Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
Priscilla Owen to Get Up or Down Vote; House Debates Stem Cell Funding
Aired May 24, 2005 - 13:00 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, CO-HOST: Terror warrior wounded. Militant messages report that Iraq's top insurgent is hurt. We're on that developing story.
MILES O'BRIEN, CO-HOST: We're live from Washington where the 4- four-year-old question of yes or no is about to be answered for Judge Priscilla Owen.
PHILLIPS: Will embryonic stem-cell research lead to a moral decline or a miracle cure? That question is the heart of decisions being made today.
O'BRIEN: And standup on the stand. "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno testifies for the defense in the trial of Michael Jackson.
From the CNN center in Atlanta, I'm Miles O'Brien.
PHILLIPS: And I'm Kyra Phillips. CNN's LIVE FROM starts right now.
Judgment day for Judge Owen. Four years after President Bush tapped Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen for the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, less than a day after 14 senators managed to avert a procedural meltdown, the fully Senate is actually casting votes.
Last night's compromise commits Democrats to allow up or down, do or die votes on Owen and two other long stalled nominations while preserving their right to filibuster under, quote, "extraordinary circumstances."
We get the latest now from CNN's Joe Johns. He's on the Hill.
Hi, Joe.
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.
This is a milestone for nominee Priscilla Owen. After four years, the United States Senate has voted 81 to 18 to cut off debate on her nomination. It means she will get an up or down vote, though many Democrats have furiously opposed her nomination over the years.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MINORITY LEADER: What if Justice Owen is confirmed as a federal judge? I hope she surprises those of us who have fought her nomination. Perhaps her experience as a judicial nominee has exposed her to a broader range of views, and that experience may make her more sensitive to concerns regarding privacy, civil rights and consumer rights.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: But not everyone is happy about the fact that Judge Owen will get an up or down vote on the Senate floor. Senator -- actually Senator John Cornyn of Texas is complaining that he believes many Democrats have been disingenuous about opposing nominations like hers and some others go through in that deal that we've announced last night.
Let's listen to what Senator Cornyn said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R), TEXAS: After $10 million or more, perhaps, the American people are told, "Never mind. We didn't really mean it or, even if we did mean it, you're not supposed to take us seriously, because what this is all about is a game."
This is about the politics of personal -- character assassination, the politics of personal destruction and here in, perhaps people could be forgiven for believing that that happens far too much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: Also, a harsh assessment today from some conservative groups, including Focus on the Family and James Dobson. He put out a statement saying in part, "This Senate agreement represents a complete bailout and a betrayal by a cabal of Republicans and a great victory for united Democrats."
Of course, the big question is how will this agreement work going forward? The senators who were involved in the negotiations say it's an issue of good faith -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Joe Johns, we'll be following it throughout the day. Thanks -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: The issue dividing the House of Representatives today, stem cells, and their two divisions aren't along party lines. Votes are pending on measures that would broaden and greatly broaden funding for embryonic stem cell research, research seen as potentially giving rise to cures some day of any number of chronic or terminal afflictions.
We get more on this from CNN's Kimberly Osias -- Kimberly.
KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Miles, just as a showdown in the Senate comes to a simmer, the House is starting to heat up. Two bills, two vastly different approaches.
One proposal, sponsored by Republican Mike Castle and Democrat Diana Daggett, that would use donated frozen embryos for research. Mothers like Beth Westbrook (ph) say it offers the most promise in the fight against degenerative diseases. She lost her daughter Katie to bone cancer four years ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BETH WESTBROOK, STEM CELL RESEARCH ADVOCATE: No parent -- no parent should ever have to look at their child and tell them there are no more options; there's no more hope. No more -- no parent should ever have to tell their child that we are not doing everything possible to support research for a cure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
OSIAS: Opponents say using human embryos is immoral and unethical. They're offering up a less controversial alternate, to use blood from umbilical cords for stem-cell research.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. TOM DELAY (R-TX), MAJORITY LEADER: This is one of those issues that have no easy answers. Proponents of the Castle bill, try as they might to find wiggle room. We'll vote to fund with taxpayer dollars the dismemberment of living distinct human beings for the purposes of medical experimentation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
OSIAS: Some scientists say the umbilical cord blood option has promised an advance in treatment of certain blood disorders, but it's more limited in application to other diseases like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's.
