Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Cheney Hospitalized After Feeling Ill; Rating President Obama's Week; America's World Cup Hopes; To Drill or Not to Drill
Aired June 26, 2010 - 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: All right. T.J. you stay cool there. Kate always cool all the time. See you guys a bit later. We begin with the health of former vice president, Dick Cheney. He is spending the weekend at a Washington hospital. He was admitted yesterday after feeling ill. CNN's Sandra Endo is live at George Washington University hospital. Sandra, what is the latest information on Cheney's condition?
SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I can tell you, we have not heard an official update in terms of the former vice president's condition this morning. What we do know is as you mentioned that he was admitted here in the hospital yesterday afternoon after complaining that he wasn't feeling well. That is when his doctors advised him to stay through the weekend to get more tests. Keep in mind the 69 year old has a long history of heart problems. He suffered multiple heart attacks the first when he was 37 years old and the most recent one just back in February. He has had quadruple bypass surgery in the past and aloes a couple of surgeries to clear some blocked arteries as well. He is fitted with a very special type of pacemaker that has alleviated some of his heart problems in recent years. But again, admitted yesterday to the hospital. No word yet on if this is related to any of his heart problems.
WHITFIELD: OK. Any expectation as to how long the former vice president will be there?
ENDO: It is unclear for now. We know that yesterday a spokesman for Cheney said that doctors had advised him to stay through the weekend. Today we spoke to a hospital spokesperson and they are tight-lipped. Because of patient privacy laws, they couldn't say much.
WHITFIELD: Sandra Endo, thank you so much outside of GW University Hospital in Washington.
Leaders from some of the world's richest countries are gathering right now in Canada for meetings about the economy. President Obama is among them. Our chief business correspondent Ali Velshi is there as well. The president still on his way, correct, I know because of the weather, a bit of a delay, he hasn't touched down yet right?
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. There are two things going on. There is the g-8 which is about 200 miles from here. They are back and forth from here by helicopters. Everything has been pushed back due to this heavy rain which is actually expected later this afternoon. The leaders are wrapping up the g-8 now and then the g-20 begins today and that's today and tomorrow. G-8 is eight of the world's biggest industrialized nations. G-20 is a larger group, more African nations involved, emerging markets and things like that. So the topic of conversation yesterday and today has been financial reform, the banking sector and how government should go about trying to get them selves out of the crisis that we are still sort of in. Even though the recession feels like it is over to some people, the reality is we know of the problems in Europe. There are real differences in how governments want to handle this. President Obama would like governments to continue on with putting money in until consumers are strong enough to support their own economies. In Britain and in Germany, they are looking at things a little differently. They want to start raising taxes. They want to start cutting budgets. The Americans think that's premature and that is the content of the discussions. Are we going to go the same way as everyone else in the world or are we going to start to take difference paths?
WHITFIELD: All right. Everyone has had some financial problems if not still currently except for Canada. They've got home court advantage so to speak. They seem to be doing everything right. How impactful might that be on this G-20 or even G-8 meeting, summit?
VELSHI: Possibly quite impactful because what happens is this is where we learn from each other about what works. I'll tell you what hasn't worked in Canada. America is Canada's biggest customer. So Canada has suffered by virtue of the fact that the U.S. has suffered and by virtue of the fact that it's a very big auto making country. In fact more cars are made right here in the province of Ontario than in Michigan. But, that said, Canada is a net exporter of oil. It is the biggest exporter of all forms of energy to the United States. So they've done well off of the price of oil and Canada has a very, very safe banking sector. It is in fact rated by the World Economic Forum as the strongest in the world because Canadian banks have not been able to leverage themselves and take the same risks that U.S. banks have taken. Here in Canada when a bank loans you money for a mortgage, they don't sell that loan to someone else. So they have a particular interest in whether you can pay that if you're having trouble in negotiating with you. So there are probably lessons that can be learned. Canada has got a highly regulated more conservative financial and banking and regulatory system that is probably having some influence on some of the discussions as well. That is the point of the G-8 and G-20. And see if there are best practices that we can learn from each other.
WHITFIELD: Ali Velshi, thank you so much. We'll check back with you throughout the day coming to us from Toronto.
