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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Senate "Torture" Report Out Today; Protests from Coast to Coast; Obama Hijacks "The Colbert Report"; Stocks Down Around the World; Plane Crashes into Home; LeBron, Cavs & Nets Wear Message
Aired December 09, 2014 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Bracing for a backlash. Security alerts at U.S. facilities around the globe. Hours before a CIA torture report is released. New information on just how harshly the United States interrogated terror suspects after September 11th. We'll tell you what we know what is in the report and why the release is creating so much controversy.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: We can't breathe. Protests across the country, streets shutdown, stores vandalized, NBA players are now demonstrating against no indictments in the death of Eric Garner.
BERMAN: And President Obama doing the funny with Stephen Colbert. Appearing for the only time, the last time, the first time on the Colbert Report. We will tell you all the subjects they cover and play all the best jokes for you ahead.
ROMANS: It's funny.
BERMAN: It really was.
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.
ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. It's Tuesday, December 9th. It is 5:00 a.m. on the nose in the East.
BERMAN: All right. New this morning, tightened security at U.S. facilities around the world. Military and diplomatic sites are bracing for release of the Senate Intelligence Committee report. The 400-page report is said to reveal long awaited findings on enhanced interrogation, what some called torture during the Bush administration.
CNN's Elise Labott now with the latest from Washington -- Elise.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELISE LABOTT, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, John and Christine, U.S. diplomatic posts and military bases around the world are on high alert today as the Obama administration braces for the explosive report on the Bush administration's use of torture. Thousands of marines on stand by after a dire classified assessment, warning of a violent backlash. There was a last-ditch effort by Secretary of State John Kerry to persuade the Senate Intelligence Chair Dianne Feinstein to delay the report's release. But we understand Senator Feinstein is undeterred and that report is expected today.
Now, it's expected to accuse the CIA of lying about the use of torture after 9/11 and claim the waterboarding of three terrorists in particular, including Khalid Sheik Muhammad, failed to produce results. Now, the administration fears the report could subject American hostages to the same acts of torture and invite violent anti- American protests at U.S. embassies.
Now, the head of the House Intelligence Committee Mike Rogers, he's calling the report's release a terrible idea, saying in addition to the intelligence assessment, foreign leaders are warning that the release of the report could cause violence and deaths.
Now, lots of countries cooperated with the U.S. in the war on terror, at some political risk. And they rely on American discretion. So, if that report is released, there is a concern it could definitely deter U.S. allies in the global coalition against ISIS because they'll be fearing terrorist reprisals -- John, Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: All right. Elise Labott, thanks so much.
The White House acknowledges that American personnel and facilities in the Muslim world are at special risk as the Senate report comes out this morning. Also, U.S. allies, as you heard Elise say, who maybe named in the report as cooperating with the CIA are thought to be especially concerned about the public reaction.
CNN's Ian Lee is in Egypt.
And, Ian, how is the U.S. embassy there reacting. How are they preparing?
IAN LEE, CNN REPORTER: As we heard from Elise, John, that there are thousands of marines in the Middle East ready to deploy within hours if any of the diplomatic missions come under attack. The U.S. embassy, I talked to them, they told me that they're not commenting on the security measures. But there is tight security around the U.S. embassy.
You may remember back in 2012, the perimeter of the U.S. embassy was breached by protesters. Well, measures have been taken to make sure that doesn't happen again. There is not only police around the embassy, but also the military is close by in case something were to happen, John.
BERMAN: All right. Ian Lee for us in Cairo, where they are bracing for the release of that report -- thanks so much, Ian.
ROMANS: Breaking overnight, outgoing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel arriving in Baghdad. He's there to thank American troops for their work helping to fight ISIS. Meanwhile, Secretary of State John Kerry will be on Capitol Hill
today. He's briefing senators on the ISIS threat. Kerry is certain to mention a new plan for U.S. allies to send about 1,500 additional troops to Iraq. A bipartisan group of senators is pushing for a vote on a bill to approve U.S. action.
BERMAN: No deal this morning on spending bill. Lawmakers are hoping to approve a $1.1 trillion package overnight to keep the government operating beyond midnight on Thursday. But talks broke down over a last-minute disagreement involving the renewal of a terrorism insurance program. There are some other disagreements in there as well.
Congressional leaders say they are ready, if they have to, to pass a short-term extension to give House and Senate leaders a few more days to negotiate.
