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Legally Insane Killer Escapes; Tracking Annie Le's Alleged Killer; Afghan Immigrant Denies Al-Qaeda Ties; The Tea Party Experience; Sign of the Times; Michael Jackson's Kingdom Divided; Congress Votes to Cut ACORN's Funding; Wheels of Success; Stretching Severance Dollars
Aired September 19, 2009 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight, an admitted legally insane killer is on the run. Besides where is he, question is, why was he given money and allowed to go on a field trip?
Inside the investigation of a slain grad student. The unusual techniques police used to track down her accused murderer.
Terror plot foiled on U.S. soil. That's what investigators say. Tonight the suspect tells a different story.
A nation divided. What's causing Americans to be so mean?
We investigate.
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson weighs in, and so does one of the few black men who boarded the Tea Party Express.
We also dig deeper into the ACORN controversy, and the vigilante journalists behind the undercover video.
Michael Jackson's mother wins in court. We're live in Hollywood.
And some of you watching me right now are also watching floodwaters creep closer to your home.
Good evening, everyone. I'm Don Lemon in the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
Our big story tonight, a frantic manhunt right now for an escaped patient from a mental hospital in Washington State. And not just any patient. A man who killed an elderly woman in 1987 because he believed she was a witch.
Phillip Paul was found not guilty by reason of insanity. On Thursday, he was allowed to go on a field trip to a county fair where 30 other patients went as well. Then he disappeared.
We'll have a report from our affiliate tonight live in that area.
But first we want to go now to Sergeant Dave Reagan with the Spokane County sheriff's office. He is joining us by phone tonight.
And I thank you, sir. Do you have any leads on where he is?
SGT. DAVE REAGAN, SPOKANE COUNTY (via telephone): Well, we received some new information today. One tip was that when he left the hospital on Thursday, it appears he took most of his clothing. So we now have an idea what was in the backpack when he escaped at the fairgrounds.
The other thing we know is that --
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Wait. What's in that backpack besides clothing?
REAGAN: I'm sorry?
Is there anything in that backpack besides clothing?
REAGAN: Well, we don't know. We have an unsubstantiated report that he's been buying packaged food, ordering packaged food from the hospital. But, again, that's unsubstantiated. But more and more it appears like this may be a case of a planned escape, rather than a spur of the moment, I'm-homesick-runaway.
LEMON: Did he plan this by himself, or do you believe he had accomplices, people who helped him?
REAGAN: No, there's no indication on that. I think he was acting on his own.
LEMON: Are there offices who accompany these people who are prisoners when they go on these field trips?
REAGAN: As I understand it, there were 11 state hospital employees monitoring 31 inmates. All of the inmates were forensic inmates, which means they were all criminally insane.
LEMON: And so there are officers who go with them?
REAGAN: One on three, correct.
LEMON: One on three. And did the officers talk about what happened and how this man escaped, escaped them?
REAGAN: I think at this point they're not, unless they're talking to their own supervisors. I think there's going to be an investigation under way come Monday at the state level, and I think that's when they will do their talking.
LEMON: All right. Thank you very much for that.
We appreciate you joining us tonight. As I said, we will get to our affiliate reporter in just a moment, who has been following this story since it broke in Spokane, Washington.
Tonight, prison is a real possibility for 24-year-old Raymond Clark, accused of killing a co-worker. Yale graduate student Annie Le. Le should have been on her honeymoon right now in Greece. Instead, her body has been flown home to California for her funeral.
Investigators are sifting through some 300 pieces of evidence that could make their case against Clark. A car and a blood- splattered clothing are among them. Tonight, our Randi Kaye shows us how police caught their suspect using both high tech and old-fashioned techniques.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ray Clark knew he was in trouble. He knew he was being followed by more than half a dozen police investigators. He likely also knew where the investigation into Annie Le's death was heading.
New Haven Police Chief James Lewis told me he had his narcotics unit, which specializes in surveillance track Clark's every move. Even before they found Annie Le's body, Chief Lewis said he knew Clark was their prime suspect.
The head of the unit, Lt. John Velaki (ph), began following Clark Saturday night, the day before Le's body was found strangled and hidden inside a basement wall at the lab building where she worked alongside the man accused of killer her.
KAYE (on camera): At first narcotics officers didn't want Clark to know they were on his trail. That first night they camped outside his parents house in Cromwell, Connecticut, about 20 miles from Yale's campus.
The day Le's body was found, Clark played softball. Detectives were in the crowd.
