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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Officer Charged with Murder: Witness Speaks; Boston Bombing Trial: Life or Death?; New Secret Service Scandal; President Obama Travels to Jamaica. Aired 4:30-5a ET
Aired April 09, 2015 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[04:30:12] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: New information from the witness who filmed the police officer shooting and killing an unarmed black man. What he is now revealing about this shooting as the victim's mother tells CNN what she thinks about the man who killed her son.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Guilty of all charges, but will Boston marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev get life or death? We're going to take you inside that
BERMAN: And breaking overnight. A new Secret Service scandal revealed. A new one. We have details ahead.
Welcome back to EARLY START, everyone. I'm John Berman.
ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. Thirty minutes past the hour this Thursday morning.
New this morning: a South Carolina city vowing to make changes in the wake of the police officer arrest on murder charges. Among those exchange, North Charleston City officials promising on Wednesday to outfit every officer with a body camera. The city also firing its Officer Michael Slager as he sits in jail awaiting a bail hearing.
On Saturday, Slager shot and killed 50-year-old Walter Scott as Scott ran away following a traffic stop. Slager says Scott tried to grab his taser, but this remarkable disturbing video will show Slager firing eight shots at a retreating Scott from about 25 feet away as Scott was trying to flee.
The man who shot that video has now stepped forward. He's telling NBC News what happened in the moments before he begun recording.
National correspondent Jason Carroll is in North Charleston with the very latest for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, Feidin Santana said he was on the way to work on Saturday, that's when he spotted Officer Slager and Scott in some sort of a struggle. He says the minute that the two hit the ground, he pulled out his cell phone and started recording.
FEIDEN SANTANA, RECORDED POLICE SHOOTING: They were down on the floor. They were down on the floor before I started recording. They were down on the floor. I remember the police officer had control of the situation. He had control of Scott. And Scott was trying to just get away from the taser. The taser, you know, you can hear the sound of the taser.
CARROLL: Scott's family calling Santana basically a hero for coming forward and sharing his video. Someone else speaking out on behalf of Santana is the city's mayor. The city's mayor and police chief actually faced an angry crowd at one point during a press conference. Specifically when they were questioned about something that happened after the shooting.
There seems to be a question about whether or not the officer's performed CPR on Scott. Listen to what happened when the police chief was questioned about that.
EDDIE DRIGGERS, NORTH CHARLESTON POLICE CHIEF: In the end of it, what I saw was a -- I believe to be a police officer removing the shirt of the individual and performing some type of life-saving, but I'm not sure what took place.
REPORTER: You don't know if CPR was performed?
DRIGGERS: I was told that life-saving -- they tried to save his life.
CARROLL: The police chief unable to answer questions about the officer's taser. Where was it? The video seems to show, at least this is what the family believes. They believe that the video shows Officer Slager trying to plant that taser next to Scott's body.
The police chief unable to answer that question when pressed on that particular subject. Certainly that's what Scott's family believes. They also said as painful as it is to see that video, they also say that they are very, very grateful that this young man came forward and presented the video to them and to investigators -- Christine, John.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: Our thanks to Jason for that.
The mother of shooting victim Walter Scott says she forgives the police officer who shot and killed her son. A woman of deep religious faith, Judy Scott tells CNN's Anderson Cooper that she has seen the video of the shooting but could not watch it until the end. Even so, she says she does not hate the officer who fired the shots.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUDY SCOTT, SHOOTING VICTIM'S MOTHER: I'm supposed to be really angry and upset and raging and all that. But I can't, because of the love of God in me. I can't be like that.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: You don't feel that in your heart? SCOTT: No, I don't. I feel forgiveness in my heart, even for the guy
that shot and kill my son.
COOPER: You feel forgiveness?
SCOTT: Yes, for him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: We're learning new details this morning about now former Officer Michael Slager. North Charleston officials say Slager's wife is eight months pregnant and that the city will continue paying for her health insurance until that baby is born. The 33-year-old Slager also has two stepchildren.
[04:35:01] records show that Slager like Walter Scott served in the U.S. Coast Guard. After joining the North Charleston Police Department in 2009, Slager became highly proficient in taser use, scoring 50 out of 50 in certification exam.
