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New York Nearing Same-Sex Marriage Vote?; Debt Ceiling Battle Continues; Casey Anthony Trial Continues; Town In North Dakota Evacuated Ahead of Flood Warnings; New Evidence May Suggest Pakistan Complicit With Hiding Bin Laden; House of Representatives Passes Resolution Opposing U.S. Operations in Libya

Aired June 24, 2011 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: And that was the end of testimony. There she is, Cindy Anthony, the mother of Casey Anthony walking way. She has been testifying.

This is day number two there in the murder trial of her daughter, who has been sitting there. She broke down today. Her mother broke down today. We also heard from Casey Anthony's brother. We will get to that a little later in the show with Sunny Hostin on the case.

But let me just say this. Hello and welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM to you. I'm Brooke Baldwin. It's a busy, busy Friday. And I want to get straight to some of the stories we're watching for you right now, in addition to that trial.

We have told you about this all week long, and, folks, it could happen today, New York on the brink of legalizing same-sex marriage. A vote could happen any moment now. We will take you live outside the capitol in Albany coming up.

And did Pakistan know about Osama bin Laden's hideout? A new clue being reported today raising suspicions that not only did some in the government know. They might have actually helped.

But, first, I want to begin with this alleged mobster. Whitey Bulger alleged reign of terror and life on the lam comes full circle in about an hour from now in a Boston courtroom. But I want you to take look at this picture.

It looks a little bit more like someone's slightly addled grandfather than a diabolical mob boss who would kill you if you crossed him. But this is the subject of the biggest FBI manhunt in history, a crime legend who terrorized South Boston, or Southie, for years and years, the man allegedly involved in the murders of at least 19 people.

Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come up with a .45, puts it to my head. And he says, you don't pay me, I'm going to kill you and your family. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This was the guy who actually killed my uncle. There was a lot of hits that were done by his associates, but my uncle was killed by James "Whitey" Bulger.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Now a take a look at this with me. This is what Whitey Bulger looks like. This is the photo taken just after his capture Wednesday night in California, after 16 years, not so much on the lam, apparently hiding in plain sight. Bulger and his longtime companion, girlfriend, Catherine Greig, were found living in a rent controlled apartment just about a block from the Pacific Ocean in a dimly hit hallway in an apartment in Santa Monica.

The FBI also found some $800,000 in cash in their place, 30 guns and an assortment of fake IDs.

Deb Feyerick is live for me outside the courthouse in Boston where Whitey Bulger is expected to appear before not just one -- we're told they have, what, two judges this afternoon and, time wise, are we just about an hour out from potentially seeing him?

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely.

And, as a matter of fact, Brooke, we have a little bit of new Information. We're told that Whitey Bulger and his girlfriend landed at Logan Airport just a short time ago. Also, his brother, a prominent Boston politician, Billy Bulger, entered the courthouse about 10 minutes.

You can see some of --

(COUGHING)

FEYERICK: Excuse me, Brooke -- the activity just outside here.

There are police barricades set up. The Boston police is in place, federal security. One police officer rode by on a motorcycle, nodded to the captain in charge. So we do believe that Whitey Bulger should be here probably -- I got here this morning. It takes about 15 minutes to get from Logan Airport. Heavy police security, and we should expect him here really any moment, Brooke.

BALDWIN: I know he was in that federal court in L.A. yesterday. We were checking out with -- checking in with one of our correspondents there, and apparently he understood the slew of charges, some 100-plus pages of court documents.

Can you outline, Deb, just the charges he will face today in that courtroom?

FEYERICK: Well, he's facing a lot of charges. This is going to be an arraignment. Assuming that he's had a chance to speak to a lawyer, there's every possibility that he could enter a plea today. If he does not understand the charges or hasn't had the chance to speak to a lawyer, then it's likely that he will come and the process will happen over the next couple of days.

But he has been charged with various counts, including murder, attempted murder, gun running for the IRA, drug trafficking, charging some of those folks about $1 million to get drugs into Boston as they traveled through Boston Harbor.

So, he's facing a lot of charges, and he seems to understand the serious nature of them, as you yourself commented.

