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CNN NEWSROOM

Unabomber Involved in Tylenol Scare?; Former IMF Chief Indicted But Gets Bail; Schwarzenegger's Mistress, Love Child, LinkedIn Stock Soars; Three to Six Major Hurricanes Predicted; Secret Service Twitter Oops

Aired May 19, 2011 - 16:00   ET

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


T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: But, again, to our viewers, as we come up on the top of the hour, we will reset this thing for you. I'm T.J. Holmes, in today for Brooke Baldwin.

But what you have been watching and listening to is what happened inside the courtroom just a short time ago. And what you heard there was the two sides, the prosecution, also the defense, in the Dominique Strauss-Kahn case going back and forth trying to explain to a judge why, in fact, that he should be allowed to be out on bail while his criminal -- while the legal process goes forward.

The prosecution calling him a flight risk, saying even though he hands over these documents, this is a man with international influence and he has resources, in fact, and he can travel any time he wants to. And lord knows, if he gets out of this country, then we will not get him back. He's a citizen of France.

But, again, here we are at the top of the hour here in the CNN NEWSROOM. We are going to get much more on that. We will go live to New York.

But here's what else we have got going on for you here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- confirmed the presence of cyanide.

HOLMES (voice-over): Nearly 30 years ago, a wave of fear spread across the nation after somebody laced Tylenol with poison.

DR. EDWIN DONAHUE, COOK COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE: People should refrain from taking Extra Strength Tylenol.

HOLMES: No one was ever convicted, but today a shocking development. Could the Unabomber be responsible?

Plus:

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- the new approach.

HOLMES: From power to prison. Dominique Strauss-Kahn quits his job as his accuser testifies. Find out what he is promising to do and where he wants to go, should he get out from behind bars.

Also, President Obama gives one of his biggest speeches.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And you can't have a real dialogue when parts of the peaceful opposition are in jail.

HOLMES: From the deadly uprisings to the Osama bin Laden killing, the world watches. The Middle East reacts.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: OK. Again, we're crossing over the top of the hour here in the CNN NEWSROOM. We're certainly monitoring the breaking news out of New York. In fact, we have learned that, yes, a judge will allow bail for Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

We will get back to that in just a moment. But we also need to start here with a pretty shocking development in the case of those Tylenol poisonings. Which ones am I talking about? We are talking about the ones that made headlines back in 1982.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office here in Chicago has definitely confirmed the presence of cyanide in two separate bottles of Extra Strength Tylenol.

DONAHUE: The only safe course here is that people should refrain from taking Extra Strength Tylenol, the 500-milligrams capsules.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: All right. Move forward to now, this year, 2011. And the headline is that the FBI wants the Unabomber's DNA to see if he had any connection with the Tylenol poisonings back then.

Ted Kaczynski, you know the name, you know the face by now. He pleaded guilty in 1998 to creating bombs that killed three people and injured 23 others. He is now serving life in a federal supermax prison in Colorado.

The question now is, did he lace capsules, Tylenol capsules with potassium cyanide that left seven people in the Chicago area dead? Kaczynski says he won't voluntarily give up his DNA, but in a handwritten motion filed in a federal court -- we do have a copy of it -- we will share that with you and talk about it here in just a moment -- he says the FBI will try to force his hand.

Now we're going to get to more into Kaczynski's history and ramblings with Unabomber expert Roger Lane. He is standing by for us. We will talk to him in just a moment.

But, first, let's go to our Dan Simon, who has been covering this case for us.

Dan, why do they want his DNA now? Why has this come up? DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, it's a really good question, T.J.

It appears that this thing just kind of came out of the blue. We know that the FBI in Chicago dispatched agents to Kaczynski's prison in Colorado. They asked him to voluntarily submit a DNA sample, and Kaczynski declined.

Now, we don't know if there is any sort of solid evidence linking Kaczynski to the Tylenol case. We are not aware of any evidence that may exist. But we know that Kaczynski himself is the one that sort of brought this to light. He wrote a letter to a judge in Northern California, a U.S. district court, basically asking that an auction to have some of his items -- some of his items are up for auction. The proceeds would go to some of his victims' families.

He wanted that auction to be halted because he claims that some of that evidence would show that he is innocent in the Tylenol case. Again, we are not aware of any evidence that might link him to the Tylenol case. Apparently, the authorities in Chicago are reexamining this case nearly three decades after it occurred.

