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Asia Flu Sample Accidentally Sent to Thousands of Labs; Olympic Bombing Suspect to Plead Guilty; Search Continues for Missing Florida 13-year-old; Proposed Florida Bill Increases Penalty on Sex Offenders
Aired April 13, 2005 - 15:00 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, HOST: Former President Bill Clinton appeared at the United Nations today talking about his new role as special U.N. envoy for tsunami relief. He'll spearhead a global effort to help South Asia recover from the December disaster. Clinton says the world has a moral obligation to help that region get back on its feet.
Finally, the case of the missing finger -- yes, gross is right -- and the threatened lawsuit. Well, a Las Vegas woman now says she will not sue over a human finger that she alleges was inside a cup of chili that she ordered at the San Jose, California, Wendy's. Anna Ayala's lawyer says that the intense publicity and pressure has been too emotional.
First this hour, the race to eliminate deadly germs in thousands of unsuspecting laboratories. For reasons still unclear, a bioscience firm near Cincinnati included a killer virus in test kits used by medical labs in 18 countries all around the world.
CNN's Elizabeth Cohen is with us to tell us what happened and assess the possible risk. CDC says low right now, though?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Right, the CDC says low to zero and I'll explain why they say that in a minute. But the CDC just concluded their press conference.
The most interesting part of it is that the head of the CDC, Dr. Julie Gerberding, said that the decision to send out this lab -- sorry, this virus to the labs was actually intentional. That a lab in Cincinnati called Meridian Labs actually made a decision that that they wanted to send out to some 4,000 labs the 1957 Asian Flu vaccines to labs like this one to Arizona. It was all part of a test. They were testing these labs to see if they had the ability to identify influenza viruses.
But they weren't supposed to send out one that killed nearly four million people. They were supposed to send out something a little bit more innocuous.
So let's go over some of these numbers again. Again, it was the 1957 Asian Flu virus that was sent out for testing purposes, not supposed to happen. These samples were distributed to more than 4,000 labs in 18 countries. No one born since 1968 would have immunity to this virus, and even if you were born before then, you might not have immunity either. The CDC says that it isn't a public health threat, because they said these labs, even though they didn't realize what they were handling, that they know how to handle pathogens, that they handled them in a careful way under controlled conditions.
So they said their first concern really is for those lab workers. Did they contract that? They said no lab worker has gotten sick, and they would know if someone had gotten sick with the Asian Flu. That's what the CDC says.
PHILLIPS: All right. Two quick questions: first all with regard to these labs, are these government labs or are these private labs? Because I know a lot of people can just open up a lab as their own business and hire who they want and then they're contracted out, right?
COHEN: Right, this gets very confusing. The way that it works is that the College of American Pathologists as well as some other groups, some other private groups, they're responsible for making sure that labs around the world know how to take a specimen and analyze it and identify what it is.
So it's private groups that decide whether or not these labs know who -- how to do the job. So it's private groups that are sending these potentially deadly pathogens out all around the world, and this has certainly brought up questions as to whether or not this needs to be policed better.
Let's listen into Dr. Julie Gerberding, who spoke earlier for the Centers for Disease Control.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. JULIE GERBERDING, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL: There is no evidence that any person has acquired H2N2. Most of these laboratories have already destroyed their proficiency test panels, but we are ensuring that all steps are taken to identify every lab that may have a virus and it is quickly destroyed. We are doing everything we can, without taking any chances that this virus could infect an individual or spread to the public at large.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COHEN: Now, H2N2 is the scientific name for the Asian Flu virus. And as you just heard Dr. Julie Gerberding say, they're make sure that all 4,000 of those labs destroy it. If you can imagine, that's a huge task to make sure that 4,000 labs in 18 countries destroy a pathogen.
PHILLIPS: Sure. If not more, right?
COHEN: Right.
PHILLIPS: Now, also, when I was listening to Julie Gerberding, she was talking about when you handle certain strains, there are certain security measures you take. And the labs were mostly security two level labs. COHEN: Right.
PHILLIPS: And that when you're dealing with a strain this deadly, it should be security three labs. So it's possible that lab workers could have been doing the right thing, but they weren't...
COHEN: It seems pretty clear they weren't at the right level.
PHILLIPS: Right. Right.
COHEN: They were -- just as you said, they were supposed to be treating this as a level three pathogens -- pathogen, which means that they would be taking certain steps to make sure that they didn't get sick and that the virus didn't escape out into the community.
