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Huge Amount of Evidence from Biker Brawl; Amtrak Derailment Investigation; U.S. Vows to Fight ISIS for Key Iraqi City; Demilitarizing Law Enforcement. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired May 19, 2015 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:00] POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Bikers revenge. Police warning that rival biker gangs could be bringing their fight back to Waco, picking up where a deadly brawl left off. What we're learning this morning, ahead.

Also, investigators revealing new information about the deadly Amtrak derailment. What they are saying about possible causes of the crash.

Happening now: The United States vowing to help take back a key Iraqi city from ISIS. Why Ramadi is crucial and how Iran is helping in this fight, ahead.

Good morning, everyone. Five a.m. here on the East Coast. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Poppy Harlow. It is Tuesday, May 19th.

This morning, police in Waco, Texas, are bracing for the possibility that motorcycle gangs would go to war in the wake of shout-out at that Twin Peaks restaurant that left at least nine dead, 18 hospitalized, and at least 170 people under arrest.

A new law enforcement bulletin says that leaders of the Bandidos and Cossacks biker gangs have reportedly told members to arm themselves and to head to the Waco area. The bulletin warns police presence will not stop the gangs from attacking one another.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SGT. W. PATRICK SWANTON, WACO POLICE DEPARTMENT: When the threat was put out towards law enforcement officers caused us to really step up our game. Obviously, it's something we are concerned about. We would encourage biker groups to stand down. There has been enough bloodshed. There's been enough death here. We don't need additional death in the Waco area.

JIMMY GRAVES, BANDIDOS MOTORCYCLE CLUB MEMBER: We are not a gang. We do not do gang things. They reading too many comic books and watching too many "B" rated biker movies. We have been stereotyped. We are not thugs. Mainly, when we find a thug in our bunch, we get rid of them.

(END VIDEO CLIP) HARLOW: Late Monday, a Waco judge set bail for many of the jailed suspects at $1 million each. Sources tell CNN the brawl was mainly over territory, and that the Bandidos don't allow motorcycle clubs to wear the Texas insignia.

The reportedly clash came as no surprise to police. A law enforcement bulletin obtained by the WFAA televisions warns of escalating violence between these two biker gangs. In turn, Waco police say they warned the Twin Peaks restaurant of danger, but that the restaurant just ignored that advice to keep those biker gangs out.

CNN's Kyung Lah has the latest now from Waco.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Poppy.

Law enforcement says the scene is so large that there is so much evidence that the processing of it, the collection of it will spill over into a second day. So, this morning, a continuation of what we've been seeing.

Police primarily focusing on what they can collect like the motorcycles. They are pushing motorcycle after motorcycle on to flatbed trucks, hauling away dozens of them. They are also going through the individual cars, and trying to decide if they're going to release them to the owners or move that into evidence.

More than 100 guns have been collected by police, in addition to other weapons, like knives, batons and chains with padlocks on them. A hundred seventy people in all have been arrested. The sheriff is telling us there are so many people, they had to put the suspects on city buses and then bring them to the convention center for processing.

As far as the restaurant, police say they are now getting cooperation from the owners. The law enforcement here is saying that all of this carnage could have been avoided had the restaurant cooperated with the police in the first place -- Poppy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: Kyung, thank you very much.

Also new this morning, Shiite militia fighters are preparing to retake the capital of Iraq's Anbar province from ISIS. Iraqi security sources telling CNN that nearly 3,000 fighters and the Iranian-backed Hashid al-Shabi militia are gathering at an air base east of Ramadi. This just days after ISIS blasted its way into Ramadi stronghold with armored bulldozers and a series of car bombs. The White House on Monday conceding the loss of Ramadi is a setback, promising to help the Iraqi government retake the city.

Let's go to straight to CNN's Ian Lee. He is following the developments in Iraq for us this morning. Good morning to you, Ian. What is the likelihood that we will see a

successful outcome with the U.S. and Iraqi security forces are hoping to see which is to push ISIS back out of Ramadi?

IAN LEE, CNN REPORTER: Well, good morning, Poppy.

It is going to be extremely difficult for any operation to push ISIS out of Ramadi. If we just take the battle for Tikrit as an example. Despite having 30,000 soldiers making a part of the Iraqi army, these popular mobilization units, the Shiite militias and Sunni tribes, they said it would take days, but it ended up being weeks. That's because ISIS knows how to dig in and hold territory. They have these roadside bombs. They know how to set booby traps.

