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Musharraf Under Pressure in Pakistan; O.J. Simpson Appears in Court
Aired November 08, 2007 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Let's be clear on all of this. This is not the trial of the century. It is, however, the pretrial hearing of the moment, the State of Nevada vs. O.J. Simpson. Simpson says he just wanted his stuff back.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Investors on Wall Street no doubt want the bulls back, Dow industrials down 122 points. Again today, the bears are on a rampage, this time with tech stocks leading the markets down. We're watching the numbers on this final hour of trading.
Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips at the CNN Center in Atlanta.
LEMON: And I'm Don Lemon.
You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
We have been telling you about what the FAA calls a bomb threat against an American Airlines plane, MD-80.
Let's go to Deborah Feyerick. She's on the phone now. She's at the scene at La Guardia Airport. And she joins us now with the very latest.
What do you know about this?
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Don, we can tell you, it was a few scary moments for about 120 passengers and crew members on board American Airlines Flight 382, which left Chicago and landed in New York.
About 10 minutes before the plane was supposed to land, someone called in a bomb threat. The plane was taken to a remote location. The passengers were taken off. They were rechecked. Their bags were searched by bomb-sniffing dogs, but nothing was found, and the TSA has given an all-clear saying that the situation is now over, that it was just a threat, nothing more.
Now, I spoke with an airline captain who developed protocol actually for how to deal with bomb threats. The captain tells me that really we hear of only one-tenth of 1 percent of all bomb threats, that threats against planes come in very regularly. Somebody may be running late, so they may be stuck in traffic or it may even be a disgruntled passenger.
Now, whoever phoned in this particular threat (AUDIO GAP) specific plane number. And that raised the stakes a bit. But the captain tells me that there's never been a bomb threat called in that actually went off not in the air. Why this one was called (AUDIO GAP) 10 minutes before the plane landed, well, that will likely be under investigation -- Don.
LEMON: CNN's Deborah Feyerick -- thank you for that, Deborah.
PHILLIPS: We are going to talk now about this threat information that got circulated by the FBI. We got our hands on it today. Actually, Kelli Arena, one of our investigative reporters, saying that December 2007 al Qaeda planned to target U.S. shopping malls in Chicago, Illinois, and also Los Angeles, California.
Kelli is going to bring us up to date on this information and then we are going to go to Thelma Gutierrez, who is live in Chicago, Illinois.
Let's start with you, Kelli, and what you found out. And should we be worried about this?
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, it's always good to take this information and be aware and be vigilant.
But what the FBI is saying is that this is information that was sent out to its law enforcement and intelligence partners. It was not broadly disseminated to the public. This was a leak to the media. This is information the FBI describes as raw intelligence, which means, Kyra, that it has not been corroborated by several sources.
This information came from one source. It was about shopping malls in Chicago, Illinois, and Los Angeles, California. The specific malls were not named, and the information, you know, the FBI is not saying that this is credible. But, obviously, out of an abundance of caution, they need to pass on the information to its partners just in case someone has information somewhere else that, you know, about a mall threat. And then they can start piecing things together.
Now, obviously, whenever we hear about so-called soft targets like shopping malls, it does become worrisome, because, Kyra, as you know, there are not a whole lot of security precautions in place at shopping malls and other public venues that we have here in the United States. I mean, not much has changed since the September 11 attacks, and so it would be very easy for someone to walk into a mall and to try a suicide bombing attack, God forbid, or something like that.
So, that's why this is a good time for owners of malls and owners of retail stores to go over their security procedures, make sure that they have got everything that they need in place, which hopefully they were doing already as the holiday shopping season is upon us. But it's a good reminder to not only those people but the public as well to be vigilant, keep your eyes open.
PHILLIPS: Kelli, let's find out what exactly is happening in Los Angeles, California. You make a good point about the security issues.
Thelma Gutierrez joins us now live. Thelma, what do you think? Since this information got circulated, are malls there in L.A. taking more safety precautions?
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, we're at the Westfield Mall in Sherman Oaks and they tell they already have plans in place for this kind of a thing.
Now, we talked to about a half dozen shoppers inside of the mall just a few moments ago. They told me they're not worried. First of all, they say they don't have specific information to worry about, so at this point they say they don't intend to let this stop them from holiday shopping.
We also talked to the mall management. They declined to go on camera, but Westfield is one of the largest mall owners in the country. They have eight malls here in the Los Angeles area alone. And they told me that at this point since there is no specific targeted mall that has been mentioned, it is business as usual, that they're typically more vigilant around this time of the year simply because there is such an increased volume of shoppers in the mall anyway.
