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Bickering Getting Worse on Campaign Trail for Republicans; Mitt Romney Leads Charge Against Trump; Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders Looking Ahead to Primaries; Knife Found at Home of O.J. Simpson; Flint Kicks off $55 Million Program to Replace Lead Contaminated Pipes. Aired 5-6a ET
Aired March 05, 2016 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:12] GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Is the Republican frontrunner hurting the party, some leaders say yes and have mosh (ph) the campaign to stop him from becoming the nominee. But Donald Trump says, he has set to pick up more delegates this Super Saturday.
Plus, the Democratic candidates would be on Saturday's polls for bearing four big debate this weekend in Flint, Michigan, and candidates weigh-in on the poison water crisis in that city.
From CNN, world headquarters in Atlanta, welcome. To out viewers here in the United States and around the world, I'm George Howell. CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.
A very good day to you , it is Super Saturday in the United States, another big voting day in the race for the White House, hundreds of delegates are up for grabs for both Democrats and Republicans. But Super Saturday could be a do or die date, where some of the Republicans as they try to stop Donald Trump from securing the party's nomination.
Trump is leading and the delegate count in today, more than 155 I should say, exactly our delegates are up to grabs, in Kansas, Kentucky and Louisiana, also the state of Maine.
And Democrat Hillary Clinton has a size of a lead over Bernie Sanders, 109 delegates are at stake for then in the Super Saturday in the states of Kansas, Louisiana and Nebraska.
Meanwhile, the bickering is getting worst on the campaign trail for Republicans. These candidates have continued to take hotshots at each other, following Thursday's debate. CNN Political Reporter, Sara Murray, has more on this story from Louisiana.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We should go for waterboarding and we should tougher than water boarding.
SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: That opinion is changing as Donald Trump back off his position on torture. The GOP frontrunner releasing a statement saying he understands that the United States is bound by laws and treaties and it will not order our military or other officials to violate those laws.
The slip comes after Trump was press in its ledge (ph) to target family members of terrorist, a violation of International Law.
TRUMP: I'm a leader. I've always been a leader. I've never had any problem leading people. If I say do it, they going to do it.
MURRAY: Now, the trail pressing issues like national security or taking a back seat to another tough concern for Trump.
TRUMP: When little Marco spews his crap about the size of my hands which are big. Look at that. Those hands can hit a golf ball 285 yards.
MURRAY: Trump still making the case that size matters which might be true if you were talking about the size of his delegate count. But of course, he is talking about his hands again.
TRUMP: Little hands, little hands.
MURRAY: Fresh on the hills of a thrill and at times, vulgar debate.
TRUMP: He hit my hands, nobody has ever hit my hands. I have never heard of this word. Look at those hands, are they small hands? And he referred to my hands, if they are small, something else must be small. I guarantee you there is no problem.
MURRAY: A debate that if you're to lead John Kasich looking on in disbelief.
JOHN KASICH, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I have never tried to go and get into this kind of scrums that we're seeing here on the stage and people say everywhere I go. You've seen to be the adult of the stage.
MURRAY: Today, the candidates are showing only passing concern, voter might come away revolted.
MARCO RUBIO, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And nothing surprises as anymore, this man, he is, as I've told you, I mean he's injected a level of vulgarity into the political discourse that we've never seen.
MURRAY: Meanwhile, Trump continue to defy political convention, backing out of CPAC, a prominent conservative conference this weekend. Instead, holding his own political rallies. Oh, and Trump's rival, slam his brand of conservatism.
RUBIO: Well, politics entail (ph), it's going to be flexible, that's means he's getting to stick into it (ph).
He really doesn't belong in the career of (inaudible). Donald Trump is not a conservative.
MURRAY: The anti-Trump crowd continues to splinter, struggling to craft a path to 12,037 delegates to register (ph) the nomination for Trump's class.
RUBIO: His road to that number is hard, Ted Cruz is hard, minus hard, but we'll see how this plays out.
MURRAY: And Ted Cruz warned a contested convention spells disaster.
TED CRUZ, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: A broker convention is the pipe print dream of the Washington establishment.
MURRAY: And we'll get a better scent of how voters are reacting to Donald Trump shift on immigration on terror and his rhetoric on the side of its hands when another round of states votes on Saturday night.
Sara Murray, CNN, New Orleans, Louisiana.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: And in the meanwhile, the campaign to stop Trump from burning that nomination is ramping up. 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney is leading the charge and he's speaking against Donald Trump at every opportunity he can, blasting Trump on both his policy ideas and his rhetoric.