All right big bragging rights for President Obama this week. With Congress moving closer to passing landmark financial reform, that is right there with health care reform on his to-do list and perhaps already accomplished list. Let's bring in Paul Steinhauser, our deputy political director. So, overall, the president has done pretty well. Lots of big thumbs up for him his week, but it is a mixed bag too, because he's taken some hits.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: The white house is pretty happy with what happened yesterday morning. Before the president left for Toronto and the economic summit, the Senate came to a final agreement on the Wall Street reform bill. The idea of this pending law would be to prevent what happened with the economic recession last time with new regulations on Wall Street and the financial industry and consumer protection. So, the white house getting a victory there and they are happy about this, I guess you could say they are two thirds of the way there. They got healthcare reform earlier this year. That is now a law. They are just about there. The house and Senate should vote this week on this reform. It could be on the president's desk by later this upcoming week on this financial reform.
The other big thing they are missing and would like to get done this year is the clean energy and climate change bill starting next month most likely. But the white house, yeah, they are pretty happy that they are getting things done. The Democrats are getting things done. That would be one of their themes. As you mentioned though, a big debate Friday morning. We know with unemployment sky high, the Democrats not getting this jobs bill out. That could come back to hurt them, though they will blame the Republicans, Fred.
WHITFIELD: The on going war on terrorism, Afghanistan. This is a defining moment for the president. And no one can underscore the importance of the successor failure of the war in Afghanistan with General McChrystal stepping down this week. Is this a chance for this administration in its new leadership to move forward on a different strategy similar to Iraq or might this be a stumbling block for the president?
STEINHAUSER: You know interesting here, politically maybe it helps and hurts in a way. It helps his poll numbers recently probably because of the oil spill in the gulf, his numbers on being a decisive leader and able to handle a crisis have deteriorated a little bit. But his resolve in taking McChrystal's resignation and putting Petraeus in there might help on that accord. At the same time it also concentrates or shines light more on Afghanistan and you are right, you know, the war is becoming unpopular with Americans. So it puts the spotlight back on Afghanistan and also on the idea of whether there will be a pull out next year. So in a way maybe it hurts.
WHITFIELD: All right. Let's talk about what is taking place domestically now. Arizona, you've got the governor Jan Brewer digging in her heels about why the immigration law expected to kick in at the end of July is right and who she says it's actually intended to capture. Just take a listen to what she had to say.
GOV. JAN BREWER (R), ARIZONA: We all know that the majority of the people coming to Arizona and trespassing are now becoming drug mules. They're coming across the borders in huge numbers. The drug cartels have taken control of the immigration, and illegal trespassing that we are seeing and going into all of America.
WHITFIELD: Now President Obama has said that that law is misguided. We know the attorney general has tried to work really hard to reverse that law. How difficult is this issue of immigration law in Arizona going to be for the Obama administration especially as we get closer to November elections?
STEINHAUSER: Yes immigration is really picking up as an issue again with American voters. We are seeing an increase in Americans who say it is becoming one of their top issues. Those comments by Brewer really are generating a lot of buzz. She made them yesterday. As you can see she was talking to a reporter on the street, she made them a week earlier at a debate. She is the governor of Arizona. She took over last year when Janet Napolitano stepped down to join the Obama administration and this year she is running for a full term in office and she has a bunch of bunch of primary challengers. You can imagine in Arizona on the Republican side immigration is a hot debate. Those comments thought there's been a lot of push back with them. She clarified and said, a lot of these people are coming across the borders are coming across the border to look for work but accosted and become subjects of drug cartels. Fred CNN spoke with the head of the union that represents about 20,000 border patrol agents and he told us regarding her comments, he said, "That they don't comport with reality, that is the nicest way to put it." Regardless, this as well as the new law makes this a hotter issue than it already was.
WHITFIELD: All right. Paul Steinhauser thank you so much. Always good to see you joining us from Washington. Thanks Paul. All right can the red, white and blue break through to the world cup quarter finals? We'll go live to South Africa as the U.S. team gets ready to take on Ghana.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. Show down in South Africa, the American soccer team's world cup hopes are riding on today's game with Ghana, win and the team gets to keep hope alive. Lose and it's time to head back home. CNN's Pedro Pinto is live from South Africa. What are the chances looking for the U.S. team?