Also, they say they have emergency procedures in place. They wouldn't disclose exactly what those procedures are, but they told us that they are equipped to deal with bomb threats, gunmen, other emergency situations.
And I talked to a woman a short time ago, Kyra, who told me, listen, she says, you can't go through your life living in fear. You can't worry about what may happen. And if you let each of these threats that we hear about every year since 9/11 take hold of everything that you do, you may as well live in the closet.
And that's pretty much what the shoppers out here in Los Angeles are telling me, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. We will follow up as we follow up on the information, of course.
We thank our Kelli Arena and Thelma Gutierrez. Thank you both.
LEMON: The White House sees signs of progress, but opposition leaders in Pakistan aren't impressed. President Pervez Musharraf says parliamentary elections may take place no later than mid-February, about a month later than scheduled. His promise came as government troops arrested hundreds more protesters.
CNN's Zain Verjee is in Islamabad.
Zain, what triggered Musharraf's decision to come forward with this date for these elections? Was it international pressure, protests in Pakistan, or a combination?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's been a lot of international pressure for General Musharraf to declare elections. And since he declared the state of emergency here in Pakistan, there's been a huge amount of U.S. pressure.
President Bush called him and said, you have got to take your uniform off and declare a date for free and fair elections.
We spoke to the Pakistani foreign minister today, Khurshid Kasuri, who said it's not U.S. pressure which triggered General Musharraf into making any kind of decision. He said that General Musharraf has always wanted to lead Pakistan on the path toward a democracy and toward elections.
Now, today, General Musharraf that he's going to quit as chief of the army before taking the oath as president. The significant thing here, Don, is that basically he wants the supreme court, who he's handpicked, to essentially rubber-stamp his own presidential legitimacy.
So, that's the key thing to understanding. He just wants them to make it happen for him. One senior Pakistani official told us that the state of emergency in this country will last for a month more -- Don.
LEMON: And also another important point here I want to point out, Zain, you interviewed the foreign minister of Pakistan. What did he say about Pakistan's ongoing problems in the fight against specifically the Taliban and in the war on terror at the border region with Afghanistan?
VERJEE: Yes. We did address that with the foreign minister and asked what they're doing about the fact that the Taliban and al Qaeda are regrouping over in the border region in the tribal areas along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
And we asked him if Pakistan essentially had failed in dealing with the militants there. This is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VERJEE: But isn't it partly the government's fault? You have to take some responsibility for in some ways mismanaging the situation in the border region.
KHURSHID KASURI, PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER: Should it not be a joint responsibility to monitor the border? We are held responsible if people come from Afghanistan into Pakistan, into tribal -- we are held responsible if they go from here to there.
You have a problem with -- in Mexico, for example, your Mexican border. People there don't wear suicide belts, and even they can't be stopped. Here, people are wearing suicide belts. So, it's very easy to blame somebody or the other. If Pakistani army were not there, it would have been total mayhem. Pakistani army has suffered hugely. More than 1,200 have died and many more injured.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VERJEE: And, Don, the one thing that really matters to the United States in this region in Pakistan, the number-one priority is fighting the war on terror. And there's a real concern with the instability and the state of uncertainty in this country that they are not going to be able to carry that out effectively.
The foreign minister conceded in our interview that the current political crisis is detracting from the war on terror fight -- Don.
LEMON: Zain Verjee in Islamabad -- thank you for that, Zain.
PHILLIPS: News coming into us now out of Miami, Florida.
Let's get straight to the NEWSROOM, Fredricka Whitfield working details on this story.
What is it, Fred?
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, what we understand is, a suspicious letter or suspicious letters have been sent to Congressman Ron Klein office building there in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
And so you're looking at the most recent pictures now from our affiliate WFOR, where an investigation is under way to find out a little bit more about these letters. We don't know exactly how it was brought to anyone's attention or what these letters look like, if it's language that makes it so suspicious or if there's some sort of content that makes it particularly hazardous.
But as a precaution we understand that several different law enforcement authorities are there, including hazmat teams, but we don't know who is actually being put into action and in what capacity just yet.
But you see the aerial view, pictures right here of how many people are being impacted. Whether it was people who were taken -- who were encouraged to evacuate that office space or perhaps even the entire building, that, we're still not sure.
But you do see quite a few people mixed in with law enforcement, first-responder types. So, of course, when we get any more information -- there's a much better view of seeing the volume of folks. Again, unclear whether the majority of these people work for Congressman Ron Klein's office or in some other shared space there in that building.