Romney sat down with our Gloria Borger to discuss the state of his party and how we hopes to stir it away from Donald Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[05:05:01] MITT ROMNEY, 2017 U.S. REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I wanted to remain as a neutral umpire if you will, calling balls to strikes and some fouls, and I've done it along the way. But over the last several weeks, some of the things that Donald Trump has said and done, both on policy as well as temperamental things have suggested to me, I just could wait any longer.
GLORIA BORGER, CNN JOURNALIST: And it is too late though?
ROMNEY: Well, you know, I don't know what impacts these things have politically, but I do know that when my grandkids say, "What did you do to stop Donald Trump?" I want the people say something. I wasn't into the seat of the sideline to the very end.
BORGER: At the debate, the other candidates said that they would support Trump if he became the nominee. Is there any circumstance under which you would?
ROMNEY: Well, I can't imagine supporting Donald Trump for president or Hillary Clinton for president, either one. Now, I'll, hopefully, be able to find a conservative on the ballot, who I can vote for.
BORGER: Did party leaders looking back and I guess, yourself included, missed read their own voters in the Republican base by vetting on the fact that perhaps Donald Trump would simply implode of his own free will.
ROMNEY: Oh, I don't know about other people. I certainly paid attention to Donald Trump, I didn't expect him to do so well.
BORGER: Right.
ROMNEY: But he is tough into an anger which is very much understood. What he's done with that anger however, is not to build and into resolve at high purpose (ph), but instead to take it down a very dark alley. And that I think is unfortunate.
But I don't think he can ride off any candidate, and I thought Jeb Bush can do better than he did. I like Jeb a lot, but he would be able to gain lot of momentum but that didn't happen. And Donald Trump has, and at this stage, we say, "All right, he could easily become the nominee, probably, most likely to the Republican nominee at this point.
But I think there's a better choice out there.
BORGER: Who is it?
ROMNEY: Well, Marco Rubio is the right person in Florida. John Kasich is the right person in Ohio.
BORGER: Here we go.
ROMNEY: And Ted Cruz is right anywhere where he is leading right now, or where he is closest to Donald Trump.
BORGER: When are you going to choose one?
ROMNEY: Well, it depends impart on how the process continues. I expect that after March 15th, it maybe clear who is going to be the, if you will, that person of opposes the Donald Trump most effectively. And so, I would anticipate endorsing at that time.
But let's say, all three are doing about the same.
BORGER: Right. Then what?
ROMNEY: Then I'd probably again encourage who's ever doing best in a particular state to get the support there and do that state by state and that would lead to an open convention where you'd see the delegates selected make the final decision.
BORGER: So this contested convention, is this a scenario that you're actively looking at?
ROMNEY: Oh, I think it's a realistic scenario. A lot of people have thought that for some time.
BORGER: Likely? Likely?
ROMNEY: I think it's more likely than not that, that we will have a nominee before the convention that's Donald Trump. I think he has a much stronger shot of getting the 1,237 delegates than not.
But, you know, the debate last night was not good for Donald Trump. He showed that he cracks under pressure. And I think -- I think that may begin to open the door for some people who are looking for a different path.
BORGER: Are you referring to a contested convention which has a first ballot, then people are unbound after that, second ballot?
ROMNEY: Well, I'm going to begin by campaigning for people who I believe in and encouraging people to vote for folks who I think would be a better nominee than Donald Trump. But at a convention, sure, I'd be one of the people encouraging delegates to get behind someone who I thought could win in November.
BORGER: If there is a contested convention, would you allow your name to be put into nomination?
ROMNEY: That's not going to happen. What's going to happen in a contested convention is the people who are running for president and who have delegates will be able to battle with one another. You know, there would be nominee that even have your name put in. You have 8 states that nominates.
BORGER: But they can change those rules. They can change those rules.
ROMNEY: You know, there's always this one in a million scenarios that maybe they'll, Gloria, they'll nominate you. But I don't think it's -- you maybe one of the hundred million, I'm one of the 10 million, this is not real.
BORGER: But would you allow it?
BORGER: But would you allow it?
ROMNEY: I 'm not going to even go there. I have to interest in talking about that, I'm in and talk about the people running for president and who have the best shot, of actually becoming our nominee.
BORGER: So you are effectively the leader of the Stop Donald Trump movement now. And -- but I have to say that you were someone who sought his endorsement in 2012, I don't have to remind you about that, and you tweeted that you sort of regretted that and that you said that four years ago, "The things he says now about the KKK, Muslims, Mexicans, disabled, I would not have accepted his endorsement."
But when he endorsed you, he was kind of the godfather of the Obama birther movement. Wasn't he? I mean, wasn't that bad enough?
ROMNEY: Well, no, I think that's very different than calling Mexicans rapists, than saying Muslims will not be allowed into the country as immigrants, that mocking a disabled reporter.
