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Patrick Kennedy Released from Rehab; Police Search for Missing Newborn in Texas

Aired June 05, 2006 - 11:28   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Right now we have Congressman Patrick Kennedy making his first statement since he came out and said he was having an addiction to medication, the first time since he's come out of rehab.
Let's listen in.

REP. PATRICK KENNEDY (D), RHODE ISLAND: I was not drinking that night. I got -- actually, I was with several of our folks here in the other room, Charlie Maynard, Rich Leclair (ph), Liz Earles (ph), many others from the Rhode Island mental health community that actually were there. We worked together that evening.

Then I went to vote. My vote ended around 9:15.

I called up a friend. We spoke for about 15 minutes. She came over and visited me around approximately 10:30. And I was with her the rest of the night.

And, you know, she told me, I got up at around 2:45 because I said I had to go and vote. And that's what happened.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)

KENNEDY: No, someone was with me. Someone was with me. I was voting up until 9:15. We know that much.

Someone was with me. She's attested to, you know, prosecutors down in Washington that she smelled no alcohol on my breath.

The -- every bar in Washington was combed through and through and through. There wasn't a person in that city that wasn't asked did they see me out that night. They could only find maybe two people, one of whom works for Roy Blunt, who is the waitress that says she served me drinks. And the most she said she served me, if she did, was one drink.

And, you know, this is eight -- like, seven, eight hours later. I mean, I would have had to have been out for a long time piling them down for alcohol to have been a factor at all.

So -- but you know what's important in all of this is it's irrelevant. It's not whether it's alcohol or Ambien. I should not have been taken Ambien. It says on the directions, "Do not operate heavy machinery under this drug." Phenergan does the -- says the same thing. So, whether it's alcohol or drugs, any impaired driving is wrong. You know, it makes no difference to me. If you're driving while intoxicated, you're driving while intoxicated, whether it's booze or it's some other chemical.

So, in my mind, you know, I'm ready to take the full consequences for my actions. They were just as wrong as they'd be under any chemical.

QUESTION: Do you think you got preferential treatment that night from the authorities?

KENNEDY: I felt that -- I never asked for preferential treatment. The reports...

(CROSSTALK)

KENNEDY: Can I finish, please?

The reports that evening, you know, 10 of the -- 10 of the 12 police officers said they did not smell any alcohol on my breath or have any -- nor did I confront them or fight them or say that, you know, anything about me requesting preferential treatment.

If I had, believe me, you would have read about it by now, OK?

So I never made any request of it.

I expect, at the end of the day, to have made sure that I will have done the same thing in terms of the charges, in terms of bookings, in terms of mug shots, fingerprints, you know, whatever they might have me do. If it's what anyone else would have done to them if they were an African-American in Anacostia and they were picked up and they were -- stayed overnight in a jail, because if there was no one else to pick them up -- I intend to ask the court to make sure that I spend no less time, you know, in any accountability, than anyone else would have spent under similar circumstances. And I've been insistent on that from the beginning.

So I -- I think the Capitol Police does a fantastic job of protecting all of us. I think they do a terrific job and I feel -- I certainly feel very grateful that they're there for us and for the Capitol. But as I said, this was not something that I've sought special treatment for. And, in fact, right now there may be special treatment given to me in the effort to show that I wasn't treated special, which means that there are probably people who want to throw the book at me a lot more to prove that they're not treating me special.

I'm happy to take all of the that, because you know what? It was my actions. I'm held responsible for them. I'm going to take accountability for them. And then I want to just move on, because, you know, that's what it's all about, to me.

QUESTION: Congressman...

QUESTION: What's the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) diagnosed with (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

KENNEDY: Well, on my medical stuff, I -- that's really between me and my doctor. I deserve to have some measure of medical privacy, as does every other person in this country. In fact, I am the author of a medical privacy bill that puts teeth into HIPPA, Health Care Information Privacy Act. Right now, someone can go sell my information from Mayo -- which I'm sure they'll be tempted to do once they're offered a big cash reward like they have in previous years in the "National Enquirer" -- and they could sell my information and have utter impunity. They don't have any accountability. They don't have any consequence in terms of law. They have no penalties to pay. They have no, you know, jail time or anything.

