Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Jail Document: Bland Previously Attempted Suicide; Trump Defends Attacks on Opponents; Selling the Iran Nuclear Deal; Secretary Carter lands in Baghdad; Security Concerns Surround President's Kenya Trip. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired July 23, 2015 - 04:00   ET

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


[04:00:24] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: New information in the mysterious death of activist Sandra Bland. New documents detailing her depression and a previous suicide attempt.

Donald Trump heading to the border this morning as we learn new information about his finances, and he defends his attacks on competitors.

The Obama administration trying to sell the Iran nuclear deal here at home and around the world. New progress the White House is making.

Plus, breaking news: the defense secretary is landing in Baghdad minutes ago. We've got details of that ahead.

Good morning. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. It is Thursday, July 23rd, 4:00 a.m. in the East. Good morning, everyone.

We begin this morning with the latest developments in the death of Sandra Bland, the Illinois woman who police say hanged herself in a Texas jail cell three days after she was arrested during a routine traffic stop. The results of an autopsy ordered by her family expected to be available today.

And there are details of the videotapes of Bland's arrest, tapes that appear to be edited. Now, police denied altering the video, passing it off as a technical issue. We are also learning from authorities Bland told a jail employee she recently tried to commit suicide.

And we are hearing the first time a voicemail that Bland left for a friend one day after her arrest.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

SANDRA BLAND'S VOICEMAIL FROM JAIL: Hey, this is me. I'm -- I just was able to see the judge. I don't really know, they have me at a $5,000 bond. I'm still just at a loss for words, honestly, about this who process. How did this witching lanes with no signal turn into all of this, I don't even know. But I'm still here. So I guess call me back when you can.

(END AUDIO CLIP) ROMANS: For the latest on the Sandra Bland death investigation, here is CNN's Ryan Young.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, just a lot of information coming from the jail. In fact, new documents show that when there was an intake here are at jail with Sandra Bland, that she marked here that says she attempted suicide in 2014 after losing a child and apparently she tried to use pills to commit suicide.

On page four, though, it says that she suffers from epilepsy. But the question number 12 of page 4 says, "Have you ever attempted suicide?", and that's marked no. So, there are questions about the paper work that's coming from the jail. But jailers putting to page 2 where it says she did try to commit suicide. A lot of questions about how the jail manages people who obviously have said they tried to commit suicide before. Are there more checks for somebody who has gone through that process? That's something that we'll be asking the next couple of days.

We have also learned from officials about the idea that she may have been cutting her arm and using marijuana to self-medicate. All this goes into the background and makeup of Sandra Bland, questions that need to be answered as investigators try to find out what happened in the jail -- Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: Certainly, a lot of pieces still to put together. Thank you for that, Ryan.

All right. In politics, Donald Trump heading to the Texas/Mexico border today. The Republican front runner scheduled to meet with border patrol and law enforcement officials in Laredo. He says they invited him to come because they want to honor for speaking up about immigration.

The billionaire businessman also defending his treatment of fellow Republicans, telling CNN's Anderson Cooper he is just reacting to their personal attacks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: They are saying horrible things, like, I don't even know these people and they're saying this. Now, am I supposed to -- you know, to say oh, it is OK for them to say -- one guy, I guess it was Lindsey Graham called me a jackass. So, am I supposed to say, oh, it's OK if I'm called this? I'm called a jackass. You have to fight back. The country has to fight back. Everyone's pushing our country around. We can't allow that, Anderson.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Is it presidential, though?

TRUMP: I think it's presidential to fight back.

COOPER: To give out a personal phone number of your opponents?

TRUMP: Well, that was a long story. I mean, you have to see the long story, the whole story the way it morphed, OK? That was a whole long story, where he wanted to get on "Fox & Friends" and he called me out of the blue. I never met the guy. Then he wanted to come in for campaign contributions.

And then he starts hitting me years later, then I happened to have this crazy phone number. And I held it up. I said this guy was over here. And actually, as you probably know, the room was packed, standing room only, in fact they had, theaters, it was overflow crowd, closed circuit television into other rooms. The place went wild. We all had a good time.

COOPER: But is that presidential?

TRUMP: I think so. I think it's fine.

COOPER: Is that something as president, when you're opposed by somebody in Congress, you would give out their personal phone number?

