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O.J. Simpson's Next Move; New Jersey Sports Gambling Ring; Pakistan in Peril?; Iraqi Prelate Named Cardinal
Aired November 14, 2007 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Four days, a parade of witnesses, some of whom started out as defendants, and this isn't even the trial. Any time now, any time now, a judge in Los Angeles will decide whether O.J. Simpson stands trial for trying to get his stuff back, allegedly with guns.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: You can bet on a lot of things in Atlantic City, but unlike Vegas you can't bet on sports. The state says the mob tried anyway and did from a high-stakes poker room at this casino. The state attorney general plans to show his cards this hour.
Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
LEMON: And I'm Don Lemon.
You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
PHILLIPS: It's D Day for O.J. Simpson. Live pictures right now from a Las Vegas courtroom where a judge is expected to rule today whether Simpson will stand trial for a confrontation with sports memorabilia dealers. If so, Simpson faces charges that could put him in prison for life.
Our Thelma Gutierrez has an update for us now.
Thelma, what are the chances of that?
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, right now, you know, we are talking to a judge outside and he says it threshold is very low. Basically, all you have to do is prove that a crime was committed.
Then the second question is, is it possible that any of those people committed the crime? If the answer is yes then this thing goes to trial.
Now, a short time ago the three defense attorneys summarized their cases before the judge. And Simpson's attorney said there was no crime committed in any of this, that all along O.J. Simpson's intent was to go into that hotel room and retrieve the items that belonged to him that were stolen from him, that there was no conspiracy to ever even commit robbery.
And he also argued that the kidnapping charge should be absolutely thrown out. He said that the two memorabilia dealers were never restrained. They were never held against their wills, and that this does not constitute kidnapping.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GABRIEL GRASSO, SIMPSON'S ATTORNEY: On the two arguments that the state has made supporting a kidnapping, I'm arguing to the court saying, Judge, when you superimpose the kidnapping statute and the law surrounding the kidnapping statute in this state, under any interpretation of the facts in this case there is not a scintilla, not a shred of evidence which supports a kidnapping count.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUTIERREZ: Now, all three defense attorneys also argue that the prosecution's witnesses are completely not credible because each one of them cut a plea deal with the state and they agreed to testify against O.J. for a lesser theft charge. He also said that all of those -- there are counts of the incident that are completely inconsistent with each other. And he actually went as far as to call the prosecution's witnesses rats -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, and that's been interesting to watch, Thelma, no doubt. I mean, you talk about the credibility of these witnesses, one is being called a pimp, another one has got a pretty long rap sheet. I mean, this goes to show O.J. Simpson has surrounded himself by known thugs.
GUTIERREZ: Well, and that's exactly right. In fact, the last person to take the stand, Alfred Beardsley, had said that, you know, so many people were standing around watching for him to mess up and that in fact he actually did. And Alfred Beardsley himself, one of the memorabilia dealers, Kyra, is a person, you know, who has a lengthy past.
I mean, he actually admitted on the stand to having a nervous breakdown in the past, and then also to being in custody currently in Clark County as a result of a probation violation. So you're right, lots of questions about some of these witnesses.
PHILLIPS: We'll be talking about it more. Thelma Gutierrez, thank you.
LEMON: Developing news coming out of another gambling town here in the U.S. Poker rooms, mob ties, breaking news out of New Jersey. We're waiting to hear any minute now from the state attorney general there about a huge sports gambling ring bust.
CNN's Deb Feyerick has the very latest for us.
Deb, all of this stems from Atlantic City casinos, correct?
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Correct. Specifically, the Borgata casino where the gambling operation was allegedly being run out of one of the high-stakes poker rooms. This is called Operation High Roller. Other casinos may have been involved, but according to police sources, they say that some five known mob associates were heading up this operation, bringing in people to gamble on college and professional basketball and football. Also, in custody about 13 others who were taking the bets and running the day-to-day operations. The attorney general is expected to announce all of this.
It was going on for a period of some 20 months. And during that time, detectives from the New Jersey State Police found they brought in $22 million in this alleged Mafia scheme to get these people to bet on college and professional sports games.
So again, all of this going on right now. A total of 18 people in custody. Five more on the run. They are being sought for it now -- Don.
LEMON: All right. Thank you very much for that.
Deb Feyerick in New York.
PHILLIPS: At least two strong aftershocks followed today's major earthquake in Chile. That quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 7.7, damaged buildings, roads, toppled power lines and sent 20 people to the hospital. No reports of serious injuries or deaths at this point, but the quake hit deep underground and was felt as far away as neighboring Peru and Bolivia.
Bonnie Schneider has been following a lot of details on the quake -- Bonnie.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Absolutely, Kyra.
