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FBI Privacy Violations?; President Bush Signs Ethanol Agreement With Brazil; Farrakhan One-on-One

Aired March 09, 2007 - 11:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: You're with CNN. And you're informed.
I'm Rick Sanchez.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Heidi Collins. Tony Harris is back on Monday.

Developments keep coming in to the NEWSROOM, though, on this Friday, the 9th of March.

Here's what's on the rundown.

National security and your privacy. Did the FBI overstep the Patriot Act to get phone, e-mail and bank records? The FBI directors responds live this hour.

SANCHEZ: Also, President Bush's visit to South America fueling a lot of protests down there today. We are live this hour from Brazil. We'll bring it to you.

COLLINS: The madam of the house is in court this morning and dropping hints she may open her little black book. Should Washington powerbrokers be nervous?

Kiss and tell in the NEWSROOM.

SANCHEZ: Let's start with two developing stories that we need to tell you about. The first one is taking place in Pompano Beach, Florida. These pictures coming courtesy of WSVN.

A man walks into a place of business and shoots someone, a woman, that he seemed to be targeting because he didn't shoot anyone else. He then takes off in a four-door Honda. Police tried to show up at the scene where they thought the Honda was, but when they got there the car was empty. Nobody inside. So they're still looking for him.

As for the condition of the woman, we heard just really seconds ago, as we had expected or feared, that she is in critical condition at this point. Obviously, if anything in that stories changes, we'll bring it to you right away.

COLLINS: And now to the other story that we just learned about moments ago coming in to us from our affiliate WCVB. This is Marshfield, Massachusetts. You are looking at the wreckage of a small plane crash. We do not know at this time what type of plane it is, or believe we know, anyway, that one person was on board. As you can see from the wreckage, completely disintegrated upon impact. So certainly don't want to speculate, but we are a waiting to hear word on injuries from this plane crash, again, happening in Marshfield, Massachusetts.

We'll continue to follow it and bring you any new information once it becomes available to us.

Meanwhile, a troubling report just released last hour accuses the FBI of overstepping its bounds to secretly access Americans' private information. The Justice Department audit says the agency under- reported requests for information and, in some cases, improperly used its authority under the Patriot act.

Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena has been following this story for us this morning, joining us now live from Washington.

Kelli, remind us, what does the report say? I know it is a lengthy one.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: It is. The report concludes that basically the FBI improperly and in some cases illegally used what are known as national security letters to secretly obtain personal information for use in investigations.

The inspector general who prepared the report says that the FBI under-reported how often it used national security letters, that in some cases the FBI didn't get the proper authorization for those letters. And the report blames agent error, bad record-keeping, a lack of guidance from the top down into the field for those problems.

It didn't find, though, any indication of criminal misconduct. So it wasn't like the IG said, oh, you know, they were deliberately breaking the law. They said that they might have violated some of the statutes in practice.

Now, the FBI says that it has taken some steps to address these shortcomings. Director Mueller says that he's ordering additional measures to be taken immediately, but that, Heidi, was not enough for some members of Congress who were irate after reading this report.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (R-PA), CHAIRMAN, JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: There will be oversight hearings. And I think we may have to go farther than that and change the law to revise the Patriot Act to impose statutory requirements and perhaps take away some of the authority which we've already given to the FBI since they appear not to be able to know how to use it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENA: Now, we expect to hear from the FBI director in about 25 minutes from now -- Heidi.

COLLINS: All right. And I imagine that we will be hearing from a series of groups on this.

Again, to be fair, you're reporting here that it has not been determined whether or not there was an actual crime that took place, but possibly -- certainly bad record-keeping and bookkeeping, which will continue to be discussed I'm sure in light of all of this.

Any idea if the ACLU as one of those groups who will probably be critical of this is saying anything at this point?

