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Michael Vick Speaks Out; British Prime Minister Meets With President Bush; Former San Francisco 49ers Coach Bill Walsh Dies at Age 75
Aired July 30, 2007 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: First, do not -- or do no harm. The Cardinal rule of medicine meets a multibillion dollar diabetes drug believed to cause heart attacks. The FDA prepares to draw the line on Avandia.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: And Michael Vick told a judge he's not guilty of staging dogfights. Today, the Atlanta Falcons quarterback said a lot more to an Atlanta talk show radio host. And Porsche Foxx talks to us this hour.
Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
PHILLIPS: And I'm Kyra Phillips. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Now to Maryland, where a judge has denied bail for Christy Freeman, the Ocean City woman who is charged with murder in the death of an infant found at her house last week. Then police made another gruesome discovery, the remains of three more babies, all preterms. Police say the remains could be years old.
Kathleen Koch live in Ocean City with the latest.
Kathleen, what do we know?
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, right now, don't know if how much you can see behind me, but dozens and dozens of officers with Ocean City Police Department are here, basically digging up the property of the home of 37-year-old Christy Freeman with shovels, with backhoes, searching for more evidence and potentially more bodies, though, at this point they haven't found any more.
All this got started, this very grisly drama, on Thursday last week. Early Thursday morning, Freeman went to a local hospital complaining of cramping and bleeding. And hospital authorities there discovered inside her a placenta an umbilical cord, but no baby.
So, police got a search warrant. They came to her home off Sunset Drive, just a block off the main north-south corridor here in Ocean City, and they found the remains of a baby boy, dead, a preterm baby underneath, the sink in her bathroom. They then searched her bedroom. They found a trunk with two more bodies. The next day, then, on Friday, police got a search warrant to search the recreational vehicle that was in her yard, and inside that vehicle, they found the body of another child.
Now, neighbors who we have spoken to in this area are simply stunned by this discovery. Several of them have known her for several years.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She works hard. She helps people out, you know. I never would -- never would have thought of her as doing something this cruel and mean.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: Now, the bodies of the preterm infants are right now at the Baltimore medical examiner's office. As you mentioned, she's being charged with both first-degree murder, second-degree murder and manslaughter.
I was in court this afternoon when she appeared before Judge Daniel Mumford in Worcester County District Court. At that point, the state was saying she should not be granted bail. She said that -- they said that she runs a business. It's called Classic Taxi. They ferry people around Ocean City in classic vehicles.
And the deputy state's attorney, Michael Farlow, said she's a flight risk. But her attorney said she was not. And, actually, Christy Freeman spoke up to the judge. And here is what she said in court today. She said: "I am prepared to make sure that I appear for trial. I will do that. I need to clear my name in this case. I am not going to flee. I'm going to help clear this situation up. I don't have thousands of dollars to flee."
But Judge Mumford, Kyra, was not convinced. And she said that she should remain held without bond at this point -- back to you.
PHILLIPS: Now, Kathleen, earlier, you said that possibly she might already be a parent of four kids that are not in her custody. Do you know anything more about that?
KOCH: Right now, we're being told that the children are in the custody of family. But on her Web site for Classic Taxis, she describes her life with her four children and with her boyfriend, Ray Godman. And let me see if I can pull that up here.
It says: "My hobbies are our four children. We enjoy NASCAR races and the ocean. As a family, we fish, boat and camp together."
And, again, Kyra, neighbors here just very puzzled, because that's the image that they saw every day, a loving mother, a wonderful businessperson in town who was only an asset to the community.
PHILLIPS: We will follow the case with you, Kathleen Koch. Thank you.
O.J. Simpson, "If I Did It," that book was scrapped at the last minute. Now the people who helped get it killed are scrapping over the rights to it. The families of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown- Simpson are attending a hearing right now in Miami, where a judge will decide whether the families get control. If they do and they publish the book, they could recoup some of the money Simpson owes them from a civil suit over the murders.
We have heard just two words from Michael Vick in the past few weeks: not guilty. But, today, the Atlanta Falcons' star hit the airwaves. Talking to an Atlanta radio show, he only obliquely referred to the federal dogfighting case against him, calling it a crisis situation.
The quarterback thanked his supporters and discussed his possible future with the Falcons.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
MICHAEL VICK, NFL QUARTERBACK: Hopefully so. You know, under the right circumstances I think it can work. You know, I know I -- I put the city through a lot. My owner, Arthur Blank, who I love sincerely, I put him through a lot.
And, you know, it's hurt me to put him through these situations and to have to deal with that, because he shouldn't have to. So, like I said, under the right circumstances, you know, there will have to be a lot of things that will need to be worked out, you know, for them to put their trust and faith back in me.
