben's mother says she hopes her son will be home in time to celebrate his 40th birthday with his twin brother next Friday.
Supporting the troops. A military rally to show support for U.S. troops kicked off today in Columbus, Georgia, the home of Fort Benning. It's billed as a day of family fun with live music, games. And CNN's Hummer Warrior One will be on display there.
CNN's John Zarrella is on hand for the day's events, and he joins us live where -- you got an apparatus behind you, and I'm hearing lots of folks as well.
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, lots of people, Fredricka. You know, this is really an opportunity for the people of Columbus to say just thank you to the soldiers here at Fort Benning and those, of course, serving -- serving across the world on behalf of this nation. And about 30,000 people expected here throughout the course of the day coming through here. This is the Bradley fighting vehicle, one of the pieces of equipment that's here on display.
And with me is Sergeant Ed Bowers.
And Sergeant, to you and the other soldiers, what does this kind of event mean?
SGT. ED BOWERS, FORT BENNING: It means a lot, sir. A lot of -- it seems like a lot of our -- a lot of our soldiers are being supported by Americans, and we appreciate all that's being done for us. And I've been to Iraq one time, and I've lost friends over there just like everybody else has. And we really appreciate the support.
ZARRELLA: Tell me just a little -- little bit briefly about this vehicle.
BOWERS: This vehicle is the third generation Bradley fighting vehicle, the M2A3 Bradley. Everything is digitalized, computerized on the inside, and carries the Blue Force Tracker. It is armed with the .25 millimeter cannon, Charlie coaxial machine gun, and the tow (ph) missile system.
ZARRELLA: And I can see, Sergeant, the kids are getting a big thrill out of this today, coming in and out and walking in and out. It's really a big treat.
And there's one other -- Sergeant, thanks very much. We appreciate your time.
One other treat that the folks are getting to see here. We're going to take a walk over here. And what you can see -- a lot of the soldiers are gathered around it right now -- is CNN's Warrior One.
This was one of the Humvees used by CNN personnel in Iraq. It didn't look like that when it was over there, Fredricka. It has been completely redone by "Overhaulin'" on TLC. Took them a week to do it. And if you want to see how they transformed this vehicle, November 21st and December 21st there's going to be encore presentations of the show where they were able to put this vehicle together like it is now with the stereo system and the flat screen TVs.
And the proceeds from this -- it's going to be auctioned off in January. The proceeds are going to go to Fisher House. And Fisher House takes care of military families whose loved ones are undergoing intensive care at V.A. and military hospitals.
So a really good cause. And we're certainly hoping to get many hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction in January for this -- this vehicle -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, John, thanks so much. I know it's loud there. You're doing a great job, though.
And you can check out our overhauled Hummer online. Go to CNN.com/WarriorOne. See what it looked like before the "Overhaulin'" team got a hold of it and where Warrior One is headed next. And look at the photo gallery. You can also read all about the Fisher House Foundation and how it is supporting the troops and their families.
To "People" magazine -- I know everybody has been awaiting the marriage nuptials to take place between Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes in Italy, where lots of fans, as well as a lot of celebrities, have crowded into this small sleepy town. Well, the magazine, "People" magazine is now saying that the nuptials are actually taking place right now. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, now husband and wife there in Italy.
And also straight ahead, North Korea's nuclear threat a major issue this weekend at the Asia-Pacific Economic summit in Vietnam's capital. After a day of meetings, President Bush and other Pacific Rim leaders wrapped up their talks with a gala dinner.
CNN's White House correspondent, Elaine Quijano, is in Hanoi.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Trade was not the main focus here in Hanoi, Vietnam, host city to this year's annual Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Instead, one security issue dominated the discussions President Bush had today with his Asian counterparts: what to do about North Korea and its nuclear weapons program.