But they were only taking level two precautions because, of course, they didn't know what they were -- what they were looking at. This was by definition a test where they weren't supposed to know what they were looking at. So nobody knew, "Gee, I'm handling the 1957 flu virus that killed four million people." They didn't know.
So yes, they were one level below where they were supposed to be. But again, these were sent out starting around last September. And we're almost at the end of the flu season. This is months later, and no one seems to have gotten sick.
The fact that it's the end of the flu season actually really doesn't help, but it is good news that it's been months and no one has gotten sick from this, it appears.
PHILLIPS: All right. Good. We'll stay on it. Elizabeth Cohen, thank you.
Other news across America now.
In custody: Stephen Stanko, the subject of a nationwide manhunt, is expected to appear at an extradition hearing this afternoon in Augusta Georgia. The ex-con was arrested there yesterday, days after he allegedly killed two people and raped a teenager in South Carolina.
Home at last for the first victim in the Atlanta courthouse rampage. Sheriff's deputy Cynthia Hall left the hospital today a month after she was beaten while escorting Brian Nichols to court. Hall suffered contusions to her brain and damage to her eye. She still has to undergo rehabilitation.
Well, New Jersey is facing a whale of a problem. A young beluga whale has somehow wandered up in the Delaware River, 80 miles from open sea. Pretty cool pictures. The whale was heading south toward the ocean today, but at last word it was heading north again.
Well, at this hour, the murderous journey of Eric Robert Rudolph is coming full circle. After a guilty plea this morning in Birmingham, Alabama, the accused serial bomber is set to admit to three bomb attacks in Atlanta, including the deadly blast that shook the 1996 Summer Olympics. CNN's Sarah Dorsey standing by live at the Atlanta federal court to tell us more -- Sarah.
SARAH DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, in just a few minutes, Eric Rudolph is expected to make his way in front of a judge. He is expected to plead guilty to three bombings that took place in the Atlanta area.
Here today also in the courtroom are many of his victims and victims' family members. It is unlikely that any of their questions will be answered by Rudolph in open court today, but his attorneys are telling us that it is likely he will make a written statement at some point, explaining how and why he went ahead with these bombings of these innocent people.
Also, earlier this morning he was in Birmingham, where he also pled guilty to a bombing, there -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Sarah Dorsey in front of the federal courthouse there. Thank you so much. We'll continue to follow what happens. It could come down any moment.
Now an update from Ruskin, Florida, where the intense search continues for Sarah Michelle Lunde. The 3-year-old reportedly last seen by her older brother late Saturday night. Though, family members say that Sarah has gone missing in the past, it's not like her to be gone this long. And fears about her safety have been increased after police reported that two dozen registered sex offenders live in that immediate area.
Chuck Johnson of our affiliate Bay News 9 has the latest once again for us from Ruskin.
What do you know, Chuck?
CHUCK JOHNSON, BAY NEWS 9 REPORTER: Well, Kyra, a total of seven local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are involved in the search for 13-year-old Sarah Lunde.
That search resumed early this morning with 80 deputies and more than 50 volunteers taking part. Horse mounted units and Marine patrols also involved in this search.
They're focusing on a three-square-mile area around Sarah's home. This is where, of course, she went -- was discovered missing early Sunday morning. Detectives have interviewed more than 200 people in this case, including 23 of the 24 registered sexual offenders who live in the same area as Sarah, and detectives are paying special attention to one gentleman.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, we've got 24 predators and offenders that we are dealing with out here, and as the sheriff said, one of the offenders does have ties with the family. So we're continuing to have dialogue. (END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNSON: So that -- that one offender they're paying special attention to apparently knew the girl's mother and has had contact with the parents -- with the family in the past. Detectives have also contacted her natural father, who lives in Florida, Richard Lunde. We're told detectives have gone to where he lives and are currently interviewing him.
Kyra, back to you.
PHILLIPS: All right, Chuck Johnson. We'll stay in touch with you.
And coming up in just a few minutes, I'm going to talk with a Florida lawmaker who says we need to do much more to protect our children from predators. Details about a bill and the young girl who inspired a senator to act just ahead on LIVE FROM.
Well, here today, here tomorrow. What about a year from tomorrow or 10 years? Fresh off his latest trip to Iraq, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld found in Afghanistan in search of commitment.