This is Fort Lauderdale. We're going to continue to watch it for you -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, appreciate it, Fred. We will keep checking in.
Well, a packed courtroom, a star defendant, plenty of witnesses for the prosecution, but is there enough evidence to send O.J. Simpson to trial?
CNN's Dan Simon at the courthouse in Las Vegas -- Dan. DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, hi, Kyra.
The first witness for this preliminary hearing, Bruce Fromong, he's still on the stand. He's being subject right now to cross- examination. The defense trying to tarnish his reputation and credibility.
Let's talk about what Fromong has said up to this point. He is one of two memorabilia collectors who was in that hotel room when O.J. Simpson and the five others allegedly burst in and stole some items at gunpoint.
Fromong says that the items belonged to him, and that Simpson and the others indeed came into that room, used force. Fromong says he saw two guns involved, and he says he was just shocked that O.J. Simpson was part of this alleged scheme.
He says he then went back down to the front desk, talked to the hotel clerk, and reported that he had been robbed by O.J. Simpson. Let's hear now part of his testimony.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRUCE FROMONG, SPORTS MEMORABILIA DEALER: I went up to the front desk and said, I have just been robbed by O.J. Simpson. And at first the desk clerk thought I was joking. I said no, really, I just got robbed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SIMON: Well, right now, again, he's being subject to cross- examination. The defense is trying to say that the items that O.J. Simpson took belonged to O.J. Simpson, so essentially this is an irrelevant case.
But the prosecution of course is going to argue that it really doesn't matter who owned those items; you simply cannot use deadly force or try to act like you're going to use deadly force to get these items. We're talking about eight witnesses who are going to testify over the next two days. Three of the witnesses, Simpson's alleged accomplices who took plea deals, they're going to testify that O.J. Simpson told them to bring guns into that hotel room.
Of course, you're talking about a hearing that's going to last two days, but it could last even longer, because here we are at the midway point on the first day and you haven't gotten through the first witness yet -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, will keep following it, Dan Simon there at the courthouse in Las Vegas -- thanks, Dan.
LEMON: A Jena Six defendant is back in court today. We will tell you who and why.
PHILLIPS: He was Mayor Giuliani's right-hand man. But now, as a grand jury deliberates, we will explore whether former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik could be Rudy's biggest liability.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: More of that developing story out of Miami.
Fredricka Whitfield continues to follow up on it for us -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: Well, the latest information is an all-clear has been given, even though the investigation continues, meaning while people had to evacuate this office building where Congressman Ron Klein's office is located because of some suspicious letters and some content in these letters, we understand that they have now cleared the scene, but no threat has been determined.
There was some undetermined amount of substance that was in a letter or two, and according to one official -- quoting here now -- they said whoever sent it was not happy with his politics, the congressman's politics.
And you see in this picture here a live view of the building, which, of course, houses a lot of other offices. And then now you see what happened just moments ago, when investigators were on the scene trying to determine whether this was indeed hazardous materials. They routinely now have to scrub down, just as a precaution, even when they're not clear as to what kind of substance they're dealing, because sometimes labs later within a 48-hour or longer period can determine whether it was indeed a threat.
So, this is just kind of a precautionary hosing down now of those hazmat officials that entered the building, but, again, an all-clear.
It's still unclear what the substance was, but it was alarming enough to call in authorities there in Fort Lauderdale, Florida -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Fredricka Whitfield, thanks so much -- Don.
LEMON: Have an all-clear there, but it's still going on in Las Vegas now.
We want to get you back there live now to the testimony of Bruce Fromong. He's on the stand talking about an interview with CNN's Larry King that may be submitted into evidence.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... name doesn't come in here. You said...
(CROSSTALK)
FROMONG: I usually don't use it either.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You said: "He's the perpetrator. He said everybody and everything up."
Now, what does everything mean? Everything means the whole situation, right? That's what you were talking about?
FROMONG: No, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
So, he was just setting up the deal? That's what you mean?
FROMONG: As far as I knew, that is correct, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And when -- and your testimony right here is, when you say he set everybody up, you just mean that he sort of made contacts with people and brought them all to the right location? Isn't that what you mean?
FROMONG: That is correct, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, OK. OK. But you're not denying you said that?
FROMONG: No. Like I say, I don't remember saying it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
FROMONG: I have not heard the interview. And that's the first time I have seen a transcript. So...
FROMONG: OK.
Well, you know, I guess it will be -- it might be covered on CNN.
