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CNN Live Today
Possible Sighting of Missing Idaho Siblings; Bush Intends to Veto Stem Cell Bill; Army Illegal Recruitment
Aired May 20, 2005 - 10:00 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Let's get right to Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center.
Hey, Daryn. Good morning.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Your weekend has begun. Get out of here.
BILL HEMMER, CNN-CO ANCHOR: Nice. See you, Daryn.
KAGAN: Have a great one.
We will get started by taking a look at what's happening now in the news.
White House officials have just said President Bush would veto new stem cell legislation now in the House. That bill would expand public funding for embryonic stem research, a number of House Republicans support that measure. President Bush wants research limited to cell lines already in existence. President Bush may address the veto himself possibly next week.
We are expecting to hear about new charges in an Indiana girl's murder about an hour from now. Ten-year-old Katie Komen's (ph) body was found in January. Investigators believe she was killed because she had stumbled upon a meth lab. Today authorities are expected to charge -- to change the charges against two suspects.
And there's a new report about disrespecting the Quran at Guantanamo Bay Navy Base. The internal -- International Committee of the Red Cross say detainees made such allegations in 2002 and 2003. Red Cross workers did not witness any mishandling of the Muslim holy book, but reports were passed on to Pentagon officials. On Monday, "Newsweek" magazine retracted a report alleging interrogators desecrated the Quran.
NASA officials say all is well so far with today's fueling test on shuttle Discovery. Last month engineers found sensor and valve problems during a fueling test. Discovery's launch, the first shuttle mission since the Columbia tragedy, is now scheduled for July.
Good morning to you on this Friday morning. I'm Daryn Kagan.
Police may have a new lead in the search for two children missing after a triple murder in their Idaho home. Local and federal authorities have launched a massive search for the siblings after a possible in-state sighting yesterday afternoon.
Our Alina Cho has been following the story joins us now fro Coeur d'Alene, Idaho with the latest developments -- Alina.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, good morning to you. Hard to tell at this point how seriously authorities are taking this. But here's what we know. As you mentioned, there's been a possible, and I repeat a possible sighting of two children who resemble 9-year-old Dylan and his sister 8-year-old Shasta Groene. They have been missing since Monday.
They were apparently spotted at a small sporting goods store, about 70 miles north of where we are, with a tall man in a full-sized light-colored van. The owner apparently called in the tip, even had a license plate. But the van has not been seen. There is currently an all-out search for it.
Meanwhile, the children's father says he believes this will all be over very soon and that his children will come home.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHO (voice over): Flanked by his family for support, the father of two missing children began by thanking the media and the public for their concerns and prayers. Steve Groene then made an emotional plea.
STEVE GROENE, CHILDREN'S FATHER: I'd like to address my children's abductors or abductor. Please, please release my children safely. They had nothing to do with any safely of this.
CHO: Nine-year-old Dylan and 8-year-old Shasta Groene remain missing. The bodies of their mother, 13-year-old brother and another man were found bound in their home. Blunt force trauma was the cause of death.
CAPT. BEN WOLFINGER, KOOTENAI COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT.: Why would a killer come in and kill three people and take two children? Does that give us hope for the children? You bet it does.
CHO: As dive teams searched area waters, FBI technicians pressed their hunt for evidence.
WOLFINGER: We did learn there is a gathering here at the house Sunday evening; friends over, barbecue like many of us do on a Sunday afternoon.
CHO: One of the men who authorities say attended that gathering was 33-year-old Robert Roy Lutner. Authorities had believed he was the last person to see the victims alive. But after seven hours of intense questioning, Lutner was cleared.
WOLFINGER: Mr. Lutner voluntarily took a polygraph test. That confirmed his truthfulness. He had nothing to do with the death scene or the abduction of the children.
CHO: The children's father fought back tears as he pleaded for the return of his children.
GROENE: Release them in a safe area where law enforcement can find them. Call the help line. Let them know where they can be found. Please, we need the safe return of those children.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: Crime scene investigators hope to wrap up their work at the home where the murderers took place sometime later today. And then at that point, Daryn, all of evidence will be shipped out to the FBI's crime processing lab in Quantico, Virginia -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Alina, is there concern that perhaps whoever took these kids, if that's the case, could be heading north toward the Canadian border? And is there any cooperation with Canadian officials?