[05:10:04] That going after women and saying, "Oh, she asks tough questions because she was in her menstrual cycle." I mean, this is highly offensive.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: It was Mitt Romney there speaking with our Gloria Borger. No matter what Trump's rival see, there is one indisputable
fact, Donald Trump has a comfortable lead now over his rivals and the delegate count so far, and he may bill on the lead in Super Saturday's contest.
But the question remains, can any of his rivals chip away, at that momentum before July in the Republican National Convention.
Our Chief U.S. Correspondent John King dug into that, question with Anderson Cooper.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
John King, CNN Chief U.S. Correspondent: And they all need to win to stop Donald Trump. Well, let's look at the map and see how that would play out.
If you hears wherever where are at the Super Tuesday, let's just fast forward. This gets us through March 15th, this is a scenario in which Donald Trump runs the board, wins everything this weekend, wins everything next Tuesday and then wins everything on Tuesday March 15th.
Likely, don't know, but conceivable, yes.
If that's happens game over. Just fold your tens, get out Donald Trump. He's almost three quarters the way the nomination plus he would make a convincing case, "You guys can't beat me."
But here's the Romney scenario. Let's say John Kasich wins in his home state of Ohio. And Marco Rubio wins on the 15th in his home state of Florida. Now, in some contest this weekend and before then, he would think that they going to stop Trump. They would get a start there. But let's just take, this is the Romney scenario, and just to show that maybe somebody gets momentum, I'm even going to give john Kasich, Illinois in the scenario here.
Even if this happens, right, even if this happens guys went under home court. Cruz won Texas, Rubio wins Florida, Kasich wins Ohio and as a gift we'll give him Illinois for the sake of the scenario. Even in this scenario, Trump is well ahead. But what Romney and everyone else in the establishment is hoping for, is to then somebody gets the hot hand. When they win, Trump comes down and something like this happens.
This plays it out through the convention. This is Rubio I have winning New York, winning North Carolina, winning Pennsylvania, winning some states out in the west including California. I use Rubio on this scenario, you could make it Kasich. You could make it Cruz. You could split the states between them, Trump win some. They win others.
But this is what the establishment is hoping for, something like this. Somebody gets a hot hand, Trump win some but not as many as he's winning right now. And you get to the convention, this scenario as Trump is convention over a thousand. They are hoping to keep Trump in the 800 to 900 branch so they think they don't have a stronger moral argument to stop him.
But if he had over a thousand, he beat more than three quarters in the way, but then you have Rubio here, Cruz here, Kasich here. And again, if you're watching at home and you prefer one of these guys switch the numbers. Trump would be in the lead, the other candidates have some, some stronger than others and then, Anderson, the scenario Romney lays out, is this is where the negotiations begin.
Nobody can win on the first ballot. Nobody had enough. And so that what would happen? Nobody knows because this is never happened in our lifetime but could Trump negotiate with Kasich. That would get you close enough to Trump-Kasich ticket, would get you close enough to the finish line, or with Cruz and Rubio kind of deal, which would get them across the finish line with their delegates.
That this is the scenario they hope for. They are just hoping to get through a convention and then write rules that they line and cut deal that they like.
Can I do that? I don't know. I'm just like one of these guys, here's the scenario. Since one of these guys won -- go in with the power ball, we just don't know who, if something like this plays out.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: Big questions, we'll have to wait and see. That was our CNN chief U.S. correspondent, John King, speaking with Anderson Cooper.
Donald Trump, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, also John Kasich, have all promised to support whoever becomes the Republican presidential nominee. And so far the Republican National Committee Chairman has done so as well.
On the Democratic side of things, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are looking ahead to their parties primary in Michigan on Tuesday. And their focus on workers at an auto parts manufacturing plant in Detroit on Friday. Clinton vowed to boost unions and jobs. She also promised to eliminate tax benefits for U.S. companies that move jobs overseas.
Sanders was also in Michigan ahead of two vote there and criticizes Hillary Clinton passed support of trade agreement, saying that they have hurt American workers.
Clinton is not just looking ahead to Tuesday. She is also looking ahead to the national election. And our Senior Political Correspondent Brianna Keilar report, Clinton is taking on Donald Trump in her pitch to voters now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hillary Clinton is waging a two-front battle here in Michigan, one against Bernie Sanders of course her Democratic rival as they both make a play for union voters. And then also against Donald Trump with Clinton clearly thinks is going to be the Republican nominee.
HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: When I hear people running for president who spent all their time bad-mouthing America, it really upsets me. You know what, we've got work to do. Instead of complaining, let's join hands, let's lift ourselves up. Let's get going together.
KEILAR: The Democratic candidates preparing for the CNN debate in Flint, Michigan on Sunday night. They will of course be addressing the water crisis there.
