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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Clinton Defends Email Use; Democratic Senator to Vote Against Iran Nuclear Deal; Manhunt for Bangkok Bomber. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired August 19, 2015 - 04:00   ET

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


[04:00:14] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Hillary Clinton defending her use of e-mail as secretary of state -- pressed if she has wiped her server clean before handing it over to the FBI.

President Obama facing new opposition to the nuclear deal with Iran from within his own party.

Happening now: investigators hunting for the man behind a deadly bombing in Bangkok. We're live with how they plan to track him down.

Good morning and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. It is Wednesday, August 19th. It is 4:00 a.m. in the East. Nice to see you this Wednesday morning. John Berman has the morning off.

Up first: Hillary Clinton defending herself -- strongly defending herself as questions mount about her private e-mail server. She took questions from reporters after a town hall event in Nevada. Clinton repeating her stance she never sent or received anything classified from a nongovernment e-mail account. She also says she does not know if her private server was ever wiped clean.

Clinton now is getting testy with the reporters over the line of questioning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: My personal e-mails are my personal business, right? So, that's all I can say.

REPORTER: But, to answer the question, did you try to wipe the server? You didn't answer the answer.

CLINTON: I'm not -- you know, I have no idea. That's why we turned it over --

REPORTER: But you said you were in charge of it. You were the official in charge. Did you wipe the server?

CLINTON: Like, with a cloth or something?

REPORTER: I don't know. You know how it works digitally. Did you try to wipe the whole server?

CLINTON: I don't know how it works digitally at all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: CNN senior Washington correspondent Jeff Zeleny has more on the controversy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine.

Hillary Clinton was defiant on Tuesday night at a campaign stop in Nevada, saying she did not send or receive any e-mail messages that were marked classified. She was there for a town hall meeting, but she took questions from reporters afterward, and the e-mail questions dominated the conversation.

CLINTON: Whether it was a personal account or a government account, I did not send classified material and I did not receive any material that was marked or designated classified, which is the way you know whether something is, what you're seeing now is a disagreement between agencies saying, you know what? They should have, and the other saying no, they shouldn't.

That has nothing to do with me. If it had been a government account and I said, release it, we would be having the same arguments.

ZELENY: Now, of course, she is facing questions from reporters, congressional hearings are just around the corner and even a Justice Department investigation about this ongoing e-mail controversy is still in front of her.

This all goes back to her decision to use a private e-mail server while she was secretary of state. Now, running for president is all about navigating obstacles and she sure have a few in front of them. Of course, she has many advantages. She's the front-running Democratic candidate, some 20 points ahead of Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. But she does have obstacles.

Now, whether it's the Black Lives Matter activists that have been following her and other Democratic presidential candidates around, or if she's answering questions for yet another day about the controversy over that private e-mail server that she decided to use as secretary of state, she's defiant, saying that she did nothing wrong. She closed her time in Nevada saying, "I know there is a certain level of anxiety or interest in this, but the facts are the facts."

But, Christine, I can tell you -- those questions will keep on going as she keeps on campaigning. Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Jeff Zeleny, thank you for that.

On the Republican side, candidates are converging on New Hampshire today. John Kasich, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, and Bobby Jindal are all scheduled to speak at an education summit.

Donald Trump also heading to New Hampshire. He'll hold the first town hall event of his campaign. No doubt, immigration will be front and center.

Trump's controversial plan now forcing much of the GOP field to tackle the notoriously sticky subject. Candidates are weighing in both for and against elements of the Trump agenda.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR, THE SITUATION ROOM: What about the 14th Amendment to the Constitution which the courts have said automatically grant citizenship to children born in the United States, even if their parents are here illegally?

MIKE HUCKABEE (R), 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, I think that's going to require a little bit more discussion. The fact is that we have operated under that assumption really since the 1800s. And to change it, it would require some strong will, either on the part of the president.

GOV. SCOTT WALKER (R-WI), 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Our southern- based border is being penetrated every single day by drug cartels pushing drugs, firearms, human trafficking. No sovereign nation should be in position with that happening. As president, I'm going to secure the border once and for all and I'm going to uphold the laws of the great United States of America.

SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL), 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't agree with that. I certainly that we have to do a better job of preventing -- I'm open to doing things that -- to prevent people who deliberately come to the United States for purposes of taking advantage of the 14th Amendment, but I'm not in favor of repealing it.

GOV. JOHN KASICH (R-OH), 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The idea we would go out in cars and hunt people down, it's not doable. And, secondly, I don't think it's right! I don't think it's humane!

JEB BUSH (R), 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This constitutionally protected right and I don't support revoking it.

[04:05:02] There is a way to use leadership to solve abuses for people that are coming into the country, having children so that their children can be citizens. That is a legitimate problem. In a targeted way you can deal with this issue.

But to suggest that people born in this country are not United States citizens and they don't have this in the Constitution, I just reject out of hand.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Be sure to join us tonight for a CNN special report, "The Donald Trump Interview". The Republican front-runner sits down with Chris Cuomo to discuss his campaign. That's tonight at 9:00, only on CNN.

Now to the Iran nuclear deal. Another top Democrat coming out against the agreement, this time it's New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, the senior member of the Foreign Relations Committee. He says the deal allows Iran to use the money it gains to further destabilize the region.

So, how could the senator's opposition affect the president's efforts to get lawmakers on board?

CNN's senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Christine, the list of Democrats coming out against the Iran deal is growing, as expected. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee's former chairman, Bob Menendez announced his opposition to the nuclear agreement, joining Senator Chuck Schumer who's also decided against the deal.

Here is what Senator Menendez had to say about his opposition to this deal.

SEN. ROBERT MENENDEZ (R), NEW JERSEY: I have looked into my own self and my decision to principle may unfortunately lead me to an unpopular course. But if Iran is to acquire an nuclear bomb, it will not have my name on it.

ACOSTA: Now, Menendez is hardly the biggest setback of the week for the White House. That distinction goes to Republican Senator Jeff Flake who likely ended any White House hopes for bipartisan support for the deal.

A White House official did say that the president is engaged on this issue, while he is on vacation here at Martha's Vineyard, adding, quote, "We remain confidently that ultimately a majority of Democrats in both the House and the Senate will support this deal."

That is critical as Republicans face an uphill battle, needing 11 more Democratic senators to defy the president, vote to block the agreement, and then join GOP efforts to override any presidential vetoes. That's not to mention the dozens of Democratic defections Republicans are also seeking in the House, which explains why Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was quoted in Kentucky this week as saying, the president has a great likelihood of success -- Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Thanks so much for that, Jim Acosta.

Time now for an early start on your money this Wednesday morning. Stocks are down around the world. Asian shares mostly lower, thanks to worries about the stability of China's economy. And European shares are down too.

The German parliament voting on the latest bailout package for Greece this morning. This is the third Greek bailout. It's worth $95 billion and if it passes, Greece will receive the first chunk of desperately needed cash on Thursday.

Target reaching a $67 million with Visa in a huge 2013 data breach. That money will go to banks that issue visa cards to cover expenses related to the hack. It follows the rejections of a smaller settlement with MasterCard. The 2013 breach was one of the largest ever, exposing, remember, about 40 million credit and debit cards.

Breaking news overnight: a motel suddenly explodes in Washington. The damage report after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:11:32] ROMANS: Bangkok's Erawan Shrine back open this morning, just two days after a deadly pipe bomb attack. Investigators now hunting for the man believed to be responsible. A police spokesman now saying authorities are very sure this man here in the yellow shirt is the bomber.

And this morning, Thailand offering a big reward for helping track him down.

CNN's Saima Mohsin live in Bangkok this morning.

Bring us up to speed, Saima.

SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Christine, well, yes, police have announced a 1 million baht. That's more than $30,000 reward for any help leading to identifying this suspect.

Now, that suspect has been identified as that man in the yellow shirt they believe came in with a backpack into the shrine, left it under a bench and went away. And within three minutes, that bomb went off.

Police have also told us in a press conference that they believe he was not acting alone, Christine. There were other people helping him, monitoring the situation, perhaps even helping him make that bomb. They are looking for other suspects too.

And, Christine, they are using the model of the Boston bombing. How police identified the bombers there after the marathon, asking people to come forward with mobile phone footage and photographs.

This is an incredibly popular shrine. We have been discussing it over the last few days. Amongst locals, as well as tourists, there must be a lot of people have taken photographs and footage here and they want them to help them identify him.