I want to first take you to Google Earth, and then I'm going to show you this map here. Google Earth will show you not only where we've had two aftershocks, but we've actually had some reports of actually more aftershocks. The strongest one being 5.7, but as you can see, we've had 5.0 and 5.7. And then to the south on Google Earth, we also had a report of another aftershock, a minor one, indeed.
Now, coming back to us now, I want to show you this Shick (ph) map. And it comes from the USGS. And you mentioned the aftershocks were felt as far north as Bolivia and to the west, into Peru.
Now, it's important to note that because the quake penetrated so far deep beneath the earth, that we could have actually seen this spread well, well further out. And because it went so deep, it actually helped to absorb some of the energy from the quake.
Now, looking out where we tend to see earthquakes -- areas in Chile are quite common to see them. In fact, this area right here is known as the Ring of Fire. It's a continuous area of ocean trenches and volcanoes where 90 percent of the world's earthquakes occur, all the way from Australia, through Asia, down through the U.S., and finally down through South America. So it's not uncommon to see quakes in this region. In fact, 17 percent of the world's strongest quakes are in the Ring of Fire -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Bonnie. We'll keep tracking it. Thanks.
LEMON: Another blow for the pro-democracy movement in Pakistan. Police arrested a major opposition leader after she surfaced at a student rally in Lahore. Former cricket star Imran Khan had been lying low since President Musharraf declared a state of emergency November 3rd.
And CNN's Karl Penhaul reports on that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED CROWD: We want (ph) Musharraf! We want (ph) Musharraf!
KARL PENHAUL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): That's not the only demand these students have. They seem to share a common voice when it comes to attacking Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf and his emergency crackdown.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a plea for emergency. We don't want emergency. It's a sign of opposition.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I believe there is terrorist activities going on, that the emergency is not going to help that.
PENHAUL: But the students here at Lahore's Punjab University are split by infighting. Some, like these female students, have turned out to welcome cricketer-turned-opposition-politician Imran Khan. Others linked to conservative religious parties say they don't want Khan on their campus.
President Musharraf's security forces put Khan under house arrest last week but he escaped. Now conservative students have barricaded him in a faculty building.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) because they know if he comes out all this rush (ph) will be with him.
PENHAUL: Then students realized government security forces have infiltrated their ranks. They arrested Khan and plan to take him away in this van. Rival students use the roof of the vehicle as a podium to argue their differences. Then Khan is dragged out. A quick salute to the crowd, then he's bundled away.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're just fighting among themselves.
PENHAUL: Infighting and fear of police reprisals mean they don't dare take their protest off campus.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If somebody comes on the street they're arrested. PENHAUL: It's that bickering between the opposition that seems to have enabled President Musharraf to avoid any mass protest movement since he launched his crackdown. But some believe young Pakistanis have a key role to play.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We should at least come out and try. We are -- I think we are the largest (INAUDIBLE) Pakistan students and young people. They can bring about a change.
PENHAUL: But she, like others, seem unsure how to push the key demand for an end to the Musharraf regime.
(on camera): After Imran Khan's arrest, riot police man the gates of Punjab University in case of a backlash. But for now, at least, students say they have no stomach to come out on the streets and fight.
Karl Penhaul, CNN, Lahore, Pakistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Cardinals aren't considered rare birds, but a Catholic cardinal in heavily Muslim Iraq? This guy is definitely one of a kind.
LEMON: John McCain didn't say it but he's in trouble anyway thanks to a Clinton basher on the campaign trail.
PHILLIPS: And the snit hits the fan club. Hannah Montana fan club members sue over concert tickets.
You're watching CNN, the most trusted named in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Twelve past the hour. Three of the stories we're working on for you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Fear and confusion in the streets of northern Chile. That region shaken by a powerful earthquake and strong aftershocks.
We've got up-to-the-minute details right here in the NEWSROOM.
Plus, O.J. Simpson listens and waits. Still unsure if he'll have to head to trial for a confrontation in a Las Vegas hotel room. The decision is expected today after a hearing wraps up.
We'll bring that one to you as well.
And honk if you are outraged. Angry New Yorkers speak out. Their governor listens. His plan to let illegal immigrants get drivers' licenses hit the road to nowhere. Officially hit a roadblock.
PHILLIPS: Well, cardinals are a rare breed in the Middle East, but heavily Muslim Iraq now has one. It's the first in modern times. Pope Benedict XVI has elevated one of Iraq's most prominent Christian leaders to the second highest rank in the Catholic hierarchy.
CNN's Frederik Pleitgen sat down with Cardinal Emmanuel Delly. He joins me now from the Iraqi capital.