ARENA: You have ESP, because I just got an e-mail on my Blackberry from the ACLU which says that it is already calling for a repeal of certain powers within the Patriot Act, you know, alleging that the FBI has not acted responsibly. It is an expected response from this organization. But I can tell you, it won't be the last that we hear about it.

COLLINS: All right. And we know that you are following it very closely.

Again, Director Mueller coming up in about 25 minutes or so, and we will carry that for our viewers here.

Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena.

Kelli, thanks.

SANCHEZ: We are keeping our eye on developments south of the border because gas prices have been surging in the United States. It's casting a shadow, in fact, all the way to Brazil. President Bush signing a deal on alternative fuels there this morning. He hopes that it will somehow weaken U.S. dependence on Mideast oil, but his visit is triggering angry protests, as might have been expected at this time. It's not just in Brazil, but actually there are protests all over South America because the president has been visiting there, and their antipathy to his administration.

CNN's Juan Carlos Lopez is in Sao Paulo.

Juan Carlos, what did they announce, what were they able to work out, the president of the United States and President Lula da Silva of Brazil?

JUAN CARLOS LOPEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rick, the two largers producers of ethanol in the world, the U.S., that produces it from corn, Brazil, who produces it from sugarcane, have reached an agreement to start working together. And there are very important implications to what we're saying now, because it's not only that they're going to start sharing technology -- Brazil is very advanced in making this ethanol from sugarcane. They're self-sufficient on energy. That's something the U.S. wants to do.

The U.S. wants to reduce the consumption of gas. But they also want to create a world market for fuel -- alternative fuel. And this is important, because the two largest producers, the U.S. and Brazil, could set up the rules for the world market. And this agreement will certainly create controversy that we'll see. And we have seen controversy. But this visit, Rick, very interesting because different -- other cities we've visited where President Bush has gone there is very tight security operative. But, a block from here, traffic flows normally. People are walking.

We're expecting President Bush to arrive any moment at the Hilton hotel for his lunch with President Lula da Silva. People are lining up on the streets. But I don't see any signs, I don't see anything that could suggest that they would be protesting, just watching the president go by.

SANCHEZ: We're going to lose you in a minute, so we'll keep your answer down to about 15 seconds if you can.

LOPEZ: OK.

SANCHEZ: But the president is not going to do anything in public, right, Juan Carlos? Nothing out with the people, so to speak?

LOPEZ: No. I don't think they would risk -- this city of 19 million is -- the people here are upset not because he's here, but mostly because of traffic jams. And traffic jams here are famous for being 70 (ph) miles long.

So that's what they're upset about. And some just don't like the president being here. But nothing -- nothing in the open.

SANCHEZ: Juan Carlos Lopez, we thank you so much for bringing us up to date on this report. We'll continue to keep tabs.

(NEWSBREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

SANCHEZ: Unexpected turn in the case of Anna Nicole Smith. Yes, it's still in the news. Does her computer hold clues to her sudden death? And why are we asking that?

We're going to tell you in the NEWSROOM.

COLLINS: Her client list rumored to hold 10,000 names. An alleged madam threatening to expose Washington's playboys. Her case in court this morning in the NEWSROOM.

SANCHEZ: Also, at home with Minister Louis Farrakhan. CNN's Don Lemon talks with the former Nation of Islam leader about his retirement, his future, his politics. A sneak peek. A discussion with someone who usually shies away from members of the media.

There's Don. He'll be talking to us.

That's OK. You can smile, Don. Good to see you.

We'll be talking to you in just a little bit. We'll look forward to it. OK. I'll autograph it for you later.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: An area of Arkansas hit by a tornado won't get requested federal help, but it will get mobile homes. A severe tornado struck Desha County two weeks ago, destroying or damaging 150 houses there. FEMA says the area will not get a federal disaster declaration but it will get 30 travel trailers and mobile homes.

In a CNN story this week, homeless tornado victims expressed outrage that FEMA trailers were going unused in Hope, Arkansas. That's just 160 miles away. Those trailers have been sitting vacant since the days after Hurricane Katrina.

