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President Obama Could Announce His Pick for Supreme Court Justice Next Week; Memorial Day Weekend: Remembering the Fallen at Arlington National Cemetery; How the Military is Combating the Stigma of PTSD
Aired May 23, 2009 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Of course, it's the holiday weekend, long weekend, folks are enjoying get togethers, pool time, but let's talk about the reminders of what this holiday is all about. You're looking at pictures right now of Arlington Cemetery outside Washington, D.C., we think all of those -- we want to thank all of those who have provided their service to the United States, protecting countries.
And at the same time this weekend marks the unofficial start to the summer travel season. You're looking at a deluge, there on the right hand side of the screen. Lots of rain in so many parts of the country, particularly in Florida where it has been raining for nearly a week now.
Well, those stores, by the way are also keeping the shuttle Atlantis in space yet another day. NASA decided not to attempt a landing at Kennedy space center for the second day in a row, but it will try again tomorrow. Another option for the astronauts a landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California, far more expensive, they try to avoid that as best they can.
Well, they learned today from a former astronaut, Charles Boldin that he has been nominated to become administrator of NASA. Boldin flew four shuttle missions, one aboard Atlantis.
So, a lot going on in this Memorial Day weekend and we want to cover all of it at the very top, there. Let's focus in right now on the weather. Reynolds Wolf is joining us right now.
Nasty, rainy weather, but you know what? It seems like every Memorial Day weekend at least, all I can remember growing up, it seems like it would rain.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, you know, it's that time of the year and that's the problem. We're talk about it being the unofficial beginning of summer where you have the transition from the spring to the summer and usually during those transitional phases the weather can get wacky.
And that certainly has been the case in many spots including Florida where in, let's see, Ormond Beach, it was, they had over two feet of rainfall just this past week and in places like Kennedy Space Center, the rain continues to fall and scrubbed for the landing, of course, for today, and I would imagine, probably the same thing for tomorrow.
However, Fredricka, how the at Edwards Air Force Base in the high desert of California. I know it's more expensive. I know, of course, it's going to cost a heck of a lot more money to get the shuttle back, but it looks like that is going to be the best place for the shuttle to land. Weather conditions should be pristine for a landing tomorrow.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WHITFIELD: All right, look forward to that. Thanks so much.
All right, well, whatever the weather, expect that the roads will indeed be crowded. AAA estimates that 27 million people will be traveling the highways this holiday weekend and most will be paying $2.39 a gallon for regular unleaded gasoline that is the national average. Earlier this month we were paying 30 cents less.
All right, President Obama is getting out of the White House for the holiday weekend. He left just last hour for Camp David, but before leaving, the president paid tribute to members of the military in his weekly address.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our fighting men and women and the military families who love them embody what's best in America, and we have a responsibility to serve all of them as well as they have served us. And yet all too often in recent years and decades we as a nation have failed to live up to that responsibility.
We failed to give them the support they need or pay them the respect they deserve. That's a betrayal of the sacred trust that America has with all who wear and all who have worn the proud uniform of our country, and that is a sacred trust I am committed to keeping as president of the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: President Obama also spoke about that sacred trust Friday at the U.S. Naval Academy's commencement. As Dan Lothian reports, the commander in chief made a solemn promise to the graduates.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A flyover by the Blue Angels followed by a vow from the commander in chief.
OBAMA: I will only send you into harm's way when it is absolutely necessary, and with the strategy and the well-defined goals, the equipment and the support that you need to get the job done.
LOTHIAN: To the 1,036 graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy, President Obama said America needs you from training foreign militaries to defeating insurgents and extremists. And like the Navy SEALs, even freeing kidnapped captains from the hands of pirates.
OBAMA: They remembered their skills. They did their duty. They performed their job. They stood their watch. They took their time and then they took their shot.
LOTHIAN: The president's address came on the same day that he signed into law a bill aimed at cutting wasteful spending in the military, money he says that could benefit the troops.
OBAMA: At a time when we're fighting two wars and facing a serious deficit, this is inexcusable and unconscionable.
LOTHIAN: At the commissioning ceremony, the president also hit on another familiar theme, polishing America's image abroad.
OBAMA: When America strays from our values, it not only undermines the rule of law, it alienates us from our allies.
LOTHIAN: The commander in chief shook hands with each newly commissioned officer...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: John S. McCain IV.
LOTHIAN: ... including Senator John McCain's son Jack. A proud moment for Mr. Obama's presidential rival and his wife Cindy. The fourth McCain to graduate from the academy plans to become a naval aviator.
(on camera): It's unclear how many of the graduates will soon be headed overseas, but President Obama said that he needs these young men and women to help wind down the war in Iraq and ramp up the fight against terrorism in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Dan Lothian there, reporting.
