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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Trump Taking Shots at Hillary; Suicide Bomber Kills 6 US Soldiers in Afghanistan; New Information in Vegas Crowd Crash; Odell Beckham Jr Suspended by NFL. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired December 22, 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] BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: CNN's Sunlen Serfaty is traveling with the Trump campaign, she has the latest.

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning Boris and Christine. Well, Donald Trump is really trying to capitalize on these comments made by Hillary Clinton, claims that she made in Saturday's debate that ISIS is using Donald Trump in videos to recruits fighters.

Now, Donald Trump really wasting to time hitting right back calling Clinton a liar saying he claims she's made. There was no evidence to confirm them and demanding an apology.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDTATE: And you see Hillary, I mean, did you watch that? What happened to her? Now, she's terrible, she's terrible, Donald Trump is on video and ISIS is using him on the video to recruit. And it turned out to be a lie. She's a liar. So it turned out to be a lie, turned out to be a lie. And the last person that she wants to run against is me, believe me, believe me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SERFATY: And the Clinton campaign is pushing right back defending her claim and said she wasn't referring to a specific video, but rather ISIS using Trump's rhetoric on social media as a tool for propaganda.

Now the Clinton campaign asked if they will apologize, that if she will apologize. Her spokesman thinks, "Hell no, Hillary Clinton will not be apologizing." Now, for Trump, this line of attack against Hillary Clinton really helped him fire up his base. And although he will having a little Christmas vacation with his family in Florida for the next week, I suspect this is not the last week we have heard from Trump on this. Boris and Christine.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Sunlen Serfaty, thank you so much for that traveling with Trump in Michigan.

Breaking overnight, Texas grand jury deciding not to indict anyone in connection with Sandra Bland's death, she's the 28-year-old who was found hanging from a noose made from a plastic bag in her cell at the Wahler County jail. Now, she was incarcerated after allegedly assaulting an officer during a traffic stop in July. Police say committed suicide but her family just dispute that. The grand jury will reconvene in early January to take up any remaining issues in this case. She failed to signal, and her family says, three days later, she's dead in jail.

Meantime, democratic candidate Bernie Sanders slamming his decision saying, "There's no doubt in mind that she, like too many African- Americans who died in police custody, would be alive today if she were a white woman"..

BORIS: Trump versus Clinton not the only political action this morning that will help us make sense of it all, Lindsay Graham, Ben Carson and all the others.

Let's bring in to CNN politics reporter Eric Bradner. Eric good morning to you, we have talking about this back and fourth between Trump and Clinton for a couple of days now, a potential preview of the general election. And Clinton is saying she's not going to apologize for saying that Trump is an ISIS recruitment tool.

Here's a statement from her campaign, it reads part, "Hillary Clinton will not be apologizing to Donald Trump for correctly pointing out how his hateful rhetoric only helps recruit more terrorists."

How does this land with voters, the possibility that Clinton is seen as least trustworthy candidate and now Trump calling her a liar, on another account how does that land with voters?

ERIC BRADNER, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: Yes, so the most interesting part of that Hillary Clinton statement is the first two words, 'hell no'. This is a campaign that is obviously quite a risk hers knowing she's in the clear frontrunner position in the Democratic race. And here she is taking the biggest swing that she is taking throughout the entire campaign at Donald Trump.

So, it is a clear indicator that Hillary Clinton's campaigners aware that none of Trump's supporters are ever going to back Hillary Clinton. Donald trump might be doing well in the Republican primary, but his favorable or unfavorable ratings still indicates he's got a lot of difficulty expanding that appeal to independents, to moderates and especially to Democrats. He is a reviled figure on the left.

So, Clinton is, believe it or not, playing the role of uniter at least, in the Democratic Party by taking the big shots at Trump. That's one boogie man that everybody on the left is on board with really going after.

Now, what that means in the context of the general election is hard to predict because Trump is obviously not yet a Republican nominee and his appeal only seems to be growing with these vicious shots that he's taking at other candidates. So it is too early to tell.

ROMANS: Let me ask you this, I mean, there are plenty of things that Hillary Clinton could say in a debate or on the stump about Donald Trump, but she said something in particular that his video of him was being used as an ISIS recruitment tool that's not true. Why -- is that sloppy? Was that on purpose? You know, because there are plenty of things that she could say about him that would rather, you know, that would stir up her base.

[05:05:02] BRADNER: The language was a little loose, but it was close to right, I mean, we're not talking about something that's entirely out of left field here. A lot of national security officials and President Obama's administration were reacting to Trump's comments by saying, it would be damaging to U.S. efforts to combat ISIS to U.S. efforts to recruit Muslims nations, Muslims into the fight against ISIS.