TRUMP: I was hit by somebody unfairly. I was called names by somebody. So, he was up, somebody's hitting me saying what a bad guy I am, was up in my office asking for money asking and asking if I can get him on television --

(CROSSTALK)

COOPER: When you are president of the United States, you're going to be hit by half of the country.

[04:05:02] TRUMP: That's true.

COOPER: Are you going to call them, dumb, stupid?

TRUMP: No, I think it's a little bit different. Right now, I'm trying to do something to make the country great again. Politicians will never make this country great again. Now --

COOPER: As president, you would change your tone?

TRUMP: Oh, I think so.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: We also have information about Trump's wealth. His filings with the Federal Election Commission say he earns income from more than 150 separate deals ranging from real estate to footwear. And he holds executive and board positions with more than 500 different companies and partnerships.

Turning now to the Iran nuclear deal. The White House selling the agreement hard here and abroad. Secretary of State John Kerry, along with the energy and treasury secretaries expected to face tough questions in the Senate hearing this morning. House Speaker John Boehner already vowing Republicans will do everything possible to kill this deal.

The Defense Secretary Ash Carter meeting with the Saudi leaders trying to assure them the agreement won't help Iran expand its military reach the Middle East.

And breaking this morning, Secretary Carter touching down this hour in Baghdad. That visit unannounced.

Let's get the latest from CNN's Jomana Karadsheh live from Amman, Jordan. What is the secretary doing in Iraq?

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Christine, one would assume the focus of this visit is going to be the fight against ISIS, while most of his Middle East tour has been meeting with allies and trying to reassure them about the U.S.'s commitment to these allies, whether Jordan, Israel or Saudi Arabia when it comes to the Iran deal.

In Iraq, he is scheduled today to meet with Iraqi leaders, including Prime Minister Haider al Abadi, the minister of defense there, and also members of the Sunni leadership in the country. He's also expected to meet with U.S. forces there. As you know, more than 3,000 U.S. troops in the country as trainers and advisers overseeing that fight against ISIS.

So, we would expect Secretary Carter to be discussing the latest when it comes to the battle on the ground there led by the Iraqis supported by the coalition, air strikes and U.S. advisers in that against ISIS in Iraq. And, Christine, we would expect Iraqi leaders here to voice what we heard them say in the past, they want more support in the fight against ISIS. They say they need more coalition air strikes, more intelligence-sharing, and they want expedited weapons and shipments and training.

When it comes to shipments, course, the U.S. has just delivered its first batch of F-16s to Iraq, something the Iraqis ordered in 2011. And this is something the Iraqis have been praising in recent days.

And, of course, we would expect Secretary Carter here to be asking the Iraqis to do more when it comes to incorporating Sunni fighters into this battle against ISIS, for example, on the ground and other things the U.S. would also expect to see from the Iraqi leadership in this critical fight against ISIS -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Jomana Karadsheh, thanks for that. Again, the defense secretary unexpected trip to Baghdad this morning, just landing. Thank you, Jomana.

ISIS is now a bigger threat to the U.S. than al Qaeda because of its ability to inspire Americans to commit acts of domestic violence. That's the assessment from the director of the FBI, James Comey admitting there is no way to know just how many troubled Americans have been influenced by ISIS during the social media campaign to kill where you are. That's their slogan.

He says the FBI has arrested a significant number of people who have been radicalized in the last eight weeks with hundreds of other ongoing investigation.

The FBI director also warning lawmakers that terrorists are becoming increasingly more interested in launching cyber attacks against the U.S. Comey says the plotting appears to be in its early stages, but the bureau is picking up a lot of chatter and the threat level could grow.

The White House in the final stages of drafting the plan to shut down the terrorist prison at Guantanamo Bay for good. Any plan would have to be approved by Congress. Right now, lawmakers have a ban in place blocking the transfer of Gitmo inmates to the United States. And officials in Havana are demanding the U.S. turned Guantanamo back over to Cuban control.

Nine minutes past the hour. Let's get an early start of your money. CNN Money correspondent Alison Kosik here.

Another bad day for stocks yesterday. What's going on?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: It was kind of one of those bad days.

We saw the Dow, Christine, fall for the second day in a row, tumbling 68 points. We watched stocks lose ground, way down, via 4 percent decline in shares of Apple, and that's after Apple didn't sell as many iPhones last quarter as expected. But today, U.S. futures are pointing higher, and European markets are also doing the same.