PEDRO PINTO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think they are looking good considering the momentum here. I think that another one can come here later today and the American team place faces the stars of Ghana. The last African team left in this condition. Back in 2002, they played Mexico in the world cup. They qualified and they are trying again today by beating Ghana. They only beat -- and they lost to Germany. They haven't impressed many people with only two goals scored so far. I believe the Americans could consider themselves favored here.
WHITFIELD: All right Pedro Pinto, I think I heard the last part. Something about the U.S. being a favorite over Ghana. We are going to try to work on that audio. That nod means yeah, I got that right. You can see the excitement is building of course. Across the U.S., people are finally into this kind of football. CNN's Richard Roth is with us now from New York. Richard, looking a little melancholy where you are right now. What really is the mood?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is hard to hear. I'm under a bridge where the subway trains run but that's part of the uniqueness of this setting. We made it to Brooklyn, two weeks ago we were in Washington. This is a very unique viewing location for the world cup. With me here is Mike, a fan. You're here early. MIKE: I am. I wouldn't miss this for the world. I saw them lose to Ghana in Germany in 2006 and I'm back here hoping for a better result.
ROTH: You didn't like the call in that game I bet?
MIKE: I did not. But I'm hoping for something different today. You can --
ROTH: Why do you think they can beat Ghana today?
MIKE: I think they have a lot of momentum and they believe in themselves and are starting to click and put the ball in the net.
ROTH: Thanks, Mike. We are going to talk to the executive directors of this setting here, Jane, tell me, why have you arranged this under the archway? I'm sure it wasn't easy to arrange fan viewing here.
JANE: We wanted to have fun community activity and everyone loves to watch the world cup. It happens only every four years.
ROTH: It is Dumbo the area. What does Dumbo stand for for people outside of New York.
JANE: It stands for down under the Manhattan bridge overpass.
ROTH: It gets loud here?
JANE: Yes, the cheers should be reaching far and wide through Brooklyn.
ROTH: Why is this a weird, different and fun setting?
JANE: We've got a lot of people coming out to see the different teams.
ROTH: Okay and I hear a train coming. We have the r -- the other trains, they are also canceling several subway lines on Monday. They won't be as happy here on Monday morning. If the U.S. wins, they will have a nice weekend here in Brooklyn. Back to you.
WHITFIELD: I like that. In the tunnel, one voice sounds like 20. You will feel like you were in South Africa at the game once the U.S. scores a point or something like that. We'll check back with you throughout the day as everyone watches the U.S. take on Ghana.
All right. The concept of family can mean one thing to and another to somebody else. CNN's Soledad O'Brien has been following a same-sex couple in their struggles against the legal and personal obstacles to become parents. Meet the new edition to their family little Nicholas.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is fascinating now having a child and seeing the love and the care that a parent has for a child and understanding what our parents went through.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It makes everything lighter. Things aren't as dire or sad or depressing because there is this little bundle.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How much is, four ounces?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, that will do it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are a good team. Whether it is physical, or emotional, we are on the same page.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know it is coming, don't worry. There you go.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Listen, we are learning as we go.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh boy, all right good shot.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nicholas seems happy and healthy and he makes us laugh every day and we make him laugh every day. Feeding time is over
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are going to be styling.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you know what the temperature is supposed to be like?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. Is the car unlocked?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is always something we forget. And the baby, he's the traveling man
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If the weather is nice, I would love to revisit with Nicholas in the stroller and my dad in the wheelchair, this is a full circle moment and very special to me. And thank you for coming.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is your first swing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It has been a journey that has changed my life. Wanting to have a baby transcends gender and sexual orientation, it is just human.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is pretty wild isn't it?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: So, sweet, you can see more of Gary and Tony's story and their journey to bring Nicholas into their lives. Watch the special in America report, "Gary and Tony Have a Baby" tonight at 8:00 pm and again at 11:00 p.m. eastern time.