Well, get ready for the president to make his U.S. Supreme Court pick perhaps as early as Tuesday. That's the word Democrats got just before this holiday weekend. CNN's Elaine Quijano joins us live from Washington with more on that -- Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well Fredricka, a top aide to the head of the Senate Judiciary Committee sent out an e- mail telling Democrats, basically get ready. President Obama's Supreme Court pick to replace retiring Justice David Souter could come as early as next week. Now, that seems to square with what the president himself is saying.
In an interview with C-Span television, President Obama described his own timeframe for confirmation hearings for his nominee, whoever that ends up being. Take a listen. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: It is safe to say that we'll have an announcement soon and my hope is that we can have hearings in July so that we end up before Congress breaks for the summer, have somebody in place. One of the things I would prefer not to see happen is that these confirmation hearings drag on and somebody has to hit the ground running and take their seat in October without having the time to wrap their mind around the fact that they're going to be a Supreme Court justice. I'd like to give them lead time so they can get prepared.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: Now, in that interview, the president also said that he doesn't feel weighed down to make a decision based on demographics because, you know, that's very interesting. A lot of the buzz, as you know, for some of the top candidates has been about female candidates. In any case, we know that this weekend could really be decision time for President Obama.
As you heard him talk about his own timeline there, we also now will have the opportunity to mull things over in private. He's at Camp David this weekend. So, not only can he do his thinking in private, if he wanted to, Fredricka, perhaps sit down with one of the top candidates, he could do so as well at Camp David and that would be away from the cameras and away from reporters.
WHITFIELD: Or something tells me there probably might be a meeting or two. You mentioned a female being part of the demographic, also Hispanic. There's been pressure or at least a lot of swirl of discussion about whether indeed he would be conscientious of that, as well.
QUIJANO: That's exactly right. And the question that was posed to him by the interviewer, Steve Scully, was basically paraphrasing here, what would you say to your wife and to your daughters if your selection turned out not to be a woman.
And what the president said is he doesn't feel weighed down to make this decision based on demographics. But you're absolutely right, gender is not the only factor, here. There is a lot of pressure on him to pick a Hispanic. So, very interesting to see what will develop here perhaps in the next few days.
WHITFIELD: Who knows? Could be as early as Tuesday. All right, Elaine Quijano from the White House, thanks so much.
Of course, picking a U.S. Supreme Court justice is only one of the challenges facing the Obama administration in the next 100 days, really in the next week, there also the economy to ponder in the next hundred days. An encore presentation of the AC-360 special edition of "Extreme Challenges" comes your way tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.
All right, the stigma of post traumatic stress disorder, a real concern for troops coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, a new campaign to help. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My father was Edward "Buddy" Carter. He was a Sergeant in Company E of the 60th infantry. He was killed in Normandy, France. The picture is one of the few that I have of my father and myself and it was made in the spring of 1944. He's one of those people I really wish they had known, not just as my father, but as a person. I think I would have enjoyed knowing Edward even if it wasn't as my father.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Well, it is called an "invisible wound of war" -- post traumatic stress disorder. A Rand Corporation study estimates nearly 300,000 U.S. troops who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from either PTSD or major depression, but only half have actually reached out for help from a doctor.
I talked to the highest ranking psychiatrist in the U.S. Army, Brigadier General Loree Sutton, and we discussed what the military is doing to combat the stigma associated with PTSD so our service members can get the help they need.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIG. GEN. LOREE K. SUTTON, DEFENSE CTR. OF EXCELLENCE: The current conflict has certainly reminded us of the struggles that come from invisible injuries. It's been because of that that it's been so important for us to launch this Real Warriors campaign in which we harness the power of real stories of real warriors.
Such as, if you go to our Web site, for example, www.RealWarriors.net, you can see the profile of a marine named Sergeant Josh Hopper who talks about how he had done what so many of our troops do and that is he came back from some tough deployments and he was struggling, but he kept everything together at work, but he took it out on those that he cared most about -- his loved ones at home.
And it wasn't until he was actually receiving an award for his performance in combat and as his sergeant major was reading the sightation, Sergeant Hopper started reliving those experiences. Fortunately, his commander saw that something was wrong and was able to get Sergeant Hopper into treatment and that's such a central message of this campaign. Sergeant Hopper today is stronger than ever. He knows that he is not alone and he's volunteered to join this campaign as so many others have to get the word out.
WHITFIELD: Is there a way to describe this stigma, using the words of many of these soldiers that say this is the barrier that kept me from asking for help immediately.