SANCHEZ: We're going to do something interesting this morning. We're going to talk to somebody who doesn't normally talk to people like us. He usually shies away from members of the media.

You know who he is, Farrakhan, fiery orator, controversial figure. A huge following, of course. He is the ailing former Nation of Islam leader, Minister Louis Farrakhan. He says his time is up.

And CNN's Don Lemon is good enough to join us now. He sat down with Farrakhan at his Chicago home, and he's here with a preview of the conversation.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: And you said something interesting, home. He doesn't usually let people into his home, Rick Sanchez.

SANCHEZ: Why did he do that?

LEMON: I think he -- like you said, I think he says he knows his time is up, and not necessarily in life, but as far as being the head of the Nation of Islam. And he was very...

SANCHEZ: He's got something to say, huh?

LEMON: He's got something to say.

SANCHEZ: Now, we've been hearing reports -- you tell us if they're true or not -- you were there sitting with the man -- that he's very ill.

LEMON: Yes.

SANCHEZ: Is he?

LEMON: Yes, he is very ill. I mean, he -- you know, someone asked me, "He doesn't look sick." Well, he's a handsome guy, so he's going to look OK.

But when you -- I've met him before, but never had the chance to sit down and talk with him. And when he shook my hand, Rick, you know, very frail. It wasn't that, you know, strong handshake of a leader that you would think you would get.

SANCHEZ: Yes.

LEMON: But he's been very sick, but he also went into graphic detail about how sick he was, losing four units of blood between the hospital -- between his home and to the hospital, having the (INAUDIBLE), as they called it, to keep all the blood into his major arteries, his brain, and his upper chest cavity so that he would live.

He had -- he was trying experimental treatment for prostate cancer, a natural treatment, radiated seeds, and they burned a whole into his body. And so he lost all this blood and he got sick. And his doctors said, if you don't have traditional surgery from a traditional medical doctor, you're going to die.

SANCHEZ: So is that why he's stepping away? Is it his health?

LEMON: It's his health.

SANCHEZ: He hasn't lost any of his vim or vigor in terms of his positions, though, right? I know he's a very staunch critic...

LEMON: Yes.

SANCHEZ: ... of really just about everything.

LEMON: Yes.

SANCHEZ: Including Democrat, Republican administrations.

LEMON: Yes.

SANCHEZ: Administrations in general. Calling for the impeachment of President Bush?

LEMON: Absolutely. In his speech a couple of weeks ago, he said President Bush should be impeached. He called it a high crime. He said President Bush lied to the American people and he knew about it.

SANCHEZ: About what, the war?

LEMON: About the war. He said he went to, you know, war under false circumstances. So he said he should be impeached and that our kids are dying over there because of a lie. So he says the guy should be impeached.

SANCHEZ: Let me ask you a question. From a Hispanic perspective, in Latin America I get why people like Hugo Chavez.

LEMON: Right.

SANCHEZ: Because he's the little guy who seems to be criticizing the big guy.

LEMON: Yes. SANCHEZ: Is that why African-Americans still endorse Mr. Farrakhan? Because he says the things that some of them are afraid to say?

LEMON: Well, I think if you have -- if you know anything about his life and if you've read what critics say about him and what people who follow him say, it's that he is the ultimate free black man because there's no repercussion to him, at least he says. Because he can say...

SANCHEZ: The ultimate free black man. Interesting.

LEMON: ... what he wants to. He can say what he wants to. He doesn't have to worry about a corporation or what have you because he is in charge of the Nation of Islam. But he also said something about another black man who's running for president who...

SANCHEZ: Barack Obama?

LEMON: ... happens to live in his own neighborhood. And also Hillary Clinton. He was very critical of both of them. He likes them, but he's not absolutely sure that they are the people who can lead our country.

SANCHEZ: That's interesting. And I know we're out of time to do this now, but I'm kind of looking forward to having that conversation with you this weekend if you'll come on with us.