So what's wrong with a judge owning a little stock in an oil company? A legal chat when we come right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome back to CNN Saturday. For the very latest on your tropics, we are going to get you a better look at Alex. The latest we have on this storm is that it has gained a little bit of strength. It is still a tropical storm. Earlier this morning, it was just a depression. But it is forecast to remain a tropical storm until it makes interaction with the Yucatan Peninsula which it should by tomorrow morning. And then it will weaken and possibly make its way across the Yucatan and in the forecast brings into Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, by Wednesday possibly a category one hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour some gusts approaching 90 with possibly making land fall near Mexico. The reason I keep saying, possible, is because there is a lot of unknowns with this particular storm. It does look like it's going to cross the Yucatan. Then you have this area of uncertainty. There is a chance this storm could move a little bit further to the north into Texas, possibly stay into Mexico, or it could leave these areas all together and make it to perhaps New Orleans perhaps even to Galveston. It will bear quite a bit of watching. The next 12, 24, and 48 hours will be crucial. You are up to speed. Now to Fredricka with more.
WHITFIELD: All right thank you. One year ago, the king of pop, Michael Jackson died. Along the way has been the back and forth legal wrangle of Dr. Conrad Murray the physician who is now charged with involuntary manslaughter. Let's find out from our legal guys who join us every Saturday. What is the latest on this case? Richard Herman is in New York and Avery Friedman is joining us from Washington. Good to see you.
RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Nice to see you.
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Hey, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Where are we with this? When does this case actually go to court?
HERMAN: This is probably a year away, Fred. It will be delayed. There will be more motion practice in the case. I think there's more investigations going on and yet, on the one year anniversary Michael's dear, loving dad decided to file a civil wrongful death case against Dr. Murray. I don't think he's the executor. I don't think he has the power to do this on behalf of the estate. If the case does proceed, bet on Conrad Murray getting a stay on any civil cases pending the outcome of the criminal case and he has real good defenses in the criminal case.
WHITFIELD: That was my next question.
FRIEDMAN: Yeah --
WHITFIELD: Does one compromise the other?
FRIEDMAN: It could. But Richard is exactly right. The fact is that even though the wrongful death case was filed and it had to be because the statute of limitations was going to run. The next preliminary hearing for Dr. Murray is set for August 23rd, so we have a long way to go in the case.
WHITFIELD: And he gets to continue to practice medicine while this is still underway? FRIEDMAN: The interesting thing about that, is there was a hearing in California court on the 14th of June. The judge denied a motion by the California board which governs medical practice, saying look, we are not going to let him be involved in any kind of -- issues like propofol but we are going to let him practice medicine. Yes, he is still practicing medicine.
WHITFIELD: Okay now let's talk about the gulf with the oil spill. We know the Obama administration trying to keep the six-month moratorium on no drilling while this is trying to be resolved. The judge who is involved in reversing that decision or lifting this ban, he too has some ties to big oil. And so Richard I wonder, does he need to recues himself? Is it too late to recues himself? Are those grounds to recues yourself of a case of this magnitude with ties to big oil?
HERMAN: I'll tell you Fred, he ruled that the administration's moratorium ban on drilling was arbitrary, capricious and caused irreparable harm and was punitive in nature. He lifted that ban notice, they are not running out and drilling in that area. But you called it. This judge has investments in Transocean the company that leased the rig to BP, the number two defendant in all the cases. There is an appearance of impropriety. I'm calling for the judge to step down right now. There is no reason for him to stay on this case.
WHITFIELD: Avery, why are you nodding, no, no, no?
FRIEDMAN: Well it isn't Transocean. He sold that in 2008. What came out late yesterday, and this is a blockbuster, is that he owned other oil related stocks, Exxon and others. And I think under the federal recusal law, I'm in total accord. The administration late yesterday filed the appeal stripping the judge of jurisdiction. So right now a three-judge panel will make a decision. One way or the other, I agree, he has to recues himself it is the right thing to do.
HERMAN: Not only that, Fred, but the administration is drafting another moratorium not so broadly based and we'll see if that passes the mustard.
WHITFIELD: Let's talk about the Supreme Court decision. Saying that the statute is too vague. Explain what does this mean?
HERMAN: Yes. This was a statute that's been abused by prosecutors for years, Fred. It was an overly broad and vague statute used by the government in prosecuting white-collar cases in which the government did not have, in spades, the tendering of cash for a bribe or an actual receipt of a kick back.
They didn't have it, yet they brought it under this broad statute, jurors were confused with the jury instructions, defendants were taking deals because they were afraid of hitting a 10-year, you know, conviction on this case where a 90 percent conviction rate in federal court. So, they were pleaing out early.
But finally, the Supreme Court as anticipated, stepped up, cut down the statute, gutted the statute and said in order for you to get a conviction now on honest services, you must actually prove that a defendant accepted a bribe or accepted a kickback. If you can't prove that, you can't get it.