ROMANS: President Obama will host a town hall meeting on immigration reform in Nashville this afternoon. That city is home to one of fast- growing immigrant populations in the country. Right now, 17 states are involved in a federal lawsuit seeking to block the president's executive order -- that order which gives temporary work status to more than 5 million immigrants who are currently in the United States illegally.
BERMAN: The president has been busy. He made his first and last appearance on Comedy Central's "Colbert Report". It was a really hilarious exchange. Host Stephen Colbert brought up immigration reform, jokingly calling the president "emperor", even asked the president why he burned the Constitution.
Listen to the exchange on the economy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The truth is the economy had been on a pretty good run. We've had 57 straight months of private sector job growth. Over 10 million jobs created. Manufacturing, the strongest since the '90s. The auto industry has come rebounding back.
STEPHEN COLBERT, THE COLBERT REPORT: I'll give -- I'll give it to you. You employed a lot of people --
OBAMA: We have.
COLBERT: -- mostly as secretary of defense.
OBAMA: Well, we have --
(LAUGHTER)
OBAMA: That's boosted our numbers a little bit.
What we haven't been able to see enough of until recently is wages and incomes going up. This last jobs report started to indicate some wage growth, but we still got more work to do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Using that appearance to lobby for higher minimum wage, by the way. That's why he is talking about wages and income. He's saying, look, 57 months in a row of private sector job creation, but feeling are not feeling it because their wages aren't rising. So, pass my plan for $10.10 minimum wage.
BERMAN: We're going to talk more about this and play some more clips ahead. A lot of funny stuff in there.
ROMANS: Very funny.
Time for an early start on your money this morning.
Tough morning around the world for stocks. Shanghai benchmark down more than 5 percent this morning. European stocks and U.S. stock futures are lower this morning.
You know, there are worries this morning the Federal Reserve may be closing to changing its tone on near zero interest rates, even a hint that they're going to raise interest rates sooner than the market expects could hurt the stock market.
Yesterday, the Dow fell 106 points. That was the biggest deep since October. Energy stocks led the way, because oil prices are tumbling.
Crude oil fell 4 percent, now below 63 bucks a barrel for the first time in five years. Very bad news for oil producers and countries that depend on oil revenue. But great news for American consumers. The national average for a gallon of regular is $2.67. That's according to AAA. That means the American household, the average American household is saving about $100 a month compared to the summer.
BERMAN: It is real money. It will have a real impact if it continues and it could help fuel some economic growth in this country.
ROMANS: Fueling economic growth.
BERMAN: You like that?
Breaking overnight: protests erupting across the country. Demonstrators furious over the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. We will talk about the growing controversy and show you how is now demonstrating ahead.
ROMANS: Plus, just a tragedy. Six people killed when a plane suddenly crashes into a home. What we're learning this morning and who died, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: Happening right now: new reaction to the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. In Berkeley, California, a third night of protests has not turned
violent as happened over the weekend. More than a thousand protesters marched through Berkeley streets, shutting down a subway station, halting traffic on a major interstate. California highway patrol officers arresting scores there. Demonstrators also -- get this -- they stopped a train in its tracks.
CNN's Dan Simon is on the scene.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, we are at a railroad crossing in Berkeley where protesters have been able to stop an Amtrak passenger train from moving. You can see it right there on the track behind me.
This has been a massive protest with well over 3,000 people. But from what we have seen, it's been peaceful after the two chaotic nights on the streets of Berkeley. But we have seen things like this. And at one point, the crowd was able to shutdown the I-80 freeway in both directions -- John and Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: All right. Thanks, Dan.
Protests elsewhere brought traffic to a standstill. Washington demonstrators staged a die-in at a major intersection just blocks from the White House. Outside the Brooklyn Nets game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, a large crowd of protesters were on the streets chanting "hands up, don't shoot", also, "black lives matter."
ROMANS: Four of Eric Garner's children weighed in on the protest, speaking exclusively to CNN's Don Lemon overnight. His children say the widespread demonstrations have been comforting to them in a very difficult time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EMERALD GARNER, DAUGHTER OF ERIC GARNER: You know, did you see Paris? They were laying down in front of the Eiffel Tower. Did you see California? They were doing this and they were doing that. So, it's an everybody thing, you know?
So, it was like for celebrities to be like, you know, let's support the Garner family because that was wrong, you know, it was wrong. So, there is nothing they can do to make it right but we can fight so that it won't happen another time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, he announced a new ban on profiling by federal law officers. It bans prohibitive characteristics from race alone, to include gender, religion and sexual orientation among others. Now, these new rules don't apply to local law enforcement and also exempt some federal agencies, big federal agencies like TSA and border patrol.
