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CNN NEWSROOM

Prosecutor Purge?; Joint Chiefs Chairman General Peter Pace: Homosexuality is 'Immoral'; Bush in Mexico; Georgia to Change Left Exit HOV Ramps After Fatal Bush Crash

Aired March 13, 2007 - 11:00   ET

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


TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning, everyone. You're with CNN. You're informed.
I'm Tony Harris.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Heidi Collins.

Developments keep coming in to the NEWSROOM on this Tuesday, March 13th.

Here's what's on the rundown.

Peninsula politics. President Bush holding a Yucatan summit this hour with the new leader of Mexico, a relationship tested by illegal immigration and border security.

HARRIS: No plans to apologize. Joint Chiefs chairman Peter Pace angering gays when he labels homosexuality "immoral".

COLLINS: She threatened to do it. Now she has. A reputed madam agreeing to turn over client names to a media organization.

Full disclosure in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: New fallout today over last year's firings of eight U.S. attorneys by the Justice Department.

To Washington now and CNN's justice correspondent Kelli Arena.

And Kelli, I understand you have some new information on this developing story.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Tony.

Well, this all did start with the firing of those eight U.S. attorneys in December. Democrats allege that those U.S. attorneys lost their jobs because they weren't doing what the administration wanted.

We just got a comment from Dana Perino, White House spokeswoman, who tells Ed Henry, our White House correspondent, that, "The White House continues to believe that the decision to remove and replace the U.S. attorneys who serve at the pleasure of the president was within our discretion. We stand by the Department of Justice's assertion that they I.D.'d the attorneys who were removed because of performance and managerial reasons."

Senior White House aides saying that, yes, the White House did, back in 2005, suggest that all 93 U.S. attorneys be fired. We're told that this idea was rejected at the time, but that it did get the ball rolling. And eventually, the Department of Justice came to the White House with a list. Senior administration officials tells CNN that the White House did not add or subtract any names from that list of U.S. attorneys, that this was all a Department of Justice decision.

Now, we expect that some e-mails that were sent between the Department of Justice and the White House discussing this matter will be handed over to congressional committees today. Those will eventually be released to the public.

Why do we care? Because the White House said that it only had a cursory involvement in the firing of those U.S. attorneys. But Democrats say that these e-mails prove that the White House was far more involved at a much earlier date than White House officials first said.

Now, we just heard from New York senator Charles Schumer. Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: Just when we thought our faith could not be shaken any further, it has been. At the very beginning, I was clear that something didn't smell right. But I had no idea how high it went.

The latest revelations proved beyond any reasonable doubt that there has been unprecedented breach of trust, abuse of power, and misuse of the Justice Department. And that is very serious and very important.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENA: Now, despite the denials of any wrongdoing, heads have already started to roll. The attorney general's chief of staff, Kyle Sampson, has resigned over the controversy. He was the person that was communicating by e-mail with the White House. And Democrats, as you know, were calling for the attorney general himself to resign.

Now, you need to understand, Tony, that no one is saying that anyone did anything illegal here. U.S. attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president. What they're alleging is unethical behavior, because U.S. attorneys are supposed to be above politics.

HARRIS: Yes.

ARENA: I mean, these are the people who are out there who are deciding who gets investigated, who doesn't, and where those resources are committed.

HARRIS: Well, Kelli, a couple questions come to mind here. There was a line that you mentioned off the top, that the U.S. attorneys who were fired in this case were fired because they weren't necessarily pursuing what the administration...

ARENA: Right, that's the Democrats' allegation.

HARRIS: That's the Democrats' allegation.

ARENA: That's right.

HARRIS: Are they putting any more meat on that bone? What is it that they are suggesting that the administration wanted these attorneys to pursue?

ARENA: Well, the attorneys -- some of the U.S. attorneys themselves have said that they were under some political pressure as well. There were things like voter fraud. It is...

HARRIS: By Democrats?

ARENA: Right. But that the -- that the White House wanted these U.S. attorneys to pursue more aggressively voter fraud.

So -- but the bottom line here is that, you know, there should be in a perfect world no pressure on U.S. attorneys to pursue, you know, one investigation over another, especially ones that are -- you know, that are politically sensitive. I mean, there just shouldn't be that kind of involvement, and there most definitely shouldn't be that kind of involvement from the White House. So, you know, eventually we'll get to the bottom of this and figure out, you know, who said what, when.