Now, the president's day was capped off bay gala dinner here in Hanoi with 20 other leaders of Pacific Rim countries that are APEC members. Earlier, though, Mr. Bush sat down with the President of South Korea, President Roh Moo-hyun. And though he tried, Mr. Bush was not able to persuade the Korean leader to support intercepting ships suspected of carrying nuclear weapons supplies headed to North Korea. Instead, Mr. Bush emphasized after the meeting that the two leaders do agree on the overarching goal.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our desire is to solve the North Korean issue peacefully. And as I have made clear, in a speech recently as two days ago in Singapore, that we (INAUDIBLE) nuclear weapons ambitions that we would be willing to enter into security arrangements with North Koreans, as well as move forward with new economic incentives for the North Korean people.
QUIJANO: On Sunday, North Korea will once again be the focus when President Bush sits down with China's president, President Hu Jintao, as well as Russian president Vladimir Putin. Also expected on Sunday, a statement from all 21 member nations of APEC expressing concern about North Korea's nuclear activities. The White House has endorsed that statement.
Elaine Quijano, CNN, with the president in Hanoi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: After Vietnam President Bush heads to Indonesia. He is scheduled to arrive there Monday. And now a new concern about that leg of the trip.
Indonesian police say the threat of an attack by al Qaeda-linked militants has increased sharply ahead of Mr. Bush's visit. Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim country. The U.S.-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq have sparked a lot of anger there.
And this just outside of Chicago breaking right now at a hospital in Aurora, Illinois. Apparently, police are negotiating with an armed male patient at a suburban hospital. One other patient was allegedly taken hostage by this armed patient. A 71-year-old was taken hostage and was released unharmed, we understand. And so right now police are trying to talk with this 58-year-old patient at this hospital who is believed to have a small handgun.
That's all we know right now. We'll bring you updates as we get it.
Now a reminder for parents. A child can vanish in a split second.
A fortunate father has his son back in his arms today, and Texas police are now on the lookout for the carjacker.
Here's the story from Dallas affiliate KDFW and reporter Dionne Anglin.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DIONNE ANGLIN, REPORTER, KDFW (voice-over): Tears and relief after some heart-stopping moments.
BUDI CHUGITO, FATHER: Thank you all. Thank you.
ANGLIN: The reunion after this father's car was stolen with his 3-year-old son strapped inside. It happened here on East Division in Arlington, just west of Highway 360. The keys in the ignition and the boy left inside, Chugito says he went back inside the place where he works for just an instant.
CHUGITO: I just go back five seconds. I don't know nothing. I can't think of nothing. I just called 911 right away. The police are doing the best work. They'll take care of everything.
ANGLIN: Police say the car thief, minutes later and miles from the scene, made a stop here at South Davis Elementary school and apparently put the boy's jacket on him and then left him in the parking lot.
CHUGITO: Thank you very much.
NICOLE FRAGOSA, FOUND MISSING CHILD: I'm so glad I was here.
ANGLIN: It all leaves this woman. Thanks to her alert hearing, now considered an angel.
FRAGOSA: I had to look outside. He was screaming, "Help, help," screaming for his mom. And when I looked outside I just saw the neighbors across the street. So I thought it was coming from them. But when I opened the door, he came running from the corner of the building straight to me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Wow. Close call. Glad it was a happy ending for the little boy.
That was KDFW's Dionne Anglin reporting.
The father says he was standing a mere 10 feet away locking the door when his child was taken.
Well, it's perhaps the outrage story of the week, O.J. Simpson's book about how he would have killed his ex-wife. Our legal experts are salivating over this one. They join us live in the next half hour.
Plus, 14 years ago silicone implants were considered dangerous. Well, not any more. We'll explain why.
And it's the celebrity wedding of the year. And we have a crew live on the scene of Tom and Katie's wedding, sort of. We're at least close to the castle. We're outside of it right there, where apparently the nuptials have already taken place.
A live report coming up next.
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(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANICA PATRICK, RACE CAR DRIVER: There's a lot of people that are good at things, but they're not determined. And then they veer off path. I think being determined is a huge quality of a lot of successful people.
WHITFIELD (voice-over): Danica Patrick is driven to succeed. She fell in love with being behind the wheel at age 10 after a go-cart lesson and hasn't stopped racing since.