LEMON: I will.

SANCHEZ: I want to talk to you about it.

LEMON: I will. I will, absolutely.

SANCHEZ: As a matter of fact, we've got some sound.

LEMON: Let's listen to it.

SANCHEZ: Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LOUIS FARRAKHAN, FMR. NATION OF ISLAM LEADER: I'm not saying that I'm going to vote for him, but I like him because he's fresh.

LEMON: Do you think that Barack Obama is the answer to George Bush?

FARRAKHAN: No. I think he's capable of being an answer. But who will provide him with the money so he can contend with Mrs. Clinton and her big bank or Giuliani and McCain and their growing bank? So the people that bankroll you, they're the ones that ultimately call the tune.

LEMON: So what are you saying? FARRAKHAN: I'm saying that no matter who sits in the White House, if you don't uproot the structure that corrupts them, you still don't have a president. You have a figurehead.

LEMON: Do you think Barack Obama can do that?

FARRAKHAN: No. Absolutely not.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Passionate, isn't he?

LEMON: Absolutely.

SANCHEZ: So what he's saying is politicians in this country are bought and they respond to the people who pay them.

LEMON: Well, I'll let him say. But if you want to listen to the entire interview, we're going to have it on today in the CNN NEWSROOM and then all weekend. I'm going to join you this weekend as well.

SANCHEZ: I'll look forward to that.

LEMON: Yes. Thank you, Rick.

SANCHEZ: He seems to be saying, by the way, Barack Obama is no different than anybody else then.

LEMON: Well, he...

SANCHEZ: In the end.

LEMON: Well, he says it depends on who backs him.

SANCHEZ: Or who gives him money.

LEMON: Who gives him money.

SANCHEZ: Yes. Let's talk straight.

LEMON: Yes, all right.

SANCHEZ: Don Lemon, thanks. Look forward to it.

LEMON: Rick Sanchez, thank you.

SANCHEZ: All right.

COLLINS: A Missouri carpenter in an on-the-job tussle with a nail gun.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATT ROBINSON, NAIL PIERCED HEART: It hit right here. And I dropped the gun and I looked down, and I could see the head of it because it stuck on the outside of my shirt. (END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: One heck of a scar, isn't it? Shot in the heart, in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: An unbelievable story to share with you today. The victim of an accidental shooting, his own. A nail pierced the heart of a construction worker, and what he didn't do actually saved his life.

C.J. Cassidy of affiliate KFVS reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBINSON: I thought I was going to die.

C.J. CASSIDY, REPORTER, KFVS (voice over): You would too if you shot a nail through your heart. Matt Robinson calls it an accident he'll never forget.

ROBINSON: I was helping frame up a barn. A guy was lowering the gun down the ladder to me...

CASSIDY (on camera): The nail gun?

ROBINSON: The nail gun, and it swung. I guess my finger hit the trigger and it hit me in the chest.

CASSIDY (voice over): The 3.75 inch nail, much like this one, went through Matt's right ventricle and came out the other side.

ROBINSON: It hit right here. And I dropped the gun and I looked down, and I could see the head of it, because it stuck on the outside of my shirt. I wanted to take it out, but then again, I was scared. I didn't know what to think, really.

CASSIDY: Had Matt pulled the nail out, the St. Louis doctor who performed heart surgery on him says he would have died. Dr. Hendrick Barner (ph) pulled the nail out about four hours after the accident. While inside, the nail acted like a plug, leaving no space for blood to seep out.

Still, these computer-generated 3D images leave even technicians in shock.

DEBBIE LASKY, RADIOLOGY TECHNICIAN: This is the first time I have seen a nail (ph) through the heart, yes.

CASSIDY (on camera): And some survived that?

LASKY: Yes. And actually was talking and everything. So, it was just really surprising to us.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was bad timing. CASSIDY (voice over): Matt's girlfriend can joke about the scare now. She's pregnant with his twins, and at the time the episode with the nail gun terrified her.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody told me that if it goes through your heart you die. And so I was just really scared.