$18.5 million, that's how much Discover Bank will pay for illegal student loan practices. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says Discover inflated bills and misled student borrowers about their tax benefits. Discover also violated debt collection rules by calling people really early in the morning or late at night. $16 million of the fine will be refunded to more than 100,000 consumers.

The rest of the money will be paid as a penalty. Discover violated debt collection rules by calling people early in the morning or late at night.

[04:10:00] Sixteen million dollars of the fine will be refunded to more than 100,000 consumers. And, Christine, the rest of that money is going to be paid as a penalty, you know, kind of a slap on the wrist.

ROMANS: Right.

KOSIK: Believe it or not, not a huge fine there, but I think it is the first action by the CFPB. So, that is significant.

ROMANS: It is, and we have seen the CFPB just getting a little more active recently, trying to go after some of these, that's what it's supposed to do.

All right. Thank you so much. Nice to see you, Alison. We'll talk to you again later in the half hour. Lindsey Graham firing back at Donald Trump after the Republican

frontrunner gave out the senator's cell phone number on live TV. Take a look at this video produced by a conservative web site entitled, "How to destroy your cellphone with Lindsey Graham". It features the senator using a meat cleaver, a blender, a golf club, and anything else he could find to stop the calls.

The video ending with this parting shot from Graham.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If all else fails, you can always give your number to The Donald. This is for all the veterans.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Lindsey Graham's cell phone number has been disconnected since Trump announced it at a rally on national television.

All right. New trouble this morning for Bill Cosby. A new sexual assault lawsuit against him moving forward. We've got the details.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Another legal setback for Bill Cosby. California's Supreme Court rejecting his request to block a civil suit by a woman Judith Huth, who claims the comedian molested her at the Playboy Mansion back in 1974, when she was 15 years old. It means her case can proceed.

Attorney Gloria Allred says she will seek to question Cosby under oath for the next 30 days. Meantime, Cosby's lawyers are trying to keep the settlement in another sexual assault case under wraps.

We get more from CNN's Jean Casarez.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, the legal battle continues in the Bill Cosby case. Now, Cosby, along with his attorneys, have filed a motion in federal court asking a judge to keep sealed a confidential settlement agreement involving the very first accuser back in 2006.

[04:15:01] Andrea Constand brought a 2005 civil suit, alleging saying Cosby had drugged and sexually assaulted her at his home near Philadelphia in 2004. Constand was an employee at Temple University and got to know Cosby. She is asking the judge to unseal the full record a decade later.

Ironically, this weekend, Cosby's sealed deposition from that suit became public because of a court reporting service releasing it. CNN obtained an independent copy of Cosby's sworn testimony where he says that his relationship with Constand was consensual.

Constand's deposition has never been unsealed and she has never spoken because she is bound to secrecy. Her civil suit never went to trial because of the negotiated deal was reached. Constand received money from Cosby. And she along with Cosby agreed they would never talk about the relationship or the agreement.

Cosby says in his motion, quote, "Plaintiff does not seek to void the entire settlement agreement. Obviously she wants to keep what she was paid."

Constand says he and his representatives have spoken out numerous times since last fall when other accusers have come forward which violated the agreement, she says. So, she shouldn't have to be the one accuser that stays silent. Cosby is saying a deal is a deal. And the only reason he agreed to a monetary settlement is because he wanted to keep this case private -- Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Jean, thank you for that.

New details emerging from the investigation into the fatal shooting of five servicemen in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Law enforcement officials say the slain servicemen risked their lives distracting Mohammad Abdulazeez from a larger group of potential victims as he opened fire. Abdulazeez was killed by Chattanooga police.

Now, although the gunman's motive may never been known, FBI investigators believe he was radicalized in some way.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ED REINHOLD, FBI SPECIAL AGENT: At this time, we are treating him as a homegrown violent extremist. We believe he acted on his own that day. We believe he entered the facility on his own. We do not have any indication that anyone else was assisting him on that day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Tennessee's governor says all seven of the National Guard recruiting centers have been relocated to guard armories as a security measure.

The Justice Department bringing federal hate crime charges against Dylann Roof. The 21-year-old accused of a deadly shooting spree last month where nine people were killed. Attorney general says roof planned the attack for months and he chose the historic Emanuel AME church because it was significance in the African-American community.

The federal indictment along with state charges raising the possibility prosecutors will seek the death.