ROMANS: All right. In Boston, the jury in the Boston marathon case will now weigh whether Dzhokhar Tsarnaev should be executed after finding him guilty of all 30 counts against him. As the verdict was read Wednesday afternoon, the 21-year-old stood with his head bowed, his hands clasped as the guilty verdicts told one after another.
CNN's Alexandra Field has more from inside the courtroom.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, John, this is the moment that so many people waited so long for. Nearly two years they waited to hear the verdict, and now, 30 counts Dzhokhar Tsarnaev found guilty in each and every one of them.
He strode into the courtroom. He listened as each was read out loud. He made just a glancing look at the jury. But for the most part, he looked at his hands, he looked down, he looked at his attorney who is sometimes by his side -- really no outward show of emotion which has been typical for him throughout this trial.
Twelve jurors deliberated for just under 12 hours before arriving at the verdict. Eleven of those jurors didn't seem to look at the defendant, didn't seem to want to make eye contact. They kept their eyes forward, looking at the judge, looking at the clerk. One juror it seems was trying to get a closer look at Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, but that juror wouldn't have seen any outward display, any sign of surprise from the defendant himself.
A lot of people were inside that courtroom to hear the verdict. Family members of the victims who were killed in this case, survivors of the bombing. The gravity of the situation, you could you feel it inside that courtroom. It was very quiet. People sat still. A few of them dabbing tears away from their eyes.
But really, no large expressions of emotion. People are just sort of listening in, wanting to hear every word, wanting to hear every word guilty said over and over again. We heard from survivors who came out after the verdict was read, some of them said they didn't really have a sense of closure, but certainly this is a piece of the puzzle for a lot them. There is some sense of justice for some of them.
But this trial is not over yet. The 21-year-old's life is now in the hands of the jury. The penalty phase which jurors will consider the death sentence could begin as early as next week -- Christine, John.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: All right. Alexandra Field, thanks so much.
Now, survivors of the bombing are now sharing their reaction to the guilty verdict. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REBEKAH GREGORY, BOSTON BOMBING SURVIVOR: I don't believe that there will ever be justice brought to this no matter if he does get the death penalty or he remains in prison for the rest of his life. I do believe however that he should be held accountable for his actions, and I'm very thankful for each of the jury members that are making him do that.
KAREN BRASSARD, BOSTON BOMBING SURVIVOR: I don't know what justice is. I'm grateful to have him off the street. I'm grateful to show everyone, the world, that it's not tolerated. This is not how we behave and we are grateful that everybody has worked so hard to make it known that we're not going to allow this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: The governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker, says that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev deserves to be executed for the crimes that he committed.
ROMANS: Breaking overnight: A Secret Service superior has been placed on administrative leave following allegations of sexual assault. "The Washington Post" reports that a female agent is alleging that a manager in the security clearance division made, quote, "unwanted sexual advances" after the pair returned to the office from a party on March 31st. The Secret Service says appropriate action was taken. The incident is currently under investigation.
BERMAN: The White House today could announce as soon as today its intent to remove Cuba from the state sponsors of terrorism list. The State Department says Cuba has not provided support to terrorist groups within the last six months. White House officials wanted to make the announcement before the Summit of the Americas later this week. Once announced, Congress will then have 45 days to vote, you know, to approve or to block it.
ROMANS: President Obama is in Jamaica on the first leg of the journey that takes it to historic meeting with 48 leaders of Caribbean nations. He then heads to the Summit of Americas in Panama where he will likely see Cuba's Raul Castro. Top administration officials say security against terrorism and energy top on the agenda of the issues to highlight.
One of the president's first stops in Jamaica, a tour of the Bob Marley Museum, which happens to be the former home of the reggae legend.
BERMAN: No anchor no cry.
All right. The president is calling for an end to conversion therapy for gay and transgender youth. The president condemned the practice which is aimed at making gay people straight. Critics call it medically and morally unsound. The White House started a petition in honor of a transgender girl who killed herself in December.
[04:40:00] So far, that petition has received 120,000 signatures in just three months.