But it is a fascinating development and it puts the spotlight back on that infamous case in 1982 and it also puts the spotlight back on Kaczynski, T.J.

HOLMES: What is the next move, then, Dan, here? If he doesn't want to give up the DNA, can they compel him to do so, or are they really trying to work out a deal?

SIMON: You know, they certainly can. You know, it is interesting that they chose this route to go through that they wanted him to give up the DNA voluntarily.

They can certainly go to a court and mandate that Kaczynski provide a DNA sample. And so it also raises the question that, if Kaczynski is innocent in this case, why not (INAUDIBLE) provide the DNA sample, T.J.?

HOLMES: All right, Dan Simon, we appreciate you.

Let me turn back now to Roger Lane. He's written books on Kaczynski. He's joining me now.

You're very familiar with this man. But let's talk about the Tylenol case. Does that -- if you can make any kind of a connection here, a determination, does that sound like something that is up his alley, something as random as these Tylenol poisonings?

ROGER LANE, UNABOMBER ANALYST: It's not exactly up his alley. He was certainly opposed to the drug industry as part of his bias against society in general.

I mean, he felt that drugs -- that would be the kind of thing represented by Prozac -- was, as in Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World," was sort of keeping us quiet, when we should be rebelling against the regimentation of modern industrial society.

But unlike the bombings, this would have been random. I mean, he usually targeted specific industries, the airline industry, tried to bomb an airplane at one point, a timber company executive, people connected with the computer industry. Random consumers were not his typical targets.

HOLMES: Sir, I don't know if you have been able to read this motion he wrote, essentially his response. I have it here with me, but it is his response. And some people might be able to make it out. It looks like an official court document. The only thing, it is not printed. It is handwritten. It looks like he was looking at another official court motion.

And, I mean, he drew the lines where they were supposed to be, the boxes, the district numbers and all this -- kinds of stuff. Some of it is kind of rambling, talking about his property that he certainly wants right now and doesn't want it to be sold.

What's on his mind these days? What's he been up to, quite frankly, in prison? A lot of time on his hands, but this hand -- I don't know if you have been able to read this yet, but what do you make of, I guess, his request that his -- that his items not be sold?

LANE: I have no idea.

HOLMES: Yes.

LANE: I think that, like many people who were notorious once and have now been tucked away -- I mean, it's been since 1996, 15 years that the man's been in prison -- he may be simply seeking notoriety, as many famous criminals do.

And this is a chance to get back in the headlines. I have no clue to the way -- thank goodness I have no clue to the way that this man's mind really works. None of us do.

HOLMES: OK. You said he has been out of the headlines, the notoriety. Is there a chance that he would want to take responsibility for what happened back in 1982? You say he liked the attention. That could certainly get him some. Or does he just want to play with the authorities for a little while?

LANE: I think he -- my guess would be that he wants to play with the authorities for a little while. If he wanted to claim responsibility, he could come right out and say so, rather than putting up this kind of delaying action with respect to collection of his DNA.

HOLMES: All right, Roger Lane for us, we appreciate your insights on this case, fascinating, kind of a surprise to a lot of people here that they want DNA from this man on that notorious case.

Sir, thank you so much for your time.

LANE: You're more than welcome. Thank you for having me. HOLMES: All right. All right.

To our viewers, we are keeping a close eye on what's happening right now in New York City, maybe some surprising news to some that Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former IMF chief, now accused, now charged now for alleged sexual assault in New York on a maid at a hotel room there.

Well, he is going to be allowed to get out of jail on bail if he can come up with $1 million cash. He will be allowed to get out, according to a judge now, while his legal process moves forward. We will be live at the courthouse next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well, the former head of the International Monetary Fund will get out of jail on bond, if he can come up with the $1 million cash and also $5 million insurance bond.

We now have the list of charges against him in this case, grand jury indictment we got just a short time ago against Dominique Strauss-Kahn, two counts of criminal sexual act, one count of attempt to commit rape, first-degree sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment, third-degree sexual abuse, also forcible touching.

The indictment formally charging Dominique Strauss-Kahn with trying to rape a hotel maid was filed this afternoon while he was in court asking for bail.

Richard Roth outside the courthouse in New York for us.

Richard, we heard the case going back and forth, the case for whether or not he should get out. Might be surprising to some that the judge OK'ed this.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Every day, some think one side is a surprise, the other -- who knows with this case. It's been dramatic and stunning from the very beginning.