CHO: Yes, there is. In fact, the man who was spotted with the two children, again, who resembled Dylan and Shasta Groene, apparently asked the owner for directions to Libby, Montana. That's about 40 miles north of where the sporting goods store, which is 70 miles north of here. So about 100 miles north of where we are now. So, yes. Canadian authorities, Montana officials, and of course, state and local officials are searching for that vehicle. Of course, we will keep you up to date on that as soon as we get more information -- Daryn.
KAGAN: All right. Alina, thank you.
In health news this morning, there has been a major development in stem cell research. Scientists in South Korea say they have grown 11 new batches of embryonic stem cells. And for the first time, they are a genetic match for sick and injured patients. Scientists hope that some day stem cells can be used to cure a variety of diseases and repair damage from injuries. However any potential treatment is years away from even being tested in people.
And British scientists say they have successfully cloned a human embryo. It's a first for that country. South Korea did it last year. But the clone won't be used to grow a baby. Researchers used test tube embryos to supply stem cells. They hope the cells can eventually be used to repair spinal cord injuries that treat some diseases.
And here in this country, embryonic stem cell research remains controversial. The House now working on a bill to broaden limits on public research set in 2001. However, CNN has just learned President Bush does intend to veto that bill.
Ed Henry joins us now from the White House.
Ed, good morning.
ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. That's right. The White House just went on the record with a story first reported on CNN this morning. White House spokesman Trent Duffy confirming, in fact, President Bush will veto this House legislation that would increase and broaden federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, that would cut back on the limits that the president instituted back in 2001.
This is a clear sign that the White House is concerned that this legislation on the Hill, which is coming up for a vote early next week is picking up momentum. It right now has over 200 co-sponsors in the House, also picking up steam in the Senate. The White House believing privately that this veto threat could stop that momentum for the legislation.
Now earlier this today, this morning the president spoke at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast. He spoke about the culture of life and in fact, this stem cell research issue falls under that category, because the Catholic Church is opposed to stem cell research out of concern that human life, that embryos would in fact be destroyed for research purposes. Here's the president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is a new tradition, yet its promises are timeless for Catholic Americans. To thank the Lord for the blessing of freedom. To renew our shared dedication to this great republic. And to pray that America uses a gift of freedom to build a culture of life.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: Because in part of those concerns from the Catholic Church. And also because of the president's own principles, according to White House officials, that's why his policy limits federal funding for this research to existing stem cell lines.
But some scientists have complained that some of these cell lines, in fact, are contaminated and they need to expand it. That's why in fact, the scientists have gotten some high-profile support from celebrities like Nancy Reagan, who has argued that increasing stem cell research, increasing federal funding for it, in fact, would help battle diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and others.
That argument has gotten through to some of the president's fellow Republicans on Capitol Hill, who have joined forces with Democrats to give this legislation some momentum on the Hill. A rare spat between the president and some his fellow Republicans on the Hill.
But the White House noting privately, they feel they have a high- profile lobbyist of their own in First Lady Laura Bush. Daughter of an Alzheimer's patient, who has pointed out over and over that the president does support stem cell research, just does not want to expand the federal funding of it -- Daryn.
KAGAN: All right. Ed, I'm going to have you stand in that typhoon for a little moment to get my Ed Henry question of the hour in. And that is the story coming out of the Pentagon condemning the release of these photographs, showing Saddam Hussein in his underwear. What's coming from the White House on that? HENRY: Trent Duffy, the White House spokesman, just said a few moments ago that the president was briefed by senior aides on this situation. The president expressing concern. And in fact, expressing support for the aggressive investigation that is under way right now. Trent Duffy saying from the White House podium that, in fact the taking of this photo, the release of the photo as well, clearly violating Pentagon policy. And admitting that in fact it may violate the Geneva Accords. That's why the White House said the president supports this investigation. He's not going to pre-judge the investigation yet. But he supports getting to the bottom of it -- Daryn.
KAGAN: All right. Thank you, Ed Henry.
