Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Ferguson Grand Jury Reconvenes Today; Hope Fading for Iran Nuke Deal; Benghazi Report Slammed; NFL Catch of the Year?

Aired November 24, 2014 - 05:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN ANCHOR: Ferguson on edge. The grand jury meets again today after no decision was reached over the weekend on whether to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of unarmed teenager Michael Brown. The city and nation bracing for protests.

Deal or no deal? The U.S. and world powers are trying to reach an agreement with Iran to curb its nuclear activities by tonight's deadline. Could an extension be in the works?

And a top Republican is outraged by new House report on Benghazi, clearing the Obama administration of wrongdoing. Why Senator Lindsey Graham won't accept it, calling it, quote, "full of crap".

Well, good morning and welcome to EARLY START, everyone. I'm Deborah Feyerick. John Berman and Christine Romans are off.

It is Monday, November 24th. It is 5:00 a.m. in the East.

Up first: tension and fear building by the hour in Ferguson. The grand jury in the shooting death of Michael Brown is meeting just one more time today. After that, we could find out whether Officer Darren Wilson, the Ferguson cop who shot and killed the unarmed teenager, is indicted for murder or whether he is not charged.

We get more from CNN's Don Lemon.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR, CNN TONIGHT: Good morning, Deb.

The grand jury met on Friday, did not come to a decision. So, it is expected that they will reconvene today, sometime tonight, not exactly sure what time and possibly come to a decision. Now, it had been said that each side or everyone would get a 48-hour notice as to when there was going to be a decision and to -- when they announce the decision.

But we are hearing now from justice correspondent Evan Perez, through a source, that they may not give that 48-hour notice. That as soon as they reach the decision of some sort, that a representative or an official might come out and say what that decision is. And, of course, we are talking about whether Officer Darren Wilson will be indicted or not in the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown. As far as the community here, one might think that the streets of

Ferguson were on fire if you look at some of the media coverage. But that, indeed, is not the case. Yes, there are still protests going on. There are still some angry protesters. Not much violence, though.

A few people are arrested in the course of those protests, sometimes daily, sometimes not. Usually about 30 or 40 people, we're told, have protests here every single night since the shooting happened. But from the media coverage, you might get a different sort of idea of what's going on here on the streets of Ferguson.

Of course, people are watching very closely as to when the decision is going to come and what that decision is going to be. And, of course, the people who are in charge of keeping everything safe here, they said they are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. But that decision from the grand jury could come at anytime after they reconvene again today.

Deb, back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK: Hoping for the best. Don, thank you.

And hopes for nuclear deal with Iran are all but gone this morning. The six nations sitting at the table with the Iranians reporting serious gaps between the two sides. But the deadline for an agreement expiring today.

So, can anything get accomplished before time runs out?

Let's begin with senior international correspondent Nic Robertson. He is in Vienna this morning.

And, Nic, does it look like a deal will be made today or is the gap just too wide?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The gap really appears to be too wide, Deb. I mean, this is what we are hearing.

The Chinese foreign minister arrived this morning. And when he arrived, he said he was bringing with him the Chinese proposals to find a way to a final deal. And the reality is, though, and even the Chinese are saying the gaps are big, and time is really running out. The focus does seem to be right now on getting an extension.

Secretary of State John Kerry did meet with his Chinese counterpart Wang this morning. He had a brief meeting after that with the E.U. head here, Catherine Ashton, the head of the E.U.'s team here, Catherine Ashton.

And now, he's into his seventh meeting. This one his second bilateral with his Iranian counterpart, Foreign Minister Zarif, who is heading the Iranian delegation team here. If there is any chance of anything changing, it is when the two of them are meeting now. But nobody is really expecting that.

And after this meeting, Secretary Kerry will meet with all the lead elements of the P-5-plus-one countries here. The Chinese, the Russians, the British, the French and the Germans all meeting together. And the sort of language here or choreography here, if you will, very much all of the meetings have been had. This will be a sort of final wrap up as everyone on the same page. After that, we may begin to hear potentially some of the details.

