Rutgers A.D. Will Not Resign; Statue Of Liberty Security
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: -- the motivation of players bringing up that turmoil 17 years later, she says she has no plans to resign from Rutgers, and the president of Rutgers at this moment is backing her. Senator Chuck Schumer and New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly are warning that a new security plan for the Statue of Liberty could leave the monument vulnerable to attack. This is a live look right now at the Statue of Liberty on this beautiful morning. Since September 11th, visitors have gone through airport-style security checks before boarding a ferry to the statue. The New Park Service plan would instead screen visitors on Liberty Island and nearby Ellis Island. Senator Schumer thinks that's a bad idea.</s>SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: Can you imagine if airplane passengers were not screened before they boarded a plane and instead they were screened after the plane landed? That makes no sense. It would be unimaginable, but that's what the park service, in effect, is doing here, with trips to the Statue of Liberty.</s>BERMAN: Park service officials say the plan does not compromise the safety of visitors, or the security of the Statue of Liberty or on Ellis Island.</s>CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Updating you now on a developing story, an American wife and mother of seven accused of smuggling pot in Mexico. She may find out today if she'll go free or remain in jail until her trial.</s>BERMAN: There is a hopeful development for Yanira Maldonado and her family. A Mexican state official now believes she was framed. Joining us is her husband, Gary, and her father-in-law, Larry. They are live via Skype from Mexico. Gentlemen, thank you so much for being with us. First, let me ask you how's she holding up? How are you holding up?</s>GARY MALDONADO, YANIRA'S HUSBAND: It's been tough, but Yanira seems to be strong and holding up. She's not happy where she's at, but she has high hope that she'll be free of this falsely accused accusation against her. I got to see her yesterday.</s>ROMANS: Gary, can you tell me? What do you think happened here? You got on this bus. You were coming back from your wife's aunt's funeral. You were going back to the United States on this bus. And what do you think happened here? Do you think someone else put a package of marijuana on that on that bus? What do you think happened?</s>GARY MALDONADO: It was either that the packages were already on the bus or they were never on the bus, and we were just framed, set up for those packages.</s>ROMANS: Why would someone frame you?</s>GARY MALDONADO: It's about getting money here. So, the military was the only one there at the checkpoint. So from what I hear that's a regular occurrence.</s>ROMANS: So you think they expected some sort of bribe so that you could go home and instead this is all just spiralled into a legal proceeding?</s>GARY MALDONADO: Correct.</s>BERMAN: You have a court appearance today or your wife does. What do you expect will happen?</s>GARY MALDONADO: She'll go before a judge at 10:00 a.m. today, in Gales, Arizona, and -- not Arizona, Mexico, and she will present her case with our attorney. I'll be a witness. We have a few witnesses coming, and it's just to gather up information to give to the judge. The judge will -- has until Friday at 6:00 p.m. to decide whether she goes free or if she is processed back into the system. But she'll be transferred to Hermosillo, Mexico federal prison at that point.</s>BERMAN: This is just crazy. Authorities are saying they found twelve pounds of pot on the bus. You guys have said you never even used drugs let alone sold them and now you think you're being fleeced. This has just got to be infuriating.</s>GARY MALDONADO: It's very upsetting that this happens to innocent people and from what I hear there's 65 percent of the people in the federal prisons here are innocent. Similar situations like this.</s>ROMANS: Larry, can you tell me how helpful have been authorities in all of this? This, at some point becomes an international incident, right? So how, how, helpful have the authorities been for you?</s>LARRY MALDONADO, YANIRA'S FATHER-IN-LAW: We have contacted the consulates and they were first set up, if you will. Gary was the one that was arrested and accused of having the pot under his seat. And so I first called the consulate in Hermosillo trying to get things going there, and then afterwards, they released Yanira -- excuse me, released Gary, and charged Yanira with this crime. And then I contacted the consulate in -- in Nogales for help, and they've assisted, and lawyers, recommending lawyers, et cetera.</s>ROMANS: All right, Gary, you know, we're seeing these beautiful wedding photos of you guys. I mean, what are you telling the kids? How are they holding up?</s>GARY MALDONADO: It's been tough. It will be better when Yanira is free from these unfalsely accusations against her and that she's back home with all of us, just thankful for all the love and support that everybody's reached out and shown us. It's amazing.</s>BERMAN: We wish you the best.</s>GARY MALDONADO: Thank you.</s>BERMAN: We wish you the best and hoe hope this ends soon and ends well for you all. Gary and Larry Maldonado, thank you so much for being with us.</s>GARY MALDONADO: You're welcome.</s>ROMANS: All right, ahead on STARTING POINT this morning, thousands of cruisers stranded after a fire on a Royal Caribbean liner. But the terrifying ended to their vacation. The latest and what's being done to get those folks home.