HARRIS: But if the attorneys serve at the pleasure of...

ARENA: The president.

HARRIS: ... the administration, than the administration can do what want it wants in this case.

ARENA: Of course. Yes, they can. Yes, they can. And most administrations at the beginning, when they first come in...

HARRIS: Yes.

ARENA: ... they put their own people in. I mean, look, this is payback time. You know, you give somebody who's been very helpful to your campaign a job. You know, this happens all the time.

HARRIS: So this will sound...

ARENA: But what's different -- what's different here, Tony...

HARRIS: Go ahead. I'm sorry. Yes?

ARENA: ... because this is very complicated, this story. What's different is, number one, that there are allegations of White House involvement in a way that we haven't seen before. That the White House was trying to control the situation in a much more intimate way than we have ever heard before publicly. OK? That's the first thing that's different.

HARRIS: Yes.

ARENA: The second thing that's different is that there was a rule change when the Patriot Act was passed that if a U.S. attorney is appointed mid-session, that that does not have to go before the Senate.

HARRIS: Oh.

ARENA: So some of the allegations are that, once again, here we have the Bush administration trying to bypass the legislative branch of government.

HARRIS: OK.

ARENA: And not have that oversight, if you will.

HARRIS: Right.

ARENA: Now, you know, this is not Kelli Arena speaking. These are the allegations that are out there. And that's what these hearings are about. But that's why everybody's so incensed.

HARRIS: yes.

ARENA: Because they're saying, wait a minute, you know, once again, it's the White House wanting to do what it wants to do when we have, you know, other branches of government that need to be involved.

HARRIS: Yes.

Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena.

Nice job, Kelli. Appreciate it.

ARENA: Thanks.

HARRIS: Thank you.

COLLINS: Want to show you some pictures that we've just gotten in here at CNN. The Florida turnpike, there's been a terrible accident, and we know at least four people were killed. Many cars involved.

A very smoky stretch of the turnpike. You see it there now, coming in from our central Florida News 13 affiliate in Osceola County, Florida.

Florida Highway Patrol saying there were other people injured, including a sheriff's deputy, who has been flown out of the area. Some sort of indication of how serious his injuries may have been.

Officials have shut down this 51-mile stretch of the road. It was also closed yesterday because of brushfire smoke. Terrible fires down in that area. The accident happened, in case you are familiar with this area, at mile marker 209, southern Osceola County.

So, again, four people were killed. Many cars. You can see quite a pileup there. Lots of rescue crews on the scene.

We are going to continue to follow this one for you and bring you any new developments.

Meanwhile, old controversy, new flare-up today over gays in the military. Joint Chiefs chairman Peter Pace tells the "Chicago Tribune" he does not believe gays and lesbians should be allowed to support openly. For that reason, Pace says he supports the current policy on gays, but he condemned homosexuality.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. PETER PACE, JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN: I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts. So the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" allows an individual to serve the country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: CNN Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr joining us now live.

Barbara, any indication as to how this is going to play now, his comments?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're waiting to see, Heidi, if, in fact, you know, we begin to see reaction from Capitol Hill or from some of the presidential candidates. But the community -- the gay and lesbian community already is reacting very severely to General Pace's comments.

General Pace, to be clear, was talking -- he put it in the context of his own upbringing and what he believes, and that he believes, in his words, homosexual acts between individuals are immoral. That is what has incensed the gay and lesbian community.

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a group here in Washington that represents that issue. And they issued a scathing statement, saying, "General Pace's comments are outrageous, insensitive and disrespectful to the 65,000 lesbian and gay troops now serving in the armed forces." And, of course, there are many who do serve the country very honorably.

The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy was put into place, of course, about 14 years ago because of the concerns at that time that having gays and lesbians in the military would be detrimental to good order and discipline of a military unit. General Pace now bringing in the issue of morality, and that has incensed some people in the community -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Well, as you say, Barbara, the policy has been around for 14 years. Could this possibly bring up more discussion about changing or amending that policy in any way?

STARR: You know, there are members of Congress who are beginning to rally around the issue of whether or not it's time to change the law that put "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" into place. And surprisingly, Heidi, there is one very strong advocate.