And Fred, I was watching the interview. You just -- you can't help but love the guy. How does feel about being the highest church representative in a place where Christians are being killed every day?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. You know, Kyra, he really is a very fascinating man, Cardinal Delly. And really, you're absolutely right, he's in such a difficult place where Christians have been killed, where hundreds of thousands have had to flee the country, and where priests have been killed on the streets.
But what he says is that he really doesn't see those things in those terms. He says to him it's all about the Iraqi people.
Here's what he had to say when I asked him exactly that question.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARDINAL EMMANUEL DELLY, BAGHDAD (through translator): Now, in regards to the abduction of priests and the attacks on churches, and many other things related to your question, I would like to say these acts were not just targeting Christians alone, but all Iraqis in general. There are many people who go to mosques, and they were killed and kidnapped. And therefore, I say, whatever is happening to the Iraqi, to the Christian, is happening to his brother, the Muslim, as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: And really, that was the whole tone during this interview. It was one of reconciliation. It was one of trying to breed something like friendship between Muslims and Christians here in this country. But at the same time, I was always very well aware that he seemed to be aware of the hard task that lays in front of him -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Before I get to the next part of that interview, he was born not far from Mosul. Do you know what led him to Catholicism? Did he ever imagine that growing up in Iraq, this is what he would end up doing?
PLEITGEN: Well, certainly it was something that he was thinking about right from the start. He didn't live very far from the church and went to the church very often. And really that sort of went through his whole studies, everything.
He says that really Mosul to him has always been a very sacred place. This is a place where Christianity is about 2,000 years old. So really, this is part of the bedrock of Christianity, and that's something that he says is very important to him. And right now he also says that not only Mosul, but all of Iraq, that the Christians in this country are the bedrock of this society -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: And when he went to Rome, I know that he was devastated by what he saw, the aftereffects of World War II. Do you think that brought him closer to the Iraqi people and sort of closer to the environment there where he sees so much devastation every day?
PLEITGEN: Well, certainly. And certainly made him a whole lot more sensitive to that environment.
He says that when he went to Rome, he was devastated at the aftermath of World War II. This was 1946. This was when all of Europe lay in shambles, and especially the big cities.
There was a lot of fighting over a lot of these cities, not just in Germany, but obviously in Italy, as well. And now he says it's very important to him. So really the tone that he struck in this interview was one of trying to rebuild Iraq together.
PHILLIPS: And I think it's fascinating he got his Ph.D. dealing with the dialogue between Catholicism and Islam. He seems like such a fascinating guy.
Now, does he really think that he can unite all these various religions, Fred, when religion is what is actually splitting everybody up?
PLEITGEN: That's a very interesting question. You know, on many occasions I tried to catch him with that.
I tried to lay that conflict there. But he said in the end all of these groups are going to have to work together. And really, he's been working with Sunni and Shia leaders. He's also been working with the Iraqi government. Here's what he had to say about that specific point.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DELLY (through translator): All of us need to work together in order to advance this one Iraqi family. We're all brothers in one family, in one house.
Yes, we have different identities, and each one of us knows that his identity is so dear to him. The Muslim's identity is dear to him, the Christian's identity is dear to him as well. But again, we all work together, hand in hand, with one heart, in order to build a prosperous Iraq through piety, brotherhood, love, equality, and the rights to every single Iraqi citizen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: So, Kyra, really to sum this interview up, he is a man who sees how dire the situation for Christians is in this country, and that this is really a religion in peril. But he's also someone who believes in the future of Iraq and also believes very much in the future of Christianity in this country -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: And he heads to Rome next week, right, for his ordination?
PLEITGEN: Absolutely. Next week he heads to Rome, and that's when everything is going to be finalized. And then he will take on this job. And he says he's very much ready for it.
PHILLIPS: Well, he just seems like such a fascinating character.
Fred, really appreciate you sharing your interview with us.
LEMON: A lot of people say he should have gone to prison for double murder, but could O.J. Simpson end up there after all on armed robbery charges? First, a Las Vegas judge has to order a trial.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: And here's Johnny -- Carson, that is. Swimming pool, late-night television.
The late -- the late king of late night television tops the list of the 50 greatest TV icons. Well deserved.
The roll call includes a lot of other superstars, as well. In the top five after Carson, Lucille Ball, Oprah Winfrey, Bill cosby and Walter Cronkite.
The list was voted on by viewers of the TV Land Network.
I loved Johnny Carson. I wish we had that music, Stephanie Elam.
You know what? My sister says she got married because I used to hog the remote every night just to watch Johnny Carson and she couldn't watch what she wanted to watch on television.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: So she got married?
LEMON: She got married to get out of the house. It is a true story. That's what she says.