SUTTON: Here's what our warriors and their loved ones are telling us about stigma: They're telling us that, you know, they're worried. They're worried that if they stand up and get help that they might lose their careers. They're worried about being thoughtless of, perhaps their families will think less of them, perhaps their buddies at work will think they're weak.
And so, all of these fears are things that not only affect our military, but also affect our nation. So, it's really a public health campaign that's designed to ignite a different level of dialogue, of connection and yes, of action across our country.
WHITFIELD: Has DOD, Department of Defense, discovered that this stigma is much more pervasive dealing with their current day soldiers than it was perhaps it was during Vietnam or even post World War II.
SUTTON: You know, we don't have data that can really compare across the conflicts in that way. We do, though, know that stigma is as old as war itself, and so part of the message of this campaign is directed not just at our warriors from this conflict, but from veterans of all conflicts and their loved ones to let them know that we want to help you come all of the way home.
If you served in Vietnam, we want to thank you for that service. You've served in Korea or World War II we want you to draw from the strength and courage of being connected.
WHITFIELD: So, RealWarriors.net is one way that people can reach out to this campaign. How is the campaign reaching soldiers in other ways?
SUTTON: Well, let me give you a couple of examples. If you go on to RealWarriors.net you'll see. You'll see that you can click on the profiles of folks like Sergeant Hopper, as well as Major General Blackledge, Lieutenant Colonel Blackledge, you can also join up, and if you're an organization, for example, you can be one of our partners. You can be a friend of Real Warriors and join up on our list serve. You can also connect through a variety of social networking tools that include Twitter, FaceBook, Dish and Delicious.
We're not limited to any means of connecting. We want to be able to get feedback, we want to be able to build this campaign and to learn from those whom we serve. If you prefer to call our 800 number, we also have 24/7, we've got coaches that are standing by -- 866-966- 1020. That's 866-966-1020.
WHITFIELD: Brigadier General Loree Sutton, thanks so much and thank you for your service.
SUTTON: Well, thank you so much. It's a real privilege to serve in uniform and in fact as our president has said, it's a sacred trust, a privilege, an obligation and duty. So, thank you for your interest and for helping us spread the word.
WHITFIELD: We honor everyone.
SUTTON: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE) WHITFIELD: Well, today at 4:00 p.m. Eastern, I'll actually lead a discussion exploring some of the challenges America's troops are facing when they finally return home, namely when it comes to finding a job, a place to live and getting the most help possible to tackle difficult medical conditions, as we heard the brigadier general just describe as post traumatic stress disorder, the invisible wound.
You can post a comment on my blog page at CNN.com/newsroom, on FaceBook at Fredricka Whitefield CNN or by sending and e-mail to weekends@CNN.com. Lots of ways to reach us and be sure to watch today at 4:00 p.m. Eastern. We'd love to get your i-Reports as well on this.
All right, a mother and a son are on the run, fleeing court- mandated cancer treatment. If the boy dies, could his mother be charged? Our legal guys are ready to take this one on.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, the search for a 13-year-old cancer- stricken boy and his mom is getting international help. U.S. authorities have asked Interpol to join in. Daniel Hauser could die without the court-ordered chemotherapy, but his family prefers Native American healing methods. Our senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen has the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Daniel Hauser's parents rejected chemotherapy for their son who has Hodgkin's lymphoma in favor of this.
This is for fever, colic, a viral recovery, Echinacea.
COHEN: The Hauser's believe in spiritual healing, advocated by a group called the Nemenhah Band. Daniel, who's 13 has been designated a medicine man by the group. The Nemenhah Band's leader, Philip Landis, says he survived cancer by using natural treatment.
PHILIP LANDIS, NEMENHAH BAND LEADER: The basic premise (INAUDIBLE) that we adhere to is first do no harm.
COHEN: The group advocates eating what they call "sacred foods," such as mushrooms. CNN has learned that Landis was convicted of theft and deceptive practices in Montana. He charged people $3,600 a piece to learn how to grow organic mushrooms and received a suspended sentence, and he spent time in prison in Idaho where he was convicted in 2002 of grand theft.
Some question whether Landis is, as he claims, affiliated with a legitimate Native American group. An attorney for the Nezperce tribe says Landis has claimed to be a descendant of the great tribal leader, Chief Joseph. In an e-mail in 2006, tribal attorney Julie Kane wrote to Landis, "Your claims to be a descendant of Chief Joseph are simply false." She asked him to stop making the claim. Landis did not return e-mails and phone calls from CNN. Native American health authorities say there's no reason why Daniel can't have both spiritual healing and chemotherapy. In fact, they say it's done all of the time.
D'SHANE BARRETT, NATIVE AMERICAN HEALTH CTR.: I have never heard any tribal representative, medicine person, any, you know, authority on the subject ever say that chemotherapy is not a valid option for a person with cancer.