And we can put the put the picture up again and tell you the response of the Pentagon is they plan do a full investigation on this. This image was splashed across the front page of a British tabloid. Our correspondent at the Pentagon, Barbara Starr will join us with the official reaction in the next hour.
And now on to Iraq. Supporters of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr are painting U.S. and Israeli flags outside mosques on the Muslim Day of Prayer. Shiite worshipers are told to wipe their feet on the symbols to protest the U.S. presence in Iraq.
Two U.S. soldiers are among the latest casualties in that country's surging violence. They were riding in a military convoy when gunmen opened fire from another vehicle. Another U.S. soldier died earlier today in an apparent accident. Military officials say he was struck by a driver swerving to avoid a roadside bomb.
The U.S. Army is suspending all of its recruiting operations today. The so-called stand down comes amid charges of improper and possibly illegal practices to entice young recruits.
Our national correspondent Kelly Wallace explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): More than 7500 Army recruiters around the country won't be recruiting Friday. Instead, they will spend the day discussing what's right and wrong because of allegations like these. A Houston recruiter threatening a young man with arrest if he did not sign up. And Denver area recruiters helping a student get a fake diploma and pass a drug test that student.
That student, 17-year-old David McSwane. He posed as a high school dropout with a drug problem for a story for his high school paper. He recently talked with CNN's Thelma Gutierrez and shared audiotapes he says he made of conversations with the recruiters.
DAVID MCSWANE, HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR: They accepted my diploma and all that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, that's what they told us though. MCSWANE: I -- I mean, but they don't know that it's fake or anything? I'm not going to get in trouble?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right, you won't, know.
MCSWANE: All right. Cool.
WALLACE: The U.S. Army's top recruiting commander.
MAJ. GEN. MICHAEL ROCHELLE, U.S. ARMY RECRUITING CMD.: The actions of a few have reflected very, very badly on many of us, myself included. And we're all injured by that.
WALLACE: The stakes couldn't be higher, with the war in Iraq making Army recruiting increasingly difficult. The Army missed its monthly recruiting goals for February, March and April. Part of the problem, parents discouraging their sons and daughters from enlisting.
Aired May 20, 2005 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Let's get right to Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center.
Hey, Daryn. Good morning.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Your weekend has begun. Get out of here.
BILL HEMMER, CNN-CO ANCHOR: Nice. See you, Daryn.
KAGAN: Have a great one.
We will get started by taking a look at what's happening now in the news.
White House officials have just said President Bush would veto new stem cell legislation now in the House. That bill would expand public funding for embryonic stem research, a number of House Republicans support that measure. President Bush wants research limited to cell lines already in existence. President Bush may address the veto himself possibly next week.
We are expecting to hear about new charges in an Indiana girl's murder about an hour from now. Ten-year-old Katie Komen's (ph) body was found in January. Investigators believe she was killed because she had stumbled upon a meth lab. Today authorities are expected to charge -- to change the charges against two suspects.
And there's a new report about disrespecting the Quran at Guantanamo Bay Navy Base. The internal -- International Committee of the Red Cross say detainees made such allegations in 2002 and 2003. Red Cross workers did not witness any mishandling of the Muslim holy book, but reports were passed on to Pentagon officials. On Monday, "Newsweek" magazine retracted a report alleging interrogators desecrated the Quran.
NASA officials say all is well so far with today's fueling test on shuttle Discovery. Last month engineers found sensor and valve problems during a fueling test. Discovery's launch, the first shuttle mission since the Columbia tragedy, is now scheduled for July.
Good morning to you on this Friday morning. I'm Daryn Kagan.
Police may have a new lead in the search for two children missing after a triple murder in their Idaho home. Local and federal authorities have launched a massive search for the siblings after a possible in-state sighting yesterday afternoon.
Our Alina Cho has been following the story joins us now fro Coeur d'Alene, Idaho with the latest developments -- Alina.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, good morning to you. Hard to tell at this point how seriously authorities are taking this. But here's what we know. As you mentioned, there's been a possible, and I repeat a possible sighting of two children who resemble 9-year-old Dylan and his sister 8-year-old Shasta Groene. They have been missing since Monday.