And now my sister watches, like, Johnny Carson on TV Land or whatever -- now she is hooked.
ELAM: Now she's hooked. So...
LEMON: I was well before my time. Yes.
ELAM: So maybe she was able to get through school and all that because you hogged the remote.
LEMON: I loved, loved, loved Johnny Carson, and still do. I should get one of those Time Life things, you know, of his shows, or whatever.
ELAM: Yes. It seems to me you should be able to work that out.
LEMON: Absolutely.
ELAM: Yes.
LEMON: So listen, let's talk about this mortgage mess. I saw a tease -- I think it was one of the big three broadcasts last week that said if you're not keeping up with your mortgage -- if you are and your neighbor isn't, you could still be affected. And it got my attention.
ELAM: Yes. It's really one of those sad little things where, you know, you've got a lot of people out there working really hard. They have their homes, they're making their payments on time. But a new study shows the impact that foreclosure have on surrounding home values is not a pretty picture.
Foreclosures are expected to be heavy through 2009. And the Center for Responsible Lending says nationwide property values will fall by more than $200 billion.
That's based on an estimate that more 44 million homeowners will see their property values decline. It breaks down to about $5,000 per surrounding home. It also means state and local tax receipts will be lower, as well -- Don.
LEMON: Yes. Yes. Absolutely. So, have foreclosures started to level off, or are they still climbing, Stephanie?
ELAM: No, they are still climbing. It's not changing right now.
In fact, 77 of the top 100 metropolitan areas had more foreclosures in July, August and September than they did in the previous three months. The hardest hit areas continue to be in the Sun Belt and the Rust Belt, but for very different reasons.
California and Florida's foreclosures generally come from people who bought more than they could trying to get some sun there. You know. But they're also people who were speculating on prices and they just kept on rising there.
But in the Rust Belt, places like Detroit and Cleveland, it's an economic slowdown that is leading to more of these delinquencies there.
The city with the highest foreclosure rate, Stockton, California, where one in every 31 homes is in foreclosure.
And Don, listen up to this. There are some pockets of -- I have to give you something positive. Virginia, the Carolinas and Texas are still in pretty good shape as things stand right now. So it's a little bit of positive news now.
When you take a look at the markets, you've got a little bit of positive news there as well. Stocks have been struggling to find a real direction, but unable to build on yesterday's second biggest gain of the year for the blue chips.
Higher oil prices, they're keeping gains in check. Oil prices are climbing after OPEC said, yes, we're not going to boost production.
So inflation numbers, that's another issue that we have been looking at here today. They came in tamer than expected, with wholesale prices in October edging just slightly higher.
So let's take a look at the numbers so you can see what we're talking about here.
The Dow industrials on the upside by 22 points, 13,329. The Nasdaq just slightly below the flat line at this time.
Air travelers are not the only ones who are upset these days. Rental car customers have some complaints of their own. I'll tell you which rental car companies are steering away business in the next hour of NEWSROOM.
I can kind of relate to this story right now -- Kyra and Don.
LEMON: Yes. Is that when you have to pay all that money when you don't fill up and all that? Is that...
ELAM: All that. And just being satisfied, being able to get a car when you need to get a car, which is my current problem. But you know, hey, not that this is hitting home for me or anything.
LEMON: Is that it?
ELAM: Yes.
LEMON: That little rant there. Just double checking.
ELAM: Hey, Kyra had one yesterday. I'm allowed one today.
LEMON: All right. Thanks, Stephanie. Thank you very much.
PHILLIPS: Blame it on me.
LEMON: Yes, blame it on you.
PHILLIPS: It's not fair.
Land developers are often seen as enemies of the environment, but not this guy. Jim Jacoby took a monumental eyesore, a former Atlanta steel mill, and turned it into a retail and residential hub, what the EPA calls a model for the nation.
CNN's Miles O'Brien tells us his story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Five years ago, Megan Schank and her family did a reverse "Green Acres," leaving the country for the big city.
MEGAN SCHANK, RESIDENT: It was a drastic change, but we've really enjoyed it. We don't have to deal with traffic. O'BRIEN: Megan lives in the heart of Atlanta in a place called Atlantic Station. Only 10 years ago it looked like this. The old abandoned Atlantic steel mill was a big eyesore and an environmental nightmare. Developers call sites like these brown fields.
JIM JACOBY, CHAIRMAN, THE JACOBY GROUP: This is the largest brown field redevelopment in the U.S.
O'BRIEN: Developer Jim Jacoby led this urban transformation, creating a 138-acre city within the city that not only cleaned up a big mess, but is designed with current and future environmental concerns in mind. He built residences in place where the soil was not contaminated.
