Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

O.J. Awaits Hearing on Robbery Charges; Federal Reserve to Announce Decision on Interest Rates; Prosecutor Arrested in Sex Sting; Student Tasered at John Kerry Speech

Aired September 18, 2007 - 13:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Well, what goes up must come down. Right? The Federal Reserve hasn't cut an all-important interest rate in more than four years. But with the housing slump, a credit crunch, and simmering fears of recession, this could be the day.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, it is.

Well, Thursday is the day a Louisiana town of 3,000 could see tens of thousands of protesters, all demanding justice for the Jena Six. Today, we hear how people in Jena, Louisiana, are preparing.

Good afternoon, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen, in today for Kyra Phillips at CNN world headquarters right here in Atlanta.

LEMON: And I'm Don Lemon. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

And let's get right to the latest in the O.J. Simpson armed robbery case. New developments on two fronts.

First, Las Vegas police now have three suspects: Simpson and two others. But right now, only Simpson is behind bars awaiting a court hearing tomorrow. We'll bring you new comments from one of the suspects and an alleged victim.

In California, a legal attempt to get the stuff that Simpson is accused of illegally taking. The family of Ron Goldman wants it, and that's not all they want.

Let's get more now on the growing police investigation. CNN's Ed Lavandera is outside the Las Vegas jail where O.J. Simpson remains an inmate -- Ed.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Don.

Well, O.J. Simpson has been in jail since Sunday afternoon. And since then, he's seen two of the men that he was in that hotel room with on Thursday be arrested and also get out on their own recognizance. O.J. Simpson continues to sit here in jail, and there is not a court hearing scheduled until tomorrow morning, where his attorney says he will argue to have O.J. Simpson released on his own recognizance.

The judge in the case saying that they considered O.J. Simpson a flight risk and that's why he was the -- is being held without bond. But the -- the third suspect, arrested yesterday, was Clarence Stewart charged with a very similar crimes that O.J. Simpson and Walter Alexander were charged with, as well.

And of course, all this going back to what happened here Thursday -- Thursday evening as O.J. Simpson and an entourage say they went over to this hotel here in Vegas to get back some of the sports memorabilia that O.J. Simpson says belongs to him.

One of the suspects in this case, that Walter Alexander, spoke with Larry King last night, and he said -- in kind of an odd twist, he said that O.J. Simpson, didn't really consider him to be a friend anymore. But in many ways, still defended O.J. Simpson in this case.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WALTER ALEXANDER, ARRESTED IN ALLEGED ROBBERY: I believe he was set up. I believe the whole thing was a setup. It was taped, you know. I believe that it was a setup. It was very obvious that Thomas Riccio, you know, had intentions to set O.J. up, and that's what happened.

You know, unfortunately, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. And now I'm in the middle of this mess. And I'm -- I hate that it happened.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: Again, that court hearing for O.J. Simpson not scheduled until tomorrow morning. So all indications are that O.J. Simpson will have to spend another night in jail here in Las Vegas.

And prosecutors here in Las Vegas also say that they will soon file formal charges against O.J. Simpson, and many people think that that will also happen tomorrow morning, as well -- Don.

LEMON: All right. CNN's Ed Lavandera in Las Vegas. Thank you so much for that report.

Meantime, Las Vegas police say they are treating O.J. Simpson just like any other inmate. Simpson's cell is seven by 14 feet with a bunk, toilet, sink, desk and a window. He's also wearing the standard jail uniform.

But one thing sets him apart, literally. He's classified as a protective custody isolation inmate, which means he's separated from the others. Simpson gets three or four hours of free time a day, during which he can use a small exercise room.

He's made one request. That was for reading glasses, which he got, along with a Bible and the inspirational book "The Purpose Driven Life".

NGUYEN: Well, the small town of Jena, Louisiana, is bracing for a huge rally on Thursday when thousands are expected to protest what they consider racial injustice. Six African-American teenagers, including one juvenile, are accused of beating up a white classmate. The protesters say the punishment for the so-called Jena Six is too harsh and racially motivated.

Right now I want to give you a live picture as we are looking at a news conference taking place there in Jena, Louisiana. We're waiting for police to tell us about how they're going to keep order on Thursday when that protest takes place. And that could be a tall order for Jena. The town has about 3,000 people, and thousands are expected for the rally.

Today in Atlanta, students from several colleges marched in support of the Jena 6.

Well, some Jena residents say they wish the outsiders would just stay out and the spotlight on their town would dim. Others think the spotlight isn't bright enough.