[05:14:57] But this is also a chance for Bernie Sanders to try to make a splash as Hillary Clinton widens her delegate lead over him. Hillary Clinton is expecting that Bernie Sanders is going to be on offense when it comes to how she's been trying to court union voters. He has been taking her on, on her passive court of trade agreements like NAFTA and she's ready to defend herself against that on Sunday night.
Brianna Keila, CNN, Detroit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: And as Brianna mentioned, Hillary Clinton and Bernie sanders will face off on the debate stage once again in the CNN Democratic Debate on Sunday. It will be live from Flint, Michigan. Anderson Cooper moderating, that is at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 1:00 a.m. Monday in London, only here on CNN.
This is CNN Newsroom. Still ahead, global powers, we'll be watching China this week as Beijing kicks off this year's National People Congress, starting with the critical look at that countries economy.
Plus, after two agonizing year, families of those who are onboard Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 are hoping this piece of debris might give some answers. Our live reporting ahead from Malaysia.
It is 5:15 East Coast, 2:15 on the West, you're watching CNN Worldwide.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOWELL: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM, I'm George Howell.
And to the Philippines now where officials say they have stopped the ship with a North Korean crew from leaving its waters for now. That ship which is register in Sierra Leone, is one of the first ships to be inspected since the U.N. Security Council imposed new and much harsher sanctions on Pyongyang over its nuclear program.
The Philippines Coast Guard says, the ship had minor safety violations including faulty emergency light bulbs and can't leave until the issues are resolved. And in China, it is a crucial week as the National People's Congress holds its yearly meeting now in Beijing. The Chinese premier open the session on Saturday, it brings together nearly 3,000 delegates from across that country and this year's 12 days of meetings are of specific importance, given China's slow down in economic growth.
We get more now from CNN's Andrew Stevens from Beijing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDREW STEVENS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Behind this imposing pillars of the great hall of the people here in Beijing, the economic supremo of this country, Li Keqiang, is giving his address on his vision for China's economic future for this year and for the next five years.
[05:20:06] So let's start with the numbers.
The target for growth, in 2016, is going to be between 6.5 percent and 7 percent. This gives the Chinese government a bit more flexibility than usual. Last year, it came in at 6.9 percent.
The Premier Li also talking about the future, the next five-year plan, well, growth will come in at least 6.5 percent is to achieve the goal of moderately prosperous economy. That is what the party is aiming to achieve by 2020. How they are going to do it? A lot of it will be driven by technology in industry, by innovation, 50 million new jobs will be created over the next five years, 10 million this year.
It all sounds good in the headlines, but they are real obstacles to achieving these targets. Reform of many industries in China is only just beginning, millions of people face layoffs. The debt now continues to grow and grow here in China and many economist say, they actual real level of growth is now in need of 6.9 percent. It's close to the four percent. These are the issues that China faces in a slowing global economy and make it even more difficult to get the results that Premier Li says he can deliver.
Andrew Stevens, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: 239 people lost their lives aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. And for nearly two years now, many relatives have been looking for answers in the flight, but to no avail. The plane disappeared on its way to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.
Officials searching for Boeing 777 in the Indian Ocean hope that this debris, these piece of debris that you see here, might give them some clues. And now, Malaysian and Australian experts will examine the debris, which as found by an American tourist along the coast of Mozambique.
Let's go live to Kuala Lumpur this hour, Saima Mohsin standing by for us following this investigation.
Saima, good to have you with us. I understand you had a change to speak with an official with the Malaysian Department of Civil Aviation, what did he have to say?
SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. Hi, George. I speak with the Director General who told me that he is dispatching a team of three people to Mozambique. They would spoke less late last night. They yet to arrived there but they will conduct an immediate inspection, he said, of that piece of debris.
Now, they are one member of the Department of Civil Aviation, someone from Malaysian Airlines, and a member of that special investigations, looking into the disappearance of MH 370, one of the greatest aviation mysteries over time.
Now, they will conduct that immediate inspection, and we are hoping that they may will be able to give us and of course, the family members of both 239 people on board, and a quick answer. Yes, this is from MH 730, or no, it's not.
There is, George, a lot of skepticism surrounding this, although one U.S. official told CNN that he believes, it is from a 777 aircraft, crucially 777. It's the only one missing right now, but either makes (ph) 370.
The Mozambique Civil Aviation Authority have said that they believe, it's from a smaller plane. And you remember, George, that flaperon that was found last year was proven to be from MH 370, the only evidence in debris to date. That had barnacles growing on it, it was rusting. And it showed that erosion that it had been in the sea for sometime. Well, that's not a appearing on this particular piece of debris. George?
HOWELL: Saima, nearly two years since this happened, what more can you tell us about the search and investigation as it stands now?