But let me ask you this. Tom Riccio was the guy that when you got there, you met, right?
FROMONG: That is correct, sir. I was introduced to him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's the guy that told you, as you testified on direct, he directed you to do what you were -- you thought you were going to show this stuff in the car, right?
FROMONG: Negative, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Didn't you say it was weird that Tom Riccio asked you to bring the stuff to the room?
FROMONG: What I meant by that, if you would allow me to clarify...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go ahead. Go ahead.
FROMONG: ... is that normally we don't take stuff in or take it anywhere until after I meet the buyer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
FROMONG: We have done this many times before. High-profile buyers don't want to do things in public lots of times. (CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have seen movies where they lift the trunk up, and there's stolen cigarettes in the back of the trunk, and they're selling them out of the back of truck. What I'm asking you is, you're saying that, OK, you don't take anything anywhere until the buyer shows up, right?
FROMONG: That is correct, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. So, in other words, if I were the buyer, I have to come to the trunk of your car or truck and look at the stuff?
FROMONG: That's incorrect, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. So, you're just saying, until the buyer shows up, you don't move the stuff?
FROMONG: That is correct, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
In this case, though, you had no problem moving the stuff because Riccio told you he was the one running the show, bring the stuff to the room?
FROMONG: Even though it was an unusual request, I figured we were in a public place, a very public place, a casino and a hotel. And against my better judgments, yes I did.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And, in fact, you got -- you're on video with the bellman from the Palace Station with the cart that he had, and he put the stuff on the cart, right?
FROMONG: I put some on as well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. And you guys walked to the entrance that's on video, right?
FROMONG: That is correct, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And, in fact, during -- when you were walking into the doors, do you recall sort of being behind the stuff, like sort of being close to it? You didn't just let it out of your sight, right?
FROMONG: That's correct.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You weren't going to let it out of your sight?
FROMONG: Oh, that's absolutely correct, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. And there was like a little plaque or something falling off the cart, and you actually went there and sort of helped it -- put it back on the cart? Do you recall that?
FROMONG: I didn't want my merchandise damaged, no, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. But do you recall doing that?
FROMONG: Probably. I know I steadied a couple different things.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. So, but what I'm saying is, Riccio, it was his request. You did what he told you?
FROMONG: No, I did what he requested.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
(CROSSTALK)
FROMONG: ... asked me if we do it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. And Riccio was the one that said stay in the room; I'm going to get the guy?
LEMON: Bruce Fromong, a sports memorabilia dealer, on the stand now in this pretrial hearing in Las Vegas, considering evidence in this O.J. Simpson case, whether or not it can go to trial. They were just talking about an interview, an exchange on Larry King's show here on CNN, whether or not that would be entered into evidence, and he -- the attorney there questioning Bruce Fromong about that.
We are going to continue to follow this.
PHILLIPS: It's called a most wanted list, but it has nothing to do with criminals. It's the safety improvements that your government would most like to see in the airline industry.
Our Miles O'Brien is standing by in New York with a few examples.
Hey, Miles.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CHIEF TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kyra.
Some dramatic, frankly really scary animation released today, as the National Transportation Safety Board had its annual meeting to roll out its so-called most wanted list of safety improvements for aviation.
At the top of the list of six urgent areas of concern, again, what the FAA calls incursions, what most of us call a near-miss. The safety board reconstructed two very, very close calls that happened just a few months ago. The first event happened in San Francisco in May.
A Republic Airlines regional jet told to take off on a runway that intersected another runway where a SkyWest commuter turboprop was landing at the same time. Now, animation based on black box and radar information shows you what happens with the two planes. Then watch and listen as the controller realizes he's headed for a horrible collision.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: San Francisco (INAUDIBLE) through the -- it's Sky -- SkyWest 5741, hold, hold, hold. SkyWest 5741, sorry about that. Continue down the runway.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: All right. So, you see what happened there. The SkyWest plane was told to hold, to hit the brakes, and it stopped right in the middle of the intersecting runway. The Republic flight crew lifted off the ground a little bit early, missed by as little as 30 feet.
Now, that controller was decertified, then later recertified. Now, let's move time and location, six weeks later, Fort Lauderdale, a flight crew that made the mistake in this case, a United Airbus A-320 told to taxi up to a runway, not onto to a runway.
Now, as he was taxiing, an American -- excuse me -- a Delta 757 was landing on the same runway.
Watch what happens as the controller realizes the United plane on the ground isn't going to stop.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) Stop, stop, stop, stop.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: National Transportation Safety Board showing a lot of frustration today over the FAA's pace of change in dealing with these issues.