BALDWIN: I can't talk about Whitey Bulger without talking about his girlfriend, Catherine Greig. I know she's 20 years younger than he is. He's 81. She's 60. She was also the target of that FBI campaign, that PSA they just put out this past Tuesday. And we know definitively from FBI that is the reason why that tip came in and they were able to nab him.

Do we know yet, Deb, what charges she could be facing?

FEYERICK: She's facing the charges of harboring a criminal.

Let me take a look behind me. I don't want to block anything just in case they're coming. This is the point, Brooke, as you I know have experienced -- we're hearing sirens. Everybody is sort of on high alert in anticipation of his arrival.

We believe he's going to be arriving from this direction, which is the direction of Logan Airport. And so everybody is kind of looking around here trying to get the pulse on everything.

Catherine Greig is facing charges of harboring a fugitive. Really, the FBI chief, who I spoke to here in Boston today, said that really it was creative thinking and thinking outside the box. It was trying to get to him by getting around him through the girlfriend, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Well, Deb, you and your crew take a good, long look as to when Whitey Bulger would be appearing in the court. Wave your arms in front of the camera. We're going to pop you back on. We will take those pictures live.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Yes, no, go ahead.

FEYERICK: Brooke, take a look. Brooke, take a look. Brooke -- take a look, Brooke.

This -- we believe that this might be him. Take a look. OK, U.S. Marshal van number one, van number two, van number three. We got another van coming around. This one is blocking. You can see all of this carefully organized, carefully orchestrated. They have got to get him in. Clearly, there's a concern that something could happen. We did not know when he was going to be landing. We don't even know how many or what time. Everybody was very circumspect. They said security a large concern.

Brooke, you got it live, just got into the courthouse.

BALDWIN: Now, let me just keep you, because I would like to stay on those pictures quickly here, Deb.

What do we know as far as the transfer? Was he transferred in shackles head to toe on -- and do we know what kind of plane he was in, perhaps along with his girlfriend, Catherine Greig, as they hopped on a plane from L.A. here to Boston, Logan Airport?

FEYERICK: All of these good questions, all of these questions that we were asking to various agencies all day, FBI, U.S. Marshals, anybody who is sort of involved in the transport.

But, no, he did come into Logan Airport. There was a thought that might -- he may go into one of the private airports where there's a little bit more control. Because of his high visibility and clearly him being such a security risk, very unlikely that he flew a commercial plane. More likely that U.S. Marshals, they have their own special planes that they land off to -- at an area of an airport that's more secure, more private.

But, again, he did come from Logan Airport. And because of his stature, chances are -- this is just speculation -- that, yes, he would have been shackled, clearly nobody taking any risks that something might happen, especially since they have waited so long to get him here to this court.

And, Brooke, when I spoke to the U.S. attorney earlier, she said they are ready to go. All they needed was him to be in court, so here we are, Brooke.

BALDWIN: And here he is. We counted, what, four, five of those SUVs flashing lights. Presumably, he's in one of those heavily armored cars. If we see him, I would be surprised if there's a perp walk. But there is, Deb, let us know and we will take it live.

Deb Feyerick, perfect --

FEYERICK: Yes, the feds don't do that. Absolutely.

BALDWIN: Perfect timing. Perfect timing.

Thank you, Deb Feyerick, for me in Boston.

Now this: We have been listening. We have been watching scenes just like this playing out all week long there in the hallways of the state capitol in New York. The state Senate is poised to vote on a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage.

Protesters for and against the bill have lined the hallways there demonstrating, and they're waiting for the vote. And despite pressure from the gay community from President Obama to weigh in on the issue, he attended an LGBT fundraiser in New York last night, and wouldn't go there, instead showing his support for -- quote, unquote -- "equal rights."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And I believed that discrimination because of somebody's sexual orientation or gender identity ran counter to who we are as a people, and it's a violation of the basic tenets on which this nation was founded. I believe that gay couples deserve the same legal rights as every other couple in this country.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Now, just outside of that fundraiser, which was in Manhattan, protesters held up signs -- here are some of them -- saying, we will give when we get equal. And when a few people actually interrupted the president's special last night, I want you to listen to how the president responded.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: That's why we're going to keep fighting until the law no longer --

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Marriage.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Marriage. Marriage. Marriage.

