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Egypt Votes; What Will Shift in Immigration Policy Mean for Young Undocumented Immigrants?; Legal Panel; Democratic Lawmaker Banned From Michigan House Floor for Saying 'Vagina'
Aired June 16, 2012 - 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: Beginning with Saudi Arabia, where they are mourning the loss of its crown prince and the heir to the Saudi throne. Saudi state TV says Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz has died in Geneva, Switzerland. Saudi officials say the prince had health problems, but the cause of his death is still unclear. His body will be flown to Saudi Arabia and buried tomorrow. The crown prince was the kingdom's interior minister. He has been known as a hard-line conservative who led several crackdowns on al Qaeda militants.
And the future of a pivotal U.S. ally, Egypt, is at stake this weekend. Millions of Egyptians are picking a new president, but some say it's no choice at all. On the ballot, an Islamist candidate and the former right-hand man of ousted leader Hosni Mubarak. Our Ivan Watson is live for us in Cairo, so Ivan, people clearly behind you are excited about this opportunity of a runoff election. They're casting their ballots. What else is happening?
IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. This is day one of this two-day election. People have actually been lining up despite the awfully hot Egyptian summer heat to cast their ballots. A lot of people have told us that they're still excited that they have a choice in who will be the next president. Of course, it is not a right that they really had after decades of dictatorship in this country.
There are basically two candidates that they can pick from. One is a former Air Force general and the former prime minister who had been appointed by the former dictator. His name is Ahmed Shafik. The other is a candidate from the Muslim Brotherhood. His name is Mohammed Morsi. And earlier today, we got a sense of what people think, voters think about these two candidates. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: Who did you vote for?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For Shafik. Yes. I know that many people (inaudible) him because he's from the previous government. And he (inaudible) behaviors. But at least he has character to be president, you know?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want change.
WATSON: Who did you choose?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want Morsi. Because I don't love any man like Hosni.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: The problem here, Fredricka, is this is coming at a very turbulent time in Egyptian politics. A court just ruled to dissolve the parliament, which was only elected a few months ago. And that could throw this country into a constitutional crisis in the middle of a presidential election. Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Ivan Watson, thanks so much in Cairo.
Meantime, Greeks go back to the polls Sunday. There's been no fully functional government in Athens since May, when voters failed to elect a majority in parliament. Some fear continued political turmoil could see Greece withdraw from the Europe currency, which could spread the debt crisis across Europe. Greece is in danger of running out of money for basic needs and has to make cuts this month in order to keep a bailout from its European neighbors.
And a historic and emotional day in Oslo, Norway. Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi delivered her Nobel speech 21 years after winning the Peace Prize. The democracy activist couldn't accept the prize in person back in 1991 because she was under house arrest. In her speech, Suu Kyi said the Myanmar government is taking steps towards democracy, but more progress is needed.
And back in the U.S. now, the Obama administration makes huge policy changes for young illegal immigrants. Under the policy effective immediately, people younger than 30 who were brought to the U.S. as kids and have no criminal record will get a two-year deferral from deportation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Effective immediately, the Department of Homeland Security is taking steps to lift the shadow of deportation from these young people. Over the next few months, eligible individuals who do not present a risk to national security or public safety will be able to request temporary relief from deportation proceedings and apply for work authorization.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: The news spread quickly in the Latino community, and many expressed joy and relief. They marched to the White House holding signs, changing, yes, we can.
And it's not all praise, however. There is criticism of the president's immigration decision. Republican challenger Mitt Romney says the new policy is politically motivated.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY, GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I can also tell you that I think it's unfortunate that this sort of thing comes up four and a half months before the election. The president's been in office three and a half years. He had both houses of Congress, did nothing in his first two years with them. And, of course this comes up at a time when it's a temporary measure. We really need something that is long term, so people can understand what the future will be for them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Romney says if he's elected, he'll come up with legislation for a long term solution to immigration.
Firefighters battling that raging wildfire in Larimer County, Colorado are really hoping for some rain today. If they don't get it, they'll face another grueling day on the fire lines. The Hyde Park fire has incinerated 54,000 acres and it's still growing. Thousands have had to evacuate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICK CHRISTIANSEN, LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: A very large number of homes here in Northern Colorado in this fire. At this point, that count is at 113 homes that are destroyed in this fire. We're continuing to assess the conditions, and that number will continue to grow. And I don't mean we'll have more homes destroyed as a result of the ongoing fire. We're actually assessing the damage that's occurred up until this time. This is taking time to get in there and do that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: The fire is only 20 percent contained, but hundreds of firefighters have arrived from across the U.S. to help.
