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CNN Sunday Morning

Connecticut Mayor Faces Federal Charges of Sexual Harassment

Aired July 29, 2001 - 09:10   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.
VINCE CELLINI, CNN ANCHOR: In Connecticut, the mayor of Waterbury is under fire and in jail. Mayor Phillip Giordano faces federal charges of having sexual contact with a child.

We bring you this report from our CNN Hartford affiliate, WFSB.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We all want to believe, for the kid's sake, that it didn't happen. But, you know...

LEIGH FRILLICI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Emotion weighs the end of this uncle's sentence that he could not finish. He is struggling to deal with the unthinkable, that the mayor of Waterbury allegedly had sexual contact with one or both of his nieces. He told us the girls are cousins, and sources tell Eyewitness News one is just eight years old, the other ten.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why, you know, anyone would think of using children that way?

FRILLICI: On Thursday, Mayor Phil Giordano was arrested on two federal sex charges, enticing a child under the age of 16 into a sexual relationship and conspiracy to carryout the offense.

Giordano's chief of staff said they were out of the loop that these charges were coming down.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's where we're getting our information, the paper and TV

FRILLICI: As "The Hartford Courant" reports, the mother of one of the girls was secretly arrested and accused of being Giordano's accessory in this case. The girl's uncle, who has not spoken with his sister, is struggling to put the pieces together. He's still not sure what happened and is hoping that it didn't happen at all.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't want to believe that, you know. I can't answer. I don't want to believe it, but if it is then, you know, she has to deal with the same person he's going to have to deal with, and that's their maker.

FRILLICI: The girls, once familiar faces playing out in this field, are no longer home. They're in the care of the Department of Children and Families and their uncle says right now the children, not the investigation, are his biggest concern.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They want to get the girls. You know, they want, you know, to be able to get them to understand it's not their fault, you know, that they, you know, we all care for them and we can't wait to get them back.

FRILLICI: According to their uncle, the two girls are together and under the care of the Department of Children and Families. As for Waterbury Mayor Phil Giordano, he's being held in jail without bail, but he'll be back in court on Tuesday for a bond hearing.

In Hartford, Connecticut, Leigh Frillici for CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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