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John Walker Lindh Pleads Guilty to Two Charges
Aired July 15, 2002 - 14:06 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A maximum 20 years, instead of life in prison. That's what's awaiting John Walker Lindh, the American captured in Afghanistan fighting with the Taliban. In a stunning new development, attorneys for both sides reached a deal that President Bush himself signed off on. Lindh pleaded guilty to aiding the Taliban and possessing explosives in the commission of that crime. He also agreed to corporate -- cooperate, rather, with U.S. officials, which could involve him testifying at military tribunals. In exchange, prosecutors dropped all the other charges and Lindh will not face the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison.
Let's go to Bob Franken now, live outside the courthouse -- Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, what's remarkable about this, Kyra, is that reporters were starting to get vibes that there might be something in the works. But of course, you dont report vibes. But they were able to, in spite of that, maintain such secrecy that the judge only found out about this when everybody came to court this morning. The deal was struck late last night.
It had been germinated for about six weeks. But it reached intensity -- and negotiation reached intensity this week: 20 years instead of life in prison. John Walker Lindh has pleaded guilty to illegally supporting the Taliban and carrying explosives, meaning grenades, in the process. Two charges, 20 years in prison instead of life. The government says that it was a good bargain, that that is a very stiff sentence, that it avoids a trial. As far as defense attorneys are concerned, they feel that they got the best they could.
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JAMES BROSNAHAN, LEAD DEFENSE ATTORNEY: We negotiated with the government and I would commend them for being cooperative and reasonable and professional over the last -- especially the last 48 hours. The settlement was approved at the highest levels of the American government. For John Lindh, who accepts this, it represents a clearing of his situation. He forthrightly, this morning, described what he did, to the judge. He was a soldier in the Taliban. He did it for religious reasons. He did it as a Muslim. And history overcame him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: Now, as for the members of John Walker Lindh's family, they were in the courtroom today: Mother, father, sister, brother, and afterwards they came out and, as one might imagine, the mood was somewhat somber.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARILYN WALKER, JOHN WALKER LINDHS MOTHER: This decision today will give him an opportunity to give back what he has so much to offer to the people and for the people. And the world.
CONNELL WALKER, JOHN WALKER LINDHS BROTHER: I know my brother. I love him. I've always been proud of him. I'm still proud of him. He's behaved with total integrity, Total grace. It pains me that he is going to be away for so long, but I'm grateful, still, for this decision.
NAOMI WALKER, JOHN WALKER LINDHS SISTER: All I can say is that I love my brother very much. I just want him to come home, but I know thats not going to happen. But he's been so strong, and we had to be strong for him. And I just love him very much.
FRANK LINDH, JOHN WALKER LINDHS FATHER: He's never expressed the slightest bitterness about any of the treatment that he suffered. He never, in all the interrogations that were going to be the subject of this suppression hearing, never once did John ever say anything against the United States. Never once. Not one word. John loves America. And we love America. God bless America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: Sentencing is October 4. Assuming that John Walker Lindh serves the entire 20 years, and thats probably an assumption thats bit altogether accurate. But if he does serve the entire 20 years, Kyra, he would get out of prison when he was 41 years old. Kyra?
PHILLIPS: Bob Franken. Thanks, Bob.
Now a very special guest is going to join us with a little more insight on this. The family of the CIA officer who was killed in a Taliban prison uprising -- you may remember Michael Spann -- is unhappy with the plea bargain struck by John Walker Lindh today. We're told that Mike Spann's family came out and said its evident that Lindh could have saved her son's life with a warning that explosives were in that prison.
We're now joined by Shannon Spann from Montgomery, Alabama, the wife of Michael Spann.
Shannon, thanks so much for being with us.
SHANNON SPANN: Thank you for having me.
PHILLIPS: Absolutely.
First of all, why dont you just tell us your reaction. Obviously, I talked about what Mike's mother had to say. How are you feeling right now, and what is your initial reaction to this decision?