And debate continues in the House at this hour, as you can see. A vote is expected on both bills later this afternoon or by early evening. If the bill using human embryos passes, President Bush has vowed to veto it.
So it's critical to really watch for here is the numbers. If 290 representatives vote yes, that would be enough to override a presidential veto -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Kimberly Osias in Washington, thank you very much.
Talk about political science. In a few minutes we will dissect, if you will, the stem cell debate with a Republican congressman who has delivered thousands of babies in his other job as an ob-gyn and a former Indy race car driver who now longs simply to walk. That's at half past the hour right here on LIVE FROM.
Then stay with us for President Bush's attempt to head off his first-ever veto. We expect those remarks roughly one hour from now. You'll hear them right here on CNN.
KAGAN: This is no joke. Take a look at this video. It is Jay Leno coming and going at the Michael Jackson trial, testifying for the defense about phone calls he says he got from the boy who says Jackson molested him.
The defense case is believed to be quickly winding down, which means the jury could start deliberating as early as late next week. We get the latest now from CNN's Ted Rowlands. He's in Santa Maria.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jay Leno spent about a half an hour on the stand, answering questions about his interaction with the alleged victim in this case and the accuser's family.
He said that he talked personally with the alleged victim once while he was in the hospital and that he received a number of phone messages from the alleged victim. He said that at one point he thought it was odd, because the messages were, as he said, appeared to be scripted.
He did not, however, say that at any time did the alleged victim ask for money, let alone after he was completed with his testimony he stayed on the stand and plugged his show. The jury laughed. He made a couple of off-the-cuff remarks that the jury seemed to really take to and laugh about.
The headline here today, though, is that we understand that the defense may rest their case by the end of the day. Comedian Chris Tucker is expected to be the last defense witness, and he is expected to take the stand within the next few hours. And after Chris Tucker is completed, it is expected that Tom Mesereau, Jackson's lead attorney, will rest his case.
Ted Rowlands, CNN, Santa Maria, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: A new accounting of the bank customers affected by a ring of alleged data traffickers stands at 676,000, could reach a million. As we told you yesterday, some former employees of some of the biggest banks in America, including the Bank of America, are accused of selling customers' personal information to a New Jersey middleman, who allegedly then sold it to lawyers and collection agencies.
Detectives say it doesn't appear identity theft was the motive, just the cut-rate delivery of information debt collectors could have gotten legally, though not nearly so cheaply nor as quickly.
PHILLIPS: Did U.S. forces score a hit on Iraq's top terrorist? Web messages report that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has been wounded. We've got more on that straight ahead.
And how is the search for these two missing Idaho children going? We expect to bring you a live news conference from investigators in just a few minutes. Stay with us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're watching LIVE FROM on CNN, the most trusted name in news. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, it happened again. Another airplane flew into restricted airspace over Washington yesterday. Fighter jets were scrambled, and they also dropped a warning flair. Well, the pilots responded immediately, eventually landing at a nearby airport.
That pilot later told federal investigators that his radio went out in bad weather. And as he tried to fix it he crossed into protected airspace. Still no word on whether the pilot will face charges.
O'BRIEN: Well, it's no slap on the wrist for the pilot who caused a major security scare over Washington a couple of weeks ago. The FAA has revoked the pilot's license as punishment for the May 11 incident.
The pilot penetrated airspace within three miles of the Mall and the White House before turning around and landing in Frederick, Maryland. What's more, the FAA says the pilot was not authorized to have a passenger aboard. He wasn't even current. The pilot is prohibited from flying for at least a year.
PHILLIPS: He is the most wanted terrorist in Iraq and now a member of militant web sites are posting word that Abu Musab al- Zarqawi has been wounded. The message, said to be from one of al- Zarqawi's associates, says, "Oh, nation of Islam, pray for the healing of our Sheik Abu Musab al-Zarqawi from an injury that he suffered in the path of god. Let the near and far know that the injury of our leader is an honor and a cause to close in on the enemies of God and a reason to increase the attacks against them."
Our senior editor of Arab affairs, Octavia Nasr, here to talk about the development. What do we know, if this is indeed true or not?
OCTAVIA NASR, CNN ARAB AFFAIRS EDITOR: We do not know if it's true or not. What we do know is that the message sounds very much like previous messages from al Qaeda in Iraq.
