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CNN Sunday Morning

Bush to Take Time Deciding What Charges Will be Filed Against Walker

Aired December 23, 2001 - 09:27   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: From Washington to Afghanistan today, there are questions about American Taliban John Walker and whether he should face the death penalty.

CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace looks at the possible charges against Walker.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As President Bush headed to Camp David for the holiday weekend, a member of John Walker's family issued a plea to the public not to pass judgment.

In a letter to the editor in Saturday's "New York Times," Connel Maguire identifying himself as Walker's great uncle wrote: "John Walker Lindh joined the Taliban army in May to protect what he saw as a Muslim utopia with no evident enemy in America. He had no control over later developments at higher levels."

In an exclusive interview with CNN following the prison uprising at Mazar-e Sharif where he was being held, the 20-year-old Californian said he offered the Taliban his support after learning about the regime.

JOHN WALKER: My heart became attached to them. I wanted to help them one way or an other.

WALLACE: But Mr. Bush Friday, for the first time, publicly suggested Walker belongs to the al Qaeda terrorist network.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Walker's unique and that he's the first American al Qaeda fighter that we have captured, and we will announce to the country when we have made up our mind on all -- on how to deal with a wide variety of cases.

WALLACE: Senior administration officials say Mr. Bush has not yet decided whether Walker should be tried in a U.S. military or civilian court, and that federal prosecutors are still looking at possible charges. Some could carry the death penalty, including Treason and Murder of a U.S. government employee.

That employee, CIA operative Mike Spann, who questioned Walker shortly before he was killed during the prison uprising. Lesser charges, those which would not carry the death penalty, include conspiracy and providing support to terrorists.

ERIC HOLDER, FORMER DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: I suspect that what's motivating the Justice Department here, is they want to bring the strongest case that they possibly can, but also bring a case that they know they can win.

WALLACE (on camera): Nothing has been ruled out, U.S. officials say. But with a public that appears to be looking for the harshest punishment possible, Mr. Bush is facing what may be one of his toughest decisions yet in this campaign against terrorism. And the president says he plans to take his time.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, The White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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