KAYE (voice-over): By Monday, the day after Le's body was discovered, investigators changed the tactics. They wanted Clark to know they were tailing him. They parked right in front of his apartment and let their badges show while they walked around, mind games they were hoping would lead Clark to talk to them and maybe even confess. It didn't happen.
Tuesday morning, investigators went to him. Armed with search warrants, they wanted hair and fingernail DNA samples.
(on camera): Investigators focused on Clark in part because of what they saw in the more than 700 hours of lab video tape from the lab building security cameras. On that tape Ray Clark stood out.
A source with knowledge of the investigation told me Clark was seen leaving the building after someone, possibly him, pulled the fire alarm. He had his head in his hands and looked distraught.
(voice-over): After Clark gave a DNA sample, on Wednesday he got a room at this Super 8 hotel in his family's hometown. He stayed there with his parents, hiding from the media, likely knowing it wouldn't be long before officers came knocking, again. By this time investigators had interviewed about 150 people and had collected 300 pieces of evidence. Then came the DNA match our source says clearly connects Clark to the murder, indicating the victim's DNA was found on Ray Clark.
Early Thursday morning, Clark was arrested and charged with killing Yale medical student Annie Le. He's being held on $3 million bond. He hasn't entered a plea. His lawyers aren't talking, and neither is he.
Randi Kaye, CNN, New Haven, Connecticut.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: And now to another gruesome scene where investigators are wondering if a suspect may be responsible for other crimes against children. Newly discovered bones are the evidence that could make their case. Searchers and cadaver dogs in California are combing the backyard of Phillip Garrido. That's where Jaycee Dugard was allegedly held captive for 18 years.
Are the bones crime-related? Are they human? Are they linked to two other girls kidnapped in the late 1980s? Police are trying to figure that out right now.
Let's get back to our top story and the frantic search for an escaped patient from a mental hospital in Washington State.
Kaitlyn Bolduc with our affiliate KHQ joins us now live from Spokane.
Thank you so much for joining us tonight. I understand that you guys are very busy trying to figure out exactly what police are doing and where the suspect is.
So Kaitlyn, do police have any idea where Phillip Paul might be? We spoke to the sheriff. They said that they don't. Are there any new developments within the last few minutes?
KAITLYN BOLDUC, KHQ TV: You know, not that we know of right now. It's been a long, long search for Phillip Paul. It's been over 72 hours here. We are at the command center here where deputies are headquartered, and they have been heading out in those 72 hours by foot, by car and even by air. There's been hundreds of tips literally pouring in by the hour, but no tips to lead them to where Paul is. At the time, they said that they believe he may be heading west bound to Sunnyside, Washington. That's where his family is from. We spoke with his family earlier, and they say if he's running anywhere, that's probably where he's going.
But they also might have mentioned, if he's running, he might be headed to the woods. And that's what's so concerning for authorities because there are a lot of woods here in the Pacific northwest, and with that severe head start that he got on them at the fair, it's pretty hard to measure where he could be at this time. LEMON: And Kate, you spoke to his family. And as I understand, we're looking at -- we saw some pictures from his MySpace page, but you also spoke to that 87-year-old victim's family earlier tonight. What are they saying about this? Especially about him being released and allowed to go to a fair?
BOLDUC: You know, Helen Motley told me she was literally taken back. She almost fell out of her chair when she first heard the news. She's down in California now in a remote ranch. They moved away from the area after her mother was murdered. And she is just stunned at the fact that he has escaped from the hospital. She said each time she's learned of his escape, him getting out on different behavior, she is just stunned that this man can be let out on the loose. She believes that if he is not on his medication, that he will brutally attack somebody again.
He did kill her mother. She said her mother was just out in her garden and came up to her. He believed that she was a witch based on the voices that he heard in his head. He strangled her, slit her throat, dumped gasoline over her body and then buried her in her own garden. So it's very, very traumatic for her, and she said that it's very painful for her to relive all of this almost 20 years later. She just doesn't want this to happen to any other family, and hopes that he gets caught as soon as possible.
LEMON: And Kate, understandably, we understand that the community is upset and possibly outraged at this man -- we understand he was given $50 as part of his job there with the prison, and then allowed to go on a field trip.
What's the community saying?
BOLDUC: They're pretty much -- they are outraged. They're concerned as to how this can happen. We are learning that it's not just places and field trips like the fair, but they've let them out to different events throughout the community. It's part of their therapy. That's what the hospital is saying at this time, to slowly integrate them back into the community. But there are families at that fair the same day that he was released. There was a school field trip at the fair. So many concerned parents wondering how 31 criminally-insane patients could be let in to the fair, and with only 11 people to monitor those 31 patients. You can imagine, it was pretty easy for him to get away. So a lot of concerns here in the community. Many people want answers.