No sign yet of Dominique Strauss-Kahn. They probably have to work out the details involving the electronic bracelet and the home detention monitoring as part of the bail package. It doesn't happen immediately. He doesn't just walk out with his hands in the air.

His wife was here, daughter was here. He blew a kiss to them during a last-minute recess. But the prosecution argued that Dominique Strauss-Kahn should not be set free, that he is a flight risk, that he is capable, they said, of going places where the U.S. has no jurisdiction to get him back, and countries and islands and places where he would live a life of ease, according to the prosecution.

The defense said the fact that he called the hotel twice to tell them about his cell phone on Saturday shows that he was telling people where he was, he wasn't trying to flee or hide. However, the -- the prosecution says the way he left the hotel room and the hotel indicates something was not exactly normal and that it showed that he already was leaving in haste. So, there were counterarguments. And then, in the end, the judge said: Well, really we don't care about the money. We want to make sure -- the bail money -- we want to make sure that he indeed stays here.

And in end, Judge Michael Obus ruled that bail would be granted for $1 million cash, $5 million bond, surrender of travel documents and passports and a home detention system. The defense had proposed that they had already hired some major security firm to watch him intently and have a camera on the front and the back door of the location where he would stay in Manhattan with his wife -- T.J.

HOLMES: You mentioned as well this doesn't mean he is going to walk out there with his hands up off those -- the front steps there of the courthouse. But once they do work out all of the details and the monitoring and whatnot, and he does leave, what is actually next in this legal case?

ROTH: Well, the next case, I believe, June 6 -- that's the next court appearance. And the prosecution, meanwhile, will be continuing its efforts to find more information and build their case.

In the court, the prosecutors said that their case is good and growing, and that he may have evidenced similar misconduct, in their view, before. And, already, they had hinted that on Monday, that there might be other cases, other women.

Meanwhile, the defense is certainly going to do their work and maybe try to investigate the alleged sex crime victim, this hotel maid, 32-year-old woman with a daughter who came here, immigrated from Guinea in Africa, standard procedure in these types of criminal cases.

We know that Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigned last evening from the International Monetary Fund. And now, as he said in his resignation statement, he is going to spend the time with his family and making sure his name gets cleared for crimes and accusations, he said, well, he never committed these.

HOLMES: All right. Richard Roth for us outside the courthouse -- interesting developments today. We appreciate you.

Meanwhile, to our viewers, more news still unfolding right now, so let me bring it to you. Tragic news from the Mississippi River flooding. The first death linked to the slow-moving disaster apparently happening near Vicksburg, Mississippi. A 69-year-old man has died after being pulled from the flood waters. The Mississippi River is topping out at an all-time high at Vicksburg.

No certainty when the flood waters might recede. So look what people are doing on their own. They are taking it upon themselves to protect themselves. You see this? See from the pictures here, a couple folks, a couple of houses, they are making their own levees around their homes, and it appears they're holding up just fine right now. Also, the mothers of two American hikers held in Iran are on a hunger strike. They fear their sons are in great danger. Josh Fattal, Shane Bauer face spying charges. They've been jailed since 2009. Their trial was supposed to begin last week. Neither was brought to the courthouse for it, though. The moms have not had any explanation about the delay. They say their sons are being denied justice and compassion.

Let's turn to California, where the NTSB is looking into why a tanker plane crashed during an attempted takeoff yesterday, burst into flames, as you see there. Three people on board escaped with just minor injuries. Smoke from the fire could be seen for miles, as you can imagine from these pictures. This Boeing 707 was carrying about 150,000 pounds of jet fuel. It took crews about three-and-a-half hours to put all those flames out.

Also in Connecticut, police say it's one of the biggest drug busts in the state's history. A New York man was arrested trying to pick up 225 pounds of cocaine. Its value, $6 million. The drugs had been shipped to a location and labeled "elevator parts." Delivery workers became suspicious, called police, who waited for the man to pick up the goods. He did, and that's when police arrested him.

Also to Maryland -- take a look at this scary picture. Can you tell what that is? The last thing you want to see after all we have seen the past several weeks during this rough spring. That's a funnel cloud. Violent storms ripped across much of the state there, the National Weather Service confirming two tornadoes touched down, damaging several trees, homes, nobody injured. That is the good news.