Listen to the chairman.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK ROSENKER, CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD: This must be resolved. We have had this recommendation for a number of years, too many number of years. The FAA recently had a call to action, which dealt with runway safety issues, and they made some improvements, and they did it quickly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Now, the FAA says things have improved by about 40 percent in the past six years.
But, remember, the worst aviation disaster in history was a runway incursion, a collision, two 747s colliding in the Canary Islands in 1977. More than 580 people died.
The NTSB would like the FAA to focus on a system that would provide instantaneous information to the cockpit, whether it's low- tech stuff like a glorified stoplight system, or better paint markings in the pavement, or a system that but states GPS and radar information.
The point is to get it into the cockpit, not having the controller in the loop, because, Kyra, if the controller is in the loop, and there's a system there, that can mean a delay of 10 to 12 seconds. It doesn't sound like much, but, in a case like this, 10 to 12 seconds is the difference between life and death.
PHILLIPS: You ever been in a situation like that? I mean, you're a pilot.
O'BRIEN: Oh, yes, definitely. I have been told to go around before.
And this is something you have just got to be spring-loaded and ready and watching all the time. But it stands to reason that there are going to be near-misses, near collisions near airports. Those are the choke points. These are the funnel points. And there has got to be a better way. There has got to be better systems out there to make sure pilots really understand what's going on, on the runway they're approaching.
PHILLIPS: Miles O'Brien, thanks a lot.
LEMON: All right.
I remember there was one, Lambert Field. A couple of years ago, there was one. A plane landed on top of -- do you remember that, Miles? Lambert Field in Saint Louis.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Miles, can you hear me?
O'BRIEN: Yes. Yes. I'm sorry.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Do you remember Lambert Field a couple years ago?
O'BRIEN: Yes.
LEMON: A plane landed on top of a small plane, I remember, I think sheared off the front end; a couple people were injured?
O'BRIEN: Yes. Yes.
LEMON: Yes.
O'BRIEN: You know, it's interesting because there's a whole series of issues at work here. You have got an issue which they're talking about right now, crew fatigue, which is an ongoing issue in aviation.
There's the training of the flight crews in general. And I have got to tell you, Don and Kyra, I have more data, electronic data, in my little airplane than the typical airliner does, because general aviation has embraced GPS, satellites technology, faster than the airlines have.
And they need to get on it with. But the point is, the airlines are in a bad way right now. Fuel costs are killing them. We know about all the red ink they're dealing with. And for them to unilaterally install GPS systems, they are not going to do it unless it's mandated. Maybe it's time to do that.
PHILLIPS: Well, they're dealing with a lot of archaic equipment.
LEMON: Yes. Yes.
PHILLIPS: Miles, thanks.
LEMON: Yes, went on a little longer than we wanted to, but that's an important story, especially -- most people fly in this country. Scary stuff.
Thank you, Miles.
(BUSINESS REPORT)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN (voice-over): Computers may not be your cup of tea, but they may soon be woven even deeper into the fabric of our lives.
TOBIAS HOLLERER, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR COMPUTER SCIENCE: If you wanted to select another object, you just make the outstretched hand gesture in the neighborhood of that tea pot here, for example, and then it will actually translate onto your hand.
O'BRIEN: Tobias Hollerer is demonstrating something he calls augmented reality -- three-dimensional graphics inserted into the real world using computers that you wear. Computer visionaries say this is where we are headed. See something you're interested in, just point and a 3-D model will appear.
HOLLERER: It's not technology that you will see everywhere in the next year, but a few years down the road.
O'BRIEN: In the meantime, in case you haven't noticed, computers have become a fashion statement -- really, an indispensable accessory. And soon you find the screen floating before your eyes -- projected on glasses, like the pair Thad Starner is wearing.
THAD STARNER, GEORGIA TECH, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF COMPUTING: I can actually have a research conversation with you and suddenly be an expert in something while, you know, still chatting -- while I'm still looking at you in the eye.
O'BRIEN: That's one way to ensure you always win trivia contests.
Ten years ago, wearable computers looked silly and drew stares. Now, they're much smaller and coming of age.
Miles O'Brien, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Let's get straight to the NEWSROOM now.
Fredricka Whitfield working on the details of a developing story.
What do you have -- Fred.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Don, in South Florida, some pretty frightening moments at Senator Ron Klein's office building in Fort Lauderdale when they received some letters that appeared to be suspicious. It's unclear what about these letters made them suspicious, but it was serious enough to call in law enforcement, as well as HAZMAT authorities, who all descended upon this office building there in Fort Lauderdale.