In 2005, Patrick became the fourth woman to drive in the Indianapolis 500. She finished in fourth place, the highest position for a female driver. Patrick is able to persevere in a male-dominated sport by seeing herself as just another driver.
PATRICK: You have to just really be confident in what you do, and if there's something different about you, just embrace it and use it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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WHITFIELD: With all the candles lit and the star-studded celebrities in place, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes made it official. They tied the knot at a 15th century castle just moments ago.
And in the middle of it all, or better yet, outside of it all, CNN's Alessio Vinci.
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka.
Yes, the gates of the Castello Odescalchi here behind me have been closed now for just over an hour. And we do understand, as we just mentioned, that it is official, now Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise can be referred to as Mrs. And Mr. or Mr. and Mrs. Cruise.
So, this is official. The ceremony has taken place. We do know, as I mentioned already many times, this was just a ceremonial event officiated by a Scientology priest because this is not a wedding that was recognized by the Italian state.
It was a star-studded ceremony. As you know, we have seen Hollywood's best stars arriving here. Among them Halle Berry, Richard Gere, J. Lo, Will Smith, Brooke Shields, Victoria Beckham, once a Spice Girl, now the wife of a famous football star here in Italy.
All this organized by Georgio Armani, Italy's best-known or one of Italy's best-known designers. He has not only organized the ceremony, but also he has provided the wedding suit, as well as the wedding gown for the -- for Tom and Katie.
A number of guests, anywhere between 150 and 300. We've seen several limousines driving by. Six thousand scented candles. White flowers for an estimated $100,000. And we do expect within the next few hours or so a fireworks display.
So this is, of course, a fairytale with a castle, and all we need is the fireworks to start to make all of this perhaps a party that most people, at least here in Bracciano, will not forget.
These are stars that they usually see only on a small television screen. And now they're able to see in reality here.
And so every time one of them drives by in his limousine, obviously the people here are going absolutely crazy. They have embraced this star-studded ceremony as being one of their own. And they all want to participate.
And we understand that the mayor of Bracciano has made a request for Tom Cruise to appear, perhaps from one of the windows of the balcony here, to greet the crowds below, but we don't know if that will happen. But certainly that is what the people here in Bracciano are expecting.
WHITFIELD: Well, I guess that's the least they can do since everyone is kind of hanging at the edge of their seats to get a glimpse of the star couple. And so, Alessio, any way of knowing how many hours long this entire event will be?
VINCI: Well, I mean, the ceremony itself, I understand, was about an hour or so. If you consider that from the moment the gates closed, which means that everybody that was supposed to be inside was there, the moment we got the first information here on the ground, the actual wedding had taken place, was about an hour. So that was the length of the ceremony.
How much longer they're going to stay here I guess depends on how good the party is.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
VINCI: And with Georgio Armani organizing it, I guess it will last for a while.
WHITFIELD: I mean, there's going to be dancing and food and all that good stuff.
I have a feeling you're going to be hanging out there a long time.
VINCI: You know, regarding the dancing part -- regarding the dancing part...
WHITFIELD: Yes?
VINCI: ... I heard something really strange about this castle. I'm told -- I am told, but I'm not sure if this is true or not, that but because the castle is really old, the mezzanine floor where the actual party is taking place cannot sustain too many wild dancers.
WHITFIELD: Oh, come on. So folks have to just stand there and gawk and one another?
VINCI: Now, I don't how wild the dancers are going to get, but they're going to have to be really careful.
WHITFIELD: I don't think so. I'm sure they can, you know, open up the patio or be outside or something. You can't have a wedding and no dancing. That makes no sense. You've got to celebrate.
Alessio Vinci, thanks so much. I think he no longer is hearing me.
VINCI: Yes, absolutely.
WHITFIELD: Oh, there you are. OK. Have fun.
Well, you can hardly pick up a newspaper these days or turn on a television without seeing something about Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Well, do other people really care about all this? Find out with CNN.com's most popular list. That's coming up next in the newsroom.
