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CNN Live At Daybreak

Moussaoui To Be Arraigned Today

Aired January 02, 2002 - 05:03   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.
JOIE CHEN, CNN ANCHOR: Now, in a few hours from now, accused terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui will be arraigned in a Virginia federal court.

CNN's Susan Candiotti looks at the case against the alleged 20th hijacker.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Moussaoui is charged with six conspiracy counts, including using a plane as a weapon of mass destruction.

AICHA EL WAFI, MOUSSAOUI'S MOTHER: I am his mother. He tells me he didn't do it. So I believe that.

CANDIOTTI: If found guilty, he could face the death penalty, not permitted in France.

EL WAFI: I will fight nonetheless with all of my strength against the death penalty for him.

CANDIOTTI: He was not with the 19 terrorists who took down four planes September 11, but authorities allege he intended to kill.

JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: Moussaoui is charged with undergoing the same training, receiving the same funding and pledging the same commitment to kill Americans.

CANDIOTTI: The case appears largely circumstantial. He went to U.S. flight schools and allegedly had crop dusting materials in his apartment when he was arrested, similar behavior to suspected ringleader Mohammed Atta and others. The indictment also alleges Moussaoui received money from accused international terror fugitive, Ramzi Bin al-Shibh. He's accused of funneling money to pay for the September 11 attacks.

EUGENE FIDELL, INSTITUTE OF MILITARY JUSTICE: The flow of money, the availability of money is a factor that prosecutors will try to make much of and to show connections between Mr. Moussaoui and other people who were involved in the network.

CANDIOTTI: In recent developments, U.S. officials are investigating whether Moussaoui trained in the same Afghan al Qaeda camp as alleged shoe bomber Richard Reid. They both attended the same London mosque, though officials there never saw them together. Before Moussaoui was asked to leave that mosque in the late '90s, those who knew him sensed a change.

ABDUL HAQQ BAKER, BRIXTON MOSQUE CHAIRMAN: Very arrogant, disdain for us, coming into this room where we are now picking arguments, trying to influence some of the more unsuspecting individuals. Why do you come to this mosque? Don't listen to their teachings. They don't know anything about Islam.

CANDIOTTI: It's not clear whether Moussaoui's lawyers will ask for a change of venue, the courthouse not far from the site of the Pentagon attack.

STANLEY COHEN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: You've got pre-trial publicity. You've got jury animus. You've got bias. You've got a lot of problems even before you get into what's the case about.

CANDIOTTI: It's about Moussaoui's alleged role in a terror plot. The first September 11 trial could come fairly quickly in the so- called rocket docket, but no sooner than March.

Susan Candiotti, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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