That country's president says he wants a long-term strategic relationship with the United States, potentially, reportedly, including one or more permanent U.S. bases. Rumsfeld was noncommittal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: The people of the United States are certainly proud to stand by the free citizens of Afghanistan, and Mr. President, we thank you for your courage and for your leadership, and certainly look forward to strengthening our partnership in the months and years ahead.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: The secretary also met today with U.S. commanders who told him the Afghan army is far short of requirements in both quantity and quality.
A U.S. embassy official in Iraq confirms a captive seen in a new video is the American kidnapped Monday from a construction site in Iraq. The Al Jazeera network is showing this tape. The State Department official identifies the man as Jeffrey Ake, president and CEO of the Indiana company Equipment Express. Here's Ake's picture.
His firm reportedly builds system to provide water bottles for sale in Baghdad. And on the video, he reads a note asking his family and friends to urge the U.S. to open talks with the Iraqi resistance.
Ake's company, Equipment Express of suburban LaPorte, Indiana, says it's played an important role in the Iraq war. Besides water, that company has bottled and distributed cooking oil. But officials don't want to talk to reporters, and the State Department says Ake's wife feels the same way. Others who don't mind sharing their reactions are understandably aggrieved.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So close to home, I feel sorry for all the people we're losing over there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just know him from coming in. He comes in probably four or five times a week, and picks up his mail. And when I wait on him, you know, he's always cordial and nice.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Makes you take notice, when something like that happens. Somebody you know -- I don't know him, but I've seen him and I know of him, you know, but that's -- that's -- really shakes you up a little bit.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Yellow ribbons are going up in LaPorte, where the police chief says Ake's plight devastates all of us.
The crypt containing the tomb of Pope John Paul II was open for public viewing today. Thousands of people began lining up before dawn for a chance to view the tomb. The mood was hushed as they stood before the simple marble slab engraved with the pope's name in Latin.
A month after the abduction and killing of Jessica Lunsford, another Florida girl goes missing. Straight ahead on LIVE FROM, one state senator wants better protection for our children. She's introduced a bill in Jessica Lunsford's name. She joins me live next.
ANNOUNCER: You're watching LIVE FROM on CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Back now to Florida and the search for young Sarah Lunde. She's 13 years old, last seen early Sunday at her home in the Tampa Bay area town of Ruskin. And volunteers have joined the widening search for this girl.
Police have contacted nearly all the registered sex offenders in the Ruskin area. And that's where our next guest comes in. Nancy Argenziano is a state senator from Florida's Third District. A bill she sponsors aims to get tough and stay tough on sex criminals, especially those who prey upon children.
Senator, great to have you.
NANCY ARGENZIANO, FLORIDA STATE SENATOR: It's good to be here, thank you.
PHILLIPS: Want to get back to your tough actions. You and I were just talking a minute ago. But I want to start out and just ask you, with another story hitting the headlines now, after talking about Jessica Lunsford and her death, why Florida?
ARGENZIANO: Well, Florida is a very transient state. We have people who -- who travel through Florida, who escape from other places, you know, where maybe the law is onto them and they kind of blend in here.
We have toughened our laws in the state of Florida in the past eight or nine years. We have increased the time that people will stay in prison. We have the death penalty here also.
We have just found recently that we have some cracks and, you know, criminals find those cracks. And we are going to fill those cracks and protect our children.
And we're really in the state of Florida now telling people, if you think you're going to come here and it's going to be easy for you here, think again. And we're warning the other states because of this law, when it becomes law, you may want to do the same thing.
PHILLIPS: All right. We're going to talk about that law in just a second. But you were telling me that you have found a way to capture these offenders, offenders like the Coueys, who is now behind bars for the death of little Jessica Lunsford. Tell me about that. Get specific with me on the way you found -- I guess, ways you found to capture these individuals that are coming to Florida?
ARGENZIANO: Well, what we're doing in the bill, of course, first we increased the penalty for lewd and lascivious molestation of a child 12 and under from first degree felony to a lifetime felony. So you can conceivably be put in prison for the rest of your life for exhibiting or showing an inclination to having sex with children.
And also, if you are let go, if you are at any time sent out in the community, back in the community, you will have to wear an electronic monitoring for the rest of your life.
Now to try to capture all those people who are already sex offenders and predators that are in our communities now, it's not constitutional to go back and say we're going to punish you a second time.
But some of the experts, Senator Villa (ph) and Senator Smith, have helped me to devise some language that will allow us to maybe capture some more of those, if you have an individual who's on probation for another crime. Because a lot of these people are habitual criminals. They commit other crimes also.