Plus, they were banned 14 years ago. Now silicone breast implants are back. Find out why next in the NEWSROOM.
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WHITFIELD: A look now at some of the most popular stories on CNN.com.
A Texas teenager will spend the rest of his life in prison after being convicted of beating and sodomizing another teen at a party. Witnesses testified that 18-year-old David Tuck shouted, "White power!" while sodomizing the boy with a patio umbrella. Another teen, Keith Robert Turner, will be tried next month.
The families of two men executed by Fidel Castro's government will receive more than $90 million from Cuba. The money will come from Cuban assets frozen under the 1960 embargo and held in the U.S. The men were arrested and killed by Cuban troops during the Bay of Pigs invasion.
And celebrities are flocking to Italy. In fact, they've already flocked. The wedding bells are ringing, the candles are lit, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes married now. The couple tied the knot in this 15th century castle 27 miles outside Rome.
Well, it has been 14 years since silicone breast implants were pulled off the market over safety concerns. Now they're making a comeback. But are they completely safe? For some, that's still a very big question.
Medical Correspondent Christy Feig has the details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTY FEIG, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Since the FDA ban of silicone breast implants in 1992, only a small number of women in clinical trials have been able to receive them. But now the FDA is giving two companies, Inamed, now a part of Alocen (ph), and Mentor the green light to sell them broadly again.
DONNA TILLMAN, FDA: We have more information that's enabled us to determine that these devices are safe and effective. We have more information that's enabled us to provide women information about risks and benefits so that they can make informed choices.
FEIG (on camera): Although most studies have failed to link the implants to serious diseases, some studies show that over a 10-year period 14 percent of implants will rupture. And questions still remain over what happens when silicone enters the body.
(voice-over): The agency says often women will have to have more than one surgery. And that has some women's advocates concerned.
DIANA ZUCKERMAN, WOMEN'S ADVOCATE: After all these years and all this publicity and all this controversy, the FDA was willing to make an approval decision before we had the answers to the most basic questions.
FEIG: To help answer these questions, the FDA is requiring both companies to each follow 40,000 women who get these implants for 10 years to look for medical problems. And the implants won't be available for everyone. Women wanting larger breasts must be age 22 or older. Women needing them for reconstruction, like after breast cancer, will be able to receive them at any age.
Christy Feig, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Out in California, Arnold Schwarzenegger's re- election campaign. There apparently are some who are saying the Republican Party could not learn -- or rather could learn a lot from it. Stick around for that story.
Plus, outrage over O.J. Simpson's new book describing how he would have killed his ex-wife.
And former congressman Mark Foley of Florida looks into whether he committed a crime. Foley and O.J., topics for our legal eagles live in the NEWSROOM.
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WHITFIELD: Well, let's talk politics right now. He may jump, but Illinois Senator Barack Obama says he won't be pushed. The Democrat predicting he'll make a decision on a presidential bid in the next few weeks. Obama says first he wants to make sure he's got the right message.
CNN's Don Lemon travels to Chicago and talks to the senator Monday in the NEWSROOM, 1:00 p.m. Eastern on CNN. You don't want to miss that.
And soon to be ex-Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney making some noise about 2008 himself. The Republican says he'll have a decision after the holidays. Romney has spent a good deal of time this year giving speeches in key battleground states.
A rough and tumble kind of year for Republicans, but one GOP governor made all the right moves this campaign season, apparently.
Arnold Schwarzenegger's fancy footwork from our senior political analyst Bill Schneider.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): What do Republicans do now? To paraphrase some famous advice, "go west old party," and follow the example of one Republican who had a very good year.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is an actor. In three years as governor, he has played three different roles. Call it the three faces of Arnold. He started out as a moderate in 2004, campaigning side-by- side with Democrats to rescue the state budget.
GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA: Up and down the state we are campaigning together. When have you seen that the last time?
SCHNEIDER: Schwarzenegger won. Then he moved to the right, picking fights with the Democratic legislature and public employee unions.