SPANN: Yes. I mean, I think you can imagine that our family has a bit of a mixed reaction today. Certainly, we believed in the government's case against Mr. Walker and felt that he should have had to answer for each one of those charges. One thing that I am taking some confidence in today is that I think -- well, as Ive expressed it before, but the hardest thing for me about attending the arraignment for Mr. Walker was to have him stand in front of the judge and to say not guilty, you know. That he did not participate in the things that were alleged in the indictment. And so today, I mean, if you're taking a look at what has happened as a whole, he has agreed with the government that his conduct was terrorist activity and that is something that I am pleased to see.
PHILLIPS: Now, your husband had interrogated Lindh when this American Taliban was captured in Afghanistan. What do you think -- do you indeed think that the exchange, the information that was exchanged, or lack thereof, could have saved your husband's life?
SPANN: Well, its of course, a difficult thing to say. Certainly, the evidence suggests that that was not -- the uprising that day was not just a spontaneous event. And he -- Mr. Walker was, you know, traveling with these people. He surrendered with these people. He certainly had opportunity to have information, you know, that would have changed the course of those events that day.
PHILLIPS: I also want to give you a chance to talk a little bit about your husband. It's been awhile since we discussed this story. Some final thoughts about just the courage that your husband had while overseas?
SPANN: Yes, well, I guess, I mean, that's probably what's on my mind today when I think about these proceedings, is that I'm just so blessed that I was married to somebody who knew exactly who he was, who knew the country that he served, who, you know, there was no question that his behavior was honorable and that his life was lived with integrity.
So regardless of whatever happens to anybody else, I have that as the legacy for Mike's children and for our family, is that he was proud to serve America and certainly fought and gave his life to uphold the freedoms that we all enjoy today. So we have that no matter what happens. And we're very pleased that we do.
PHILLIPS: And I think the majority of Americans see that, too, Shannon. Shannon Spann. Thank you very much.
SPANN: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: Well, let's talk about some legal perspective on this. OK?
Let's bring in Stephen Saltzberg, professor of law at Georgetown -- George Washington University.
Whoops, a little slip of the tongue there. Good to see you, Stephen.
PROF. STEPHEN SALTZBERG, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: Good to see you.
PHILLIPS: All right. Let's talk about this case. First of all, are you surprised about what happened today?
SALTZBERG: Im only surprised that so many papers were filed and it appeared to be so ugly when the parties, apparently, had been negotiating for weeks. Even the judge didn't know this was going to happen today.
PHILLIPS: There were major risks for both sides, wouldnt you say? Let's talk about those.
SALTZBERG: There were major risks. I mean, John Walker Lindh faced the possibility of conviction and life imprisonment. The government faced the possibility of a trial in which the detainees in Guantanamo would be potential witnesses and that would have been a disaster for our military intelligence and our overall intelligence, and I don't think that they were anxious to have that happen.
PHILLIPS: Do you think this was a very important victory for the American people?
SALTZBERG: It's -- it's a just result, in all likelihood. I think that the family of John Walker Lindh has got to believe that he's taken responsibility for his actions. And you've just interviewed the widow of CIA Agent Spann, and she seems satisfied with this. And I think that the Justice Department probably is very, very happy that, for national security reasons, it doesn't have to go forward with the trial.
PHILLIPS: And the defense had a lot of reasons to agree on this deal.
SALTZBERG: The defense did have a lot of reasons. I think they would have lost the motions that were scheduled to be argued today. I believe that what John Walker Lindh said was going to be used against him. And what he said was pretty harmful and whether it would have supported all the charges or not, he had a big risk.
PHILLIPS: Stephen Saltzberg, professor of law at George Washington University. Thanks so much.
SALTZBERG: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: What do you think of the plea agreement for John Walker Lindh? Is it too lenient, too harsh, or appropriate? To take today's quick vote, head to CNN.com. AOL keyword is CNN. Right now 5 percent of those voting say, too lenient. Remember, now, this poll is not scientific.
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