LEMON: All right. Kate Bolduc, from our affiliate KHQ in Spokane, Washington.
We appreciate it.
More questions tonight about a 24-year-old Afghan national being questioned in Colorado. Does he have ties to al Qaeda?
Also, Taliban leader Mullah Omar reportedly releases a new message to the United States. The deadly shoot out in Mexico's city in a subway there leads two people dead, including a police officer. And are the criticisms of President Obama rooted in racism. We'll take a closer look on what could be fueling this fire.
Join the conversations -- Twitter, Facebook, MySpace or iReport.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Tonight, we are talking terror because investigators believe they have busted up a new terror plot right here on U.S. soil, but the 24-year-old Afghan immigrant they're zeroing in on in Denver denies any ties to al Qaeda.
CNN homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve sorts it all out for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You see just smoke and debris and fire on the ground.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was a truck bomb that devastated the Murrah Federal building in Oklahoma City in 1995, killing 168 people. And CNN has learned that concerns about a truck bomb figure into the current investigation of the alleged New York-Denver terror plot.
At this U-Haul outlet in Queens, New York has been a focus for law enforcement. According to a former counterterrorism official familiar with the investigation, a group of Afghan men tried to rent a truck here on September 9th, just two days before the 9/11 anniversary. It was the same day Najibullah Zazi, the man at the center of the investigation was driving to New York from Denver carrying, according to sources, video of Grand Central stations and instructions on bomb making.
According to the source, the men showed licenses from Ohio and Florida, and U-Haul employees have identified two of them from FBI photographs. One, Naiz Khan let Zazi stay in his apartment while he was in New York. The parent has been searched, and Kahn questioned, but Saturday Khan denied having anything to do with an attempted truck rental or terrorism.
NAIZ KHAN, TERROR SUSPECT ACQUAINTANCE: I am not involved in this, and I strongly say that story is not true, as such as me having the U-Haul story. And I have never been to there.
MESERVE: The source says the other man identified by U-Haul employees own this Muslim burial service, which has also been searched. His name, Imam Abzauli (ph). He has also denied involvement according to the source.
At FBI offices in downtown Denver, scheduled talks between Zazi and the FBI were canceled Saturday, as Zazi and his attorney contested assertions made by government officials to the media, including CNN, that Zazi has admitted ties to al Qaeda. Quote, "It's not true. I have nothing to hide," Zazi reportedly said to "The Denver Post". Neither Zazi or anyone else has been arrested in connection with the case.
(on camera): Zazi conferred with his lawyer on Saturday, but no new talks with the FBI are scheduled. Meanwhile, the investigation continues in Denver, New York, and according to Attorney General Eric Holder, in other places as well.
Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Denver.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: And new tonight, ominous words of warning from the Taliban for U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan. CNN sources confirm the terror group is behind an Internet posting that paints Afghanistan as a graveyard for foreign soldiers.
The Taliban's reclusive Afghan leader, Mullah Omar, is believed to be behind the message, bragging in English that coalition troops will be defeated soon. The message comes just a few weeks before the eighth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion.
From town halls to tea parties, there's been a lot of angry words and disturbing images, but what's behind it, and why doesn't President Obama believe that there is something behind it.
Plus this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: I think you need a bigger office.
GOV. BILL RICHARDSON (D), NEW MEXICO: You do?
LEMON: How are you, man?
RICHARDSON: It's good to see you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: I sat down with New Mexico's Governor Bill Richardson. He's got an opinion about Congressman Joe Wilson and President Jimmy Carter as well.
And a guy pulls a gun on a bank teller. Check out what happens next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Well, tonight, in our state of our nation segment, a nation divided over health care and racism, and the president is at the center of the controversy.
So to heal the rift and to win over critics, Mr. Obama takes his message to no less than five different networks on Sunday. CNN is one of them. Our John King conducts the interview on his program "STATE OF THE UNION," where the president addresses claims of racism and the opposition to his health care reform plan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: In recent weeks, people have raised some pretty serious questions. The big rally in town, signs talking about afro-socialism, swastikas with your name and your picture and name on them, "You lie!" shouted out during a nationally televised address, and former President Carter said he sees racism in some of this.
Do you?
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You know, as I've said in the past, are there people out there who don't like me because of race? I'm sure there are. That's not the overriding issue here.
I think there are people who are anti-government. I think there are -- there's been a long-standing debate in this country that is usually that much more fierce during times of transition where when presidents are trying to bring about big changes.