We've just seen this enormous breach of confidentiality with all of our veterans. I mean, I think that's absolutely outrageous. It points to the fact that if we're going to go into a health care information technological age, we need to lock in who has control of whose person's records.

If I am a doctor for a patient, does that mean that other doctors, just because they're doctors, but they may not be my patient's doctor, can get access to the same medical records that I do? I don't think so. But right now that's -- that's currently possible under the law.

It's also possible for them to sell information, to transfer information with utter impunity.

So I -- I want to make an example not only of my own case, but I also want to make clear to people that I feel very strongly about their ability to have confidence that they are going to have medical privacy, because the last thing I want to see is people feel like if they go in for mental health care treatment, that they now feel like...

KAGAN: We've been listening in to Congressman Patrick Kennedy, talking about the situation that happened in Washington a few weeks ago after -- now that he has had a rehab treatment.

Congressman Kennedy saying that he will take full responsibility for what happened the night that he can't really account for that he had a car accident.

There, though, he was saying there is some degree of medical privacy that he would like to protect.

A baby is missing in Texas. A state on alert. The search for a newborn. She is five days old. She needs medical care. Police in Lubbock, Texas about to hold a news conference, and you'll see that live right here on CNN.

CNN is the most trusted name in news.

We're back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KAGAN: We want to go live now to Lubbock, Texas.

Police there are giving the latest information on the search for a missing newborn baby.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The last indication we had was that -- that little Priscilla did have some pretty significant health problems. They're certainly going to be significant if they're not treated. So time is of the utmost paramount in getting this taken care of and getting her back not just with her family, but getting her with medical treatment.

QUESTION: Roy, what do you (UNINTELLIGIBLE) little girl out of (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, obviously that's -- that's the biggest advantage of having the amber alert. We have had calls from literally all over the state and the amber alert has been carried nationwide.

I know that a lot of the nationals have picked it up. We've had calls that I know of from as far away as Eden, Texas, which is significantly south of here, where law enforcement there are taking tips and have -- had stopped a white van.

Again, it turned out that was not the van that we are looking for. But very good cooperation all across the state.

QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not at this point. That's the other thing, is that we hope the amber alert accomplices is it puts all local medical personnel, all local clinics, emergency rooms and everyone in the region that -- on notice that, you know, if you have a newborn infant coming in with a pretty significant case of jaundice, that ought to be something that raises a question mark. That's something that we need to know about.

QUESTION: Do you know how long the people (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I sure don't. I know that jaundice is just from -- from my own personal experience, I know that jaundice is something that is fairly easily treatable, but you've got to stay on top of it. And it's something that's certainly going to get worse and has the potential for having long-term effects, if not becoming life- threatening.

But, like I said, I'm not a medical professional, obviously.

QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All we've got is the same description that we had last night -- a white van and a red Pontiac Grand Am.

QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: it's my understanding she just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and was quite surprised to hear what she was being questioned about.

QUESTION: So, how would you (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know. That's -- that's information that the investigators have. But it's my understanding that they were able to confirm, you know, times and dates and that kind of stuff.

QUESTION: have you been able to, with these (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. Not at this time. But, obviously, that's something that we're hoping all of the calls will lead to.

QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: About who? I'm sorry.

QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was the biggest thing, is that I believe the vehicle that she was in was similar. And the physical description was similar. And as it turned out, the first name was the same.

QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) her real name or do you (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, you never know what someone in this kind of position is going to do. I think it's certainly possible that she gave her real name, for whatever reason. But I would think it's unlikely. I know that we have confirmed that some other things that she gave, as far as a driver's license number and that kind of stuff, turned out to be -- turned out to be false. And where that came from, as she was talking with Erica Ysasaga yesterday, in an attempt to further gain her confidence, she said well, let me just take this baby down and show a relative of mine. Here, you can have my driver's license number and a Social Security number so that you have some -- some confidence that, you know, you know who I am.

And Erica said no, I still don't want that to happen.

But, as a result, we did have the driver's license number and Social Security number that she used.

