Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
Interview with Johnny Spann
Aired July 22, 2002 - 14:32 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: Now to the story we talking just at the beginning of the half hour here, and that is the father of Michael Spann, the CIA agent who died in Afghanistan fighting for our freedom. You will remember the prison outbreak in Mazar-e Sharif.
Well, Johnny Spann, we understand, has filed papers at John Walker Lindh's sentencing. You remember John Walker Lindh, he pleaded guilty last week to the Taliban and possessing explosives in carrying out a crime. He faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
Mr. Spann joins us live now to talk more about these papers -- sir, please tell us what papers you did file.
JOHNNY SPANN, FATHER OF JOHNNY MICHAEL SPANN: Yes. I filed today in the Eastern District of Virginia Courthouse a request for permission to address the court prior to sentencing, and the reason I did this was that -- well, first of all, let me just read you the request.
"My name is Johnny Spann, and I am the father of Johnny Michael Spann, an agent employed by the Central Intelligence Agency. He was killed in the line of duty on November the 25th of 2001 at the Kala Jangi prison fortress near Mazar-e Sharif in Afghanistan. All evidence indicates that prisoners who were members of the Taliban and al Qaeda killed him.
Information provided to me shows that my son's death occurred immediately after attempting interrogation of John Walker Lindh, and also shows that the defendant was actively involved in the conspiracy of prisoners that planned the uprising. The facts of this case reveal that the defendant had the opportunity to withdraw from the conspiracy and warn my son Michael that the prisoners were armed and were about to ambush him.
Subsequently, the defendant was charged with conspiracy in the uprising that led to my son's murder. Because I was never notified that a plea bargain was being considered for the defendant, I had no opportunity for any input into the decision to drop conspiracy charges related to Mike's death.
I have only learned by chance, through conversations with people who are familiar with the court system, that as a father of the victim, I may be allowed to address the court with a victim impact statement. Due to the failure of anyone to notify me of these things, I am requesting directly to this court to be allowed to address the court prior to sentencing the defendant."
PHILLIPS: Mr. Spann, is this what you would read to the court, or what is it exactly you would like to say to the court when you address the court, if indeed you are allowed to do that?
SPANN: When I get to address the court, and hopefully that I will, I will be able to emphasize to the court that this man, John Walker Lindh, was a part of a conspiracy that actually killed Mike, and not only Mike, but several other people, all the people that died on 9/11 -- 9-1-1, on 9/11.
They all were killed because of this conspiracy by the al Qaeda and the Taliban to kill Americans, and I want to make that statement to the judge and reinforce the idea that he was not there by chance. He was there because he was a Taliban and al Qaeda member. He was a member of that force, is the reason he was inside the Kala Jangi prison that day. He didn't hitchhike in there. He was there because he surrendered and he went in there, and he had a chance to surrender, he had a chance to go to Mike.
Mike was trying to interrogate him, and he could have told Mike, Mike, I am an American. Let's -- help me get out of here. I shouldn't be here.
But he didn't do that. He gave up another opportunity to save American lives. In fact, he gave up the only opportunity he had to save Mike's life that day, and Mike died because of that, and you know, he has got three small children, he has got a family, he has got a wife. He has got sisters, a mom, and a dad.
And we, as victims of this tragedy, I think that we have a right to speak before the judge to let them know how we feel about it. It is bad enough that the thing is being dropped, that the charges have been dropped, but the chance that he could get less than 20 years, we never thought that he would get less than a life sentence. It never had dawned on us he was going to get less than a life sentence.
PHILLIPS: Sir...
SPANN: For it to come up with this 20 year sentence and then the possibility that it might even be reduced to less than that. It is just -- we just can't stand by and watch this without doing something.
PHILLIPS: Understandably. Johnny Spann, thank you so much for joining us at the last minute. We will follow up and find out if indeed you will get to address that court. Sir, thank you very much.
SPANN: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