WHITFIELD: So then Avery, this might in some way directly impact Enron CEO Jeff Skilling, maybe even the former Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff who -- by the way, I don't know if you guys saw that interesting article about, you know, how he's working in Baltimore at a pizzeria right now. And I wonder how this ruling might impact these two figures and others.
FRIEDMAN: Well, tell Jack to hold the pepperoni. Look, the fact is that the law also is supposed to be used; in the Blagojevich case, it will not. I don't quite agree with Richard, the law was not gutted. Three of the nine wanted to gutt it, hold it unconstitutional. But basically, what's happened is the majority, Justice Skinsberg (ph) said look it, our job is not to invalidate, our job is to construe.
We're sending all these cases back to court to reconsider the sentence and frankly, some of those decisions are going to be changed. But by and large, bribery, kickback, embezzlement, those are all going to stand. Richard speaks like a true criminal defense lawyer, but I think the statute is absolutely alive and well.
WHITFIELD: OK, Avery, Richard ...
HERMAN: No, it's not, Fred. People are going to be released from prison on this. This is a very serious decision.
FRIEDMAN: I don't know.
HERMAN: Sanjay, we're getting you out, Sanjay, people are going to be released on this, Fred.
FRIEDMAN: I don't know.
HERMAN: And Skilling's going to get a new trial. Skilling's going to get a new trial.
FRIEDMAN: Yes, but he's not -- but he's going to stay in jail. I mean, it's not a free pass for that guy, no way.
WHITFIELD: All right, we've got lots to talk about still in the future. And of course, in this hour, we've got lots to talk about. LT, we've got Kwame Kilpatrick, and Conchita -- who is Conchita?
FRIEDMAN: Conchita the chihuahua.
WHITFIELD: Yes, the chihuahua with $1 million, at least a $1 million. No joke. We're going to talk about those cases coming up with out legal guys right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, every day, more oil stains the white beaches of the Gulf Coast. So today, people are actually joining hands literally to protest offshore drilling and promote clean energy.
Joining us from Seaside, Florida, the man with the plan, Dave Rauschkolb, joining us right now in a beautiful setting there at Seaside.
DAVE RAUSCHKOLB, "HANDS ACROSS THE SAND": Hi.
WHITFIELD: How are you?
RAUSCHKOLB: I'm good. I'm very well, thank you.
WHITFIELD: OK, so are you very excited that there might be a significant turn out? Because what, in about 30 minutes from now, people are to join hands in -- across 35 countries?
RAUSCHKOLB: Yes, I think it's now 37 countries across the world and in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. We've got over 900 events worldwide happening, folks joining hands and drawing a line in the sand against offshore oil drilling and championing clean energy and renewables.
WHITFIELD: Well, how are you hoping that this is going to help because off-shore drilling is a really big business and how will joining hands make an impact?
RAUSCHKOLB: Well, it's a very big business, and in the last story that you guys spoke about with the judge, I mean there's no question that there's a very cozy relationship between government and big oil. And now's the time to send a message to Congress and to the president that we're not satisfied with that any longer.
I believe it's time for Americans to stand up together, side-by-side and send a clear message that expanding offshore oil drilling is not a great idea for America and now is the time to turn towards cleaner energy options.
I own a restaurant right here on the beach, I've been here for 24 years and if the oil really hits here, I may very well may be out of business and put a lot of people out of work. And I'm only one of many thousands of people of all these communities up and down the Gulf Coast that may be scattered to the wind in the event of this oil hitting, not in the event, the eventuality I think. We all know that.
WHITFIELD: And you really do feel that way? Right now, your beaches are still pretty pristine there at Seaside in the Florida Gulf Coast, but you feel eventually and are you kind of counting the days when you think that oil is going to be marking those pretty white sands behind you?
RAUSCHKOLB: Well, Pensacola's only two hours away from us. We've already got tar balls on our beach sporadically right now. And we depend on -- it's a seasonable business here. So, a lot of businesses don't get that summer business, they're going to be out of business. And as I said, people are talking about where they're going to move. It's a real tragedy, not only for us, but for America as well. I think this is going to hurt the economy in a big way.