The man, Abu Maysarah al-Iraqi, is supposed to be the media coordinator for al Qaeda in Iraq. We've heard from him in the last few months in every claim of responsibility, every message that al Qaeda and Iraqis send out.
So in this sense, it is something that we take seriously, but we cannot confirm. CNN has no way of confirming if this is true.
Now the message, as you read it, very interesting because it calls for prayer. Everyone I spoke with and everyone I heard talk about this on Arab media is saying that this means that the injury is either severe or the man is dead. This has never happened before where an insurgency group will post a message saying that their leader, their sheik, their emir, in this case, has been wounded and please pray for him.
So you have to believe that there's something cooking there. And we will be hearing something about this very soon.
PHILLIPS: Interesting, so it's the word "prayer" that makes you take this seriously.
Well, then what kind of impact could this have on the insurgency? Obviously, this is the man insurgents admire and look up to in the face of what's going on right now.
NASR: It will have a huge impact on his group, al Qaeda and Iraq, which is, of course, the most wanted group. And he's the most wanted man by the U.S. in Iraq.
It won't have much impact on the rest of the insurgency. Remember, we also talk about so many groups. You have hundreds, literally, of insurgency groups in Iraq. Sometimes you have neighborhood gangs. They take people hostage and ask for ransom. Others kill hostages. Others attack U.S. convoys and coalition convoys and so forth.
So it won't have an impact on the entire insurgency, but it definitely will deal a big blow to the al Qaeda in Iraq. And of course, it will be a big win for the U.S.
PHILLIPS: There were a couple -- there were a few reports about a week and a half ago, I guess it was, that al-Zarqawi checked himself into a hospital. So that could be true?
NASR: Could be true. These were media reports and, of course, the Pentagon said that they had no knowledge of such a thing happening.
Now, one expert said this morning, and I liked what he said, because he said, usually when al Qaeda and Iraq post messages like this, you have to think the incident happened about a month ago. That's exactly when that rumor was out that he was injured and he checked himself into a hospital and he was -- he rushed to leave.
So, basically, those are the same people who are saying if, indeed, he's injured, then his injury must be very serious for them to announce it this way, because they're saying that this could be the prelude to what's going to happen next, which means an announcement of either a grave injury or even death.
PHILLIPS: All right. We'll be watching. Octavia Nasr, thanks so much.
NASR: Any time.
PHILLIPS: We're LIVE FROM right after a quick break.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Next on LIVE FROM, stem-cell research. How does it work? CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta on what doctors say it possibly can and can't do. Later on LIVE FROM, a CIA agent gets the assignment of a life time: bring back the head of Osama bin Laden on ice. Gary Schroen and his new book, "First In."
Also ahead, making history at nearly 230 miles an hour. Indy racer Danica Patrick joins us live to share her strategy for leaving the guys in the Indianapolis dust.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: So what do you think? Could it be love for Tom Cruise? One of Hollywood's hottest stars is off the market, possibly forever, according to what he told the queen of talk. Some say it's just all a sham. See for yourself.
Here's CNN's David Haffenreffer.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM CRUISE, ACTOR: I'm in love!
DAVID HAFFENREFFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The ultra- cool Tom Cruise we all know was nowhere to be seen on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Instead, we got blushing Tom. Gushing Tom.
CRUISE: I met her.
OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: You met her.
CRUISE: She's extraordinary. She's truly...
HAFFENREFFER: And the giggly as a school boy Tom. And he says it's all about his new lady Katie Holmes.
CRUISE: I can't be cool, you know what I mean? I can't be laid- back. It's just -- it's something that has happened, and I feel I want to celebrate it.
HAFFENREFFER: Leave it to Oprah to ask what we've all been asking for about the newly-smitten Tom Cruise.
WINFREY: What has happened you?
HAFFENREFFER: What's happened is that ever since we got our first glimpses of Tom and Katie traipsing around Rome last month, the usually private Tom has been very publicly showing off his new girlfriend. On today's "Oprah," he even dragged her out for a curtain call.
CRUISE: Amazing.
SARAH BERNARD, "NEW YORK MAGAZINE": This is a totally different side of Tom and the fact that both Tom and Katie have movies coming out this month is not lost on anyone. HAFFENREFFER: He's in "War of the Worlds."