In case you missed last night's historic moment, Nick Wallenda pumped his fist in the air after he crossed over Niagara Falls on a tightrope. People anxiously watched him walk 1,800 feet in the dark, with mist and wind blowing all around him. But steady as he goes. After 25 minutes, he sprinted to the end. And after all that, Canadian Border Patrol, they were there to ask him for his passport.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What is the purpose of your trip, sir?
NIK WALLENDA, DAREDEVIL: To inspire people around the world.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How were you able to stay so calm during that walk?
WALLENDA: A lot of praying, that's for sure. That helps a lot. But it's all about the concentration and focus. And it all goes back to the training. You know, in the middle of the wire, at one point I just started thinking about my great grandfather, paying tribute to him, and all the walks that he did and he was successful on. That's what this is all about, paying tribute to my ancestors and my hero, Carl Wallenda.
(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: Well, Nik's great grandfather Carl Wallenda from the Flying Wallendas fame died while walking a tightrope between two buildings back in 1978. Nik Wallenda says his next goal is to walk across the Grand Canyon. And this programming note. Our Don Lemon will talk live to Nik Wallenda tonight, 7:00 Eastern time, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
The new U.S. immigration policy, it's eliminating the fear of deportation for many illegal immigrants. We'll talk to one woman whose life could dramatically change because of these new policies.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The Obama administration's new immigration policy could have a dramatic impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. The president announced yesterday the U.S. will stop deporting young law-abiding illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and have lived here for at least five years.
Jessica Colotl fits most of that criteria. She came to the U.S. illegally from Mexico when she was just 11 years old. Years later, while in college, she almost got kicked out of the country after being ticketed and arrested for driving without a license, on expired Mexican passport and lying about her address, which is a felony. So for months she fought to stay in the U.S., and last year she won a deferment along with graduating from college. Jessica is joining me right here now from Atlanta. Good to see you.
JESSICA COLOTL, ARRIVED IN U.S. ILLEGALLY AT AGE 11: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: OK. So given your experience, all that you've been through, the deferment, the misdemeanor as well as the felony charges, does your situation still fit the criteria so you could benefit from this new immigration policy?
COLOTL: Just like you said a few minutes ago, I've been fighting those cases, and I'm staying very positive. And I really think I'll have a positive outcome and I'll be eligible to fit this criteria.
WHITFIELD: Because your work permit expires next year.
COLOTL: Yes.
WHITFIELD: So if this were to benefit you, it would allow you two additional years in order to work and/or pursue your law pursuits at another college, correct?
COLOTL: Correct.
WHITFIELD: So what was that news like yesterday? Where were you? How did you receive it? How did you digest it all?
COLOTL: I was actually in school for an event with my sorority when the news broke. And I was very excited. I was very thrilled. But at the same time, I knew that it was only a short term solution. And it doesn't really solve the overall problem. I think it's more of a Band- Aid, if you will.
WHITFIELD: So what does that mean exactly? You're saying this is a short term fix. It really is a band-aid approach. Instead, you would prefer what? You would have preferred to hear what?
COLOTL: The passage of the DREAM Act and/or immigration reform. Because that is essentially what this country needs.
WHITFIELD: But since the DREAM Act has been defeated a few times, and there is really nothing to indicate that it had a better chance in the few coming months, this administration would say, OK, this is a reprieve that we have crafted. You know, what do you say to critics who say that this is a reprieve, it may lead to other things, that there may be people who will demand citizenship, that they demand there should be a path to citizenship, and that this is just a, you know, temporary measure, that it's not enough?
COLOTL: Correct. I mean, it's not enough. And that's why we need to pass the DREAM Act and eventually immigration reform. Now when it comes to critics, I think that everyone deserves justice, and we clearly see that undocumented students are fighting very hard at becoming better and educate themselves every day, because we know that we represent the future of America.
WHITFIELD: I guess a better way of posing that question is, there are critics who say with this also comes a sense of entitlement that's being expressed. People who may be here illegally, that they get this deferment, that there is a feeling that because they're here, that there should be a path to citizenship. And those critics of this policy are saying there really is no expectation. There is no entitlement that should come with this condition. What do you say to them?