Dozens of protesters gathering at city hall in Cincinnati Wednesday, demanding justice for Samuel Dubose. The unarmed black numerous fatally by a white University of Cincinnati police officer last week. Police say they have completed their investigation and presented the findings to prosecutors who will determine if charges, criminal charges are warranted. Presidential candidate Rand Paul pushing to defund Planned Parenthood, citing concerns raised by under cover video that appears to show organization officials discussing the sale of fetal tissue from abortion. The Kentucky senator introducing an amendment to cut off federal support for Planned Parenthood, eliminating nearly $500 million in funding.

Severe storms possible today in the Southeast and the Northern Plains, and extreme heat in the forecast for parts of the South and the Central U.S.

Let's get the latest from meteorologist Ivan Cabrera.

IVAN CABRERA, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Christine, we are going to talk about some thunderstorms this afternoon. We have that front, the one that brought us the cooler temperatures across the Northeast, well, it's draped across the Southeastern United States and we have heat ongoing there and by the time we get into the afternoon, the front is going to help to enhance some day thunderstorm activity.

So, we'll watch for the potential of some severe storms popping here. But the bull's eye for storms with another boundary here across the Dakotas. That will be also move further to the east over the next couple of days.

So, what are expecting? Well, damaging winds potential always with severe storms, hail and the possibility of some isolated tornadoes, especially up towards the north, Bismarck, across the Dakotas there.

But you see that area of yellow begins to push a little bit further to the East. So, that includes a lot more people by the time we get into the day on Friday to kickoff our weekend with the potential of damaging winds and large hail, and through Minneapolis as well.

Further South, we continue with the heat, the temperatures in the 90s once again. We have some areas where it feels like the triple digits of these showers and storms will be welcomed, I think, by the afternoon -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Ivan, thank you for that this morning.

The Centers for Disease Control reporting a salmonella outbreak that has sicken more than 60 people in 11 states. Most of them in Arizona and California. The outbreak linked to sushi made with raw tuna. Officials say 11 people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. As a result of the outbreak, the Osamu Corporation has issued two recalls of tuna processed at a plant in Indonesia.

[04:20:07] All right. The president's visit to Africa raising new security concerns this morning. We're live with the latest after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: President Obama heading to his father's homeland in Kenya today and that is raising security concerns. We get the latest from CNN's Nima Elbagir in Nairobi.

Whenever the president travels, there is always a great concern about his safety and the safety of his delegation. Tell us the preparations they are making for this trip to Africa.

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Christine. This country is reeling from the terror outrage in the northeastern province, when nearly 150 people were killed, there's also going to be a greater sense of unease, we should say, when you're hosting a dignitary of this stature.

The Kenyans are sounding like they are not leaving anything to chance. Major roads are closed off hours before the president's convoy even touches down. There has been, we can probably called a security gaffe, a little bit of the embarrassment with some of the details surrounding his flight plan leaking to the Kenyan aviation authority and being posted across social media.

The White House is brushing that off, saying that this isn't a trip to Afghanistan or Iraq. And they would expect that some of this would leak out through the news media at some point anyway. They do stress that they don't believe there is a direct threat to the president.

[04:25:00] But given what we have seen in the past and given their concerns over what they're calling increased chatter among East African terror group, there will always be a concern about the targeting of soft targets.

But it is going ahead. And I have to tell you, the sense here, in spite of all this security concerns, the sense here really is of celebration. People are so proud that President Obama has chosen to come here. And, realistically, this is a key ally in the war on terror in the regional terror threat. So, there's an expectation that these concerns are going to rise, but that doesn't mean that it is any less important for the president to be here, Christine.

ROMANS: We saw the name of the school named after Senator Obama. Are there plans for him, you know, to visit his father's family in Kenya?

ELBAGIR: Well, the family are certainly hoping so, and we are hearing reports, still unconfirmed, that some of the members of the family might be invited to the state dinner. We still don't know exactly.

But I met his step grandmother before. She is a formidable lady. And she expects, she says, to see him. So, I'm guessing they're going to try and find a way to make that happen. That is not someone you want to upset -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Thank you so much for that, Nima Elbagir, in Kenya for us this morning.

Now, new information in the mysterious death of Sandra Bland. Documents revealing she was depressed and tried to kill herself last year. The family still is not buying all this. Details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) ROMANS: New information in the jail cell death of Sandra Bland. What she said about her depression and previous suicide attempt, ahead.