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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

New Details In Vegas Investigation; GOP Open To Gun Changes?; After 'Moron' Report, Tillerson Reaffirms Pledge To Trump. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired October 05, 2017 - 05:30   ET

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

[05:30:32] DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: House paid for in cash and extra measures for privacy. New details this morning about the Las Vegas gunman's years of seclusion.

And now, the shooting has some Republicans even thinking of new gun laws. But would they have stopped this attack?

RENE MARSH, CNN ANCHOR: And, the secretary of state insists he stays put after reports he called the president a moron. And now, one top Republican senator says it's Tillerson keeping the country from descending into chaos.

Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Rene Marsh in for Christine Romans.

BRIGGS: Good morning to you. I'm Dave Briggs. It is 30 minutes past the hour.

After days of painstaking investigation, authorities starting to piece together a picture of the man behind the Las Vegas massacre.

Among the new details, CNN has learned Stephen Paddock went out of his way to protect his privacy, paying nearly $370,000 in cash for a house in Mesquite, Nevada. Even though the 2,000 square foot home had a commanding hilltop view, he obscured it with a solid mesh privacy fence that blocked neighbors' view of his home.

MARSH: Well, on his real estate application he said his income came from gambling. He said he gambles about $1 million a year.

Authorities found 19 of the shooter's nearly four dozen guns at that home in Mesquite.

Officials now say it is clear the shooter's meticulous plan and the anger that drove it developed over some time.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSEPH LOMBARDO, SHERIFF, LAS VEGAS METROPOLITAN POLICE: More than 100 investigators have spent the last 72 hours combing through the life of 64-year-old Stephen Paddock. Stephen Paddock is a man who spent decades acquiring weapons and ammo and living a secret life, much of which will never be fully understood.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BRIGGS: Officials also say there is evidence the gunman planned to survive this attack and escape. Rather unusual for a mass murderer, experts say. Most expect to be caught and killed.

There's also new video this morning of concertgoers running and police trying to manage crowds the moment it became apparent they were under attack. We do want to warn you, though, this video may be disturbing to some.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POLICE OFFICER: Run, go, go, go. Everybody go.

(Gunshots)

POLICE OFFICER: Go, run. Keep your head down, go. Keep your head down, go.

(Gunshots)

POLICE OFFICER: Run. Keep your head down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARSH: Terrifying moments there.

And, CNN's Jean Casarez is live for us this morning. She's in Las Vegas. She joins us now with the very latest on the investigation.

Good morning to you, Jean.

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning and, Rene, we've got a lot of new information. Authorities really made a point last night that they want to look at the facts. That it is the facts that will lead them to the truth.

So here is a fact that they gave last night. Between October 2016 and September 2017, the perpetrator purchased 33 weapons. Thirty-three of his 47 weapons were purchased in that time period.

So they're very interested in fall of 2016, what may have happened. What led to this change that he amassed so many weapons during that time period?

They also gave new information about his car. His car that, yes, was parked at the Mandalay Bay parking lot. Not only did it have 1,600 rounds of ammunition, not only did it have ammonium nitrate, but it had 50 pounds of tannerite, which is used to create exploding targets.

We also learned that there was, in fact, no suicide note. Just as you said, he had a plan to leave. He intended to leave and escape alive in all of this.

Also, a week before this he actually stayed at another hotel condominium in downtown Las Vegas, the Ogden hotel. And there was a very big concert, Life is Beautiful, near that hotel. They are combing that video right now -- that surveillance video -- to see exactly what it shows.

And we also definitively got a time line. Such an important time line because the shots now, they say, rang out for 10 minutes -- 10:05 to 10:15.

Ten seventeen is when the first officers arrived on the 32nd floor. The security officer shot at 10:18. After that, no more shots rang out and they said that he had the power to be able to keep shooting but he didn't after he shot that security guard.

[05:35:07] And that's when officers saw the two cameras on the food cart. They started clearing rooms. They got into the hallway but they decided they had to wait for the full SWAT team to arrive.

It was a very purposeful decision, we were told last night in that press conference. And they made entry, finally, at 11:20 and that's when they found the perpetrator deceased.

MARSH: And, Jean, a follow-up for you. We understand that Chief Lombardo, who spoke last night, he suggested that believes the shooter may have had some sort of help. But did he say why he believed that he may been helped?