COLOTL: I think that we need to create that mechanism to citizenship, because that's what we need. I mean, we're talking about American people. We're talking about American students who are just trying to live the American dream and are waiting for an opportunity to contribute back to this country.
WHITFIELD: So what's next for you?
COLOTL: I'm going to keep working and eventually go to law school.
WHITFIELD: So at what point do you inquiry and find out if you're eligible for this policy?
COLOTL: Next year when my new work permit expires again.
WHITFIELD: OK. And then your family is where?
COLOTL: In Mexico.
WHITFIELD: So they are no longer here in the United States. They were for a while, but then last year when you ran into the problems involving -- and it really started with a parking problem on campus, did it not? COLOTL: Correct.
WHITFIELD: And police then stopped you and said where is your ID? You didn't have a license. You had an expired passport. And then that led to the road toward deportation. You were actually taken to a detention center not long after, and you were poised for deportation. But then it stopped. Why?
COLOTL: Why? Well, it was thanks to the intervention of many pro- immigration organizations and to the help -- and because of the help of my sorority sisters, who really spoke out against this injustice. And because of that I was able to get deferred action to remain in the United States.
WHITFIELD: OK. You stayed. But then at that point that's when your family decided that they were returning to Mexico.
COLOTL: Yes.
WHITFIELD: And you spoke with them since yesterday about this decision?
COLOTL: Yes.
WHITFIELD: And their feelings are?
COLOTL: They're very, very excited about this. They also know that it's only a temporary solution, but they remain hopeful that one day things will change and there will be justice for all.
WHITFIELD: All right. Jessica Colotl, thanks so much.
COLOTL: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: All the best to you.
COLOTL: Thanks.
WHITFIELD: Appreciate it.
You can see more about the impact of the immigration announcement on Hispanic voters in the 2:00 p.m. Eastern hour right here in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'll be talking to the president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, Reverend Samuel Rodriguez. You don't want to miss that.
Now, the Ku Klux Klan wants to adopt a Georgia highway. But the state says, no. Now an unlikely ally may be helping the Klan out. Our legal guys are standing by ready to weigh in on this one.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: With Wall Street's ups and downs, you might wonder if playing the market is still a good game to get into. In today's "Smart is the New Rich," Christine Romans had sat down with a man who has made investing an art form but now is having some second thoughts. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jim Rogers has been playing the markets since the 1970s, and today this legendary investor doesn't like what he sees.
JIM ROGERS, INVESTOR: Next year is going to be bad in the American economy. Be very careful.
ROMANS: Why?
ROGERS: Why is it going to be bad? Lots--
ROMANS: Fiscal cliff?
ROGERS: Lots of -- fiscal cliff, raising taxes. You think that's going to help? Europe is a mess, and lots of problems going on in the world. Christine, we've had recessions in America every four to six years since the beginning of the republic. You can add. Next year, we're going to have an economic slowdown for whatever reason. It is going to be bad.
ROMANS: So, if you are so worried, what do you buy? What are you buying? Where are you putting your money?
ROGERS: My money is -- I'm short stocks, you're shorting when you think something will go down, and I own currencies and I own commodities.
ROMANS: They say everyone should have a little big of gold in their portfolio as a hedge.
ROGERS: Everybody -- I have a little bit of gold in my pocket.
ROMANS: How much? No.
ROGERS: I hope I do.
ROMANS: Let me see. He sure does. I won't keep it, but --
ROGERS: I know you won't keep it! I've got witnesses!
ROMANS: Commodities have had a pullback lately. Do you think that that is a place to buy commodities?
ROGERS: Yes. Because two things will happen. One is the economy will get better, and since there are shortages in commodities, I'll make money in commodities. Or the economy won't get better, and then governments are going to print money. It's the wrong thing to do, Christine, but that's all they know to do. And whenever they print money, you've got to own real assets if you want to make money. Whether it's silver or rice, you have got to own real things.
ROMANS: What's the best piece of advice anybody ever gave you?
ROGERS: Buy low and sell high. ROMANS: Of course!
ROGERS: What more do you need to know in life?
ROMANS: And of course, you always know when it's low and when it's going to be high.
ROGERS: Ah, that's the hard part.