"CNN S.I.U." takes you behind the sound bites in the Jena case. Don't miss Kyra Phillips, an hour-long special report, "Judgment in Jena". That's this Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.

LEMON: A surprise on Capitol Hill. Senator Larry Craig back on the job. The Idaho Republican, who's trying to undo his guilty plea on charges related to a sex sting, showed up for work this morning. It's apparently his first day back since the scandal broke.

Craig spoke briefly with CNN congressional producer Ted Barrett.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TED BARRETT, CNN PRODUCER: What brings you back to the Capitol today?

SEN. LARRY CRAIG (R), IDAHO: To go to work.

BARRETT: Are you intending to vote today, sir?

CRAIG: That's my plan.

BARRETT: Why did you decide to come back today?

CRAIG: Because I'm a serving United States senator from Idaho.

BARRETT: And how are you doing -- how are you doing, in light of the scandal and everything else?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Also today, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a brief in Minnesota, calling Craig's bathroom bust unconstitutional.

When the case became public, Craig announced his plans to resign at the end of this month. But days later he said he'll try to overturn his guilty plea and potentially keep his Senate seat -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Federal Reserve board members are putting their heads together today, mulling a cut to a key interest rate and will announce their decision next hour. We'll bring that to you, as well.

But in the meantime, CNN's Ali Velshi joins us to talk about what it all means, from everything dealing with the markets to your mortgage.

Hey, there, Ali.

ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Betty, this is, as you said, a little bit more than an hour away from a decision that is going to affect every single person who has a home, wants to buy a home, wants to sell a home, has a car loan, has a credit card, has a home-equity loan. This Fed decision that we are expecting at 2:15 Eastern is going to have an affect on everybody.

Why? Because we're expecting a cut, first of all. Most people are expecting a quarter of a percentage cut, 25 basis points. Some people think 50 basis points, half a percent. But let's say 25 basis points.

The first thing that's going to do is it's going to bring the prime rate down. The prime rate is a rate which a lot of loans are connected to. A lot of your home loans, home-equity loans, things like that. Credit cards. A lot of them are tied to prime rates, so a lot of people are going to get a break right now.

Here at the Chicago Board of Trade is where bonds are traded. Now, some of those adjustable rate mortgages are tied to bond rates, and bond rates tend to follow the Fed rates. So in this case, if they go down, there are a whole lot of those people who have those adjustable rate mortgages, Betty, that they were about to reset at a higher rate. Well, they're going to get a break, too.

So that's what we're looking for right now. This is going to be a money-saving move for a lot of Americans and a lot of businesses. It's something a lot of people have been calling for.

We're going to see what the Fed does in an hour. We're also going to see what the Fed says about the future and what it says about the economy as a whole. So this is a very, very important day for everybody who normally doesn't concern themselves with the Fed and the economy at large. This one is going to make a difference to you, Betty.

NGUYEN: And we'll also see how low they decide to cut it today. Some think a quarter, some maybe a half. We'll be watching. Ali, thank you.

VELSHI: Absolutely, Betty. I'll be right here.

NGUYEN: All right. We'll be covering the Fed's decision on all fronts. Get more on the implications, though, for stocks and bonds, as well as currencies and that lackluster housing market, at CNNmoney.com.

LEMON: Something everybody is interested in. A federal prosecutor in Florida is a defendant in an Internet sex sting. Police say John Atchison wanted sex with a 5-year-old girl in Michigan.

Reporter Michael Rosenfield at CNN affiliate WXYZ has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL ROSENFIELD, WXYZ CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fifty- three-year-old John David Roy Atchison, a top law enforcement official in Florida, under arrest in Detroit, accused of trying to have sex with whom he thought was a 5-year-old girl.

Authorities say Atchison conversed over e-mail with an undercover detective whose online profile says she's a mother with young children who men could have sex with.

Atchison, who is an assistant U.S. attorney for the northern district of Florida, allegedly began daily online chats with her, telling her he's, quote, "very much a family man." According to authorities, he also wrote, quote, "I'm always gentle and loving. Not to worry; I've done it plenty."

After about two weeks of chats, a meeting was established, and Atchison allegedly wrote the undercover detective to tell her daughter, quote, "You found her a sweet boyfriend who will bring her presents."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: And that was reporter Michael Rosenfield of CNN affiliate WXYZ with that story.

We've left messages for the prosecutor's family, and we've been trying to reach his attorney for a response, but so far we haven't heard back.

NGUYEN: Well, a last minute guilty plea in a bizarre kidnapping. Vinson Filyaw may spend the rest of his life behind bars. And today, just moments before his trial was set to begin, Filyaw pleaded guilty to kidnapping and raping a teenager in an underground bunker in South Carolina.