But, if I had the opportunity, without a doubt. That's where I was drafted. You know, I have been there for the last seven years of my life. And I have learned to adapt, you know, in the Atlanta area. And, like I said, it wouldn't be a problem. I would love to come back, but, like I said, under the right circumstances.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
LEMON: But circumstances might have gotten bleaker for Vick today. One of his co-defendants reversed course and pleaded guilty to a dogfighting conspiracy charge. Tony Taylor also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors ahead of Vick's trial set to begin on November 26.
And, at the bottom of the hour, that radio host that Michael Vick talked to from V-103 here in Atlanta, Porsche Foxx, she is going to join us right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
PHILLIPS: Goodbye, Tony Blair. Hello, Gordon Brown, the new guy at Number 10 Downing Street meeting with President Bush today at Camp David.
The British prime minister and the president are stressing their common ground beginning with Iraq.
Let's go now to CNN White House correspondent Ed Henry for more.
Hi, Ed.
ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra. There was the hint of potential differences between the two men. But they really kept those under the surface for the most part, both men trying to say the right things. Mr. Bush going after it right away in his opening remarks, and putting out, he knows a lot of people around the world are wondering whether he can forge the same kind of bond with Mr. Brown as he did with Tony Blair, his predecessor.
Mr. Bush for his part saying he believes they will have a productive, strategic relationship, while, for his part, Mr. Brown said, in what is music to the ears of the White House, he believes Britain has responsibilities to keep in Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The notion of America and Britain sharing values is very important and that we have an obligation, it seems to me, to work for freedom and justice around the world. And I found a person who shares that vision and who understands the call.
GORDON BROWN, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We're in a generation-long battle against terrorism, against al Qaeda-inspired terrorism. And this is a battle for which we can give no quarter.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: But Mr. Brown did hint in the possibility of the fall of British troop pullout, talking about how Britain has secured three out of the four provinces that they are in and they hope to secure the fourth very soon.
And on the issue of Afghanistan, Mr. Brown said he believes Afghanistan is the front line in the fight against terrorism. That didn't seem to square with what Mr. Bush has said over and over that Iraq is the central front in the war on terror. Pressed by a British reporter to clarify, Mr. Brown said he also believes al Qaeda is a threat in Iraq, which is more in line with what Mr. Bush has been saying.
The point is, there's very little daylight between these two men, but certainly potentially more daylight than there was between Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, it will be interesting to follow their new relationship.
Ed Henry at the White House -- thanks, Ed.
HENRY: Thank you.
LEMON: It is do or die for the popular diabetes drug Avandia. The FDA is expected to decide this afternoon whether Avandia should be restricted, relabeled or pulled from the market over suspected risks of heart attack.
CNN medical correspondent Judy Fortin joins us now with details on this.
Serious stuff.
JUDY FORTIN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It is serious, Don.
And there are two big questions on the table, as you say under consideration at this all-day FDA hearing, which has been going on for about seven hours now. And here they are: whether the diabetes drug Avandia should be pulled from the market because of heart risks or whether a prominent warning label called a black box should be added and the drug be restricted for use in certain patients.
Avandia is a drug used by about a million Americans with Type II diabetes to control blood sugar. The hearing comes in the wake of a "New England Journal of Medicine" report back in May that said users of Avandia run a 43 percent higher risk of heart attack. The drug's maker GlaxoSmithKline, maintains Avandia is safe and their analysis doesn't show additional risk at all.
The FDA is asking an independent panel of experts to discuss and then vote on whether this drug, also known as rosiglitazone, is safe for the public.
A short time ago, one patient said it is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RAUL FERNANDES, DIABETES/HEART PATIENT: As a patient with both heart disease and diabetes, I can personally testify from my own experience that it's vital that patients have as many tools in the tool kit as possible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FORTIN: Now, one of the longest presentations we have heard today was from Dr. David Graham, who works for the FDA's Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology.
But in his testimony today he was not speaking on behalf of the FDA.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. DAVID GRAHAM, FDA SAFETY REVIEWER: We asked the question are there definitively documented population health-related benefits of rosiglitazone to justify its continued marketing? And for that we conclude the answer is no, and that rosiglitazone should be removed from the market.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FORTIN: Certainly some differing opinions today.
Following the discussion, the advisory committee will vote if Avandia should be taken off the market. Now, just to be clear, the advisory committee's action is just a recommendation. The FDA is not required to follow the advice, but, Don, it usually does.
LEMON: And the big question, what are patients taking this drug being told to do?
FORTIN: And, if you're sitting at home, you probably wonder.
LEMON: Yes.