Now, you're looking at the view of -- on one side of the building, where it houses a number of other offices. And then, of course, on the left, you see the result of HAZMAT authorities going in, investigating these letters. They came out, had to do the usual scrub down.
But the good news in all of this -- even though the entire building had to be evacuated, it is believed that the suspicious contents were not too dangerous. So everybody was allowed to go back into the building and resume business as usual.
But the investigation is still underway as to who would send this kind of suspicious material and why.
LEMON: Fredricka Whitfield.
Thank you very much.
PHILLIPS: Another day in court for a member of the Jena 6. Defense lawyers are trying to free Mychal Bell, who's in jail for a probation violation. They say he's a victim of double jeopardy.
CNN's Sean Callebs joins us now from Jena, Louisiana with more -- Sean.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.
We can tell you that Mychal Bell's attorneys and his parents are here today at the courthouse.
If I step out of the way for just a moment, there in the red shirt is Melissa Bell. That is Mychal Bell's mother. We had a chance to speak with her yesterday at length about her son, who is being held in a juvenile facility. She says he is doing about as well as can be expected. Asked if there's any hope of having him released any time soon, she didn't have very much to say.
But, clearly, that is what the attorneys are inside working on at this hour. You talked about double jeopardy and that is exactly what the defense is contending.
Here is their argument. They say that Mychal Bell was first tried as an adult and convicted back in June of second degree battery. Then, later, an appeals court threw that ruling out. Now, the court is going back through, charging Bell as a juvenile. Now his attorneys claim that's simply unfair -- that he's already been tried once as an adult. So that is where double jeopardy comes into play.
But legal experts tell us they could have a hard road to go to try and make that case here -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right.
Well, what else did they discuss, Sean?
CALLEBS: Well, they could be in there for some time today because there are of a couple of other serious motions coming up, as well. One, the attorneys want copies of the police report, which they contend simply does not exist.
However, CNN has been able to look at 55 statements -- witness statements taken were back on December 4th last year -- the day of the fight allegedly took place between those now known as the Jena 6 and Justin Barker, the white student at the center of this who was beaten so badly he had to be taken to the hospital.
And, secondly, a very typical kind of thing that comes up in a court case like this -- the defense wants the list of witnesses and they want to know if any of the witnesses have any kind of criminal record.
So that's what's going on here, Kyra.
We'll keep you updated.
PHILLIPS: All right, Sean Callebs.
Appreciate it.
We'll stay on top of it.
LEMON: Prosecutors in Las Vegas are laying out their case this hour against O.J. Simpson. The judge will decide whether the evidence even warrants a trial.
Avery Friedman, a civil rights attorney in Cleveland, takes us through this case.
Avery, we're sitting here listening in interviews -- especially CNN interviews. It's been coming up a lot here -- the judge and attorneys, everything these people say, the people who are on trial here and who are going to testify, it really comes into question in the courtroom.
AVERY FRIEDMAN, ATTORNEY: Yes, it sure does, Don. In fact, CNN is all over this. Between the Larry King interview and remember, Ted Rowlands got an exclusive with O.J. So all of these issues are going to come into play. Remember, again, a preliminary hearing is, is there probable cause to send it to trial?
And the argument, essentially, that the prosecution -- or the defense, I'm sorry -- is making is Bruce Fromong, the only witness we've heard, is a twit. Judge please acquit. But he's the first of eight witnesses to go.
And you know what?
They were predicting two days. At this rate, I think we're moving into next week.
LEMON: OK. He's a twit, you must commit -- you must acquit.
OK, Bruce.
FRIEDMAN: Give them my best (INAUDIBLE).
LEMON: I mean, OK, Avery.
FRIEDMAN: Give them my best.
LEMON: That was -- that caught me off guard. I can't even get it out.
FRIEDMAN: I'm really sorry. I threw you off on that one.
LEMON: Yes, you...
FRIEDMAN: I apologize.
LEMON: You certainly did.
Yes, OK.
So I'll let that one slide.
Let's talk about, though, the crux of this case and the whole reason that they're here today. It's because they're trying to figure out if there's even enough evidence to go to trial.
FRIEDMAN: Right.
LEMON: We talked about this a little bit earlier, but I want the viewer to hear the sound bite here, where Bruce Fromong talks about the evidence in that case and what happened in that room. He talks about the guns and what have you.