Filyaw faces up to 30 years in prison for each of the ten days he held the girl captive. CNN affiliate WLTX says Filyaw sent them a manuscript of his plans. He writes about stalking his victim and admiring her ingenuity. The girl text-messaged her mother, and police rescued her.

LEMON: What would drive anyone to shoot children several times as they sleep in their beds? Detectives near Atlanta think they might know the answer. Someone got into a house early Monday morning, shot and killed a 7-year-old boy and wounded his 15-year-old sister, leaving everyone else in the house alone. Detectives believe the intruder was trying to silence the girl, because she was supposed to testify later that day in court.

Well, the family, victims of a home invasion last year. The girl is reported to be in stable condition.

NGUYEN: Serious charges and maybe some serious prison time. We're going to ask defense lawyer Mickey Sherman what he thinks about O.J. Simpson's legal future.

LEMON: Plus this: a first-person account of Sunday's plane crash in Thailand. Our guest -- get this -- survived, Betty, an accident that claimed dozens of his fellow passengers. Can you imagine?

NGUYEN: No. And you have to see this video. There's much more to that.

Plus, this man would not stop talking. But did he deserve to get tasered?

You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Live pictures now. Senator Barack Obama in Washington today, announcing what he calls his middle-class tax relief plan.

Of course, this comes just one day after Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton announces her plan, if she becomes president, for health care for the nation.

Now, among his top priorities, according to Senator Obama, cutting taxes for 150 million Americans and their families, allowing them to get tax cuts for up to $1,000, easing the burden on the middle class by providing universal homeowners, tax credit to those that need the itemized deductions, and eliminating the tax for any American senior making less than $50,000 per year.

Again, Senator Barack Obama in Washington today, announcing what he calls his middle-class tax relief plan. This is being hosted by the Tax Policy Center and the Brookings Opportunity '08 Project.

We'll continue to check on this. If it makes any news, we'll bring it to you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Now we want you to watch and listen to what happened after a University of Florida student went over his time at a town hall meeting with Senator John Kerry and wouldn't go quietly enough for campus police.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDREW MEYER, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA STUDENT: I didn't do anything! Don't taser me, brother! Don't tase me! I didn't do anything! Ow! Ow! Ow!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: CNN's Susan Candiotti is following the story from Miami.

And Susan, the student is out of jail now but still charged. And some of his fellow students are just charged up about what happened. What is their take on it?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it depends on who you talk to, of course, Betty. The thing is this. Was this guy a troublemaker who went too far? Or was it the police who went too far?

The student's name, Andrew Meyer. He has his own web site. He says he's a journalism student at the University of Florida. He is now fresh out of jail after a judge decided that no bond was necessary.

Meyer was tasered. He got 50,000 volts during a struggle with police after they tried to take the microphone away from him while he was asking questions of Senator John Kerry at a student forum.

As the cameras rolled from several angles, Meyer gets zapped as he's surrounded by at least four campus cops.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MEYER: Get the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) off me, man. I didn't do anything! Don't (EXPLETIVE DELETED) me, brother! Don't tase me! I said don't! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Meyer is charged with resisting police with violence and disturbing the peace. One of the many questions here, was Meyer already handcuffed when he was tasered.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What did he do?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If someone is handcuffed it's not a typical use of force with a taser. But at this point, it's too early to determine whether or not that was the case.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: And not surprisingly, students who saw the whole thing happen had different takes on what cops did.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATTHEW HOWLAND, WITNESS: I didn't see the student resisting arrest. I saw the student wondering why he was being dragged out of the auditorium like that. CHAD RIDING, WITNESS: You know, they gave him a lot of chances. They're like, "Don't roll on your side or we'll have to tase you." And the police officers acted very professionally, in my opinion.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Now Senator John Kerry issued a statement after this happened. It reads in part, "In 37 years of public appearances, through wars, protests and highly emotional events, I have never had a dialogue end this way."

He goes on to say that, "I hope that neither the student nor any of the police were injured. I regret enormously that a good, healthy discussion was interrupted."

Now, the senator also went on to say he doesn't know exactly what the police officers may have said to the student before the student went to the front of the line and started asking all of these questions.

We can also tell you, Betty, that the campus president, the university president, rather, tells us that he does share the community's concerns about all of this. And the campus police department there has asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to take an independent look of what happened -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Well, let's take another look at what happened, because isn't there a point in time during that when all of this was going down that the senator actually said, "Let me go ahead and answer the question?"

CANDIOTTI: He did.