Well, coming up next, CNN's Susan Candiotti, one of the members of our crew who've been covering the case of Dominique Strauss-Kahn -- she's just left the courtroom in that case. She will tell us everything she saw inside, including what Strauss-Kahn did when he saw his wife. She's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right, let's get back to the breaking news we are seeing out of New York today. That is where a judge has ruled that Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former head of the IMF, can, in fact, get out of jail while his legal process goes forward. Dominique Strauss- Kahn was, in fact, indicted by a grand jury on seven counts related to an alleged sexual assault on a maid at a New York hotel.

Let's bring in our Susan Candiotti, who was inside that courtroom when all this was happening. Susan, tell me, what was the reaction? Was there any reaction in the courtroom when the word came?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know what's interesting, T.J.? Very little reaction. I was watching intently the expression on Strauss-Kahn's wife's face. She's an American, a journalist, Ann (ph) St. Clair. She didn't change her expression, nor did her daughter, who was sitting right next to her. Throughout the proceeding, they were sitting very closely and holding each other -- clutching each other's hand, one of their hands. And so when the time came, I was expecting, I must say, at least a smile, but no, no reaction at all. And of course, the back of the defendant in this case, Mr. Dominique Strauss-Kahn, was facing me, so you could not see his face.

I will say that when he came walking into the courtroom for the first time, wearing a business suit, not a jail jumpsuit, he looked tired, but his face lit up. He smiled when he saw his wife and his daughter sitting there. And then as the arguments went on for and against bail, I think by the time the judge went to recess, there was a sense that things were going the way of the defendant in this case. Why? I think one of the reasons was is that it was supposed to be a five-minute recess. It was turning into one that was much longer. And it appeared as though the judge, while listening to what the defense had offered up, might have been asking the state to give a few more -- allow the state to make whatever argument it wanted to make about what it wanted to add to the bail conditions.

The news conference -- there is a news conference that's about to start now with the district attorney of Manhattan.

HOLMES: All right, and let's re-rack that for our -- for our -- was that live? I think this was video we were just getting. But to our viewers, what we're seeing here is the -- Dominique Strauss-Kahn, his wife and daughter coming out, and also that news conference she just referenced, our Susan Candiotti, I'm told, starting right now. Let's go ahead and listen in.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

CYRUS VANCE, DISTRICT ATTORNEY: -- Cyrus Vance. I have brief remarks about today's developments, but I will not be taking questions afterwards.

Today my office filed an indictment against defendant Dominique Strauss-Kahn following allegations of sexual assault in a Manhattan hotel. This case began with the prompt reporting of the attack by the victim to members of the hotel staff and then to the New York City Police Department. Supporting evidence has been collected by both the NYPD and the Manhattan district attorney's office.

Yesterday, a grand jury, which is an independent body under American law that is comprised of impartial citizen jurors, considered the evidence presented by my office and found it sufficient to file an indictment and bring the accused to trial.

Under American law, these are extremely serious charges based on the grand jury's determination that the evidence spores the commission of non-consensual forced sexual acts. The defendant was indicted on all of the charges presented to the grand jury, including criminal sexual act in the first degree, a class B violent felony, and attempted rape in the first degree, a class C violent felony.

During the course of this criminal process, this defendant, under the supervision of an independent and experienced judge, will receive all of the protections available in our justice system to ensure a fair trial. These protections are guaranteed to everyone charged with crimes in these courts, whether or not they are residents or visitors, and that includes each of the more than 100,000 defendants who come before my office each year.

Fairness and impartiality in our American criminal justice system has been the bedrock of our democracy for more than 200 years. It has been rigorously upheld by New York courts and by our office. The work of the Manhattan district attorney's office will be guided in this case, as it is in every case, by one principle, to do what is right without fear or favor, wherever that leads. Thank you.

HOLMES: All right, listening in there to Cyrus Vance, not taking questions. The district attorney there didn't tell us a whole lot what we didn't already know, but just updating us about the case, talking about the charges against him, saying that there is evidence that supports that there was a non-consensual, forced sexual act.

Again, you're looking at the front, just outside, live picture of the courthouse where this hearing just took place, where people found out that, yes, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former IMF chief, will be allowed to get out of jail while his legal case moves forward. He'll have to put up a million dollars in cash, a $5 million bond, but still, he will be allowed to get out. There'll be electronic monitoring. He'll have some home detention. He'll have to give up some documents. But still, he gets out of jail.