So if they have a history of sexual offense or sexual predator and they're on probation in the community for another crime. If they violate their probation in any way -- they don't show up, they don't call when they're supposed to, they don't urinate in a cup -- we can then mandate that they have to have a GPS unit on also. And that's a way of us being able to capture them and know where they are 24 hours a day.
PHILLIPS: All right. And I want to talk about the specifics of that act in just a second. But I just want to -- some numbers that we put together, and I want to get your reaction.
Obviously, one sex offender is far too many, but if you look at Ruskin, for example, where this missing teen is now, population 8,321. There are 24 registered sex offenders. Then if you look at Homosassa, where Jessica Lunsford was found dead, population 12,458, 23 registered sex offenders. And then you go to, say, a Tampa, much bigger city. Population 321,486, 86 registered sex offenders.
Now, just imagine all the sex offenders that don't register. Do these numbers concern you? Do these numbers seem high to you?
ARGENZIANO: They concern me whether they're one or 86. Of course, the more you have, the more concerned I am, in a sense that are they -- are they coming to Florida, or is this, you know, we may have to realize that in our -- in our human race, we have defective people. And it may be if you check other states you'd find just as many defective people.
As I said before, we are a transient state and people stay awhile to try to run away from other situations in other states. It concerns me that any sex offenders and predators are out there.
Obviously, we have another ongoing case right now. I hope -- I hope to God that Sarah is safe. And that's why we're prompted to make sure that not only do we send a message to these people but also get other states alerted.
PHILLIPS: It's sending a message, too. Now, if we look back at act that you are proposing, the Jessica Lunsford Act, mandating lifetime supervision with electronic monitoring, there's been a lot of talk about that. And you'll remember, Senator. People are saying hey, if Martha Stewart has to wear, you know, a tracking device. Sexual offenders, by God, should be wearing them.
ARGENZIANO: Absolutely.
PHILLIPS: Creates third degree felony for harboring registered sex offenders and increases penalty for failure to register.
All three of those have been on the hearts and minds of people. Now No. 1 -- or the second one, rather, creating the third degree felony for harboring registered sex offenders. That's interesting, because a number of these stories we've been covering, these sex offenders have been hiding out in friends' homes or family members.
ARGENZIANO: Absolutely, that can't happen.
PHILLIPS: They have to fess up.
ARGENZIANO: Well, you know, in Jessica's case, those people lied to the sheriff the first time he went in and the second time he went in. And we could have possibly saved Jessica's life. She may have been able to come out alive, although battered and harmed but still alive.
Those people need to be in prison, and this bill, when this law -- when this becomes law, they will go to prison for doing that. We can't have that.
PHILLIPS: Senator Nancy Argenziano, Florida state senate there. We'll be following it, for sure, and it better become law. Thanks so much.
ARGENZIANO: It will.
PHILLIPS: I have no doubt, if you're on it. It's a pleasure.
ARGENZIANO: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: Well, a check the headline is up next, and the Britney baby buzz is confirmed. The pop star finally responds to the whispers. We've got the scoop.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, in a perfect world computer networks designed for research projects would be used for just that, but college students apparently found some entertaining uses, as well, and the recording industry isn't very happy.
Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange to explain.
Hi, Susan.
(STOCK REPORT)
PHILLIPS: Susan Lisovicz, thank you.
Well, it's her prerogative and now Britney Spears, the 23-year- old pop princess, has ended weeks of speculation. I know all of you have been wanting to know. Well, she's told the world, via her web site, that she's preggers.
She states, quote, "The time has finally come to share our wonderful news, that we're expecting our first child together. There were reports that I was in the hospital this weekend. Kevin and I just want everyone to know that all is well. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers."
Spears is married to dancer Kevin Federline, who has two small children from a previous relationship with actress Shar Jackson.
Well, that wraps up this Wednesday edition of LIVE FROM. Now to Judy Woodruff and a preview of what's ahead in "INSIDE POLITICS."
Judy, I have a feeling you won't be talking about Britney Spears.
JUDY WOODRUFF, HOST, "INSIDE POLITICS": Well, you know, you never know. That's why we want everybody to watch, because you never know what's going to come up in the next 60 minutes.
PHILLIPS: OK, Judy.
WOODRUFF: OK. Kyra, thanks very much. We'll see you tomorrow. We will continue, by the way, to monitor the Eric Rudolph story. We're also going to be looking at the rhetoric that is heating up in the Senate over possible changes to the rules for approving judicial nominees. Also today the nation's sports lover in chief has a busy day at the White House. We'll look at his various guests.