COHEN: He says the family has been misled.
BARRETT: I believe that in this case, this is spiritual abuse.
COHEN: Elizabeth Cohen, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right, let's turn to our legal guys. Avery Friedman, a civil rights attorney and law professor. Good to see you.
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTY: Hi Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Hello. And Richard Herman, a New York criminal attorney and law professor.
WHITFIELD: Good to see you, as well.
RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTY: Hey, Fred.
WHITFIELD: OK, this is a complicated case. So, let's talk about what we still understand to be the mother and son, Daniel Hauser, on the run and apparently police have really prodded the husband to say where could they be and there is some focus Mexico.
So, Avery, I wonder if indeed the two have fled to Mexico, isn't Mexico one of those countries that certainly would help the U.S. in handing over these two people if caught there?
FRIEDMAN: Absolutely, we have an international treaty, Fredricka, with Mexico. What started out to be a really fascinating constitutional issue of religion versus science or societal rights has now turned into a matter of life and death. And you're right, Daniel and his mother, Colleen, were spotted south of San Diego. The reality is they're probably in Mexico looking for natural healing, but Elizabeth Cohen's package really told the story.
WHITFIELD: Yeah, i was fantastic.
FRIEDMAN: For those people who believe in spiritual medication they've never excluded regular medical attention, that's what's necessary to save Daniel's life, here.
WHITFIELD: So, Richard, it's been very clear that this little boy's situation is terminal and if he doesn't receive this chemotherapy, doctors are saying it is imminent, he will die. So, say something terrible happens, his condition does worsen while they're on the run. Legally, what is at stake for this family? What kind of charges could be imposed on maybe not just the mother, but the father, too and he's aware that the two have left and he know of their whereabouts. He would be culpable, right?
HERMAN: Conspiracy, conspiracy to commit murder, manslaughter. I mean, this woman's going to jail, Fred, no matter what. She's going to prison. This is not spiritual, this is not religious, this is a woman who is nuts. She's blown a fuse, she's selfish, she's ignorant and she doesn't care about the life of this little boy whose tumor is growing daily in his chest. They went Monday for an x-ray, they saw the tumor was growing, the special spiritual stuff wasn't working...
WHITFIELD: The mother and the child apparently have argued that they did one round of chemotherapy, it was just too painful and it didn't seem to make anything better and that's why they've opted against it.
HERMAN: Yeah, again, that's an ignorant argument. Nowhere recorded. It doesn't fly. Avery this woman's going to prison. She's going to lose custody of this child.
FRIEDMAN: I agree with that. I think you're unfairly impeding some evil intent here. I think that's true, Richard. I think she genuinely believes it.
HERMAN: But she's ignorant.
FRIEDMAN: I agree with that.
HERMAN: If she genuinely believes it, so what? She's wrong!
FRIEDMAN: But, I don't know that we're dealing with murder. We're dealing with, in the scenario, as Fredricka raised, I think we're dealing with obviously some kind of potential homicide.
WHITFIELD: Or maybe even potentially negligence? Child negligence?
HERMAN: The judge directed her, the judge said go, get this treatment. Court order and she says no, I don't want to, I'm going to run to Mexico or wherever.
WHITFIELD: OK, well, we're going to see where this case ends up, especially since first they got to locate them, right?
FRIEDMAN: We have a long way to go.
HERMAN: They'll find them.
FRIEDMAN: They'll find them.
WHITFIELD: Yeah, let's talk about the Drew Peterson case. And this is the case that really gets your feathers all ruffled up, as well. A former -- a detective, now apparently new evidence that he may have hired a hitman. Richard, what do you think about this? HERMAN: Well, it's just breaking now, Fred, that he -- the prosecution says he may have hired a hitman to kill his third wife, Kathleen Savio. You know, and they can throw this stuff out there. It's meaningless at this point in time. The evidence will come out in court, so, you know, they're releasing all these little things, I don't know. I'm more concerned about the fourth wife who recently they found a blue barrel, beheaded with no arms and it's a female body that just might be the fourth wife.
WHITFIELD: Avery?
FRIEDMAN: Well, I mean, I'll be honest with you, and we've talked about this, sooner or later they were going to get Drew. I think they're on track. No. 1, they have the testimony of another police officer who heard Drew say I'm going to have to kill her because this divorce is going to kill me. And then...
WHITFIELD: But really right now it's hearsay. They've really got nothing...
FRIEDMAN: Well, no, no, no, that's not hearsay. If the officer says that he spoke with Drew, that's an admission, that's admissible.
HERMAN: It's hearsay, but it's admissible.
FRIEDMAN: No, it is not. Drew said it to him.
WHITFIELD: All right, gotcha.