NGUYEN: Take us back to how this played out.

CANDIOTTI: Well, he did. What happened was, according to the witnesses there, that this student apparently at some point went to the front of the line while others were waiting and kept asking questions and asking questions and making statements, one of these long-winded types.

And evidently, the time was up. And they tried to take the microphone away from him. He wouldn't leave. A struggle ensued. He kept saying, "Give me a chance to talk."

The senator, meantime, is saying, "I'll answer your question." That's how this all played out of the eventually.

Obviously, it will depend on whom you talk to whether this student did not respond to what the police were asking him to do and didn't get down on the floor and didn't stop doing what he was doing.

Or you could say wait a minute, did they really -- he's surrounded by four -- some of them fairly burly police officers. Did he -- did they have to go as far as they did? After all, this is a student forum. Did they have to taser him? NGUYEN: Yes. What a scene, though. It was there. All right. Susan Candiotti joining us live today.

Thank you, Susan.

LEMON: Closing in on 20 past the hour. Three of the stories we're working on for you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

It is the latest attempt by Ron Goldman's family to get O.J. Simpson's assets. The California court hearing starts any minute now on the family's request to claim Simpson's memorabilia, including some of the stuff he's now accused of stealing in an alleged armed robbery.

A massive memorial today for a slain Miami police officer. Thousands turned out to honor Jose Somohano, killed last week by a gunman during what started as a traffic stop. Three other officers were wounded.

A House panel is holding a hearing right now on the Statue of Liberty. The National Park Service is being pressed to reopen a narrow spiral staircase that leads up to the crown, closed since 9/11. Parks officials say it is too dangerous.

NGUYEN: Well, you might want to check your fridge, because another brand of bagged lettuce is recalled in the U.S. and Canada. And we have those details in the NEWSROOM.

LEMON: Betty Nguyen, they are all the rage. I own a pair. I know a lot of people who do. But do they put your toes at risk? That's the question. Do you have a pair?

NGUYEN: I don't have a pair.

LEMON: Ahead in the NEWSROOM, hear from parents who say Crocs ought to get the boot. We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Welcome back to the NEWSROOM. CNN has just learned some new information when it concerns the so-called Jena 6 down in Louisiana, this information coming to us from one of our CNN producers.

Today we have learned that attorneys on behalf of Michael Bell, one of the six men charged in the beating of a student there, that his attorneys have filed new motions with the Third District Court of Appeals which is in Lake Charles, Louisiana -- that's where they were originally filed -- to try to get him out of jail.

They filed the motion for the release from custody and what is called a writ of mandamus to order the sheriff to release Bell. Now, they overturned the conviction. We heard that on Friday, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. And from there it goes back to the district court. That's where Bell was convicted, in La Salle Parish.

So from here, the D.A. has two options. Either he can charge him as a juvenile or dismiss him or call -- rebill it if they charge him as a juvenile. Otherwise, if he does not charge him, the case is over.

The D.A. in all of this has said that he is planning on recharging him and has insisted all along that he used fair actions.

So will he likely be let out of jail? Will he likely be granted a bond? We'll know that as soon as a hearing over. We're not sure if it will happen before Thursday when that huge march is scheduled down in Jena, Louisiana. But we're going to continue to update the story.

Again -- again, attorneys for Michael Bell have filed a motion to try to get him released from jail.

And of course, we want to remind you on Thursday we have extensive coverage of all of this, including live reports from Louisiana. Also, our special investigations unit will report on the Jena 6 situation -- Betty.

NGUYEN: In the meantime, Don, we are less than an hour away from the Fed's biggest interest rate decision. CNN's Susan Lisovicz is at the New York Stock Exchange to tell us about some last-minute factors that the Fed might be considering.

So what are they, Susan?

SUSAN LISOVICZ: We go a bunch this morning, Betty. And now it's virtually a sure thing that the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates. But there's still a big question as to how much.

People worried about the growing housing market crisis want the Fed to act aggressively. They received some new ammo today. Foreclosures continue to soar in August 36 percent. Just from a month earlier. And more than double from a year ago.

Realty Track, which conducts the monthly survey, says this could be the beginning of the next wave of foreclosures as a flood of adjustable rate mortgages are due to reset at higher rates in the next few months.

All of the states with the higher foreclosure rates, warm weather states, led by Nevada, where there was so much building and speculation. So it doesn't seem the housing woes will end anytime soon. No matter what the Fed does, most economists feel there's more pain ahead -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right, Susan. But with oil prices on the rise, I mean, how much flexibility does the Fed really have? Isn't inflation still a concern?