Susan Candiotti was inside during the hearing today. Susan, you were describing, wasn't much reaction when the judge said he was going to allow bail. But did the judge explain himself at all, why he was allowing this?

CANDIOTTI: Oh, absolutely. And I think we have to keep in mind, as well, T.J., that a very serious step was taken today, as the prosecutor said, as the Manhattan district attorney said, as well. This is a long legal road that has just begun, and the serious step that happened is the grand jury returned a seven-count indictment. Three of those are felony charges, the rest misdemeanors, of sexual assault, of an alleged sexual assault upon this hotel maid.

And also interesting to point out that as this was going on this day, she was testifying for the second day in a row before the grand jury. And ultimately, obviously that led to the grand jury indictment. The prosecutors made this point in court, saying, quote, "the proof is substantial," and they said it is growing every day.

Now, the judge explained that, as you heard the Manhattan district attorney reference, that in this country, no matter where you're from, whether you're a citizen or not, that if there is an argument to be made for bail, then you will be entitled to it. And the judge explained that he was satisfied with all the conditions that were set, very serious conditions, and a multitude of them, including how much cash he has to put up, surrendering all of his travel documents, having to stay inside a home 24/7 under at least one armed guard and always travel under a guard as he comes -- guards, plural -- to and from court, that these are conditions that he has -- he said he's putting his faith in. And he was very -- he made that point directly to the defendant in this case -- I'm trusting you that you will adhere to these conditions of the bail -- T.J.

HOLMES: All right, our Susan Candiotti, who was inside during the hearing today, where we got news Dominique Strauss-Kahn will, in fact, be allowed to get out of jail on bail. Susan, we appreciate you. Thanks so much.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And the overwhelming majority of people saw that the slaughter of innocents did not answer their cries for a better life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: It is one of the president's biggest speeches -- at least it was billed as. He names names. He blasts specific leaders for the escalating violence around the world. And now the reaction is pouring in. That reaction is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right. We are following these developments out of New York. We'll get back to politics here in a second. But I'm told the attorneys for Dominique Strauss-Kahn are at the microphone. Let's go ahead and listen in.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- my colleagues, we want to express our pleasure that the judge has made this decision. It's a great relief to the family to be able to have him with them. We look forward to continuing the defense in this case and be back in court on June 6th. That's really all we have to say.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. That proceeding -- that proceeding the indictment will not take place until the 6th of June.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's much better now than it was before we started.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, he is going back to Rikers tonight, and we expect he will be released tomorrow but we don't know exactly where.

QUESTION: Will he be put on suicide watch?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. Well, at Rikers, I don't know. But he will be leaving Rikers tomorrow, we hope.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know.

Yes, we are very relived, very happy, now we can focus on some other aspects of the case. Thank you.

HOLMES: Well, reporters still trying to get a few more answers out of the attorney for Dominique Strauss-Kahn. That was the man you saw in the courtroom. Some video we showed you earlier, making the argument that his client should be allowed to be out on bail while the criminal proceeding goes forward, and that is the case. Didn't tell us much there, but said, yes, in fact, the family is relieved. The family we are talking about his wife and daughter were, in fact, in court today according to our reporters and our crew that were inside the courthouse. Said he actually -- this is the one time that Dominique Strauss-Kahn, you are seeing him there. His wife an American, actually, and his daughter there as well. But actually, that was the first time he lit up and showed any kind of emotion today was when he saw his family. Actually blew a kiss to his family when he came in, did Kahn.

But he is not due in court until June 6. Said he is going back to Rikers tonight. He does have to put up this million-dollar cash bail to get out, also $5 million bond. He has to put up some travel documents. He has to submit to home detention and monitoring and things like that. But he will not be out of jail tonight. According to his attorney, he will spend at least this evening in Rikers. That's where he has been held since these allegations were made against him, and they expect him to be released tomorrow.

Also made a comment about whether or not he would be on suicide watch. We are told he had been put on suicide watch a few days ago at Rikers Island. Don't know if that will still be in place tonight or not, but still. Maybe not, since he knows he is going to be walking out of there tomorrow. Still has a long legal case ahead of him.

Again, seven charges against him that the grand jury did hand back today. Seven criminal charges related to that alleged sexual assault at that hotel in New York on a maid. Certainly we will continue to follow those fast-moving developments there.