Let's take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BRUCE FROMONG, SPORTS MEMORABILIA DEALER: The second man came in with a drawn semi-automatic, which was pointed at me. Two other gentlemen that I saw for sure came in, flanked him on the right hand side and there was screaming, "Put your phone down! "Put your phone down! Get off the phone!"
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But did you recognize these other individuals who came into the room?
FROMONG: By name or anything like that -- there was only one other person that I -- well, two other people. One would have been Tom Riccio that came in. And then O.J. Simpson.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: OK. Avery. So that talks about that. But I'm -- I want to play this other one before you even respond to that. Let's talk about the climate, sort of, the mood in the room and whether or not people felt threatened. And then we can talk about whether or not this even warrants this going to trial.
FRIEDMAN: OK.
LEMON: Let's take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FROMONG: O.J. Was screaming, "This is all my -- this is -- " he kept using the word (OBSCENE WORD OMITTED). This is all my (OBSCENE WORD OMITTED). You know, this all belongs to me. You know, you guys stole this from me. And, you know, let's get this stuff packed up. Let's get out of here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: OK. So we're talking about guns and we're talking about a possible threatening mood...
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
LEMON: ...situation for the people in that room.
FRIEDMAN: Remember, the standard is probable cause.
Is there enough at this point for robbery?
Is there enough for kidnapping?
Is there enough for assault with a deadly weapon?
Is there enough for conspiracy?
What Bruce Fromong is doing for the prosecution, as the first witness, is laying the foundation. Then what we're going to see following this, Don, will be the three defendants, who I think Dan Simon called turncoats. But in any event, they're going to testify what the plan was. Believe me, the probable cause standard will be easily met here.
LEMON: All right.
Avery, I'm out of time.
So you think it will go to trial?
FRIEDMAN: Not even a doubt.
LEMON: All right.
Avery Friedman.
You heard it first.
Thank you very much.
FRIEDMAN: Sure.
PHILLIPS: Something is amiss at the Ronald Reagan Library.
We're going to tell you what it is.
And big and rich could describe Fred Thompson. And the presidential hopeful is counting on the big and rich country music sound for his White House campaign.
Can you name that tune?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Workers at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library are asking where did it all go?
They can't put their hands on more than 80,000 mementoes from the White House years. A federal audit wasn't able to say whether people walked off with all those things or whether it's simply sloppy record keeping. The audit took place after a former worker was accused of stealing.
PHILLIPS: Well, potential trouble for Rudy Giuliani's former top cop. It's the lead item on our political ticker right now. A federal grand jury reportedly considering tax evasion charges against former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik. Kerik pleated guilty last year to state misdemeanors. Giuliani is defending his friend to an extent, but admits that he made a mistake in recommending Kerik to head the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Don't get swift-boated -- that's former President Clinton's campaign advice for wife Hillary and the other presidential hopefuls. The former president warned yesterday that giving simplified answers to complex questions during a debate could lead to a Swift Boat kind of ad -- referring to the campaign against John Kerry in 2004. Clinton suggests the candidates talk about complicated issues only when they have enough time to give complete answers. Well, it may not have been traditional campaigning, but the Tennessee's Republican presidential candidate, Fred Thompson, was at the Country Music Awards last night. Sometimes chastised for his less than breakneck campaign style, Thompson is a huge country music fan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRED THOMPSON (R), FORMER U.S. SENATOR: To sit here tonight and see Big and Rich and The Eagles, and the period of time that they cover and, you know, my being fans of both of them, it's just -- it's just a wonderful -- it's just a wonderful night.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, John Rich, half of the Big and Rich country duo, is a big Thompson backer. He's hosting a Thompson benefit concert and fundraiser tonight.
If you want the up to minute and best political news coverage anywhere, CNNpolitics.com is your one stop shop. Get behind the scenes details from the best political team on television and see why it's the Internet's premier destination for political news. That's CNNpolitics.com.
LEMON: An horrific rape and murder case gives an American exchange student an up close look and all too personal look into Italy's justice system.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Now, to a sensational murder case in Italy with an American connection. An Italian judge will decide tomorrow where police can keep holding one of their prime suspects, 20-year old Amanda Marie Knox of Seattle. On Friday, Knox's housemate and fellow exchange student, Meredith Kercher, was found with her throat slashed and her clothes half off in a locked bedroom. Knox's mother flew over to comfort her daughter, unaware of her legal predicament.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE JAMES, SEATTLE-PERUGIA, ITALY SISTER CITY ASSOCIATION: It's a very difficult situation for a mother. She left Seattle thinking she was going to help her daughter, who had found her roommate murdered. When she lands in Perugia, she finds out her daughter is one of the prime suspects.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Police are also holding Knox's Italian boyfriend, a Colognese (ph) man who runs a local shop.