CRUISE: Get in, Matty (ph), or you're going to die.
HAFFENREFFER: And she's in "Batman Begins." Not to be cynical, but from a P.R. standpoint, having a high profile relationship while you have a high profile movie is awfully convenient, too convenient for some people to accept.
BERNARD: There is definitely something fishy with this relationship. I think what's been interesting is it's not so much the age difference that everyone's focused on. He's 42. She's 26.
It's more just the sort of fabricated nature of this whole presentation, the fact that they were so eager to meet the paparazzi in Rome. The fact that their publicist, who's actually Tom Cruise's sister, was so open about the details of their relationship.
HAFFENREFFER: How was the Tom-Katie relationship playing out among the public? I hit the streets of New York City to find out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't usually think celebrities are really in love because it's all -- you know, they put them together for publicity.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People deserve a life of their own. People should butt out of their business. And if he really wants her, he really wants her.
HAFFENREFFER: Well, as we saw on "Oprah," Tom Cruise apparently does want Katie, and he also wants us to know it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Well, as if they needed it, more bad news for airline workers. Looks like Northwest planning some pay cuts, job cuts, maybe both. Susan Lisovicz is here to tell us -- I guess they're going after the machinists, people who repair the planes, and that always makes me very confident about flying. Doesn't it to you?
(STOCK REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Stories now in the news, four American soldiers have been killed today in Baghdad. One died in a drive-by shooting, three in this attack on a U.S. Humvee. That brings the -- bring to eight the number of American troops killed over a 24-hour period in Baghdad.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon strikes an appeasing tone on Palestinian cooperation, speaking to a pro-Israel lobbying group in Washington, Sharon vowed to work with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas as long as it doesn't jeopardize Israeli security. Sharon's visit comes ahead of Thursday's meeting between Abbas and President George W. Bush. One hurdle cleared, one more to go in the Senate battle over judicial nominee Priscilla Owen. About an hour ago, the Senate voted 81 to 18 to end debate on her candidacy, clearing a way for a vote on Owen's nomination. That vote could come as early as today. CNN, of course, will bring you the developments as soon as they happen.
Lionel Tate is back in jail. Tate was the Florida boy who was sentenced to life without parole for killing a 6-year-old playmate and was later set free. He was arrested yesterday for allegedly pulling a gun on a pizza delivery man and beating up a friend. Tate is 18 now and on probation. He's to appear in court tomorrow.
O'BRIEN: It's complicated science, and we're still years away from the day when embryonic stem cells might be used to treat spinal cord injuries, cure Parkinson's or make insulin shots a thing of the past for diabetics.
Still, Dr. Sanjay Gupta says the research has made astonishing progress in just the past year.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Today, we're closer than ever before.
GERALD SCHATTEN, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH: Theoretically, this will be bigger than discoveries of vaccines or antibiotics.
GUPTA: Why?
HWANG WOO-SUK, SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY: This report brings science a giant step forward.
GUPTA: Forward, toward making stem-cell therapies a reality. By cloning an embryo, stem cells can be made specific to anyone, regardless of age, sex. And since a transplant organ or tissue would be grown from the patient's own DNA, the term "rejection" may be a thing of the past.
DR. CURT CIVIN, JOHNS HOPKINS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: If you can get stem cells that have your own DNA coding for all the genes that they make then when a kidney, say, that might some day be made from those stem cells, were some day, maybe, put into you, you wouldn't reject it.
GUPTA: That's good news for millions of people who need treatment and cures, such as Michael J. Fox with Parkinson's disease and Mary Tyler Moore with diabetes. Still, there are barriers and controversies.
It was just a year ago that the South Koreans first figured out how to even create a stem-cell line. Now, 12 months later, these same doctors have already become 25 times more efficient at creating stem- cell lines.
CIVIN: About a year ago, they had to try 250 eggs. Now they got one in ten.
GUPTA: Meaning scientists need far fewer eggs to create the raw material for research and possible treatment, raw materials that would be used to grow cartilage for a damaged knee or a pancreas for type-I diabetes.
These scientists have solved the problem of destroying fertilized embryos, but they are still destroying cloned embryos created for research. If the embryos are never destroyed and are implanted into a woman, a cloned human being is created.