All right, let's talk about Michael Vick, real quick. You know, serving the last two months of his sentence home arrest. If he does all of the right thing, you know, I guess on home arrest, of course there's going to be probation. Is there an opening? Are the legal, I guess, obstacles out of his way to get back to football if he so chooses -- Avery.
FRIEDMAN: Richard and I totally disagree. I don't think this guy should be in football at all, although, you know what? There are probably about a half a dozen teams that really need a good quarterback. It's up to the commissioner. We're going to hear about that in about three and a half weeks. We'll see, I don't know.
WHITFIELD: OK.
HERMAN: Fred, he paid his debt to society. If he was a surgeon, if he was a legal analyst on television, whatever, he's coming back, he'll be playing in September.
WHITFIELD: OK, and next week, as early as next week we understand the White House may be revealing the U.S. Supreme Court pick. But, Avery, you seem to believe that there is one person that really may not make the cut.
FRIEDMAN: Sonia Sotomayor. She is out.
WHITFIELD: Why? FRIEDMAN: She is out, and Richard will disagree with this, also. No. 1, she's a George H.W. Bush appointee, there are issues of judicial temperament. This is a president who is brilliant on constitutional issues. Look for something unexpected.
WHITFIELD: OK.
Richard, you got anything to add to that?
HERMAN: She's a woman, she's Hispanic, she fits exactly what he has to hire. I think she's still the front-runner.
WHITFIELD: OK. All right, we've got more stuff we want to talk to you all about, other cases that are very interesting. We'll see you again in about 20 minutes or so? Richard, Avery, thank so much.
All right, meantime, a daring prison break caught on camera while guards watched. All right, where it happened and what the implications are for the battle against the drug lords across the border.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, half past the hour. And happening right now, fighting terrorism in the heart of Taliban country. Pakistan's military says it's making major inroads in its war against the Taliban insurgency holed up in the Swat Valley. Pakistani officials say they hope to rid the northwest frontier of Taliban fighters over the next two months.
And tomorrow is the new target date for the return of the space shuttle Atlantis. Today's scheduled landing was postponed because of bad weather in Florida.
And it has been raining so much in parts of Florida this week that a lot of creeks and rivers are overflowing and the ground is so saturated, the water simply has nowhere to go, but into the backyards and also into the homes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BERTO NEVES: There's water up to their beds, their beds are floating inside their apartments. I mean, it's that bad. I mean, somebody's cat almost drowned inside their apartment. I mean, it's just real bad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Wow, terrible, terrible. Reynolds Wolf keeping a close watch on things. I know, you know, folks in many parts of Florida very used to heavy rainfalls, tropical storms et cetera, but nobody likes this and it's still tough to deal with.
WOLF: Oh, you're right, I mean, it is part of the climate. Let's be honest. I mean, any time you ever happen to visit Florida, it's seems as though every afternoon you have those scattered showers and storms that pop up.
WHITFIELD: Right.
WOLF: But too much of anything is seldom good. Certainly the case here, we've had several feet -- not inches, but several feet of rain that fell in places like Ormond Beach, Florida. Right now, there are still some scattered showers that are forming and it's all spinning around one center of circulation, which happens to be right near Mobile, Alabama. You've got an area of low pressure right here and it's spins in a counter-clockwise fashion, pulling a lot of that moisture into the sunshine state.
And we can expect that to continue through a good part of the day today. It's going to just continue to bring in the clouds, the scattered showers and occasional downpours, too. So, every place that happens to be saturated and that's virtually the entire state of Florida at this point, is going to see the potentials of runoff and with that, could see more flooding.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Reynolds.
WOLF: You bet.
WHITFIELD: Appreciate it.
All right, shaken and a little stirred. That's how many of Mexico City's 20 million residents feel today. A moderate earthquake actually rocked the Mexican capital Friday, sending thousands scurrying right into the streets as you see in these images here. What does this say -- the quake struck without warning, but did very little in damage or injuries. The U.S. Geological Survey says the earthquake registered 5.7 in magnitude and estimates that its epicenter was 85 miles southeast of Mexico City.
All right, criminal experts say it's disturbing evidence about the power and the reach of Mexico's drug kingpins. Alleged cartel members helped more than 50 inmates break out of prison in central Mexico.
Our Casey Wian says it happened while guards watched.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A convoy of vehicles arrives before dawn at the state prison in Zacatecas, central Mexico Saturday. Lights flashing, they appear to be law enforcement officers. But Mexico's attorney general says the men are working for a drug cartel and as security camera images indicate, they apparently met no resistance from prison guards and in some cases, even seemed to be helped by them as they moved to free 53 inmates.