I mean, the things that were said about FDR are pretty similar to things that were said about me -- that he was a communist, he was a socialist. Things that were said about Ronald Reagan when he was trying to reverse some of the new deal programs, you know, were pretty vicious, as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: You can see John King's entire interview with President Obama tomorrow morning on "STATE OF THE UNION" at 9:00 a.m. Eastern only here on CNN.
And later this hour, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson speaks out about President Obama, South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson and the allegations of racism.
The congressman who was admonished for heckling the president during a national address is also talking to reporters saying he is misunderstood.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JOE WILSON (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: I appreciate very much President Obama has indicated this is not correct. And so -- I'm pleased, too, that even before other people could answer, Democrats legitimately hurt their standing but Senator Dick Durbin, Senator Jim Webb, Congressman Chet Edwards of Texas, a number of people have all indicated that this truly, we need to be discussing the issues and not into the level of name calling.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, on Tuesday, the House approved a resolution of disproval, declaring that Wilson had broken House rules. Yesterday, Wilson said he would like to close the book on that controversy. Wilson's outburst came as the president said illegal immigrants would not be covered under his new health plan. And this week when I sat down with New Mexico's governor Bill Richardson, he told me the timing of Wilson's comments didn't escape him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON (on camera): The comment about illegal immigration sparked the "you lie," which then sparked some people are, you know, may have racial undertones.
RICHARDSON: Well, that was a double whammy for me; the disrespect to a president that I like and admire, and then also the illusion to illegal immigrants. The health care bill does not cover illegal immigrants. As a governor, I know that firsthand. I think we need immigration reform, and I hope the president takes it up soon because this is another divisive issue that potentially has some racial overtones. But it upset me twice as badly because of the reference to illegal immigration, which there is no coverage of illegal immigrants. Everybody knows that. I don't know why this congressman was trying to raise this issue in such a disrespectful way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Governor Bill Richardson in his own words. He does not hold back. And next week here on CNN, you'll hear about the governor's journey from childhood to being the first major Hispanic presidential candidate. He also opens up about his family and his damaged relationship with Bill and Hillary Clinton. As part of our special series "Pioneros: Latino Firsts." It runs Sunday, 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Eastern only here on CNN.
Another undercover ACORN tape surfaces, this time with a twist. We'll explain.
And this --
(VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Catchy tune, isn't it? Well, Lloyd Marcus was a regular on the tea party express bus tour. He said he experienced racism while he was out on the road, but not from the people you might think. He's going to explain.
There he is there.
And Michael Jackson's mother goes to court to try to take control of his estate.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: You know, we're a long way from the next election and the results are hardly scientific. But conservatives at this weekend's values voter summit held a presidential straw pole. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee won with 29 percent of the vote. That's him right there addressing the summit on Friday. Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty, Mike Pentz and Mitt Romney shared second place, all receiving roughly 12 percent. Romney told a group this morning that the people who spoke out at town halls last month are making a big difference in the fight for conservative causes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY (R), FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR: Thanks to millions of Americans who stepped up in town halls and tea parties across this country. He is not going to get his way.
The Democrats call those folks a mob, crazies, trash, even worse. I call them patriots. Thanks for their voice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: All right. The Value Voter Summit comes on the heels of last weekend's massive tea party demonstration in Washington, and singer Lloyd Marcus rallied the heavily conservative crowd with this little song.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LLOYD MARCUS, TEA PARTY PARTICIPANT (SINGING): Start spreading the news, I'm telling you all today, we're taking back America in 2010.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
All right, so Lloyd Marcus traveled with the tea party express all across the nation, and he joins us now live from Orlando, Florida, to talk about his experience.
Hey, man, you sounded good.
MARCUS: Thank you, Don.
Look, we have to stop this racist nonsense.
LEMON: Yes, I want to talk to you about that.
MARCUS: It is so offensive.
LEMON: As I look out at the crowd and I look at you singing, I mean, you were kind of alone there. You're one of the lone African- Americans there.
MARCUS: But that's OK. I think that, that is basically because the black community has not gotten the message yet. But they are coming out more and more.
LEMON: I have to say this, Lloyd, before you go on now, I mean, I think that African-Americans, not all of them, fall in line with President Obama's health care plan. There are many African-Americans who are against it or who wants some changes. They're not necessarily taking part in these tea parties. It doesn't mean that they haven't gotten the message, they just haven't taken part in this tea parties.
Why do you think?