SCHWARZENEGGER: This is a battle of the special interest versus the children's interests.
SCHNEIDER: He called a special election to force a showdown with his opponents. He lost. He got the message.
SCHWARZENEGGER: I should have also listened to my wife, who said, I mean, don't do this.
SCHNEIDER: This year, Californians saw Arnold's third face. He's become, sort of, a liberal. He shifted positions.
SCHWARZENEGGER: When I ran for governor, I said that we could not afford an increase in the minimum wage, unless the economy bounced back. Well, the economy has bounced back.
SCHNEIDER: He signed the most far-reaching program in the country to combat global warming.
SCHWARZENEGGER: This is only the beginning, because by 2050 we will reduce emissions by another 80 percent.
SCHNEIDER: Look what happened in two states on Election Day. In Pennsylvania, Senator Rick Santorum embraced a deeply conservative philosophy and never wavered. He went down. Santorum lost the center. Independents voted overwhelmingly for the Democrat.
In California, Schwarzenegger carried independent voters handily. He reclaimed the center. Schwarzenegger did two things President Bush has never done. He flatly acknowledged his mistakes, and he changed course.
SCHWARZENEGGER: I have absorbed my defeat and I have learned my lesson.
SCHNEIDER: Schwarzenegger is now thriving. President Bush has already become a lame duck.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And more now on Governor Schwarzenegger rewarding loyalists with plum jobs? The Associated Press found many Schwarzenegger deputies who lost jobbed in a staff shake-up last year landed on their feet. AP says Schwarzenegger gave 40 aides jobs elsewhere in state government, many now drawing bigger salaries, some working in posts the governor once wanted to eliminate.
Well, if you think the O.J. Simpson controversy ended years ago, think again. Simpson has written a new book in which he describes how he would have killed Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, but he says it's not a confession. We'll ask our legal experts about all this in a moment, but first, here's Randi Kaye.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: On Monday, November 27th, the interview that will shock the nation.
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Shocking yes, and chilling, an interview with O.J. Simpson, acquitted of double murder in a criminal trial, held responsible for those murders in a civil court. Now he says he's speculating, asking, "What if?"
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You wrote, "I have never seen so much blood in my life."
O.J. SIMPSON, AUTHOR, "IF I DID IT": I don't think any two people could be murdered without everybody being covered in blood.
KAYE: It's O.J., the author, pitching his provocative new book, "If I Did It, Here's How It Happened," placing himself metaphorically at the center of what was called the crime of the century: the vicious murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ron Goldman, a young waiter who happened to be in the wrong place at the worst possible time.
It was the night of June 12, 1994, when the sound of a barking dog brought a neighbor to 875 South Bundy Drive in Brentwood, California. He made a gruesome discovery: two bodies, stabbed, nearly decapitated, left in the driveway.
CMDR. DAVID GASCON, LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPT.: This is a horrendous crime.
KAYE: Police collected the now very familiar evidence at the scene: a bloody glove, a blue wool cap, and found a trail of blood leading away from the scene of the crime. And though they didn't call him a suspect, they searched for Nicole's ex, O.J. Simpson.
GASCON: So, obviously, we're not going to rule anyone out. And we will pursue whoever we need to pursue until we bring the party to justice.
KAYE: Four days later, an arrest warrant was issued for O.J., but he wouldn't go easily. He led police on this now infamous slow- speed chase on the L.A. freeways, in a white Bronco, carrying his passport, a fake mustache, a pile of cash, and a gun.
His murder trial, which began more than seven months later, was the quintessential media circus, televised for all the world to see. Police said Simpson killed Nicole in a jealous rage, then killed Ron Goldman, who had come to her home simply to return a pair of glasses.
They said Simpson then returned home, changed his clothes, met his driver, and hopped a flight to Chicago. But Simpson's lawyers said it was instead a case of police racism, crime lab incompetence and falsified evidence, which the so- called "Dream Team" whittled away.