Again, another big story today, was the president of the United States sending a message to the Arab world. He said from now on, if it wasn't the case before, the United States will side with the people of the region over the powers that be. This is a speech that comes in the midst of a half-year of tumult throughout the Middle East, punctuated now by the U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

The president acknowledged the sea change that's happened over there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We had the chance to show that America values the dignity of the street vendor in Tunisia more than the raw power of the dictator. There must be no doubt that the United States of America welcomes change that advances self-determination and opportunity.

Yes, there will be perils that accompany this moment of promise. But after decades of accepting the world as it is in the region, we have a chance to pursue the world as it should be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: The president had a whole lot more to say. Let me give you a little bit more of it. He said the change sweeping the Arab world has presented the United States with an historic opportunity to assert its values. Also noted that peaceful voices for change have accomplished more in the region in the past six months than terrorists have accomplished in decades.

On the tumult in Libya, he said Moammar Gadhafi's days are numbered. Also accused the Assad regime in Syria of murdering its own people.

On the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, the president called on both sides not to stand by as change occurs around them, but to settle on security guarantees and a map for a two-state peace solution.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: The United States believes that negotiations should result in two states with permanent Palestinian borders with Israel, Jordan and Egypt, and permanent Israeli borders with Palestine. We believe the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines, with mutually agreed swaps, so that secure and recognized borders are established for both states. The Palestinian people must have the right to govern themselves and reach their full potential in a sovereign and contiguous state.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a quick reaction, saying that Israel '67 borders cannot be defended. Netanyahu's set to visit the White House for talks with the president tomorrow.

He is the Republican who used to work for President Obama. But now, John Huntsman is deciding whether or not to challenge him next year. Today, he is also taking a page from the president's playbook. Bet you can guess where Huntsman is.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Time for our Political Ticker now. For that, we join Jim Acosta, who is not in D.C. in the bureau in that newsroom. He is actually out in New Hampshire. So, if you are in New Hampshire, there is only one thing could you possibly be talking about, and that's presidential politics.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. That's right, T.J. We are going to be witnessing what is basically a presidential politics baptism for Jon Huntsman. This is going to be his first stop in this state, this crucial primary state in the race for 2012. And the former ambassador to China and governor of Utah is not just testing the presidential waters up here, T.J., he is going for a long swim. He is going to be making about a dozen stops over the next five days.

And it comes at crucial time for the GOP. It is no secret that many Republicans are a little uneasy about the current slate of candidates, and that's why a lot of Washington experts are looking at Jon Huntsman right now as sort of the tantalizing prospect, sort of the flavor of the moment, if you will. That's because not only is Jon Huntsman telegenic, he is also very campaign savvy.

He is also a moderate and that might be a tough pill to swallow for a lot of Republicans. Huntsman in the past has supported things like cap-and-trade legislation, same-sex unions - civil unions for same-sex couples. And not to mention - you just mentioned this in the tease going into the break before this hit that Jon Huntsman once worked for President Obama as his ambassador to China, just stepping down a few days ago. That might be the toughest hurdle for Republicans in this upcoming race.

But that is what is going to be going on up here next several days, T.J. A lot of kicking of the presidential tires. And I can tell you, this location behind me, this is where Jon Huntsman will be in just about an hour-and-a-half from now. Avery familiar stop for presidential contenders. John McCain and Barack Obama were both here in the race for 2008.

HOLMES: Well, he is getting off to the right start, Jon Huntsman. Again, a name not a lot of people know. He is getting more attention, but still, he is the one that a lot of people in Washington and maybe at the White House would fear the president having to go up against.

ACOSTA: That's right. You hear that. There are reports that have come out of the White House that perhaps the president's advisers are viewing Jon Huntsman with a little bit of trepidation. But, you know that's why President Obama just recently, when he was announcing that Ambassador Huntsman was stepping down from his post in China said, you know it may not work out so well for Jon Huntsman and his Republican primaries to have worked for President Obama.

But we will see. Huntsman is widely respected for his political skills, and he may be able to navigate those waters, and that's where we are all going to be watching over the next several days up here.

HOLMES: All right. Jim Acosta, good to see you as always from New Hampshire. We'll be checking in with him plenty throughout the day here on CNN.

Let's turn now in just a moment to Arnold Schwarzenegger. You have heard plenty about what is happening with him and his family, and now his mistress and his child nobody knew about. Well, up next, more about that it alleged mistress and the family's housekeeper who it was. We are going to show you her house. Find out how close Schwarzenegger's sons were born.

