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CNN Saturday Morning News
Patsy Ramsey Dies; Reaction From Families of Miami-Based Group Accused of Plotting War on U.S. Government; Are Americans Safe?; 40 Soldiers Naturalized; Aaron Spelling Dies
Aired June 24, 2006 - 11:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MELISSA LONG, CNN ANCHOR: This story just in to us at CNN this morning. Patsy Ramsey is dead. Patsy Ramsey was the mother of JonBenet Ramsey, the little girl whose mysterious 1996 murder in Boulder, Colorado, remains unsolved. Mrs. Ramsey's lawyer says she died early this morning of ovarian cancer at the age of 49.
The investigation is continuing into an alleged domestic terror plot. Six of the seven suspects appeared in court yesterday. Most of the arrests took place Thursday. The Miami based group is accused of plotting war against the U.S. government, including an attack on the Sears Tower in Chicago.
Treasury Secretary John Snow is blasting the news media for reporting on government efforts to track international financial transactions. Several U.S. newspapers reported that the Treasury Department has started collecting information from a Belgium-based bank clearing house. Snow says the media reports will help terrorists to conceal their activities.
The Navy is trying to figure out how information about 28,000 sailors and their families made its way to a civilian Web site. The information includes names, birth dates and Social Security numbers. But officials say there's no sign the information was used illegally.
A collection of Martin Luther King Jr.'s documents will not be sold at auction. An Atlanta coalition will buy the papers and then house them at Morehouse College, that's King's alma mater. The collection had expected to sell for $15 to $30 million at auction. It includes drafts of King's "I have a Dream" speech.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now back to this week's terror arrests. A Miami-based group is accused of plotting a war on the U.S. government. CNN's Drew Griffin has been talking with the families of some of the suspects.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If they were homegrown terrorists, they grew up here on this Miami street. Stanley Phanor was born in this house. Lyglenson Lemorin moved in across the street with his mom when he was just six. And today the two mothers, both Haitian, told us in disbelief, there were no terrorists raised on 45th Street.
ELIZENE PHANOR, STANLEY PHANOR'S MOTHER: My son never did nothing wrong. He never drank. He never smoked. He never (INAUDIBLE).
GRIFFIN: Elizene Phanor says her son is a single man, a construction worker, who did have trouble with the law and went to prison for concealing a weapon. But he's been out of trouble since joining a religious prayer group, a Christian group that devotes itself to the Bible.
PHANOR: My son never did nothing wrong. My son just go to work, go read Bible, after that every Friday he has the money, he just give it to me (INAUDIBLE). You see that?
GRIFFIN: Distraught with news her son is being accused of terrorism, she brought us into her home to show us the home improvements that her son did for her, the furniture he bought for her, even his work clothes and his well-worn Bible.
PHANOR: They have this evidence (INAUDIBLE). He have this.
GRIFFIN: Raised Catholic, she says her son would never hurt anyone and would never plot against a country they both love.
PHANOR: President Bush, help me please. (INAUDIBLE) about my son. My son is good for your country.
GRIFFIN: Across the street Lyglenson Lemorin's mother, who barely speaks English, could only say, through her daughter-in-law, her son is innocent.
(CROSSTALK)
JULIAN OLIBRICE, LYGLENSON LEMORIN'S MOTHER: He never been to jail. They're calling him an illegal immigrant on TV.
GRIFFIN: So how can their alleged involvement be explained? How can the FBI seem to have so much information that two men from this low income immigrant neighborhood were plotting to blow up buildings? Sylvain Plantin is Stanley's Phanor's cousin. He says the religious group deeply devoted in studies practiced abstinence from drinking and sex and even curse words. The group's devotion to self-control may have been taken the wrong way.
SYLVAIN PLANTIN, STANLEY PHANOR'S COUSIN: When the people seen that they was doing self-defense things, they thought they were a part of al Qaeda. They have no -- they're from down here. They ain't got no business in al Qaeda.
GRIFFIN: Did they dress in long ...
