[Melissa Long, Cnn Anchor:] Thank you, Tony. We are pushing forward on President Obama's agenda in Moscow. His meeting with Russia's leader, starting off with handshakes, ending with a new arms control deal. The wheels are in motion for tomorrow's Michael Jackson memorial extravaganza. Tickets are going out, fans are flying in, and the city of Los Angeles is wondering just what it's in for. Six days, five murders, one suspect, 20,000 reasons to take a really good look at this sketch. A serial killer's sudden rampage in a small town in South Carolina. Hello. I'm Melissa Long, in today for Kyra Phillips, and you are in the CNN NEWSROOM. President Obama and Medvedev, the two men say they basically hit the reset button for Washington and Moscow relations, and they agreed on a number of issues. These include cutting back on nuclear weapons, allowing the U.S. to ship weapons over Russian land and air space for the war in Afghanistan, and setting the stage for future cooperation. That doesn't mean the eagle and the bear totally see eye to eye.
[Barack Obama, President Of The United States:] I won't pretend that the United States and Russia agreed on every issue. As President Medvedev indicated, we've had some frank discussions, and there are areas where we still disagree. For instance we had a frank discussion on Russia on Georgia, and I reiterated my firm belief that Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected. Yet, even as we worked through our disagreements on Georgia's borders, we do agree that no one has an interest in renewed military conflict. In going forward, we must speak candidly to resolve these differences peace fully and constructively.
[Long:] CNN's foreign affairs correspondent Jill Dougherty joins us now live from Moscow. Of course, the two counterparts, how do they seem to be getting along?
[Jill Dougherty, Cnn Correspondent:] They are. I mean, you'd have to say the relationship between the two presidents is going very well. And although, as you just hear, there were some things that they didn't get agreement on, and one of those was actually that missile defense system. They were not able to work that out. They deal with it separately. But the relationship seems to be getting off to a very good start. They had met before in London in April. The other question that will be interesting is what happens tomorrow when President Obama meets with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who of course, used to be the president. And some people here and in the United States think that president that Prime Minister Putin is still calling the shots in Russia. An interesting question came up at the news conference this past hour on who exactly is in charge. Let's hear how President Obama answered that one.
[Long:] All right. Looking forward to hearing more about that. And also, want to ask you a little bit more about the lighter side of this diplomatic trip overseas, the president obviously traveling onto Italy and Ghana after Russia. Right now, he's traveling with the first family. What experience have they had, and what role is Michelle Obama playing there in Russia?
[Dougherty:] Yes, it's interesting, because this is one of first trips by presidents recently in which they had a whole family with two children. Because Sasha and Malia are here. And the schedule as we know it, there will be a dinner tonight here in which the presidents, and President Obama and Michelle will go out to the residence of President Medvedev, and they'll have dinner. Ant then tomorrow they'll go out to the residence of Prime Minister Putin and have breakfast. And then later on, a lunch with President Medvedev. And then Michelle Obama will go separately to an orphanage and to a hospital. And we also understand that the children will be going to a folk dance festival here and looking at a very good folk dance troupe. Back to you.
[Long:] What a great opportunity for the first family there, for the little girls there in Moscow. Foreign affairs correspondent Jill Dougherty. Thank you so much. Live now to Washington, D.C. We're hearing from Harry Reid of Nevada. But in a moment we will hear from Senator-elect Al Franken. He's arriving there in Washington, D.C., after the long holiday weekend. Official swearing in ceremony coming up this week for Al Franken after some eight months after the election. He is now the official senator from the state of Minnesota. Once again, Al Franken will be at the podium momentarily. First, Harry Reid.
[Harry Reid , Majority Leader:] ... is coming to an end Al.
[Al Franken , Senator-elect, Minnesota:] Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Leader. I want to thank the leader for all of your support during and after the campaign, and I look forward to working under your leadership. A lot has been made of this number 60. The number I'm focused on is the number two. I see myself as the second senator from the state of Minnesota. Minnesotans are practical people. They want to make sure the work we do here in the Senate makes sense and that the decisions we make for the future have a strong return on investment. Minnesotans want a rational health-care system that provides health care for all Americans, that is accessible and affordable, gets the cost down. Minnesotans want an economy that works for working families, and that means jobs. It means a decent day's wage for an honest day's work, and it means protecting people's retirements. Americans want a new energy policy that creates jobs, that addresses climate change, and that is going to wean us from our dependence on foreign oil. And Minnesotans want their kids to have an education that prepares them for a 21st century economy. I am going to work day and night to make sure that our kids have a great future and that America's best days lay ahead. I'm ready to get to work. Thank you.
[Reid:] We're going to have my big op tomorrow after the luncheons, a lot of questions will be asked then and a lot of questions will be answered. Al and I are taking no questions now.
[Franken:] Thank you, everybody.
[Long:] Brief comments from Harry Reid and Senator-elect Al Franken, representing constituents from the state of Minnesota, again, some eight months after the November election and a contentious recount battle with Norm Coleman and Al Franken. Now, again, the senator-elect from his state, official swearing in this week, following the Fourth of July holiday. And also, while Al Franken was talking about really focusing on education during his term, he also will be talking about the Supreme Court, because he has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. So that means he's going to be there right for Judge Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings for the Supreme Court. Those hearings scheduled to begin, by the way, one week from today. Michael Jackson's family and fans pushing their interests forward today in court. Also on the streets, the great ticket rush is underway in Los Angeles. Winners of that online lottery to attend the Jackson memorial claiming the tickets today at Dodgers Stadium. And as the city is deploying police, busy blocking off streets and, of course, planning for tomorrow's crowds, the acting mayor says she'd love the Jacksons to kick in on the cost. No reaction yet on that one. Also waiting for their reaction to a probate judge's decision that just came down. Against the family's wishes, he has granted interim control of Michael Jackson's assets to two co-executers named in that singer's will from 2002. Those preparations are continuing for tomorrow's memorial. Investigators are digging deeper into the details of Michael Jackson's death. A Los Angeles County judge signed new search warrants yesterday. CNN's Ted Rowlands joins us now live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles with the very latest on that part of the story Ted.