CASSIDY: As for Matt, he's not giving up on his conduction job just yet.

ROBINSON: Construction is just something I like to do. I mean, it's -- you get to do different stuff.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: The construction worker had his accident on a Monday and was up and walking two days later.

To get your "Daily Dose" of health news online, just log on to our Web site. You'll find the latest medical news, a health library, and information on diet and fitness. That address, cnn.com/health.

SANCHEZ: Oh, boy, we've got trouble in River City. And it would be the Potomac that we're talking about as far as rivers go. Her client list rumored to hold 10,000 names. An alleged madam threatening to expose Washington's playboys.

Could they be congressmen? Senators perhaps?

Details this morning in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Something that we are following, we are waiting, FBI director -- I thought he was coming to the microphones there. Robert Mueller is going to be coming up and talking about this.

The inspector general's report that we have been talking about here quite a bit today, the audit should be released -- it was actually released earlier today. We've been reporting it with our Kelli Arena, our justice correspondent.

A very lengthy report about whether or not the FBI may have underreported its use of the Patriot Act to secretly get a hold of private information. So we are continuing to follow that. Lots of questions to be asked. Lots of complicated issues. As I said, we'll stay on top of it for you and bring you the comments as soon as they have them.

SANCHEZ: There's another story we're staying on top of for you. This one taking place in south Florida, Capital Beach to be exact.

Man walks into a place of business with a gun and shoots somebody in front of all the other workers who are there. None of the others seemed to be targeted or shot, by the way. Police are indicating that it may have been a personal relationship issue with this person that he shot. In other words, the suspect knew the victim.

The victim is not doing well at all. She's in critical condition, according to police. They told us this just moments ago.

As for the suspect, he got away in a Honda, drove for a while, then I guess parked it because police thought they had him. They thought they had him, but it turns out he's still on the loose. We'll certainly check on that story for you as well.

COLLINS: Let's get you straight to FBI Director Robert Mueller. Let's listen in.

ROBERT MUELLER, FBI DIRECTOR: Regarding the FBI's use of national security letters. And I want to say at the outset that is extra report is one I take exceptionally seriously and I appreciate the work of the inspector general in conducting this review.

Let me also say that we -- and I speak for the FBI as an institution -- accept the report's findings and its recommendations and have already taken steps to address many of these recommendations. Some of these steps and many of these steps are outlined on the chart to my right.

By way of background, the inspector general was directed by Congress in the Patriot Reauthorization Act to examine the FBI's use of national security letters to look at their effectiveness, and to report on any improper or illegal uses.

As a reminder, national security letters enable us, the FBI, to obtain certain types of transactional information, not content on conversations, but items such as telephone toll records, subscriber information and the like. These pieces of information are absolutely essential and are critical building blocks in our counterterrrorism and counter intelligence investigations.

I am particularly concerned about the findings in the report that indicate that we did not have appropriate policies in place and in other areas where we did have appropriate policies, we did not adhere to them in using this important tool.

A note that the inspector general indicated that his review did not reveal intentional violations of national security letter authorities, AG guidelines, or internal FBI policy. Rather, as he put it, he found confusion about the authorities available under the various NSL statutes. As well the IG found that in almost every instance, in most instances, we sought and obtained information to which we were entitled.

Nevertheless, the report identifies serious deficiencies in our tracking and internal controls with regard to the use of this tool.

Before I address these deficiencies I wanted to look at another subject addressed by the Inspector General in his report. The report rightfully discusses the effectiveness as NSL is a proven and a useful tool in protecting the American public from acts of terrorism. The report concurs with our determination that national security letters have contributed significantly to our counterterrorism and intelligence missions.

As the report says, FBI agents believe that national security letters are a critical tool and/or the bread and butter of our investigation. And the report cites several examples where national security letters have advanced particular investigations, and I recommend that you look at that portion of his report.