OBAMA: I heard you guys.

(LAUGHTER)

OBAMA: Believe it or not, I anticipated that somebody might --

(LAUGHTER)

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: Where was I?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So despite the shouts, shouting marriage, the president is not getting into that debate in New York State.

But a lot of people are hoping this thing is decided before the gay pride parade this weekend in Manhattan. Talk about the timing here. Thousands of people are in New York for precisely that.

And CNN's Mary Snow is in the capital city of Albany for me.

And, Mary, what do we know? I know they need that one extra vote, the one Republican senator to vote one way or the other here. Do we know what is stalling that vote?

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, Brooke, the people who could truly answer that question have been behind closed doors all day long.

What we do know is that before the same-sex marriage bill came up for a vote, if it does come up for a vote in New York, there were some other bills, some very big bills, rent regulation, property tax caps, that were to be voted on first.

That still has not happened. As of last night, all signs pointed toward a potential decision on the same-sex marriage bill, but around 11:00, the state Senate majority leader came out and said everybody was going home.

They have been behind closed doors, negotiations going on. And this has generated some frustration obviously among several sectors, but state Senate Democrats expressed some of their frustrations earlier today. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LIZ KRUEGER (D), NEW YORK STATE SENATOR: Each day, we're being told, yes, we're going to get these bills done. Where is marriage? We know that there are at least 31 members of the Senate who have committed publicly to wanting to vote for marriage equality. Bring it to the floor.

The Senate Democrats, when we were in majority, were prepared to bring it to the floor, even though, from my opinion, unfortunately, it went down. Now conventional wisdom is, when it comes to the floor, it's going to pass. Why aren't we bringing it for a vote? It's outrageous.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: And negotiations behind the scenes continue. It's still unclear, Brooke, whether or not the Republican-controlled state Senate will even bring this bill up for a vote.

But gay rights activists, supporters of this bill remain hopeful. Inside the capitol, they believe that things will move along. But it's really -- they have been there before just about every day this week. So, it's very difficult to predict.

BALDWIN: Yes. And they have been there before historically speaking, I know, a number of times, and it's been shot down every time.

Let me ask you this. If and when there is a vote, are they up against a particular day, Mary? Is there a deadline by which they have to vote?

SNOW: No. The legislative session was supposed to end this past Monday. But the governor can call lawmakers back. So there isn't a deadline being talked about.

BALDWIN: OK. Mary Snow for me watching and waiting to see if that vote happens -- Mary, thank you so much.

And this:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MAJORITY LEADER: the Republicans should stop playing chicken and pushing us too close to that line.

SEN. JIM DEMINT (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: It is the final exam for America. I believe this could be our last chance to get things right, to turn things around.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Secret meetings, late-night chats. There's a whole lot of talk going on in Washington over the nation's debt ceiling, but there's absolutely nothing getting done. Has the nation's pocketbook become all about politics? CNN's Candy Crowley is going to break this down for us only in the way Candy Crowley can. We look forward to that. That is coming up.

Plus, the small item the CIA found in Osama bin Laden's compound, it is revealing something huge. Did Pakistan help bin Laden hide all those years? Wait until you hear what we're learning here at CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: So what started out as talks to work out a deal over raising the U.S. debt ceiling is now turning out to this all-out backroom political brawl.

For weeks, we know that Vice President Joe Biden has been hosting these discussions with a group of Democrats and Republicans, trying to forge a deal before that August 2 deadline. Now, after that, the Treasury Department says the U.S. will begin defaulting on its loans. And with the clock ticking down, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Senator Jon Kyl walked away from those talks, saying they had reached simply an impasse with Democrats and wanted President Obama to get directly involved.

Well, guess what? They are getting their wish. This coming Monday, the president and the vice president will be meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Let's go now to Washington for chief political correspondent and anchor of CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION," seen each and every morning on Sunday morning, of course, Candy Crowley.

And, Candy, first, just explain this to me. You have Kyl, you have Cantor bailing on these talks. Was this just a throwing-up of hands just for show, because these men ultimately know a deal will get done, or is this truly in jeopardy?

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: This is ratcheting up the pressure.

