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Brotherly Testimony
Aired June 19, 2003 - 13:12 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: Well, a family affair. William Bulger told Congress today that he doesn't know where his brother, James, is, and he denied ever telling James to remain at-large. James Whitey Bulger is a reputed mobster linked by police to 21 murders. He's on the FBI's 10 most-wanted list.
William Burger is president of the University of Massachusetts, and he's testifying today under a grant of immunity from prosecution.
The background report now from David Boeri of WCDB in Boston.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REP. TOM DAVIS (R-VA), CHMN, GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE: He took the Fifth Amendment, which in itself I think raises some question if there's nothing to hide.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Bulger, have you talked to your brother, James, since 1995? And if so, where was he and where is he now?
DAVID BOERI, CNN AFFILIATE WCVB REPORTER (voice-over): The first pitch to William Bulger last December was a fast ball, and he stepped out of the batter's box, refusing to answer, just as he had previously refused to appear until subpoenaed by the congressional committee that had him raise his right hand and take an oath in the public eye he had sought to avoid.
The image of a public official whose first loyalty was to his mobster brother, second only to Osama bin Laden on "America's Most Wanted," an accused killer of 17 men and 2 women has created pressure on the university president to step down.
Now, after a congressional committee voted in April to give Bulger immunity, he has no choice but to answer questions tomorrow that could be embarrassing and then some.
DAVIS: You can't lie under immunity. So, if he were to sit up there and commit perjury, immunity doesn't get you out of that.
REP. DAN BURTON (R-IN), GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE: I am committed, and I'm sure the chairman is, that if he does lie under oath that a criminal referral will be sent to the Justice Department for his prosecution.
BOERI: Many of the questions involve the triangle of William, the politician, with Whitey, the secret FBI informant, and their lifelong friend, John Conley, the star FBI agent convicted of becoming, in effect, one of the Bulger mob.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The FBI may have been protecting Bill Bulger in advancing his political career.
BOERI: He will be questioned about a phone call with his fugitive brother that he never reported to authorities, his advice to Whitey not to turn himself in, and a safe deposit box Whitey opened in London, giving William as a contact.
BURTON: I think he's going to have some recollection problems, some memory loss. I think he'll probably use his lawyerly acumen to run out the clock, but I don't think that's going to work.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Once again, that report from David Boeri of CNN affiliate WCVB in Boston.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired June 19, 2003 - 13:12 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, a family affair. William Bulger told Congress today that he doesn't know where his brother, James, is, and he denied ever telling James to remain at-large. James Whitey Bulger is a reputed mobster linked by police to 21 murders. He's on the FBI's 10 most-wanted list.
William Burger is president of the University of Massachusetts, and he's testifying today under a grant of immunity from prosecution.
The background report now from David Boeri of WCDB in Boston.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REP. TOM DAVIS (R-VA), CHMN, GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE: He took the Fifth Amendment, which in itself I think raises some question if there's nothing to hide.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Bulger, have you talked to your brother, James, since 1995? And if so, where was he and where is he now?
DAVID BOERI, CNN AFFILIATE WCVB REPORTER (voice-over): The first pitch to William Bulger last December was a fast ball, and he stepped out of the batter's box, refusing to answer, just as he had previously refused to appear until subpoenaed by the congressional committee that had him raise his right hand and take an oath in the public eye he had sought to avoid.
The image of a public official whose first loyalty was to his mobster brother, second only to Osama bin Laden on "America's Most Wanted," an accused killer of 17 men and 2 women has created pressure on the university president to step down.
Now, after a congressional committee voted in April to give Bulger immunity, he has no choice but to answer questions tomorrow that could be embarrassing and then some.
DAVIS: You can't lie under immunity. So, if he were to sit up there and commit perjury, immunity doesn't get you out of that.
REP. DAN BURTON (R-IN), GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE: I am committed, and I'm sure the chairman is, that if he does lie under oath that a criminal referral will be sent to the Justice Department for his prosecution.
BOERI: Many of the questions involve the triangle of William, the politician, with Whitey, the secret FBI informant, and their lifelong friend, John Conley, the star FBI agent convicted of becoming, in effect, one of the Bulger mob.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The FBI may have been protecting Bill Bulger in advancing his political career.
BOERI: He will be questioned about a phone call with his fugitive brother that he never reported to authorities, his advice to Whitey not to turn himself in, and a safe deposit box Whitey opened in London, giving William as a contact.
BURTON: I think he's going to have some recollection problems, some memory loss. I think he'll probably use his lawyerly acumen to run out the clock, but I don't think that's going to work.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Once again, that report from David Boeri of CNN affiliate WCVB in Boston.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