I also deeply appreciate the Inspector General's putting in context his findings with regard to the use of this tool by describing the demanding environment in which the FBI, particularly the counterterrrorism division, was operating over the last five years.

Now, with that said, let me turn to the deficiencies that were pointed out by the inspector general. First of all, inaccurate reporting. As you undoubtedly know, we are required to report to Congress twice a year on the numbers of NSLs issued. And the numbers that we have provided in recent years have been inaccurate. The IG attributes this to several factors.

First, deficiencies in the database we use for internal tracking of NSLs, and secondly the failure to retain signed copies of national security letters where they can be easily counted for purposes of the report to Congress.

We have already taken steps to correct these deficiencies. Early last year, we began to develop a web-based system. That when sure that when an NSL is issued it will be accurately recorded and we are now requiring all offices to maintain signed copies of NSLs. We also are doing a retrospective to determine what NSLs have been or did not make it into the system so we can correct those figures.

Second area of deficiencies, substantial area of deficiencies with regard to what is called IOBs, intelligence oversight board violations. By executive order, the president's intelligence oversight board is to be notified if there are activities that may be contrary to national security authorities. These are known as potential IOB violations.

An example would be where an agent is seeking information on a particular telephone number, transposes the numbers in that telephone number in a request to a communications provider and obtains the wrong records. The policy for when that happens, we sequester those records and destroy them. We also identify that as a possible violation and investigate why that occurred.

The inspector general in his review of four offices, found that we had identified, we in the FBI, had identified 26 such violations. And in all but one case agreed with how we had handled them. But he also found another 22 violations, potential violations that we had not found. And while he said that none of these involved intentional or deliberate misuse of authorities, I'll tell you my concern is that we did not pick up those mistakes ourselves.

So we've taken a number of steps to address this. We've improved our internal guidance, focusing on reporting unauthorized collection. And we have and our continuing to develop training that will be mandatory for all our special agents in charge, our attorneys in the field and our national security agents. And going forward we will be conducting reviews with the Department of Justice of our offices of these potential IOB violations.

The third area addressed by the inspector general relates to what is called exigent (ph) letters. By statute, communication carriers can provide us information in emergency situations. And they're entitled to trust our representation that it is, indeed, an emergency situation.

After September 11th, a practice grew up whereby we would provide to the carriers a letter saying that indeed, we needed particular information because of the exigent nature of the investigation and that a grand jury subpoena would follow.

In a substantial number of these cases, the inspector general found that there were not necessarily exigent circumstances and grand jury subpoenas had not followed.

While we were entitled to that information, we were utilizing the wrong vehicle to obtain that information. I should make it clear that communication carriers were absolutely entitled to rely on our representation in providing those materials.

Here are the steps we've taken to rectify that situation. As of May of last year, we stopped the use of these letters. We will seek emergency disclosure of records in the future only when the circumstances comport with the statute.

I also have ordered a special inspection to determine how this occurred. And the attorney general is looking at that as well as how we provide legal advice in situations such as this. Those are the three most substantial areas of concern pointed out by the inspector general.

But the question should and must be asked, how could this happen? Who is accountable? And the answer to that, is I am to be held accountable.

To be more specific, when we received the additional capabilities in the Patriot Act. In addition to establishing procedures for reporting the number of NSLs to Congress, I should have set up an audit system to ensure the accuracy of those figures and did not.

Secondly, as the inspector general points out, there was confusion and uncertainty in the field as to the use of these authorities. I should have provided the appropriate training, education and internal oversight so that all out there, all in the field understood the use of these authorities, and I did not.

And lastly, I should have introduced internal controls and additional levels of review to assure that incidents such as the use of the (INAUDIBLE) letters immediately came to light and were remedied, and I did not.