JOHNNY COCHRAN, ATTORNEY FOR O.J. SIMPSON: If it doesn't fit, you must acquit.
KAYE: The trial would take more than eight months, but the jury took less than four hours to render its verdict.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We, the jury, in the above entitled action find the defendant, Orenthal James Simpson, not guilty of the crime of murder.
KAYE: O.J. was acquitted and now he's back, not with a confession, but a book and a TV special with a title that can only further taunt police, prosecutors, and the grieving families of two victims. "If I Did It," but so far he hasn't revealed how.
Randi Kaye, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: So a surreal turn of events in a case that has long been known for its strange developments. Let's see what our legal experts have to say about all of this. Avery Friedman is a civil rights attorney and law professor.
Good to see you, Avery.
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Hi, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And Michelle Suskauer is a new face to this hour. She's a criminal defense attorney filling in today for Richard Herman.
Good to see you, Michelle.
MICHELLE SUSKAUER, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Thanks. Good to see you.
WHITFIELD: All right. Well, let's get straight to it. Why do this? You know, we're talking about someone who does a tell-all kind of to get a little bit more sympathy. But this is not the tell-all that is going to help O.J. Simpson get any more fans.
So, Avery, how do you make of this and what do you make of this?
FRIEDMAN: Beyond being unprincipled, it just goes to show in a free society even invertebrates get to do things like this. From a legal perspective, however, the primary question, I think, that most people are asking is well, look, if he actually writes how he would do it, could that be construed as a confession and, if so, can he be retried again for the murder of Goldman and his ex-wife.
And the answer is actually governed by the Constitution, Fredricka. And that is under the double jeopardy clause of the Fifth Amendment, no matter whether he admits or not, he's a free man.
WHITFIELD: All right. So, Michelle, no matter what he said, if you were the former prosecutor in this case, there's nothing that you could, I guess, take from this confession and pursue anything criminally because, case closed, double jeopardy is the issue here.
SUSKAUER: That's right.
WHITFIELD: You can't retry him again.
SUSKAUER: That's right. Avery is right. You cannot retry him again. He already has been found, though, civilly liable. And there is about, with interest now, almost $40 million civil judgment against him. So really the question is why is he doing this? And certainly he's doing this for money.
WHITFIELD: All right, and so the Goldman family...
SUSKAUER: And the question is, can he keep any of this money?
WHITFIELD: Right, and the Goldman family has already said that they've never received a dime from him. And if it is now $40 million that they're still owed from that civil suit, if there's any money that he makes from -- whether it be the televised interview or even from this book, legally, how can the family, the Brown and Goldman families, make sure they get something of it?
SUSKAUER: Well, you know, there's a reason why he moved to Florida.
FRIEDMAN: Well, I think in had this case...
WHITFIELD: Go ahead, Michelle. Why is that? What are the protections in Florida?
SUSKAUER: I was going to say, you know, there's a reason he moved to Florida way back when because it really is a debtors haven. The laws have changed recently in the last few years, but he has really wonderful asset protection down here. He has his house, which he's sunk a lot of his money in, which is homesteaded. It is protected.
His NFL pension is protected. So it is really a question of can the judgment against him be attached to any proceeds he makes and what he's going to do is probably funnel this money directly to his kids. And he won't have touched it at all.
WHITFIELD: So Avery, that's a protection in and of itself?
FRIEDMAN: Well, maybe. Maybe. We're not really sure. That's what the argument is. The argument is that this thing is worth about $3.5 million. It's going to be broadcast on a different cable network. It may be going to Honduras, some say.
The fact is, though, that Dan Petrocelli, that one of the best lawyers in America who represents the Goldman family, may be going after him. But to me, the way I see it, is if Johnnie Cochran were still around, Fredricka, it would be when O.J. goes gutter, it's Fox bread and butter. And that's where this is going.
WHITFIELD: Oh, my God. You kill me with these rhymes. All right, Avery and Michelle. Hold on a minute, because we're just going to end it on this discussion.
SUSKAUER: Sure.