ROMANS: Christine Romans, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Next week, the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse trial. The prosecution will be expected to wrap up its case, and the defense will begin. Sandusky is the former assistant football coach for Penn State. He is charged with abusing at least 10 boys over a 15-year span.
Let's bring in our legal guys. Avery Friedman is a civil rights attorney and law professor in Cleveland. And Richard Herman, a New York criminal defense attorney and law professor, joining us from Austin, Texas this time. Where is your cowboy hat, Richard?
RICHARD HERMAN, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Howdy, y'all. Howdy.
WHITFIELD: All right. Good to see both of you. OK, the prosecution has actually already rested. The defense is going to present its case come Monday. So this is really fascinating, because you wonder how the defense will be pressured to kind of tread lightly, because, you know, Richard, eight of the ten alleged victims testified, and now it's going to be up to the defense, perhaps, to try to discredit the eyewitness accounts or these witnesses and their testimony. But how it does so can either really sway the jurors or can really turn them off, right?
HERMAN: You're absolutely right, Fred. And Sandusky is innocent until proven guilty. But those days are coming to an end swiftly. The defense has to make one ultimate decision, whether or not they're going to put Sandusky on the stand. They say they are going to do that. When you do that in a defense case, that means you are totally desperate. That's a last-ditch move to try to save the case.
WHITFIELD: Really?
HERMAN: That's a real desperation move there, Fred. They also have to decide whether or not -- the judge granted them the ability to put on a personality disorder expert. If they do that, they will then open the door for the prosecution to put their expert on in rebuttal, who will then say unequivocally this man is a pedophile. He is an animal. And this jury, after hearing the gut wrenching, gut wrenching testimony this week, I believe their minds are made up already. I think it's over for this guy.
WHITFIELD: OK, so, Avery, the jurors have three days, I mean a long weekend to really simmer over what they heard from the prosecution before they're going to hear from the defense. So Richard touched on those two things then, whether Sandusky would actually take to the stand, or whether some sort of personality disorder expert would take the stand in lieu of Sandusky doing so. What do you think about either one of those options?
AVERY FRIEDMAN, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I think you nailed the word. Simmer is the operative word. They're going to be thinking about the dramatic end of the prosecution's case. Joe McGettigan, who is the chief prosecutor, did a spectacular job in crescendoing this case exactly where it should be with victim number nine. You heard just awful situations.
Actually, Joe Amendola, who is the defense lawyer, suggested to the jury during opening statement -- and remember, that's a promise to the jury -- he might put Sandusky on. Take it to the bank right now, you're not going to see Jerry Sandusky on that stand. I don't think we're going to see a battle of experts at all. They're going to zero in on lack of credibility that the -- that law enforcement pushed these guys, that Jerry Sandusky was a guy that took care of throwaway kids. I don't think it's going to work. The judge is going to knock out, Fredricka, some of the 52. But by and large, most of those charges are going to be sent to the jury for their deliberation. And look for that starting up by the end of the week.
WHITFIELD: And so potentially the defense will try to say that these alleged victims were also motivated by money, because all of them had -- or most of them have separate attorneys. Is that an argument that could work in that courtroom of jurors? Jurors who have already expressed some emotion when hearing the testimony of these alleged victims, Avery?
FRIEDMAN: Well, yes. I mean, the jurors are breaking down, Fredricka. Whether or not that argument is advanced, I think it's going to be in trying to diminish the credibility of these people. The stars of the prosecution, I think, were victim number nine, which ended the case, and Mike McQueary, who was that graduate assistant, who caught Sandusky, didn't stop him but reported it. And that's what's on the mind of the jury right now.
WHITFIELD: And Richard, McQueary, he was the only alleged eyewitness besides the alleged victims, right?
HERMAN: He is only eyewitness to an incident in which he stood there and did nothing to save this young boy from being brutally attacked by this animal. So McQueary is not a hero in my book. He's a punk in my book.
But, Fred, they tried the cross-examination, they tried to discredit the witnesses. You can't -- two witnesses, three witnesses, four witnesses. The pattern seems to be the same in each instance. Then the tickle monster thing, then the locker room, the storage facility at Penn State, which had his handwritten notes on the names of these young men. It's a horrible, horrible case here.
FRIEDMAN: The evidence is overwhelming. WHITFIELD: Yes. OK.
HERMAN: It's overwhelming, Fred.