ROMANS: All right. Time for an early start on your money. European and Asian shares are mostly higher. Hong Kong -- seven-year-high for Hong Kong stocks. U.S. stock futures though were down just a bit right now. You know, yesterday, stocks had a bit of a gain. That's because of the Federal Reserves. Looks like an interest rate hike may be put off until September or even later.
The rich are getting richer. According to new data from the IRS, the top 400 taxpayers made $336 million on average in 2012. Compare that to $220 million just a year earlier. That is a big gain for those top tax households. They paid about $56 million in taxes. That's about 17 percent of their income. Some even paid less than 10 percent.
That's not the rate that they're supposed to pay. Loopholes? Tax system? Sixteen big volumes of that thing. Rich people find ways to pay less taxes.
BERMAN: Rich people.
ROMANS: War escalating in Yemen. U.S. and Iran taking opposing sides. This morning, Secretary of State John Kerry with a new warnings to Iran. We are live after the break.
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BERMAN: Happening this morning, Secretary of State John Kerry issuing a blunt warning to Iran. The secretary says efforts to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran will not stop the U.S. from siding with Saudi Arabia against Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen.
[04:45:00] The Iranian state news agency says Iran is deploying its navy off the coast of Yemen now.
Secretary Kerry tells PBS that the U.S. has been tracking Iranian supply flights into Yemen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: We are well-aware of the support that Iran has been giving to Yemen. And Iran needs to recognize that the United States is not going to stand by while the region is destabilized.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: For the latest on the crisis in Yemen, let's turn to senior international correspondent Nic Robertson standing by in southern Saudi Arabia this morning.
Good morning, Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, John.
Well, we've heard the president of Iran, President Rouhani, almost respond directly to what Secretary Kerry has said there. He said that there should be talks, that people should get around the peace table and begin talks to protect and save the plight of Yemenis. According to the U.N., more than 500 have been killed in the fighting so far, over 300 of those civilians.
The Iranian president is saying that talks are better than war. However, what he is also saying and this is where it starts to get difficult -- he is saying that the future of Yemen should be decided by the Yemeni people. That is a clear strike of Saudi Arabia because Saudi Arabia is leading the coalition to rid the country of the Houthis or at least bring them to the negotiating table.
Iran now sees Saudi Arabia now as meddling in Yemen. Saudi Arabia sees Iran as meddling in Yemen. Certainly evidence Secretary Kerry talks about it. The Iranians are giving support and aid to the Houthis.
The Saudis here believe it. The Yemeni government certainly believes it. The foreign minister of Yemen was saying that yesterday. So, it really adds to the complexity of the situation.
For the people in Aden and south of Yemen where the fighting is hardest, a small note of relief for them. Two medical supply vessels were able to get in and drop off about 2 1/2 tons of medical equipment, anesthetic and surgical equipment and two medical teams. Even in that tiny city, the real problem for people there is just getting to the hospitals themselves, never mind the equipment to help them once they get there, John.
BERMAN: How do you move? There are a lot of people caught in the middle of this right now.
Nic Robertson, thanks so much.
ROMANS: A fourth New York City man indicted in an ISIS-inspired plot pleaded not guilty at a hearing Wednesday. Twenty-six-year-old Dilkhayot Kasimov allegedly raised money to send two of his co- defendants to join the militant group. Authorities say he also encouraged others to engage in violent jihad. Three of his co- defendants all pleaded not guilty.
BERMAN: Rand Paul's presidential campaign hit a few bumps in the road. He is taking criticism for his combative back-and-forth with NBC's Savannah Guthrie who actually asked the question during the interview. He cut her off, accusing her of editorializing when she asked about some inconsistencies in his foreign policy record.
Now, Senator Paul had already been accused of being condescending to CNBC's Kelly Evans in February when he shushed her and told her to calm down when she asked questions. For his part, Senator Paul told CNN Wednesday he has been universally testy with both male and female --
ROMANS: Do you think that's true? Have you seen he'd been testy with men?
BERMAN: Yes, he actually has. He just doesn't like being asked questions by reporters or reporters pushed back.
ROMANS: The question that Savannah Guthrie posed to him was she posited, look, since 2007, your views on Iran have clearly changed. Your position has changed. He said that is editorializing. She said, no, that's a question.
