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CNN Live Saturday

Does Moussaoui Have Information About Future Terrorist Attacks?

Aired July 20, 2002 - 12:05   ET

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

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In the case of the man believed to be the 20th hijacker, Zacarias Moussaoui, the terror suspect claims he has knowledge of future planned attacks. In court this week, he tried to plead guilty only to have his plea rejected. He also claimed to be an al Qaeda member. But what does Moussaoui really know? Here's CNN justice correspondent Kelli Arena.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): How much does accused terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui know, and could it help the U.S. in its war on terrorism?

MATT LEVITT, TERRORISM EXPERT: There are two questions. One is, does he have information? I think he probably does. The second, is he going to be providing that good information? Is he going to be providing disinformation? Is he going to provide the same type of rhetoric he has been providing the court? Nobody knows.

ARENA: Moussaoui now admits he's a member of the al Qaeda terrorist network. He says he has knowledge about the September 11 attacks, and talked in court about quote: "An ongoing conspiracy started around 1995 which still carries on until this day."

Some investigators suggest it's unlikely he has information about current al Qaeda plans as he's been in custody for nearly a year.

LEVITT: Likely, a lot of information we already have, but he would be able to corroborate things, and that becomes very useful.

ARENA: Moussaoui tried to plead guilty Thursday to some of the charges against him. The judge gave him a week to reconsider.

If a guilty plea is accepted, one possibility is a plea agreement under which Moussaoui's life would be spared in exchange for information. Sources say prosecutors are not convinced Moussaoui will ever cooperate. They argue he's not reliable or consistent, and point out he has called for the destruction of the United States in open court. Still, investigators believe he may be able to name names and provide leads that could ultimately save lives.

ERIC HOLDER, FORMER DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: You have the desire of the intelligence agencies of this government that would want access to that information, and yet he's a person responsible for the deaths of 3,000 people on September the 11th, and we have indicated a desire to execute him. I'm not sure exactly how the government resolves that tension.

ARENA (on camera): As one former prosecutor put it, "if the government makes a deal it will be criticized for being too soft. If it doesn't and there is another attack, it could take part of the blame." That's a tough spot to be in, to say the least.

Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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