MARCUS: I have no idea. I still think that basically a lot of them have not caught on yet, but like I want to mention the fact that the American people are not racist. I went to 16 states on the tea party express tour, 34 rallies. I was -- I was showered with affection at every single rally. And the thing that really surprised me most, I opened every rally with, "hello, my fellow patriots. I am not an African-American. I Lloyd Marcus, American," and people went nuts.
And so many --
LEMON: Did you tell anyone that you talked to -- because I have gone to a couple of tea parties, and really nice people. I had a good time. But some of the signs and some of the language I had to talk to people about and tell them, hey, look, that's not necessarily kosher, it's not necessarily correct to use those sort of signs, or use that kind of terms or language.
MARCUS: Don, Don, Don, Don, Don, we are talking about thousands of people at these rallies, and maybe three or four negative signs. That's like -- that's like...
LEMON: OK, Lloyd, Lloyd, --
MARCUS: ...attending a baseball game.
LEMON: And, you know, I'm glad that you're on, and I'm very happy but it's more than three or four signs. As I've said, I've been to a couple of them, smaller tea parties than the ones that you went to and there were some signs. There are people like - there were signs like this. There are people carrying the socialist signs and what have you. And I say people have the right to do it, but as an African-American, hang on, you don't tell these people, hey, you know, man, that's not right.
MARCUS: But that has nothing to do with race. I think he's a socialist, too. Does that make me a racist? How come like any criticism of this president make a person a racist?
Look, I was at a couple of those troop support rallies in Washington, and down the street, the left had a rally of 2,000 people walking down Pennsylvania Avenue, screaming "F., George Bush." Our rallies would never do anything like that.
LEMON: If you're talking about...
MARCUS: We had families...
LEMON: Yes. Absolutely. I saw - I witnessed that too, the anarchist and many of them were arrested. That was - that wasn't right too. But I want you to continue, though... MARCUS: And these rallies don't have that tone at all.
LEMON: I think you're making a very good point that everyone who disagrees with the president is not necessarily a racist.
MARCUS: Thank you.
LEMON: And you said - but you do believe that he's a socialist. Why do you say that?
MARCUS: Well, because this national health care thing is really a scheme to take over every aspect of our lives, and the man he fired, the CEO of General Motors - Look, the American people aren't stupid. You're - and why do you think a million people showed up in Washington last Saturday? Because they see the direction that this is all headed to, and they don't like it, and they are petrified. It has nothing to do with - with race.
And I think it's heinous and wrong to even make it about race. So like now we have the first black - black president. Instead of that bringing us together, it's tearing us apart. That's wrong, guys. That's just totally wrong.
LEMON: Did you talk to the - the crowd there about that? Did you say that to the people in the crowd?
MARCUS: Talk to them about what? Telling them that they were wrong...
LEMON: You said that we have the first African-American and...
MARCUS: They are right.
LEMON: Did you say we have the first African-American president and I - I didn't - go ahead. You said - did you say we have the first African-American president, and you said that by not supporting him that - that we're wrong, it should bring us together? Did you just say that?
MARCUS: No, I - No, I did not say - No, I said that we have the first African-American president. You would think that that would bring us together but - but because every time somebody disagrees with this administration they have to be racist. And when you call the decent people racists, that's wrong and it tears the nation apart and it makes black folk hostile and white folks hostile and it's wrong. It's just not right.
LEMON: Yes. And we need to get to a point where we can talk and not all yell at each other. I agree with you.
Hey, listen, you're a very great singer.
MARCUS: Thank you.
LEMON: I thank you for coming on, and I hope you come by - I hope to see you perform live one day. Thank you. You're a good sport, OK?
MARCUS: I hope so too, Don.
LEMON: All right. So listen, we have been talking about this. How rude - temper tantrums, outbursts, call them what you will. We have seen a lot of high-profile blowups. Could your favorite social media be to blame for that? We're going to check it out.
And check this out as well. A bank robber gets more than he bargained for when he tried to hold up a Wisconsin bank.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: OK. So I travel to Santa Fe, New Mexico this week where I sat down with Governor Bill Richardson, and we talked about a lot of things, including Congressman Joe Wilson's outburst and President Jimmy Carter's reaction to all of that and the protests.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. BILL RICHARDSON (D), NEW MEXICO: I don't think it's innate racism. I - I disagree with President Carter. What I do think is because I think we're in a new technological age with - with cell phones and internet and so many different ways people communicate, that - that - that ugliness of people comes to the surface a lot more readily.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: OK. So when you're looking at, you know, technology and you hear all the outbursts or whatever, is this - is the technology really making us less civil? What happened to civility? James Andrews is joining us now via Skype. He is a managing partner with Everywhere TV, which deals with all things involving social media. Good to see you tonight.