Of course, most of us want to know what this means for us today. It means, while the promise of stem cells is still years away, we have moved at lightning speed over the last 12 months and are moving faster every single day.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 May 24, 2005 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CO-HOST: Terror warrior wounded. Militant messages report that Iraq's top insurgent is hurt. We're on that developing story.
MILES O'BRIEN, CO-HOST: We're live from Washington where the 4- four-year-old question of yes or no is about to be answered for Judge Priscilla Owen.
PHILLIPS: Will embryonic stem-cell research lead to a moral decline or a miracle cure? That question is the heart of decisions being made today.
O'BRIEN: And standup on the stand. "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno testifies for the defense in the trial of Michael Jackson.
From the CNN center in Atlanta, I'm Miles O'Brien.
PHILLIPS: And I'm Kyra Phillips. CNN's LIVE FROM starts right now.
Judgment day for Judge Owen. Four years after President Bush tapped Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen for the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, less than a day after 14 senators managed to avert a procedural meltdown, the fully Senate is actually casting votes.
Last night's compromise commits Democrats to allow up or down, do or die votes on Owen and two other long stalled nominations while preserving their right to filibuster under, quote, "extraordinary circumstances."
We get the latest now from CNN's Joe Johns. He's on the Hill.
Hi, Joe.
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.
This is a milestone for nominee Priscilla Owen. After four years, the United States Senate has voted 81 to 18 to cut off debate on her nomination. It means she will get an up or down vote, though many Democrats have furiously opposed her nomination over the years.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MINORITY LEADER: What if Justice Owen is confirmed as a federal judge? I hope she surprises those of us who have fought her nomination. Perhaps her experience as a judicial nominee has exposed her to a broader range of views, and that experience may make her more sensitive to concerns regarding privacy, civil rights and consumer rights.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: But not everyone is happy about the fact that Judge Owen will get an up or down vote on the Senate floor. Senator -- actually Senator John Cornyn of Texas is complaining that he believes many Democrats have been disingenuous about opposing nominations like hers and some others go through in that deal that we've announced last night.
Let's listen to what Senator Cornyn said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R), TEXAS: After $10 million or more, perhaps, the American people are told, "Never mind. We didn't really mean it or, even if we did mean it, you're not supposed to take us seriously, because what this is all about is a game."
This is about the politics of personal -- character assassination, the politics of personal destruction and here in, perhaps people could be forgiven for believing that that happens far too much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: Also, a harsh assessment today from some conservative groups, including Focus on the Family and James Dobson. He put out a statement saying in part, "This Senate agreement represents a complete bailout and a betrayal by a cabal of Republicans and a great victory for united Democrats."
Of course, the big question is how will this agreement work going forward? The senators who were involved in the negotiations say it's an issue of good faith -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Joe Johns, we'll be following it throughout the day. Thanks -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: The issue dividing the House of Representatives today, stem cells, and their two divisions aren't along party lines. Votes are pending on measures that would broaden and greatly broaden funding for embryonic stem cell research, research seen as potentially giving rise to cures some day of any number of chronic or terminal afflictions.
We get more on this from CNN's Kimberly Osias -- Kimberly.
KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Miles, just as a showdown in the Senate comes to a simmer, the House is starting to heat up. Two bills, two vastly different approaches.
One proposal, sponsored by Republican Mike Castle and Democrat Diana Daggett, that would use donated frozen embryos for research. Mothers like Beth Westbrook (ph) say it offers the most promise in the fight against degenerative diseases. She lost her daughter Katie to bone cancer four years ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BETH WESTBROOK, STEM CELL RESEARCH ADVOCATE: No parent -- no parent should ever have to look at their child and tell them there are no more options; there's no more hope. No more -- no parent should ever have to tell their child that we are not doing everything possible to support research for a cure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
OSIAS: Opponents say using human embryos is immoral and unethical. They're offering up a less controversial alternate, to use blood from umbilical cords for stem-cell research.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. TOM DELAY (R-TX), MAJORITY LEADER: This is one of those issues that have no easy answers. Proponents of the Castle bill, try as they might to find wiggle room. We'll vote to fund with taxpayer dollars the dismemberment of living distinct human beings for the purposes of medical experimentation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
OSIAS: Some scientists say the umbilical cord blood option has promised an advance in treatment of certain blood disorders, but it's more limited in application to other diseases like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's.
