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Destruction at Notre Dame: Fire Ravages Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris; Redacted Mueller Report Due on Thursday; Measles Spike; Clippers Pull Off Biggest Comeback in Playoff History. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired April 16, 2018 - 05:00   ET

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


CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: This blaze marring the Parisian skyline and threatening a powerful emblem of the Catholic faith just as Holy Week begins.

[05:00:06] The fire burned for hours, destroying the Cathedral's iconic spire and roof before firefighters finally got this under control.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's horrific. We heard the tower fall and it was the worst sound, and people screamed. It's so sad. Everyone's so sad.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Parisians and visitors brought literally to their knees as they watched Notre Dame burn. Some in the crowd singing hymns, others hugs, others crying. Many just witnessing history and a part of history get torn apart in hushed reverence. As the news broke on screens big and small, people around the world were united essentially in helplessness.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES JANEGA, U.S. TOURIST NEAR CATHEDRAL WHEN FIRE STARTED: I turned around and looked back. I gasped and saw this fire engulfed in flames. And from there we watched, as the rest of Paris watched, in silent shock.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: A part of what made this essentially daunting and challenging is the unique nature of the fire happening in a tall cathedral that's centuries old, an interior made almost entirely of wood, that meant that standard fire fighting equipment was no match as the inferno grew and grew.

ROMANS: These first pictures from inside show ash, smoke and the vastness there of that space outside the pair of bell towers immortalized in Victor Hugo's "Hunchback of Notre Dame" survived along with the elaborate gothic facade. French President Emmanuel Macron is vowing to rebuild.

CNN's Jim Bittermann is standing by live for us in Paris right now.

And what do we know was rescued out of the space and what they are finding this morning as they go in and try to see what the damage is?

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, what was rescued, first, Christine, in fact, they managed to get out a number of artifacts, more portable type things. We saw photos of chairs, candelabras, some important relics, for example, the Crown of Thorns was saved, a tunic worn by Louis IX of France was saved.

So there were some things that were saved, the smaller items. But things that weren't saved were the large tableaus, for example, they have been inside the cathedral where the fire going on. What kind of shape they're in at this point is another question, same thing with the organ. There's some thought that perhaps it was saved. It itself was classified as a historic monument, 8,000 pipe, five keyboard organ. Some things saved, some not.

As you mentioned, president of France, Emmanuel Macron, was on the scene last night, and said that it was our destiny, as he put it that we rebuild the cathedral. Here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE (through translator): It is a cathedral, which is the one of all French women and men, even those who have never been there. This history is ours. I say to you quite solemnly tonight this cathedral is one that we will rebuild.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BITTERMANN: Well, in fact, that whole message of rebuilding fits in right metaphorically with this Easter week. Easter week is all about the death of Christ on Friday, but then the resurrection of Christ on Sunday and a symbol is the resurrection of the cathedral, I'm sure we're going to hear that theme reported as the week goes on -- Boris and Christine.

ROMANS: Jim Bittermann, thank you so much for that in Paris for us this morning.

Joining us now, Christopher White. He's a national correspondent for the independent Catholic news site, Crux and the Tablet.

This is the holiest week of the church year. No question, so the timing here is just so sad and poignant, what do you make of this church? People went here to see it as an architecture site but this is a Paris church.

CHRISTOPHER WHITE, NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CRUX: Absolutely, and as it's been mentioned over and over, this is the holiest week of the year for Christians. You know, Thousands of tourists from around the world, pilgrims flock to the cathedral to participate in the services of holy week. It's a particular blow in that sense. Not just the loss of this great historic and iconic work of architecture. It is a spiritual home for thousands of Christians, not just Parisians but Christians that seek this place out.

SANCHEZ: There are issues with making sure the area is safe. Could the pope potentially visit the area, especially given the nature of this week and the symbolism of it?

WHITE: Well, this is a pope who likes to surprise people, of course. I would say it's unlikely because, you know, he himself has to carry on holy week festivities in Rome but it's not out of the realm of possibilities, sure.

SANCHEZ: Yes.

And, of course, Christine, you hit the nail on the head, so many people go here because it's an architectural marvel, but it also hurts for Catholic and Christians watching this.

[05:05:06] Talk about the reaction from the church? What have you heard?

WHITE: Well, here in New York, yesterday, within just a few hours after the news, Cardinal Dolan, the archbishop of New York, says he himself went to St. Patrick's. He said, I can't imagine, we love our cathedral so much, I can't imagine what this would be like for those in Paris.

He sent a letter to the archbishop of Paris, saying, you know, you were just with me here in our cathedral, and we are united in solidarity with you. All Catholics across this country have felt this pang in their hearts because they feel as if part of their own church has been lost.

SANCHEZ: Yes.

ROMANS: It's just so unbelievable, you know, a revolution, two world wars, numerous depressions, famines, the plague, and sacking by French Protestants and just a Monday evening it would go up in flames. It seems unbelievable.