"INSIDE POLITICS" begins in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired April 13, 2005 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, HOST: Former President Bill Clinton appeared at the United Nations today talking about his new role as special U.N. envoy for tsunami relief. He'll spearhead a global effort to help South Asia recover from the December disaster. Clinton says the world has a moral obligation to help that region get back on its feet.
Finally, the case of the missing finger -- yes, gross is right -- and the threatened lawsuit. Well, a Las Vegas woman now says she will not sue over a human finger that she alleges was inside a cup of chili that she ordered at the San Jose, California, Wendy's. Anna Ayala's lawyer says that the intense publicity and pressure has been too emotional.
First this hour, the race to eliminate deadly germs in thousands of unsuspecting laboratories. For reasons still unclear, a bioscience firm near Cincinnati included a killer virus in test kits used by medical labs in 18 countries all around the world.
CNN's Elizabeth Cohen is with us to tell us what happened and assess the possible risk. CDC says low right now, though?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Right, the CDC says low to zero and I'll explain why they say that in a minute. But the CDC just concluded their press conference.
The most interesting part of it is that the head of the CDC, Dr. Julie Gerberding, said that the decision to send out this lab -- sorry, this virus to the labs was actually intentional. That a lab in Cincinnati called Meridian Labs actually made a decision that that they wanted to send out to some 4,000 labs the 1957 Asian Flu vaccines to labs like this one to Arizona. It was all part of a test. They were testing these labs to see if they had the ability to identify influenza viruses.
But they weren't supposed to send out one that killed nearly four million people. They were supposed to send out something a little bit more innocuous.
So let's go over some of these numbers again. Again, it was the 1957 Asian Flu virus that was sent out for testing purposes, not supposed to happen. These samples were distributed to more than 4,000 labs in 18 countries. No one born since 1968 would have immunity to this virus, and even if you were born before then, you might not have immunity either. The CDC says that it isn't a public health threat, because they said these labs, even though they didn't realize what they were handling, that they know how to handle pathogens, that they handled them in a careful way under controlled conditions.
So they said their first concern really is for those lab workers. Did they contract that? They said no lab worker has gotten sick, and they would know if someone had gotten sick with the Asian Flu. That's what the CDC says.
PHILLIPS: All right. Two quick questions: first all with regard to these labs, are these government labs or are these private labs? Because I know a lot of people can just open up a lab as their own business and hire who they want and then they're contracted out, right?
COHEN: Right, this gets very confusing. The way that it works is that the College of American Pathologists as well as some other groups, some other private groups, they're responsible for making sure that labs around the world know how to take a specimen and analyze it and identify what it is.
So it's private groups that decide whether or not these labs know who -- how to do the job. So it's private groups that are sending these potentially deadly pathogens out all around the world, and this has certainly brought up questions as to whether or not this needs to be policed better.
Let's listen into Dr. Julie Gerberding, who spoke earlier for the Centers for Disease Control.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. JULIE GERBERDING, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL: There is no evidence that any person has acquired H2N2. Most of these laboratories have already destroyed their proficiency test panels, but we are ensuring that all steps are taken to identify every lab that may have a virus and it is quickly destroyed. We are doing everything we can, without taking any chances that this virus could infect an individual or spread to the public at large.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COHEN: Now, H2N2 is the scientific name for the Asian Flu virus. And as you just heard Dr. Julie Gerberding say, they're make sure that all 4,000 of those labs destroy it. If you can imagine, that's a huge task to make sure that 4,000 labs in 18 countries destroy a pathogen.
PHILLIPS: Sure. If not more, right?
COHEN: Right.
PHILLIPS: Now, also, when I was listening to Julie Gerberding, she was talking about when you handle certain strains, there are certain security measures you take. And the labs were mostly security two level labs. COHEN: Right.
PHILLIPS: And that when you're dealing with a strain this deadly, it should be security three labs. So it's possible that lab workers could have been doing the right thing, but they weren't...
COHEN: It seems pretty clear they weren't at the right level.
PHILLIPS: Right. Right.
COHEN: They were -- just as you said, they were supposed to be treating this as a level three pathogens -- pathogen, which means that they would be taking certain steps to make sure that they didn't get sick and that the virus didn't escape out into the community.
But they were only taking level two precautions because, of course, they didn't know what they were -- what they were looking at. This was by definition a test where they weren't supposed to know what they were looking at. So nobody knew, "Gee, I'm handling the 1957 flu virus that killed four million people." They didn't know.