PLANTIN: They dressed in black dickey uniforms with a patch of star of David. That's why they call it the Seas of David.
GRIFFIN: Plantin, who calls his cousin Sunni, also says one man in the group, the so-called leader, was a mystery. No one knew much about him. He suspects neither did his cousin. You think these guys were brainwashed.
PLANTIN: No, they wasn't brainwashed because Sunni would never do anything to harm anybody.
GRIFFIN: So you think he didn't know about it?
PLANTIN: He didn't know anything about this.
GRIFFIN: Both mothers say they're now relying on the legal system to free their sons. But they're worried because they say the same legal system somehow arrested the wrong men.
Drew Griffin, CNN, Miami.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And that story comes to us from "PAULA ZAHN NOW." Join Paula weeknights at 8:00 Eastern, 5:00 Pacific.
LONG: This week's new terror allegations have Americans returning to the question that has haunted the nation since 9/11. Are we safe?
Here's CNN's senior political analyst Bill Schneider.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): Do Americans feel safe? That question has two answers. You heard both on the streets of Chicago yesterday where the Sears Tower was identified as a potential target. On the one hand ...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Whether it's from outside or inside, I think something will happen.
SCHNEIDER: On the other hand ...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It doesn't shake me because I don't think there's safer places.
SCHNEIDER: Ask people whether they're worried about future terrorist attacks against the United States and more than three quarters say they are. Ask them whether they're worried that they or their families will become victims of terrorism and 57 percent say they're not. In other words, I'm OK, you're not. How reassured do people feel when they hear public officials say ...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are not going to leave the people of New York City unprotected.
SCHNEIDER: It depends on how well educated they are. Most Americans who did not go to college say they worry a great deal about terrorist attacks. Those who went to college worry less. Only a quarter of Americans with postgraduate degrees say they worry a great deal about terrorist attacks. They believe public officials who try to reassure them. Are they fools?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Honestly, I'm not sure any government can keep us safe. I mean, there's too many people out there trying to do what they want to do.
SCHNEIDER: Most Americans believe something bad is likely to happen. But it's not likely to happen to me.
Bill Schneider, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LONG: As always, remember to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says no to the White House. He is rejecting a request from the Bush administration to send 1500 more National Guard troops to the Mexican border. They would serve in New Mexico and Arizona.
A spokesman says the governor believes his troops would be stretched too thin in case of an emergency or natural disaster. Right now California has about 250 National Guardsmen on the border. The state has committed to putting 1,000 troops there by July 31st.
HARRIS: They were already soldiers, now they're citizens. Forty men and women in the U.S. Army have been naturalized as U.S. citizens at a special ceremony in Fort Food, Texas. Craig Lucy (ph) of CNN affiliate KTVC has details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, I now present to you newest citizens of the United States of America.
SGT. JORGE CASTILLO: I feel so happy. Besides the day that I married my wife is the happiest day of my life.
CRAIG LUCY, KTVC: Sergeant Jorge Castillo and his family share the same feeling as 40 other foreign soldiers. Many have fought for freedom for over four years. They themselves say they were never free until now.
CASTILLO: Now I'm able to vote. That's one of the most important things, one of the most important things that I can do now is be able to vote. And there is a lot of things that I would like to do in the army, which now without citizenship I wasn't able to do.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a great day to be an American and I think this is what America is all about. The fact that you've got men and women in uniform who are willing to fight and die for their country, a country that they can't even vote in because they're not citizens, that speaks volumes about the patriotism of the immigrant.
LUCY: The U.S. citizenship and immigration services director is one of several dignitaries offering their congratulatory remarks including Congressman John Carter, Commander Raymond Odiarno (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As you walk out of this room today, you can look any human being on earth in the eye and say, I'm an American and I'm proud of it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The most important thing about being an American citizen is sacrificing and participating for your country. You've all already done that.
LUCY: But one woman's husband already paid the ultimate sacrifice.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's happy. He's happy.