General John Shalikashvili, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, one of General Pace's predecessors, wrote a couple of months ago in "The New York Times" that he thought it was indeed time to take a second look at all of this, that it was possible in today's age for gays and lesbians to openly serve in the military. So, if there is going to be a change, it's going to come from Congress. There's no indication the administration wants to deal with this -- Heidi.

COLLINS: CNN's Barbara Starr reporting from the Pentagon today.

Barbara, thank you.

And a quick look now at the military's policy on gays known as "Don't Tell, Don't Tell."

It was signed into law by President Clinton in 1994. It says gays and lesbians may serve in the military as long as they keep their sexual orientation private. Commanders are not allowed to ask about one's orientation.

The policy applies to all military personnel, not just troops.

HARRIS: The U.S.-Mexico border and the political chasm separating two neighbors. Right now President Bush is in Mexico, searching for common ground with that country's newly-elected leader.

Live pictures now of the president. The two men meeting this hour to confront issues that have seriously strained the relationship.

CNN en Espanol's Juan Carlos Lopez is live in Mareda, Mexico.

Juan Carlos, great to see you.

We know immigration is a hot topic, but so is drug trafficking. Mexico, we understand, is now pointing the finger at the U.S. And is this part of the years-old debate between the U.S. and Mexico over supply and demand?

JUAN CARLOS LOPEZ, CNN EN ESPANOL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it is, Tony.

President Bush and President Calderon are meeting at a hacienda here in Mareda, and this is going to be a very touchy subject. And President Bush acknowledged yesterday at a press conference in Guatemala that the U.S. has to do a better job to convince its citizens not to consume drugs, but the Mexicans have a very specific plan.

President Calderon said this weekend in an interview that Mexico wanted more than symbolic gestures from the U.S. He said that the U.S. has to do more to capture American drug lords. And they have specific points on the drug trade.

They say, for example, methamphetamines, that the market is growing hugely in the U.S., and they say that is only possible because of precursors. The raw materials are being smuggled into Mexico from the U.S.

They say that weapons are being sent to the Mexican drug cartels from the U.S. and they want the U.S. to stop that. And they also say they want the U.S. to do more about money laundering, about this huge industry.

They believe that drug traffic is possible because American consumers are buying those products, and that's why the drug trade exists. So it's going to be very interesting to see how they go about this in the press conference tomorrow and in their opening statements today.

But yes, Mexico believes that the U.S. has a big role in the drug trade, and they want the U.S. to do more.

HARRIS: Juan Carlos, what about immigration reform? How is that issue playing out in Mexico?

LOPEZ: It's huge. Not only immigration reform, but also the talk of building a 700-mile fence along the border. People are very upset about that.

Now, remember, over six million Mexicans live and work in the U.S. They have no legal status in the country, and they make up the largest group of Hispanics in the U.S.

So, illegal immigration and the whole immigration debate is very important in the U.S. When -- in Mexico.

When President Fox started and President Bush began his presidency, there was a lot of hope that immigration reform would happen. 9/11 changed that. And analysts consider that that really was -- that really wasn't very good for Fox. They're expecting that Calderon can benefit from immigration reform.

Calderon is taking steps to counter criticism in the U.S. He's proposing a guest worker program in Mexico for Central American workers who come here. He is proposing to decriminalize crossing the border from Central America into Mexico.

And he is also trying to improve conditions that illegal immigrants in Mexico receive when they cross into the country. And that's exactly what he wants the U.S. to do.

So a lot of topics, Tony.

HARRIS: Yes.

LOPEZ: A lot of points of discussion. And it's obviously going to be a very interesting meeting between these two presidents.

HARRIS: And it looks like we're done. The lights are out.

LOPEZ: Yes.

HARRIS: All right. CNN en Espanol's Juan Carlos for us in Mareda, Mexico.

Juan Carlos, appreciate it. Thank you.

A road paved with promise, littered with broken reams, and leads to the United States. Go along with Mexican migrants on their journey in the NEWSROOM.

COLLINS: Tables turned. Federal screeners are getting screened at some U.S. airports. The case that triggered the inspections coming up in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: Nobody wants to be on her list. A woman accused of pimping to Washington's powerful shares her little black book -- in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: A huge sex scandal poised to rock the nation's capital. And a lot of men might be pretty darn nervous right now. An attorney for the alleged D.C. madam says she struck a deal.

