[Costello:] A New York native who is the co-founder of a radical Islamic group is now facing federal charges, accused of threatening the creators of "South Park." This is Jesse Curtis Morton, aka Unis Abdullah Mohammad, he's a Muslim convert. His group, "Revolution Muslim" tries to recruit followers on the streets of New York and online. He seems to think "South Park" insulted the Prophet Mohammed when the writers portrayed the prophet wearing a bear suit. That episode aired last year. But our own Drew Griffin caught up with him in 2009 and the interview was quoted in an affidavit so here's part of that report.
[Drew Griffin, Cnn Correspondent:] Commanded to terrorize
[Unidentified Male:] The Koran says very clearly in the Arabic language, which means terrorize him. It's a command from Allah.
[Griffin:] So you're commanded to terrorize
[Unidentified Male:] You don't define terrorism as going and killing an innocent civilian. I define it as making them fearful so they think twice before they go rape your mother or kill your brother or go onto your land and try to steal your resources. The Koran commands that you disavow and make hatred between democracy, between nationalism, between secularism, and that you see Obama as the enemy he really is.
[Costello:] Drew Griffin from our Special Investigations Unit is joining me live. So what is the FBI saying about Morton?
[Griffin:] Well, the FBI is saying that when these guys put their warning, quote unquote, "warning" to the "South Park" creators online, on their web site that they actually violated federal law by communicating a threat over interstate commerce, namely over the internet. And they're basing that not only on just what was said on that web site, but on what we now learn is intercepted communications, e- mails, telephone calls that the FBI says it has, which shows the intent. The intent was to communicate a threat.
[Costello:] So is he under arrest?
[Griffin:] He is living in Morocco, not surprisingly, a country that does not have an extradition treaty with the United States. At this point he is not under arrest. We'll have to see what the Moroccan government will do. Certainly he is now isolated and will not be able to come back to the U.S. until and unless he faces these charges.
[Costello:] You got a hold of him though, right?
[Griffin:] Yes, late last night, actually early this morning. Unis Mohammad who is Jesse Curtis Morton did sent send us an e-mail response to this, as you can imagine attacking the United States. And in part saying this case is an example of intimidation forcing silence, while the U.S. goes on killing millions of Muslims and defaming the sacred tenets and people of the true religion. That was from Jesse Morton about 4:00 a.m. this morning.
[Costello:] So have the creators of "South Park" responded to this?
[Griffin:] I have not seen a response from them yet. They have kind of laid low. This was a comedy sketch that they did last year, but we'll keep monitoring and see if they have anything to say.
[Costello:] Fascinating. If that guy ever leaves Morocco so he can be placed under arrest. Drew Griffin, many thanks. Checking stories cross country now, years before he was convicted as the so-called Unabomber, the FBI now wonders if Ted Kaczynski had anything to do with the 1982 Tylenol murders that left seven people dead in Chicago. Authorities want Kaczynski's DNA as part of their probe. Actress Rosie Perez is suing the producers of "Law and Orders" claiming she was severely injured while taping an episode in 2009. A spokesman for NBC declined comment. Police in Summerville, South Carolina, say a 38-year-old suspect is accused of assaulting a cop and then stealing his squad car. They say he admits to being high on crack during the chase and the capture. The whole thing caught on tape. Police say the suspect has a long criminal history. The president's speech stirred up a bit a hornet's nest in Israel. His push for Israel to go back to the pre-1967 borders was not something the prime minister wanted to hear. But Jay Leno had some fun with it, don't you know it.
[Jay Leno, Host, "the Tonight Show With Jay Leno":] Earlier today, President Obama gave a speech outlining his vision for peace in the Middle East. He suggested that Israel go back to the pre-1967 borders. And of course, native Americans jumped right on this. They said why stop there? let's go back to the pre-1492 borders.