WHITFIELD: Dave Rauschkolb, thanks so much for joining us. We'll be keeping a close watch on the "Hands Across the Sands" as it gets underway about 30 minutes from now. Thanks so much and all the best to you.
RAUSCHKOLB: Thank you very much.
WHITFIELD: All right, let's take a look at the top stories right now. Police in southern California estimate that they seized as much as $45 million in illegal drugs Wednesday when they stopped a tractor trailer for a traffic violation. Deputies say they soon tipped off by the over -- they were tipped off rather by the overwhelming odor of marijuana coming from the big rig. The truck's driver was arrested on an array of charges, including transportation and sale of narcotics.
And Tropical Storm Alex is churning in the Caribbean Sea. The first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season is expected to cross over Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula, then strengthen into a category 1 hurricane before making landfall in Mexico. It is not expected to have a direct impact on the Gulf of Mexico, but forecasters say it could create higher winds and waves there and that could push oil further inland.
And the teenager, the sailor who had to be rescued from her crippled boat in the Indian Ocean is now on firm ground. Writers News Service reports that Abby Sunderland arrived on the French island of Reunion today. Two weeks ago, the 16-year-old American had to abandon her attempt to sail solo around the world after a rogue wave disabled her boat. Today, she reportedly thanked her rescuers and defended her family against criticism for allowing her to make this solo trip.
All right, a cheerleading controversy goes to court and what a federal judge decides could have a huge impact on cheer squads at colleges all across the country. Our legal guys are going to be joining us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: OK, our legal guys are back to talk about a host of cases, everything from a star athlete and his downfall to now cheerleading, is it a sport and the pooch who got a big prize.
Let's begin with LT, Lawrence Taylor. I know, Richard, you are crushed being the big LT fan that you are, but Avery, I'm going to have to start with you on -- we're talking about an indictment now.
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
WHITFIELD: But to the third degree, rape charges and a host of others to the third degree, which then makes me wonder why the third wonder? Does it mean they don't really have a whole lot or they are going full, you know, steam ahead that he had inappropriate sexual relations with a 16-year-old prostitute?
FRIEDMAN: Yes, that's really where it is. That's what's happening here. It's one of -- there are two felonies and then a couple of misdemeanors. The fact is though they really -- the evidence is very overwhelming in this case. One of the things I don't understand though, Fredricka, is that ...
WHITFIELD: Right. FRIEDMAN: ...he's got a lawyer who frankly is just going overboard. His defense he's claiming is that LT was a target. I mean, sometimes the best way to defend a case is just don't say anything. So, it's a mystifying approach to representing LT in this case.
WHITFIELD: Would he be -- and he's commented because he's a public figure. I mean, people love and adore Lawrence Taylor from, you know, being a NFL star to more recently, "Dancing With the Stars." And so, does his attorney feel like he's serving him well because of his public image to speak, Avery?
HERMAN: Fred, Fred ...
FRIEDMAN: I don't think -- actually, I'm interested to hear what Richard has to say. I think it's just a crazy way to defending this case.
WHITFIELD: OK, go, Richard.
HERMAN: Yes, I think what's happened, Fred, is that the attorney is showboating for the client. And unfortunately, by ranting and raving that nothing happened and there was no girl and this and that, you know, we know the girl was in his room, we know there was open bottles of liquor in there. We know there was cash that was turned over in the room there. Now, what exactly went down in there we're not sure yet.
WHITFIELD: Looks like $300 or something, right?
FRIEDMAN: Right.
HERMAN: Exactly. But the girl is 16-years-old. The girl is 16; in New York, the age of consent is 17. So, it's statutory whether she told him ...
WHITFIELD: Yes.
FRIEDMAN: Yes. Right.
HERMAN: ...she was 21, it doesn't matter. He's got a big problem here and it's a very conservative jurisdiction, Fred. It's not like New York City where the lawyers can say anything they want. Here, this district attorney's office takes it to heart when this guy is up there blasting them.
WHITFIELD: Oh boy.
HERMAN: So, he's to go in there nice-nice and try to make the peace and make a nice deal for LT, try to get a misdemeanor and get out of there. We'll see what happens.
WHITFIELD: OK.