CNN's Brianna Keilar is joining us now live from Washington.

So, Brianna, this could probably lead to her client list being publicly disclosed?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And certainly her lawyer in the civil proceedings for this case says there's really no way around it, that some men who did engage in sexual activities with Deborah Jean Palfrey's -- pardon me -- with her employees, that their names will be publicly identified. Not all of them. But certainly some of them, he said.

So this of course resolves around Deborah Jean Palfrey. She pleaded not guilty to federal racketeering and money laundering chargesed on Friday.

This is her leaving the court Friday with her lawyer, Montgomery Blair Sibley, the lawyer for the civil part, not the criminal part of her case.

Now, what we -- the government of course alleging here that she ran a large-scale prostitution ring here in the D.C. area from '93 to 2006. Her lawyer here on the right, Blair, Montgomery Blair Sibley, said that he's not going to tell us which media organization she struck a deal with, but he said it's "an international media outlet."

This is an outlet that has "integrity". And he says the understanding here is that there's not going to be a blanket reveal.

At issue here, up to 15,000 -- the contact information for up to 15,000 former clients of Palfrey's. And so he says not all of them are going to be revealed. But what they're hoping to get out of this is some help in flushing out potential witnesses that can help the defense, that can testify on behalf of Ms. Palfrey.

Now, there's really no -- he says there's no money exchanging hands here between the two parties. And I spoke with an assistant U.S. attorney who's on this case about what perhaps the government might be doing to stop her from revealing this information, and they wouldn't comment because of the ongoing legal proceeding -- Heidi.

COLLINS: OK. So Brianna, who's on the list?

KEILAR: Don't we wish we knew? No, we don't know. And of course the thing everyone wants to know is, are there big names? I mean, if there are up to 15,000 names, could there really be some bombshells?

COLLINS: Right.

KEILAR: Now, Montgomery Blair Sibley, the lawyer, said he doesn't know if there are big names. He's actually purposely kept himself ignorant on that matter. But he did say that if there is one of those big names, "Their behavior is legitimately a public question."

So he's certainly not ruling out that this could happen, that if there is a big name, we'll find out about it.

COLLINS: And curious, too, as we see those records that they showed just a little tiny clip of -- everything is obviously blacked out on that. But if your name is on there, I'm sure that they're going to have to investigate further to know whether or not there was actual, you know, money that exchanged hands between client and whatever service they were getting. I mean, if your name is on there, that's not evidence enough.

KEILAR: No, certainly, it's not, because if your name is on there, you know, Ms. Palfrey alleges that she was just running an escort service. And it's entirely possible that just because someone's name is on there doesn't necessarily mean that they did engage in any sexual act.

But certainly no one wants their name to be associated with this, with their phone numbers on there. You know, it creates a whole slew of problems for someone if their phone number is on there.

COLLINS: We'll be waiting and we'll check back with you.

Brianna Keilar, live from Washington, D.C.

Thank you.

HARRIS: An Indiana College has cut ties with a sorority accused of wanting only attractive, popular students. Last month, CNN reported on the controversy surrounding Delta Zeta sority at the DePauw University. The national chapter evicted 23 members, claiming they weren't committed to recruiting pledges. But those asked to leave say it was because they weren't considered pretty or partiers.

The university's president says the sorority must leave campus by September. A statement from the sorority's national chapter says it is disappointed in the decision and that the situation is being mischaracterized.

COLLINS: Dirt roads, dead-end leads. A Georgia town launches a massive search for a missing boy. Police believe he was abducted.

Details on this coming up in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: You can't see their scars, but a growing number of troops coming home from battle with mental illness. The telling numbers in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: They're wounded warriors with scars you may not see. A new study shows mental illness taking a toll on vets.

CNN's Jamie McIntyre reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Calling the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan the most sustained combat operation since Vietnam, the study concludes the conflicts have produced an epidemic of mental illness, the kind that can sometimes kill.

Take the case of Jason Cooper, profiled by CNN last year. The young soldier hanged himself after returning from combat. His mother says he was never the same.