[Costello:] What a way to set up our Political Buzz, a lightning- fast conversation hitting the hot political topics of the day. Each of our brilliant political observers gets 20 seconds to answer our questions. Dana Loesch is a Tea Party supporter and conservative. Robert Zimmerman is a member of the Democratic National Committee. And comedian Pete Dominick lends his own unique perspective. Okay, first up. President Obama meets up with Israel's prime minister today one day after Obama called on Israel to return to the 1967 border scenario. Benjamin Netanyahu not happy, so describe the atmosphere in that room when President Obama sits down with Benjamin Netanyahu. Dana?
[Dana Loesch, Cnn Contributor:] Oh, I think it's going to be incredibly tense. But I'm hoping that maybe this time Netanyahu can go through the front door and won't be left alone while he's eating his lunch. But still, I think that Netanyahu's going to essentially ask, dude, why did you throw me under the bus like this in your speech. Because even Congress in 2004, House and Senate both concurred with President Bush that there's absolutely no reason whatsoever to go to the '67 borders, period.
[Costello:] Robert?
[Zimmerman:] Look, probably the best rapport in that room is going to be between the U.S. and Israeli food tasters. But the situation simply is this. Prime minister Netanyahu has every reason to demand appear explanation from the president because all of us, both Israelis and Americans who want peace in that process know it can't happen with conditions being imposed upon Israel or with Hamas not being held accountable.
[Costello:] Out of time. Pete! Sorry. Pete.
[Zimmerman:] Just made it.
[Pete Dominick, Comedian:] I'm no Washington insider, but I think this is all political theater. I think domestic politics influences the foreign policy and our relationship on both sides. I think President Obama and the prime minister are Israel are probably laughing and Benjamin Netanyahu is probably saying thanks for not going too hard on me. I really I don't buy any of this personally, but what do I know, Carol.
[Costello:] What do any of us know really? Question two, he was a big Obama supporter during the campaign but now Dr. Cornel West doesn't seem to be feeling the love. In a recent interview, West said, and I quote, "I think my dear brother Barack Obama has a certain fear of free black men. It's understandable. As a young brother who grows up in a white context, brilliant African father, he's always had to fear being a white man with black skin. All he has known culturally is white. When he meets an independent black brother, it is frightening." What is up with that? Robert?
[Zimmerman:] Cornel West has now replaced the birthers and right- wing demagogues as someone who is trying to really in fact, try to discredit and delegitimate the Obama presidency. And Cornel West's rhetoric on this issue is just as bigoted and just as racist as the right-wing extremists.
[Costello:] Dana.
[Loesch:] I'm trying to where do these crazy people come from? I think it's something that black conservatives like Herman Cain and
[Costello:] Pete?
[Dominick:] Well, I certainly can't speak to the racial aspects of this, and apparently Cornel West, you know, is a little bitter. I guess he was slighted by the president. But listen, Cornel West is a brilliant guy who is respected among the African-American scholar community and many others throughout this country. He teaches, I believe, at Princeton. It's pretty tough rhetoric, but I somebody has got to Oh, really!
[Costello:] Darn it! Final question. According to a radio preacher and his followers, tomorrow is doomsday. So in ten seconds, what are your last plans for the last day on earth? Robert?
[Zimmerman:] Well, just in case, Carol, he's wrong, I'm using Newt Gingrich's credit at tiffany's to be on the safe side.
[Costello:] Dana?
[Loesch:] I would break into the nice scotch that I have and enjoy all of that and throw a big party for my friends. Where do these people come from? They're crazy!
[Costello:] Pete?
[Dominick:] I plan to be left behind with the rest of the heathens. I know what I'll be doing. I'm be performing tonight and tomorrow night at The Stress Factory Comical in New Jersey, and we'll all be raptured together. I did a piece coming up later on in the NEWSROOM just this idea.
[Costello:] Nice plug for yourself, Pete. You almost did it in 10 seconds. Thanks to all of you participating in Political Buzz today. We'll be back on Monday. New accusations of illegal doping are leveled had at a former American cycling champ. Yep, Lance Armstrong. We'll tell you what he's saying about it next.