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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

New Information About the Death of Sandra Bland; Donald Trump Heading to the Border; Obama Administration Is Trying to Sell Iran Deal to Congress, Abroad. Aired 5:30-6:00a ET.

Aired July 23, 2015 - 05:30   ET

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


[05:30:00] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: New information this morning in the jail cell death of Sandra Bland. What she said about her depression and previous suicide attempt.

And Donald Trump heading to the border defending his attacks on his opponents, speaking to CNN.

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 landing in Baghdad this morning. Details ahead.

Welcome back to "Early Start." I'm Christine Romans. It is Thursday, 30 minutes past the hour. Nice to see you everyone.

Let's begin with these new developments in Texas 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.

Now, results of the autopsy ordered by her family expected to be available today. There are still questions about the surveillance tapes of Bland's arrest. Tapes that appeared to be edited. Watch that as that car disappears - the white car on the left. The police deny altering the video, they say it was a technical issue.

We are also learning from authorities that Bland told the jail employee she recently tried to commit suicide. We are hearing for the first time a voicemail Bland left for a friend one day after her arrest.

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

ROMANS: For the latest on the Sandra Bland death investigation, here's CNN's Ryan Young.

RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, there a lot of new information coming from the jail. In fact, new documents show that when there was an intake here at the jail with Sandra Bland, that she marked here that she said, 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 on page four 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 pointing to page two where she said, she did tried 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 text to somebody who has gone through that process. That's something that will be asking in the next couple of days. We also learned from the 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.

ROMANS: Ryan Young, thank you. Her family having a press conference yesterday, they are saying that she was not diagnosed or being treated for depression. That she had ups and downs just like anyone's else. Disputing - disputing some of the findings.

All right, to politics now. Donald Trump heading to the Texas/Mexico border today. The Republican frontrunner scheduled to meet with border patrol law enforcement officials in Laredo. He said they invited him to come because they want to honor him for speaking up about immigration. The billionaire businessman and reality show host also defending his treatment of fellow Republicans. He told CNN's Anderson Cooper he is just reacting to their personal attacks.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: They are saying horrible things like - I don't even know these people. And they are saying this, now, am I supposed to - you know, just say oh, it's 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 a jackass. I'm called a jackass. You have to fight back. The country has to fight back. Everyone is pushing our country around. We cannot allow that, Anderson.

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

TRUMP: I think it is presidential to fight back.

COOPER: To give out somebody's phone - to give out somebody's personal phone number?

TRUMP: Well, that was a long story. I mean, you have to see the whole story the way it morphed. OK. That was a whole story where he wanted to get on "Fox & Friends." And he called me up out of the blue, I never met the guy, that he wanted to come in for campaign contributions. He gave me his personal number and then he starts hitting me years later. And I happened to have this crazy phone number and I held it up and I said, this guy was over here. And actually, as you probably know, the room was packed, it was standing room only. In fact, they had other theaters that was overflowed, they had all sorts of closed circuits televisions 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: When you became the president, when you put somebody in congress, you will give out their personal phone number?

TRUMP: I was hit by somebody unfairly. I was called names by somebody. So he was up to somebody that's hitting me what a bad guy I am. So I was up in my office and asking for money and asking if I can get him on television and I don't even know.

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

TRUMP: That's true. That's true.

COOPER: Are you going to call them dumb?

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: I think so.

ROMANS: OK, if you're following the war of words, it started when Donald Trump disparaged the military record of Senator John McCain and then Graham disparaged Donald Trump. And now, it is not stopping there. Listen to the South Carolina's senator's latest comments to Brianna Keilar.

[05:35:00] LINDSEY GRAHAM, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think Donald Trump is a political car wreck. And people slow down and look at the wreck, but they eventually move on.

ROMANS: We also have new 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 projects to footwear. 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 hardly here and abroad. Secretary of State John Kerry, along with the Energy and Treasury Secretary will face tough questions at the senate hearing this morning.

The house speaker, John Boehner vowed Republicans will do everything possible to kill that deal. Defense Secretary Ash Carter meeting with Saudi leaders, he is trying to reassure them the agreement won't help Iran expand its military reach across the Middle East.

And breaking this morning, Secretary Carter just touched down last hour in Baghdad for an unannounced visit. Let's get the latest from CNN's Jomana Karadsheh live from Oman, Jordan. And he is there really in Iraq talking about the fight against ISIS.

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's what we would expect, Christine. As you mentioned, an unannounced visit in the past hour with the secretary arriving in Baghdad. He is scheduled to meet with the Iraqi leadership, including the Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi, the Minister of Defense for Iraq and also top Sunni officials there. Now, while most of his Middle East tour has been focused on reassuring allies here in the region, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Israel, when it comes to the Iran nuclear deal, we would expect the focus in Baghdad to be on the fight against ISIS.

Now we've heard the Iraqi officials in recent months saying that this campaign against ISIS has been going on, the military campaign for a year almost. And they say they need more. They say they are not getting enough support in this fight when it comes to what the coalition can provide them with including of course, the United States.