FRIEDMAN: Well, he's got a price -- got a prior criminal record which certainly doesn't help. WHITFIELD: Yes. All right, former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick in trouble again and this is just weeks right after he was sentenced to five years for violating his probation, kind of squandering funds, not wanting to pay restitution. And now, we're talking about federal fraud charges, tax evasion, too.
Richard, what kind of uphill battle does Kwame Kilpatrick have? I say uphill because whenever you're taking on the feds, honestly, uphill battle.
FRIEDMAN: Uphill is right, uphill is exactly right.
HERMAN: How about Mt. Everest, let's try for that.
FRIEDMAN: Yes, yes.
HERMAN: I mean, he's got the prior convictions, he's now been charged with 19 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, dealing with tax evasion and conspiracy. Fred, he's in big trouble. There was a charitable trust, $640,000 of income he failed to disclose. They've had a target on this guy for years. You know, the taxes took down Al Capone, they're not going to let up on Mr. Kwamester ...
FRIEDMAN: Right. Well, you know what, what happened ...
HERMAN: ...they're going to go after him hard.
FRIEDMAN: What happened ...
HERMAN: Go ahead, Avery.
FRIEDMAN: ...it's so overt, it's so clear. Nineteen counts, some of which have sentences up to 20 years. I mean, the state conviction, Fredricka ...
WHITFIELD: Yes.
FRIEDMAN: ...one to 5.5, nothing compared to what's on the line here.
WHITFIELD: Oh, OK. Well, let's move on. We're talking cheerleading now, is it a sport?
FRIEDMAN: Love this case.
WHITFIELD: I do too. Quinnipiac University says you know, we're going to cut women's volleyball but we're going to keep, you know, cheerleading. And so Avery, you know, there's the whole, you know, issue of Title IX, whether indeed this is a sport and does this satisfy the requirements of gender equity.
FRIEDMAN: Yes, this -- Title IX is a civil rights law garuanteeing that women have the same right to be treated as men in sports.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
FRIEDMAN: The great thing about this case is that it questions whether or not what sports stay and which ones go. The expert came on and testified that it will threaten, as he says, conventional side- line cheerleading. Like, you know, two, four, six, eight, who do we appreciate? It's the most ...
WHITFIELD: But cheerleading has become very athletic.
FRIEDMAN: Yes, well, that's the point. It really is a sport.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
FRIEDMAN: Can you believe it's federal court -- in federal court? I think the cheerleaders have a good shot at prevailing in this case.
WHITFIELD: Really, Richard?
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
HERMAN: Well, the women's volleyball team is not too happy. They're saying cheerleading ...
WHITFIELD: I know.
HERMAN: ...is not a sport. Their school is saying, look, we have to make budget cuts, we got to cut somewhere. So, you know, we're going to consider them to be a sport and we're going to keep them and we're going to kiss you good-bye, so you know.
WHITFIELD: And come on, why can't you have both? You got to make room. As you know, as shafted as women's sports ...
FRIEDMAN: They cut men's sports, too.
WHITFIELD: ...have become for so long, that's why you got Title IX, keep them both, that's what I've got to say.
FRIEDMAN: Right, if they can.
HERMAN: Exactly.
WHITFIELD: All right, let's move onto the pampered pooch, who's a $1 million, multimillion dollar chihuahua in Miami Beach. Its' owner passed away and bequeathed the mansion and millions more to the pooch, but then wait, there's an only son involved here, a human and he says, wait a minute, uh-uh, no, give me a little bit more. So, how can he challenge this will and trust, Avery?
FRIEDMAN: Well, he's got to show that his mother was somehow improperly influenced by the staff. And he's claiming among other things that she was drugged, she didn't know what she was doing. The burden is on the son.
WHITFIELD: Oh, because the maids got $27 million, oh by the way.
FRIEDMAN: Yes, well, the entire staff did to take care of the dog, Conchita, and so, but ironically, the burden will be on the human being to prove that his mother was not capable in making that decision. I'm putting my money on the mutt on this one.
WHITFIELD: On the mutt.
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
HERMAN: No, no, no.
WHITFIELD: No, Richard?
HERMAN: By the way, Fred, there's a provision ...
WHITFIELD: She was very specific.
HERMAN: Fred, I read there's a ...
WHITFIELD: Yes?
HERMAN: Yes, there's a provision in this will though that also provides that the mutt gets personal training from the same personal trainer from the Swedish princess.