So, this is not something is too out of step with sort of the prevailing wisdom on the left. But Clinton was probably a little sloppy in asserting it as fact rather than saying it is something that could happen that would happen.

So, she probably went a little further than perhaps, she would, you know, given another shot at it. But she does not regret any shot she's taken to Donald Trump at this point.

SANCHEZ: I did want to ask about Lindsey Graham. He stepped out of the race yesterday, telling CNN's Kate Bolduan, that he felt that two- tiered system of the debate was unfair. Do you fell like that's something the Republicans may change going forward?

BRANDER: Well, no, because the Republican Party knows that, you know, 15 candidates on one stage is just -- it's just impossible and there are other, you know, other options, you could do three debates of five randomly selected candidates or something like that. But it just, it gets too complicated, it's asking people to watch for too long. There's got to be some cutoff. And Lindsey Graham is someone that I think reporters find interesting. He is always good for a quote, he's honest, he's funny but his poll numbers just weren't there. He wasn't getting any traction.

And so, you know, candidates who can't get any traction always have complaints about the process, but the fact is, I mean, at Lindsey Graham been able to get out of the very low single digits, it would have been different for him.

ROMANS: What did he talked to keep hold on yesterday, did a great exit interview with Kate Bolduan just talking the race, talking about what motivated him to run, talking about some of his own experiences on the battle field quite frankly. And he had a message for Donald Trump. I want to play that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LINDSAY GRAHAM, (R) FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You're doing really well. I'm impressed with your campaign. The only way we can win is Republicans put a coalition together. You need to start thinking about policies that will actually work. You may wind up being the nominee of the party. The Republican Party future may be in your hands, but the future of the country will be in your hands if your president of the United States. This is not a game show. This is not a reality show.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: He has been critical of Donald Trump for some time and clearly, not endearing him to Trump supporters, no question. But he didn't really catch on with the Republican establishment either.

BRADNER: No, no, he didn't. This is something that a lot of candidates have tried to say to Trump, I mean, it's the case that Jeb Bush's making on the campaign trail right now. He is out calling Trump a chaos candidate and saying that Trump needs to act more responsibly.

I think a lot of experienced politicians and establishment figures have gotten to the point where they no longer believe the Trump phenomenon is going to fade. They just don't know what to do. They don't know what to think, they are urging Trump to get a little bit more serious because it looks like there is no alternative for them right now.

SANCNEZ: All right Eric Bradner, helping us parch to the political tea leaves. Thank you so much.

ROMANS: Talk to you again sooner, thanks for that.

Hillary Clinton is bringing in money from Wall Street folks, in her attempts to downplay it are now under fire, In Saturday night's debate, Clinton said, "About three percent of my donations come from people in the finance and investment world, you can go to OpenSecrets.org and check that.

OpenSecrets.org added up its numbers and its verdict is Clinton is wrong on that, It says 7.2 percent of Clinton donations come from Wall Street. So where did Clinton get three percent from?

Well, OpenSecrets says it is fuzzy Math. Clinton has received $2 million from Wall Street, and yes that work that is just under 3 percent of her donations. But OpenSeceret added that donations from Wall Street, commercial banks and Super PACs, finance companies giving money, Wall Street giving money to Super PACs which support Hillary Clinton. All of that makes up 7.2 percent of her total fund raising.

SANCHEZ: Heading overseas this morning, we're learning details about a Taliban suicide attack that killed six U.S. service members serving part of a NATO mission supporting Afghan forces. A sign of increasing violence in Afghanistan one year after the U.S. officially ended combat operations there.

CNN's Alexandra Field who is following development, she joins us now with the latest. Alexandra, good morning, we understand one of the victims was a New York City police detective, what else are we learning?

[05:10:00] ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Joseph Lemm, a former detective from the New York City Police Department, also a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, he had been an air national guard. He was part of the joint patrol between the Afghan security forces and the NATO coalition forces who were out on Monday afternoon when the suicide bomber riding a motorcycle targeted them and killing six Americans, injuring three others. This brings to a total number of 25, the number of NATO service members who have been killed in Afghanistan just this year.

Currently, there are 12,000 NATO service members on the ground in Afghanistan, Boris.

SANCHEZ: And Alexandra, there have been pleas for help from the 10,000 NATO officials stationed in Afghanistan. How concerned are our officials about keeping them safe while they're there?

FIELD: Look, the security of the people in Afghanistan is the foremost important thing concerning right now. We know that Taliban took credit for that attacking Bagram that suicide bombing that we discussed. But the Talibans also making advances in Southern Helmand province, particularly in the district of Sangin, which is the strategically important area, it's an area that British and U.S. forces fought to hold for years before handing over security to NATO, rather to Afghan security forces just a year ago.