They were apparently spotted at a small sporting goods store, about 70 miles north of where we are, with a tall man in a full-sized light-colored van. The owner apparently called in the tip, even had a license plate. But the van has not been seen. There is currently an all-out search for it.
Meanwhile, the children's father says he believes this will all be over very soon and that his children will come home.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHO (voice over): Flanked by his family for support, the father of two missing children began by thanking the media and the public for their concerns and prayers. Steve Groene then made an emotional plea.
STEVE GROENE, CHILDREN'S FATHER: I'd like to address my children's abductors or abductor. Please, please release my children safely. They had nothing to do with any safely of this.
CHO: Nine-year-old Dylan and 8-year-old Shasta Groene remain missing. The bodies of their mother, 13-year-old brother and another man were found bound in their home. Blunt force trauma was the cause of death.
CAPT. BEN WOLFINGER, KOOTENAI COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT.: Why would a killer come in and kill three people and take two children? Does that give us hope for the children? You bet it does.
CHO: As dive teams searched area waters, FBI technicians pressed their hunt for evidence.
WOLFINGER: We did learn there is a gathering here at the house Sunday evening; friends over, barbecue like many of us do on a Sunday afternoon.
CHO: One of the men who authorities say attended that gathering was 33-year-old Robert Roy Lutner. Authorities had believed he was the last person to see the victims alive. But after seven hours of intense questioning, Lutner was cleared.
WOLFINGER: Mr. Lutner voluntarily took a polygraph test. That confirmed his truthfulness. He had nothing to do with the death scene or the abduction of the children.
CHO: The children's father fought back tears as he pleaded for the return of his children.
GROENE: Release them in a safe area where law enforcement can find them. Call the help line. Let them know where they can be found. Please, we need the safe return of those children.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: Crime scene investigators hope to wrap up their work at the home where the murderers took place sometime later today. And then at that point, Daryn, all of evidence will be shipped out to the FBI's crime processing lab in Quantico, Virginia -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Alina, is there concern that perhaps whoever took these kids, if that's the case, could be heading north toward the Canadian border? And is there any cooperation with Canadian officials?
CHO: Yes, there is. In fact, the man who was spotted with the two children, again, who resembled Dylan and Shasta Groene, apparently asked the owner for directions to Libby, Montana. That's about 40 miles north of where the sporting goods store, which is 70 miles north of here. So about 100 miles north of where we are now. So, yes. Canadian authorities, Montana officials, and of course, state and local officials are searching for that vehicle. Of course, we will keep you up to date on that as soon as we get more information -- Daryn.
KAGAN: All right. Alina, thank you.
In health news this morning, there has been a major development in stem cell research. Scientists in South Korea say they have grown 11 new batches of embryonic stem cells. And for the first time, they are a genetic match for sick and injured patients. Scientists hope that some day stem cells can be used to cure a variety of diseases and repair damage from injuries. However any potential treatment is years away from even being tested in people.
And British scientists say they have successfully cloned a human embryo. It's a first for that country. South Korea did it last year. But the clone won't be used to grow a baby. Researchers used test tube embryos to supply stem cells. They hope the cells can eventually be used to repair spinal cord injuries that treat some diseases.
And here in this country, embryonic stem cell research remains controversial. The House now working on a bill to broaden limits on public research set in 2001. However, CNN has just learned President Bush does intend to veto that bill.
Ed Henry joins us now from the White House.
Ed, good morning.
ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. That's right. The White House just went on the record with a story first reported on CNN this morning. White House spokesman Trent Duffy confirming, in fact, President Bush will veto this House legislation that would increase and broaden federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, that would cut back on the limits that the president instituted back in 2001.
This is a clear sign that the White House is concerned that this legislation on the Hill, which is coming up for a vote early next week is picking up momentum. It right now has over 200 co-sponsors in the House, also picking up steam in the Senate. The White House believing privately that this veto threat could stop that momentum for the legislation.
