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CNN Live At Daybreak

Walker Back in U.S, In Court on Thursday

Aired January 24, 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: More about John Walker now. The Taliban American is scheduled to make his first court appearance four hours from now in a suburban Washington federal courtroom. This is how a head shaven Walker looked as he was being taken to jail last night. Looks different, doesn't he?

CNN National Correspondent Susan Candiotti looks at the case against Walker.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): John Walker, back on U.S. soil, escorted from a helicopter handcuffed and shackled, shuffling across a grassy field to a waiting van and a jail house cell, his final stop after a trip that took him across three continents. A military transport plane flew Walker to an airport just outside Washington before a helicopter ride to jail. Walker's parents drove to the jail to see him but were turned away.

FRANK LINDH, FATHER: We're a little disappointed, but the guards did tell us that John was in good health and we're very glad to hear that.

CANDIOTTI: The family criticizes the government for not allowing a lawyer to talk with Walker since his capture and cites a letter just received from their son that a lawyer has been hired.

JAMES BROSNAHAN, LINDH FAMILY ATTORNEY: We're going to fight like hell to make sure that he gets fair treatment here.

CANDIOTTI: He'll meet a judge first thing Thursday morning, the 20-year-old's first official appearance. The charges will be read, including conspiring to kill fellow Americans overseas and providing material support to terrorists. He'll hear the maximum penalty he faces, life behind bars. The government is expected to ask bond be denied.

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The great strength of America is he will now have his day in court, and he will be judged impartially and fairly.

CANDIOTTI: Key to the government's case, Walker's statement to the FBI. The government says he signed a waiver to talk without a lawyer present. Walker allegedly admits he was told Osama bin Laden had sent people to the U.S. for suicide missions four months before the September 11th attacks, that he was thanked personally by bin Laden for joining his jihad.

KENDALL COFFEY, FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY: If Walker's confession gets in front of a U.S. jury, they're going to want to throw him in prison, toss away the key, or worse. It's absolutely devastating.

CANDIOTTI: Walker's attorneys, whether appointed or private, will challenge his alleged confession.

BERNIE GRIM, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: If his statement is ruled by a judge to be involuntary, it's inadmissible for all purposes throughout the course of the case. They can never use it against him.

CANDIOTTI: Harder to challenge may be his interview with CNN, from which the government quotes extensively in the indictment, claiming Walker knew exactly what he was doing when he took up arms with the Taliban.

JOHN WALKER LINDH: My heart became attached to them. I wanted to help them one way or another.

CANDIOTTI: These CNN pictures taken after his capture show a battle worn warrior, a far cry from the youngster who grew up in California.

Susan Candiotti, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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