[Ted Rowlands, Cnn Correspondent:] Yes, well, Melissa, the fact that the search warrants were signed means that, obviously, this death investigation continues, and it is being taken very seriously in moving forward in a way that, most obviously, death investigations don't go, where you don't have search warrants, typically, on a death investigation. But this is a different story. And obviously, they are looking at doctors and other people who were around Michael Jackson in the weeks and months leading up to his death, and looking at the prescribed medications and then comparing it to what was found in the home and what eventually will be found in Jackson's body through the toxicology results, which should already be in. At least, the initial results. Now, back here, we are at the Staples Center, where, of course, tomorrow is the large public memorial. And that, as you mentioned, at Dodgers Stadium right now, people that got tickets over the lottery system are getting their tickets and wrist bands. These are the wrist bands here that are being given out. And the reason for the wrist bands is because there's a lot of fear of counterfeit and people coming down to this area of Los Angeles and downtown. What they're trying to do is implore people to stay away. And already, there are people gathering here. Police presence is already fairly significant. There is a plaque here that people are signing, a canvas that's been up, and people have been sort of drawn to that. Also here in huge force, the media from across the world. They'll be anchoring, a lot of networks, anchoring their coverage of tomorrow's memorial event here at Staples Center. And it is an incredible scene outside of Staples Center right now, where the media is gathering here. Risers have been put up in anticipation for tomorrow's event. We have been told by the family, Jermaine Jackson specifically says that there will be a morning event, a private memorial service. Following that, starting at 10 a.m. here at Staples Center and the adjacent Nokia Theater, then there will be the public memorial event, which will also be televised worldwide. That event is expected to draw millions and millions of viewers tomorrow Melissa.
[Long:] Ted Rowlands, live for us from Los Angeles. Ted, thank you. Now, as we've been reporting, a judge today granting control of Michael Jackson's estate to the two men he has named as co-executors. Attorney John Branca, who has represented Jackson, starting when he was a singer at the age of 21. He arranged Jackson's smartest business deal, buying the Beatles catalog. That was back in 1985. He has also represented 29 acts in the Rock "N" Roll Hall of Fame, including the Rolling Stones, the Bee Gees, Aerosmith and the Beach Boys. The other executor Jackson has named, John McClain, has been a family friend for some 40 years. He helped launch Janet Jackson's career, A&M; Records, and he co-founded Interscope Records, whose artists include Eminem, Sheryl Crow and Dr. Dre. Now a New York congressman says Michael Jackson was a pedophile who doesn't deserve all the attention he's getting. In park in remarks, rather, that have been posted on YouTube, the Republican of the state of New York, Peter King, says there was nothing good about Jackson. He accuses the media of disgracing itself with all of the coverage of Jackson's death.
[Rep. Pete King , New York:] This guy was a pervert. He was a child molester. He was a pedophile, and to be giving this much coverage to him day in and day out, what does it say about us as a country? I just think we're too politically correct. No one wants to stand up and say we don't need Michael Jackson.
[Long:] Jackson was tried on child molestation charges. That was back in 2005. He was acquitted after a trial that lasted 14 weeks. CNN's Mary Snow is following this story. She joins us live from New York. And I know you had the opportunity to talk to Representative King.
[Mary Snow, Cnn Correspondent:] We did, Melissa. We spoke with Congressman King earlier this morning, and we asked him about the very fact that you just mentioned, that Michael Jackson had been acquitted back in 2005 of molestation charges. We asked him about his statement that he posted on YouTube. Here is what how he responded.
[King:] Whether or not he was convicted of a precise crime, by his own admission, also by cases he settled, lawsuits that he settled against him, there's an admission he acted very, very inappropriately.
[Snow:] Congressman King defending his statements that he posted on YouTube. And we asked him why he did this. He said that he had been at a couple of parades over the weekend, Fourth of July parades. He had seen veterans and public servants, and he questioned why they weren't getting more attention. He said he felt it was his duty as a public figure to come out and question the media's coverage, extensive coverage of Michael Jackson, saying that he felt someone should say "Enough is enough." Also, Melissa, just want to point out, the Jackson family spokesman, Ken Sunshine, told CNN that the family is preparing for Jackson's funeral and will not dignify King's comment with a statement Melissa.
[Long:] Also, Mary, constituents of Congressman King, those who live in the state of New York would be familiar with him. Others may not be. Tell us a little about his political background. I know he's a long-time congressman.
[Snow:] He is a nine-term Republican congressman from New York. He lives out on Long Island. He had been talking about potentially running for the Senate. This, of course to challenge Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who replaced Senator Hillary Clinton. Congressman King has been lately saying that the chance of running now is less than 50 percent.
[Long:] Mary Snow, live for us from New York. Mary, thank you. Now, former Washington mayor, Marion Barry, is in trouble with the law again. We will tell you why.