TERRI JONES, JASON COOPER'S MOTHER: Soldiers are in distress. They're taught to be tough. They're taught to go into combat. And when the tears come, they're not taught how to survive that.

MCINTYRE: The primary factor, says the study's authors, U.S. troops are subjected to multiple tours of high intensity guerrilla warfare and face a constant threat of death or dismemberment from improvised bombs.

According to a review of more than 100,000 veterans of Iraq or Afghanistan who were seen at V.A. hospitals between 2001 and 2005, it's taking a heavy toll. One quarter, 25 percent, have been diagnosed with some form of mental disorder. Include psycho-social problems such as domestic violence, and the percentage jumps to almost one third.

Not surprisingly, younger troops, 18-to-24-year-olds, who often draw the deadliest front-line duty, are the most at risk. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is the biggest problem. Diagnosed in 13 percent of returning veterans, followed by anxiety, problems adjusting, depression, and substance abuse. More than half of the 100,000 suffered two or more problems.

(on camera): The biggest difference between now and the Vietnam War is the prevalence of what's become the signature wound of the Iraq conflict, traumatic brain injury, which causes not just physical but mental damage as well.

Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Get our "Daily Dose" of health news online. Log on to our Web site. You will find the latest medical news, a health library, and information on diet and fitness. The address is cnn.com/health.

Good morning, everyone. Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM.

I'm Tony Harris.

COLLINS: And I'm Heidi Collins.

Top brass, big controversy. Joint Chiefs chairman Peter Pace has no plans to apologize for his comment homosexuality is immoral. That, according to his senior staff. Pace told the "Chicago Tribune" in his view homosexuality it is akin to adultery. He says both are behaviors that are prosecuted in the military.

For that reason, Pace says he believes in the policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PACE: I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts. So the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" allows an individual to serve the country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: An advocacy group that has represented gays in the military is denouncing Pace's comments, calling them outrageous, insensitive and disrespectful.

HARRIS: Federal screeners getting screened. Spot checks of TSA workers going on this week at airports in Florida and Puerto Rico. The move follows the arrest of a baggage handler in Orlando. He allegedly used his airport ID to smuggle firearms into the cabin of a commercial flight. Now officials hope the random searches send a signal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EARL MORRIS, TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMIN: I think you're going to find bad apples in any corporation or any form of government or anywhere in the world for that matter. I mean, you can't have 100 percent of anything anywhere. And that's why we continually move our people to ensure that if there are those who have any intention of doing harm, that we have a high likelihood of apprehending them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: The spot inspections of TSA employees will expand in the coming months to other airports around the country.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR, NEWSROOM: He kidnapped, raped and killed the little girl. Will he live or die for his horrible crimes? The sentencing of John Couey ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: And this news just in to CNN. We're getting the word that the Georgia department of transportation is going to make some changes to its high occupancy vehicle interchanges and specifically, the left-hand exit ramps. This, in the aftermath of a bus accident a week ago last Friday, March 2nd, that killed seven, the driver, his wife and five baseball players from Bluffton University, that, of course, being in Ohio. That is a story that we're continuing to work on to flush out the actual details of what will be changed to this left-hand ramp and I guess all of the left-hand ramps to the HOV lanes on Georgia highways. The accident occurring at the interchange here in the Atlanta area, 75/85, a horrible accident a week ago, Friday again that killed seven. So the Georgia department of transportation announcing that it is going to make some changes to its high occupancy vehicle interchanges, specifically to the left-hand exit ramps. We will continue to follow this and flesh this out a little bit more for you and have those details in the NEWSROOM.

COLLINS: Job performance or pure politics? A growing storm over the firings of several Federal prosecutors and now some new fallout. The Justice Department announced the dismissals of eight U.S. attorneys late last year. Now Democrats and Congress have opened an investigation, saying the firings were politically motivated. The Justice Department confirms today Attorney General Gonzalez chief of staff Kyle Samson (ph) who handled the dismissals has resigned. Some of the prosecutors say they felt pressured by powerful Republicans in their home states to rush investigations of potential voter fraud involving Democrats. And now reports of deeper involvement by the White House. The White House spokeswoman says President Bush may have informally passed along to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales some complaints he heard about the job performance of prosecutors.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D) NEW YORK: I renew my call that Attorney General Gonzales should step down. Today's resignation by his chief of staff does not take the heat off the attorney general; it raises the temperature. Second, we must hear from key White House players immediately so that the air can be clear. Karl Rove, we now know, was involved in the firings and lobbied for his own protege to take the spot of the respected U.S. attorney in Arkansas. Karl Rove should not wait for a subpoena.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Senator Chuck Schumer there just moments ago. And this statement now from White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino. Quote, we continue to believe that the decision to remove and replace U.S. attorneys who serve at the pleasure of the president was perfectly appropriate and within our discretion.