And debate continues in the House at this hour, as you can see. A vote is expected on both bills later this afternoon or by early evening. If the bill using human embryos passes, President Bush has vowed to veto it.
So it's critical to really watch for here is the numbers. If 290 representatives vote yes, that would be enough to override a presidential veto -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Kimberly Osias in Washington, thank you very much.
Talk about political science. In a few minutes we will dissect, if you will, the stem cell debate with a Republican congressman who has delivered thousands of babies in his other job as an ob-gyn and a former Indy race car driver who now longs simply to walk. That's at half past the hour right here on LIVE FROM.
Then stay with us for President Bush's attempt to head off his first-ever veto. We expect those remarks roughly one hour from now. You'll hear them right here on CNN.
KAGAN: This is no joke. Take a look at this video. It is Jay Leno coming and going at the Michael Jackson trial, testifying for the defense about phone calls he says he got from the boy who says Jackson molested him.
The defense case is believed to be quickly winding down, which means the jury could start deliberating as early as late next week. We get the latest now from CNN's Ted Rowlands. He's in Santa Maria.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jay Leno spent about a half an hour on the stand, answering questions about his interaction with the alleged victim in this case and the accuser's family.
He said that he talked personally with the alleged victim once while he was in the hospital and that he received a number of phone messages from the alleged victim. He said that at one point he thought it was odd, because the messages were, as he said, appeared to be scripted.
He did not, however, say that at any time did the alleged victim ask for money, let alone after he was completed with his testimony he stayed on the stand and plugged his show. The jury laughed. He made a couple of off-the-cuff remarks that the jury seemed to really take to and laugh about.
The headline here today, though, is that we understand that the defense may rest their case by the end of the day. Comedian Chris Tucker is expected to be the last defense witness, and he is expected to take the stand within the next few hours. And after Chris Tucker is completed, it is expected that Tom Mesereau, Jackson's lead attorney, will rest his case.
Ted Rowlands, CNN, Santa Maria, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: A new accounting of the bank customers affected by a ring of alleged data traffickers stands at 676,000, could reach a million. As we told you yesterday, some former employees of some of the biggest banks in America, including the Bank of America, are accused of selling customers' personal information to a New Jersey middleman, who allegedly then sold it to lawyers and collection agencies.
Detectives say it doesn't appear identity theft was the motive, just the cut-rate delivery of information debt collectors could have gotten legally, though not nearly so cheaply nor as quickly.
PHILLIPS: Did U.S. forces score a hit on Iraq's top terrorist? Web messages report that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has been wounded. We've got more on that straight ahead.
And how is the search for these two missing Idaho children going? We expect to bring you a live news conference from investigators in just a few minutes. Stay with us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're watching LIVE FROM on CNN, the most trusted name in news. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, it happened again. Another airplane flew into restricted airspace over Washington yesterday. Fighter jets were scrambled, and they also dropped a warning flair. Well, the pilots responded immediately, eventually landing at a nearby airport.
That pilot later told federal investigators that his radio went out in bad weather. And as he tried to fix it he crossed into protected airspace. Still no word on whether the pilot will face charges.
O'BRIEN: Well, it's no slap on the wrist for the pilot who caused a major security scare over Washington a couple of weeks ago. The FAA has revoked the pilot's license as punishment for the May 11 incident.
The pilot penetrated airspace within three miles of the Mall and the White House before turning around and landing in Frederick, Maryland. What's more, the FAA says the pilot was not authorized to have a passenger aboard. He wasn't even current. The pilot is prohibited from flying for at least a year.
PHILLIPS: He is the most wanted terrorist in Iraq and now a member of militant web sites are posting word that Abu Musab al- Zarqawi has been wounded. The message, said to be from one of al- Zarqawi's associates, says, "Oh, nation of Islam, pray for the healing of our Sheik Abu Musab al-Zarqawi from an injury that he suffered in the path of god. Let the near and far know that the injury of our leader is an honor and a cause to close in on the enemies of God and a reason to increase the attacks against them."
Our senior editor of Arab affairs, Octavia Nasr, here to talk about the development. What do we know, if this is indeed true or not?
OCTAVIA NASR, CNN ARAB AFFAIRS EDITOR: We do not know if it's true or not. What we do know is that the message sounds very much like previous messages from al Qaeda in Iraq.
