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The Hammer Leaving Congress: DeLay Announces Resignation
Amid Controversy
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee: Immigration is the Civil Rights
Issue of Our Time
Cynthia McKinney Accuses Capitol Police of Racial Profiling
FBI Whistleblower Colleen Rowley Warns Zacarias Moussaoui
Trial May Mark Last Time Bush Administration Use Courts to
Try Terror Suspects
Former Liberian President Charles Taylor Pleads Not Guilty
Before UN-backed War Crimes Tribunal In Sierra Leone
Duke University Rape Case Raises Issues of Race and Class
in Durham
The Hammer Leaving Congress: DeLay Announces Resignation
Amid Controversy
Republican Congressman Tom Delay has announced he is resigning
and will give up his House seat within the next few months.
The former House Majority Leader has been one of the most
powerful - and controversial - Republicans on Capitol Hill.
We speak with Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D - TX) about DeLay's
resignation. [includes rush
transcript]
Republican Congressman Tom Delay has announced he is resigning
and will give up his House seat within the next few months.
The former House Majority Leader has been one of the most
powerful - and controversial - Republicans on Capitol Hill.
DeLay announced his resignation just days after a former top
aide, Tony Rudy, pleaded guilty in connection to a lobbying
scandal involving Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Last
November, Delay's former press secretary Michael Scanlon also
plead guilty to related charges. Delay was up for his re-election
but polls showed he would likely lose.
Last year Delay gave up his position as House Majority Leader
after being indicted on criminal charges of conspiracy to
violate Texas election laws. Federal investigators have also
probed Delay's personal dealings with Abramoff. DeLay's wife
worked for the lobbying firm Alexander Strategy Group which
had close ties to the Republican lobbyist.
- Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D - TX)
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee: Immigration is the Civil
Rights Issue of Our Time
On Capitol Hill, heated debate continues over immigration
reform. We speak with Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D - TX) who
has submitted an immigration bill in Congress that would allow
for legal permanent residency for undocumented immigrants
who have lived in the United States for the past five years,
would double the cap for family visas and would increase the
number of work visas. [includes rush
transcript]
On Capitol Hill, heated debate is continuing over a bill
passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee last week that would
allow the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in this
country a chance to work here legally and eventually become
U.S. citizens - a process that would take 11 years and include
paying fines and back taxes.
But support for the legislation in the Senate is uncertain
and there is already talk of a possible filibuster by Republican
senators opposed to what they call amnesty for illegal immigrants.
On Monday night, a group of Republican senators reached for
a compromise that they hoped would bolster votes for the bill.
The talks were led by Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Mel Martinez
of Florida. Under the compromise proposal, undocumented workers
who could produce pay stubs, billing records or other proof
showing they have lived and worked in the United States for
five years would qualify for a work visa and an opportunity
to apply for citizenship. They could stay in the country as
they apply for a green card. Those not meeting the requirements
would have to return to their native countries.
Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter said after leaving the
meeting "People who have roots who ought to be treated
differently."
Any bill that passes the Senate would have to reconciled
with a House bill passed last year that has been described
as the most repressive immigration bill in 70 years. HR 4437
would, among other things, turn every undocumented immigrant
into a felon and make it a crime to offer help to undocumented
immigrants. The bill sparked widespread demonstrations and
student walkouts of historic proportions across the country.
For more on immigration reform we are joined by Democratic
Congressmember Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas. She has called
the immigration issue the civil rights issue of our time.
She joins us from a studio in Houston.
- Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D - TX), she has submitted an
immigration bill in Congress that would allow for legal
permanent residency for undocumented immigrants who have
lived in the United States for the past five years, would
double the cap for family visas and would increase the number
of work visas. Her bill has been stalled in the Immigration
Subcommittee since mid-2005.
Cynthia McKinney Accuses Capitol Police of Racial
Profiling
Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) has complained she was the
victim of racial profiling that led to a run-in with a Capitol
police officer last week. Prosecutors are now reviewing whether
to bring charges against her. We speak with Rep. Sheila Jackson
Lee about the incident and we look at when several members
of the Georgia General Assembly were denied entry to Coretta
Scott King's funeral in February. [includes rush
transcript]
Prosecutors at the U.S. Attorney's Office are reviewing whether
to bring charges against a member of Congress as a result
of a reported scuffle with a Capitol police officer last week.
Possible charges include assault or obstructing a police officer.
Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) has complained she was the victim
of racial profiling when confronted by the officer last Wednesday
in a House office building. The incident occurred when McKinney
went around a metal detector -- as lawmakers are permitted
to do -- while not wearing her congressional lapel pin.
McKinney said she was rushing to a meeting and that most
members of Congress expect Capitol police to recognize them.
She reportedly poked the officer with her cell phone when
he stopped her.
We speak with Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) about the case.
- Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D - TX)
Cynthia McKinney's run-in with a Capitol police officer isn't
the only recent case where an African-American lawmaker has
accused government officials of racial profiling. In February,
several members of the Georgia General Assembly were denied
entry to the main area where Coretta Scott King's body was
on public view. Congressmember McKinney addressed the incident
in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Monday.
- Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), interviewed by Wolf Blitzer
on CNN, April 3, 2006.
Today is the 38th anniversary of the assassination of Coretta
Scott King's husband, Dr. Martin Luther King. We speak with
one of those State Legislators denied entry to see the body
of Coretta Scott King at the Georgia Capital. "Able"
Mable Thomas is a Georgia State Representative.