OK, so listen, as we talk about it, do you think that the internet really has created a sort of false sense of security where people who can just get online or go out there and say anything they want?
JAMES ANDREWS, MANAGING PARTNER, BEEVERYWHERE.TV: Absolutely, Don. I think what you're finding is that individuals are creating their own networks, their own universes, the ability to crowd source or garner activism through - through micro-conversations. Whether it's Facebook status updates or Twitter conversations, it's growing at a rapid pace, and there's sort of a false sense of security. It's sort of what my friend Brian Solis, who blogs at PR 2.0 - what he calls sort of the Verizon (ph) Theory, that there's always people behind you. It's a false sense of security that travels into the real live space.
LEMON: Because you're really - you're really not anonymous, even though you think you are. Investigators can always find out who you are, and I - I've got to say this before we go on. James, you know David Sirota. David Sirota - Sirota is a - a syndicated columnist and he's a frequent contributor on our show. He sent me an e-mail after his appearance on our show last weekend - got a death threat. The person writes, you know, "You are a blanking you- know-what hole," and then goes on to say, "Never come within 100 miles of me, you stupid little blank or I will kill you." It goes on to say that. David call the police. It is a legitimate threat. He said the police were very nice, and they are investigating, and also they can find this person because they know who it is.
I also got some hateful e-mail. There are things that are going on on the internet now, people who are posting things, saying "Don, you're a - you're - you make me sick. You're a sorry son of a you- know-what. Kiss my blank. Get a life," all kinds of things like that.
So they think they're anonymous, but, James, they're really not.
ANDREWS: Yes. They're really not, and they're growing in intensity. People are using their power to be anonymous and to - to, you know, send hateful things. Many of our clients that we manage get many of the same e-mails that you get, Don. We - we manage things like that on a weekly basis for our clients, so that's not foreign to us at all.
LEMON: OK. So then, is it - the interesting thing is is that you can have, you know, a huge platform like CNN or any of the other networks. But then all it takes now, James, is someone with a camera and a computer to have almost as big a voice as any of those networks.
ANDREWS: That's right. Well, it's really the rate at which, you know, news and stories and what I call thought viruses - it's - it's the rate at which they travel, and because of the social media space, you can take a thought, you could take a - a sentiment, have you, and that sentiment can actually travel, you know, faster and faster because of the networks.
LEMON: All right. James Andrews, thank you so much. We appreciate it.
ANDREWS: Thank you for having me, Don.
LEMON: All right. We're going to talk about being caught on camera. Another undercover ACORN tape surfaces showing a worker giving advice to filmmakers posing as a pimp and a prostitute, but what was really going on? We're digging deeper.
And Michael Jackson's mother goes to court to try to take control of his estate.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: All right, Michael Jackson's kingdom divided, and now the legal boundaries are being drawn for a showdown between the singer's estate trustees and his mom. The judge has given Katherine Jackson the green light to take on the lawyer and music executive who now control her late son's estate, and she can do it without risking her hefty cash allowances as the beneficiary of the will.
And we learned this week that Michael Jackson's mom and his three children receive more than $86,000 a month, but his estate could be worth some $500 million. "Inside Edition's" Jim Moret joins us on the phone from Los Angeles.
Jim, thanks for joining us. We're talking about a lot of money here that's at stake, but the very interesting thing is this certainly opens the door for a lot of things. Do you think that John Branca, John Mcclain, are they a bit nervous about this?
JIM MORET, INSIDE EDITION CHIEF CORRESPONDENT: Well, here's what's interesting about this, Don. Katherine Jackson has opposed these two administrators from the beginning, but Michael Jackson's will had a no contest clause, which means if you contested the will, you lost everything. But she didn't like the administrators. What this ruling allows her to do now is she can claim that the administrators aren't fit to serve without losing her 40% of the estate.
So that's - you're right. It's a very big deal. But the two administrators have made a number of deals for the benefit of the estate. Don't forget, they signed that multi-million - the $60 million deal with Sony to release the footage, the rehearsal footage for the film. There're going to be records and books and memorabilia sales. So they are working to make a lot of money for this estate. But I think Katherine Jackson wants more control.
LEMON: And Jim, here's the interesting thing. It is said that these two men really are the two people, the driving force behind getting the estate out of debt. If you listen to commercials now, you will hear Michael Jackson's songs, there are deals that are being made in order to get - get him out of debt - to get the estate out of debt as well. So the - the question is, here, do you think that this will go to trial or do you think some compromise will be made in all of this since the executor so far appear to be making progress here?
