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CNN Live At Daybreak

Bond Hearing for Lindh Today

Aired February 06, 2002 - 06:42   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: There is a bond hearing this morning for Taliban-American John Walker Lindh. We get details now from CNN's Elaine Quijano, who is outside the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia. Good morning, Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Two weeks after he returned to U.S. soil, John Walker Lindh again faces a federal magistrate here in Alexandria, Virginia.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

QUIJANO (voice-over): Late yesterday afternoon in Washington, Attorney General John Ashcroft announced a federal grand jury had handed down a 10-count indictment against John Walker Lindh. An indictment that includes new charges, including contributing services to al Qaeda and using and carrying firearms and destructive devices during crimes of violence.

JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: It is extraordinary for the United States to have to charge one of its own citizens with aiding and conspiring with international terrorist groups whose agenda is to kill Americans.

QUIJANO: It was last fall when the 20-year-old was found among a group of Taliban prisoners and taken into custody in Afghanistan. The defense has complained that Walker Lindh was denied access to a lawyer while he was in the custody of the U.S. military.

JAMES BROSNAHAN, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: For 54 days, while he was kept incommunicado, while he was kept away from a lawyer, officials in the federal government leaked or stated out loud their understanding of the evidence in the case in violation of the rule of this courthouse.

QUIJANO: Yesterday, defense attorneys filed a motion asking the federal court to release John Walker on bond. They say the government didn't provide enough evidence that Walker Lindh poses a danger to the community or that he's a flight risk.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QUIJANO: ... decide whether to hold John Walker Lindh until his trial. That hearing is set to get underway at 10:00 AM Eastern Time. As for his arraignment, that's scheduled to take place next Monday. We're live in Alexandria, Virginia. I'm Elaine Quijano -- Carol, back to you.

COSTELLO: So what do you think the odds are, Elaine, that John Walker Lindh is going to get bond?

QUIJANO: Well, certainly, with this indictment and these additional charges, specifically, you're talking about this charge of using or carrying firearms and destructive devices while committing crimes of violence. That is something that the government hopes will bolster their case not to have Walker Lindh released. We'll have to see how it plays out. The defense has maintained that there really isn't enough evidence. They're saying that the government's case for keeping him -- keeping Walker Lindh until his trial -- is just not very strong. They say he has no prior criminal record and they believe that he is not a danger to the community -- Carol.

COSTELLO: We'll see what happens. Of course CNN will be following this story. Thank you, Elaine Quijano, reporting live from Alexandria, Virginia this morning.

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