But at this, what we're hearing from local officials on the ground in Sangin is that the Taliban has made serious inroads, there has been days of fierce and intense fighting. Some local officials are now saying that the Taliban has taken control of nearly the entire district, save for a couple of exception, a police office and another army barracks.

So at this point, you got one local official who has gone to Facebook asking the president of Afghanistan for help. At the same time, NATO is providing resources. We know there is a NATO team in Helmand Province which is acting in an advisory role for the Afghan National Army, Boris.

SANCHEZ: Despite the longest war in U.S. history, the Taliban still making strides in Afghanistan. Alexandra Field, thank you.

Iraq's armed forces announcing plans to retake the city of Ramadi from ISIS militant "within the coming hours."

A top army official tells Iraqi state T.V. that their intelligence estimates pegged the number of ISIS militants dug into the city center at 200 to 300.

A Defense Ministry spokesman says ISIS is preventing civilians from leaving Ramadi in order to use them as human shields.

ROMANS: Put that plus Syrian Refugees to the west, at crisis levels, now a million, just this year this year, President Obama is planning a U.N. Summit on the global migrant crisis for next year. Administration officials say, the summit during the general assembly will cap the president's work on the refugee crisis during his final year in office. They say president will leave what they're calling a vigorous effort to garner more humanitarian aid from other countries and the private sector.

SANCHEZ: Iran is blaming Israel for the new U.S. law requiring anyone who has visited Iran, Iraq, Syria or Sudan from visiting the United States without a visa. The security measure allows or follows ISIS attacks in Paris and San Bernardino. Iran which strongly opposes ISIS claims, it was added to the list after congressional being by Israel.

Secretary of State, John Kerry has reassured Iran, that the White House can weave the visa requirement in certain individual cases.

ROMANS: Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl is set for his arraignment at a hearing today. He's facing a court martial on charges of desertion and endangering fellow soldiers after leaving his Afghanistan army base back in 2009. He was captured by the Taliban and held for five years until this controversial prisoner swap.

[05:13:35] SANCHEZ: We have now information about the woman accused of plowing into dozens of pedestrians on the Las Vegas strip, more details on that story next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: A judge could decide as early as today whether to proceed with the case against the 24-year-old Oregon woman who allegedly slammed into dozens of people on the Las Vegas trip killing a young mom from Arizona and wounding several others.

The latest now from CNN correspondent Ryan Young.

RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine and Boris, look, the big question here from a lot of people is why did this have to happen? Of course, that suspect taken into custody, but so many people witnessed this. They won't be able to get that out their mind, in fact so many witnesses talked about the idea of this woman ramming into the people over and over again, and that's something they were horrified to see.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUSTIN COCHRANE, WITNESS: There was busting through people, that there was thudding, and the sound was -- I would say 30 maybe. And I thought it maybe faster, it seemed like it was going pretty fast. People were flying, that this child I saw literally hit. And the sound I'll never forget. It's horrible, and it just never stopped. Those people, it wasn't hitting cars, it was hitting people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YOUNG: And sheriff tells us that Lakeisha Holloway will be charged with murder. There will be a court appearance tomorrow. There will be probable cause here and the judge will look over some of the evidence that's involved to this case. The 3-year-old child that was inside that car, we do know, was in protective custody. What the sheriff's have probably believes, is this woman was homeless for a short period of time after having some sort of dispute within her life, and that at some point, she came to the strip and started driving her car into people.

They're leaving the idea of terrorism still open in this case, where at this point people are still trying to figure out exactly what happened that led this woman to the strip before she started ramping into the people. Boris and Christine.

ROMANS: A tragedy there. All right, the Baltimore officer whose trial the death of Freddie Gray ended in a hang jury goes before a judge today.

Officials say William Porter will be retried in June. Porter was the first of six officers to be tried in connection with Gray's death from a spinal injury while in police custody. That proceeding ended in a mistrial.

SANCHEZ: A judge expected to rule on whether a temporary restraining order should be granted against leaders of Black Lives Matter. The Mall of America is calling for protest ban saying the group is using social media to organize a demonstration at the mall on Wednesday, of course, one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Leaders for Black Lives Matter said that regardless of any legal issues this protest will go on as planned.

ROMANS: A friend of the San Bernardino attackers, Syed Rizwan Farook is being held without bail this morning.

A federal judge ruled Monday that Enrique Marquez remains a danger to the community. The 24-year-old is accused of buying rifles. Farook and Tashfeen Malik used in the attacks that kills 14 people at a social services center earlier this month before they died in a shootout with police.

