Newsday.com

Miss Cleo Avoids Birthplace Questions By Associated Press

June 26, 2002, 10:12 PM EDT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Television psychic Miss Cleo repeatedly invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination Wednesday, refusing to discuss a birth certificate showing she was born in Los Angeles to American parents.

Miss Cleo, whose real name is Youree Dell Harris and who has claims to be a Jamaican shaman, was giving a deposition in a civil suit filed by Florida.

The suit accuses her of deceptive trade practices for her television ads pitching a psychic hot line that charged up to $4.95 a minute.

Assistant Attorney General Dave Aronberg told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that on Wednesday, he went line by line through Harris' birth certificate, asking her if it was accurate. Each time she took the Fifth Amendment, he said.

Harris' lawyer, William Cone Jr., said the closed-door interview went well and his client said she felt wonderful.

"I won't give the devil his due. I praise the father for every day that I have," said Harris.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2002

Answers

I wonder what she sees in her future?

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2002

I've discovered that different states have different rules for obtaining vital records. Sis in Nevada doesn't have a birth certificate. I figured that would be a helpful item for me to secure for her, but as a mere sister I'm not authorized by the state to request that record.

I recently ordered a death certificate for my grandfather, who died while in Wisconsin. I can (eventuallyyyyy...) get an uncertified copy (uncertified is fine) but I don't qualify for an expedited certified copy.

So, it has me wondering what the story is in LA.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2002