And it does seem the way forward is going to be an extension. But we have very and given very little information to go on here, to get an estimate of how long that extension might be, what the details might contain -- Deb.

FEYERICK: You know, it's interesting because many people say that by getting a deal, it will have a stabilizing effect in that entire region. Is there a fear that by extending the deadline, whether it'd be one month or six months, that Iran will have an ability to ramp up its nuclear capability during that time while all this is being negotiated?

ROBERTSON: You know, Deb, when Iran comes here and it doesn't agree to the terms that are put on the table for it, certainly the skeptics of any deal will look at this and say, Iran is just playing for more time. The skeptics are already saying you can get a deal with this moderate Iran Iranian President Rouhani, and his delegation here. But, really, the reality back in Tehran is that the ayatollah, the hardliners are still in control. So, whatever deal you make here is something that the hard liners are not going to keep faithful on.

So, the key sticking points remain the sticking points because those concerns remain, Deb.

FEYERICK: Yes, absolutely. The Western powers wanting to make sure that they don't have the capability whether the facilities that are known or unknown to develop nuclear weapons.

All right. Nic Robertson, thank you so much. We appreciate that report.

And overnight, a security scare at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. The Army base was put on lockdown for several hours last night after a driver failed to stop at the entrance checkpoint. That driver is now in police custody. He was captured after a brief manhunt. An explosives team was brought to the scene and nothing was found in the suspect's car. Police say he was alone and they are not revealing a possible motive.

Following a bruising mid term election for Democrats, President Obama is acknowledging the American people are ready for a fresh start. The president appearing on "this week" likened himself to a used car.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You know, you've got some dings and -- GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, ABC: You don't mind absorbing a few more if

that's what it takes?

OBAMA: No, you know, I think the American people, they want that new car smell. They want to drive something off the lot that doesn't have as much mileage as me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: Still has a sense of humor.

Well, the president went on to say he believes Hillary Clinton would be a formidable candidate and great president if she decides to run.

And breaking overnight: two NATO troops killed by enemy attack in eastern Afghanistan. Their identities have not been released. Meanwhile, 12,000 U.S. and NATO troops will be allowed to remain in Afghanistan through next year now that the country's parliament has approved a new agreement with the West. The troops are there to support Afghan forces and can conduct air support in the region if needed.

No one is claiming responsibility for a deadly suicide bomb attack at a volleyball tournament in Eastern Pakistan. It happened Sunday in Paktika region. Authorities say 45 to 60 people were killed. They're expecting that number to climb higher. Dozens more were injured, 89 people were killed in the same province in July four months ago when a bomb went off in a crowded market.

First, the big dig, and now comes big melt. Evacuation plans are in place in the city of Buffalo this morning with temperatures approaching 60 degrees today. Erie County officials expect heavy flooding into Tuesday, with up to six feet of water predicted in some areas. Six feet of water, that's after the city was buried by seven feet of snow last week. The governor is warning everyone to move valuables out of basements and prepared to leave on very short notice.

Indra Petersons has an early start on the forecast.

Indra, it was so cold last week and now, all of sudden, we're seeing this warming going on.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Exactly. They literally cannot catch a break in that area.

Look at Buffalo's forecast right now. We're talking a warming. You mentioned it, temperatures near 60 degrees. Still rain showers in the forecast.

But even all of this shifts as early as tomorrow. The cold front bringing us the rain. We will bring in a chance for highs in the 30s and a chance of flurries by tomorrow.

Then, the story will be snow from there on out. We are switching from one pattern to the next right back in through buffalo. We are all feeling it in the Northeast. You can see where the frontal

system is right now producing some heavy amounts of rain in through the Northeast. It is making its way offshore. Look for that rain to continue throughout the day.

On the back side, you actually notice we are talking about snow. That is in the Midwest. Places like Wisconsin and notice places like Marquette, 4 to 7 inches of snow will be out there. Michigan with 4 to 5 inches of snow will be falling.

So, we talked about the temperatures. The big change and frontal boundaries there. It is a cold front. We know once again we are talking about temperatures going down. D.C. with temperatures in the 30s. Everyone is looking out for thanksgiving. Travel could be a problem. Showers in Chicago and the even out to Northeast.