Marquez has also allegedly planned two other terror attacks with Farook and accused of entering into a sham marriage with the member of Farook's extended family. He has not entered a plea and he's due back in court next month.

SANCHEZ: Bill Cosby hitting another one of his accuser with a defamation lawsuit. This time, the comedian is targeting supermodel Beverly Johnshon. Cosby said, he never drugged and tried to rape her at his New York home in the mid 1980's. The lawsuit says Johnson joined the dozens of women making accusations against him to promote her career and her memoir.

ROMANS: All right, so it's not hot cocoa, it is lemonade stands in the northeast. You could see Christmas Eve temperatures in the 70s in the Northeast.

[05:20:07] Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri has the latest.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Christina and Boris, good morning, guys. Yes, this is one of the more remarkable temperature trend I've ever seen when it comes to the later portion of December. Pretty expansive area of high pressure, I mean look at these temperatures, we're talking 32 degrees above what is considered normal across Washington D.C., a pair of sevens there on Christmas Eve, could make it up to that room temperature around New York City a 31 above normal.

Now to put this in perspective, take New York's City's average temperature in July into lower 80's at 31 degrees till you're talking well into the 100. That is how anomalous these temperatures are above normal and in fact, in New York City on Christmas Eve, it will be warmer than Los Angeles where it should be close to 70. Of course we should be close to 40 degrees and it kind of shows you the flip flop nature of all. This has been the theme across the country, of course, and really much of the Eastern side of the U.S of over 6,000 record warm temperatures set so far in the month of December.

All of this comes with a southerly flow in place, meaning the moisture is there, the humidity is quite high. It will certainly rain, heavier times across the Deep South. It could squeeze out an inch or so around the Delmarva, on portions of New England as well but, their trend, again, as impressive as you will ever see it, hopefully you enjoy it, it stays pretty warm for the next couple days and we think more of a reality check next there sometime early next week possible in the forecast.

SANCHEZ: I don't want to hear about the reality check, let's stick to 70 degree temperatures.

ROMANS: It could be daffodils by New Year's Eve if this keeps going on, all right.

SANCHEZ: Football turned into fight night, now Odell Beckham Jr. is paying the price. What's the punishment and how is he responding? Andy Scholes has the details in the Bleacher report next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:25:04] SANCHEZ: The NFL dropping the hammer on Odell Beckham Jr. suspending the Giant star receiver for one game for his actions against the Panthers on Sunday.

ROMANS: Andy Scholes has more on this morning's Bleacher Report, Andy?

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey good morning guys, Odell Beckham was flagged three times for unfortunate comeback against the Panthers on Sunday, but .it was the helmet to helmet hit on Josh Norman that earned him the suspension. You know, this is the play right here. Beckham was running at full speed and he launches himself at Norman's head.

Beckham has appealed the one-game suspension and the Giants are going to play on Sunday Night football this week against the Vikings in a must-win game if they hope to make the playoffs.

Saints and Lions on Monday night football, Drew Brees making history becoming the fourth quarterback to surpass 60,000 career passing yards during Peyton Manning, Brett Faver, and Dan Marino is the only ones to do it. The lions though, get in the last laugh in this game. Matt Stafford, have three touchdowns including two, the goal is paid as the Lions win this one, 35 and 27.

To the NBA, Thunder and Clippers going back and fourth all night long, time running out on the fourth, Kevin Durant in a knock down that go ahead jumper right here to put the Thunder up by one. Chris Paul, on the very next play going for the buzzer beater and watch Kevin Durant plays the defense, that 7 foot 4" wing span, and he gets the block. OKC wins, 100-99, thanks to Durant's heroics.

And elsewhere in the NBA, Hawks guard Dennis Schroder, currently believes in the tooth fairy. Schroder collides with Blazers forward, Myers Leonard and gets one of his teeth knocked out. You can see the tooth falling out right here. And Shcroder is going to pick it right up and put it in his sock. And guys, he went home and put it under his pillow, and I bet he is waking up with a crisp $5 bill.

ROMANS: No, if you lose it like that, you get more than five bucks, the tooth fairy like, you know, it is a dramatic tooth loss.

SANCHEZ: He's pretty tough putting it in his sock.

SCHOLES: Oh, I was going to ask you Christine, you know, what with CNN Money, what is the going rate for a tooth these days...

ROMANS: You know, it depends on how much money the tooth fairy has in his or her wallet when the person goes to sleep at night that is why the price changes every tooth. Thanks, Andy.

SANCHEZ: Donald Trump with new personal and vulgar insults for Hillary Clinton, The race for president getting even uglier.

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