MOHSIN: Yeah, absolutely. Almost two years, and still only one piece of identifying object from that plane, that is flaperon I just mentioned. And, George, actually where this debris has washed off, is crucial to the search as well, really, because if we trace back from the currents, the oceanic waves that will have taken this debris there, in particular the flaperon that we know to be from MH 370.
Let's trace it back through the Indian Ocean to the search done where the Australian government is conducting and stay heading that search. They believe they all searching in the right place. They expanded that search last year to 120,000 square feet -- sorry, kilometers, 120,00 kilometers, and they will continue that search until they finish searching this area.
But, George, they saying, once they've covered this area, they do not plan to continue.
[05:25:03] They released a statement last year, the end of last year, saying that in the absence of credible new information that leads to the identification of a specific location of the aircraft, governments have agreed they will be no further expansion.
Now, that has hit a cord with all of the family members in the next (inaudible) loved ones. They are holding over a member in state tomorrow here in Kuala Lumpur, tomorrow if someday here, George.
Now, they are launching a petition on Sunday called "Search On". They are really worried that the search will end without finding the aircraft. George?
HOWELL: So many unanswered questions and one just hopes that, you know, there are some answers ahead for these families who have been waiting for so long.
Saima Mohsin live for us in Malaysia. Saima, thank you for your reporting there.
We move on now to Brazil where the former president of that nation is denying corruption allegations and for being interrogated on Friday. Prosecutors say, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva benefited from millions of drives from a state-owned oil company. Clashes broke out with the demonstrators at one location as police raided his house and office.
Da Silva is a mentor to Brazil's current president who was facing impeachment calls. The country is in the middle of brutal recession.
The water crisis in Flint, Michigan will be back in the U.S. spotlight this weekend. Democratic candidate will debate in the city of Flint, Michigan two days before the state goes to the polls, ahead how they are already making the crisis a priority. Plus, CNN investigate the U.S. government's role in that water crisis, I'll look at what we uncovered.
Live from Atlanta this hour and broadcasting around, you're watching CNN Newsroom.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:30:10] HOWELL: Welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. This is CNN NEWSROOM. I'm George Howell, good to have you with us.
The headline we're following for you. Voters in five states will begin soon the NV presidential race. They will go to the polls for Super Saturday, 155 delegates are up for grabs among Republican candidates. Donald Trump, he is hoping to extend his lead so far. 109 delegates are at stake for Democrats. And right now, Hillary Clinton has a sizable lead over Bernie Sanders.
All the world's biggest political meeting is happening now in Beijing. The annual session of the National People's Congress brings together thousands of delegates from across that country. This year's gathering is up specific importance, given China slow down in economic growth.
Three experts flying in from Malaysia will soon be examining this piece of debris that you see here that was found in Mozambique. Almost two years ago, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared with 239 people on board. Malaysia transport official say it is possible that the debris came from the same type of plane a Boeing 777. The former president of Brazil in denying corruption allegation that's
for being interrogated on Friday. Prosecutor say Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva benefited from millions in bribes from a state oil company. Clashes broke out as police raided his house and office. Da Silva, he is a mentor to Brazil's current president.
More now on the race for the White House, the state of Michigan votes next Tuesday as candidates are campaigning there heavily. Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton are fighting it out for votes. And in new ad that are running in that state, both candidates are focusing on the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. And set to be a major talking point during CNN's Democratic Debate on Sunday in Flint, Michigan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BERNIE SANDERS, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Jane and I have four kids. We have seven very beautiful grandchildren. Can you imagine being a mother seeing your own child's intellectual development deteriorate in front of your very eyes? If the local government cannot protect those children, if the state government cannot protect those children, than the federal government better get in and do the right thing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A Bernie Sanders ...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We can't drink the water. (inaudible) the water. You can't cook with the water.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There was a time when we are alone and nobody heard our story.
CLINTON: I am here because for nearly two years, this water was poisoned.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hillary Clinton came here and showed that she's standing with us.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's the one that brought this to another level of attention and that's what we needed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: People who live in Flint had been unable to drink the tap water for months now. That water filled with toxic levels of lead and iron. It is a crisis that has drawn national outrage, and many people are angry with Michigan's governor.
During this week's Fox News Debate, Republican candidate Marco Rubio defended Rick Snyder.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUBIO: And the politicizing of it, I think is unfair, because I don't think that someone woke up one morning and said, "Let's figure out how to poison the water system that hurt someone", but accountability is important. I will say I give the governor credit. He took responsibility for what happened. And he's talked about people being held accountable and the need of change for Governor Snyder.
(END VIDOE CLIP)
HOWELL: In the meantime, Flint kick off a $55 million program on Friday to replace its lead contaminated pipes. The fast start initiative as it's called, "Aims to First Replace Pipes in Residences for at Risk Groups Such as Pregnant Woman, Children Under age Six and for Seniors".