The man, Abu Maysarah al-Iraqi, is supposed to be the media coordinator for al Qaeda in Iraq. We've heard from him in the last few months in every claim of responsibility, every message that al Qaeda and Iraqis send out.
So in this sense, it is something that we take seriously, but we cannot confirm. CNN has no way of confirming if this is true.
Now the message, as you read it, very interesting because it calls for prayer. Everyone I spoke with and everyone I heard talk about this on Arab media is saying that this means that the injury is either severe or the man is dead. This has never happened before where an insurgency group will post a message saying that their leader, their sheik, their emir, in this case, has been wounded and please pray for him.
So you have to believe that there's something cooking there. And we will be hearing something about this very soon.
PHILLIPS: Interesting, so it's the word "prayer" that makes you take this seriously.
Well, then what kind of impact could this have on the insurgency? Obviously, this is the man insurgents admire and look up to in the face of what's going on right now.
NASR: It will have a huge impact on his group, al Qaeda and Iraq, which is, of course, the most wanted group. And he's the most wanted man by the U.S. in Iraq.
It won't have much impact on the rest of the insurgency. Remember, we also talk about so many groups. You have hundreds, literally, of insurgency groups in Iraq. Sometimes you have neighborhood gangs. They take people hostage and ask for ransom. Others kill hostages. Others attack U.S. convoys and coalition convoys and so forth.
So it won't have an impact on the entire insurgency, but it definitely will deal a big blow to the al Qaeda in Iraq. And of course, it will be a big win for the U.S.
PHILLIPS: There were a couple -- there were a few reports about a week and a half ago, I guess it was, that al-Zarqawi checked himself into a hospital. So that could be true?
NASR: Could be true. These were media reports and, of course, the Pentagon said that they had no knowledge of such a thing happening.
Now, one expert said this morning, and I liked what he said, because he said, usually when al Qaeda and Iraq post messages like this, you have to think the incident happened about a month ago. That's exactly when that rumor was out that he was injured and he checked himself into a hospital and he was -- he rushed to leave.
So, basically, those are the same people who are saying if, indeed, he's injured, then his injury must be very serious for them to announce it this way, because they're saying that this could be the prelude to what's going to happen next, which means an announcement of either a grave injury or even death.
PHILLIPS: All right. We'll be watching. Octavia Nasr, thanks so much.
NASR: Any time.
PHILLIPS: We're LIVE FROM right after a quick break.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Next on LIVE FROM, stem-cell research. How does it work? CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta on what doctors say it possibly can and can't do. Later on LIVE FROM, a CIA agent gets the assignment of a life time: bring back the head of Osama bin Laden on ice. Gary Schroen and his new book, "First In."
Also ahead, making history at nearly 230 miles an hour. Indy racer Danica Patrick joins us live to share her strategy for leaving the guys in the Indianapolis dust.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: So what do you think? Could it be love for Tom Cruise? One of Hollywood's hottest stars is off the market, possibly forever, according to what he told the queen of talk. Some say it's just all a sham. See for yourself.
Here's CNN's David Haffenreffer.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM CRUISE, ACTOR: I'm in love!
DAVID HAFFENREFFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The ultra- cool Tom Cruise we all know was nowhere to be seen on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Instead, we got blushing Tom. Gushing Tom.
CRUISE: I met her.
OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: You met her.
CRUISE: She's extraordinary. She's truly...
HAFFENREFFER: And the giggly as a school boy Tom. And he says it's all about his new lady Katie Holmes.
CRUISE: I can't be cool, you know what I mean? I can't be laid- back. It's just -- it's something that has happened, and I feel I want to celebrate it.
HAFFENREFFER: Leave it to Oprah to ask what we've all been asking for about the newly-smitten Tom Cruise.
WINFREY: What has happened you?
HAFFENREFFER: What's happened is that ever since we got our first glimpses of Tom and Katie traipsing around Rome last month, the usually private Tom has been very publicly showing off his new girlfriend. On today's "Oprah," he even dragged her out for a curtain call.
CRUISE: Amazing.
SARAH BERNARD, "NEW YORK MAGAZINE": This is a totally different side of Tom and the fact that both Tom and Katie have movies coming out this month is not lost on anyone. HAFFENREFFER: He's in "War of the Worlds."
CRUISE: Get in, Matty (ph), or you're going to die.