They say they want more when it comes to air strikes, but also intelligence gathering and more training and most importantly for Iraqis they say, they need weapons. They want to see expedited weapons shipments coming from the U.S.

Something that we have heard the U.S. promising Iraq recently. And we have seen the delivery of the first batch of F-16 fighter jets to the Iraqi air force. Something that the Iraqis wanted for a very long time. Now, ordering those planes back in 2011 and just receiving the first batch now.

But also at the same time, Christine, we would expect that the secretary of defense is also going to push the Iraqi leadership here on what the U.S. wants to see when it comes to the fight begins ISIS with the Iraqi forces leading the fight on the ground supported by coalition air strikes. The U.S. wants to see more inclusions of Sunnis when it comes to the fight against ISIS.

Something that is a key part to the U.S. strategy that they believe will be very important and critical in the fight against ISIS in different parts of the country especially in the Sunni areas like Anbar province for example.

And also, part of this trip, the secretary of defense is expected to meet later on with members of the military there in Iraq. More than 3,500 U.S. advisors and trainers based in Iraq. And we would expect them to tell them what they have told General Martin Dempsey during his visit a few days ago saying, right now, at this point, they think that there are enough troops they are overseeing the fight against ISIS.

Christine?

ROMANS: All right. Jomana Karadsheh for us this morning. And again, an unannounced visit in Iraq by the defense secretary. Thank you, Jomana.

ISIS 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 assessment from the director of FBI. James Comey, says if there is no way to know just how many troubled Americans have been influenced by ISIS during the terror group to a yearlong social media campaign to quote kill where you are.

He says, the FBI has arrested a significant number of people who have been radicalized in the last eight weeks with hundreds of other on-going investigation. The FBI director also warning lawmakers 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. The bureau is picking up a lot of chatter and the threat level could be growing.

The White House in the final exchanges of drafting a plan to shut down the terrorist prison at Guantanamo Bay permanently. Any plan would be need to be approved by congress. Right now a lawmaker have a ban is in place, blocking the transfer of Gitmo inmates into the United States. And officials in Havana are depending the U.S. turn Guantanamo back over to Cuban control.

We want to get an early start on your money this Thursday morning. CNN's Money Correspondent, Alison Kosik is here. And it was a tough day for stocks yesterday.

ALISON KOSIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It really was. Second quarter earnings season causing that - that action. We saw the downfall for the second day in a row falling 68 points. Shares of Apple declined 4 percent.

[05:40:00] So not only weighed down the Dow and also the Nasdaq as well. And that's after Apple said it didn't sell as many iPhones last quarter as expected. But this morning, we are seeing U.S. futures pointing higher. Also seeing green arrows for European market.

Fast food workers in New York State are one step closer to making $15 an hour. A state wage board yesterday approved Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposal. Now, the state's labor commissioner has to approve the raise. Businesses have been against the increase saying, higher wages will lead to fewer workers getting hired. The higher wage will happen first in New York City by 2018. And then by 2021 in the rest state. Now, this says applies to fast food chain was 30 or more locations. So we are seeing this sort of spread of the $15 wage. Not just Los Angeles, San Francisco, possibly here in New York City and then possibly Los Angeles. ROMANS: And we have seen some retailers actually raising it on

their own. They are trying to retain top talents that they have been raising it $1 at a time. All right. Thank you so much for that, Alison.

A new lawsuit against Bill Cosby of sexual assault. Why that case is now moving forward. Next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Another legal setback for Bill Cosby. The California Supreme Court rejecting his request to block a civil suit by a woman, Judith Huff, who claimed the comedian molested her at the playboy mansion in 1974 when she was 15. It means her case can proceed. Attorney Gloria Allred said, she'll seek to question Cosby under oath in the next 30 days. Meantime, Cosby's lawyers are trying to keep a settlement in another sexual assault case under wraps. Let's get more this morning from CNN's Jean Casarez.

[05:45:00] 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.

Andrea Constand brought 2005 civil suit alleging 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 a judge to unseal the full record a decade later.

Ironically, this weekend, Cosby 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 a 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 that Cosby and his representatives have spoken out numerous times since last fall when other accusers come forward which violated the agreement, she says. So she should not be the one accuser that stay silent. Cosby is saying a deal is a deal and the only reason he agreed to a monetary settlement was because he wanted to keep this case private.

Christine?

ROMANS: All right. Jean, thank you for that. 46 minutes past the hour. Time to see what is coming up on "New Day." Alisyn Camerota, joins me now. Hi, Alisyn.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Christine. So in case you were sleeping last night, and I bet you were as I was. We're going to have Anderson Cooper on our show this morning to recap his interview with Donald Trump. And what will happen this morning when Trump travels to the Mexico border? We will cover that.

Meanwhile, what is it about Trump that voters are so excited about? Why is he at the top of the polls? Well, we have assembled a panel of Trump supporters. And wait until you hear what they say it is about him that so inspires them. Also, they will talk about his comments about John McCain.