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAREN WEAVER, MAYOR, FLINT, MICHIGAN: In this day one of the fast start program and this is something that is going to continue. I want to say that's the goal. My mission is to totally get the lead out of Flint.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWEEL: CNN Sara Ganim is in Flint, Michigan for us and has been investigating U.S. environmental protection agency's role in that water crisis.
She discovered reports that down played the crisis before it become to the public eye and Sara also spoke to a victim who's been impacted by lead tainted water. Here Sara Ganim with this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEEANN WALTER, FLINT, MICHIGAN RESIDENT: Get up I told her, fine. The rashes, the hair loss, the ground water. We need to figure out what was going on.
SARA GANIM, CNN CORRSPONDENT: After months of no answers, Leeann Walter's had enough.
WALTER: I went to the EPA and I started to circuit (ph) the science of it, because you can't argue with science.
GANIM: Test revealed the water coming out of the taps in the Walter's home was so polluted with lead. It was twice the level of hazard as waste.
[05:35:05] Most people think of the EPA as this organization that will come in, in a time of crisis and fix things. Do you think that happened here?
WALTER: Absolutely not. Not with it should have.
GANIM: An EPA scientist drafted a memo about the high levels of lead in the Walter's home, highlighting serious concern for residents and violations of federal regulations.
The memo was leaked to the public, but instead of taking a tough action the head of the regional EPA Office, Susan Hedman, try to keep it under wraps. She tried to underplay the report saying the scientist acted inappropriately by sharing his findings, because it was only a draft report and that only when the report is revised and fully vetted will it be shared with the city.
MARC EDWARD, CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER, VIRGINIA TECH: It justifies believes that that's what happened.
GANIM: Marc Edward is a leading drinking water researcher that was called in to test residence water.
EDWARD: Who on earth is would read the memo with the data showing the child had been lead poisoned and the worst lead in water that we've seen in, you know, 25 years. Who would get that memo and not take it seriously?
Here she is, knowing this abuses occurring and remain completely silent, and letting these kid's future be destroyed. I mean, I can even begin to think how she might justify that to herself.
GANIM: It wasn't until nine months later that the final report was released. And the EPA issued an emergency order. All that time the people of Flint continued using toxic water. The Regional Director Susan Hedman resigned.
CUMMINGS: I want the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
GANIM: CNN has learned that the House Committee on Oversight is now investigating how the EPA's region five office handled the water crisis in Flint.
A Congressional Research Service report concluded recently that the EPA knew early on in the crisis that Michigan was in violation of federal water laws from lead and had the authority to stepped in but didn't. The EPA's inspector general is also looking into allegations of missed management in the EPA region five office under the leadership of Susan Hedman, a culture that Carolyn Bohlen knows well.
She says she was reassigned after raising alarms over how the office handled sexual harassment cases. She says she is not surprised that how the EPA scientist preliminary report was suppressed.
CAROLYN BOHLEN, EPA WHISTLEBLOWER: I thought, "Well, here we go again." You have someone who's a dedicated employee, very serious about his work, very inceptive (ph) employee who presented the information very well and it was disregarded.
GANIM: On its website, the EPA now has a warning to the residence of Flint. Do not drink unfiltered water, it's not safe.
Looking back, what goes through your minds when you think about how all this unfolded?
WALTER: I wish I had protected my family better.
GANIM: It's not your fault.
WALTER: No it's not, but they're my kids. And it's not just about my family. There are adults that have serious health issues now. There are teenagers that felt to have serious health issues now. So, no, it's not OK, because they didn't listen no matter how much we scream, no matter how much we cried, no matter whatever we showed them, we were not heard.
GANIM: E-mail showed that the EPA did offer to send additional experts to the city of Flint's but people here want to know why the agency didn't act sooner, why not tell the people here what they knew? The EPA wouldn't agree to an on-camera interview with CNN but did tell us this in a statement, that the ability of the EPA to oversee was impacted by failures and resistance at the states and local levels.
Sarah Ganim, CNN, Flint, Michigan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: And the people of Flint, Michigan still dealing with this tainted water. CNN's Sara Ganim reporting for us. Thank you, Sara.
Now, we switch over to the weather and some really tough weather coming to the west coast.
DEREK VAN DAM, CNN WEATHER ANCHOR: Yeah, but it could be a double edge sword here. There's no secret that California has been under this five year drought, but we have a potential to break some of that at least part of that drought with a series of storms that was going to impact that state over the next 10 days.
In fact, George, get a load of this, they could receive half of their yearly snowfall the Sierra Nevada mountain range just in 10 days (inaudible). That's going to have significant impact on the economy within the state. Think about all the melted snowpack that filters into the reservoir and provides the fresh drinking water to the state of California, the major cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles.