As I previously noted, each of these deficiencies is being addressed. But let me finish with two thoughts. First, national security letters are absolutely essential, absolutely essential for us to do our job in protecting the American public against terrorist attacks. But it is equally important that as we exercise these authorities we do it consistent with the privacy protections and civil liberties that we in the FBI are sworn to uphold.

I am the personal responsible, I am the person accountable, and I am committed to ensuring that we correct these deficiencies and live up to these responsibilities. One last thought, I would say this is an example of appropriate and effective congressional oversight. Congress required that this report be done. And the I.G. has completed a thorough and a fair review and identified issues of serious concern that have to be rectified.

And the inspector general will come back and review our progress periodically. So this process, as it should be, is a way to assure appropriate oversight in how we use this critical tool for protecting the American public.

Thank you.

And I'd be happy to answer what questions you do have.

Mr. Williams?

QUESTION: You talked about some members of Congress about this. How concerned are you that Congress might act to restrict the FBI's ability to use of these letters? And what will happen if it did?

MUELLER: Well, I expect that Congress will review the report thoroughly, look at the deficiencies who are pointed out, evaluate what steps we are taking to address them, and look to future inspector general reports on how we are measuring up. As I've stated, national security letters are absolutely essential in terms of providing us with the information, the building blocks we need to conduct our investigations. And there has to be a balance between the authorities that are given us in order to protect the American public and the protection of privacy and our civil liberties. I think the balance is appropriate.

And I would also work with Congress to assure that -- concerns that Congress has as to the use of this particular tool are laid to rest.

QUESTION: Can I just follow that up? You could argue, I suppose, that setting clerical errors aside, the number of abuses, potential abuses is quite small. It was something like 150,000 of these over the last few years. In that light, it's a small amount.

MUELLER: Well, comparatively I'd say the sampling that was done by the inspector general was relatively small. The number of abuses is exceptionally small, given the numbers out there.

But nonetheless, it is a serious problem, because we should have in place the procedures to assure that where there are mistakes made, where a person's telephone toll records are obtained by us without appropriate process or where mistakes have been made, is absolutely essential that we identify that and we sequester those records and destroy them. We have that responsibility, as well as the responsibility to conduct our investigation. So it is serious.

Sir?

QUESTION: Director Mueller, you said the proper oversights were not put in place (INAUDIBLE). Why weren't they?

MUELLER: Because I did not early on recognize that beyond just putting into place a database to report, for instance, the number of NSLs, I could not rely solely on persons following the procedures, which we have in the Bureau, which requires a notification of any NSL to go to the office of the general counsel so it can be recorded in that database, and reflected to Congress. It's very important to have an audit procedure to make sure that that is happening, not just put the procedure in place, but have some sort of mechanism to assure that the procedures are being followed. I did not put that into place at the outset.

Yes, ma'am?

COLLINS: FBI director Robert Mueller talking more about the inspector general's report that came out today with reference to these possible under-reportings by the FBI and the use of the Patriot Act, specifically the national security letters, where we are understanding from that report.

Kelli Arena, our justice correspondent, had a look at it. Very lengthy report, about 26 possible intelligence violations out of 47,000 national security letters that went out.

And once again, quickly want to say that according to Robert Mueller the inspector general's report did not find the errors to be intentional.

However, he does regard these mistakes as serious, and also talks about the database being poor back in 2005, in the fact that no copies of those national security letters were ever kept in order to track them, sort of being the basis of that report.

We will continue to watch that and keep you updated on the situation.

SANCHEZ: We're also going to be watching a manhunt that took place in South Florida earlier this morning. It was in Pompano Beach. A suspect walks into a shore and shoots someone. There you see the police actually getting to the scene. They thought he was in the car.

We're going to update the story for you. We're going to let you know the newest information that we have about the suspect, and there is a bevy of it. We'll have it for you in just a minute.

Stay with us. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) SANCHEZ: We told you about this shooting in Pompano Beach, Florida. Now there's a manhunt under way for the person who walked into this place of business and just shot somebody at point blank, according to the workers who were there in Pompano Beach at the time when it happened.