WHITFIELD: It is troubling, no matter which way you look at it. It's a tough case to listen and watch.
Let's talk about another case that is very interesting, caught our eye, this one being in the state of Georgia. And the KKK wanted to take advantage of an adopt the highway program. There are adopt a highway programs everywhere across the country. But in this case, they applied for this stretch of land. They wanted to be responsible for cleaning up, et cetera, in the adopt a highway program. The state of Georgia said no, in large part because of the track record of the KKK. And the state didn't want to appear as though they were endorsing the activities or the track record, the history of the Klan. They said, no. But the Klan is taking it further, and the ACLU, Avery, has now stepped in saying, yes, indeed, they agree with the Klan. This is a First Amendment right issue. Is it?
FRIEDMAN: Well, I mean, it's clearly a First Amendment issue. But the strange thing about it are the strange bedfellows. Ku Klux Klan is relying on the ACLU.
WHITFIELD: The American Civil Liberties Union.
FRIEDMAN: But, in fact --
HERMAN: Pathetic.
WHITFIELD: Which has in many cases taken on the Klan.
FRIEDMAN: Taken on the Klan, that's exactly right. But you know what? The ACLU represented the Klan in a very similar case in Missouri. You know what? The ACLU won for the Klan, and the Klan was able to put their sign up. It wound up getting sawed down. But the bottom line is, it's a pure First Amendment issue. Georgia is going to argue, does it look like a government endorsement? I don't think that argument is going to fly. And if the case proceeds, the Klan wins, unfortunately.
WHITFIELD: Wow. And so, Richard, there is precedent, not only in Missouri, but California and Delaware as well.
HERMAN: Yes. You can't discriminate based on your contrary belief to someone's political agenda. Except that this is not a political agenda. This is a group that is filled with hatred. This is a terrorist organization, I would argue. And I would also argue that any sign up with their names and initials on it is going to be an awful distraction for drivers.
WHITFIELD: That will make people stop. I don't know if I want to proceed on this road. What does it mean? They wouldn't see the adopt a highway program part.
HERMAN: Exactly! Exactly.
(CROSSTALK)
HERMAN: They should make them do it in their sheets. People should be able to go buy--
(CROSSTALK)
HERMAN: This is horrible.
FRIEDMAN: I've been fighting the Klan for 40 years, but they have a right to do it. It's freedom of speech. And you know what America--
HERMAN: They are animals. They have no right to do this.
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: I actually agree with both of your thoughts simultaneously. That's amazing. I'm either getting really good at that, or just both of you are just, you know, ringing clear to me.
All right. Well, very good. We're going to see you again, Avery and Richard, in about 20 minutes. We're going to talk about a New York City police recruit who claims that he got kicked out of the academy because of the length of his beard. And a killer wave washes ashore in Japan's coast just more than a year ago. Who can forget that? Now debris from the devastation is showing up halfway around the world.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. Taking our top stories. More debris from Japan's deadly tsunami may be surfacing halfway around the world. A fishing boat and two other objects, one has Japanese writing on it, have washed shore ashore in Washington State. Authorities are trying to determine if the wreckage is from last year's powerful earthquake and killer wave. Two weeks ago a dock floated across the Pacific on to U.S. shore.
Nuclear reactors are operating in Japan for the first time since the meltdown at the Fukushima Plant last year. The government restarted two reactors today on the island of Honshu. All of Japan's 50 reactors were shut down after the Fukushima disaster. Many Japanese are opposed to restarting any of the plants saying they're not earthquake safe.
And a U.S. Air Force spacecraft in orbit for more than a year will come back to earth today. The robotic X-37B is set to land at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Officials are keeping a close eye on the weather and hoping it will cooperate. This is an artist conception of what the ship may look like only a few people really know. As for its mission, officials aren't saying much, but hopefully we'll get some answers once as it does return.
All right now to this. Amazing story of rescue. A woman was trapped inside a burning car, after she lost control and flipped. But a stranger smashed open the window with a fire extinguisher and then pulled her to safety moments before the car was simply consumed by flames. And then he simply disappeared. Well, that was two weeks ago. Our affiliate KTRK tracked him down. His name is Mitchell Corbin. And he's a sergeant in the Texas Air National Guard.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITCHELL CORBIN: I saw a lady frantically screaming that, you know, she's still in there. She's still in there. I figured out that there was a big problem going on. And I took the steps to fix it. I was just happy that everything turned out all right. And everyone was safe.
