Moore to defend Ground Zero workers
Filmmaker Michael Moore has vowed to protect the Ground Zero workers he brought to Cuba for medical treatment from U.S. authorities.
Moore brought men and women, who had assisted in the clean-up of lower Manhattan following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, to the Communist nation to receive medical treatment for the ailments they have developed over the past five years for which they have not received adequate medical care in the U.S.
Cuba is under a trade embargo from the US and a majority of Americans are not allowed to visit the island.
Earlier this month, the US Treasury Department's Office Of Foreign Assets Control started an investigation into Moore's Cuba trip, which appears in his new film Sicko exposing the flaws of the US healthcare system.
Following the film's world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last weekend, Moore insists he will protect the Ground Zero workers in the movie after recent press revelations they will also be under investigation by the Treasury Department.
Moore says: "The New York Post reported Sunday that the Bush administration, in addition to going after me for filming scenes in or near Cuba, may now go after the 9/11 rescue workers I took with me to get the medical care they were denied by our own government.
"I couldn't make up irony like this if I wanted to, and I will do whatever is necessary to defend the human right of these true American heroes to receive the medical attention they deserve."
* PROSECUTORS SEEK TO REVOKE SIZEMORE'S PROBATION
Prosecutors want to revoke actor TOM SIZEMORE's probation from a 2006 drug bust following his arrest on suspicion of using crystal methamphetamines earlier this month (May07).
The Saving Private Ryan star was taken into custody when cops searched a car he was sitting in outside a hotel in Bakersfield, California on 8 May (07), allegedly finding two bags of the drug and pipes.
On Monday (22May07) in a Bakersfield court, Sizemore pleaded not guilty to one count each of transportation and possession of methamphetamines, and three counts of possession of prescription drugs without the proper prescription.
The 45-year-old is due in court for a preliminary hearing on 18 June (07).
However, the Los Angeles District Attorney is now seeking to revoke the actor's probation, ordered after he pleaded guilty to drug possession last year (06), and are recommending Sizemore spend 16 months in prison.
A hearing set for 5 June (07) will determine if Sizemore broke the terms of his probation, reports website TMZ.com. (GES/WNWCMZ/JC)
* BRACCO OPENS UP ABOUT CHEATING ON KEITEL
THE SOPRANOS star LORRAINE BRACCO regrets cheating on husband HARVEY KEITEL with actor EDWARD JAMES OLMOS - calling her decision "immature".
The actress' infidelity sparked a lengthy and messy custody battle with Keitel over their daughter Stella and sent her spiralling into a dark depression.
And, now she's back in control of her emotions and the fighting is over, Bracco is looking back on the affair she had with Olmos as a mistake.
Speaking candidly on yesterday's (24May07) Oprah show in America, the star said, "Eddie was a lovely man and, in all retrospect, Harvey is a good man... It was an immature choice.
"I was on that river in Egypt, called denial! And I wasn't mature enough or smart enough or willing to accept that I was unhappy in that relationship."
The actress was diagnosed with clinical depression during her marriage to Olmos - something that weighed heavy on her daughter, who is now 22.
Stella, who also appeared in a segment on the Oprah show, revealed, "Watching the person who is supposed to be taking care of you in pain is the hardest part.
"It was hard for me because I felt responsible. She fought to make me happy - for me to have the life that I wanted, and I think it took a lot out of her... I just wanted to make it all OK, and I couldn't." (KL/WNVOP/SH)