LUCY: (INAUDIBLE) Garcia lost her husband to the war in Iraq in January. She says by becoming an American citizen, it's her way of honoring him.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm happy to become a citizen now, to be naturalized citizen. I think my husband's happy right now for me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just thrilled to death that she's here. We're able to do this. It is something that doesn't happen very often. I think it's the first time in the San Antonio district of U.S. CIS where this is happening. It's a very special for us and for her.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Those new citizens were from Mexico, Germany, Cuba, parts of Africa.
LONG: Remember Blake, Krystal, Alexis? Aaron Spelling brought us the lives and loves of the Carrington clan. This morning we're looking back on the creator's life, the gentleman who created that program when CNN SATURDAY returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: And our top stories this morning. More aspirational than operational? Those words from the FBI concerning an alleged terror plot uncovered in Miami. Seven men now face charges in the case. They're accused of conspiring to wage war against the U.S. government. Authorities say their plot included plans to bomb the nation's tallest building, the Sears Tower in Chicago. But the indictment says the suspects had no money, weapons or supplies to carry out their plans.
JonBenet Ramsey's mother Patsy has died at the age of 49. That word from her attorney. The 1996 death of JonBenet Ramsey remains unsolved. The child's body was found in the basement of the family's home in Boulder, Colorado.
A collection of Martin Luther King Jr's handwritten documents will not be sold to the highest bidder after all. They're heading to King's alma mater, Morehouse College here in Atlanta. A coalition is buying the items from the King family and giving them to the school. They had been scheduled to be sold at auction next Friday.
LONG: CNN LIVE SATURDAY is coming up at the top of the hour. HARRIS: Fredricka is here. Good to see you.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Happy Saturday. We have a lot ahead on this busy hour beginning at noon. We're on the road to Guantanamo. It may be the most infamous prison in the world. I'll talk with the director of a controversial new documentary about the U.S. military prison.
And on the road to retirement. Why do men refuse to stop and ask for directions? Well, the same applies for money. Tony, this could apply to you.
HARRIS: It does.
WHITFIELD: So we're doing a segment called why men don't know jack about retirement. I didn't make up the title. It is actually the title of ...
HARRIS: Is that really the title?
WHITFIELD: Yes, it's an article that we'll be going over. There's some interesting little instructions on all these mistakes that men make because apparently -- I think a lot of people think men are kind of in control of things.
LONG: They like to pretend to be.
HARRIS: So after watching the segment I will then know jack?
WHITFIELD: You will know jack.
HARRIS: I will know jack.
WHITFIELD: Jack and Jill.
LONG: It's time now to check in with my pipeline colleague Veronica de la Cruz. She's at the dot com desk, to find out what's coming up a little bit later. Good morning Veronica.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN.COM: Hey there, Melissa. Like you all know, we've got thousands of videos to choose from on CNN.com as well as pipeline. So what are users clicking on this morning? We've got some great video to show you of a couple taking their love to new heights. Check this out Melissa, literally taking their love to new heights. We're going to have the details next coming up on the dot com desk.
LONG: I guess that takes the thought of taking the plunge to a whole new level.
DE LA CRUZ: It sure does.
LONG: Thanks Veronica. We'll see you soon.
An unexpected twist in the notorious family feud. The sudden death at the age of 67 of E. Pearce Marshall. For years you'll recall Marshall has been battling former Playboy playmate Anna Nicole Smith over the multi-million estate of Marshall's father J. Howard Marshall. Smith, you recall, married the elder Marshall in 1994 when he was 89. She was 26. It's not clear yet how E. Pearce Marshall's death will impact the ongoing legal battle.
HARRIS: There's another death in the news, that of a famed television producer. Aaron Spelling died in his Los Angeles mansion at the age of 83 yesterday, less than a week after suffering a stroke. TV critics often derided the shows he created, but there was no denying the success. CNN's Brooke Anderson looks back at his career.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "Charlie's Angels," "Beverly Hills 90210," "Melrose Place." The "Guinness Book of World Records" cites Aaron Spelling as the most prolific TV producer ever, with more than 200 television series and movies to his credit during his 50 years in the business.