NANCY DECKER, RESCUED FROM BURNING CAR: He's my guardian angel. He really is. I have a hero. God put him there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: That's amazing. Corbin -- actually, he teaches emergency response in the guard. But says this was his first time he's actually had to rescue someone. Thank goodness he was there.
All right, first, we saw rapper Tupac Shakur resurrected as a hologram in a concert. Well, now Marilyn Monroe? Well, this could mean some legal trouble for the company behind it all. Our legal guys are standing by, there they are again, ready to break down this case. See you in a bit.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A New York City Police recruit says his dream of becoming a cop was cut short because of his beard. Fishel Litzman claims that he got kicked out of the academy because he refused to trim it. Well, Litzman is a Hasidic Jew and says his religion forbids him from cutting his beard.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FISHEL LITZMAN: It was never, ever stated to me in any way, shape or form that you can have a beard, but at a certain length. All I was ever told was that you need to file for a religious exemption.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Our legal guys are back. Avery Friedman in Cleveland and Richard Herman in Austin. All right, gentlemen, this is interesting. He says he was never told of any such policy. But apparently, the New York Police Department does have a policy in place that says, you know, beards for religious purposes are to be kept one millimeter in length. He says he's not going to trim it at all. He says in, fact, this kind of cuts into his freedom of religion. Avery?
FRIEDMAN: Yes, we're back at the First Amendment here, aren't we? What's really intriguing is that there are Hassidic Jews and Sikhs, and other members of the NYPD that have longer beards. He is 38 years old. He's a former paramedic and enrolled in the police academy. Well, a little bit old for most police officer rookies, but in any event, in order to prevail, he's got to seek that exemption, which apparently he's done, and then secondly the police department has to prove that there's a rational relation to the rule and that they have accommodated it. At the end of the day, Fredricka, this guy, I think, is going to prevail.
WHITFIELD: You do? OK, because he does plan on suing.
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Richard, how do you see it? Do you think this is going to be a clean cut for him?
RICHARD HERMAN: Ooh!
FRIEDMAN: It's a clean cut. Good one.
HERMAN: I got it all, Fred.
FRIEDMAN: Good one.
HERMAN: I took it all in from you so far.
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
HERMAN: Listen, even Benson and Stabler couldn't save this guy, really. There are rules and regulations promulgated by the police department. It has nothing to do with your religious beliefs or anything else. They believe it's a safety concern. And that's what -- how it is stated in the rules and regulations here. This is the largest police force in the country. And this is -- these are the rules. If you want to play baseball, it's three strikes and you're out. They told him.
FRIEDMAN: No.
HERMAN: They say they told him three times during the academy and during his training. It could only be like a half an inch or a millimeter on his face. He chose not to do that. He is 38 years old, like Avery said. I don't know what he is doing training at 38 to be a police officer. But in any event --
FRIEDMAN: Well, this guy does --
HERMAN: I do not think he's going to prevail here.
(CROSSTALK)
HERMAN: I do not think he is going to prevail.
FRIEDMAN: Well, look. Let me ask you an obvious question. An obvious question is what is the difference between one millimeter and 1.1 millimeter in terms of safety and looking neat? I think the police department is going to have a very difficult time if he can establish it. I mean, I think that more complicated issue is what if he's walking around like Rip Van Winkle? Then what happens? Does that impair his ability to perform? I think that remains to be seen.
WHITFIELD: Well, this is what the -- this is what the New York Police Department deputy commissioner said in his statement. The NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul Brown stating that it is, quote, "makes reasonable accommodations in this regard. The department makes reasonable accommodations in this regard. Beards for religious purposes are to be kept to one millimeter in length, period." And if that's the policy, doesn't that mean everyone would have to adhere to it? Simple as that.
FRIEDMAN: They made it up. They made it up.
HERMAN: Well, that's right--
FRIEDMAN: There is no rational --
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: There was not a policy in place for a period of time?
FRIEDMAN: It may be the policy, but does the policy makes sense? And it doesn't, really. I mean, you know, take a look at police officers, and I represented plenty of them, the underlying rational is they got to look neat. Really? Is that what is achieved by this rule? I think the policy goes out the window in the context of religious freedom under the First Amendment.