FORTIN: And hopefully some of those questions will be cleared up after today's hearing. Up until now patients taking Avandia have been told not to panic and to consult with their own doctor before stopping the drug.
Now, not taking any medication for these patients is not a realistic option. There are other drugs available, but they have side effects, so, again, you need to speak with your doctor to make sure you are clear on what to do.
LEMON: Judy Fortin, thank you for that important information.
FORTIN: You're welcome.
PHILLIPS: Well, one of the world's busiest airports cracks down on security. Passengers call it a nightmare. Airlines agree it's a big problem -- what you need to know about the not-so-friendly straight ahead from the CNN.
Billions of dollars of U.S. weapons are heading for the Middle East. That has allies uplifted and rivals up in arms -- details straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: There's some sad news to report, and it's just in to the CNN NEWSROOM.
Legendary San Francisco 49ers coach Bill Walsh, the architect of the so-called West Coast offense, winner of three Super Bowl rings as a head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, has died, died after a long battle with leukemia. Bill Walsh was 75 years old. He was well known, as I said, for coaching the San Francisco 49ers. That was during the 1980s.
And he was known as the genius then. But he also served as head coach and athletic director of Stanford University. And here's one more important thing. Walsh is credited with having developed many of the most successful coaches in the NFL today, as well as for taking a chance on a then little-known wide receiver named Jerry Rice.
Bill Walsh, 75 years old.
PHILLIPS: Long lines, added security checks, the baggage limits, just some of the hassles making passengers grumpy at London's Heathrow Airport these days. But is beefing up security bad for business?
Richard Quest takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An embarrassment to Britain is how IATA describes London's Heathrow, in particular, the strict rules allowing one piece of hand baggage through security. This was introduced after last year's terrorist threats at the airport and hasn't been changed.
IATA calls the policy unique and an inconvenience to passengers that offers no improvement to security.
GIOVANNI BISIGNANI, DIRECTOR GENERAL AND CEO, IATA: It's an embarrassment for United Kingdom. It's a monopoly provider out of control making a fortune. But it's a nightmare for a passenger. And it's a big problem for airlines. Why? The delays, the queues. We don't have nothing similar in other parts of the world.
And, in many cases, we had problems, but they have improved. From last August, nothing has improved. And with the emergency situation of the increased traffic, it will be a disaster if an implementation plan is not very quickly put in place.
QUEST: Heathrow may be the world's busiest airport for international flights, but it's bursting at the seams.
Opened in 1946, today, it's designed to handle 50 million passengers. In reality, 67 million passengers use the airport last year. The problems of overcrowding is now starting to put off passengers. Last year, Heathrow saw a decline of 1.8 percent in passenger numbers, when compared to other European hubs, like Paris and Madrid, which saw strong growth. When it comes to changing planes, passengers are starting to avoid Heathrow.
TYLER BRULE, EDITOR, "MONOCLE": The people at Heathrow need to start benchmarking and getting on aircraft and also seeing what other people are doing around the world. But they can't get on the aircraft because they can't get out of the bloody airport.
QUEST: BAA, the owners of the airport, say they're spending billions of dollars to put things right. Terminal five opens next year. Terminal three is undergoing major reconstruction. And there are ambitious plans for further improvements.
For passengers, this is a case of jam tomorrow.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm just coming from Sydney, Australia, and then I'm going to Ireland. So, I have got to go back through security again. It takes a long time. I can understand why it's there, but it's not good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I travel quite often from here. It doesn't seem to be too much of a problem. It's frustrating to having to have everything checked all the time. But I would rather have that than the alternative.
QUEST: The British government is now under great pressure to relax the hand baggage rule. Some ministers are worried Heathrow's overcrowding and delays have become a deterrent to doing business in Britain.
(on camera): Getting rid of the one-bag rule is only part of the solution. What the numbers show is that passengers will continue to avoid Heathrow unless improvements are made. In fact, they will do just about anything to avoid "Hassle Heathrow."
Richard Quest, CNN, Heathrow Airport, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Thanks to the fans, apologetic to the boss, but mum about the charges -- Michael Vick in his own words, the radio interview, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Just getting word Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts took a fall in his home in Maine. We're getting word that, as a precaution, he was taken to the hospital.
Jeanne Meserve -- OK, we have reporters -- producers and reporters working the details for us. But we can -- all we can tell you, we're just getting word of this. He took a fall in his home in Maine. As a precaution, they took him to the hospital.
You can see John Roberts -- there you go -- right in the center of the videotape there, 52 years old, one of the younger members of the Supreme Court. We're following details and try to get you as much information as possible. We're working it right now.