Here, two prison guards watching a television set stand by as inmates enter their room and gently brush them aside. One inmate is apparently wearing an Oakland Raiders jersey. Another covers the camera with a blanket. This camera shows five men dressed as Mexican federal police passing an empty counter, then returning with a long line of prisoners freed from their cells. Mexican authorities say many of the 53 released inmates are drug cartel suspects.
GOV. AMALIA GARCIA, ZACATECAS, MEXICO (through translator): We have indications that the custodians and authorities at the prison may have been complicit with the group of criminals. For us, it is clear that this operation was perfectly planned and relied on the buying off of people since it only lasted five minutes and not a single gunshot was fired.
WIAN: But 23 guns were stolen from the prison during the caper. The Mexican government is offering a reward of 1 million pesos or about $77,000 for the capture of each inmate and three times that for each of the cartel members who orchestrated the prison break.
RICARDO NAJERA, MEXICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE (through translator): We emitted an orange level alert with INTERPOL so that we can conduct an international search for the fugitives with special attention to the 11 most dangerous ones.
WIAN: The prison director and more than 40 guards on duty during the escape are in custody while authorities investigate.
(on camera): Prison breaks are nothing new in Mexico. Chapo Guzman, the nation's most wanted drug lord escaped from prison in 2001, reportedly by hiding in a bag in a laundry truck. But the latest escape may be the clearest sign yet that the Mexican government is nowhere near victory in its war on drug cartels.
Casey Wian, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right, journalist Roxana Saberi says it's good to be home after spending 100 days in an Iranian jail. She arrived Friday at Washington's Dulles International Airport there, as you see. Saberi was convicted of espionage in Iran last month and sentenced to eight years in prison. A judge later reduced the sentence and set her free.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROXANA SABERI, JOURNALIST FREED FROM JAIL IN IRAN: One thing that kept me going when I was in prison was singing the National Anthem to myself and it may sound corny, but I am so happy to be back home in the land of the free. Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: All right, her family is very glad she's back home, too. Eventually, she'll make it back to North Dakota, her home state.
All right, choosing the next U.S. Supreme Court Justice, a big test for President Obama who talks about the pressure behind his first choice. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A couple of weeks ago, we heard that President Obama would likely be ready to name his Supreme Court nominee by the end of the month. Well, the growing anticipation led to this light-hearted moment in the White House Briefing Room.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Let me give you a quick run through of the week ahead. At 6:30 a.m. tomorrow morning, the president will announce his Supreme Court nominee. Gotcha. I'm done. That's obviously a joke, but I did love to see that -- somebody can quickly text me the name of a chiropractor because at least four dozen necks snapped in one direction.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And it's not even April Fool's. CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser joins us live from Washington on that. So Paul, you know, the president, is he feeling any pressure to make a statement with his pick? We know he's met with at least two potential nominees, including Diane Wood.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: He is getting lobbied, Fred, no doubt about it. I think feminist groups would love to see the president name a woman. Remember, there used to be two females on the Supreme Court, now down just to one. Latino/Hispanic groups would love to see this president make history and name the first Latina/Hispanic Supreme Court Justice and African-Americans would like to see this president, the first black president name another African-American to the high court.
Is the president phased by all of this? He doesn't seem so. Take a listen to what he said to C-Span.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Actually, I can't tell you the number of women, including Michelle who say choose the person you think is going to be best. If I -- if I end up having more than one nominee, I'm pretty confident that, you know, that there would be reflected there some diversity.
I think on any given pick, my job is to just find somebody who I think is going to make a difference on the courts and look after the interest of the American people, and so I don't feel weighed down by having to choose a Supreme Court Justice based on demographics. I certainly think that ultimately, we want a Supreme Court that is reflective of the incredible variety of the American people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: And it seems the American people do agree with the president. Take a look at these numbers from CNN, the Opinion Research Corporation, numbers we put out this week. Only four in 10 people we polled want -- think it's important that the president name a woman to the high court. 26 percent say it's important for a Hispanic to be named and 22 percent an African-American.
So, what is important? Take a look at this. Nine out of 10 say it's important for whoever the president names to have experience as a judge. Less so, 49 percent say it's important for somebody to have experience as an elected official -- Fred?
WHITFIELD: How interesting. Also important for the president, he wants to make sure that he continues to get the support from a Democratically-controlled Congress. However, we're seeing some of that Democratic support wavering, which is in part is why he's going to be spending some time next week, right, helping to fundraise for the Senate majority leader Harry Reid, which few people would think that he would need help with fundraising. What's going on?
STEINHAUSER: Well, yes, it's interesting. Tuesday night, he's going to be out, the president is going to be out in Las Vegas at a fundraiser for Harry Reid to raise money. Remember, the Senate majority leader is up for re-election next year and if the Republicans would like to take anybody out next year, it's that guy, Harry Reid, just as they took the Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle out in the 2004 election.