- Rep. "Able" Mable Thomas, Georgia State Representative.
FBI Whistleblower Colleen Rowley Warns Zacarias Moussaoui
Trial May Mark Last Time Bush Administration Use Courts to
Try Terror Suspects
Although a jury ruled Moussaoui is eligible for the death
penalty on Monday, Rowley says administration officials may
stop using criminal courts for future cases. “If you
don’t deal with them in the criminal court then you
are allowed to go around all criminal procedure and the Constitution,”
she said. [includes rush
transcript]
We turn now to the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui. On Monday,
a jury ruled Moussaoui is eligible for the death penalty in
connection to his role in the 9/11 attacks. Moussaoui has
already pleaded guilty to conspiring to hijack aircraft with
al-Quaida and other crimes. He’s claimed he was supposed
to have been part of the 9/11 plot and that he was training
to fly a fifth hijacked plane into the White House on that
day. He’s said he lied to the FBI after his arrest to
allow the Sept. 11 attacks to go forward. The trial will now
move into its second phase, where the jurors will decide whether
Moussaoui should be executed.
The case against Moussaoui has brought embarrassment to prosecutors
and government officials. Last month, a judge barred the testimony
of several prosecution witnesses after it was revealed a government
lawyer had violated court rules by improperly coaching them.
And just days later, a former FBI supervisor revealed during
testimony that he did not read a memo that had warned of possible
hijackings before the 9/11 attacks.
Many people who lost loved ones on 9/11 attended the trial.
Abraham Scott, whose wife Janice Marie Scott died in the attack
on the Pentagon, shared his thoughts after the verdict was
read.
- Abraham Scott, his wife Janice Marie Scott died in the
attack on the Pentagon on 9/11.
We’re joined now by Coleen Rowley.
- Coleen Rowley, former FBI Special Agent turned whistleblower.
She has accused FBI officials of hampering the investigation
of Zacarias Moussaoui and ignoring critical warnings before
the 9/11 attacks. She speaks to us from Minnesota where
she is running for Congress.
- Website: ColeenRowley.com
- Coleen
Rowley's Memo to FBI Director Robert Mueller
Former Liberian President Charles Taylor Pleads Not
Guilty Before UN-backed War Crimes Tribunal In Sierra Leone
Taylor appeared before the war tribunal on Monday a week
after he was apprehended. This marks the first time a former
African leader will be tried on African soil for crimes against
humanity. We speak to Corinne Dufka of Human Rights Watch.
[includes rush
transcript]
In Sierra Leone, former Liberian President Charles Taylor
pleaded not guilty to war crimes on Monday during his first
appeared before a UN-backed tribunal since he was apprehended
last week. He faces 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against
humanity in connection with alleged backing of Sierra Leonean
rebels. Charges include mutilation, sexual slavery and sending
children into combat.
- Charles Taylor, former Liberian president pleading not
guilty on Monday.
Taylor was apprehended in Nigeria, where had been living
in exile since 2003. He stepped down as Liberian president
that year after a 14-year civil war that killed at least 400,000
people and displaced millions more. His case marks the first
time a former African leader will be tried on African soil
for crimes against humanity.
- Corinne Dufka, senior researcher and the West Africa
Team Leader for the Africa Division of Human Rights Watch.
She speaks to us from Dakar, Senegal.
Duke University Rape Case Raises Issues of Race and
Class in Durham
We look at the latest in the Duke University rape case.
A black female student from North Carolina Central University
says she was beaten, raped and choked by three white members
of Duke's Lacrosse team last month. The case is stirring racial
and class tensions in North Carolina. [includes rush
transcript]
A black female student from North Carolina Central University
has accused three white members of Duke University's Lacrosse
team of rape. The alleged incident took place last month.
The woman was hired as a dancer for a lacrosse team party
held in a house rented from Duke University. There she says
she was beaten, raped and choked by three white lacrosse team
members who also called her racial epithets. The lacrosse
team denies the allegations. Police have not filed charges,
but are taking DNA tests of nearly all the team's members
in an effort to identify the suspects. At least one witness
says he heard lacrosse team members making racial slurs. Jason
Bissey, who lives next door to where the party was held, said
he heard one player yell at the woman: "Thank your grandpa
for my nice cotton shirt."
The derogatory remarks have not been confined to the night
of the incident. Last week, radio show host Rush Limbaugh
called the woman a derogatory two-letter often used to describe
a prostitute.
A number of students and community members have rallied to
support the woman. Last Wednesday, activists distributed "wanted"
flyers with photos of lacrosse players as hundreds participated
in the annual Take Back the Night march against rape.
- LaHoma Romocki, Assistant Professor in the Department
of Public Health Education at North Carolina Central University.
For a copy of today’s program, call 1 (800) 881 2359.
Our website is www.democracynow.org.
Our email address is mail@democracynow.org.
Democracy Now! is produced by Mike Burke, Sharif Abdel Kouddous,
Ana Nogueira, Elizabeth Press, Jeremy Scahill and Parvez Sharma.
Mike Di Filippo is our engineer.
Thanks also to Uri Galed, Angela Alston, Orlando Richards,
Simba Russeau, Johnny Sender, Rich Kim, Joe Murgio, John Randolph,
Chris Zucker, Karen Ranucci, Denis Moynihan, Eric Rweyemamu,
Jenny Filipazzo and Isis Phillips.
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