All right, so how do you keep your enemies in checks? Send your friends tons of weapons, right? Well, that's the Bush administration's strategy. It's announcing new multibillion-dollar arms deals with Mideast allies now.
Let's get straight to the State Department and CNN's Zain Verjee following that for us -- Zain.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, the U.S. officials says that the deal is essentially to show that the U.S. supports its allies in the region and that it also wants to allay some of their security concerns.
Let's take a look now at what the proposed deal entails exactly. The number out there is $20 billion for Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states. We were told by the State Department that this may not be the final price tag and that that could change once specifics are discussed and nailed down.
There's $30 billion being proposed to go to Israel over 10 years and $13 billion for Egypt over 10 years. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is heading to the region today. As you know, she's going with Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
She said in a statement this, Kyra, that this effort will help bolster forces of moderation and support a broader strategy to counter the negative influences of al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Syria, and Iran.
Now, Kyra, as you know, over the last 30 years or so, the U.S. has always given defense aid to Saudi Arabia. This is happening, particularly interestingly, though, at a time when U.S. officials are saying that Saudi Arabia is just not doing enough to help the situation in Iraq and is really undermining things there.
It also has an increased fear and growing concern about the rising influence of Iran in the region. So, the message Secretary Rice is likely to give to the Saudis when she meets them is, step up; help more in Iraq.
ZAHN: All right, Zain Verjee, from the State Department, we will follow up. Thank you.
LEMON: All right, we want to go back to our developing story, this just in. Chief justice John Roberts taken to a hospital as a precaution after he fell in his home in Maine. CNN just getting that information just a short time ago.
Let's head over now to Jeanne Meserve. She is following the story for us.
Jeanne joins us now with the very latest.
Jeanne, what can you tell us about this?
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, a Supreme Court spokeswoman tells us that the chief justice was taken to a hospital simply as a precaution. He was conscious. The chief justice, you may know, is 52 years old, has been chief justice for approximately two years, no previously reported health problems.
But he apparently suffered a fall at his summer home in Maine near Port Clyde, Maine, and was taken to a hospital. But the court spokesman saying this is precautionary, emphasizing that the chief justice was conscious when he was taken to the hospital -- back to you.
LEMON: Yes, one would be -- at 52 years old, he is definitely young, one of the younger members of the court, as my colleague here pointed out. And, Jeanne, you were right on. He joined the court September 29, 2005. Again, as Jeanne said, he was a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia circuit.
And previously he spent 14 years in private law practice and held positions of course in the public -- Republican administration in the U.S. Department of Justice and the Office of the White House Counsel as well.
He is one of the newest members of the Supreme Court and one of the youngest members as well. Chief justice John Roberts, developing news at CNN, took a fall in his home in Maine, taken to the hospital as a precaution. As soon as we get more details on this, we will bring them to you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
We're back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Happening right now, Supreme Court justice -- Chief Justice John Roberts, we have been reporting -- just a few minutes ago, we got word that he was at his summer home in Port Clyde, Maine, somehow experienced some type of fall and was taken to the hospital for precautionary measures.
The 52-year-old chief justice has been on the job for two years, doesn't have any history of any medical problems, but apparently took some type of fall at his summer home in Maine, taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons. We're following that for you right now.
LEMON: Also, another story we have been following here. And this one is an exclusive happening right here in the Atlanta area.
Michael Vick, he's been pretty quiet as the dogfighting case against him and three others unfolds. But this morning, the NFL star decided to get some stuff off of his chest in an interview with an Atlanta radio station, V-103.
Now, one of the things he touched on was yesterday's -- what is it, yesterday's rally or pro rally -- pro-Vick rally, I should say, at his home field, the Georgia Dome.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
VICK: I would have loved to have been there just to see all my fans and all the people who support me.
But, you know, unfortunately, that couldn't happen. But, you know, it's good to know that I still have support out there. And that means more to me than anything, because, without the fans, there really wouldn't be no Mike Vick.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, V-103's Porsche Foxx got the exclusive. And she joins us now to talk about that.
How did you get this? That's the big question.
PORSCHE FOXX, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Mike is a friend. And we have spoken off and on throughout his situation.
I let him know that I support him. And he listens to the show often.
LEMON: Right. FOXX: And there it is.
HOLMES: So when you were -- you spoke to him, how is he doing?
That's the question.
What was his demeanor like during the interview?
FOXX: Surprisingly very calm for, you know, all the things that he's going through.
And who knows what's to come?
But he seemed very mild-mannered, calm and focused.
HOLMES: And he talked about fan support. He also talked about people praying for him.
FOXX: Absolutely.
HOLMES: Did he mention at all in the interview, did he talk about innocent until proven guilty?