HAFFENREFFER: And she's in "Batman Begins." Not to be cynical, but from a P.R. standpoint, having a high profile relationship while you have a high profile movie is awfully convenient, too convenient for some people to accept.
BERNARD: There is definitely something fishy with this relationship. I think what's been interesting is it's not so much the age difference that everyone's focused on. He's 42. She's 26.
It's more just the sort of fabricated nature of this whole presentation, the fact that they were so eager to meet the paparazzi in Rome. The fact that their publicist, who's actually Tom Cruise's sister, was so open about the details of their relationship.
HAFFENREFFER: How was the Tom-Katie relationship playing out among the public? I hit the streets of New York City to find out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't usually think celebrities are really in love because it's all -- you know, they put them together for publicity.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People deserve a life of their own. People should butt out of their business. And if he really wants her, he really wants her.
HAFFENREFFER: Well, as we saw on "Oprah," Tom Cruise apparently does want Katie, and he also wants us to know it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Well, as if they needed it, more bad news for airline workers. Looks like Northwest planning some pay cuts, job cuts, maybe both. Susan Lisovicz is here to tell us -- I guess they're going after the machinists, people who repair the planes, and that always makes me very confident about flying. Doesn't it to you?
(STOCK REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Stories now in the news, four American soldiers have been killed today in Baghdad. One died in a drive-by shooting, three in this attack on a U.S. Humvee. That brings the -- bring to eight the number of American troops killed over a 24-hour period in Baghdad.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon strikes an appeasing tone on Palestinian cooperation, speaking to a pro-Israel lobbying group in Washington, Sharon vowed to work with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas as long as it doesn't jeopardize Israeli security. Sharon's visit comes ahead of Thursday's meeting between Abbas and President George W. Bush. One hurdle cleared, one more to go in the Senate battle over judicial nominee Priscilla Owen. About an hour ago, the Senate voted 81 to 18 to end debate on her candidacy, clearing a way for a vote on Owen's nomination. That vote could come as early as today. CNN, of course, will bring you the developments as soon as they happen.
Lionel Tate is back in jail. Tate was the Florida boy who was sentenced to life without parole for killing a 6-year-old playmate and was later set free. He was arrested yesterday for allegedly pulling a gun on a pizza delivery man and beating up a friend. Tate is 18 now and on probation. He's to appear in court tomorrow.
O'BRIEN: It's complicated science, and we're still years away from the day when embryonic stem cells might be used to treat spinal cord injuries, cure Parkinson's or make insulin shots a thing of the past for diabetics.
Still, Dr. Sanjay Gupta says the research has made astonishing progress in just the past year.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Today, we're closer than ever before.
GERALD SCHATTEN, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH: Theoretically, this will be bigger than discoveries of vaccines or antibiotics.
GUPTA: Why?
HWANG WOO-SUK, SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY: This report brings science a giant step forward.
GUPTA: Forward, toward making stem-cell therapies a reality. By cloning an embryo, stem cells can be made specific to anyone, regardless of age, sex. And since a transplant organ or tissue would be grown from the patient's own DNA, the term "rejection" may be a thing of the past.
DR. CURT CIVIN, JOHNS HOPKINS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: If you can get stem cells that have your own DNA coding for all the genes that they make then when a kidney, say, that might some day be made from those stem cells, were some day, maybe, put into you, you wouldn't reject it.
GUPTA: That's good news for millions of people who need treatment and cures, such as Michael J. Fox with Parkinson's disease and Mary Tyler Moore with diabetes. Still, there are barriers and controversies.
It was just a year ago that the South Koreans first figured out how to even create a stem-cell line. Now, 12 months later, these same doctors have already become 25 times more efficient at creating stem- cell lines.
CIVIN: About a year ago, they had to try 250 eggs. Now they got one in ten.
GUPTA: Meaning scientists need far fewer eggs to create the raw material for research and possible treatment, raw materials that would be used to grow cartilage for a damaged knee or a pancreas for type-I diabetes.
These scientists have solved the problem of destroying fertilized embryos, but they are still destroying cloned embryos created for research. If the embryos are never destroyed and are implanted into a woman, a cloned human being is created.
Of course, most of us want to know what this means for us today. It means, while the promise of stem cells is still years away, we have moved at lightning speed over the last 12 months and are moving faster every single day.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