AARON SPELLING, PRODUCER: I used to think I really wanted to do movies and we did 11 movies, everything from "Mr. Mom" to "Night Mother." I thought, wow movies, and "Soapdish" was our last and I said I just want to do movies. I'm tired of television. Boy, when you take so long to do movies I couldn't wait to come back to television. I love television.
ANDERSON: And television loves him. He was nominated for seven Emmy awards and won two. Spelling's own story went from rags to riches, Texas to Tinseltown where he lived in a sprawling mansion with his wife Candy, daughter Tori, son Randy, 123 rooms and a bowling alley.
Spelling was born in Dallas in April 1923, the son of Polish and Russian immigrants. The former roadie for a band started in show business by writing and producing plays. He even worked briefly as an actor appearing on "Gunsmoke" in 1955. While Spelling often joked about his acting, he got serious with producing.
In 1968 he scored his first hit as a producer with "The Mod Squad" three hip cops who lasted five years. Spelling's shows often seem to jump from picture tube favorites to pop culture phenomena. "Charlie's Angels" at first passed on by ABC, brought sex appeal to prime time and made stars of Farrah Fawcett, Jaclyn Smith, among others.
TV viewers worldwide cruised on Spellings "Love Boat" cheered and jeered at the rich and infamous of "Dynasty," road along with "Starsky and Hutch" and escaped to "Fantasy Island." Beverly Hills 90210 seemed to find exactly the right time slot and demographic: young viewers. Spelling launched the popular high school drama in the early '90s. It was partly inspired by his daughter Tori who also starred in the show.
SPELLING: The most exciting is to have a hit. I guess it's like hitting a home run in a baseball game. I don't think you ever get used to it. ANDERSON: Spelling routinely hit the type of prime time grand slam that set trends both on and off screen.
Brooke Anderson, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Time to see what people are watching. You guys have been watching online. Veronica de la Cruz at the dot com desk with a look at the most popular videos. Good morning.
DE LA CRUZ: Good morning guys. Well, you had a sneak peek earlier. Obviously, you've heard of people tying the knot and getting hitched in Vegas, but what about taking the plunge and tying the knot at 14,000 feet?
HARRIS: Do you have video?
DE LA CRUZ: Yes, check this out. This Utah couple took the ultimate leap of faith. They exchanged their vows on the plane, their rings mid-air and made it official on the ground. The newlyweds said going to a church or a wedding hall just didn't feel right because both the bride and groom have a passion for sky diving. In fact, the groom is an instructor, not surprising.
So keeping an eye on the sky now, this 92-year-old veteran is showing us all that you're never too old to sky dive. He had a brush with death earlier in life as a POW in World War II and says there really isn't much out there that scares him. So he took his first jump from 9,000 feet and says that he would like to go again. If only his daughter would let him.
HARRIS: I'm going to say I go (ph) with this guy. I can't do anything that is considered risky ...
(CROSSTALK)
DE LA CRUZ: It makes perfect sense.
HARRIS: Come on.
(CROSSTALK)
DE LA CRUZ: I don't have children yet. When did you do it?
LONG: About a year ago, loved it.
DE LA CRUZ: I chickened out. I had four chances with the golden knights, chickened out every time. I was up in the plane. I couldn't jump. I was scared.
HARRIS: You actually did it.
LONG: Loved it. HARRIS: You thrill seeker, Melissa.
DE LA CRUZ: Did you go on your own?
LONG: Tandem. I can't imagine going by myself solo, no tandem and yes, thank goodness...
DE LA CRUZ: But Tony over here, he's a fraidy-cat.
HARRIS: Well, speaking of thrill seekers, Reynolds Wolf there in the CNN weather center.
(WEATHER REPORT)
LONG: That's a problem.
HARRIS: "CNN LIVE SATURDAY" with Fredricka Whitfield is up next right after this quick break.
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