MORET: I - I think, my gut feeling tells me there will be a deal reached, and you won't see testimony, and it won't go to court. There - there is a tremendous amount of money on the line, but there's also about $400 million in debt, and these two gentlemen - John Branca and John Mcclain - are great at putting deals together that could hopefully get this estate out of debt and in the black within a couple of years.
LEMON: All right. Jim Moret, Chief Correspondent for "Inside Edition". We appreciate it, sir.
MORET: Sure, Don. Good talking to you.
LEMON: Good talking to you as well.
Another undercover ACORN tape has surfaced, with another worker caught on camera giving out advice to a pimp and a prostitute. But this time, there is a twist.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: You have to check out this next video. Police are out in force patrolling Mexico City's subway system. Two people were shot to death and eight people were hurt yesterday in the middle of evening rush hour. A police officer was killed when he attempted to stop a man allegedly writing graffiti on a subway wall. Another man was killed when he attempted to tackle the gunman before police finally captured him.
An undercover videotape showing ACORN workers giving advice to a couple posing as a pimp and a prostitute could cost the Liberal activist group millions in federal dollars. Democratic lawmakers join their Republican colleagues in a vote this week to cut ACORN's funding. CNN Special Investigations Correspondent Abbie Boudreau has more on that and a new tape that just surfaced.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ABBIE BOUDREAU, CNN INVESTIGATIVE UNIT CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): It wasn't even close. By a 345 to 75 vote, the House of Representatives voted to kill all federal funding for the community organizing group ACORN.
REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R), MINORITY LEADER: ACORN's trying to claim that they're cleaning up their act, but I think it's too little, too late.
BOUDREAU: It wasn't just Republicans. One hundred seventy-two Democrats also voted to defund ACORN, an indication of the deep wounds inflicted by hidden camera videos.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your business is a performing artist - but you are! OK? So you're not lying.
BOUDREAU: Videos that show ACORN workers offering help and advice to a couple of Conservative activists posing as a pimp and a prostitute. ACORN's damage control effort has included saying the tapes were doctored, threatened to sue the filmmakers and ordered an independent investigation.
BERTHA LEWIS, CEO, ACORN: I immediately took swift action and I said, you know what? We're going to look at this. We're going to make a review from top to bottom so that this thing never happens again. We work too hard to have some trumped up thing like this happen.
BOUDREAU: The newest tape purportedly shows an ACORN worker in National City near San Diego advising the undercover filmmakers on how to get underage sex workers for El Salvador over the border from Mexico.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is confidential, right?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you. BOUDREAU: But ACORN tells CNN the worker was just trying to deal with a "bizarre and challenging situation" and that he was playing along with O'Keefe and Giles to get information, which according to ACORN he passed on to his cousin who is a detective with the National City Police Department.
And now this video, released by an ACORN worker in Philadelphia. She says she reported the couple to the police.
KATHERINE CONWAY RUSSELL, ACORN WORKER: It appears Mr. O'Keefe lied to get his appointment. He was not dressed like he is on the internet, and when we got suspicious about the questions he was asking at the Philadelphia ACORN Housing Office, we called the police and filed this report.
BOUDREAU: And there are other cases where ACORN workers say the videos didn't show the full story. This ACORN worker seen on one video claiming to have killed her ex-husband in self defense.
TRESA KAELKE, ACORN WORKER: And then I just picked up the gun and [bleep] you, and I shot him and he died right there.
BOUDREAU: But Tresa Kaelke tells CNN she was just playing games. Her ex-husband's just fine.
KAELKE: He's alive and well.
BOUDREAU: And local police confirm that. But coming on top of earlier tapes which clearly show ACORN workers bending over backwards to help O'Keefe and Giles, questions about whether the tapes were taken legally, doctored or even deliberately misleading seem to have been drowned out in the clamor.
Abbie Boudreau, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right. Abbie, thank you very much.
Jacqui Jeras joins us now. Jacqui, one question - am I going to swim out to my car tonight?
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Potentially. Yes. I know - you know, check this out, Don. Right here there's an area of really heavy rain just south of the Atlanta metro area. It's got the potential of producing a good inch to two inches per hour, so this is going to be sneaking in on the south and eastern sides of town.
These are pictures from Clayton County, Georgia, which is just south of Atlanta where the Flint River has gone out of its banks, and there were several people who did have to evacuate their homes because of those high waters.