Everything on Capitol Hill is always in jeopardy until they fix it. And here is the truth of it. Congress expands to the amount of time it has. They have been told August 2 is when we're going to have to start defaulting. Now, there are a number of Republicans who actually don't believe the U.S. will default on its debts, that it will find ways to pay for it.

But, nonetheless, let's take August 2. It's an eternity between now and August 2. Yes, they would have to write a bill. Yes, it would take some time. But, nonetheless, you're now at the point of real political pressure, and as a pressure point, both on the president, I might add, probably on Speaker Boehner.

BALDWIN: Yes.

CROWLEY: Cantor walked out and said, look, you know, tax increases in any form are not acceptable to us, and this is going to take the president and the speaker to figure out.

BALDWIN: But, OK, so looking ahead to Monday, beyond sort of the general you have cutting spending vs. more stimulus spending and the tax hikes, Candy, what are the specific sticking points that you think are creating the issue that need to get worked through to get a deal done?

CROWLEY: Well, the specific sticking points really are political and real and policy-wise. The main thing is the Republicans are standing firm in saying there cannot be any -- basically any revenue increases. They are against removing subsidies that are given to, say, big oil and other corporate tax rates.

That seems to be where Democrats want to go, saying, everybody has to pay their fair share. If we're going to cut $2 trillion, $2.5 trillion out of spending over the next decade, then we need to see that the wealthy are also going to pay their fair share. And the Republicans have said there just are not going to be any revenue increases in this particular package.

They think it hurts the economy. So, the question is, what will the president do at this point, and what will Speaker Boehner agree to? Because in the end, while Harry Reid, the Democratic leader of the Senate --

BALDWIN: Yes.

CROWLEY: -- certainly is a key player, John Boehner has to get it through his Republicans and some Democrats on the House side, because he will lose some. And the president has to convince enough Democrats to move forward and come to some deal, so they can raise this debt ceiling.

BALDWIN: Well, I know you say the pressure really is on Speaker Boehner, but when you talk about Republicans here -- and I know this Sunday you're talking to Republican South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint. He's been quoted, I have raid, saying this debt ceiling vote is toxic.

So what do you ask him? What do you press him on Sunday? CROWLEY: Well, you press him on, and what do you mean by that? Because, basically, they have a pledge that they want, by the way, 2012 Republican presidential candidates to sign onto, at least DeMint does. It's with 40 outside groups and it's with about a dozen or so House members and Senate members who have pledged they won't vote to raise the debt ceiling unless there are substantial cuts in 2012, spending cuts, unless there is a balanced budget constitutional amendment that is passed by Congress.

It is a very, very high bar. And they also want enforceable spending caps. This is just a push. Look, you're seeing raw politics here. And, yes, it's also policy. But you are seeing the conservative part of the Republican Party pushing hard, hard, hard on the speaker, and in particular on the speaker because he has got to figure this out, to say don't you give on any kind of tax hike.

BALDWIN: Right. Well --

CROWLEY: And then you're seeing Republicans -- Democrats saying, wait a second here. And that's where we're -- we're having Nancy Pelosi on as well. And you say, so, what's your line in the sand there? What won't you go for?

Because in the end, this is a tough enough issue, that you are going to have to find that coalition in the middle that -- or vaguely in the middle -- that also passed a budget earlier this year that was criticized on both the right and the left, but it passed.

BALDWIN: Ah, the middle ground.

CROWLEY: Yes.

BALDWIN: I know they waited for the 11th hour for all of that and --

CROWLEY: Harder and harder to find.

BALDWIN: I know.

(LAUGHTER)

BALDWIN: We will be watching for Nancy Pelosi and Jim DeMint. That will be an interesting one Sunday morning.

Candy Crowley, thank you so much.

CROWLEY: Thank you.

BALDWIN: Let's just remind everyone, as you should be waking up Sunday and watching Candy and the "STATE OF THE UNION, 9:00 a.m. Eastern right here on CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mrs. Anthony, what does the photograph depict that you're looking at? CINDY ANTHONY, MOTHER OF CASEY ANTHONY: It shows me attempting to go around Caylee, as I usually did.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: A dramatic day of testimony in the Casey Anthony murder trial -- Cindy Anthony taking to the witness stand day two here -- she and her daughter there breaking down in the courtroom. We are going to take you back inside coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Let's get your top stories here.