They think that Harry Reid -- Republicans think he's too liberal for Nevada and they think he's vulnerable and a new poll that just came out in the last week shows that 45 percent don't thank that Harry Reid, seen right there, deserves to be re-elected. Only 35 percent said they would re-elect him.
But the flip side, Fred is this: re-election six years ago or back in five years ago by a comfortable margin and Nevada seems to be leading a little bit more towards the Democrats. George W. Bush won it in 2000 and 2004. But this time around, Barack Obama won it and as of now, Fred, the Republicans have not found any credible candidate to go up against Harry Reid yet.
WHITFIELD: All right, nothing is predictable in Washington and that applies to outside the Beltway, too.
STEINHAUSER: You got it.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Paul Steinhauser.
All right, the police dash cam video everyone's talking about. You know you've seen it. Well now, our legal guys are going to be weighing in on excessive force.
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WHITFIELD: All right, when this video right here came to light this week, many people wondered why it took so long for it to come to light. It's from more than a year ago. Police dash cam video showing -- and it's tough to watch, five Birmingham, Alabama, officers beating an apparently unconscious suspect who you saw actually fall out of that van as it was tipping over. The police chief in nearby Hoover says one of his investigators only copied part of it. It shows the suspect's van earlier nearly hitting a Hoover officer right there. Well, the county district attorney's office just got the original tape and the Birmingham officers have since been fired. But this case is not over, it's really just beginning.
We turn to our legal guys again, Avery Friedman, a civil rights attorney and law professor and Richard Herman is a New York criminal defense attorney and law professor. All right, guys.
All right, so already these -- five of the officers have been fired, but surely there's more. Will it fall into the hands of an internal investigation to determine whether more should happen to these officers or is this an issue that's going to end up in a civil criminal court, Richard?
HERMAN: You asked about excessive force earlier, Fred?
WHITFIELD: Yes.
HERMAN: This is the definition of excessive force.
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Yes, it's hard to dispute. It's hard to take sides on this one.
HERMAN: Yes, he was ejected from the vehicle, he was unconscious, out cold.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
HERMAN: These guys were so fired up with testosterone or whatever, revenge. I mean, it was completely uncalled for and they're stupid because it was their own video camera that caught this.
FRIEDMAN: Well ...
WHITFIELD: Yes, and do I understand that the suspect is actually serving a 20-year sentence for attempted aggravated assault for the attempt of -- possibly hitting the other police officer, yet he's got these injuries and these five officers, they're out of a job, but certainly no one thought this was going to just go away?
FRIEDMAN: Nor should it. I mean, you know, in the context of America when we think of the Civil Rights movement, the amazing, horrible brutality that came out of Birmingham 50 years ago is still in the minds of many Americans and here we are 50 years later with this absolutely inexplicable behavior.
Let me tell you something, Fredricka. This is a case that's heading to the criminal division of the civil rights section of the Department of Justice. Those five guys are in a world of trouble. That's the criminal, also federal civil cases. WHITFIELD: So, what potentially could happen to that 20-year sentence? Would that be expunged, reduced, or something while the suspect -- I mean, is that a separate issue?
FRIEDMAN: Well, no, no. No, I think Mr. Warren who's a really bad guy anyhow, I don't think he'll have anything to do with it. But the bottom line is you got to get bad cops off the department. A.C. Roper, the chief, did absolutely the right thing here.
WHITFIELD: Yes, OK, let's talk about a case ...
HERMAN: Million dollar verdicts, civilly, Fred. Million dollar verdicts.
WHITFIELD: Oh, a lot at stake. OK, let's talk about a case in Georgia. This is the situation where an 11-year-old child commits suicide. The family says the child was bullied, the school knew about the bullying, didn't do anything. But now, apparently a retired judge has actually weighed in and said the family just doesn't have a case. They cannot ask that the school or the kids would be held responsible for this child's death -- Richard?
HERMAN: Well, I would put no weight on that former judge who's now retired, who was hired by the school district who investigated this claim who found that the school district should be exonerated.
WHITFIELD: So, that's just a way, perhaps, Avery, to encourage this family to just lay off. But ...
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
WHITFIELD: ...it's up to the family to say you know what, we want to pursue this.
FRIEDMAN: Very simply, the retired judge said for the school district, they never interviewed (ph) the kids, teachers said we didn't see it. Didn't mean it didn't happen.
WHITFIELD: All right, now let's talk about the King family, a deal being made. The youngest King, Dexter King with Steven Spielberg to put a movie, but then the other siblings, Bernice and Martin Luther Jr., say uh-uh, forget it. So, is this an issue of are they equal heirs and if that's the case, then equally they should be able to broker a deal like this?