FOXX: He didn't. And I respected his attorney's wishes, Daniel Meacham, to try and stay away from specifics in the case, being that it is going to trial.
HOLMES: Yes.
It's a -- how has the outpouring been, I mean into the radio station, because I know it is the talk of the town here...
FOXX: Yes.
HOLMES: ...and it is the talk of sports radio and talk radio. People are talking about Michael Vick. Some people are saying -- are castigating him. Others are saying, you know what, he needs to be -- it needs to go through the court process before we decide on all of this.
What has the outpouring been like there?
Have your phones been ringing off the hook?
FOXX: I would say probably 95 percent of the calls immediately after the interview were in support of Mike. It just appears as though he's guilty until proven innocent.
HOLMES: Yes.
FOXX: Yes.
HOLMES: We have a little bit more of the interview, I believe, that you had with Michael Vick.
And can we take a listen to that? FOXX: Sure.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP, COURTESY V103 RADIO, ATLANTA)
MICHAEL VICK: Yes, I know, that's enough, what you just said. That's enough that you're going to be praying for me, your heart is going with me. That's enough. And so I want to tell all my fans that I love you all. And, you know, hopefully I'll see you all again. But it remains to be seen, but that's what I'm working on.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HOLMES: He wants to come back. He says he likes Atlanta. He's used to the way things are done here. He's used to living here. He wants to come back.
But fans, though, are saying -- a lot of them I'm not going to buy that ticket, I'm not going to go to that game unless Michael Vick is there.
FOXX: I don't think we have a true gauge of how many fans are for him and how many fans are not. I mean we've seen the folks from PETA. But, you know, if I were to take the calls from my show today, I would say, hey, they want him back. They don't want anyone else.
But I honestly feel like people want him to go through the due process and I think that's fair.
HOLMES: Yes.
FOXX: He wants to come back. He loves Atlanta. He felt like after he was aware of the support rally, time -- it was time for him to say something to the fans, because he felt as though there were some out there that really were in support with him and he needed to acknowledge that and let them know that he's aware.
HOLMES: Yes.
And, you know, as we say in this business, a good get, you know, when you get -- that was an exclusive that you got.
Anything else you want to say about your interview, about how he handled himself during that interview?
FOXX: I thought he handled himself very well. Very calm. I mean, I don't know how. You know, I would probably be emotionally distraught with all that's going on with him.
He really felt good about the fact that his mom was more at ease now. She's been going through this with him, like any -- anyone's mom, you know. I mean you don't want to see your mom hurt. And I think his mom has gone through some hurt in this process with him. And he felt like, you know, his first day in court, his mom appeared to be a little more at ease -- or at ease -- because the process had started.
HOLMES: About what's going on. FOXX: Exactly.
HOLMES: There you go. You know, that mother's love, as they say.
FOXX: Mother's love.
HOLMES: Porsche Foxx, V-103 right here in Atlanta.
Thank you so much for joining us.
And, again, nice job on getting that.
Thank you.
FOXX: Thank you for having me.
PHILLIPS: We'll take you out to Ventura, California right now.
Check out this belly landing. A California pilot did a pretty good job here when this Gulfstream with 11 people on board -- the landing gear wouldn't go down. Take a watch -- or take a look here, as we just good got it on videotape.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's coming over the threshold right now. He's very low, a very shallow approach right now. Let's see what happens next. There he's crossing the threshold right on Runway 2-1, the longest runway here at Point Mugu.
Down he comes. He's settling down onto the ground. It looks as though he has good landing gear. No, it's not. It looks like the left landing gear is down. He is scraping along. That's why he feathered that left engine, to make sure that the prop didn't hit the runway as it was turning.
Very, very smooth. Look at that. The pilot got it down on all three -- make that the nose gear and two rights. And just as the aircraft comes to a stop off the side of the runway, it goes, and into the infield.
We're seeing the crash trucks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Smooth indeed.
You saw it there.
Thanks to our affiliate, KCAL, out of Los Angeles, California.
That was a Gulfstream the pilot brought down. Eleven people on board. The landing gear was not working properly. He brought it in. Pretty -- pretty smooth for a belly landing there. So far word is everybody is OK. Now, another story they're working on for you right now, that is Chief Justice John Roberts of the Supreme Court, 52-years-old, been on the job for two years, took some sort of fall at his summer home at Port Clyde, Maine.
He was taken to the hospital for precautionary measures. He doesn't have a history of any medical problems.
So we are following that story for you, as well.
HOLMES: We're following a lot of stories here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Thirty-five past the hour here in the East -- 3:35 here in the East.