LISOVICZ: No question about it. And check out oil prices today, Betty, which are up nearly a buck. Again, trading at all-time -- all- time highs.

Today, interestingly enough, there was some surprisingly positive news on inflation. Wholesale prices fell by more than 1 percent in August. That's the biggest drop since October.

But core inflation, the closely watched measure that excludes feud (sic) and -- fuel and food, rather, actually rose modestly. The overall drop led by lower oil prices.

But oil, again, has climbed back to record levels. So inflation has not gone away, even as the economy slows. It makes it much more difficult for the Fed to really walk that tightrope between a slowing economy and inflation.

(STOCK REPORT)

LISOVICZ: To echo Chubby Checker, how low will they go? We're talking about interest rates. But the markets could do their own twist, depending on what the Federal Reserve does.

And of course, I'll have the Fed's decision and the stock market's reaction in less than an hour. In the meantime, I'll turn it back to you, Betty and Don.

NGUYEN: You are so hip, let me tell you. All right. We are covering the Fed's decision on all fronts, Susan, as you well know.

And you the viewer can get more on the implications for stocks and bonds. Also, currencies and that lackluster housing market. All you have to do is go to CNNmoney.com.

LEMON: Seems like deja vu all over again. Up next in the NEWSROOM, a defense lawyer's perspective on O.J. Simpson's latest legal snarls. Mickey Sherman joins us live.

NGUYEN: Paid to police a war zone but exempt from military rules? Some say it is a surefire path to problems. We're going to take a closer look at the debate over private security contractors in Iraq. That is ahead right here in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon live from CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.

NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen, in for Kyra Phillips today. O.J. Simpson allegedly committed armed robbery to get it, but now Ron Goldman's family is in court making their own bid for his sports memorabilia.

LEMON: Betty, we are following that story, and we'll also talk with defense lawyer Mickey Sherman about the charges against O.J. Simpson, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

But first, a Blackwater backlash. Iraqi government ministers are standing firm behind the interior ministry's decision to shutdown the American private security firm. No word on how long the ban will last. The ministers also stressed the need to review all private security firms in Iraq. Those companies every day brings new danger.

CNN's Aneesh Raman reports from Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As head of the private security company AISG, Carter Andress knows well the difficulties of working in Iraq. He's the author of the book "Contractor Combatants" and we spoke with Andress following Sunday's shooting involving contractors from Blackwater that left eight Iraqis dead, all of whom the Iraqi government says were civilians.

CARTER ANDRESS, AMERICAN-IRAQI SOLUTION GROUP: These guys are continuing their lives as soldiers. And as a soldier, you know, your job in this mission we have here is to put your life at risk before you put the Iraqi civilians' lives at risk and your clients's lives at risk, too. And I get the feeling here that that wasn't -- that standard wasn't met.

RAMAN: Are you -- are they, Blackwater, legally accountable to anyone?

ANDRESS: Well, that's a very -- that's a big gray area. And so as a result of the extra judicial (ph) relationships established by the U.S. military and DOD contractors, the likelihood of these guys ever being prosecuted on a criminal basis is minute from my assessment.

RAMAN: And the likelihood of their license being revoked having any impact on their day to day operations is what?

ANDRESS: In real terms, their relationship as a Department of State, you know, under the U.S. Department of Defense, relationship with the Iraqi government, in an Iraqi theater of operations, that contract status trumps the minister of interior's licensing factor.

RAMAN: Sunday's shooting in the Sunni-dominated area of western Baghdad happened when State Department officials, being protected by a Blackwater convoy like this one, were fired upon by gunmen. So far, few details of the shootout have been released. But Andress says private security contractors in Iraq are essential.

ANDRESS: What we primarily do, most of us, is protect convoys, protect sites where reconstruction is being undertaken, too.

RAMAN: Over the past four years, there have been several violent incidents involving western security contractors. But this is the first time the government has reacted so severely.

ANDRESS: This is a natural collision here that was going to take place.

RAMAN: And it forces a debate that's been brewing for years over what rules private security contractors must follow and for what purposes they should be used.

Aneesh Raman, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: A plea now from the parents of missing British girl Madeleine McCann. Kate and Gerry McCann are calling for an end to speculation surrounding the case, and they want the search for their daughter, Madeleine, to be the main focus. The girl disappeared more than four months ago in Portugal. And police there have named the parents suspects. A former British government official quit his job to act as the McCanns' spokesperson.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLARENCE MITCHELL, MCCANN FAMILY SPOKESMAN: I was with them for nearly a month. Some days I was with them for 14, 15 hours a day. And I know they did not, as has been alleged in some reports, somehow dispose of their daughter's body. I just know that they didn't do it. And if you knew them as a couple yourself, you would realize that they are completely innocent of this heinous crime and they want everybody's focus to get back on to the basic core fact, and that is that Madeleine is still missing and people should still be looking for her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: A live report from the McCanns' hometown from CNN's Randi Kaye. That is coming up at 3:15 Eastern right here in the NEWSROOM.

