CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcripts
Interview
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BLITZER: All right, let's get to the breaking news that we are following.
David Goldman, the father of that 9-year-old boy, Sean Goldman, who has been in Brazil with his late wife's family for the last five years, the Supreme Court in Brazil dealt another setback to David Goldman's efforts to be reunited with his son.
Congressman Chris Smith, Republican of New Jersey, has been traveling with David Goldman. They left New Jersey yesterday. They are in Brazil right now.
And I take it, Congressman, you were with the David Goldman when he got word of this setback?
REP. CHRIS SMITH (R), NEW JERSEY: Wolf, I was. He was disappointed, as was I. But this is not totally unanticipated. Our -- our quest is to get this issue front and center before the Brazilian supreme court. The justice who ruled this way has done this previously. So, you know, this was like an inside deal, the way many of looked at it.
And so now we are appealing to the chief justice and to the full court, one or the other or both, because, on the merits, this is absolutely a slam-dunk. And there are many people on the Brazilian high court who understand the Hague Convention on child abduction. And they apply that, plus their own lower court's findings -- I mean, the three-panel judge finding just a few weeks ago was sweeping.
So, this is a -- we believe, a temporary -- disappointing, but temporary bump in that road.
BLITZER: But it looks like the supreme court in Brazil is not going to be able to address this issue now at least until February. Does that mean that David Goldman once again will leave Brazil disappointed, sad in the coming days, and not be reunited in these interim weeks with his son?
SMITH: One of the reasons why I'm down here and one of the reasons why David is pushing so hard is that, tomorrow, the court is still in session. And there's no reason whatsoever based on the merits that they can't rule one or all on this case tomorrow.
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BLITZER: So, you think there's still a possibility, Congressman, that this thing could end?
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SMITH: There's a real possibility
BLITZER: Are you suggesting, Congressman, there is still a possibility, tomorrow, this -- this whole case could be resolved, and David Goldman...
SMITH: Yes.
BLITZER: ... could be reunited with his son? Are you saying that?
SMITH: I'm saying that. Or, into Monday, you know, they have, like we do, justices of the supreme court can make decisions even when the court is out, and the chief justice has unto himself that capability.
So, there's another person, the chief justice, who can overrule this egregious miscarriage of justice done by Marco Aurelio.
BLITZER: We will stay in close touch with you, Congressman. Thanks very much. And tell David Goldman that we would love to get his reaction here. If he would like to speak to us over the course of the next few hours, we would love to speak with him. And I'm sure our viewers would be anxious to hear from him as well. There is high interest, as you know, in this case. SMITH: Absolutely. I will tell him.
BLITZER: Thank...
SMITH: Thank you very much, Wolf.
BLITZER: Hey, thank you, Congressman, very much.
SMITH: Bye.
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