Three of the stories we're working on for you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Tiny bodies, a grisly case -- a judge denies bail for this Ocean City, Maryland woman after police say they found four dead babies on her property. All the babies are preterm and all are believed to be hers.
More stability, less influence from Iran -- twin goals of a series of major arms deals between the U.S. and its Mideast allies. Iran is accusing America of spreading fear in the region.
And who gets the publishing rights to O.J. Simpson's book "If I Did It?"
A judge is weighing that question right now in a Miami court. Now, claimants are the estate of Nicole Brown Simpson and the family of Ron Goldman.
PHILLIPS: Well, is the V.A. To blame for a Marine's death?
Could Veterans officials have prevented his suicide?
His parents talk to us about what they're suing the Veterans Administration for.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right, we're following several developing stories right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
First up, we want to well you about Chief Justice John Roberts, taken to a hospital after he suffered a fall at his home in Port Clyde, Maine. This is his summer home in Port Clyde, Maine. He was taken to the hospital just as a precaution. We don't have any indications that he was badly injured. We don't have enough data on his condition there. But we are told he was taken to the hospital just as a precaution.
Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court in September of 2005. Taken to a hospital today after suffering a fall at his home in Port Clyde, Maine.
Also another developing story that we're following here in the CNN NEWSROOM, this is happening in Ventura County, California.
Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There he's crossing the threshold right on Runway 2-1.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: That is a belly landing for a plane that had some landing gear problems. This plane was flying around trying to burn off some fuel. They'd been flying around for about 45 minutes to burn off that fuel. They did a belly landing right there at the airport.
These pictures courtesy of our affiliate, KCAL, in California.
It's not very often you see a belly landing. And this one looks like it was pretty smooth. It went off without a hitch. We're being told that this is a Gulfstream with about 11 people on board. Those folks are probably being checked out now. We're going to update you on the story as soon as we get more information for you.
PHILLIPS: In Phoenix, Arizona, a car flips in floodwaters with four children inside. But thanks to a couple of Good Samaritans who happened to be at the right place -- right here -- at the right time last Thursday, all four of them were plucked to safety. The rescuers are Air Force Sergeants James Orsund and Christopher Anderson.
They spoke to CNN's Fredricka Whitfield over the weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
SGT. CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON, LUKE AFB. ARIZONA: The driver was out of the vehicle just yelling, "She's in there! She's in there!"
So I looked through a broken window on the passenger side and there I saw a baby seat with a little girl in there.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Wow!
Sergeant Orsund, tell me about, you know, the minutes, the seconds, you know, what you were thinking and how panicked you felt, too by, you know, knowing these are dangerous waters and you've got to try and reach and grab before someone drowns.
SGT. JAMES ORSUND, LUKE AFB. ARIZONA: Right. And that's -- I was trying to communicate with 911 at the same time that Sergeant Anderson was doing it.
WHITFIELD: How were you doing that?
You mean you had a cell phone to your ear while this was happening?
ORSUND: Yes. Yes, I had the cellophane the whole time. And then he's yelling at me and I didn't realize he needed the knife to cut the seat belts and straps out.
So that's where it was -- it was a kind of chaos, because I had everything going on, every ear. And we had the helicopters flying over. And, you know, it was just...
WHITFIELD: Wow!
ORSUND: ... Very loud and...
WHITFIELD: Right, because all of them did have seat belts. And that's a great thing, but at the same time, kind of difficult to unbuckle a child's seat, particularly upside down.
ORSUND: Correct. And in water. Right.
WHITFIELD: So tell me what you were thinking about as that was happening.
ANDERSON: I was just trying to figure out how we could get this little girl out of there. And then that's when I yelled for him to bring his knife.
And there was other innocent bystanders, you know, civilians. Luckily, there was one right next to me. He took the knife and he cut the seat belt. And she fell right in my hands and I pulled her out.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, luckily, none of the children was hurt.
HOLMES: An admitted pedophile snapping pictures of children, posting them online -- and it's all legal. We'll hear from him and see what outraged parents can do, straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
PHILLIPS: Well, the family of a Marine who committed suicide after returning from Iraq is suing the Veterans Affairs Department. Corporal Jeffrey Lucey hanged himself in June of 2004, and the Lucey family says the V.A. Did not give their son treatment for Post- Traumatic Stress when he returned from battle.
They filed a wrongful death lawsuit last week.
And earlier in THE NEWSROOM, I spoke with Joyce and Kevin Lucey about their son.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
KEVIN LUCEY, FATHER OF CPL. LUCEY: When we started noticing that Jeff was having so many problems, we were trying to get Jeff to go to the V.A. Because we thought that they were going to be the angels, for the lack of a better word.