WHITFIELD: But it's a chihuahua, it's not a mutt either.
FRIEDMAN: Yes, but he's now in Sweden.
HERMAN: It's amazing.
FRIEDMAN: He's now the husband of the princess, isn't he?
HERMAN: Sweden.
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
HERMAN: But here's the thing, the woman changed her will about a year ago, she had on cancer, she was on medication. And her son, who got $1 million, the dog got a $3 million trust. About six or seven house personnel get to live in the mansion ...
WHITFIELD: You think there was a typo?
HERMAN: ...split up $27 million. Yes, he's going to say look, they undue influenced her, they pressured her under duress, she changed her will. It's wrong.
FRIEDMAN: And he's got to prove it.
HERMAN: I think he's got a good chance by the way.
FRIEDMAN: He's got to prove it.
HERMAN: The son's got a good chance.
WHITFIELD: That's going to be a tough case. Something tells me we're going to be watching that one -- watch that one as long well as we've been watching the Brooke Astor case as well in your backyard, Richard.
All right, Richard, Avery, always good to see you all. Looks like you got good ...
HERMAN: Fred, I'm welcoming the prime minister of Belize in Miami tonight. So, it's exciting. I'm looking forward to him.
WHITFIELD: Oh, so maybe you ought to say hello to Conchita while you're in Miami.
FRIEDMAN: Oh, well, I'm only in Washington trying to see what the president is doing, that's all. But he's up in toronto.
HERMAN: Very good, say hello for me, Avery.
FRIEDMAN: OK, see you.
WHITFIELD: OK, you all are just, you know, trailblazers and you know, jet setters. We just cannot keep up with you two. All right.
HERMAN: Like you, Fred. We follow you, we thought we'd try to be like you, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Thanks so much. Oh, I'm following you. All right, thanks so much.
OK, the Atlantic hurricane season's first named storm churning through the western Caribbean, getting a whole lot of people's attention and there's concern that it could impact the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. We've got a name, too, Alex. We'll get the latest forecast from our meteorologist Reynolds Wolf.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, let's learn about Alex now. Reynolds Wolf?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, 'tis the season. We're talking about the tropics being very active. Here's what we have on the western Caribbean. This is Alex, you can see the -- a lot of purple and red on the screen, indicating the deep convection.
And that storm is expected, according to the National Hurricane Center to veer a bit more to the northwest, crossing the Yucatan Peninsula, possibly strengthening to a tropical storm once again, after weakening to a depression and then as we get into early Wednesday, it may be a tropical or rather a hurricane, category 1 hurricane with winds of 75 miles per hour.
The forecast right now brings it near Tampico, Mexico with landfall I'd say around 6 o'clock in the morning. However, when you look at this white-shaded area, the cone of uncertainty, the storm may well travel farther to the north and perhaps to the south, and Fred, there's also the chance the storm could die out all together.
So, let's keep our fingers crossed. Best case scenario is that we're now going to deal with this in days to come. But right now, it does look like it will be headed for the Gulf of Mexico and there's always the chance it could shift its path, moving closer to that oil slick.
WHITFIELD: That's right. Oh, boy.
WOLF: But I don't know.
WHITFIELD: Dying out would be good. I kind of like the dying out possibility.
WOLF: It would be. Let's keep our fingers crossed.
WHITFIELD: Most people hope for that. All right, thanks so much, Reynolds.
WOLF: You bet.
WHITFIELD: All right, a health scare for Dick Cheney. He's in a Washington hospital. Right now, our top stories straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A look at our top stories right now. Former vice president Dick Cheney is in a George Washington University hospital in D.C. this afternoon. He was admitted yesterday for testing. Doctors won't say exactly what's wrong with him, although Cheney has a long history of heart trouble. We'll keep you posted on that.
And the final shuttle flights are up in the air. NASA officials now saying that they will likely be postponed a few months. French reports say Discovery's final mission could be moved from Septmeber to October, and Endeavor from November to February next year. Official word is expected July 1st.
And troubled carmaker, Toyota, is announcing another recall, this one for its high-end Lexus car line, specifically the 2010 HS 250 H cars. The company says the car has spilled too much gasoline during government crash tests. Toyota says its own tests did not show that problem.
Stay with CNN throughout the day for the latest breaking news. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. "YOUR MONEY" starts right now.