Also, a company just made its debut in the stock market, and it's shocking the world. But will it help you find a new job?

Also, saying we need to hold on tight. Forecasters releasing their outlook on the upcoming hurricane season, and it ain't pretty.

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HOLMES: The plot thickens in the Arnold Schwarzenegger secret child scandal and the social networking site LinkedIn is a big deal with investors and look for a busy hurricane season ahead.

Let's begin with Thelma Gutierrez in Los Angeles with what we are hearing about the housekeeper in the Schwarzenegger scandal.

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: T.J., we are learning that Mildred Baena purchased this home last summer, but didn't start living here full time until two and a half months ago. Neighbors say that she talked openly about working for the Schwarzeneggers and also about her desire to retire in Bakersfield with her 14-year-old son.

Now Baena is 50 years old. She's a native of Guatemala and worked for the Schwarzenegger family for 20 years. One of the next door neighbor says that her son is very intelligent. He's well respected and well liked here in the neighborhood.

They also say that Baena has kept a very low profile since moving in and they that the son has lived in this house full time with a man that everybody out here thought was his father. T.J.

HOLMES: All right, thanks to our Thelma Gutierrez. Next, the social networking site goes public, investors going crazy, but Alison Kosik live in New York keeping her cool. Alison, LinkedIn, why is this a big deal?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: You know, it's not every day you get such a high profile IPO, T.J., or such a warm reaction here on Wall Street. You know, LinkedIn had a blowout the first day of public trading.

The social networking company closing the day -- closing the day at $94.25, I'm talking about $94 and its initial public offer price was at $45. If you're counting up the numbers here that's a jump of 109 percent from the offering price.

You know, some traders are telling me that such a big jump really means that the investment bankers miscalculated the demand for the stock and really messed up by pricing it too low, but I will tell you what. It is really going to be interesting to follow LinkedIn stock over the next few weeks and months to see if today's price holds up and it really winds up opening door the for other social networking companies.

I bet right now they are salivating at the prospects of a huge pay day. I'm talking about Facebook and the prospect of it taking -- going public itself. T.J.

HOLMES: All right, Alison Kosik, we appreciate you with the exciting news there thanks so much. Let's turn now to meteorologist Chad Myers. Chad, here, we always get these predictions about hurricane season what are they telling us?

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: You know what? We get probably 10 of them, but there's only one official one. That would be NOAA, National Weather Service.

HOLMES: National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.

MYERS: It said today that you need to prepare for a busy season. Take a look, our normals for - the first number, the first line there, 1950 to 2010, the average 11 names storms, 6,2. Colorado state, the next one that's always a good one too, 16 is their forecasts for name storms, but NOAA's going 12 to 18, hurricanes 6,10 major hurricanes, 3 to 6.

HOLMES: That's broad rain there.

MYERS: Yes, it's like saying there's going to be four to 10 inches of snow, but it is only May. Here is how they did last year, 2010. There were 19 named storms, NOAA said 14 to 23, hurricanes eight to 14. There were 12 that's a big season so what do we have to look forward to?

Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin and then Gordon, Harvey and Irene, you will not see on that list Dennis, Katrina, Rita, Stan or Wilma, they have been retired.

HOLMES: We'll never see those again. But this would be classify the pretty busy season if they're accurate?

MYERS: At normal and 50 percent above would be the possibility for the worst case scenario.

HOLMES: How do they usually do? You say they kind of gave a range?

MYERS: That range smaller as season gets in, but that's high. Yes.

HOLMES: OK, Chad, thank you. Something we need to all keep an eye on, Chad Myers and the rest of our reporters today on the roulette.

Well, the Secret Service, I mean, their name says secret in it. So why in the world would the Secret Service be tweeting? Well, they do. They started this not long ago and already a big controversy on their hands because of something they tweeted about Fox News. That's coming up.

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HOLMES: Let's turn now to Wolf Blitzer in Washington for us, with a preview of "THE SITUATION ROOM."

Wolf, hello to you. All eyes and ears on the president today what he said and what he didn't say in this speech on the Middle East.

WOLF BLITZER, HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": Yes, we are going to dissect it and we have got some major guests lined up, the United States ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice.

I'm going to press her on whether or not the U.S. in September on this United Nations General Assembly resolution, will the U.S. vote in favor of the creation of a Palestinian state in this resolution or oppose it? We will stand by for that.