[05:40:04] Enter the atmospheric river. Meteorologist get all excited about this, because this is the plum of moisture. Even originating from Hawaii right across the Pacific to the western half of the United States that drives that train of rainfall and snowfall on the mountains that is so beneficial for the western half of the United States. And it happens around this time of year where we get these three-four week periods of extreme wet weather, but remember this is being exacerbated by the strong el nino that is taking place.
Here's the latest radar. The rainfall has commenced Los Angeles, San Francisco, Northwood into Portland, Seattle. The Pacific Northwest there, pretty used to that this time of year. And here's a look at our latest warnings that shaded in a pink is our winter storm warnings and we could easily see in excess of 100 inches of snowfall in the next seven days.
Just through the week, we've got over three feet of snow expected across the mountains of California, very strong winds across this area. If we take this through the next seven days with storm after storm lining up, it break the records or at least the charts on our forecast snow depth across to Sierra Nevada mountain range. Again, over 100 inches of rainfall possible.
In our jet stream, this is the upper level winds that drive our storm systems across the planets continues to bring storm after storm that will bring more rainfall through the extended period. So, when I say drought (inaudible) we definitely have the potential going into California. We don't want to get too excited because this has been an on going problem for that state for the past five years.
I'm going to leave us in the United States but bring you to Anchorage, Alaska where the ceremonial start to the 44th annual Iditarod is taking place this is taking place 10:00 a.m. But one small tiny little problem, George, they didn't have any snow. So they have to go north in Fairbanks and take out the heavy machinery, gather some of the snowfall, and bring it southward into Anchorage just so they can have that ceremonial start this morning and the dog sleds could get underway with some fresh snow on the grounds.
HOWELL: Good for them, but Derek that is telling.
VAN DAM: It is. It's odd not to have snow in Anchorage.
HOWELL: Meteorologist Derek Van Dam with this Derek thank you so much, Derek. You're watching CNN Newsroom.
And still ahead, the possible lead in the O.J. Simpson murder trial that has the American public going back in time, back to the 1990s. We will explain this new development at the CNN Newsroom.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:45:57] HOWELL: In the U.S. state of California, a knife that was reportedly found at the former state of O.J. Simpson is re-igniting public interest in that murder trial that gripped the American public 20 years ago.
Los Angeles Police say, one of their officers was given the weapon by a construction worker back in the '90s, but they're only just now learning of it.
CNN's Paul Vercammen explains the strange new revelation in this case.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A sensation here in Los Angeles as this information came forward and of course with all things O.J. Simpson, police regarding it with the healthy dose of skepticism. Let's unfurl the timeline for you.
According to the LAPD Captain, old about 1998, while on duty as a movie police officer in other words sort of a suit up security guard, the officer in information is given a knife from a construction worker who says he found it while working at O.J. Simpson's former Rockingham Mansion. Basically, that officer that holds onto the knife and only within the last month that this knife turned up, and here's what the captain had to say about being astounded by the fact that this officer wouldn't come forward earlier.
ANDREW NEIMAN, CAPTAIN, LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT: I was really surprised. I would think that an LAPD officer if this story is accurate as we're being told, would know that anytime you are -- you coming to contact with evidence that you should and shall submit that to investigators.
So, I don't know what the circumstances are, why that didn't happen, or if that's entirely accurate, or if this whole story in is possibly bogus from the get-go.
VERCAMMEN: We pressed the captain on this knife, the nature of it. Pointedly asking, was it a machete? Was it a kitchen knife? Was it a pen knife? And he said, it wasn't a machete and something about it means it's consistent with the possibility of the knife that was used in the grizzly murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Golden.
They are now looking over that knife in the building behind me, in the lab, checking for anything. Perhaps a miracle they find a fingerprint maybe blood, DNA samples, whatever trace elements they could find this investigation is active.
And right now, in the state a popular show all about the O.J. Simpson a trial is airing on F.X. I asked about that as well off camera and the captain just looked at me and smile and says the timing is interesting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Paul Vercammen reporting there for us. Now, the circumstances of this potential new lead are being scrutinized, but police say that the knife itself is being treated with complete legitimacy.
Earlier, my colleague, Natalie Allen, spoke with the attorney Lisa Bloom about what this new evidence could mean.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LISA BLOOM, ATTORNEY, THE BLOOM FIRM: O.J. Simpson cannot be retried for this double murder. Even if there is DNA on this knife, even if he stood up in the middle of Time Square and said, "I did it", even if the new witness came forward, it doesn't matter. He's already been tried, he's been acquitted, its over.