So, when you lose ground to is. It is difficult to take it back, especially in the areas where are predominately Sunni. Where there is some support for ISIS. We know in 2005 and 2006 when the United States military was in Anbar province, we saw some of the bloodiest battles and bloodiest confrontation there.

[05:05:01] So, it is going to be very difficult. It wasn't until the United States worked with the Sunni tribes that they were able to bring some sort of order there. Well, this time, it's going to be even more difficult because you do have the Shiite militias that have bad blood with a lot of Sunnis. We have seen them in other areas commit crimes.

So, it is going to be difficult for them to retake it. Even though they do have that support from the U.S. air strikes, it doesn't seem to be able to help that much, Poppy.

HARLOW: I know that the United States and the past few days has said they are rushing more equipment, more arms, more vehicles et cetera over to help the Iraqi security forces. That takes a lot of time. Is there hope that they will get help in the ground fight at least in terms of supplies?

LEE: Well, yes, there is more weapons and more supplies going to the Iraqi military, but as we saw in Ramadi, when they pulled out, they left a lot of those weapons behind which then goes to resupply ISIS. A lot of the weapons ISIS has are weapons that were left behind by the Iraqi military.

And ISIS has the will. That's the real thing that you have to have -- the will to go in and fight. And for ISIS, they have it. For the Iraqi army, we just still haven't seen it yet.

HARLOW: And finally for the people, the people of Ramadi. You have to think about the families and their children stuck in the middle. U.N. saying 25,000 have been able to flee, Ian, in the last 48 hours. But that's a very small portion of all of the civilians there.

LEE: That's right. That's about 1/10 of the population of Ramadi able to flee. And believe it or not, they are the lucky ones. They do need food, water and medical care and shelter. But for those remaining, we know that ISIS does not treat captives

well. Many times executing them or selling them off into slavery. The spokesman of Anbar province gave an account of one incident. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MUHANNAD HAIMOU, SPOKESMAN, ANBAR PROVINCE: On the first day that ISIS took over the city, they executed a 3-year-old girl whose father was fighting against ISIS. He later died in battle.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEE: Poppy, that is the brutal reality and gruesome reality of what life is like under is. It looks like it will be like that for a while until Iraqi security forces with these militias are able, if they are able, to push them out of Ramadi.

HARLOW: Devastating. Thanks very much, Ian. I appreciate it.

President Obama ordering the federal government to stop distributing military equipment to local police departments. The president says those armored vehicles and war zone weapons make police look like occupying forces rather than public servants.

As CNN's senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta tells us, this new ban takes effect immediately.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Poppy, nine months after riots turned the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, into what looked like a combat zone, the White House is outlining reforms aimed demilitarizing law enforcement. Under the new policy, federal agencies would be barred from providing police agencies with tank-like vehicles, weaponized the aircraft, high caliber weapons, grenade launchers and camouflage uniforms.

The administration would control, but still allow the acquisition of the armored vehicles that were roaming Ferguson if police departments can show officers are being trained properly. Also permitted under certain conditions are manned aircraft, drones, guns, explosives and riot gear. And after meeting with police officials in Camden, New Jersey, yesterday, the president said too many police agencies look like an occupying force.

Here's what he had to say.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It can alienate and intimidate local residents and send the wrong message. So, we're going to prohibit some equipment made for the battlefield that is not appropriate for local police departments.

ACOSTA: The National Sheriffs Association worries the White House will overreach and leave officers and deputies outgunned. The White House says these new restrictions on that list of banned military equipment takes effect right away. The new training requirements for police departments seeking military hardware kick in later this year -- Poppy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: Jim, thank you.

The Supreme Court cracking down on double taxation. This is a ruling that could cost the states and cities millions and millions of dollars. The justices siding with Maryland residents who've been forced to pay a state income tax even if they work and pay income tax outside of that state. North Carolina and Wisconsin also double dipped, as do cities like right here in New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Detroit. The Supreme Court ruling is expected to cost Maryland $200 million.

All right. Let's get an early start on your money. CNN Money correspondent Alison Kosik is with us.

Good morning.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

And we are seeing stocks at new record this morning. Yesterday, the Dow climbing 26 points to top its previous March closing high. The S&P hit a record for the third day in a row. And it looks like that momentum could continue. Right now, we are seeing stock futures are pointing higher.