The shrine has been reopened. People have been coming here throughout the day, first thing in the morning. Family members of the victims of that bombing came to pay their respects to say their prayers. They were joined by a number of monks.

And then, just a short while ago, Christine, the United States embassy charge of affairs arrived here. He also laid down flowers and said a prayer and then gave a statement saying that the United States stands side-by-side with Thailand throughout this time. They condemn the bombing and asking people to get through this with the spirit of togetherness that Thailand is known for.

And one more thing, Christine -- that shrine has evidence of the bombing here. Imagine. This Brahma statue is made of solid metal, damaged by the shrapnel from that bombing. It's unimaginable what happened to the people here and what they went through -- Christine.

ROMANS: Yes, indeed, it is.

All right. Saima Mohsin, thank you so much. And pleas touch base with us again when you get more information about that search for the suspect. Thanks, Saima.

Breaking overnight, an explosion in Motel Six in Washington state leaves one man critically injured. It happened in Bremerton, about 50 miles west of Seattle. Workers were already evacuating the building after a report of a gas leak happened when the blast occurred.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I arrived late, booked into the room, watched a little TV, go to a dinner and go to bed, go to dinner, have a dinner, and saw the black smoke and wonder what that is. We come back and it looks like part of the motel has blown up. Shock when we turned up. But last week of our holiday sitting in that room.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: It's still unclear if everyone got out of the building before that explosion.

A teenage student facing her alleged prep school attacker at his rape trial. The 16-year-old will be back on the stand, on the witness stand today. She claims Owen Labrie sexually assaulted her as part of senior salute, a sex competition among upper classmen at the elite St. Paul's School.

[04:15:05] In an opening statement Tuesday, the defense said whatever happened was consensual, but prosecutors say the senior's own words point to his guilt.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CATHERINE RUFFLE, PROSECUTOR: Shortly after the assault (AUDIO DELETED) messaged him, asking him, did you wear a condom? You'll ask -- you'll see his responses that he sends back. Are you on the pill? I think you're OK. You should be good. I put it on halfway through, referring to the condom.

JAY CARNEY, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Realized at that moment that is not what he should do. And he told her, let's just get on our clothes and head down and (AUDIO DELETED) said yes. Evidence will show is that they never did have sex.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: The senior salute is expected to play a significant role in this trial with former and current students testifying about the school's sexual environment.

Ex-Subway pitchman Jared Fogle is expected to plead guilty today to child pornography charges. FBI agents, you'll recall, raided his Indiana home last month. About five weeks ago, they seized DVDs and computers in connection with a child porn investigation. Subway suspended its relationship with Jared shortly after that raid. Earlier this year, the former director of Fogle's foundation was arrested and charged with possessing and producing child pornography.

Sandra Bland's suicide in a jail cell last month prompting a new review of jail safety in Texas. The state's lieutenant governor says legislative hearings will begin in September. Texas has had an average of 25 suicides in county jails each year since 2012. Police say Bland hanged herself with a garbage bag in her cell days after her arrest following a traffic stop. Bland's family has filed a wrongful death suit.

Three people remain missing following heavy rains that triggered a series of landslides in Alaska. Officials say 2 1/2 inches of rain fell in 24 hours, causing landslides and sinkholes in the town of Sitka. Alaska's governor declaring a state of emergency and plans to travel to the affected area today to survey the damage.

Wildfires still ripping through seven states out west. This one, the so-called "Rough Fire", burning in Fresno, California. You can see the flames and the smoke just pouring from what is an inferno there. So far, this fire alone growing to nearly 21,000 acres. Crews having a very tough time gaining an upper hand.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are hitting it with everything that we can. We have brought an aircraft. We have brought in hand crews, dozer lines. We are doing everything we can to get this fire out as soon as possible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Firefighters battling large wildfires in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and, Washington. The total acres burned so far this year is now more than 7 million.

For more, let's get to meteorologist Pedram Javaheri.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hey, Christine, pretty incredible temperature trend the next couple of days. Looks like some improvement going from 90 in the northwest down into the 70s. Unfortunately with all of this comes gusty wind, that's the concern around the fire threat over the western portion of the United States.