Elsewhere, they hauled the tainted dirt away and brought in clean topsoil. They recycled what they could, including all the old concrete. And then they built a place where people live, work, shop and play.
JACOBY: So it really is a gathering place, and I think people like the -- you know, the ability to have a place that we can go and gather and meet new friends.
O'BRIEN: That's what Jennifer Parrott likes about living here.
JENNIFER PARROTT, RESIDENT: Well, obviously it's close to everything. We can walk to the grocery store. We can walk to restaurants, movie theater. My fiance can walk to work.
O'BRIEN: Atlantic Station is proving there is a way to walk away from our car culture, and people who live here say they don't miss the alternative.
Miles O'Brien, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: It's not what John McCain said but what he didn't say. A woman asks a question about Hillary Clinton. And her choice of words, well, it certainly got some people talking.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Word now crossing the wires, according to the Associated Press, it's reported that United Airlines and Delta Air Lines are in talks right now to combine companies. As you know this is the nation's second and third largest carriers. And apparently, according to the AP, it is reporting it would keep the United name and the corporate headquarters in the Chicago area. Of course, what does that mean for Delta Air Lines based here in Atlanta, Georgia? A lot of questions surrounding this now as we get word of these talks that are going on for the two companies to combine.
Ali Velshi, our business guru, working the story, too. He's going to join us a little later to talk about the impact. LEMON: All right, 7.7, at least that's the initial estimate of the magnitude of an earthquake in northern Chile. Imagine that. We're going to go now to our International Desk, we're calling it our earthquake desk. Isha Sesay from CNN International joining us with updates on that.
What do you have for us, Isha?
ISHA SESAY, CNN INTL. CORRESPONDENT: Well, Don, here at the International Desk, we are working the story to get the full situation on the ground to bring it to our viewers.
As you say, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck northern Chile at around 12:40 p.m. local time. That's about 10:40 Eastern Time here in the U.S. It was centered about 800 miles north of Santiago. That's what we know. We also know that according to the U.S. Geological Survey it occurred about 37.3 miles underground, which is relatively deep.
The reason I highlight the fact is because of that depth it diminished the destructive capability of this earthquake. What we're seeing on the ground, the reports we have coming into us is at least -- according to local authorities -- at least 20 to 40 people in the small town Maria Elena (ph) were injured. At least this point in time we were hearing there were minor injuries. We're not hearing any reports of death.
We have seen pictures that have come into us here at the International Desk, which shows some houses being damaged in the port city, Tocopia (ph). We are also hearing that the power is out, in parts of northern Chile. Apparently when this earthquake struck the power lines toppled. People ran into the streets in obvious panic. We don't know whether the power had been restored. We're working to get word on that. But at this point in time, the key thing to stress is that no deaths reported, at least between 20 to 40 minor injuries.
Now the region that was closest to the epicenter is actually home to some of the country's largest copper mines, Don. And what we're hearing is, a statement from a mine operator, Codelco is reported no relevant damage. They said its mines in the region were without power and only emergency teams were operating. Again, they are also saying only minor landslides have been reported, at this point in time.
We're working to try and get a hold of some of these people that were closest to the epicenter. As we're saying, it took place about 800 miles north of Santiago. I have spoken to a couple of people who were in Santiago. Some people saying they felt a shudder. Others saying, actually, they didn't feel a thing. We have all the bases covered on this story, here, at the International Desk. We'll come back to you with all the developments, Don.
LEMON: Absolutely. Isha Sesay, on top of it from the International Desk.
Thank you, Isha. PHILLIPS: Today is the day a Las Vegas judge decides whether O.J. Simpson has another trial in his future. We just learned that court will reconvene at 7:00 so the judge can end the suspense. A preliminary hearing is wrapping up regarding the September confrontation in Las Vegas over sports mementos.
Let's get reaction now from where things stand from civil rights lawyer Avery Friedman in Cleveland.
I'm thinking of that word "suspense". Let's talk about Alfred Beardsley. You and I were talking about this testimony and we all thought he was going to be a complete whack job.
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER: Right.
PHILLIPS: And he steps up to the stand. Let's take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALFRED BEARDSLEY: You were just robbed by a bunch of thugs and my adrenaline was pumping.
That's why, Mr. Galanter --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Uh-huh?
BEARDSLEY: And your client was foolish enough to allow it to happen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is the TMZ tape where you say to Mr. Fromong, listen, we're going to make a lot of money off of this. Is that an inaccurate statement?
BEARDSLEY: Absolutely, probably not inaccurate. Because he's a high-profile person. People have been waiting for him to screw up and he screwed up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: A lot of interesting things we can go into from that sound bite. Why did he surprise you?