And we brought him, finally, after convincing them that they would not tell the military because Jeff was so frightened of that stigma. And then what happened is that May 28th we brought him in.
But during that period of time, it was three-and-a-half days, a psychiatric saw him at the beginning to admit him involuntarily and then saw him at the end to discharge him.
But no one really saw him in between. And there was no treatment given. It was basically detoxification of the alcohol, which Jeff was detoxed by the second day he was there.
And then they said that he was going to have to remain sober for him to be assessed for PTSD. And, of course, Jeff -- we tried to bring Jeff back on June 5th, but they didn't call anyone to assess him. And then, 17 days later, Jeff hung himself.
PHILLIPS: Joyce, a final question.
When you look at and hold those dog tags around your neck, what do you think about?
JOYCE LUCEY, FATHER OF CPL. LUCEY: Well, I think these were extremely important to Jeffrey in the last days of his life. He wore them. He told his private counselor to honor the two men that he felt that he had killed.
So, in a way, we wear these -- or I wear these -- to honor my son.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, we asked the Department of Veterans Affairs to comment on the lawsuit. They released a statement that reads, in part: "The Department of Veterans Affairs is committed to meeting the mental health care needs of all veterans. It would be inappropriate to comment directly upon a potential or pending lawsuit."
HOLMES: A developing story we're following here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Chief Justice John Roberts taken to a hospital after falling at his summer home.
Let's get the very latest now from our legal correspondent, Jeffrey Toobin -- Jeffrey, what are your sources telling you about this?
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Well, what I've learned is that the chief justice fell at his home around 2:00 p.m. This afternoon. He has a summer home in Port Clyde, Maine, which is really remote, northern Maine, not too far from Augusta.
And he was taken by an ambulance to the hospital.
Now, I don't know how serious it is. I wouldn't want to speculate. But that's what we know. And, obviously, any time a Supreme Court justice is ill or injured, it's a -- it's a serious issue.
HOLMES: Yes. Absolutely. And it's -- since it's in a remote part there, one wonders what he might have been doing.
Knowing -- no indication of what he was doing, Jeffrey, outside, indoors...
TOOBIN: I really -- I don't know if this is an injury. I don't know if it's an illness. I really want to be careful to say what I know and what I don't know.
Certainly, he is probably the least likely, to those of us who know the court well, to have a serious health problem, if this is, in fact, serious, because he is just 52 years old. He is the youngest chief justice. I mean he is the youngest -- he is the chief justice. He is also the youngest of the nine justices.
HOLMES: Yes, on the court, right.
TOOBIN: He is, as far as I can tell -- and I've seen him up close many times recently -- he looks fine, he looks healthy and so any kind of health issue is certainly a big surprise.
HOLMES: Jeffrey Toobin, thank you for joining us.
And we'll continue to follow this developing story about the chief justice's fall and what's happening with him at the hospital, right here in THE CNN NEWSROOM.
PHILLIPS: Well, the Internet has opened up a whole new world for people whose interests lie outside the mainstream. Unfortunately, that includes adults who are sexually attracted to children -- pedophiles. One self-proclaimed pedophile in California uses his blog to talk about the best places to gawk at kids -- and police can't touch him.
More now from reporter Stacy Butler of CNN affiliate KCAL.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JACK MCCLELLAN, PEDOPHILE BLOGGER: It isn't really just a sexual thing. It's the whole ambience of children that I enjoy.
STACY BUTLER, KCAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jack McClellan isn't afraid to tell you how he feels about little girls.
(on camera) Are you a pedophile?
MCCLELLAN: Yes, I -- Yes. I didn't even consider myself one until a couple of years ago. I started reading some of this stuff on the Internet and it kind of resonated with me. We kind of refer to ourselves as kind of the silent majority.
BUTLER (voice-over): But he's terrified to show his face.
MCCLELLAN: I've received a lot of death threats.
BUTLER: Death threats because he says he took pictures of little girls at countless family events near Seattle, then posted them on his pro-pedophilia Web site.
MCCLELLAN: I felt the best thing do would be to get completely out of that area.
BUTLER: Before McClellan left Washington State his site was shut down. But now it's back. And so is he. This time, right here in the Southland.
MCCLELLAN: I'm looking to find a permanent place here.
BUTLER: We found McClellan living out of his car near Venice Beach, mapping out local events to attend where little girls, or L.G.s, as he calls them, are plentiful.
(on camera) What about those events do you like?
MCCLELLAN: Just to be out -- well, obviously, I'm just going there mainly to be around the kids.
BUTLER (voice-over): He claims he's not a convicted sex offender and police say his Web site is legal.