WHITFIELD: But we've got other things that we do want to talk about. We're talking about possible criminal charges against a former Congressman Mark Foley. We're going to explore that.
Plus, you made this the most popular video on CNN.com for awhile this week. The "Celebrity Meltdown Pop-Up Book"? That's coming up in the NEWSROOM.
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WHITFIELD: Former Congressman Mark Foley is expected to attend his father's funeral today in Florida. Edward Foley died Tuesday of complications from cancer. Mark Foley emerged from seclusion yesterday to attend a visitation for his father. He hadn't been seen since checking into rehab in October after resigning from Congress over sexually explicit Internet messages sent to male congressional pages.
Well, the Mark Foley case is no longer just a political embarrassment. Florida authorities have now opened a criminal investigation. Foley resigned from Congress after the the explicit e- mails were revealed publicly. A lawyer for the former Congressman has not commented on this new investigation, but he has said that Foley never had inappropriate sexual contact with minors.
Let's bring back our legal experts to discuss this case. Avery Friedman and Michelle Suskauer.
So, Michelle, let me begin with you, what might this criminal investigation encompass?
SUSKAUER: Well, what they're going to be looking at here -- and I don't think this is something that's new because I know that the assistant U.S. attorneys have opened up a file also because the FBI has been investigating. But what they're looking at...
WHITFIELD: But this would now be on a local matter.
SUSKAUER: Not necessarily. That's right. And there's a question as to who is going to prosecute, whether, first of all, if they're going to prosecute and if it's going to be Florida or if it is going to be federal in terms of jurisdiction.
But they're going to be looking at whether this was just more than mere dirty talk, whether this was actually a luring or an enticing of these kids. And kids in Florida is anyone under the age of 18. So that's what they're going to be focusing in on. WHITFIELD: Avery, what are the differences between the approach of the federal authorities investigating this case and the state authorities?
FRIEDMAN: Well, interestingly enough, chapter 847 of the Florida Statutes is broader than the federal law, Fredricka. And it provides that if someone knowingly seduces someone whom they believe to be a child, even if it isn't, that may be sufficient. That's actually broader than the 2006 federal Adam Walsh law, which ironically, Mark Foley had something to do with.
So the reason that the Florida officials are zeroing in on this investigation now is that their law is broader and there's probably a cooperative effort between the federal authorities and the State Department of Law Enforcement. And I predict that if anything's going to happen, we're looking to the state officials first.
WHITFIELD: And you mentioned cooperation between federal and state authorities. Doesn't there also have to be some kind of cooperation of any of these former pages or these young men, you know, former or current pages, to want to reveal something more about this potential of inappropriate relationship between them? Isn't it going to be tough enough to try to get anyone to talk -- Avery.
FRIEDMAN: I think it is. A number of the former pages and aides have asked not to get involved. It's very difficult to compel victims to do that. The question really is left open at this point. Will law enforcement be successful in convincing some of these victims to come forward?
WHITFIELD: And Michelle...
FRIEDMAN: Because the truth is -- let me just say, what he did, to me, looks like a violation of federal law.
WHITFIELD: And Michelle, don't you need that?
SUSKAUER: Well, you know, I don't know whether you need any of these boys, or now men, to come in if you have proof that he sent these e-mails, that these boys received these e-mails at the time that they were underage, if that can be proven without them.
I don't know how much involvement you would need versus where you have an actual meeting between a victim and a defendant. I don't know exactly how much participation we would need from them other than the fact that they actually received the e-mails and that they were underage.
WHITFIELD: All right, Michelle Suskauer, Avery Friedman, good to see both of you. I know we'll be talking about this case again.
FRIEDMAN: Absolutely. Take care.
SUSKAUER: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: All right. Have a good weekend. And we'll also be taking another closer look at the O.J. Simpson controversial book and the TV special "If I Did It." That's tomorrow morning on a special edition of "RELIABLE SOURCES." Howard Kurtz welcomes journalists and a legal expert as well, and that's tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. Eastern.