FRIEDMAN: Actually, you know, all these witnesses so far, Kyra, have been kind of like barnacles that they gathered up and scraped off a boat and put them in witness chairs. To me Alfred Beardsley, who is characterized by Tom Riccio, the other dealer, as an O.J. fanatic, we thought he was just going to blow himself up. The fact is he was the best witness for the district attorney.
Indeed, during the closing arguments by both sides, a lot of discussion went to what Beardsley had to say. And I think Judge Bonaventure, Joe Bonaventure, Jr., is actually making the right decision here. He's going to consider all the testimony, the briefs, the law, the exhibits, and come back in about three and a half hours to give us a decision. PHILLIPS: Well, you thought the low-life nature couldn't get much worse. Then we heard from the pimp. Let's go ahead and take a look at --
FRIEDMAN: Nice talk, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: I'm sorry. Can't believe I said the "P" word. Let's listen to Walter Alexander.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is your involvement, sir, in YourPrivateGeisha?
WALTER ALEXANDER, SIMPSON'S ALLEGED ACCOMPLICE: I don't have an involvement in YourPrivateGeisha.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How is it you're aware of the website, sir?
ALEXANDER: Because I know of the website.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you still sticking with your testimony you haven't been a pimp in 10 years.
ALEXANDER: I'm sticking to my testimony that I'm not a pimp.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm really a pimp. I sell flesh for a living.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Tout out there that you're a pimp, right? Especially when you're friends with O.J. Simpson. It doesn't get much better than that.
FRIEDMAN: Well, you know, you've got pimps, I think some of the defense lawyers call these guys "rats". I mean this has been a very colorful, powerful experience. But you know what? The issue before the court, the legal issue, is whether or not there's a scintilla of evidence concerning all the charges of armed robbery, of kidnap, of assault with a deadly weapon, and conspiracy. And that's what Judge Bonaventure has to resolve.
Remember this isn't the trial. This is whether or not the probable cause standard has been met. It strikes me that the judge is likely to let virtually all -- most, if not all, of this will probably go forward.
PHILLIPS: And you know I know you think this is definitely going to go to trial. What has been interesting now 10 years later. Look back at when O.J. was first in the courtroom and how this definitely became a black and white issue.
FRIEDMAN: Sure.
PHILLIPS: Now, 10 years later it's so interesting to read the polls because blacks and whites, they want to see justice here. I mean, they're tired of this guy.
FRIEDMAN: Well, you know, Kyra, you just nailed I think the subtext of what the defense is going to be. Not if -- when it goes to trial. Judge Bonaventure is going to send it to trial. That's the underlying theme of a guy that many Americans thought got away with -- literally -- got away with murder. Is this the way to bring him to justice?
The selection of jurors, when this case goes to trial, is going to be the key here. Will any American say I never heard of this guy, and I can judge fairly? It's going to be tough to do.
PHILLIPS: When you look at O.J. in the courtroom and he rolls it eyes and makes these smirks and he looks at people like, you can't touch me. Do you think this guy is crazy?
FRIEDMAN: You know what, I think O.J. lives in the O.J. world. The fact is that his very animated reaction to the testimony of some of these people, you know, Walt Alexander, who the prosecution is using, is O.J.'s golfing buddy, the so-called pimp. The guy that has done an amazing things in this thing and now they are all turning against him because they wanted money for O.J. to underwrite this. Look, I really wonder how is O.J. underwriting the cost of this defense. So, one thing for sure, take this to the bank, Kyra, this is going to be the most colorful trial of 2008.
PHILLIPS: No doubt. Avery Friedman, always great to talk to you.
LEMON: New York's governor puts it in reverse. We'll find out why he is decided now -- not, it's not such a good idea to give illegal immigrants driver's licenses.
And this, a countdown is on. Democratic presidential hopefuls are headed to Las Vegas for tomorrow night's CNN debate. We'll talk about it with our Bill Schneider who is already on the scene courtesy of the Election Express.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Fredricka Whitfield working details on a developing story for us.
Hey, Fred.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello to you, Kyra.
We're going to take you to San Jose, California, where an evacuation is under way on the eBay campus. Apparently a bomb threat was called in and so the police department bomb squad unit of San Jose is certainly responding. And they are searching the building following this threat. It's unclear exactly how many people would be in this building on the campus or whether there have been evacuations.
When you look at this view -- from this picture, we're just now getting in -- you don't see typically what you would see from an evacuation, which is a whole lot of people outside the building. Instead you are kind of seeing this sprawling campus and you see the first responders there at that building, where they are investigating the bomb threat.
Of course, when we get any more information about how seriously they are taking it beyond responding what they have actually uncovered we'll be able to bring that to you -- Kyra and Don.
PHILLIPS: All right, we'll track it. Thanks, Fred.