Plus, CNN goes inside the mystery on "AC360." You can join Anderson Cooper tonight at 10:00 Eastern.

LEMON: Betty, and just one day after Senator Clinton announced her health care plan, Senator Barack Obama is in Washington today announcing what he calls his middle-class tax relief plan. In it, the senator says he's cutting taxes for 150 million Americans and their families, allowing them to get a tax cut of up to $1,000. Also, he said he's easing the burden on the middle class by providing a universal homeowners tax credit for those who do not itemize their deductions. And he's eliminating income tax for any American senior making less than $50,000 per year. And the senator is in Washington making that announcement today. He's at an event being hosted by -- or this announcement, I should say, where he's hosted by the Tax Policy Center, and also the Brookings Opportunity '08 Project. We'll continue to follow that one for you.

Is he Baptist, or is he Episcopalian? And does it matter to voters either way? Well, Those questions stem from the latest revelation from Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

Our Tom Foreman has been looking into it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There has been some talk about my religious persuasion. TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): John McCain in South Carolina referring to an Associated Press article this weekend that has some people talking. The senator from Arizona and Republican presidential hopeful told the AP that he was a Baptist, but Episcopalian is the faith listed in his biography in the latest guide of members of Congress and in the most recent edition of "Almanac of American Politics."

And, in an interview with McClatchy newspapers in June, McCain said he still called himself an Episcopalian.

We ask him about his faith.

MCCAIN: I was raised in the Episcopal Church and attended high school at a high school called the Episcopal High School. I have attended North Phoenix Baptist Church for many years. And the most important thing is that I am a Christian. And I don't have anything else to say about the issue.

FOREMAN: McCain says his wife and two of their children have been baptized in the Baptist Church they attend, but that he has not, telling AP, "I don't find it necessary to do so for my spiritual needs."

McCain's campaign says none of this is new, and that the issue was given a thorough vetting when McCain first ran for president in 2000. McCain says religion plays a role in his life, but he said for years that he doesn't advertise his faith.

MCCAIN: My religious belief is clear. I am a man of faith, but I also have to tell you that I believe that my relationship with God is a private one. And I am not ashamed of my religious beliefs or my faith, but, at the same time, I believe that that relationship is generally a private one.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: That was CNN's Tom Foreman reporting. McCain, well, he made those comments in South Carolina, the site of the first southern primary, and a state dominated by Baptists. McCain also says he was a Baptist the last time he ran for president, and it didn't help him then. He lost in South Carolina to George W. Bush in 2000.

NGUYEN: So, does it seem like deja vu all over again? Up next in the NEWSROOM, a defense lawyer's perspective on o.j. Simpson's latest legal I snarls. Mickey Sherman joins us live.

Several states are on the alert for possible E. coli contamination. This time from bagged lettuce. We'll tell you what to look for straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: There's a new E. coli scare today. Dole is recalling all packages of Hearts Delight, Hearts Delight, it's a salad mix after samples tested positive for bacteria. So far, nobody's gotten sick. CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen tells us what to look for.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH COHEN, MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: If you feel like this keeps happening, well, that's because it does keep happening. Since 1995, there have been at least nine national outbreaks of E. coli contamination in lettuce or spinach.

Let me tell you about what you need to know to avoid getting sick from this one. This one involves 5,000 bags of Dole's Hearts Delight, that's a salad mix. It's sold in the U.S. and Canada. Check for a "best if used by" date of September 19th, 2007. Also, look for production codes, "A24924A" or "A24924B." The blend contains romaine, green leaf, and butter lettuce.

What happened in this situation is that authorities in Canada detected E. coli in bags that were already in the supermarket. Dole says that everything that came from the farm looks good, and so it's not clear exactly how the contamination happened, somewhere between the farm and the supermarkets.

Now, with all of these outbreaks, it leaves many people asking how do you avoid E. coli in lettuce, since of course, you're not going to cook the lettuce. One hint is that if you really want to be -- lower your risk as much as you can, you can avoid these mixed bags. The issue with the mixed bags is that when one piece of lettuce has E. coli in it and it gets mixed up with all the other pieces, you contaminate the lot. So you can buy individual heads of lettuce, remove the outer leaves and just use the leaves that are inside.

Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And we do have some news just in to CNN. We have learned today that an attorney in this case -- in fact, a judge in Santa Monica has tentatively denied the request by the Goldman family where they were asking for a sweeping assignment of O.J. Simpson's earnings. A judge again today has denied that request.

I want to give you a little listen to what the Goldmans' attorney had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID COOK, GOLDMANS' ATTORNEY: It will be a cold day in hell before you ever see a piece of paper -- on that piece of paper bearing the signature of O.J. Simpson and Fred Goldman. It will not ever occur. Mr. -- O.J. Simpson took from Fred Goldman his son, murdered him brutally, stabbed him 30 times. When Mr. Ron Goldman was the wrong person and the wrong time and the wrong place.

It is inconceivable that the father of a murder victim would sit and bargain, haggle with the murderer over (ph) a recompense. It is revulsive to everybody. The other ...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: And so, there you have the attorney for the Goldmans speaking today in response to why can't Simpson and the Goldman family work out the deal for his earnings and the memorabilia and all that among themselves. Obviously, they have gone to many legal proceedings to get access to that. And today, a judge in Santa Monica has denied the Goldmans' request to allow them a sweeping assignment of O.J. Simpson's earnings.

Now, we want to get a little more insight as to not only how this played out in court today, but also where does this case go next? Do the Goldmans finally get a chance at anything else in the case when it comes to O.J. Simpson's earnings? Apparently, today, a judge said tentatively, though, that he has denied that request. But this could pop up again.

So, let's bring in criminal defense attorney Mickey Sherman (ph) to talk to us about this. And you know, the reason why this is a big question as well is because the book, "If I Did It, Confessions of the Killer," which the title was changed by the Goldman family, the Goldmans do have rights to this. But yet, today, a judge has ruled tentatively that he is denying the Goldmans access to O.J. Sompson's earnings. How do you see that playing out? Do you find it a fair ruling?

MICKEY SHERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: It's probably not -- probably not a fair ruling, even though I'm from the defense point of view. If in fact the court awarded them a gazillion dollars in judgment, they should be able to pretty much attach anything that they can find or identify or locate that is in the possession, whether real or constructive, of O.J. Simpson's.

And Again, they keyword in what you just reported, Betty, is that it is a tentative ruling. I think that they left the door open. The judge has left the door open to come back when you've got some either different law or different facts. But, I don't think the door is closed on that at all.

NGUYEN: But also, isn't the key here for the Goldmans to get access to whatever money O.J. Simpson makes off of his name, his memorabilia, whatever, they have to go to court first to get that right, which leaves open the door, that possibly O.J. could make some deals, if he wanted to, and it's not public and, therefore, that could be done, the Goldmans would have no access to that.

SHERMAN: Well, if there's a court order where O.J. must, you know, give x amount of dollars, he's really not supposed to be able to hide his assets. So either a, he's not making the money and they're really looking out for something that's not there, or b, he has found effective ways to shield it, to hide it, to squirrel it away.

And that's one of the back stories in this new Vegas episode is that one of the no good (INAUDIBLE) that he was currently ripping off, had been told or been asked allegedly by O.J. to help him squirrel away money in some offshore account. So, if they can identify that and find that, then they'll be able to get something material out of O.J., I believe.

NGUYEN: You know, I want to add some more information to that ruling today by the judge because we're learning that that superior court judge says that he's giving Fred Goldman's lawyer, David Cook, one week to come up with a list of sports memorabilia, items the former football star is accused of stealing from a Las Vegas hotel room. So, apparently, that portion of this case has many fronts to it and is not over as of yet.

But let me ask you this. What kind of defense does O.J. Simpson have now that you've got accusations that this was all just a setup? After all, there is a tape.

SHERMAN: Yes, well, there's no defense to conspiring to rob somebody. But I think it's a credible defense and one that may very well prevail that you did conspire, you did hatch a plan to get your own stuff back from people who found themselves in possession of it wrongfully.

I mean, obviously, this stuff belonged to O.J. Simpson. It's not like we have to guess about that. He didn't go out and steal drug money. He didn't go out and rob these people of their rolex watches. He took possession, perhaps wrongfully or inappropriately at least, property that rightfully belonged to him.

Now, unless they can show that O.J. got rid of the property himself and was never the subject of any kind of a bribery -- burglary or some other misappropriation, I think that a fair amount of jurors, a fair amount of people will say well, you know, something -- I could see doing that. Maybe not with guns, but I think they would have taken some steps themselves.