So here's the bottom line. If you're a celebrity and you get caught doing something embarrassing, somebody is going to profit from it, right?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do not exceed 30 miles per hour. Everything about the book was to play off of our love of tabloid journalism.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Oh, boy, it just does not end. For awhile this week this was the most popular story on CNN.com, the "Celebrity Meltdown Pop-Up Book." No kidding, that's next right here in the NEWSROOM.
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Well, plenty of celebrities have had them, those moments where you say I cannot believe he or she did or said that. And now, a new book brings to life some of the greatest meltdowns in celebrity history. But this isn't just any book. In this one, the stars just pop right out at you.
Jeanne Moos turns the page for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If you just can't get enough of Tom Cruise jumping on Oprah's couch, now you can make him jump.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is how I like to make him go, just shorter and quicker.
MOOS: If a million replays of Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction aren't satisfying enough, here is one you can enjoy forever.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What better for a pop-up book than a pop-out?
MOOS: It's the pop-up book of celebrity meltdowns. I bet Russell Crowe is thrilled to have the moment when he hurled a phone at a hotel clerk immortalized in 3D. This is a book so eye-popping...
(on camera): There we go, ready?
(voice-over): ... it makes you go...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... Wow.
MOOS: See Mike Tyson chomp down on Evander Holyfield's ear.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The idea here is we wanted to want it to feel like "Jaws."
MOOS: Take a page out of O.J.'s playbook, only now you control the white Bronco's slow-speed chase using a pull tab.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It says pull slowly. Do not exceed 30 miles per hour. Everything about the book was to play off of our love of tabloid journalism.
MOOS: Celebs like baby dangler Michael Jackson may be embarrassed by their meltdowns, but the pop-ups are engineered with pride.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wouldn't it be great as you opened the page, the baby really dangled?
MOOS: And dangle it does thanks to...
(on camera): There really is someone called a paper engineer?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yes, paper engineers. I think it's an art form.
MOOS: (voice-over): Charlie Melcher (ph) is known for publishing pop-ups, including the classic "Pop-up Book of Phobias".
Fear of the Dentist, Fear of Flying.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The horizon tilts and the wing flies by.
MOOS: Fear of public speaking.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you've got a whole group of people who are just not interested.
MOOS: Fear of heights.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ahhhhh!
MOOS: Melcher also created "The Pop-up Book of Sex," which pops up a little too much to show on TV.
(on camera): She's whipping him with a duster?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A duster.
MOOS (voice-over): A few of the pop-up celeb meltdowns are too risque.
(on camera); And this I can't show either. It's the Paris Hilton sex tape.
(voice-over): Though the lighting is better on the pop-up than in the actual video.
And remember when Hugh Grant got busted in a car with a lady of the night?
HUGH GRANT, ACTOR: I did a bad thing. And there you have it.
MOOS: Now you have it in 3D.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Kate Moss in one of her less well thought-through moments.
MOOS: The supermodel the London tabloids dubbed "Cocaine Kate" is depicted with eyes that roll and a line of coke that disappears when you pull on the tab. All that's are missing are sound effects.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh, no wonder that was the most popular story on CNN.com. Jacqui, I'm so glad you and I don't have pop-up worthy moments like.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WHITFIELD: Thanks a lot.
All right. Headlines about Hurricane Katrina damage have been few lately. But that certainly doesn't mean life the back to normal along the Gulf Coast. Tonight, CNN's Kathleen Koch returns to her home town of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, to follow that devastated town's progress. Join us for "CNN PRESENTS: THE TOWN THAT FOUGHT BACK" tonight and Sunday, 8:00 p.m. Eastern.
Women usually live longer than men. Well, now, a new study offers tips on how men can close the gap. That's at 4:00 Eastern.
Then at 5:00, the secret is out. For years he secretly provided Christmas gifts to hundreds. Who is this mysterious Santa Claus? Find out in the NEWSROOM at 5:00 p.m. Eastern.
A check of the day's headlines next, then "CNN PRESENTS."
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