So, this is not going to matter in terms of his legal jeopardy. But in the eyes of the public in terms of the history this case, it could be very significant.
NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, he's in prison right now on another charge. If something were to come out of this knife investigation could that perhaps keep him in prison longer?
BLOOM: Well, that's a very good question and the answer is yes. So, O.J. Simpson is up for parole for the burglary and kidnapping charges that he's currently incarcerated for. And that goes back to an incident in Las Vegas hotel room a few years ago. When he goes up for parole, parole cast a very wide net and people are entitled to come in and tell the parole board reasons why he should be released and reasons why he should remain incarcerated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: At this point the forensic team has yet to announce any finding.
[05:49:57] You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly came back home to hugs, to beer, apple pie, much more after spending a year in space. He also return to something else details next.
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PATRICK SNELL, CNN SPORT ANCHOR: Hi there. I'm Patrick Snell, with your CNN World Sport headlines. The European Football's governing body UEFA has announced the goal-line technology will be used to make Champions League final in Milan in January. UEFA said, "GLC would be used at Euro '16".
Also on Friday, UEFA Exec. Committee deciding to install Theodore Theodoridis as interim general secretary following Gianni Infantino's election as the new president of FIFA.
The new F1 season getting underway in Australia later this month in Melbourne but the format changed, aimed to trying to make qualifying, more exciting.
The fourth time world champ Seb Vettel isn't convinced though. The German saying, "It's a little bit chaotic if a couple weeks before the season, you star to reinvent certain rules and the formats of qualifying, I'm personally not a fan. And I think, speaking on behalf of all the drivers, no driver is, we don't get what is wrong with the old qualifying and why they changed it."
Now, on to the latest chapter was been another exceptional season for the NBA champion, Golden States Warriors, Steph Curry and co. have been sweeping all before them. And on Thursday night here in the State, say tie, the Chicago Bulls wrecks off by winning a 44 straight regular season, the home game with victory over the Oklahoma City Thunders.
No surprised, Curry led all scores to 33 points on this night, fantastic scoring. It's an incredible season for the Golden States Warriors.
That is to look at your CNN World Sport headlines. Thanks for joining us.
I'm Patrick Snell. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOWELL: Welcome back to NEWSROOM. So U.S. Astronaut, Scott Kelly is back on earth and readjusting after spending almost a year at the International Space Station. He's also adjusting to the fact that he is just a bit shorter than he was in space.
Jeanne Moos has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: If you have answer to this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you wish you could grow taller?
MOOS: If yes, you could try growth supplements.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're guaranteed to grow taller by two to six inches.
MOOS: Or even ...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The body tractor. You can grow 3.7 centimeters taller.
MOOS: Or you could do what Commander Scott Kelly did. Go to space for almost a year.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Scott Kelly, back on Mother Earth.
MOOS: Kelly arrived back after growing about an inch a half.
JENNIFER FOGARTY NASA HUMAN RESEARCH PROGRAM: It's a phenomenon called spinal elongation.
MOOS: Without gravity compressing the vertebrae, the space between disks expands slightly and the spine gets longer.
[05:55:00] The physical impact of space fight on Scott Kelly is being measured against his twin, former astronaut, Mark Kelly.
SCOTT KELLY, ASTRONAUT: My brother, Mark who is ...
FOGARTY: Theoretically, he'd be a little bit taller than his brother and it actually goes the way pretty quickly so when you get rid supposed to gravity is he walks around.
MOOS: He's already back to his old size, sometimes the increase in an astronaut tight even requires NASA to go up a size in space suit. Though the growth spurt, didn't prevent Kelly from joining a gorilla suit in space.
When Isaiah Thomas heard about the size increase, the Celtics point guard tweeted, "I need to go to space ASAP, LOL."
Now, if you think that this is no big deal, hey I'm easily inches become part of the presidential debate.
MARCO RUBIO, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He's always telling me "Little Marco" and I'll admit, the guy, he's taller than me, he's like 6'2".
DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Actually, I'm 6'3", not 6'2", but he said I had small hands.
MOOS: Even space isn't going to make your hands any bigger, Donald.
As for testing the twin astronauts, Cartoonist Ed Hall depicted one year exposure to the silence of space versus one year exposure to a presidential race. It's enough to make an astronaut race back to the Space Station.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Nobody turns a freeze like Jeanne Moos.
We thank you for watching this hour. I'm George Howell at the CNN Center in Atlanta.
The news continues on CNN, right after the break.
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[06:00:00] HOWELL: From CNN world headquarters in Atlanta, I'm George Howell. This is CNN News Now.
It is a big day of voting in the U.S. in the presidential race. The Republican candidates are battling for 155 delegates. There are 109 delegates up for grabs for Democrats. Five states are holding primaries ...