So yes, they were one level below where they were supposed to be. But again, these were sent out starting around last September. And we're almost at the end of the flu season. This is months later, and no one seems to have gotten sick.
The fact that it's the end of the flu season actually really doesn't help, but it is good news that it's been months and no one has gotten sick from this, it appears.
PHILLIPS: All right. Good. We'll stay on it. Elizabeth Cohen, thank you.
Other news across America now.
In custody: Stephen Stanko, the subject of a nationwide manhunt, is expected to appear at an extradition hearing this afternoon in Augusta Georgia. The ex-con was arrested there yesterday, days after he allegedly killed two people and raped a teenager in South Carolina.
Home at last for the first victim in the Atlanta courthouse rampage. Sheriff's deputy Cynthia Hall left the hospital today a month after she was beaten while escorting Brian Nichols to court. Hall suffered contusions to her brain and damage to her eye. She still has to undergo rehabilitation.
Well, New Jersey is facing a whale of a problem. A young beluga whale has somehow wandered up in the Delaware River, 80 miles from open sea. Pretty cool pictures. The whale was heading south toward the ocean today, but at last word it was heading north again.
Well, at this hour, the murderous journey of Eric Robert Rudolph is coming full circle. After a guilty plea this morning in Birmingham, Alabama, the accused serial bomber is set to admit to three bomb attacks in Atlanta, including the deadly blast that shook the 1996 Summer Olympics. CNN's Sarah Dorsey standing by live at the Atlanta federal court to tell us more -- Sarah.
SARAH DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, in just a few minutes, Eric Rudolph is expected to make his way in front of a judge. He is expected to plead guilty to three bombings that took place in the Atlanta area.
Here today also in the courtroom are many of his victims and victims' family members. It is unlikely that any of their questions will be answered by Rudolph in open court today, but his attorneys are telling us that it is likely he will make a written statement at some point, explaining how and why he went ahead with these bombings of these innocent people.
Also, earlier this morning he was in Birmingham, where he also pled guilty to a bombing, there -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Sarah Dorsey in front of the federal courthouse there. Thank you so much. We'll continue to follow what happens. It could come down any moment.
Now an update from Ruskin, Florida, where the intense search continues for Sarah Michelle Lunde. The 3-year-old reportedly last seen by her older brother late Saturday night. Though, family members say that Sarah has gone missing in the past, it's not like her to be gone this long. And fears about her safety have been increased after police reported that two dozen registered sex offenders live in that immediate area.
Chuck Johnson of our affiliate Bay News 9 has the latest once again for us from Ruskin.
What do you know, Chuck?
CHUCK JOHNSON, BAY NEWS 9 REPORTER: Well, Kyra, a total of seven local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are involved in the search for 13-year-old Sarah Lunde.
That search resumed early this morning with 80 deputies and more than 50 volunteers taking part. Horse mounted units and Marine patrols also involved in this search.
They're focusing on a three-square-mile area around Sarah's home. This is where, of course, she went -- was discovered missing early Sunday morning. Detectives have interviewed more than 200 people in this case, including 23 of the 24 registered sexual offenders who live in the same area as Sarah, and detectives are paying special attention to one gentleman.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, we've got 24 predators and offenders that we are dealing with out here, and as the sheriff said, one of the offenders does have ties with the family. So we're continuing to have dialogue. (END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNSON: So that -- that one offender they're paying special attention to apparently knew the girl's mother and has had contact with the parents -- with the family in the past. Detectives have also contacted her natural father, who lives in Florida, Richard Lunde. We're told detectives have gone to where he lives and are currently interviewing him.
Kyra, back to you.
PHILLIPS: All right, Chuck Johnson. We'll stay in touch with you.
And coming up in just a few minutes, I'm going to talk with a Florida lawmaker who says we need to do much more to protect our children from predators. Details about a bill and the young girl who inspired a senator to act just ahead on LIVE FROM.
Well, here today, here tomorrow. What about a year from tomorrow or 10 years? Fresh off his latest trip to Iraq, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld found in Afghanistan in search of commitment.
That country's president says he wants a long-term strategic relationship with the United States, potentially, reportedly, including one or more permanent U.S. bases. Rumsfeld was noncommittal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: The people of the United States are certainly proud to stand by the free citizens of Afghanistan, and Mr. President, we thank you for your courage and for your leadership, and certainly look forward to strengthening our partnership in the months and years ahead.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: The secretary also met today with U.S. commanders who told him the Afghan army is far short of requirements in both quantity and quality.