WHITFIELD: OK. All right. All right. Well, I know you guys really want to appear on this case as well. This one involves a hologram of Marilyn Monroe. You know, I can't stop myself.
HERMAN: Yes.
WHITFIELD: OK, so according to the Hollywood Reporter, there is a planned concert. And they apparently claim this company that it has the copyright to Marilyn Monroe's image and that it has had this for quite some time and they want to use her image by way of a hologram, kind of interacting with the -- some of the folks on stage. But the estate of Marilyn Monroe says no way. They sent a cease and desist letter. So who would ultimately be right? Who would have the upper hand in a case like this, Richard? If you have copyright?
HERMAN: Well, this is going to come down --
WHITFIELD: If you have the copyright, I guess, you know, rights, but then the estate says we want to control the image of, you know, our person. Who has the upper hand?
HERMAN: Right. Right. The issue is to what extent does the copyright control here? I believe the estate has the paramount right. I believe there will be a financial settlement here. And it's going to come down to money, Fred. It really is. But the estate, I believe, has every right to control this. The copyright, I don't know that it exists. I know they're claiming a statute of limitation expired. That Google video --
FRIEDMAN: Right.
HERMAN: -- has shown this for years on Marilyn. So therefore the estate did nothing to stop that. But in any event, I do think a judge is going to sit and give great credence to the rights of the estate, and I do believe in the end there will be a financial settlement. And we'll be able to see this hologram.
WHITFIELD: So, even though, Avery, Digicom says they've had, you know, these rights for a very long time.
FRIEDMAN: Right. I can't believe this is the first time I'm agreeing with this guy in three weeks.
But I do think --
WHITFIELD: What's happening?
FRIEDMAN: The estate will likely -- likely --
HERMAN: He finally got some smarts.
(CROSSTALK)
FRIEDMAN: I think Digicom has a good argument on this case, because no one's done anything for 15 years. But I think at the end of the day --
WHITFIELD: OK.
FRIEDMAN: -- the estate prevails. And it will be settled up.
WHITFIELD: All right. Avery, Richard, thanks so much. We've got one more case. We're not going to talk about it. But, you know, we're just going to remind folks it is kind of case closed now. The John Edwards case.
FRIEDMAN: Right.
WHITFIELD: -- You know, something you all and I have talked about for a very long time now. Prosecutors --
FRIEDMAN: Right.
WHITFIELD: -- have made a decision. They are dropping the remaining charges against him. And they will not retry the case. So case closed. This comes just less than two weeks after --
FRIEDMAN: I think we kind of figured that.
WHITFIELD: You kind of called this one.
FRIEDMAN: I think we kind of figured that.
WHITFIELD: I think he did. It was awfully costly.
FRIEDMAN: Right.
WHITFIELD: And why do this again is exactly what you all said. So there was an acquittal. And hung jury on some of those cases just two weeks ago. Edwards was accused of using nearly $1 million in illegal campaign contributions to keep his pregnant mistress under wraps. So, it's not going to happen again.
HERMAN: All right. Under wraps. Kevin Costner shut out Baldwin (ph) too in that case, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Oh, yes, that was interesting case, too. We'll have to revisit that this week.
HERMAN: Yes.
WHITFIELD: All right.
HERMAN: Absolutely.
WHITFIELD: Good to see you guys. All right, thanks so much. Have a great rest of the weekend.
A Democratic lawmaker is being punished after she used the word vagina in a speech on the state House floor. Some Republicans call her immature.
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WHITFIELD: In Michigan, a Democratic lawmaker gets banned from the House floor after she used the word vagina. Well, it came up during a debate over a proposed new restrictions on abortion. GOP lawmakers say her remarks were immature. Mary Snow has details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Republicans in Michigan are calling this a temper tantrum.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The question before for the House is on the adoption of Amendment 2I. The (inaudible) will open the board. Congressmen may vote at their desks.
The amendment is not adopted. Are there further amendments?
SNOW: She was drowned out, but vasectomy was the last word she said. She was pushing for an amendment to regulate vasectomies as part of her opposition to a bill restricting abortions.
Lisa Brown, another Democrat, was barred from speaking after saying this.
LISA BROWN, (D), MICHIGAN STATE HOUSE: And finally, Mr. Speaker, I'm flattered that you're all so interested in my vagina, but no means no.
[APPLAUSE]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Members, I do ask that you do respect the decorum of the House.