First, the U.S. military's role in NATO's Libya mission not popular in the House of Representatives. A resolution to show support for U.S. operations over Libya failed by a big, big margin in the House today. It is believed that most of the Republican House members do not believe President Obama consulted them sufficiently enough before committing all those U.S. troops, weapons to the NATO-led campaign.

Also, in a later vote today, the House rejected a bill that would have cut funding for U.S. involvement in the Libya mission.

A new day, and fresh protests erupting all over Syria. This is a group there supporting President Bashar al-Assad in the capital city of Damascus. Now, these people marched against the government today, holding signs that say, "Assad is not my president."

We're looking into reports that as many as 10 people died today in some of those street clashes. That is according to a human rights activist group.

And in the Casey Anthony murder trial, Lee Anthony breaks down on the witness stand when the defense asked why he didn't go to the hospital to see his sister when she gave birth to Caylee. Lee Anthony testified he didn't want to be there because no one had told him Casey was pregnant.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEE ANTHONY, BROTHER OF CASEY ANTHONY: I was very angry at my mom, and I was also angry at my sister. I mean, I was just angry at everyone in general that they didn't -- that they didn't want to include me and -- and didn't find it important enough to tell me, especially after I had already asked.

So, I was -- I was -- I was very hurt.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Her brother Lee clearly breaking down into tears, and at that moment, Casey Anthony grabbing some tissues as well, breaking down as she watched her brother testify.

Now watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is unbelievable.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It kind of just makes a big lump in your throat.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: The water has reached rooftops, and there is more on the way. Folks in Minot, North Dakota, are bracing for the flood of the century, already surpassing the historic flood of 1969. You have to see these images. We are going to take you live on the ground, North Dakota, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: OK. We want to take you back inside this courtroom in Orlando, where the jury is listening here to a sheriff's deputy testifying about arresting Casey Anthony, putting those handcuffs on her and arresting her.

Let's just dip in and listen.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You say Cindy Anthony, correct?

DEP. RYAN EBERLIN, ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: No, ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Or you and Casey Anthony for that matter?

EBERLIN: Correct, no.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Once Corporal Melich arrived, you were not involved in any way, shape or form in the taking of additional statements from miss Anthony either at her residence at 4:00 or so that morning, correct?

EBERLIN: Yes, ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And you were not involved in taking any statements from her on July 16th at universal studios, correct?

EBERLIN: Correct.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you. That's all I have, your honor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Redirect?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No further questions, your honor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: May the deputy be excused?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, deputy. You may be excused, sir.

BALDWIN: OK. So that was the deputy. That was the quick. The prosecution asked a couple of questions about the arrest, and when asked to redirect, the defense said nothing further. We're keeping our close eye on the trial. Anyone else hops into that witness box we feel is pretty newsworthy we'll bring it to you live.

Meantime, we want to bring to the news in Minot, North Dakota. Massive flooding is imminent. Parts of the city already look like a lake, and the worst we're told is yet to come. I want to bring in Jim Spellman, who is live for me in Minot, North Dakota. Jim, we know we keep talking about this flood. It's historic, breaking records. Now more rain on the way?

JIM SPELLMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's been raining on and off this afternoon, and will be more of the same tomorrow, Brooke.

This is where we are right now. This looks like a pond or something. This is a hill that goes down to a tunnel underneath railroad tracks here. You can see from these stoplights here how high the water is. We've watched all day. This is a major intersection right here in downtown Minot next to the city hall building. We watched it rise.

And it's tragic. Just beyond there is a neighborhood full of people's homes. People are stopping by to look across here, and they know even if they can't see their house, that the worst has happened.

And what's really shocking and hard to get your head around is we've now broken the record from 181 of the largest flood. This will rise about another seven feet. I'm about 6'3", so try to picture this much more water. It's going to put all these buildings around here in hazard.

This is a temporary dike around city hall to maintain a command structure. It's not more than seven feet high. It's going to be really tricky for them to maintain any semblance of order in this central part of downtown Minot. Brooke?