LEMON: A woman attending a John McCain event in South Carolina uses derogatory term in reference to Senator Hillary Clinton. McCain brushed off the comment and even offering some praise for his Senate colleague, but now he's taking heat from some quarters that he should have -- should have condemned the woman's choice of words. Here's our question, and you can check out McCain's response. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How do we beat the (EXPLETIVE DELETED)?
(LAUGHTER, JEERS)
SEN. JOHN McCAIN, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Can I give the translation? The way that --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thought she was talking about my ex-wife.
(LAUGHTER)
McCAIN: Right. But that's an excellent question. You might know that there was a poll yesterday a Rasmussen poll identified, that show me 3 points ahead of Senator Clinton in a head-to-head match-up.
(APPLAUSE, CHEERS)
McCAIN: I respect Senator Clinton. I respect anyone who gets the nomination of the Democratic Party.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: It's a little bit hard to hear that but the woman said, "How do we beat the -- you know what. Starts with a "B" and rhymes with witch. And then that was the response there. The clip is getting some play on the Internet on left-wing political sites, as well as on YouTube, which that was from.
McCain has come out of his way in recent months to talk about his good relationship with Senator Clinton. The two have traveled to Iraq together and they have also collaborated on some very high-profile legislation together.
Moving on now, the latest CNN debate, featuring the Democratic presidential hopefuls is a little more than 24 hours away. Our very own Bill Schneider is standing by for us amid the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas. Bill, before we preview the debate let's talk about Iowa. A new poll, as a matter of fact, puts the Democrats in what amounts to a three-way tie. What is going on there?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: That's right. That's a poll by "The New York Times" and CBS News, came out today, showing as you say, a three-way tie among the top three Democrats in Iowa, which is the first state to vote. It shows Hillary Clinton slightly ahead, with John Edwards second, and Barack Obama third, but all of them statistically indistinguishable, within a couple of points each other.
It is really a different ballgame in Iowa, where any one of the top Democrats could win and other Democrats could make a strong showing, too. It's a different political universe there, because that's where the campaign has been most intensive. It's a caucus state, dominated by activists, where organization matters more than in a primary.
LEMON: Wow, OK. That's very interesting. I found this one just as interesting. Bill, that same poll puts Mitt Romney on top and Mike Huckabee in second place. Giuliani is third. What does that mean for Giuliani's campaign?
SCHNEIDER: Different political universe, just like Hillary is the front-runner. Hillary Clinton is the front-runner nationally but in Iowa, no. Giuliani is the front-runner nationally in Republican polls but in Iowa, no. He's not doing that well. Mitt Romney has put a lot of money and time into Iowa and he's doing well there.
But Mike Huckabee is coming up real fast as a favorite of conservatives. He has a likable personality. A lot of Republicans are catching on to him. And he hasn't got a lot of money, but he's doing very well there. And Giuliani, who has the national name recognition, of course, running third. Same story; it's dominated by money, organization, activists, more than any other state. And so name recognition won't get you very far in Iowa.
LEMON: OK. Let's get back, Bill, then to the debate tomorrow night. In Las Vegas. Senator Clinton, she stumbled a bit in the last debate. What does she have to do tomorrow in order to get back on track with this?
SCHNEIDER: Well, she has taken a lot of heat for being evasive, waffling on the issues particularly driver's license for illegal immigrants. Now Governor Spitzer has dropped that plan, so it kind of gets her off the hook a little bit. But I think she has to use the debate to essentially fend off the criticisms and make it clear to the fellow Democrats that she does say what she believes. That she has strong convictions and she is willing to put them forth.
You know, she has to make it clear that she is being forthright with people. No evasiveness, no waffling. No trying to have it both ways. No calculation. She has to be as honest, straight forward, forthright as possible to dispel that cloud of criticism that's come over her. LEMON: Absolutely. Have to admit Vegas is quite an interesting venue for a debate. The Election Express is there, Bill, correct? Did you take it down for a ride on the strip?
SCHNEIDER: Yes, the Election Express -- oh, yeah, we did indeed. We drove it from Denver to Las Vegas, went straight through the West. Like the pioneers seeking the promised land. We made our way through the Rocky Mountains and ended up, of course, in our promised land, which is Las Vegas. I guess the pioneers a 100 years ago didn't have Wayne Newton tickets -- but we ended up here.
(LAUGHTER)
SCHNEIDER: And we have a debate.
LEMON: And they didn't have the comfort of Election Express, as well.
PHILLIPS: They were playing poker on the bus.
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: Yeah, took some odds on the bus, I'm sure. Friendly odds. Thank you, Bill Schneider.
SCHNEIDER: Yes, we did.