Unfortunately, we're going to continue to see more rain, in fact another two to four inches is going to be possible across the Deep South. Take a look at the flood watches across Georgia, Alabama and up into Tennessee, including the Nashville area. The rest of the country, we're dealing with dry conditions and cool across the Northeast. We've got frost and freeze warnings, though. That's your consequence for the sunshine - Don.
LEMON: All right, Jacqui. I got my life vest. Thank you very much.
And check this out - a bank robber gets more than he bargained for.
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LEMON: Caught on tape, a fireless customer takes down a suspected bank robber near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This is the first video we've seen of the tackle. Obviously, the suspect didn't make it out with the cash. After the man jumped on the robber, some others helped hold him until police could get there. If convicted, the suspect could face 40 years in prison.
Now our Hero of the Week. You can't hold down a job if you can't get there. Nobody knows that better than Susan Jacobs, who had to hitchhike to work when she lost her car. But now she is putting low- income workers in Florida on the road to independence.
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Heroes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JESSICA, SINGLE MOM: I'm a single mom. Not having a car, I have to take three buses every morning. I also depend on a friend of mine to get my kids to daycare. Because of the way the buses run, I'm unable to do it and get to work on time.
SUSAN JACOBS, COMMUNITY CRUSADER: I know what it's like to have the fear of losing my job because I can't get to work. I was hitchhiking. That didn't last long because of the kindness actually of a stranger. He said I'll let - you could use one of my vehicles. He was put in my path to help me move forward and made me realize I could make it.
I'm Susan Jacobs, and I provide working wheels to keep families working.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACOBS: This is Susan with Wheels of Success.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JACOBS: Our goal is to try to step in to work with employers so that before they lay someone off, hopefully we have a solution.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACOBS: The Cavalier's done, too?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JACOBS: We started taking donated cars and doing repairs. Our recipients do pay a monthly payment for a year based on a sliding scale and also give three volunteer hours a month back to the organization.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACOBS: Jessica, number two.
JESSICA: Thank you so much.
JACOBS: You're so welcome.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JACOBS: Receiving a car is more than just the car. People literally see how their life's going to change.
JESSICA: This is awesome. I got my own car!
JACOBS: I love what I do. My life has made a difference.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: To find out more about our heroes, go to our website, cnn.com/heroes. And get ready, on October 1st we'll be announcing the Top Ten CNN Heroes of 2009.
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LEMON: Well, the economic bigwigs say there are some hopeful signs of a recovery, but tell that to the millions of Americans still trying to make ends meet. Here's CNN's Allan Chernoff in tonight's "MONEY AND MAIN STREET" report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Karen (ph) and Chris Kubacki jogging home from an errand instead of driving. It's one of many cost-saving steps the Kubackis are taking since Karen (ph), the family breadwinner, was laid off in July from her software job at Accenture.
CHRIS KUBACKI: At first it's, you know, instant panic. Oh my gosh, we're going to lose the house tomorrow, we're going to be living in the street in a cardboard box.
MAX KUBACKI: This could be your breakfast.
CHERNOFF: Karen (ph) decided to turn her loss into an opportunity to spend more time with the family while taking time to find another job she'd love. So the Kubackis plan to stretch Karen's (ph) unemployment checks and her 13-week severance to last a full year, determined not to dig into savings.
KAREN KUBACKI: How do you do it? I have the rules posted actually at my desk.
CHERNOFF: Rules like live within your means, which the Kubackis say they've always done. They're also "do-it-yourself"ers. Chris, a stay-at-home dad, who is a woodworker, builds toys for his son max.
M. KUBACKI: My dad made it. That's the best.
CHERNOFF: For the first time, Karen (ph) set up a budget. To stick to it, the family shops only for absolute necessities. The library is now a frequent stop, as are other free community resources.
K. KUBACKI: Oh, we had more fun since I lost my job than ever.
CHERNOFF: Having adopted a frugal lifestyle, the Kubackis say they now truly appreciate small luxuries.
K. KUBACKI: And if you pick just a couple of luxuries, like Hershey bars, you really enjoy them.
CHERNOFF: Even as they stretch, the Kubackis still donate 10 percent of Karen's (ph) unemployment check to their church. Living only a few doors away from the neighborhood food pantry, the Kubackis are often reminded of their blessings.
K. KUBACKI: So I don't have a job right now. We've got a house. We've got food. We have nothing to complain about.
CHERNOFF: Allan Chernoff, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right. That's it for me. I want to thank you for all of your comments tonight of Twitter and Facebook. Appreciate it.
I'm Don Lemon at Atlanta. I'll see you back here tomorrow night, 6:00 and 10:00 p.m. Eastern. Have a great evening.