Want to go ahead and get out to Ed Henry. He is in Merida (ph), Mexico, traveling with the president. Want to find out more here, Ed, about the White House reaction to all of this.

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Obviously, the president was hoping to be talking about issues like immigration reform here in Mexico, as he wrapped up this seven-day trip to Latin America. Instead, as you noted, this political fire storm has been building for days, weeks even. Now the White House starting to get its side of the story out. We do have some new information this morning.

Let's start with Kyle Samson, who as you noted, the former chief of staff to the attorney general. He resigned yesterday over this. What we're told is that Kyle Samson amid all these investigations did some sort of document search. Exactly what the White House knew, when did the White House know it and he came across some sort of document suggesting that back in early 2005, he and the president's counsel, Harriet Miers, had a conversation in which Harriet Miers suggested -- remember this is shortly after the '04 election. The president's being re-elected, all kinds of personnel changes. Harriet Miers, the top lawyer in the White House, says maybe we should just remove all 93 U.S. attorneys across the country. The recollection of Kyle Samson is that he said this is not a good idea. It could be disruptive to remove all 93 at once.

What's important, as well is that we're now being told by a senior administration official that Karl Rove, the president's top political adviser, remembers a passing conversation around this time, early 2005, in which he said to Harriet Miers this is not a good idea. Then between mid '05 into 2006, Kyle Samson at the Justice Department, Harriet Miers at the White House, have ongoing conversations about removing U.S. attorneys. Finally in November 2006, the White House gets a list from the Justice Department with the names of seven U.S. attorneys to be removed. We're told the White House did not object to that list. They did add names, subtract names and the Justice Department executed that plan on December 7th, 2006.

Now, what's interesting is one of the U.S. attorneys in the middle of all this, David Iglesias (ph) out in New Mexico, we have had information in recent days that the Republican Party chairman out in New Mexico says that he remembers a conversation he had with Karl Rove in December of '06 in which Karl Rove said that David Iglesias, the U.S. attorney, that a lot of Republicans were upset with, was going to be removed. The White story now that's emerging is that Karl Rove does not recall that conversation, but also does not dispute the content of that conversation. Bu the White House is pointing out that the conversation at the holiday party happened on December 14th, a full week after the Justice Department executed this plan. The point is, that they say Rove was not passing on any inside information.

And they also say that Rove and other White House officials for months had been getting information suggesting bad performance by David Iglesias, specifically, other U.S. attorneys as well, involving not pursuing voter fraud allegations aggressively. Important to note, we're told the president was made aware generally of these various complaints. The bottom line here is why is Kyle Samson resigning? Democrats are saying if in fact the White House did nothing wrong and they ended up shooting down this plan to remove all 93 U.S. attorneys and instead just removed seven, plus one other one. And if there's nothing wrong here, why did Kyle Samson, why did he have to resign? Here's Chuck Schumer, the Democratic senator.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCHUMER: Kyle Samson will not become the next "Scooter" Libby, the next fall guy. Either Attorney General Gonzales knew what his chief of staff was doing -- that's a pretty severe indictment, or he didn't, which means he doesn't have the foggiest idea of what's going on in the Justice Department.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: Now, the bottom line here is where's all this headed? It could very well end up becoming a major showdown between the White House and Congress because there is a precedent here where usually White House aides who are not confirmed by the U.S. Senate do not testify to Congress. We've already gotten indications from Democrats like Schumer, Democrat John Conyers in the House, they'd like Karl Rove and other White House aides, Justice officials, to testify on this matter. The White House right now is saying that they will review anything that comes in. But certainly, privately, they're not excited about sending Karl Rove up to Capitol Hill to testify. This very well could become a big showdown. There could be subpoenas down the road for various officials. You could see that this thing is building and building, Heidi.