LEMON: See you tomorrow tonight in "The Sit Room".
SCHNEDIER: Sure.
LEMON: As a matter of fact, a little bit later on today. Thanks, Bill.
SCHNEIDER: OK.
LEMON: Remember, the next CNN presidential debate is tomorrow night. Wolf Blitzer will host the Democratic debate in Las Vegas. It gets started at 8:00 Eastern, right here on CNN -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Another edition of "Food for the Faithful". We're going to tell you about a pancake bearing the images of Jesus and Mary. How much would you pay for it?
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: I'm Brooke Anderson in Los Angeles. Hannah Montana's fan club is fighting back against her. Why a flap over concert tickets is getting ugly, when CNN NEWSROOM returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well "People" magazine has a new sexy title holder and some Hannah Montana fans may soon band together, but not for reasons you think. Entertainment Correspondent Brooke Anderson joins me now with all the Tinsel Town details.
Hey, Brooke.
ANDERSON: Hey there, Kyra.
Well, Miley Cyrus' fan club is being hit by a lawsuit by her fans. Cyrus, of course, is the star of the Disney channel's popular "Hannah Montana" TV show. Well, now a class-action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of a fan club member who claims she paid for a membership on the promise that joining would make it easier to get tickets to Cyrus' Hanna Montana concert.
According to the suit, it did not, and fan club members were shut out when they tried to buy tickets. The fan club cost $29.95 to join. Tickets for the show start about $25, although scalpers are getting much, much more. The concert, by the way, sold out in four minutes in some markets. The suit seeks triple damages for all members of the lawsuit and attorney's fees.
Cyrus' publicist tells CNN more than 70,000 members of the fan club did get tickets through the club's pre-sell access. But that the club Web site doesn't guarantee every member a ticket. And, Kyra, that the claim, the publicist says, that the vast majority of members were unable to get tickets is simply false. So, people are battling it out over this very popular Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus concert. It's getting ugly.
PHILLIPS: It's amazing. She is more popular than her dad. He was kind of the one-hit wonder.
ANDERSON: Billy Ray.
PHILLIPS: Yeah, bless him.
ANDERSON: Billy Ray.
PHILLIPS: OK. Well we all know that the writers strike continues each day and there's more fall-out, right? Is today no different?
ANDERSON: Today is no different, Kyra.
And now Ellen Degeneres is feeling the pinch. She was criticized for resuming her syndicated day-time talk show during the writers strike. She even had plans to tape some episodes in New York City next week but now that's been cancelled. She will tape here instead. The writers in New York accused the comedian of violating strike rules and said she was unwelcome, there, in the city.
But Ellen is, according to AFTRA (ph), bound by her contract to continue to work due to a no-strike clause in her agreement. Originally, Degeneres did skip work on the first day of the strike in solidarity with the writers but she did return to work the following day on Tuesday.
PHILLIPS: All right. Well "People" have come out with it's "Sexiest Man Alive" issue, I hear. I also hear he's a pretty close friend of some former "Sexiest Man Alive" cover boys. LEMON: Stop it.
PHILLIPS: Listen to Don.
LEMON: Come on, guys. Don't embarrass me like that.
ANDERSON: I'm surprised Don Lemon is not on the list.
LEMON: What do you know? I'm at the time above --
ANDERSON: Different list, we'll get to those later. But here we go with this one. The "Sexiest Man Alive" according to "People" magazine is actor Matt Damon. The "Bourne Ultimatum" star was named the "Sexiest Man" alive for 2007 by "People" magazine today. He's the 22nd man to hold that title.
He's in good company. Last year his "Ocean's 13" buddy George Clooney got the title. Now, both Clooney and Brad Pitt had been shamelessly rooting for him and promoting him since 2001 for this honor.
In response to his new title Damon told "People" you gave an aging suburban dad the ego boost of a lifetime. He even went on to say at the risk of being forward, if you ask me, which you didn't, I would suggest Patriot's quarterback Tom Brady (ph) for this award. He's like a taller, better looking version of me. That's why we love Matt Damon, so humble.
PHILLIPS: He is humble.
ANDERSON: Yes, he his, very modest.
OK, moving now to "Showbiz Tonight", Kyra. Tonight we have extreme makeover madness. Are TV shows featuring plastic surgery dangerous? Has the obsession with looking good gotten ridiculously out of control. We have the tough questions. TV's most provocative entertainment news show, "Showbiz Tonight," 11 Eastern and Pacific. We hope to see you then.
PHILLIPS: Thanks, Brooke.
LEMON: Here's a familiar picture for you O.J. Simpson sitting with defense lawyers in a courtroom. This is just a preliminary hearing. Will a Las Vegas judge order him to stand trial?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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