CASAREZ: Yes, he really did because he said when you look at the amount of weapons in the hotel room, what was in the car, in the two homes, they just don't believe that he could have done it by himself. And this was the first really assumption they made throughout the whole evening.

And also, the cameras. He set up the cameras. He didn't have a lookout. He set up the cameras himself and even a baby monitor camera in the hotel room.

But listen to what law enforcement is saying is the working theory of this killer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LOMBARDO: Look at this. I mean, you look at the weapon obtaining, the different amounts of tannerite available. Do you think this was all accomplished on his own? Self-value -- face value, you've got to make the assumption that he had to have some help at some point.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CASAREZ: And, Rene, they say that they believe this investigation will take a very long time because there's so much information they just don't have at his point.

MARSH: I mean -- but, Jean, it is interesting that he believes that because of how many weapons he had that he's concluding or he believes that he may have had help. When we consider that he's been stockpiling these guns since 1982, that's a lot of time to amass all of that.

So perhaps, he could have done it on his own. So perhaps, they have some other information leading them to this.

CASAREZ: That's possible or they said, at least, he spoke to people about what he was doing.

MARSH: All right. Jean Casarez live for us this morning in Las Vegas. Thanks so much, Jean.

BRIGGS: All right. Some Republican lawmakers signaling a willingness to consider a ban on what's called bump stocks. That's the device used by the Las Vegas shooter that enables a semiautomatic weapon to fire as rapidly as a fully automatic weapon.

John Cornyn, of Texas, the number two Senate Republican, says he owns a lot of guns but finds it odd that bump stocks can be used legally.

MARSH: And he's calling for hearings, and he's not alone. Several other Republicans agreeing to look at banning the devices since automatic weapons are already illegal. Most of them admitting they had no idea bump stocks were legal to begin with.

BRIGGS: Yes, a lot of gun shop owners in Vegas told me they'd never had any interest in selling them. But they also told me there's a lot of ways to automate a weapon. Even if you made them illegal, a lot of different ways to fire that trigger faster than it was intended.

All right. Ahead, so would Republicans really take concrete steps on guns right now? New suggestions that they might.

Also, the secretary of state trying to firm up his rocky relationship with the president after calling him a moron. How the president responded, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:42:40] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What I saw today is just an incredible tribute to professionalism and what they have done is incredible -- and bravery. Some were very, very badly wounded and they were badly wounded because they refused to leave. They wanted to help others because they saw people going down all over.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: All right. President Trump visited Las Vegas, along with the first lady, to offer comfort and gratitude to victims, families, and first responders from the Las Vegas attack.

MARSH: Well, back in Washington there's possible movement on gun regulation as some Republican lawmakers are signaling a willingness to consider a ban on bump stocks. That's the device used by the Las Vegas shooter that enables a semiautomatic weapon to fire as rapidly as a fully automatic weapon.

Well, we want to bring in CNN contributor Salena Zito. She's a reporter for the "Washington Examiner" and columnist for the "New York Post."

I guess the first question out the gate, is it even possible for any gun control following this tragedy?

SALENA ZITO, CNN CONTRIBUTOR, REPORTER, WASHINGTON EXAMINER, COLUMNIST, NEW YORK POST (via Skype): I think it's very possible for this type of gun control to be -- to be debated, and voted on, and possible passed on this specific device.

This is not something that's commonly used by any gun aficionado, a hunter, a sportsman. Someone who, you know, just likes the sport of target practice.

And, you know, it can be replicated. You can rig your gun to do this. But, you know, to have the specific device just seems unnecessary and probably something Republicans and Democrats, and probably the NRA might not have a problem with either in terms of, you know, no pushback on this device.

BRIGGS: That's something.

MARSH: Yes.

BRIGGS: If the NRA wouldn't move then this will get through.

Let's talk about what's happening in D.C. with the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson with a hastily addressed new conference to address an "NBC NEWS" report that he called President Trump a quote "moron." President Trump said that the denied it. That it was fake news.

First, here's the Secretary of State, then the president.

[05:45:00] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REX TILLERSON, SECRETARY OF STATE: There's never been a consideration in my mind to leave. I serve at the appointment of the president and I'm here for as long as the president feels I can be useful to achieving his objectives.