COLLINS: Ed, were there any laws broken in all of this?

HENRY: I'm sorry?

COLLINS: Were there any laws broken? Was there a crimes committed in all this?

HENRY: There's no evidence of that. I think as you noted at the very top, this is more about, was the White House acting in a political manner here, were they misusing the system in some way, to remove U.S. attorneys for political reasons. That would be significant, obviously, because some would obviously say it's unethical, not necessarily illegal. But secondly, they would point out the White House throughout the CIA case, a whole separate case, has been saying they don't want to interfere in ongoing legal matters and I think the Democrats are trying to say that the White House, the Justice Department, they were trying to interfere with various cases out there on a political basis, remove U.S. attorneys they didn't like. It's important to note the White House insists that was not the case, that it was about performance. They were getting complaints about David Iglesias and others. They were removed because of their performance, managerial reasons. These investigations obviously will get to the bottom of who is telling truth here. But on the one side, the Democrats think, it was for political reasons. White House is insisting it was managerial reasons. Obviously, given the information that continues to dribble out here, we've not heard the last of this and sooner or later, we're going to figure out exactly who knew what and when. Heidi.

COLLINS: Always seems like it takes a long time to figure that out, doesn't it? White House correspondent Ed Henry traveling with the president, Merida, Mexico. Thank you.

HARRIS: Let's get more on this now, the speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, speaking on this very topic right now.

REP. NANCY PELOSI, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: Next week, we will bring to the floor -- well, under the leadership of the leader if he allows, bring to the floor Congressman Berman's (ph) bill to repeal the provision that permits the appointment of interim U.S. attorneys indefinitely. In the election, the American people asked for a new direction. Restoring accountability and openness in government are the first steps to make progress for all Americans. Now, I'm very pleased to yield to the distinguished majority leader, Mr. Hoyer.

REP. STENY HOYER, (D) MD: Thank you very much, Madam speaker. Mr. Waxman we hope will be here soon. He's in the process of marking up some bills. For six years, the Bush administration enjoyed virtually unfettered and un --

HARRIS: OK what we will do is we will continue to follow what is being said here and we'll bring you any news that is made in this briefing.

Still ahead, a new fight for "Rocky" star Sylvester Stallone, this time in court in Australia. The charge and the potential penalty. That's coming up in the NEWSROOM.

COLLINS: Caught with his pants down, a burglar in a compromising position. Why this guy picked the wrong store in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: "Your World Today" coming up at the top of the hour, 14 minutes -- how's my math, OK, 14 minutes from now. Rosemary Church standing by with a preview.

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tony, good to see you reading the clock there, Tony and Heidi, welcome to you. We'll be coming up here in just a short time. U.S. President George W. Bush of course heading to Mexico on the next -- last leg, in fact, of his five-nation tour of Latin America. Immigration will top the agenda when he meets his Mexican counterpart Felipe Calderon. We're going to take a closer look at that troubled alliance and focus on one illegal immigrant living and working in New York and what that means.

To China, a brouhaha brewing in Beijing. Why the Chinese want Starbucks vanished. You'll have to tune in to find out more on that.

And tears of joy and sadness. An emotionally charged wedding on the Israeli/Syrian border where the bride vows never to return to her family's home. Those stories and more coming up at the top of the hour on "Your World Today" CNN. Back to you both.

HARRIS: Thanks, Rosemary.

His crime is so heinous it makes you sick to think about it, much less talk about it. Today, convicted child killer John Couey faces the sentencing phase of his trial. It will determine whether Couey will get life in prison or the death penalty. A Florida jury found Couey guilty last week of abducting, raping and murdering nine-year- old Jessica Lunsford two years ago. She was buried alive. Defense lawyers say Couey is mentally retarded and they recommend a life sentence. A judge will ultimately decide Couey's fate.

In Georgia, a search for a missing boy believed to have been abducted. This is six-year-old Christopher Michael Barrios (ph) Jr. He was last seen Thursday near his home in a Glenn County mobile home park. Search crews have checked dumpsters, wells and isolated structures in the area. Police believe he was abducted but say they have no leads.

