Lacrosse Players Invited Back to Duke University
LEMON: Stunning news coming out of Duke University. Fredricka Whitfield following all the details for us -- Fredricka.</s>FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Don, right now, the attorneys for the lacrosse university students who had been facing those rape charges are in the middle of a press conference right now, making it official that they have been informed by Duke University that two of the students, Reade Seligmann and Collin Finnerty, are being allowed to go back to the university, attend once again to the university, and be in good standing, now that the rape charges against all three of the young men have been dropped. The reason why you're not hearing anything about Duke (sic) Evans returning to school is because that lacrosse player graduated from Duke University last May, just before being charged with rape, sexual assault and kidnapping involved -- as it relates to the dancer who was at a -- the players' party, accusing the players of those charges, because she has since changed her story, and said that now she cannot quite remember all the events that night. That is why those charges of rape have been dropped. However, the charges of sexual assault and kidnapping still remain, the case still ongoing. Meantime, Duke University says that it is going to allow these students back to the school. We heard from the attorney for Collin Finnerty, Wade Smith, a moment ago, who said, this speaks to Duke's integrity as an institution.</s>WADE SMITH, ATTORNEY FOR COLLIN FINNERTY: What we want to say today is that, yesterday, we received word that Duke University has changed Collin's status, from administrative leave to student in good standing, and that Duke has invited him to enroll in the spring 2007, and to rejoin his fellow students and his lacrosse teammates at the university this spring. And we feel that this is a very important moment in Duke's -- in institutional history. It is certainly an important moment in our client's life.</s>WHITFIELD: Wade Smith, the attorney for Collin Finnerty, says that he has spoken with both Collin and Reade, and says that they are very happy about it and excited about returning back to Duke University -- Don.</s>LEMON: Just to clarify, did they say they were going to do it, or we're not sure yet? Are they considering their options? What is going on?</s>WHITFIELD: Are the students considering whether to go back?</s>LEMON: Yes. Are they going to return? Yes.</s>WHITFIELD: Well, according to the attorney, they're very excited about going back, and will take Duke University up on the invitation to return back to the college campus and resume their studies.</s>LEMON: All right, Fredricka Whitfield, following all the details for us in the newsroom, thank you.</s>PHILLIPS: It made justice look like vengeance, and a convicted mass murderer look like a victim. Now, that surreptitious cell phone video of Saddam Hussein's hanging is the subject of an Iraqi government investigation and possibly arrests. We know one witness is being questioned. Others could follow. The unauthorized footage, as you probably know, reveals a loud and nasty exchange between Hussein and his executioners, then the sound of the hanging. The official video was silent and didn't show the hanging itself.</s>LEMON: Dignified, courteous, polite, not words that leap to mind regarding Saddam Hussein, particularly in the final seconds of his life. But those who saw the condemned former dictator while he was still in U.S. custody paint a very different picture.</s>MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM CALDWELL, U.S. ARMY SPOKESMAN, COALITION FORCES IN IRAQ: He was dignified, as always. He was courteous, as always had been, to his U.S. military police guards. His characterization did change at the prison facility, when the Iraqi guards were assuming control of him. But he was still dignified towards us. He spoke very well to our military police, as he always had. And, when getting off there at the prison site, he said farewell to his interpreter. He thanked the military police squad, the lieutenant, the squad leader, the medical doctor we had present, and the colonel that was on site. And then we had absolutely nothing to do with any of the procedures or any of the control mechanisms or anything from that point forward.</s>LEMON: And you can go to CNN.com to get more on the execution of Saddam Hussein. You can read his farewell letter, comment on the images you have seen, and interact with others. Get more at CNN.com, where you're in control.</s>PHILLIPS: Five Western contractors, four of them American, kidnapped weeks ago in Iraq, today, we see their faces, but only on videotape. We don't know when or where this tape was shot or the men's present conditions. An Associated Press reporter was shown the video last month, after promising to keep the provider anonymous. The five men are security escorts abducted November 16 in the southern city of Safwan. In the video, all five identify themselves. They ask to be released and for American troops to leave Iraq. The reporter who received the video was told the men are probably still alive.</s>LEMON: Final day of ceremonies for a former president -- make sure you stick with the CNN NEWSROOM -- live pictures now at the cathedral in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where people are speaking. We heard from the former president and the former defense secretary just a short time ago. You're looking at pictures of the family from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Don't go anywhere. We will be right back.