REPORTER: Can you address the main headline of this story, that you called the president a moron? And if not, where do you think these reports are coming from?

TILLERSON: I'm not going to deal with petty stuff like that. I mean, this is -- this is what I don't understand about Washington. Again, you know, I'm not from this place, but the places I come from we don't deal with that kind of petty nonsense.

TRUMP: I'm very honored by his comments. It was fake news. It was a totally phony story.

Thank you very much. It was made up. It was made up by NBC. They just made it up.

Thank you, all.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you have confidence in him?

TRUMP: Thank you. Total confidence in Rex.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: OK, he calls it fake news there. He tweeted that is was refuted by Rex Tillerson. Clearly, Salena, it was not.

Did they keep this story alive by that -- holding that press conference and by the president calling it something -- that it was fake news that Rex did not refute?

ZITO: Gee, I hope not. So, I think the important point is when Tillerson says, you know, he's not used to this kind of stuff, and people are misreading that. I think what he's referring to is that he has to do a press conference about something that he said in private.

And this goes back to, you know, the amount of leaks that come of this White House. Now, I will -- you know, I think we've seen a slowing down of it but, you know, that a private conversation got leaked to the press and the press is talking about, and it's embarrassing for the president, it's embarrassing for Tillerson, and that he has to go out and say, you know -- and talk about it, it probably just scrambles his brain, right?

BRIGGS: I don't mean to suggest that they intentionally kept it alive but that seems to be the result.

ZITO: Oh, yes, right.

BRIGGS: I agree with Tillerson. I mean, people call me moron in my ear three times a day. Who cares?

But the leak is interesting and why address it on camera.

But I know you want to ask about someone who was considered for secretary of state.

MARSH: Right. So in the context of all of this happening we're hearing from another prominent Republican, Sen. Corker. I want to throw to some sound here. Here's what he had to say about Tillerson and the president.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BOB CORKER (R), TENNESSEE: I think Sec. Tillerson, Sec. Mattis, and Chief of Staff Kelly are those people that help separate our country from chaos.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARSH: Interesting comment, and also the context is -- I mean, when you think about where Tillerson has stood on a lot of policies, like the Climate Paris Accord, he was not with the president on that, as well as North Korea. He's taken a more diplomatic tone.

And here, you have Corker saying look, this is the man that's essentially helping us from avoiding all-out chaos.

What do you take of that? This is a Republican who's speaking here about the president.

ZITO: This is a Republican who's a lame duck. He's not going to run again. There's no political consequences to anything that he says anymore in terms of a political future. He's not going to run -- he's said he's not going to run for his seat again.

And, you know, the president and him have had a very public falling apart -- you know, sort of coming apart at the seams.

And I suspect, like John McCain of Arizona, who the president also had a very public fracture with, that he's not going to be afraid to speak his mind. And he may be a little more subtle than John McCain but he -- mainly because he still has to work in the body for the -- for the next year and a half and he probably still wants to be able to work with his colleagues and pass some things.

But, you know, I don't think this is the last time we hear Corker nudge the president publicly.

BRIGGS: Right. Corker not running.

Neither is Congressman Tim Murphy, who had an affair. He's an anti- abortion congressman that you have covered for a long time. Anti- abortion Republican had an affair and reportedly encouraged the woman he had an affair with to have an abortion.

Is this representative of a larger trend in the country of Republicans not seeking reelection or is this just a personal scandal?

ZITO: This is -- this is my congressman. This is really, you know, kind of stunning. He has always been immensely popular in the district, a very moderate Republican.

You know, he was forced to resign. He went to see Paul Ryan yesterday and within minutes of getting back from Paul Ryan there was a statement that came out that he was not seeking reelection. This would not play well in the district that I live in.

What I think is really fascinating is, is that this is the fourth Republican congressman in Pennsylvania to not be seeking reelection for their seat.

BRIGGS: Wow.

[05:50:00] ZITO: Either they've taken an appointment in the White House or they're seeking another -- a higher office, or they've decided they don't want to do this anymore, or they get caught in a scandal.

Republicans hold 13 of the 18 seats. They have a nice cushy majority in the state. This could make Pennsylvania something to watch during the entire midterm elections as a bellwether as to what happens in the majorities. BRIGGS: Yes, somewhat of a national trend, too, of Republicans not seeking reelection. All right.