McClellan's message to parents -- get used to it. He's allowed to attend the same festivals you do.
(on camera) You don't see what you are doing as wrong?
MCCLELLAN: No. I -- I mean, obviously I'm not doing anything illegal at these things. I mean, if they pass a law saying you can't go to these things to admire kids, I mean, that -- I guess I'd have to obey that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, angry parents are now using the Internet against McClellan, posting where he's been sighted, and even pictures of him hanging out in the parks. They're also pushing California lawmakers to shut McClellan down.
Retired L.A. Police detective Bill Dworin works for a child protection coalition and he says the blogger is dangerous, period.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING")
BILL DWORIN, CHILD PROTECTION ADVOCATE: There's always a threat. He claims not to have sexually abused a child, yet he also talks about going up to children and hugging them. That, in itself, because of his sexual attraction towards children, makes that a crime.
If he's doing that here in Los Angeles and any other community, then he is committing a crime in California.
JOHN ROBERTS, "AMERICAN MORNING," CO-ANCHOR: This obviously has to be terribly unnerving to parents.
DWORIN: It should be. Parents should be aware that these people are out there, these child seducers, these pedophiles, who sees a child as a sexual object. And, given the opportunity, they will abuse children.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Local police are trying to make parents aware of McClellan's activities. They're circulating his picture and license plate number, a controversial move since he's not wanted for any crime.
McClellan says he now fears for his life and he might sue the department.
HOLMES: Time now to check in with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.
PHILLIPS: He's standing by in "THE SITUATION ROOM" to tell us what's coming up at the top of the hour -- hi, Wolf.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": Hi, guys.
Thanks very much.
Coming up, a special "SITUATION ROOM" presidential debate -- White House rivals, Republican Mike Huckabee, Democrat Bill Richardson -- they're standing by live to face-off over Iraq and health care and more.
Also, Hillary Clinton's outfit on the Senate floor still making waves.
Is all the talk about a low cut top just plain sexist?
And could your vote in the next presidential election be in danger from hackers?
There's a new report that's just come out and it's pretty worrisome.
All that, guys, coming up right here in "THE SITUATION ROOM".
PHILLIPS: Thanks, Wolf.
HOLMES: the closing bell and a wrap of all the action on Wall Street, straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Hollywood -- it's a lot of things to a lot of people. To pigeons, it's a giant toilet.
The city has a pigeon population problem and the birds aren't exactly irregular, if, you know, what I mean.
So what to do?
Listen to this. Put the pigeons on the pill. The "L.A. Times" actually reports a civic group is going to put a birth control drug in pigeon food. Civic leaders hope the number of pigeons will drop by half over the next five years.
Yes, but who feeds the pigeons, pigeon food?
That's my question.
They eat our trash.
HOLMES: I see people feeding pigeons all the time.
Well, we'll talk about this big horse right here. It's a Tennessee filly that's something to neigh about. Jenson Diplomat Tina -- that's the name -- Jenson Diplomat Tina, an English shire, may be trotting into the record books as the world's tallest horse, Kyra.
She stands at 20 hands high, or about 80 inches. Owners say the 3-year-old isn't even fully grown yet. The videotape of veterinarians measuring Tina is being sent to the "Guinness" book for verification.
The current record holder is more than 19 hands high, but not quite 20 hands high.
PHILLIPS: Susan Lisovicz, what do you think they're feeding that horse?
HOLMES: Pigeon food. No.
(LAUGHTER)
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think, yes, lots of vitamins.
And I would like to know who his parents are, right?
PHILLIPS: Yes, really. He won't be running in the Kentucky Derby any time soon, that's for sure.
LISOVICZ: Well, yes. I would be -- I would be worried if I were the jockey, right?
HOLMES: How would you get up?
I mean you'd need ladder to get up on that thing, you know?
LISOVICZ: Exactly. And the jockeys are very small.
Well, since you've got some quirky stories, I thought I would tell you about this.
You know, Wall Street is a place embraces capitalism and so does, apparently, the last president of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev. Imagine that, the new poster boy, if you will, of a new campaign by Louis Vuitton.
And there he is with his fashionable luggage by his side.
The "New York Times" says he looks as uncomfortable as if the bag contained radioactive elements, which is not how, usually, you know, the people posing with Louis Vuitton usually are. Some people in the past have been Kate Moss, the model, as well as Scarlett Johansson, the actress. And who could forget J-Lo, who was posing with Louis Vuitton?
PHILLIPS: Basically all the people that can afford that.
LISOVICZ: That's correct. And apparently, you know, now that he's no longer a communist -- Mikhail Gorbachev, I'm speaking of, yes, he can probably afford that and more.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
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