COLLINS: A court date for aging Hollywood hunk Sylvester Stallone in Australia. Stallone was formally charged today in Sydney with trying to bring a muscle building hormone into Australia where it's banned. Prosecutors say it happened when the 60-year old "Rocky" star visited last month. Stallone was not in court, but he has called it a misunderstanding. Lawyers must enter a plea on Stallone's behalf next month. If found guilty, the maximum fine is $17,000.

The suspect's first mistake, picking a store packed with surveillance cameras. His second, forgetting his belt. Diane Fernandez from Miami affiliate WSVN reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DIANE FERNANDEZ, WSVN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A crook's face and bare bottom caught on camera during an early morning smash and grab at Extreme Sound and Security on West Flagler Street in west Miami-Dade.

ASDEL VAZQUEZ, STORE OWNER: It's very frustrating, you work hard for your money and somebody just comes and takes it.

FERNANDEZ: After a break-in three years ago, store owner Asdel Vazquez installed a high-tech security system complete with 16 digital cameras.

VAZQUEZ: ... in here for about a minute.

FERNANDEZ: One by one, they each catch images of the two thieves, first as they drive up in a white Dodge Charger, as they walk up and then as they bust into the store.

VAZQUEZ: They knew exactly what they were going for.

FERNANDEZ: As they're ransacking the store, grabbing flip down in-dash TVs, one of the men's pants falls down. The bare bottom bandit struggles with them all the way out of the store and even as he waddles away.

VAZQUEZ: This is what made my day.

FERNANDEZ: But catching these guys will make his year and he says he's got the goods.

VAZQUEZ: I got everything on tape, when they came in, how they came in, how long they were here and what time. I got all the information that I need. He definitely messed with the wrong person. I'm also a private investigator. And I'm going to investigate this until the last.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: All right, Heidi. This is your show, come on, show me this picture. You love this picture.

COLLINS: Not my idea, but I do think it's pretty cool. (INAUDIBLE) Tampa, Florida. This is a red-tailed hawk. It's the most common form of hawk in North America. How about that?

HARRIS: Oh, he's looking at us saying what are you looking at?

COLLINS: He's checking out traffic, right? Beautiful. This is the chicken hawk. Did you know that? Anything else you want to know?

HARRIS: No, I'm so dumb.

COLLINS: The Audubon Society right there.

And also this we want to show you, some other interesting pictures. A show in Las Vegas. And there she blows. A landmark comes crashing down. Details and another look coming up in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Boy, in Japan a tragic story of a sea faring good Samaritan. Check out this video, three fishermen were trying to rescue a 30 foot long sperm whale that had strayed into a bay and they actually feared that it would be trapped. But what happened is that the whale panicked, turned on them, slammed the vessel three times and eventually capsized it. Two fishermen were rescued, but their 58- year-old colleague drowned.

COLLINS: Oh, that's awful.

HARRIS: Wow.

COLLINS: Don Lemon is here now, coming up in a little while, a little more than an hour.

DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, good to see both of you. We've got a lot coming up this afternoon. They asked and he told and forget backing down. The military's top gun is sticking to his guns today. Joint chiefs Chairman Peter Pace doesn't plan to apologize for terming homosexuality immoral. What other behaviors does he condone or condemn rather for people in the service? We're checking into that. And we'll talk with a gay former Marine. Also be taking your e-mail on this one, very interesting.

Plus, a different spin on don't ask, don't tell could hit some big wigs below the belt. The alleged DC madam has reportedly come to an agreement with an unnamed media organization to share her client list. Her lawyer says that list includes thousands of customers. We'll have the latest starting at 1:00 p.m. Eastern right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

COLLINS: Waiting for that list.

LEMON: Everybody is waiting to see who's on it, huh.

COLLINS: All right, Don, thanks.

LEMON: Have a great day, guys.

COLLINS: From Stardust to just dust in just seconds. Everything's a show on the Las Vegas strip. In a hail of fireworks, the Stardust casino and hotel came crashing down overnight. When it opened almost 50 years ago, the Stardust called itself the biggest resort hotel. Can you imagine that? The implosion makes way for a new one that will be even bigger.

HARRIS: Of course.

COLLINS: CNN NEWSROOM continues in just one hour from now.

HARRIS: "Your World Today" is next with news happening across the globe and here at home. I'm Tony Harris.

COLLINS: And I'm Heidi Collins. Have a great day, everybody.

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