Also, a lot for investors to go through this morning to direct the trade before the bell. We're going to hear from Walmart, T.J.Maxx and Home Depot.

[05:10:00] Apple losing its claim over the design of the iPhone. A federal appeals court ruled that Apple cannot seek damages from Samsung for copying the basic design of the iPhone.

Now, the phones do look very hauntingly similar, and rectangular body, rounded edges, the placement of the apps on the screen as well. But the court says the overall look of the iPhone to smart phones that Apple cannot prevent others from copying it.

HARLOW: It's a huge win.

KOSIK: Yes, imitation, though, the highest form of flattery.

HARLOW: Of course, I'm not exactly sure they see it that way.

KOSIK: I don't think so either.

HARLOW: Alison, thanks very much. Appreciate it.

Well, a new challenge for President Obama. How to communicate in under 140 characters? The president on Monday joining the Twitter verse with his own handle, @potus, promising to engage personally with the American people, not through a staff member. His first post was a greeting. It reads, "Hello, Twitter. It is Barack. Really, six years in, they're finally giving me my own account." @potus already has more than 1 million followers. There you go, less than 24 hours in, including President Clinton who posed this question, "Does that username stay with the office adding?" Adding #askingforafriend.

Well, the FBI is releasing information into what may have caused the deadly Amtrak derailment as injured passengers band together in court. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: Iran is set to begin the trial of a "Washington Post" report for alleged espionage next week. Iran's semi official news agency says the first court session in the trial of Jason Rezaian will start on Tuesday. He is "The Washington Post" bureau chief in Tehran. He is a dual U.S. and Iranian citizen. He has been held by Iran, charged with spying, since last July. The U.S. State Department calling those allegations absurd.

The FBI ruling out a gunshot as the contributing cause of the deadly Amtrak derailment, after examining that grapefruit size damage to the train's windshield.

[05:15:01] The NTSB says it is possible that another object may have struck the windshield. And there is a mass action lawsuit focusing on the train's speed and lack of speed control technology. Law enforcement meanwhile is keeping its focus on the man who was at the controls of Amtrak 188.

We get more now from CNN's Rene Marsh.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RENE MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Poppy, we have been speaking with law enforcement and government sources here in Philadelphia. And they all indicate that there is a sharp focus on the engineer and his experience, as well as his handling of the train. We do know that this engineer had been on this route, according to the NTSB, for several weeks. That's not a long time.

Now, we should point out although investigators say they are focusing on the engineer's handling of the train, that doesn't necessarily indicate anything criminal. In fact, we know Philadelphia police as well as the district attorney's office here, they're in a bit of a holding pattern. They want to wait and get definitive answers from the NTSB investigation before they move forward with their investigation.

We do know the NTSB has completed the analysis of the train's recorders. That is a fact. So far, so far, they say they have not found any sign of mechanical failure, but a source with the NTSB is stressing that it is too early to rule anything in or out. They say they will not determine the cause of this derailment until this investigation concludes. And, Poppy, they say that could take 12 months. Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: Rene, thank you for that.

As Baltimore recovers from those protests and riots that followed the fatal injury of Freddie Gray in police custody. New statistics reveal an alarming increase in shootings and murders in the city. From mid- April to mid-May, 31 people were killed in Baltimore, and 39 wounded by gunfire. And on two occasions, 10 people were shot in a single day. Police say there have been 91 homicides so far this year. That is 21 more than at the same point last year.

Also this breaking overnight, the State Department proposing a January 2016 deadline to complete its review and release of thousands of pages of e-mails that Hillary Clinton exchanged on a private server while she was secretary of state. Clinton turned over the electronic communications back in December. The agency is responding to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit seeking all of the former secretary of state's e-mails.

And New Jersey Governor Chris Christie still has not said whether he's running for president or not in 2016, but he sure sounded like a candidate on Monday, laying out his foreign policy vision in a speech in New Hampshire, also blasting the current nuclear negotiations with Iran.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: The framework we've negotiated here seems flimsy, and I have grave concerns over how we're going to make the Iranians live up to their end of the bargain and how we can insure proper, verifiable compliance. The deal structure will lead to a nuclear Iran and then a nuclearized Middle East. That not only threatens, everybody, it threatens the United States and it turns 70 years of nuclear deterrence policy on its head.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: The Iraq war has become a political football that prominent Republicans like Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio have bobbled.

