Michael Jackson meets Congressional leaders

(1 Apr 2004) SHOTLIST

APTN
Washington, DC March 31, 2004
1. Shots of Michael Jackson walking through crowds in Rayburn House Office Building

POOL
Washington, DC March 31, 2004
2. Jackson in meeting with lawmakers about Africa

APTN
Washington, DC March 31, 2004
3. Jackson walks out of meeting with Sheila Jackson Lee
4. Close shot of Jackson''s face
5. Wide shot of press conference in hallway
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Representative Sheila Jackson Lee/D-Texas
"Michael Jackson will go to Africa on the specific basis of fighting the scourge of AIDS, and economic development."
7. Cutaway of photographer, pan over to Jackson
8. Jackson walks away

JACKO MAKES POLITICAL CAPITAL

Surrounded by crowds of cheering fans, Michael Jackson was back on Capitol Hill, Wednesday.

The pop star met with lawmakers for a second day in a row, taking a break from his legal troubles in California to confer with several leading black lawmakers about his upcoming trip to Africa.

Jackson is planning to visit Africa later this year to help publicise the effects of AIDS and economic deprivation in Africa.

Jackson had wanted to meet with the full 38-member Congressional Black Caucus at its Wednesday meeting, but leaders turned him down, saying they were too busy dealing with legislative issues affecting black Americans.

Jackson was charged last year with seven counts of committing lewd or lascivious acts upon a child under age 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent to the child. Jackson has pleaded innocent. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Friday.

Several caucus members, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was no upside politically for them to link their name to Jackson by holding a high-profile meeting with him. They also noted that Jackson has never donated any money to their causes and has never asked to speak to them before now.

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