NGUYEN: All right, well, we're going to, obviously watch how this plays out. Mickey Sherman, a defense attorney, joining us live today to talk about the O.J. Simpson case. Thank you, Mickey.

SHERMAN: Pleasure.

LEMON: He lived to tell a frightening tale and he'll tell it to us. A survivor from Sunday's plane crash in Thailand. That's straight ahead right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right, that is literally everyone's worst nightmare when you fly. That's what you dream of never happening. Billowing smoke, blood-spattered passengers, staggering in disbelief. You're looking at the aftermath of a plane crash Sunday that sadly killed 89 people in Thailand.

Christopher Marken, he took these pictures and he was seated at the plane's emergency exit, and was the first person off that plane, and Christopher Marken is on the phone with us and he joins us now from Phuket. Christopher, I said it was everyone's worst nightmare. I'm not sure if you agree with that, but I imagine you will.

VOICE OF CHRISTOPHER MARKEN, PLANE CRASH SURVIVOR: Yes, yes. I can -- I can cope with that.

LEMON: How are you doing today?

MARKEN: Yes, I'm tired. We have been doing a lot of things today. Looking forward (ph) to return home. We're going to go back tomorrow.

LEMON: Does this at all seem real to you? When you look back at it and you look at the video that you shot? In some way, do you feel like you're dreaming?

MARKEN: It feels like the pictures you remember. It's more like we've been in a movie. We saw a movie, more like being there, actually.

LEMON: Yes. Now, I see your friend. This is your friend standing here, your friend's name is -- I want to get his name right. It's Eric Nyland (ph), right?.

MARKEN: Eric Nylian (ph), that's right.

LEMON: Eric Nylian. So, he's OK. And then you have a guy that was running through here with the blood on him, and all these people running. As the people were coming to you and you have this camera, this is your camera phone, what are they saying to you?

MARKEN: I don't remember what they were saying. They are shocked. They are stunned. So, they're not saying -- we're not -- we tried to get them down, to sit down on the tarmac.

LEMON: You were trying to get them to sit down.

MARKEN: Yes.

LEMON: Because -- and I understand sometimes in situations like this, because you can't believe it, that it's eerily quiet, no one really knows what to say. But ...

MARKEN: No, but ...

LEMON: Go ahead.

MARKEN: Yes, we were telling the people that came out that we talked to that you're OK, you're OK, you're outside, you're fine now. You are going to be fine.

LEMON: Now, there's some new information when it comes to this crash. We're hearing, according to some reports there, that the pilot was told not to land several times. We're also hearing, this is according to the Associated Press, that half of the systems used to detect wind sheer in the Phuket Airport were not working at the time of the weekend plane crash that killed the 89 people on the plane that you were on. What do you think of all this new information now that you're hearing it after going through this?

MARKEN: If it is true that the pilot was told not to land, it's horrible. Horrible to hear that.

LEMON: Take us back, if you will, Christopher, to when you're on the plane. Did you experience any turbulence at all before this?

MARKEN: Yes, we experienced some turbulence. Not as much as you would expect. We also experienced the pilot did a lot of adjustments with engine to adjust the flight -- in flight. And we heard the landing gear coming up. And the pilot gave full throttle. And just a couple of seconds later, we smashed into the ground.

LEMON: You just smashed right into the ground?

MARKEN: Yes, there was no warning from the pilot, no warning at all.

LEMON: No screaming or anything on the plane, people going oh, my gosh?

MARKEN: No, it was too fast. Not until after the crash itself.

LEMON: Yes. You're coming home tomorrow? Am I correct?

MARKEN: Yes.

LEMON: Are you going to fly again? You're OK?

MARKEN: Yes, well, there's not much to do -- I mean.

LEMON: Yes. What do you want people to know about this?

MARKEN: The whole thing. Well, I guess sit next by an emergency door and you will be better off, maybe.

LEMON: Yes, I imagine, again, that you really kind of don't know what to say in this situation. Christopher, sadly, 89 people died. But we're glad that you're OK. And we wish you the best of luck in getting through all of this, you and your friend as well.

Christopher Marken, thank you for joining us today.

MARKEN: Thank you very much.

NGUYEN: And we are waiting the president of the University of Florida, Bernie Machen, to speak in just a matter of minutes. This involves the case that you're looking right here where a student was tasered yesterday at the University of Florida during a John Kerry event. That student has since been released from jail. And we're going to hear from the university's president, as to his reaction to what happened.

Also, all financial eyes are on Washington. Yes, coming up, high interest in what the Federal Reserve says about interest rates today. Could a change affect you?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.voxant.com