FEYERICK: So, basically, what you're telling me is tomorrow, we're actually going to be talking about freezing tomorrow.

PETERSONS: We're talking about cool air all over again. Yes.

FEYERICK: OK. Tomorrow driving will be the big issue.

All right. Indra, thank you. Today, boats. Tomorrow, ice. OK, thank you. Appreciate that.

And let's get an early start on your money. Business correspondent Cristina Alesci is here. It's fascinating to watch the market keep inching up.

CRISTINA ALESCI, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: I know. Today, there seems to be more of it. Stock futures are up coming off highs for the Dow and S&P 500 on Friday. Just to put this in context, Friday's moves put the S&P in record territory for the 45th time this year.

Investors were excited to see central banks once again in China and Europe ready to boost growth. That's good news in the short-term, but it raises a lot of questions about the health of the global economy.

It is a big week for the largest oil producers in the Middle East. On Thursday, they meet to decide how to react to plunging oil prices. So far, countries have not scaled back on production even though supply is driving prices down. It all comes down to Saudi Arabia and many experts are expecting the country to cut back.

FEYERICK: All right. Cristina, thank you so much.

And a top Republican senator slamming a new House report on Benghazi. Why Lindsey Graham is calling it garbage.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: No conspiracy, no cover up. That's the conclusion of the House intelligence report investigation the administration's handling of the deadly 2012 attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi. It's an investigation that was spearheaded by Republicans. And at least one top ranking Republican is calling the findings, quote "crap", unquote.

Erin McPike has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Deb, the House Intelligence Committee released its report on Friday afternoon about what the Obama administration did in the aftermath on of attacks of the U.S. consulate in Benghazi in September of 2012. And they found that the administration didn't intentionally mislead the public.

Well, South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham was completely dissatisfied with this report and he slammed it yesterday on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION."

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: I think the report is full of crap.

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Why?

GRAHAM: Quite frankly.

BORGER: Why?

GRAHAM: To say that Mike -- well, the deputy director of the CIA, when I asked him who changed the talking points with Senator Ayotte and McCain, and Susan Rice sitting by his side, said the FBI changed the talking points. Only later did we find out through a lawsuit that Mike Morrell was deeply involved in changing the talking points, the deputy director of the FBI, when he was sitting in front of the congressional panel, and he was asked, does anybody know who changed the talking points, he sat silent.

BORGER: OK. But this --

GRAHAM: So, no, the intel community through him lied.

MCPIKE: But Adam Schiff, a Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, says that this report vindicates the administration and he thinks it is politically motivated that the Republican-controlled committee released this report late on the Friday afternoon so it did not get enough attention.

Listen here to both comments.

REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D), CALIFORNIA: I think it is exonerated. I mean, certainly not in the sense that it shows there was adequate security at the diplomatic facility. There wasn't. There's been no contesting that. But in terms of whether there was an effort to cover up or spin or illegal trafficking of arms by the CIA or any of those conspiracies, they have been completely vindicated.

MCPIKE: Schiff also predicted that if a different committee, the House Select Committee on Benghazi, came up with a similar report with similar findings that vindicated the administration, they would release that report on Christmas Eve, he suggested perhaps jokingly -- Deb.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK: All right. Erin McPike, thank you.

And authorities in Cleveland are investigating the fatal shooting of a 12-year-old boy by a police officer who mistakenly thought that the boy had a real gun. The victim, 12-year-old Tamir Rice, was shot outside a neighborhood rec center.

Officials say police responded to a 911 call about a juvenile scaring people with a gun. They said that the officer fired at the boy after he pulled the replica gun from his waistband.

Student leaders at the University of Virginia expected to speak out about an apparent gang rape on campus. The horrifying allegations were revealed in a "Rolling Stone" article which describes a cavalier attitude by the school when it comes to student rape claims. One student reports she was sexually assaulted by seven frat members. UVA has now suspended all fraternity activities until January 9th.