BALDWIN: Jim, have most of the people that live around the area left town?

SPELLMAN: Yes. They put an evacuation order in, and two days ago the alarms went off about a day ahead of time because this water has come up so much faster than they anticipated. They had to get everybody out of here. The National Guard went door to door to get everybody out.

By and large, people have heeded this. Not just only gone, but taken every single thing with them. People took their refrigerator and stove and literally the kitchen sink with them pulling out. They know if their house is still standing awful this water is in it, if it's still standing, it's going to have to be gutted at the very least. People are prepared, unfortunately, for the worst.

BALDWIN: That gives you some perspective to see how high it is behind you with the street lights and another seven feet. Yikes.

Osama bin Laden was a mast he were mind terrorist, but he was also, did you know, a pretty good marketer as well? Did you know he wanted to change the name of Al Qaeda? He wasn't too pleased with that moniker. We'll tell you what he wanted to change it to and why. The details are leaking out today.

Have you heard about Ron Artest, the basketball brawler? Well, he's trying a new one here, a real new name. Back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Trending today, do you recognize this man we're about to show you? Here he is. Los Angeles Lakers star Meta World Peace, at least soon could be for now. He was Ron Artest, but he's petitioning a California court to have his name changed legally. He wants his new last name on his jersey. "Meta," what does that mean? In this case it means the Buddhist virtue of kindness. Not that unusual. Think of Muhammad Ali, and Artest isn't the first basketball player to do it. You remember Lew Alcindor is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Now to the first lady on part two of her trip to Africa. Michelle Obama and the girls landed in Botswana earlier today. She visited and helped spruce up an AIDS clinic. She spoke with CNN about her unexpected meeting a couple of days ago with Nelson Mandela.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHELLE OBAMA, U.S. FIRST LADY: The one thing I told him, you know, I wanted to make sure he understood how important his leadership and sacrifice has been to who I've become, to who my husband has become, and in short I just said thank you. It's really hard to know what to say to such an icon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Not letting the first lady off the political hook, we also did ask her about how much time she spends thinking or talking about her husband's run for re-election next year. Here was her answer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: We really don't talk about the election. We're really doing the work, and that's an important and useful distraction in the midst of it. There's a lot on the president of United States' plates that keeps him focused on what needs to be done. So you just keep doing what you believe is right.

I always say this. One of the reasons why I support this president not just as my husband but as a citizen is because I see him taking that long view. I see him every day waking up worrying not about polls but what's the right thing to do for the future. And that keeps you pretty focused on what's important.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Mrs. Obama and her family head home on Sunday.

Coming up next here, the small item the CIA found at Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan is revealing something huge now. Did Pakistan help bin Laden hide all these years? Wait until you hear what we're learning, Mike Baker, former CIA, is standing by live.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: It might be one of the biggest not yet answered questions lingering here since the death of Osama bin Laden, and that being how was the leader of Al Qaeda, the most wanted man in the world with one of the most recognizable faces in the world, how was he able to live and function and thrive and lead a terror organization in a military town just up the road from Islamabad? Was that compound the most incredible hiding place money could buy, or was somebody or perhaps a group actively protecting Osama bin Laden?

This piece of evidence here, a cell phone and the numbers stored in it may hold answers today. I want to bring in Mike Baker, former undercover CIA operative. Mike, counterintelligence is your business here. Talk to me about this cell phone. It wasn't bin Laden's cell phone. That was that of his trusted courier and the contacts found in it.

MIKE BAKER, FORMER CIA OPERATIVE: Right, and I like your opening point, could this has been the most secret lair ever and number in the ISI knew anything about it? That's what this cell phone is speaking to right now.

They picked up the courier's phone, and they got his phone. Obviously, that was one of the first pieces of material that picked up out of that compound they analyzed. Anytime you have a cell phone, you have to work it immediately. You're looking for operational, actionable intelligence.

Also in this was evidence after forensic review that there had been communications with this group, Harakah-al-Mujahedeen, which is an organization that we know about their linkages to Al Qaeda and they're collaboration and assistance back and forth with Al Qaeda. The interesting thing about Harakah-al-Mujahedeen is it was essentially established as were other groups in the '80s and '90s under the tutelage and training and guidance of the Pakistani intel service. You have this linkage between Harakah-al-mujahedeen, Al Qaeda and the ISI.

