American Morning
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords still progressing at 'lightning speed'
Doctors of Representative Gabrielle Giffords said that she is still progressing at "lightning speed" at a press conference yesterday afternoon. Giffords left intensive care for the first time yesterday. A major milestone in her road to recovery. Giffords will continue her long-term recovery at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston, Texas where Dr. Gerard Francisco is Chief Medical Officer. He talks with Kiran Chetry about Giffords' speech and physical rehabilitation.
Giffords’ brother-in-law sends support to brother Mark from space
Astronaut Scott Kelly was 200 miles above the earth when he heard the news of the shooting in Tucson, Arizona on the morning of January 8.
The news hit particularly close to home because Scott's twin brother, Mark, is the husband of Representative Gabrielle Gifford who was shot in the head during the attack. Kelly has been aboard the International Space Station since October but he is able to speak to his brother, Mark Kelly, 5 or 6 times a day since that day.
Scott Kelly joins American Morning from the International Space Station and gives the latest update on Giffords' condition.
Tucson shooting victim recounts chaos
"As she greets the constituents, I stand beside her to help facilitate any further follow-up action…I was standing right next to her when the gunman came past on my left and raised his gun and shot the congresswoman in the head."
Ron Barber is the District Director for Representative Gabrielle Giffords and was standing outside the Tucson, Arizona Safeway supermarket on the morning of January 8. The event, "Congress on your corner" was the 21st for the congresswoman. The series was meant to be a regular effort by Congresswoman Giffords to get to know her constituents. But on that morning the events were unlike any other prior. The events unfolded quickly. Barber recalls, "I don't think I knew anything was happening until I saw him come past me and almost immediately, he fired his gun.
When the firings were over and the gunman was pinned, Congresswomen Giffords was shot and District Director Ron Barber was shot twice. Once in the cheek and once in the thigh. In total 6 were killed and 13 were injured. Barber is now recovering and was released from the hospital last week. He talks to T.J. Holmes to reflect on the events of that day.
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords now breathing on her own
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords made major progress over the weekend. Doctors have upgraded her medical status from critical to serious condition, eight days after being shot in the head at a public event in Tucson.
Today on American Morning, CNN Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen explains how Giffords breathing on her own is a major step in recovery. Cohen also previews the next steps of recovery process.
Tea Party leader: Everybody thought 'he didn't really say that, did he?'
Tensions remain high in Tucson, Ariz., this morning after last week's shooting and an incident this weekend at a televised town hall event. ABC's Christiane Amanpour was hosting a special town hall edition of her program, "This Week," when in the middle of the taping, survivor of the shooting, James Eric Fuller, attempted to photograph TucsonTea Party Organizer Trent Humphries and said, "You are dead," when Humphries began to speak.
Fuller is undergoing mental health evaluations this morning. On American Morning today, Humphries talks to AM's Kiran Chetry about what may have provoked the exchange.
Loughner's attorney known for 'tireless' defense of notorious clients
Jared Lee Loughner, accused of killing six and injuring 13 in the Jan. 8 attack in Tucson, awaits federal trial in the coming weeks. Defending him is well-known public defender Judy Clarke.
Clarke keeps a low media profile, but has defended some of the country's most infamous criminals in recent years. Among her former clients are Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh and Susan Smith, who was convicted of drowning her two children in 1994.
Today on American Morning, Todd Letcher, a retired FBI agent, shares his personal dealings with Clarke with AM's Kiran Chetry. Letcher says Clarke is ideal for defending clients like Loughner. "She's smart and knows the law, particularly adept at navigating federal cases with the death penalty," he said on AM. " She puts together a good team that surround her and she's a tireless advocate for her client."
Watch the full interview here.
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