Now earlier this today, this morning the president spoke at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast. He spoke about the culture of life and in fact, this stem cell research issue falls under that category, because the Catholic Church is opposed to stem cell research out of concern that human life, that embryos would in fact be destroyed for research purposes. Here's the president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is a new tradition, yet its promises are timeless for Catholic Americans. To thank the Lord for the blessing of freedom. To renew our shared dedication to this great republic. And to pray that America uses a gift of freedom to build a culture of life.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: Because in part of those concerns from the Catholic Church. And also because of the president's own principles, according to White House officials, that's why his policy limits federal funding for this research to existing stem cell lines.
But some scientists have complained that some of these cell lines, in fact, are contaminated and they need to expand it. That's why in fact, the scientists have gotten some high-profile support from celebrities like Nancy Reagan, who has argued that increasing stem cell research, increasing federal funding for it, in fact, would help battle diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and others.
That argument has gotten through to some of the president's fellow Republicans on Capitol Hill, who have joined forces with Democrats to give this legislation some momentum on the Hill. A rare spat between the president and some his fellow Republicans on the Hill.
But the White House noting privately, they feel they have a high- profile lobbyist of their own in First Lady Laura Bush. Daughter of an Alzheimer's patient, who has pointed out over and over that the president does support stem cell research, just does not want to expand the federal funding of it -- Daryn.
KAGAN: All right. Ed, I'm going to have you stand in that typhoon for a little moment to get my Ed Henry question of the hour in. And that is the story coming out of the Pentagon condemning the release of these photographs, showing Saddam Hussein in his underwear. What's coming from the White House on that? HENRY: Trent Duffy, the White House spokesman, just said a few moments ago that the president was briefed by senior aides on this situation. The president expressing concern. And in fact, expressing support for the aggressive investigation that is under way right now. Trent Duffy saying from the White House podium that, in fact the taking of this photo, the release of the photo as well, clearly violating Pentagon policy. And admitting that in fact it may violate the Geneva Accords. That's why the White House said the president supports this investigation. He's not going to pre-judge the investigation yet. But he supports getting to the bottom of it -- Daryn.
KAGAN: All right. Thank you, Ed Henry.
And we can put the put the picture up again and tell you the response of the Pentagon is they plan do a full investigation on this. This image was splashed across the front page of a British tabloid. Our correspondent at the Pentagon, Barbara Starr will join us with the official reaction in the next hour.
And now on to Iraq. Supporters of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr are painting U.S. and Israeli flags outside mosques on the Muslim Day of Prayer. Shiite worshipers are told to wipe their feet on the symbols to protest the U.S. presence in Iraq.
Two U.S. soldiers are among the latest casualties in that country's surging violence. They were riding in a military convoy when gunmen opened fire from another vehicle. Another U.S. soldier died earlier today in an apparent accident. Military officials say he was struck by a driver swerving to avoid a roadside bomb.
The U.S. Army is suspending all of its recruiting operations today. The so-called stand down comes amid charges of improper and possibly illegal practices to entice young recruits.
Our national correspondent Kelly Wallace explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): More than 7500 Army recruiters around the country won't be recruiting Friday. Instead, they will spend the day discussing what's right and wrong because of allegations like these. A Houston recruiter threatening a young man with arrest if he did not sign up. And Denver area recruiters helping a student get a fake diploma and pass a drug test that student.
That student, 17-year-old David McSwane. He posed as a high school dropout with a drug problem for a story for his high school paper. He recently talked with CNN's Thelma Gutierrez and shared audiotapes he says he made of conversations with the recruiters.
DAVID MCSWANE, HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR: They accepted my diploma and all that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, that's what they told us though. MCSWANE: I -- I mean, but they don't know that it's fake or anything? I'm not going to get in trouble?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right, you won't, know.
MCSWANE: All right. Cool.
WALLACE: The U.S. Army's top recruiting commander.
MAJ. GEN. MICHAEL ROCHELLE, U.S. ARMY RECRUITING CMD.: The actions of a few have reflected very, very badly on many of us, myself included. And we're all injured by that.
WALLACE: The stakes couldn't be higher, with the war in Iraq making Army recruiting increasingly difficult. The Army missed its monthly recruiting goals for February, March and April. Part of the problem, parents discouraging their sons and daughters from enlisting.