Look at this footage. This is coming out of an area near the Soda Fire in Boise, Idaho. Incredible fire, what's known as a fire tornado developing over this region.

In fact, it's nothing really exactly like a tornado. You get differences in air masses that create tornadoes, but in this case, you have tremendous heat rising from the flames in the vicinity around 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and turbulent weather in the vicinity of this area picks it up and brings up columns of air that are rising in the vicinity of this fire whirl or fire-nado as it's known.

So, it has the potential to cause large-scale damage and it brings debris with it and lofting it and beginning additional fires and that's the concern over this region, what the firefighters essentially have to deal with in the coming couple of days when you're talking about talking about starting spot fires downstream.

But weather pattern now across the eastern side of the country. We do have a severe weather threat around areas of Michigan over the next 24 hours. About 3.5 million people dealing with that. Temperatures, Christine, cooling off into the 70s while thunderstorms in New York about 82 degrees.

ROMANS: All right. Pedram Javaheri, thank you for that.

The FBI now offering a reward up to $20,000 for helping to find two paintings by N.C. Wyeth. These were among six paintings stolen from a private art collector in Maine back in 2013. Four other paintings were recovered from a pawn shop in Beverly Hills. The two remaining paintings worth several million dollars are believed to be somewhere in New England. Three men have been convicted in that heist.

Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee is in Israel with a new warning about the Iran nuclear deal. We go there live after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:23:29] ROMANS: Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee is in Israeli today. He's set to hold a news conference in Jerusalem this morning. Huckabee is expected to focus on the Iran deal. He is, of course, a vocal critic of that agreement. Huckabee already weighing in on the Israeli Palestinian conflict as well.

CNN's Oren Lieberman is in Jerusalem with more for us this morning.

Good morning, Oren.

OREN LIEBERMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine.

Governor Mike Huckabee expected to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a little later on today, perhaps even before that press conference. It shouldn't be too much of a surprise what they talk about, at least in terms of the Iran deal because Netanyahu has perhaps been this deal's most outspoken critic, lobbying against it from the very beginning.

Here is what Huckabee had to say in his opportunity to blast the deal when he spoke with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. HUCKABEE: We violated every single thing that we said was a

prerequisite in this, whether it was any time, anywhere inspections, whether it was they couldn't have any enrichment, whether there were unlimited access to the inspections. None of that turned out to be true. We caved in on all of it. We don't even have our hostages back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIEBERMANN: We'll see what Mike Huckabee has to say at the press conference. But again, nothing subtle here. Very clear about he stands on the Iran deal. He absolutely opposes it.

As for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Huckabee says he favors the idea of a greater Israel, Israel annexing the West Bank. He even held a fundraiser in the West Bank settlement of Shiloh.

Christine, as I said, nothing subtle about Huckabee's opinions either on the Iran deal or on the conflict.

ROMANS: All right. Oren Liebermann, thank you for that.

[04:25:01] Keep us posted. I know he'll be speaking to the media later this morning.

Another public execution by ISIS in Syria, this time, an elderly expert of antiquities. Kalid al Asa'ad was former general manager for antiquities and museums in Palmyra. He was beheaded Tuesday in the city's public square.

You'll recall that town is known for its ancient ruins, but ISIS seized the city in May, destroying many of the ancient shrines, and now killing that man.

Hillary Clinton on the defensive facing new questions about her use of e-mail as secretary of state, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Hillary Clinton making jokes, but questions over her e-mail use as secretary of state are mounting this morning.

Another Democratic senator coming out against the Iran nuclear deal. How this new opposition could affect the president's plan ahead.

And happening now, a manhunt to find the man behind a deadly bombing in Bangkok. We are live with new developments there.

Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. Wednesday morning, 29 minutes past the hour. John Berman has the morning off.

Let's begin here in politics. Up first this morning, Hillary Clinton defending herself as questions mount about her private e-mail server. She took questions from reporters after a town hall event in Nevada.

Clinton repeating her stance she never sent, she never received anything marked "classified" from a nongovernment e-mail account. She also says she does not know if her private server was ever wiped clean.

Now, this following an NBC News report, an NBC report the server may have been attempted to be cleared before it was turned over to the FBI and the bureau is looking to recover that data. Clinton now getting testy with reporters over questioning about that server.