What they're looking at now is to what degree can they piece those communications together to hoe definitively? They're not a smoking gun yet to show definitively that some members of ISI were aware of bin Laden's presence. It does defy logic and common sense to think there weren't some people, not necessarily the top levels, but some people within the organization that new. BALDWIN: With the connection with Harakah-al-Mujahedeen to ISI and Al Qaeda, why are we even talking about in? Shouldn't we know these details from this clandestine raid in Pakistan?

BAKER: You just touched on a very important point. And certainly it from someone who has been in operations it's disappointing when a piece of information like this comes out. It points to the facts we have government officials under secrecy agreement who can't help but open their yap and talk about it.

Once we went to this compound in Abbottabad, we shouldn't talk about the treasure trove of details, but that was an issue right off the bat. From an operational point of view, we should have kept it zipped and not talk about this as with the cell phone am it's been discussed and been out there.

So in terms of talking about the linkages, it is now open. It's being discussed, and it is very important, because ultimately we need to come to grips with the Pakistani service and with the government. And so this issue has got to be resolved somehow, and I doubt it will be resolved by the ISI being open and transparent with us.

BALDWIN: Since we're on the subject of discussing, I want to ask you about this tidbit we learned. There was a letter found in that compound in Abbottabad that bin Laden was wearing, I guess, a PR hat as well as leading Al Qaeda. He was concerned about this group's image. It got a bad rap specifically with regard to Muslims. Let's full up the full screen. These were two options, and I'm not going to try to pronounce this. What do you make of the fact bin Laden was so concerned with PR?

BAKER: Well, they've always had a PR element, a media element within Al Qaeda. I don't want to make them sound overly sophisticated. They're aware of their image issues. It's interesting to note that bin Laden had angst while still alive over the fact that a murdering terrorist organization with the blood of thousands and thousands of Muslims on its hand was having image problems.

So the idea that he was thinking about how to correct that is worthy of a comedy. But, you know, it does speak to the fact that for years now they've been focused on trying to deliver their message, and they've been trying to latch onto common themes and populist themes, whether it's the Palestinian issue or others. It's not necessarily a surprise, but it is fascinating we get that look inside bin Laden's mind.

BALDWIN: It is fascinating. Whether we should be talking about it or not, the details are coming out. I really appreciate you as always, our CIA guy coming on and talking about what we're learning. Thank you to much Mike Baker.

BAKER: Thank you. I appreciate it.

BALDWIN: Live pictures here, live pictures of Casey Anthony. She's on trial in Orlando for murdering her two-year-old toddler Caylee. So right now the defense team is consulting with this homicide detective from Orange County sheriff's office. He's on the stand right now. We are keeping a close eye on this trial. Folks, CNN newsroom, we'll be right back.

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BALDWIN: We want to take you back down live to this Casey Anthony murder trial underway. Just to set it up for you before we get back in, you have the defense attorney here questioning this detective, this officer with the orange county sheriff's office, the homicide unit. It is Eric Edwards in witness box. The detective has been testifying about a member of the search party and this woman, this woman had received some voicemails from some of the Anthony family members, Cindy Anthony, specifically. So that said, let's listen.

CHENEY MASON, CASEY ANTHONY'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY: It goes to the theory of defense to suggest that the detectives involved in the case were so interested in following the road that they asked a woman to wear on two occasions a wire or concealed interception of communications to try to find out and get incriminating statements from the parents.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And since the next witness is out there, were they successful in getting incriminating statements?

MASON: You said did they?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Were they able to get --

MASON: No, sir. No, sir, they were not, because actually after being requested twice, she declined to do it. She otherwise would only be able to testify to which we already have in evidence about the duct tape.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you. State?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your honor, as I argued at sidebar, it is obvious from the coffer as well as what was argued at sidebar in open court that this line of questioning is designed only to invite the jury to speculate on the motives of law enforcement without actually ever asking what their motivation was to something because their motivation would be irrelevant because it does not relate to any of the material facts regarding Casey Anthony's guilt or innocence.