PHILLIPS: Finland is in mourning and asking what turned a teenager into a killer. Police say the 18-year-old had hundreds of rounds of ammunition with him when he opened fire at his school yesterday, killing eight people before shooting himself. Police also say he tried to set the school on fire. They're going over video clips that he posted on the Internet that show him target practicing. And they have the suicide note that he left his family. Even though the school is closed for the time being, students have started a memorial of lit candles and notes.
LEMON: Well, just a few minutes ago, our Miles O'Brien walked us through some of the most wanted safety upgrades for U.S. air travel. But some things are just plain basic, such as engines that stay attached to the plane. Yesterday in South Africa, a passenger jet was forced to make an emergency landing at the Capetown Airport after one of its two engines fell off. Yes, it fell off. It was a 737 like this one -- some of whose passengers say they could see the engine coming off the wing.
Last hour, we spoke with Brendan Felser (ph), who describes how the flight crew reacted.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
BRENDAN FELSER: They were running up and down. They were looking very panicky. And basically they tried to take control of the situation the best they could. And they started preparing us for the worst. They told us to brace ourselves, put our heads between our knees and hold on and hope for the best.
LEMON: Whoa.
You can't imagine, right?
Now, people around you, were they screaming?
Because I would only imagine my reaction in a situation like this. I would imagine I would be praying to whoever I could or trying to call whomever I could call.
What were people doing?
Were they yelling out loud?
Were they praying?
Were they -- hat were they doing?
FELSER: Well, the women -- most of the women were crying a lot. And most of the bigger men were sweating profusely. And, yes, it was a lot of jabbering, a lot of talking and everyone looked very scared.
LEMON: Yes.
Now, what -- when you got to the ground -- and this will be my final question -- when you got to the ground and you were safe, the first thing you did -- what did you guys do?
FELSER: Everyone just clapped their hands and applauded the pilots for getting us down safely, because it was, apparently, not a very easy thing to do -- land a plane with one engine on the left.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
LEMON: Well, with some trepidation, Brendan says he flew on the same airline this morning.
They worked in critical areas at Chicago's O'Hare Airport, including the tarmac and the U.S. Customs Service says they were all illegal immigrants using fake security badges. An eight month investigation has led to the arrests of 23 illegal immigrants plus two employees at the staffing service that hired them. Documents filed in the case say staffing company employees knowingly hired the immigrants. They helped them get phony I.D. badges.
PHILLIPS: The closing bell and a wrap of the action on Wall Street straight ahead.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Let's get straight to Jena, Louisiana.
Sean Callebs standing by with more on the double jeopardy motion regarding Mychal Bell, one of the individuals involved in that Jena 6 case -- hey, Sean.
CALLEBS: Hi, Kyra.
Well, the defense attorneys told us going in they thought it was a long shot. We can tell you from sources who were inside the courtroom that they -- the motions -- they -- that process has ended. The attorneys and Mychal Bell's parents have left. And, as expected, the judge in this case decided that double jeopardy does not play any kind of role in Mychal Bell's case. So everything is moving forward.
The next item on the agenda comes up on November 21st here, Kyra. That -- the media, of course -- CNN and a number of others -- have a petition, trying to have Mychal Bell's juvenile proceeding open to the public, because basically it's going to be a replay of what went on in his adult proceedings. So the argument is nothing should be kept secret at that point.
But the big story here at this hour, the double jeopardy clause will not have any impact, at this point, on Mychal Bell's case. What we know the defense is trying to do is basically build its appeal. So they have to go through every step. Some of it may appear very drawn out to them, but that's the way the process works -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right.
Sean Callebs in Jena, Louisiana.
Thanks, Sean.
The closing bell is about to ring on Wall Street now.
LEMON: Susan Li -- Susan Liso -- I'm so used to saying that. Stephanie, will you forgive me?
I'm so sorry.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Both of our names start with an S.
LEMON: Stephanie Elam standing by...
ELAM: Stephanie -- that's OK.
LEMON: ...with a final look at the trading day.
ELAM: I adore the talented Susan Lisovicz, so, I'll take that as a compliment.
LEMON: Well, we adore you, as well.
ELAM: OK. All right.
PHILLIPS: And the two of you look so much alike.
(LAUGHTER)
ELAM: Yes, we do.
Do you like my red hair?
I got it colored just for the show.
(LAUGHTER)
ELAM: Yes.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
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