And growing fallout over the arrest of the gay activist and major Democratic fund-raiser who is accused of having sex with a 15-year-old boy. Terry Bean and his 25-year-old boyfriend Kiah Lawson is accused of having sex with the boy who they met in Oregon through a dating app. He was used as a pawn to lure the teen. Lawson has pleaded not guilty to sodomy and sex abuse charges. Bean is expected to face a judge next month.

And some alert bicyclists in Australia make a disturbing find in a storm drain, a new born baby boy. They made the discovery Sunday when they lifted the slab off a storm drain. They could hear the baby's cries even though he was more than eight feet underground.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HAYLEY OTTE, CYCLIST WHO FOUND BABY: We felt sickened.

DAVID OTTE, CYCLIST WHO FOUND BABY: We still feel sick.

HAYLEY OTTE: Yes, we just wanted that baby, to know and see its face it was OK.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: Well, the-week-old boy is a fighter. Investigators say that they believe he was placed in the drain the day after he was born. He is in the hospital in serious condition. His mother has been charged with attempted murder.

And some of the brightest stars in the music world were shining as the American Music Awards were handed out in Los Angeles last night. One Direction took home three awards, including the night's biggest prize, Artist of the Year. Australian star Iggy Azalea, who had a leading six nominations won for favorite rap hip hop album and another British sensation, Sam Smith, walked away with the Best Male Rock Pop Artist. American, there we go, Taylor Swift opened the show, performing her new single which is all over the radio, "Blank Space", for the first time on live television. She was also honored with the first ever Dick Clark Award of Excellence.

Well, no matter how many times you see it, it still doesn't seem possible. A New York Giants rookie -- look at that -- making one of the most incredible catches ever seen on a football field. Andy Scholes has the details in the "Bleacher Report" coming up straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: Cowboys and Giants squaring off on Sunday night football. The game taking a backseat to what some are calling the greatest ever catch in NFL history.

Andy Scholes has more in this morning's "Bleacher Report".

Good morning there, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, BLEACHER REPORT: Hey, good morning.

Yes, everyone is talking about Odell Beckham Jr.'s catch this morning. In terms of regular season catches, I think this is the best grab of all time.

Let's take a look. It was the first play of the second quarter. Eli manning going deep for Beckham. He is getting pulled down and he reaches back and makes an insane one-handed catch. Take a look again. That is just incredible. This catch helped the Giants build a 21-10 halftime lead, but Cowboys made a comeback. Romo to Dez Bryant with a minute left. Dallas gets the win, 31-28.

New England Patriots continue to rollover their opponents. Tom Brady and company handily beating the Lions 34-9 yesterday. LeGarrette Blount who was cut by the Steelers and signed by the Patriots last week, he picked right where he left off for New England, scoring two touchdowns in the game. Patriots have now won seven in a row and 9-2 this season.

Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, his wife had a baby girl yesterday morning and he promises his new daughter Eugenia a touchdown for him. Well, sure, enough in the third quarter, Hilton goes 70 yards for a score. Check it out, he cradles the ball as if it was his daughter. After the game, Hilton tweeted this pic saying, "My princess got a game ball today. I promised a TD on your special day."

All right, with more than six feet of snow on the ground in Buffalo, there was no game at Ralph Wilson Stadium yesterday. Crews currently working to get the stadium ready for next week's game against the Browns. Now, the Jets and Bills will play tonight in Detroit at ford field. Free tickets remain online yesterday and at the box office. They were gone in ten minutes as some people waited for hours to get the tickets.

Finally, Deborah, the NFL made it official yesterday. Katy Perry will headline the halftime show. It is official. Katy Perry is going to be doing the halftime at the Super Bowl this year.

FEYERICK: Yes. I just feel bad for the workers clearing out the stadium in Buffalo. All they had to do is wait a day and it will rain and all melt.

SCHOLES: (INAUDIBLE) right?

FEYERICK: Yes, a lot of overtime for folks during this Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday.

All right. Andy Scholes, thanks so much. Appreciate that.

All right. And the top headlines and everything you need to know for today, including the building tension in Ferguson is coming up right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)