A U.S. embassy official in Iraq confirms a captive seen in a new video is the American kidnapped Monday from a construction site in Iraq. The Al Jazeera network is showing this tape. The State Department official identifies the man as Jeffrey Ake, president and CEO of the Indiana company Equipment Express. Here's Ake's picture.
His firm reportedly builds system to provide water bottles for sale in Baghdad. And on the video, he reads a note asking his family and friends to urge the U.S. to open talks with the Iraqi resistance.
Ake's company, Equipment Express of suburban LaPorte, Indiana, says it's played an important role in the Iraq war. Besides water, that company has bottled and distributed cooking oil. But officials don't want to talk to reporters, and the State Department says Ake's wife feels the same way. Others who don't mind sharing their reactions are understandably aggrieved.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So close to home, I feel sorry for all the people we're losing over there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just know him from coming in. He comes in probably four or five times a week, and picks up his mail. And when I wait on him, you know, he's always cordial and nice.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Makes you take notice, when something like that happens. Somebody you know -- I don't know him, but I've seen him and I know of him, you know, but that's -- that's -- really shakes you up a little bit.
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PHILLIPS: Yellow ribbons are going up in LaPorte, where the police chief says Ake's plight devastates all of us.
The crypt containing the tomb of Pope John Paul II was open for public viewing today. Thousands of people began lining up before dawn for a chance to view the tomb. The mood was hushed as they stood before the simple marble slab engraved with the pope's name in Latin.
A month after the abduction and killing of Jessica Lunsford, another Florida girl goes missing. Straight ahead on LIVE FROM, one state senator wants better protection for our children. She's introduced a bill in Jessica Lunsford's name. She joins me live next.
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PHILLIPS: Back now to Florida and the search for young Sarah Lunde. She's 13 years old, last seen early Sunday at her home in the Tampa Bay area town of Ruskin. And volunteers have joined the widening search for this girl.
Police have contacted nearly all the registered sex offenders in the Ruskin area. And that's where our next guest comes in. Nancy Argenziano is a state senator from Florida's Third District. A bill she sponsors aims to get tough and stay tough on sex criminals, especially those who prey upon children.
Senator, great to have you.
NANCY ARGENZIANO, FLORIDA STATE SENATOR: It's good to be here, thank you.
PHILLIPS: Want to get back to your tough actions. You and I were just talking a minute ago. But I want to start out and just ask you, with another story hitting the headlines now, after talking about Jessica Lunsford and her death, why Florida?
ARGENZIANO: Well, Florida is a very transient state. We have people who -- who travel through Florida, who escape from other places, you know, where maybe the law is onto them and they kind of blend in here.
We have toughened our laws in the state of Florida in the past eight or nine years. We have increased the time that people will stay in prison. We have the death penalty here also.
We have just found recently that we have some cracks and, you know, criminals find those cracks. And we are going to fill those cracks and protect our children.
And we're really in the state of Florida now telling people, if you think you're going to come here and it's going to be easy for you here, think again. And we're warning the other states because of this law, when it becomes law, you may want to do the same thing.
PHILLIPS: All right. We're going to talk about that law in just a second. But you were telling me that you have found a way to capture these offenders, offenders like the Coueys, who is now behind bars for the death of little Jessica Lunsford. Tell me about that. Get specific with me on the way you found -- I guess, ways you found to capture these individuals that are coming to Florida?
ARGENZIANO: Well, what we're doing in the bill, of course, first we increased the penalty for lewd and lascivious molestation of a child 12 and under from first degree felony to a lifetime felony. So you can conceivably be put in prison for the rest of your life for exhibiting or showing an inclination to having sex with children.
And also, if you are let go, if you are at any time sent out in the community, back in the community, you will have to wear an electronic monitoring for the rest of your life.
Now to try to capture all those people who are already sex offenders and predators that are in our communities now, it's not constitutional to go back and say we're going to punish you a second time.
But some of the experts, Senator Villa (ph) and Senator Smith, have helped me to devise some language that will allow us to maybe capture some more of those, if you have an individual who's on probation for another crime. Because a lot of these people are habitual criminals. They commit other crimes also.
So if they have a history of sexual offense or sexual predator and they're on probation in the community for another crime. If they violate their probation in any way -- they don't show up, they don't call when they're supposed to, they don't urinate in a cup -- we can then mandate that they have to have a GPS unit on also. And that's a way of us being able to capture them and know where they are 24 hours a day.