QUESTION: So you still have those in your possession?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right. Right. And that's something, obviously, we've got -- we've got some objects that we're looking at to see if there's any forensic value to them. We're, obviously, still continuing to canvass the neighborhood, following every lead we possibly can.

QUESTION: Is there any indication (UNINTELLIGIBLE) recognizable as being (UNINTELLIGIBLE) or is there an (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, the best thing we have to go on right now is the fact that obviously this was something that was planned over a period of days. And, again, you hate to speculate, but at the same time, it seems somewhat unlikely that someone would come to Lubbock from out of town, plan this over a period of three or four days.

I think it's likely that, at the very least, she has local ties and had some place that she could stay here.

QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

QUESTION: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know that she had an actual driver's license...

KAGAN: We've been listening in.

This is a news conference with Lubbock police, in Texas, the latest on the search for a missing newborn baby. She was only five days old. The baby's name is Patricia Nicole Maldonado. A woman who was posing as some kind of medical professional met the family in the hospital and then got personal information, came to the family's home in Lubbock and took the baby.

So the search is on.

It sounds like police believe the woman who did this does have some type of personal ties to Lubbock.

We'll continue to track that story.

There is also news today out of Duke on the lacrosse team.

Our Betty Nguyen has the latest with that -- Betty.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there, Daryn.

Duke University is expected to make an announcement today about the future of the lacrosse team.

As you know, that team's season was canceled following three players who were accused of raping a woman at an off campus party.

Well, it appears now that, according to reports that came out last week, that Duke University will reinstate the lacrosse team and get the season back up and going, we assume, next year. And this will be the formal announcement.

That news conference coming around 2:00 p.m. this afternoon.

Just to give you a little history, though, back in April, a grand jury indicted sophomores Reade Seligmann and Collin Finnerty. And just last month, David Evans, the team's co-captain, was also indicted in this rape investigation. And, of course, that led to the cancellation of the season for the lacrosse team. So today we're going to hear whether or not that team will be reinstated. At least the season will be. Actually, the season -- it's probably too late for the season now. But at least the team will be up and running next year. And that's something that the Duke University will be announcing a little bit later this afternoon, at 2:00 p.m.

So we'll be watching.

KAGAN: They'll also have to announce who's going to coach the team, since they let the coach go.

NGUYEN: Yes, that's true.

The coach did resign following all of the allegations.

KAGAN: Yes.

NGUYEN: So that's another -- and he was a long time coach at Duke University.

KAGAN: Yes, and very successful, as well.

Betty, thank you.

Jim Clancy is coming up at the top of the hour.

"WORLD NEWS" is just ahead.

He's going to give us a preview.

Oh, look at your nice control room shot there -- Jim.

JIM CLANCY, CNN ANCHOR: Isn't it nice down here?

Well, "YOUR WORLD TODAY," of course, the United States deploying troops there along the Mexican border.

But did you know that Europe has an immigration crisis of its own?

They come in the thousands by night.

This is a picture of the Canary Islands.

We're going to have a report from there. Officials on the Canary Islands so upset. They say unless they get some help from Europe, they're going to start sending these refugees back to Brussels.

Also, the refugees say this is nothing but racism.

And another invasion of sorts going on. In Germany, the Iranians are coming. Well, actually, it's the World Cup football team. Someone else may want to come. The president of Iran -- that's far from certain. We'll have a full report coming up at 12:00 p.m. on "YOUR WORLD TODAY." Get a global perspective.

KAGAN: We will look forward to that, Jim.

Thank you.

Well, Rob Marciano has dried off from his time over at the Georgia Aquarium checking out the new whale sharks and now he's looking at weather -- hey, Rob.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Daryn.

That was fun-over there. Two whale sharks added to the tank and maybe making some magic in the years to come.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Well, if you're going on vacation or a business trip this year, you may have to dig a little bit deeper into your wallet to foot the bill.

Susan Lisovicz joins us from the New York Stock Exchange with more on that -- Susan, good morning.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, again, Daryn.

The hotel industry is expecting another year of record profits. The average daily rate expected to climb to just under $97 this year. This according to PricewaterhouseCoopers. That's up nearly $6 from last year and the biggest ever dollar increase in a single year.