She's in critical condition, by the way, not doing very well at all. As for the suspect is concerned, police thought they had cornered him in his car, but it turns out when they opened the car up, he was gone. Here's what we have.

Two new pieces of information. First of all, we've got a description of him. Police are now telling us his name is Roger Murray (ph). He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a blue and black denim shirt, and has short, cropped hair. Might be able to get a mug shot up for you at some point.

Last seen heading westbound on 4th Street for those of you in that area. And here's what else is interesting. We now learn as well that there may have been somebody working with him, that he may have had an accomplice because police say they're also looking for a suspect they believe was involved in the shooting.

Last seen in the company of an African-American male, approximately 6'2 in height, wearing a long, white, short-sleeved shirt and light-colored trousers. That's the description that we're getting. Another man they're looking for as well. If we get any information on the story, we'll bring it to you right away -- Heidi?

COLLINS: Last week's stock market tumble raised concerns about the health of the economy. But just about two hours ago, Wall Street got a reassuring answer. Ah ha, Felicia Taylor at the New York Stock Exchange with details. So, Felicia, we've been waiting for this jobs report.

(BUSINESS HEADLINES)

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SANCHEZ: All right. We've got that picture that we promised moments ago. This is that story that we've been telling you about. And this is the mug shot of the suspect who came into us. Here's how he's being described. First of all his name, Roger Dean Murray (ph). It came in just moments ago. Police say this is the man they're looking for.

And interestingly enough, they now tell us as far as that workplace shooting is concerned where he walked into a store, or walked into a business and shot a female who is now in critical condition, police are now telling us that he may have had somebody help him in this crime because they're also looking for possibly an accomplice in this case. They say he's about 6'2 with dreadlocks. So that's what police are telling us right now, the very latest on this story that we've been following for you all morning.

COLLINS: New developments this morning surrounding the Anna Nicole Smith death investigation. CNN had learned the Broward County medical examiner wants to examine Smith's computer now and it could be up to two more weeks until he issues an official cause of death.

Investigators continue to believe no foul play was involved in Smith's death, but it's thought the computer files could change the circumstances surrounding her death.

All right. So Rick, you have a show this weekend.

SANCHEZ: A couple of them, as a matter of fact. We're going to talk about credit because there's so many people getting hit with insurance and -- not insurance, but with credit card problems.

COLLINS: Right.

SANCHEZ: So have you ever gotten your credit card statement and you just couldn't even makes sense of it on the fine print, all the confusing jargon that you get at the bottom? You're not alone. Senators took on some big credit card companies because of their outrageous fees and their interest rates. This weekend, we're going to talk to a family whose credit card balances have skyrocketed. Grab some paper and we're also going to expose the bogus practices of card companies by giving you tips on how to avoid being maxed out. Bad idea ever to be maxed out, by the way.

And the Justice Department is opening 75 unsolved murders from the civil rights era. Why now? How hard will it be to find killers from such cold cases? We spent some time this week in South Carolina with a family of a man who was beaten and killed in 1960. What happened in this case? Well it's "CSI" on CNN. Weekend primetime right here.

COLLINS: Did you write that?

SANCHEZ: I thought of it all by myself.

COLLINS: We are looking forward to it.

SANCHEZ: As my son would say to me, I smart, daddy.

COLLINS: What does he say?

SANCHEZ: I smart, daddy.

COLLINS: Oh, all right.

SANCHEZ: I don't why, I just find it funny.

COLLINS: CNN NEWSROOM does continue just one hour from now. But coming up in just a few minutes, you will see "YOUR WORLD TODAY." So stick around, everybody, and have a great weekend. I'm Heidi Collins.

SANCHEZ: I'm Rick Sanchez. I enjoyed the morning with you.

COLLINS: Thank you, you too.

SANCHEZ: I'll see you again.

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