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American Morning

Attorney General John Ashcroft Says John Walker Will be Brought to Justice in Federal Court in Virginia

Aired January 23, 2002 - 07:33   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Attorney General John Ashcroft has said that John Walker will be brought to justice in federal court in Virginia. That could happen as early as sometime today.

Jonathan Aiken is standing by outside the U.S. District Court in Alexandria. He joins us now with an update -- good morning, Jonathan.

JONATHAN AIKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula. No John Walker yet, and we do know that he is en route on a military transport plane. Sources telling CNN that he should be arriving at Dulles International Airport, which is just about 25 miles northwest of here, sometime today.

Now, depending upon what time he gets in, that will determine the timeframe in the federal courthouse behind me. Sources were telling us yesterday that we should expect Walker to be sent to this area sometime around dark, which this time of year here in Washington puts it at about 5:30 or 6:00, maybe after the rush hour around 7:00. If he gets in earlier, Walker could face arraignment as early as today. If he gets in later, he might be arraigned tomorrow.

As for what he will be arraigned for, the criminal complaint sworn out by the federal government was four charges against John Walker Lindh. He faces two counts of providing material support and resources for terrorists, one count of conspiring to kill U.S. nationals abroad and one count of engaging in transactions with the Taliban. A conviction on these charges, Paula, would provide life in prison.

Now, the family says that their son committed no crime, and they ask the country to have an open heart as the process continues. But Attorney General John Ashcroft is talking a lot tougher, but basically he is saying Walker has made his bed, and now he has to lie in it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: Our complaint, based on Walker's own words, is very clear. Terrorists did not compel John Walker Lindh to join them. John Walker Lindh chose terrorists.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AIKEN: Now, you don't see too many security people behind me right now, but security is tight in the area surrounding this federal courthouse. Both this courthouse and the county prison in which Walker will likely be held, no stranger to individuals of notoriety and those who are notorious. They have held people here before on federal charges. In fact, there are four people, Paula, facing espionage charges in the county prison, and also Zacarias Moussaoui, the first person indicted in relation to 9/11.

ZAHN: Jonathan, have you been told by officials whether John Walker's family has had any contact with him over the last several weeks, or will have any contact with him once he arrives here in the U.S.?

AIKEN: Yes, we spoke to the lawyers about that yesterday. They wouldn't say what the family's plans were, but they did indicate that the family had not had contact. And the lawyers, in fact, were waiting to have contact, and this could present an interesting situation during the arraignment. After the arraignment once the charges are read and Walker enters his plea, or one is entered for him, he will be asked if he has counsel, or should the court provide counsel for him. Now, his parents have retained lawyers, but the lawyers haven't had a chance to talk to Walker, and we have no way of knowing, in fact the lawyers don't even know, whether Walker knows that lawyers have been retained on his behalf. And once he gets into court, Paula, the question is: Will he accept the offer that his family has provided?

ZAHN: And what's the bet on that one?

AIKEN: Nobody really knows. In fact, the lawyers we talked to yesterday said they weren't sure. They would like to have a chance to talk to their client, but that certainly won't happen until the arraignment, if in fact he's going to be their client at all.

ZAHN: All right. Jonathan Aiken, thanks so much for that update -- appreciate it. I know you're going to be standing by there all day long. And once again, Jonathan confirming that John Walker is expected to arrive sometime late this afternoon, perhaps after the rush hour in D.C.

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