Also, Tony Blair, he's the special envoy to the Middle East right now, the former British prime minister. He'll be joining us as well.

How much times does Bashar al Assad, the Syrian leader have before the U.S. and the Europeans and everyone else says he like Mubarak in Egypt, like Gadhafi in Libya must go. I will press him on that point as well.

Plus, all of the latest news involving Dominique Strauss-Kahn, as you know. You have been reporting it, T.J. He is out on bail. Tomorrow, he will be roaming around the streets of New York. He will be monitored, $1 million in cash bail, but he is going to be out of Riker's Island that jail in New York.

HOLMES: Yes, a lot of people surprised to hear that given how much attention this case has gotten and the crime itself. Tomorrow, looks like he might walking out of Riker's. Wolf, we're going to see in about six minutes at the top of the hour for the sit room. Wolf, thanks so much.

BLITZER: Thank you.

Well, the Secret Service is responding now after posting a controversial tweet about Fox News. That story, that fallout just ahead.

Also, some are trying to cash in on the whole controversy surrounding President Obama's birth certificate, wait until you hear what they are writing on t-shirts and also who is actually behind it. Both of those stories right after this break.

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HOLMES: The Secret Service usually tries to keep a low profile, it's important for them to do their job, but a tweet that was not supposed to get out went around the world.

Joe Johns here with that and the "Political Pop." Joe, why in the world does the Secret Service have a Twitter account in the first place?

JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I want them to have a Twitter account, you know? As far as I'm concerned, it can be the un-Secret Service, if they have a Twitter account, they are putting out information.

The truth is they use it for stuff like press releases and there are needs for press releases, also for recruiting and all those kinds of things, but the thing about this T.J., is this was all about the wrong account. Somebody was tweeting on the wrong account. It wasn't just any old tweet. It was about Fox television.

OK, so here's what happened. Somebody posts these words to the Secret Service Twitter account that say had to monitor Fox for the story, can't deal with the blathering. Turns out the person who wrote the tweet thought they were tweeting on their own account, but it was on the Secret Service account.

Secret Service put out a statement that they sent us, an employee with access to their Twitter account who mistakenly believed they were on their personal account posted an unapproved, inappropriate tweet.

It didn't reflect the views of the service, immediately removed. They apologized to the mistake. The user doesn't have access to the account any longer and you know, they didn't follow their procedures basically is what they're saying there, T.J. HOLMES: Joe, do we any insights as to what that person was actually tweeting about?

JOHNS: No, it's not clear what they were monitoring on Fox, why they had to watch some kind of a story and you know, it could be anything.

I mean, they handle presidential security, candidate security, counter fitting, there's a lot of things the Secret Service does. You got me.

HOLMES: OK, but no reprimand of any kind that employee not in trouble that we know of?

JOHNS: I don't know. You know, anything could happen, but they are still pretty secret over there.

HOLMS: Yes, secret now, after the tweet got out. What is this, the re-election campaigning the president's re-election campaign putting out - are they selling some stuff having to do with his birth certificate what is this?

JOHNS: Yes, they actually sent out an e-mail to supporters. They are selling t-shirts and mugs with a picture of the president on it and a copy of his birth certificate. This is after all the birther stuff sort of broke out.

The campaign says there is no way to make it go away completely, but they can still laugh about it and make sure people are in on the joke. You know the old ad, if you can't beat them, use them for fund- raising.

HOLMES: OK, are they actually just doing this as a joke here or there or is this kind of a serious fund raising effort? JOHNS: Well, I mean, how much -- it's hard to say. I mean, I don't know how many of these cups and things that they have actually decided to sell. The fact of the matter is the president has had fun with that before.

You know that hilarious video with Donald Trump in the audience at the White House Correspondents' dinner. The whole Barack Obama made in the USA theme was born and now they know that this is comedy and they also know that it works so why not see how far you can go with it.

HOLMES: You know, it's funny where at this point now. This is a very serious issue, very serious discussion years back and it got ramped up again by Donald Trump and now, here we are that we can just slap his birth certificate on mugs and t-shirts and all laugh about it now. Joe johns, we appreciate you. Good to see you as always, buddy, thank you so much.

JOHNS: You, too.

HOLMES: To our viewers, I appreciate you hanging with me here in the CNN NEWSROOM. I will be back with you here tomorrow.

Right now, it's Wolf.