BERMAN: Big demands and damning accusations from a mother of a 12- year-old boy shot to death by police in Cleveland. Samaria Rice says conviction is the only justice she wants following the shooting of her son Tamir. She also says police handcuffed the little boy's sister when she tried to run toward his body. Police nearly give her the same treatment, she says.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAMARIA RICE, MOTHER OF BOY KILLED BY POLICE: As I was trying to get through to my son, the police told me to calm down or they will put me in the back of the police car. And so, of course, I calmed down. And I asked the police to let my daughter go. They would not at that time. I asked them, you know, what's going on, and they wasn't telling me anything, but just calm down, calm down.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Her son Tamir Rice was shot and killed after waving what was a pellet gun at people in a park. The policing skills of the police officer who pulled the trigger have since been called into question.
ROMANS: All right. The president of the University of Virginia is reaching out to parents, promising changes at the school in the wake of now somewhat discredited "Rolling Stone" article that described a brutal rape on campus. UVA's Teresa Sullivan says even though she thinks the article unfairly maligned the university and its staff, she is forming an ad hoc committee to change the culture on campus, including unarmed security ambassadors and new policies on sexual misconduct that adhere to federal mandates.
BERMAN: We are learning more about the six people killed when a twin- engine plane crashed, damaging homes in a Maryland subdivision. The bodies of 36-year-old Marie Gemmell and her two sons, 3-year-old Cole and Devon, an infant were found in the second floor bathroom of their home. Three people in the plane also killed on Monday. Now, local and federal investigators are trying to figure out what went wrong.
Rene marsh has the latest.
Aviation and government regulation correspondent Rene Marsh, she has latest on this for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RENE MARSH, CNN AVIATION AND GOVERNMENT REGULATION CORRESPONDENT: Well, John and Christine, six people are dead after a twin-engine business jet crashes into a Maryland home, also sending debris tumbling into two more homes and ending with a fiery explosion. Now, the aircraft was going in for landing at Montgomery County airport around 11:00 Monday morning when witnesses say they heard a sputtering sound and saw the plane struggling to maintain altitude.
A mother, Marie Gemmell, and her two sons, 3-year-old Cole and infant Devon, were killed inside one of the homes. Their bodies found in the bathroom, one child between the mother's legs and the other in her arms. Three people on board the plane also died, including Michael Rosenberg, the founder and CEO of the clinical research company in North Carolina.
Now, the plane went down about a mile from the airport. One theory is a bird strike may have caused problems. Multiple warnings about birds in the area were heard on air traffic control tapes shortly before the crash. The plane's recorders have been recovered and we do know National Transportation Safety Board investigators are now downloading the data for clues into what caused the deadly crash -- John, Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right. Rene Marsh, thank you for that.
A nor'easter is in the forecast for the Northeast U.S.
Pedram Javaheri has an early start on your forecast.
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: John and Christine, conditions across the Northeast today quite a miss. We are talking about 25 million people dealing with wintry weather across this region and generally going to be heavy snowfall across interior New England.
But look at the immediate coastline, tremendous rainfall, possibility of one to three inches around New York over the next couple of days. Boston over 2 inches and you factor in the winds throughout the afternoon. Look at that, 3:30 this afternoon, New York and Boston, wind gusts about 40 to 50 miles per hour.
Conditions improve Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. But, of course, as you have the winter travel going to be an issue. New York upwards of 90-minute delays possible due to rain and wind into this afternoon. You take a look. The rainfall across New York City, one to three inches. While the snowfall, the heavy wet variety could definitely cause some power outages across this region, six to 10 inches across interior New York.
I'll send it back to you.
ROMANS: That's going to be muddy in the next couple of days.
BERMAN: Indeed.
ROMANS: If you are flying out of JFK or LaGuardia, you've been warned. It's going to be a little ugly this morning.
BERMAN: All right. Seventeen minutes after the hour. What a whirlwind so far for William and Kate on their first visit to the United States. Really, William and Kate have never been to New York City. Can you believe that?
ROMANS: I can't believe that.
BERMAN: Well, I'm telling you right now for the first time -- the British royals ended the day in New York sitting court side at a Brooklyn Nets basketball game. They got to meet real royals, Jay-Z, who is part owner of the team, along with more real royalty, Beyonce. The couple also had face time with the king, LeBron James, whose Cleveland Cavaliers is playing the Nets.