Well, now, Rick Perry is weighing in on this. The former Texas governor and current White House hopeful says knowing what the world knows now, he would not have invaded Iraq as President Bush did. Speaking in Iowa, Perry blamed Iraq's troubles now, including the widespread of ISIS on President Obama. He accused the president of what he calls "delusional thinking."

Flooding and record rainfall possible as the cold front moves out east.

Let's bring in meteorologist Pedram Javaheri for an early look at your forecast.

It is chilly out there.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good Tuesday morning, Poppy. Good working with you again.

And look at the conditions around the really western United States, stretching all the way out towards the plains, the historic rainfall, the flooding that you're talking about.

The steering currents in the atmosphere had been in prime position to bring not only from rain across California, but, of course, the southern plains is really getting in on the action. Look at the numbers as far as what we are seeing above normal. Roughly 13 inches has come down in OKC this month, three is average. You worked your way toward, Dallas, more than doubling the monthly rainfall. And Austin is what you would receive, two is what you would expect for this time of year.

So, the tremendous rainfall unfortunately still in the forecast. The flooding concerns remain quite high. San Angelo to Dallas, and heavy rains upwards of two to four inches. Just south of Little Rock, as well as that region also getting in some heavy rainfall as well. Yes, snow showers across the screen there across the higher elevations of 8,000 feet in the high Rockies, upwards of 10 inches in a few isolated spots.

Severe weather generally confined to Western Texas, although mostly because of hail and wind. Your temperatures remain in the 80s in Dallas and upper mid-80s around the nation's capital.

[05:20:00] HARLOW: Thanks, Pedram. Appreciate it.

Well, the NFL and the New England Patriots holding secret private talks to settle the deflategate scandal and keep the two sides out of court. Andy Scholes has the details in the bleacher report. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: Welcome back to early start.

Another scary crash at the Indy 500. It has officials and fans concerned about driver safety heading into this weekend's big race. Andy Scholes has more in this morning's "Bleacher Report".

Good morning, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Poppy.

Yes, for the fourth time this week, an Indy car was pitched upside down after crashing. And this time, the driver was seriously injured. James Hinchcliffe's car had a mechanical problem and slammed into the wall during the yesterday's practice session. He is currently in stable condition after having surgery on his hip. He was driving a Honda model car.

The previous three crashes were in Chevrolet cars. And the fear is the new body style this year of the car is causing the crashes. Now, any car officials are so worried about this that they have made a last second rule change to slow the cars down and hopefully prevent any more crashes from happening on Sunday.

The Rangers were looking to go up 2-0 on the lightning last night in the Eastern Conference finals, but Tampa Bay's Taylor Johnson had other ideas. The 24-year-old had a hat trick, the first in lightning playoff history. Tampa Bay pulled away in the third period, winning this one easily 6-2. The series now tied a game apiece. Game 3 is tomorrow night.

[05:25:01] According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Patriots and NFL are engaged in back channel conversations to see if the two sides can resolve their differences without an appeal or possible litigation. Now, in speaking with Peter King, Patriots owner Robert Draft declined to comment on whether or not he would sue to try to get the deflate gate punishment reduced. Kraft is expected to be at the NFL's annual owner meeting which begin today in San Francisco.

All right. President Obama officially joined Twitter yesterday. Among the accounts he decided to follow were all of the Chicago pro- sports teams minus one, the Chicago Cubs. The White Sox, Obama's favorite baseball team tweeted a pic of the president in the White Sox jersey, thanking him for the follow.

And then about 15 minutes later, the Cubs replied with "@potus. We're big fans of America. Just saying. #youmissedateam."

HARLOW: Welcome to Twitter. Welcome to Twitter. We all make mistakes, right? Even the president.

SCHOLES: Poor Cubs. They can't win a World Series and they can't get President Obama to follow them on Twitter. (INAUDIBLE) for them.

HARLOW: Indeed.

All right. Andy, thank you. Appreciate it.

Well, police warning that the biker gang and violence that ensued from the biker gang clashes in Waco, Texas, may not be over. Threats of revenge just a day after the deadly brawl. The latest this morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: Biker gang clashes. Police warning that rival groups of bikers behind a deadly weekend brawl could be coming back for more violence. What we're learning this morning, ahead.

The FBI releasing new information into what could have caused that deadly Amtrak derailment and the war on ISIS now focused on a key Iraq city.