PHILLIPS: All right. And I want to talk about the specifics of that act in just a second. But I just want to -- some numbers that we put together, and I want to get your reaction.
Obviously, one sex offender is far too many, but if you look at Ruskin, for example, where this missing teen is now, population 8,321. There are 24 registered sex offenders. Then if you look at Homosassa, where Jessica Lunsford was found dead, population 12,458, 23 registered sex offenders. And then you go to, say, a Tampa, much bigger city. Population 321,486, 86 registered sex offenders.
Now, just imagine all the sex offenders that don't register. Do these numbers concern you? Do these numbers seem high to you?
ARGENZIANO: They concern me whether they're one or 86. Of course, the more you have, the more concerned I am, in a sense that are they -- are they coming to Florida, or is this, you know, we may have to realize that in our -- in our human race, we have defective people. And it may be if you check other states you'd find just as many defective people.
As I said before, we are a transient state and people stay awhile to try to run away from other situations in other states. It concerns me that any sex offenders and predators are out there.
Obviously, we have another ongoing case right now. I hope -- I hope to God that Sarah is safe. And that's why we're prompted to make sure that not only do we send a message to these people but also get other states alerted.
PHILLIPS: It's sending a message, too. Now, if we look back at act that you are proposing, the Jessica Lunsford Act, mandating lifetime supervision with electronic monitoring, there's been a lot of talk about that. And you'll remember, Senator. People are saying hey, if Martha Stewart has to wear, you know, a tracking device. Sexual offenders, by God, should be wearing them.
ARGENZIANO: Absolutely.
PHILLIPS: Creates third degree felony for harboring registered sex offenders and increases penalty for failure to register.
All three of those have been on the hearts and minds of people. Now No. 1 -- or the second one, rather, creating the third degree felony for harboring registered sex offenders. That's interesting, because a number of these stories we've been covering, these sex offenders have been hiding out in friends' homes or family members.
ARGENZIANO: Absolutely, that can't happen.
PHILLIPS: They have to fess up.
ARGENZIANO: Well, you know, in Jessica's case, those people lied to the sheriff the first time he went in and the second time he went in. And we could have possibly saved Jessica's life. She may have been able to come out alive, although battered and harmed but still alive.
Those people need to be in prison, and this bill, when this law -- when this becomes law, they will go to prison for doing that. We can't have that.
PHILLIPS: Senator Nancy Argenziano, Florida state senate there. We'll be following it, for sure, and it better become law. Thanks so much.
ARGENZIANO: It will.
PHILLIPS: I have no doubt, if you're on it. It's a pleasure.
ARGENZIANO: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: Well, a check the headline is up next, and the Britney baby buzz is confirmed. The pop star finally responds to the whispers. We've got the scoop.
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PHILLIPS: Well, in a perfect world computer networks designed for research projects would be used for just that, but college students apparently found some entertaining uses, as well, and the recording industry isn't very happy.
Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange to explain.
Hi, Susan.
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PHILLIPS: Susan Lisovicz, thank you.
Well, it's her prerogative and now Britney Spears, the 23-year- old pop princess, has ended weeks of speculation. I know all of you have been wanting to know. Well, she's told the world, via her web site, that she's preggers.
She states, quote, "The time has finally come to share our wonderful news, that we're expecting our first child together. There were reports that I was in the hospital this weekend. Kevin and I just want everyone to know that all is well. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers."
Spears is married to dancer Kevin Federline, who has two small children from a previous relationship with actress Shar Jackson.
Well, that wraps up this Wednesday edition of LIVE FROM. Now to Judy Woodruff and a preview of what's ahead in "INSIDE POLITICS."
Judy, I have a feeling you won't be talking about Britney Spears.
JUDY WOODRUFF, HOST, "INSIDE POLITICS": Well, you know, you never know. That's why we want everybody to watch, because you never know what's going to come up in the next 60 minutes.
PHILLIPS: OK, Judy.
WOODRUFF: OK. Kyra, thanks very much. We'll see you tomorrow. We will continue, by the way, to monitor the Eric Rudolph story. We're also going to be looking at the rhetoric that is heating up in the Senate over possible changes to the rules for approving judicial nominees. Also today the nation's sports lover in chief has a busy day at the White House. We'll look at his various guests.
"INSIDE POLITICS" begins in just a moment.
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