And another big moment happening on our program this morning, Bill Cosby's lawyer will be on "New Day" for the first time. What does Bill Cosby have to say for himself? We will find out when we see you at the top of the hour.

ROMANS: Oh no, that's really interesting. OK. Thanks. We'll watch that. Nice to see you, Alisyn.

President Obama's trip to Africa are raising some concer - security concerns this morning. We will tell you about it live after the break.

[05:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: President Obama heading to his father's homeland in Kenya today. And that is raising some security concerns. We get the latest from CNN's Nima Elbagir in Nairobi. How serious are those concern about security around the president's trip?

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine. Well, I'm sure, you can hear behind me U.S. Ospreys have just that come in to land. The security preparations for this trip are very much underway and part of that of course, is against the back drop of what U.S. officials are calling increased chatter amongst the east African terror groups, as you would expect, there's no doubt that there will be a lot of interest and lot of noise amongst this militant group about a trip of this magnitude here in Kenya.

But U.S. officials tell CNN that there is no - there is no threat, they believe no direct threat to the president. They are more concerned about the soft targets. This of course in a country still reeling from that terror outrage at an the university where almost 150 people died up in the northeastern province. Kenyan authorities are trying very hard not to leave anything a chance. They have already announced major road closures from the early afternoon here on Friday, the day he is expected to land. Already though, there have been some slip ups.

The Kenyan Aviation Authority inadvertently sending out the - the window in which President Obama will be both arriving and departing in quite a detailed schedule that's found its way onto Facebook and social media. Here for now, White House officials are brushing that off. But all of this security concern, all of these security preparations are not dampening just a sheer excitement here on the ground.

Christine, people absolutely calm. The expectation is they are going to be lining the streets. Christine?

ROMANS: Sure. All right. Nima Elbagir, you can hear those people behind you as security preparations get underway. Thank you for that, Nima, you will cover the trip for us. Thanks.

53 minutes past the hour. It is Uber versus the big Apple, we'll tell you who won when we get an early start with your money, next.

[05:55:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: That swoosh me, it is time to get an early start on your money. Alison Kosik joins me this morning. Another bad day, two bad days in a row for stock, Alison. What do we expect today?

KOSIK: Yes. Earnings had a lot to do with that. We did see the Dow fall for the second day in a row falling 68 points. Stocks lost ground weigh down by a 4 percent decline in shares of Apple. That is after Apple said it did not sell as many iPhones last quarter as expected. But today, U.S. Futures are pointed higher, European markets are also showing green arrows.

And it will be another big day for corporate earnings. We're going to be hearing from Amazon. The stock is actually up more than 57 percent this year. A big win for Uber in New York City. Mayor Bill De Blasio dropped the plan to cap a number of new licenses issued to the four hired car service at least for now. The city says, what's going to happen is this will vote on the proposal after a completed study on Uber impact on traffic congestion later this year.

Now, the recent weeks, the battle over the proposal has really turned ugly. Uber launched an ad campaign blasting the city's plan and added a fake Mayor De Blasio feature to his app, oh dirty. That app has been removed. But really Uber on this one dodging a bullet.

ROMANS: Yes. And Uber even had celebrities were tweeting Mayor Bill De Blasio, the Mayor De Blasio.

KOSIK: One of them at least has it.

ROMANS: That's right. Look, this is technology. Of it is easy. Why are we doing it the old way when it is convenient for people. You see that. Thank you so much. Nice to see you, Alison.

KOSIK: All right.

ROMANS: New information this morning in the jail cell death of Sandra Bland. "New Day" picks up the story right now.

ANNOUNCER: A haunting voicemail message to her friend the day after her arrest.

BLAND: How this switching lanes without a signal turned into this, I don't even know. ANNOUNCER: Conflicting information notes a previous suicide

attempts.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Scars on the arm where someone has been cut over time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sandy was a social activist. Social activists don't take their own life.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm infuriated. And everybody else should be infuriated as well.

TRUMP: I didn't start with Lindsey Graham. I couldn't kill Lindsey Graham.

GRAHAM: Donald Trump is a political car wreck.

TRUMP: The country has to fight back. Everyone's pushing our country around. We can't allow that.

COOPER: Is it presidential though?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why is ISIS so powerful?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are preaching through social media to troubled souls in a way to crowd source terrorism.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is that threat in the United States still imminent?

ANNOUNCER: This is New Day. With Chris Cuomo, Alisyn Camerota and Michaela Pereira.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome to your "New Day." It is Thursday, July 23rd. Now 6:00 in the east. And up first, we have new details in the Sandra Bland death investigation. Authorities now disclosing Bland indicated she had previously attempted suicide before being found dead in her cell. But we will tell you why the family disputes that.

CAMEROTA: Also there are more developments on the dashcam video of Bland's arrest. Many in the community remain outraged by what they see. And this morning we hear Sandra Bland herself in a phone message to a friend from jail.

CNN's Ed Lavandera is live in Hempstead, Texas to give us all the developments, Ed.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Alisyn.