SNOW: Brown also made references to her Jewish religion.
BROWN: The stage of pregnancy does not matter. Wherever there is a question of the life of the mother or that of the unborn child, Jewish law rules in favor of preserving the life of the mother. SNOW: The Democratic lawmaker says she still hasn't been told by the Republican leadership why she couldn't speak on the House floor Thursday.
BROWN: I've been making guesses. I didn't know if it was my, you know, references to my religious beliefs. I didn't know if it was using the word vagina. I just -- without telling me anything, I'm only left to guess.
SNOW: The Republican leadership says religion was not the reason, that the ban is about keeping decorum.
LISA POSTHUMUS LYONS, (R), MICHIGAN STATE HOUSE: This is not about women. This is not about policy. This is not about the use of two anatomically and medically correct terms. This is about acting professional on the House floor. And this is about making sure that we maintain a level of decorum.
SNOW: Republican Representative Lisa Lyons says she took offense to using the phrase "No means no" and this is how she interpreted it.
LYONS: As she finished up her statement, compared a part of the bill to rape. And that is when she was gaveled down. And that is what our floor leader and speaker pro tem objected to.
BROWN: I think that they're looking for an excuse to punish me when I didn't do anything wrong. To me this is a war on women. It's silencing our voices and saying we want control of our bodies.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And it has been 40 years since the U.S. let girls in the game with Title IX. We'll talk one-on-one with the tennis star who has been in that fight ever since.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Now let's check some other news making headlines today. It's been 40 years since the infamous Watergate break-in led to President Nixon's resignation. Now the FBI has released the personnel files of secret informant Mark Felt, also known as Deep Throat for the first time ever.
China has sent a female astronaut into space. And if all goes well, her spacecraft will dock with China's orbiting space lab.
And Tiger Woods could be on the verge of a huge comeback. It's been four years since he won his last major title. But now, he is tied for the lead at the U.S. Open in San Francisco.
All right. It is a bucket list destination, hidden in the mountains of Peru. Machu-Picchu is considered a wonder of the world. And now it's even easier than ever to get there. Rob Marciano is on the go.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ROB MARCIANO, CBS CORRESPONDENT: Machu-Picchu is called the lost city of the Incas. Hidden high in the Andes Mountains of Peru, it remained out of reach of Spanish explores. Even in modern times a grueling five-day hike up the Inca trail used to be the only way to get there.
RICHARD BANGS, "SOUTH AMERICA: QUEST FOR WONDER": There are other ways. And they are simpler and more accessible and available to anybody no matter your age or physical fitness. And the best is probably the train. And there were trains departing all the time all day long from Cusco down to Machu-Picchu.
MARCIANO: The gateway to Machu-Picchu is the city of Cusco. And there are now more flights than ever.
BANGS: LAN Airlines has introduced the service directly from the U.S. to Lima, and then you connect through -- still on LAN -- to Cusco. The competition has made it a much more attractive destination.
MARCIANO: Only 2,500 visitors a day are allowed into Machu Picchu. So make sure you buy your entrance ticket in advance from a travel agent or tour company.
BANGS: So Machu-Picchu has experienced explosive growth over the last decade as it has made almost everybody's bucket list. And it's worthwhile, it is transcendentally beautiful.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right. So much of beautiful stuff to see. And I've got details about hiking to Machu-Picchu and riding the rails to get there. I'll talk to Alex Pascarello from jetsetter.com in our 2:00 Eastern hour.
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WHITFIELD: 40 years ago Title IX was introduced, making it illegal to exclude girls from educational programs that receive federal funding. Tennis grade Billie Jean King championed the fight for that legislation, and she is still just as passionate and vocal about equality in sports. I spoke with her earlier this week about Title IX's 40th anniversary.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILLIE JEAN KING: Our job is to keep women in the game. They have the same opportunities, there is 1.3 million less opportunities on the high school level still for girls. We have to make sure they are there. It's very important, because we've got the obesity. We want to keep girls in the game because it's just so important just for overall health.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Tune in for more of my interview with Billie Jean King at 2:00 eastern time today. All right. Straight ahead, at 2:00 also, I'll be speaking with a U.S. congressman who is opposed to the changes on immigration policy announced by President Obama. And at 3:00, I will show you some useful gadgets to take along on that family vacation.
I'm Fredricka Whitfield. "YOUR MONEY" starts right now.