WHITE: Yes. You know, I lived in Paris, I studied there, and spent a lot of time there, and it's just one of those monuments, that even if you don't have a spiritual connection to it, you walk around it and take for granted it will be there as it has always been. And now with its loss, of course still standing and many are grateful for the fact that they were able to save the towers, but the very fact that this monument has suffered this ravaging fire I think is something we are still railing from today.

ROMANS: We haven't heard definitively about the rose windows.

WHITE: Yes, I saw some reports that they have been salvaged but again, that's not definitive.

SANCHEZ: And it has to be asked. You know, Emmanuel Macron talked about rebuilding, what role do you see the church playing in restoring Notre Dame to its former glory?

WHITE: Well, I think Archbishop Michel Aupetit, who's the archbishop of Paris, he enjoys a fairly warm relationship with Macron. I interviewed him last April for Crux, and one of the things that he said to me is that, you know, the president has the right vision of understanding the way the church and the state should relate together, and he sees the church as a positive force. And you saw them at the press conference last night embracing one another, expressing great solidarity together.

And I think you're going to see them side by side in the weeks and months ahead.

ROMANS: One of the amazing images were people on their knees and singing these hymns for hours, all together strangers in the street singing hymns, it was just a nice moment there.

SANCHEZ: It's a shame to meet you under these circumstances. But we appreciate you being here, Christopher. Thank you for your time.

ROMANS: Thank you.

All right. A YouTube feature designed to combat misinformation was responsible for linking the Notre Dame cathedral fire to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. While the fire was raging, live streams featured a paragraph pulled from the Encyclopedia Britannica proving background on 9/11. The company removed the links on fire posts after the issue was flagged. YouTube rolled out its fact checking feature in 2018 after it was criticized for recommending conspiracy videos following major new events.

SANCHEZ: To Washington now. Attorney General Bill Barr's edited version of the Mueller report is expected to go public on Thursday, and the nation's capitol is on edge, waiting for the redacted report to fill in details on just what the 22-month-long special counsel investigation found.

We already know from Barr's four-page summary that Robert Mueller all but cleared the Trump campaign of collusion with Russians. But major questions remain, including whether there will be revelations about a number of ongoing investigations.

Justice reporter Pamela Brown has more from Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAMELA BROWN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Christine and Boris.

We have learned that the highly anticipated Mueller report will be released Thursday morning to the public and to Congress. This is according to a Justice Department spokeswoman.

And the White House is bracing for this. White House officials I've been speaking with do not believe that the coming Mueller report will actually change public opinion much because the top line conclusions of Barr and Mueller are already known.

Officials do admit, though, that they are curious, as the public is, as to why Mueller did not make a decision on obstruction. One concern in the White House is that any damning information in the report could give ammunition to Democrats.

Now, the White House is letting the attorney general take the lead in the process. One official I spoke with said Barr is driving this train.

And at this point, the White House does not feel the same necessity to assert executive privilege as it did before Barr's four-page letter to Congress because officials view the bottom-line conclusions as favorable to them -- those conclusions from Barr in that letter. And they are acutely aware of the scrutiny it would bring if they got involved in the redactions process.

Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Pamela, thank you so much for that.

Subpoenas issued to Deutsche Bank and J.P. Morgan Chase, part of a widening investigation by House Democrats into President Trump's finances. The subpoena to Deutsche Bank seeks information about loans to Mr. Trump and the Trump Organization, according to a source familiar with the matter.

SANCHEZ: Important to remember that Deutsche Bank has $300 million in loans extended to the Trump Organization.

[05:10:02] None of course since the president took office. Deutsche Bank says it is committed to providing appropriate information to all authorized investigations.

And CNN has also learned that J.P. Morgan Chase was subpoenaed. Investigators are seeking documents on business the banks may have had with the list of individuals who have suspected ties to money laundering.

ROMANS: United Airlines says it's cancelling 737 MAX flights through early July now to avoid a disruption as people book flights for the busy summer travel season. It was grounded worldwide following fatal crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia. Southwest announced it would cancel MAX flights through August 5th. American Airlines plans to cancel 115 daily flights.

Meantime, "The Wall Street Journal" reports, American will now include extra ground simulator training for cockpit crews in 737 MAX jets. The airline previously said the pilots didn't need the extra experience.

SANCHEZ: Actress Lori Loughlin and husband designer Mossimo Giannulli pleading not guilty to conspiracy charges in the college admissions cheating scam. The criminal complaint includes evidence from a cooperating witness, emails, bank record, and the recorded phone call with each parent. Prosecutors say they paid $500,000 to a fake charity to get their two daughters accepted into USC, falsely designating them as crew recruits even though neither of them ever rode.

Operation Varsity Blues involves dozens of wealthy parents, college coaches and test administrators.