FRIEDMAN: Well, Professor, you just nailed the issue. That's exactly what the case is about. This is an epic film, it's going to be "Schindler's List" quality. We'll see it in two years, it's going to go forward. It's not Larry King, it's not John King. These other Kings, forget about it. It's going to move forward. Dexter is doing the right thing.
WHITFIELD: Oh, you kill me. But Richard, if the CEO of the King Incorporated is Dexter King, the youngest King who made the deal, then it sounds like he has perhaps a greater responsibility to craft a business deal? FRIEDMAN: Sure.
WHITFIELD: Could that be the argument?
HERMAN: Yes, and that's why they're bringing Andrew Young in and some other friends of the family because when the peaceful Dr. Martin Luther King had a dream, it was not a nightmare, his kids couldn't get along. Two words, Dreamwork, Spielberg. That should be enough.
FRIEDMAN: That's it.
HERMAN: These guys should sign on the dotted line.
FRIEDMAN: That's it. Nailed it.
WHITFIELD: Wow, OK. Well, we'll see how this progresses because we know sometimes family disputes can go on quite a while.
FRIEDMAN: And this has and it will continue.
WHITFIELD: Yes, all right.
HERMAN: Money seems to soothe things, though, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Avery and Richard, thanks so much. Appreciate it. You all have a great weekend.
FRIEDMAN: All the best.
HERMAN: Have a great weekend.
WHITFIELD: All right. Well, it is called the saddest acre in America. Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery, a place for young kids to remember their parents lost in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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WHITFIELD: All right, here's what's happening right now in the news, bad weather has forced NASA to postpone today's scheduled landing of the space shuttle Atlantis. They'll try again tomorrow, of course, weather permitting.
And Defense Secretary Robert Gates credits the latest class of army cadets for having the courage to serve their country in a, quote, "dangerous new century." He gave the commencement address today at the U.S. Military Academy's graduation ceremony at West Point.
And you're looking right now live pictures of the Arlington National Cemetery, nowhere is the sacrifice of American service men and women more evident than in those -- at that location, at that cemetery.
Our Barbara Starr visited the part of the cemetery known as the saddest acre in America, Section 60.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's my daddy.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Captain Marissa Alexander brings Avery and his twin sister Aleah here to visit the father they never knew. Staff Sergeant Leroy Alexander was killed before they were born. This is section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery. It's been called the saddest acre in America. More than 500 troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan are here.
CAPT. MARISSA ALEXANDER, WIFE OF FALLEN SOLDIER: They need to know what their father was about, have that connection with him.
STARR: Marissa is trying to make Section 60 part of her children's lives.
ALEXANDER: Myself and the children came here and we released balloons to him and we explained the story of how he passed.
STARR: Families, buddies, friends come here. They mark their visits, leaving stones, notes, pictures, some items reminders of memories we do not know.
Angie Capra, widowed with five children is visiting husband Tech Sergeant Tony Capra's grave.
ANGIE CAPRA, WIFE OF FALLEN SOLDIER: I got the news that day. I had talked to him about 12:30 my time and by 3:30 my time, they were knocking on the door.
STARR: Today, a drawing and "Yoda" have been left. Tony was a "Star Wars" fan. With her youngest, Adriana, Angie is now part of the Section 60 family.
CAPRA: Other widows will come by and put something on for me if they don't see me out there, they'll put something. Kind of a community.
STARR: Lieutenant Benjamin Freakley just attended a funeral for a fallen soldier; he has other men buried here.
LT. GEN. BENJAMIN FREAKLEY, U.S. ARMY: They're still standing shoulder to shoulder with their brothers and sisters in ranks.
STARR: A place of grieving, but a place for young children to learn of parents they never knew.
ALEXANDER: Knowing that this place gives them a happy remembrance of their father rather than something that's so tragic and so sad, that they feel very comfortable to come here and be able to have that time with him and his memory.
STARR: Barbara Starr, CNN, Section 60, Arlington National Cemetery.
(END VIDEOTAPE) WHITFIELD: And later on today at 4:00 p.m., more on America's troops. We want to hear from you about vets, locating jobs, how difficult it's been, how hard it has been trying to find a place to live and getting the most help possible to tackle difficult medical conditions such as PTSD.
You can post a comment on my blog page at CNN.com/newsroom. On Facebook at Fredricka Whitfield CNN or by sending an e-mail to weekends@CNN.com. And be sure to watch today and be part of the conversation, 4:00 Eastern time.
All right, stay with CNN for the rest of the day and "YOUR MONEY" begins right now.