Last year was a record for the industry, too. Hotel operators reported pre-tax profits of nearly $23 billion in 2005. It represents, of course, a big rebound for the industry slowdown after the terrorist attacks of September 11.

The city enjoying the biggest gains? Chicago. Revenue per room in the windy city rose 20 percent in April from a year ago. That is inflation with double digits -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Ooh. My goodness.

Well, is this market supposed to continue for the hotel industry?

LISOVICZ: Yes. And the reason why, of course, Daryn, it's supply and demand. A simple question, right there. Smith Travel Research predicts only 75,000 new hotel rooms to be added in the U.S. this year -- 43 percent fewer than in 2000. That means hotels can charge more for the rooms that they do have.

But continued success not a foregone conclusion, though. A survey of industry professionals find the biggest threat, believe it or not, still remains terrorism, as well as potential labor problems and high energy costs -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right, Susan Lisovicz live at the New York Stock Exchange.

Actually, how are the markets looking?

LISOVICZ: The markets still looking bad. I mean oil has improved, still up 72 -- nearly $73 a barrel starting off the week on the rough side. We see the Dow down 68 points. The Nasdaq is down about a half a percent.

KAGAN: Thank you, Susan.

LISOVICZ: You're welcome.

KAGAN: And we'll take a break.

We're back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: It was a medical milestone. AIDS was first diagnosed 25 years ago. It once meant a certain death sentence, but not anymore. There still is no cure, but medication can help patients live, work and manage the disease for years.

For some poor people, though, it still is a major struggle.

Our medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, explains.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There are more than one million people living with HIV or AIDS in the United States and John Paul Womble is one of them. Womble was diagnosed 14 years ago, just two years after his own father, an ex-Southern Baptist minister, died in the first wave of the American AIDS epidemic.

JOHN PAUL WOMBLE, HIV POSITIVE FOR 14 YEARS: Lots of people have excuses. Lots of people have legitimate stories of they didn't know better. I knew better. You can be stupid, like I was, young and feeling invincible.

GUPTA: As gay white men, John Paul and his father were once considered typical AIDS patients.

WOMBLE: So tell me what you're scared about. You're scared that it's going to have what effect? Tell me.

GUPTA: But now that's changed.

WOMBLE: The goal is, when you talk about a drug cocktail and treating with the medication...

GUPTA: Today, John Paul works with victims of HIV like Antoine and Peaches Davis.

WOMBLE: Poor, married and in their 20s. ANTOINE DAVIS, HIV POSITIVE: Sleeping on the street, trying to look for a job is a real hard task, and we've done it for a while. And then also having the violence on top of that is extra hard.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi.

WOMBLE: How are you doing?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How are you doing?

GUPTA: African-Americans are the hardest hit.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just look at me.

GUPTA: While they represent only 13 percent of the population...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No pain with that?

GUPTA: ... they make up 40 percent of those diagnosed AIDS cases.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why don't you have a seat right here?

GUPTA: And consider this -- an African-American woman is 14 times more likely to get HIV than a Caucasian woman -- 14 times.

AIDS has moved beyond major metropolitan areas. The South had the greatest number of people living with and dying from AIDS in 2004.

EVEYLN FOUST, SOUTHERN AIDS COALITION: What I'm going to do today...

GUPTA: Almost half of people living with the disease in this country do not get regular HIV care or treatment.

FOUST: That's it.

Thank you for coming and I'll see you back in a month.

If you make $13,000 a year, you can't afford your medication. So there are people that choose not to work. They want to work but they can't or they'll lose their medication, which is keeping them alive.

GUPTA: And without insurance or assistance, the cost of treatment is anywhere from $12,000 to $30,000 a year. But for Antoine, hope goes hand in hand with sharing his story.

DAVIS: If people are just hiding and closing doors, the more the infection is spreading around and people are dying off without being helped.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

KAGAN: And that was CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

The United Nations estimates between five to six million people in low and middle income countries will die in the next two years if they don't get treatment.

You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: I'm Daryn Kagan.

International news is up next.

Stay tuned for "YOUR WORLD TODAY."

And then I'll be back with the latest headlines from the U.S. in about 20 minutes.

See you then.

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