This is particularly emphasized by the fact that no evidence was obtained as a result of this law enforcement endeavor, and, therefore, the only thing left is the motivation. And that is not a subject that is relevant or material for this jury to consider at this juncture.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. The court reporter will appreciate it if you be by a microphone.

MASON: It's an interesting objection based on speculation, yet we're asked to speculate that the murder weapon, with duct tape, that the child suffocated from duct tape. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Mason -- there's no jury in here and I can determine -- I think I have enough experience to understand what goes to an argument and what does not go to an argument. So there's no jury, so objections about arguments, folks, is just a needless waste of time. So let him finish his argument.

MASON: I have nothing else to say, your honor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. State, anything else it would like to say in concluding remarks?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. The Florida Supreme Court in the case of Wright versus state, 1907 edition third, page 277, 2006 decision of the Florida Supreme Court said that --

BALDWIN: All right, we're going to pull away from this just for a moment. It sounds like that homicide detective out of Orange County is finished being examined and cross examined there in Orlando. Again, we're going to keep our eye on that trial. We'll bring you back bits and pieces of it as we deem newsworthy. We're also standing by.

Here's one of America's most wanted fugitives set to appear in a Boston courtroom in a few moments. We saw, presumably, Whitey Bulger appearing right before that courtroom an hour ago. We're going to actually now talk to one of his former mobsters who said Bulger had help all these years he's been on the lam. You don't want to miss that.

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BALDWIN: Now to Washington we go to my colleague Wolf Blitzer with the latest news hot off the CNN Political Ticker. Good to see you.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": Brooke, did you see Bruno Mars on the "Today Show" this morning?

BALDWIN: I missed it. Sorry. Was it great?

BLITZER: He did little James brown moves if you like that kind of stuff.

BALDWIN: I do like that stuff.

BLITZER: At the BET Soul Train awards last year. We'll talk about that -- if you get the video for my next hit in an hour, we'll show it to our viewers.

BALDWIN: Look at you, making our team scramble right now.

BLITZER: It was very good. I think your viewers, my viewers will like to see Bruno Mars do a little James brown. It's very, very cool. Let's talk politics right now. A lot of political stuff happening in Washington. The House of Representatives, the Republican majority in the House, they did pass a resolution today opposing what the Obama administration is doing in Libya, but then they rejected a resolution that would have cut off U.S. military funding restricting the U.S. military options in Libya.

As you know, the speaker, John Boehner, a lot of other Republicans and a bunch of Democrats as well are not happy the president has gone beyond 90 days with the U.S. NATO military operation in Libya without getting formal congressional authorization. They'd like to see the war powers resolution used in this particular case.

The U.S. has spent by the end of September, will have spent about $1.1 billion launching bombs, missiles and other weapons at targets in Libya. They say the war powers resolution applies. The White House says these are not, quote, "hostilities," as defined in the war powers resolution. So that debate goes on, but sort of an embarrassing setback to a certain degree for the White House today.

On another issue, the White House did announce that the president, starting Monday, will take charge of the negotiations with the Republicans and the Democrats in the House and Senate to deal with this debt ceiling.

As you know, and all of our viewers by now know, the Treasury Department, Timothy Geithner, the treasury secretary, says there's an August 2 deadline to increase the debt ceiling. It's right now about $14.3 trillion. So they have got a month or so to do something. Otherwise, the Treasury Department says there will be economic catastrophe if U.S. creditworthiness is undermined. The value of the dollar, interest rates, all sort of calamities could occur.

So, the president will get involved personally. Biden will be involved, but it's now going to be at the presidential level with John Boehner, with Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi. We will see if they can reach a deal over the next month -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Good deal. You say this all the time to me, Wolf Blitzer. I'm saying it to you. I have got a pretty good interview coming up. I hope you watch it in a couple of minutes.

BLITZER: Who do you have?

BALDWIN: Wait for it.

BLITZER: All right.

BALDWIN: A former mobster. It's pretty good. I'm excited for him.

BLITZER: Wow.

BALDWIN: Thank you, Wolf. BLITZER: All right.

BALDWIN: And we will get another political update for you in half-an-hour.