BERMAN: It's a long campaign, too, and he's going to get a lot of question. Here's the thing though, there are some people who dislike the media. So, when you are aggressive toward the media, sometimes it helps you. We'll see how this plays out.
The senator also weighed in the South Carolina police shooting. He is urging people not to jump to conclusions about officers because of the actions of one.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. RAND PAUL (R-KY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think when you look at police across our country, 98 percent, 99 percent of them are doing their job on a day-to-day basis and aren't doing things like this. I just want to be careful that we don't paint with a broad brush that somehow all of our police are bad. In this particular instance, I hope justice does occur, but I hope we don't paint it with such a broad brush that we draw conclusions that may not be accurate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Now, Hillary Clinton tweeted her thoughts about the shooting, saying, quote "Praying for Walter Scott's family. Heart breaking and too familiar. We can do better -- rebuild trust, reform justice system, respect all lives."
ROMANS: All right. Severe storms tearing through the Midwest, folks. And it's not over yet, a real threat facing 90 million of you this morning. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [04:53:22] ROMANS: A wild spring weather this morning. Millions of people today are in the path of violent storms moving across the country right now. Severe thunderstorms ripped through the Midwest Wednesday.
Look at this very large hail and heavy winds and flash flooding, damaged buildings and leveled trees. And this morning, residents left to pick up the pieces after a tornado tore through Missouri.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I thought the roof was going to come off. I could hear the hail popping. Every once and a while, I looked out and went back to the bathroom. It was horrible. I could not see anything. I kept waiting for it to get done with, because it would slack down, and it was starting again. I looked out and I thought oh, my Lord.
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ROMANS: Wow. Thousands still without power in Missouri and Illinois.
BERMAN: Yes. So, the severe weather threat is now headed towards the big cities. Let's see where.
Meteorologist Derek Van Dam following it for us -- Derek.
DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, John and Christine.
The same storm system responsible for the severe weather across parts of the Midwest this Wednesday continues to march east. We really do have a collision of two different air mass, warm and moist air from the Gulf, colliding with our cool and dry Canadian air behind our cold front. That set the stage for more severe today. In fact, we have upwards of 95 million people under slight or enhanced risk of severe weather. That includes large hail and damaging winds and the possibility of isolated strong tornadoes.
Keep in mind, this does include Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati, all the way southward to Nashville, Little Rock, and just outside of Dallas. Here's a storm system continuing to move eastward. High pressure will eventually clear out the skies and make for a pretty decent weekend across the Midwest, including the Chicago and Detroit area.
[04:55:06] The forecast radar shows quite a bit of heavy rainfall moving from Illinois through Wisconsin, even parts of Michigan and the Ohio River Valley.
Temperatures today will be rather cold for New York, 46 degrees for your daytime high. Compare that to 86 in Atlanta. Not to bad.
Back to you.
ROMANS: Not bad in Atlanta. I'm so over it. You can tell me it will snow tomorrow and say OK, because it's just, I'm over it. It's horrible. Fifty-five minutes past the hour.
You may want to take a second look at the hummus sitting in your fridge.
BERMAN: Oh, man.
ROMANS: Uh-oh. We'll tell you why.
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ROMANS: All right. Time for an early start on your money this morning. European and Asian shares are mostly higher. Hong Kong is a seven-year high. U.S. stock futures putting a bit lower here.
The Fed, the Federal Reserve still has some concerns about the American economy. We learned that with the last Fed meeting. You know, strong dollar stunting economic growth, subpar consumer spending. Sluggish wage growth, all of that together means maybe an interest rate hike may come later. That game of Fed guessing I predict will continue for the next year or so.
A big recall for one of the most popular hummus makers in the country. Sabra is recalling 30,000 cases of hummus because of potential listeria contamination. Listeria can cause serious, sometimes fatal infections in children and elderly people. Others may suffer from nausea, high fever, severe headache. The FDA urging anyone with that hummus in your refrigerator. Please take a look at it. Clear it out, don't eat it.
BERMAN: Bad hummus.
EARLY START continues right now.
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