There is also a meet and greet at the hotel with the Clintons, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton.
ROMANS: No baby, right?
BERMAN: Chelsea baby, I don't believe any Chelsea baby was there, Clinton baby. And the prince and duchess, they left their baby back in England, they said, you know, Queen Elizabeth, you watch the baby, we're going to the United States.]
ROMANS: Queen Elizabeth, grab --
(CROSSTALK)
BERMAN: Earlier, Kate was solo on the visit to child development center in Harlem, while the duke went to Washington to meet with the president, delivering a speech at the World Bank on the subject he is very passionate about, conservation and crime poaching against wildlife.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE WILLIAM: In my view, one of the most insidious forms is the illegal wildlife trade. Here, criminal gangs turn vast profits from the illegal killing or capture of wildlife.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: President Obama said the prince's work to protect endangered wildlife is very important. Today, the royal couple will visit the 9/11 memorial here in New York City.
ROMANS: First time in New York, usually I recommend the first timers take a block and walk the block. Take another block. You really learn about New York by just walking random blocks. But I don't think they're going to be able to do that.
BERMAN: No, the cars for them.
All right. Nineteen minutes after the hour.
LeBron James, you just saw him meeting with the duke and duchess -- well, he was speaking out on the police-involved choking death of unarmed black man Eric Garner. The king speaking out from his heart and with his t-shirt. Laura Rutledge has more in the "Bleacher Report" next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: LeBron James and many of his teammates and other players around the league making a statement last night, wearing t-shirts bearing Eric Garner's last words, "I can't breathe."
ROMANS: Laura Rutledge has more in this morning's "Bleacher Report."
Hey, Laura.
LAURA RUTLEDGE, BLEACHER REPORT: Hey, John and Christine.
And, yes, before the Cavaliers took on the Nets in Brooklyn, several players made their own form of protest after a New York grand jury ruling not to indict a police officer in the choking death of Eric Garner. The players wore black shirts with white letters donning the phrase, "I can't breathe." That's what Eric Garner said over and over before his death on July 17th.
The players are not expected to be disciplined from the league for the protests.
And LeBron told reporters after the game that the gesture was aimed first and foremost at Eric Garner's family.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEBRON JAMES, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: You know, it's a message to the family that I'm sorry for their loss, and sorry to his wife and that's what it's about. I think everybody is getting caught up in everything else besides who is feeling it, and that's the family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RUTLEDGE: Monday night football, Packers and Falcons. Aaron Rodgers continues to make the case for MVP. Three TDs on the night. Rodgers firing a laser to Jordy Nelson for the 60-yard touchdown catch, sealing the 43-37 win. Green Bay making a push for home field advantage in the playoffs.
It's Johnny Football time for the Cleveland Browns. Reports say Johnny Manziel will finally get his chance to start against the Bengals on Sunday. It's been one of the biggest soap operas in the NFL this season. And now, he finally gets to take the reins.
Heisman favorite Oregon quarter Marcus Mariota has now officially been invited to the ceremony in New York. He put a bow on his Heisman campaign with a fantastic performance on the PAC-12 title game. The other two finalists are Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper and Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon.
Wizard guard John Wall led his over the Celtics last night in double overtime in dramatic fashion. But it was after the game where things got emotional. Wall was asked about his feelings on the 6-year-old Wizards fan named Miyah who passed away Monday after battling cancer. Wall had developed a special bond with the young girl and he couldn't hold back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN WALL, WASHINGTON WIZARDS: This is an emotional game for me. This is for Miyah, one of the my close friends, that I lost and I met last year. You know, this is tough. To see a kid that fights so hard for cancer and can't beat it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RUTLEDGE: And John Wall had written Miyah's name on his shoes for every game. And as recently and two weeks ago, John, he spoken to the girl on FaceTime.
BERMAN: You know, good for John Wall. Our heart goes out to him and her family involved here. Thanks, Laura.
You know, so many athletes, they really do give time and their hearts to these causes.
ROMANS: I know.
BERMAN: You know, they believe in it. It's got to affect them.
ROMANS: All right. Twenty-six minutes past the hour.
Torture secrets of the CIA. In jus hours, the world is going to learn exactly what methods the U.S. investigators used to interrogate terror suspects following 9/11. It's creating controversy. It's creating new security concerns at U.S. facilities around the world. What we're learning this morning, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