Actress Felicity Huffman is one 13 parents who pleaded guilty last week. Aunt Becky, fighting the law.

ROMANS: Wow. All right. Measles cases in the U.S., now at the second highest level in 25 years. It's only mid-April.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:16:02] ROMANS: All right. One by one, 2020 Democratic candidates are releasing decades of their tax returns and urging the president to do the same. Senator Bernie Sanders released tax returns yesterday showing how he became a millionaire between his two presidential runs.

Records show Sanders and his wife made more than $2.79 million since his first presidential run, a large part of that came from his book, "Where We Go from Here", which came out last year.

In 2018, Sanders reported total income of a 56,000, half of which came from writing royalties, they donated 3.4 percent of income to charity. Sanders was asked whether he should apologize for the money he's made.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If anyone thinks that I should apologize for writing a best selling book, I'm sorry, I'm not going to do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Beto O'Rourke also released ten years of his returns Monday, pledging to release his 2018 returns as well. O'Rourke and his wife Amy reported total income of $366,000 in 2017.

And an event in charlotte, North Carolina, O'Rourke pushed for transparency with the president's taxes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BETO O'ROURKE (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Anyone who runs to seek that office should release their taxes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Trump's lawyers, of course, are fighting against Democratic- led congressional efforts to request information on the president's finances.

SANCHEZ: It's hard to believe that measles, a disease that was once eradicated in the United States has now jumped to the second highest number of cases in 25 years with the CDC reporting 90 new cases in one week alone. There have now been a total of 555 cases in 20 states. We're not even to the halfway point of this year, it's still April.

Most of the cases have been in New York, the site of an outbreak among ultra orthodox Jews that started in the fall.

ROMANS: The New York City Health Department has closed one program for repeatedly failing to provide medical and attendance records. Health officials already announced that anyone in affected areas who has not been vaccinated could be fined $1,000. Worldwide, there have been more than 110,000 cases in just the first three months of the year, and nearly quadruple the same period last year.

And there is this trend for people who don't want to vaccinate their children. That leads to, you know, the whole point of vaccination is immunity, and you have regulators, figuring out what they're going to have to do about this.

SANCHEZ: A dubious comeback, a better comeback to tell you about. The L.A. Clippers stunning the defending champion Warriors. The biggest comeback in NBA playoff history. The Clippers owner Steve Ballmer seems pleased.

Coy Wire rewrites the record books with the "Bleacher Report" next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:23:29] SANCHEZ: The L.A. Clippers were down but they weren't out in last night's NBA playoff game.

ROMANS: Coy Wire has more in this morning's "Bleacher Report".

Hey, Coy.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine. Good morning, Boris. Nobody gave the Clippers a chance, going against the two time defending champion Warriors in the first round. They were blown out in game one, and Clippers were down 31 in the second half, but they kept fighting.

Owner Steve Ballmer, was as good of TV as the actual game was, digging out that deep hole. With 16 seconds to go, it came to this, Clippers down one, and rookie Landry Shamet nails it, a three-pointer, Ballmer loses it again. His team loses. Stunning the Warriors and their fans, 135-131 in Oakland. Greatest comeback in NBA

playoff history.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOC RIVERS, CLIPPERS HEAD COACH: This is special. I don't care if you're playing, I can't think of a really, really bad team, and you're down three on the road to anybody, and you come back, it's special. That's what was special, not winning a game. You can hear them in the locker room, they're not talking about that. They're talking about coming back and winning. (END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: This just in, Seattle star quarterback Russell Wilson becoming the NFL's newest, highest paid player, reaching a new four-year agreement with the team worth 140 million bucks, this according to ESPN. They must have been up late working in the final deadline given by the team, because here's Russ and Sierra posting on Instagram, just about an hour ago, celebrating.

[05:25:03] They're going to sleep well tonight.

Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is more of a love than a fighter. Carolina rookie, Andre picked the wrong player. Punches by the punches and Ovi lands that right hook that drops the 19-year-old. He's out cold. He was helped to the locker room and didn't return.

Ove wins this fight. The canes beat the defending champs, 5 to zip cutting the series lead 2-1.

Finally, meet Micah Herndon, a marine who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, running in the Boston marathon to pay tribute to three fallen comrades with whom he served in 2010. His body started to give up. But he did not give up, he crawled to the finish line wearing the last names of his friends, Juarez, Ballard, Hamer, on tags on his running shoes.

This is the most inspiring story you will hear today.

ROMANS: It really is.

SANCHEZ: No question. All soreness that he feels right now, he knows it was worth it. Coy Wire, thank you so much.

WIRE: You're welcome.

ROMANS: All right. Twenty-six minutes past the hour.

The Notre Dame cathedral survived the French revolution, ransacking by Protestants, two world wars, but days before, an inferno brought history to the ground. The scene, a shock to millions who watched around the world and on the streets of Paris.

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END