She's an international global superstar, actress, pop singer, and "Washington Examiner," CNN contributor, Salena Zito. Thanks for being with us this morning. We always appreciate it.

MARSH: Hair flip -- you saw that?

BRIGGS: You're the best, Salena.

All right. Europe cracking down on prominent U.S. tech companies. Details on "CNN Money Stream," next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:55:12] BRIGGS: Welcome back.

UNLV's football team will pay tribute to the Las Vegas shooting victims in its first home game since Sunday night's massacre.

MARSH: Coy Wire has more in this morning's "Bleacher Report." Good morning, Coy.

BRIGGS: Hey, man.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Rene and Dave.

UNLV is going to wear special black helmets when they play San Diego State in Las Vegas on Saturday. The decal will be a big red ribbon with the word Las Vegas printed on it.

The team will also hand out stickers of that ribbon to fans at the game. And the team is also going to honor the victims and first responders in a ceremony before the game.

All of UNLV sports teams, for the rest of the season, are going to wear that ribbon on their uniforms in some form or fashion.

The Diamondbacks held a moment of silence before their game last night to honor the life of Christiana Duarte, a former team employee. She was a victim of the Las Vegas shooting.

Arizona was taking on the Colorado Rockies in the National League wildcard game and one of the highlights -- check out relief pitcher Archie Bradley hitting a triple in the seventh inning, knocking in two runs and rocking one heck of a beard. He hadn't had a hit the entire season.

The Diamondbacks advance with an 11-8 victory. They will now face the Dodgers in the National League division series starting tomorrow in L.A.

Speaking of celebrations, big congratulations to the Minnesota Lynx who avenged last year's finals defeat by beating the L.A. Sparks to win their fourth WNBA title in seven years. But trending number one, though, on bleacherreport.com this morning, Panthers' quarterback Cam Newton under fire for his response to a female reporter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOURDAN RODRIGUE, REPORTER, CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Devin Funchess has seemed to really embrace the physicality of his routes and making -- getting those extra yards. Does that give you a little bit of enjoyment to see him kind of truck-sticking people out there?

CAM NEWTON, QUARTERBACK, CAROLINA PANTHERS: It's funny to hear a female talk about routes. Like, it's funny.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: Now, a Panthers spokesman said that Newton and the reporter, Jourdan Rodrigue, spoke afterwards and that Newton expressed regret. But Rodrigue says that Newton did not apologize.

She's a Panthers beat writer, Rodrigue is, for the "Charlotte Observer," and she said quote, "I was dismayed by his response, which not only belittled me but countless other women before me and beside me who work in similar jobs." -- Unquote.

Now, the NFL has also spoken out. They released a statement through spokesman Brian McCarthy who told CNN Sports, quote, "The comments are just plain wrong and disrespectful to the exceptional female reporters and all journalists who cover our league." -- Unquote.

BRIGGS: Quick -- I'm not easily offended. What the heck happened there?

This is his seventh year in the league. He was a superstar in college. I mean, how does he explain this?

WIRE: Yes, this is a former league MVP. It's just unacceptable.

MARSH: Yes.

WIRE: I mean, to make a comment like that to someone who is a beat reporter and had been with the team for about a year. She also went on to say that Cam Newton didn't even know her name. So a lot -- a lot wrong with this situation -- Dave and Rene.

BRIGGS: Not the headlines the NFL needs right now.

Coy Wire, thank you, my friend.

Let's get a check on "CNN Money Stream" this morning.

Global stocks mixed this morning but the winning streak continues on Wall Street for the third day in a row. The Dow, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 all hit record highs, leading the charge. Internet retailers like Amazon and Netflix both rose about three percent. Speaking of taxes, Europe cracking down on U.S. tech companies, targeting Amazon and Apple for back taxes.

First, the E.U. ordering Amazon to pay nearly $300 million. It claims Luxembourg gave Amazon illegal tax benefits for years. Amazon denies this.

Same time, the E.U. pushing Ireland to collect Apple's unpaid taxes. It says the country gave Apple illegal tax aid. The Apple tax bill, $15 billion.

MARSH: Oh.

BRIGGS: Thanks for joining us this morning. I'm Dave Briggs.

MARSH: And I'm Rene Marsh. "NEW DAY" starts right now.