Return to Transcripts main page
Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Ford Won't Testify Monday; North Korea's Nuke Agreement; Trump Visits Carolinas Today; Tornado of Fire; Winless Steelers Battling Off-Field Drama. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired September 19, 2018 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LISA BANKS, ATTORNEY FOR CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD: It's premature to talk about hearings on Monday.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Lawyers for Christine Blasey Ford say that they want the FBI to investigate her accusations against Brett Kavanaugh before any Senate hearing.
[05:00:04] DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking overnight, North Korea just agreed to shut down a main nuclear site. But there's a big catch.
ROMANS: President Trump visits the Carolinas today as the death toll climbs in the flood disaster left by Hurricane Florence.
BRIGGS: Firefighters in a tug-of-war with a tornado of fire. Guess who wins.
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START on a hump day. I'm Dave Briggs.
ROMANS: I can tell you the hose did not win in that case.
BRIGGS: Safe bet.
ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. It is Wednesday, September 19th. It is 5:00 a.m. in the East.
Let's begin here with the woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault. She says she will not testify until the FBI investigates claims. The lawyer for Christine Blasey Ford telling Anderson Cooper last night that her client wants to cooperate with the Senate judiciary committee but the process must not be rushed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BANKS: It's premature to talk about a hearing on Monday. And I think people understand that because she has been dealing with the threats, the harassment, and the safety of her family. Asking her to come forward in four or five days and sit before the Judiciary Committee on national TV is not a fair process. (END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Ford's request for delay seeming to shift the momentum among Republicans. The Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley saying in a statement that nothing the FBI does would have any bearing on what Dr. Ford tells the committee, so there is no reason for any further delay.
Even Senator Bob Corker, a frequent Trump critic, tweeted: Republicans extended a hand in good faith. If we don't hear from both sides on Monday, let's vote.
President Trump, so far, maintaining the restraint he has shown since the accusations against Kavanaugh were first revealed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Hopefully, the woman will come forward, state her case. They will look at what she had to say from 36 years ago.
I don't know about the other party, but Judge Kavanaugh's very anxious to do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Two of Brett Kavanaugh's former classmates say they have no recollection of the party where ford says the assault occurred. Ford says Mark Judge and Patrick Smyth, that's Mark Judge there, were at the party and Judge was in the room when the attack took place. Smyth sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee saying he has no knowledge of party or alleged improper conduct. Smyth described Kavanaugh as a person of great integrity.
BRIGGS: At the separate letter, Judge writes, Brett Kavanaugh and I were friends in high school, but I do not recall the party described in Dr. Ford's letter. More to the point, I never saw Brett act in the manner Dr. Ford describes.
Judge's memoir of his time as a student at Georgetown Prep is now drawing much attention. It's entitled "Wasted: Tales of a Gen-X Drunk," recounts a culture of heaving drinking, even blackout drinking at a school, quote, positively swimming in alcohol.
ROMANS: Raising questions about whether he could definitively say he has never seen him act like that or if he just --
BRIGGS: If he remembers that incident.
ROMANS: Yes. Blackout drunk episodes in that book.
Anita Hill who accused then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment in 1991, she is weighing in an op-ed called "How to Get the Kavanaugh Hearings Right." Now a law professor, Hill slams the Senate Judiciary Committee. She says the fact that the committee still lacks a protocol for vetting sexual harassment and assault claims that surfaced during a confirmation hearing suggests that the committee has learned little from the Thomas hearing, much less the receipt #MeToo movement. Hill adds that as Judge Kavanaugh stands to gain the lifetime privilege of serving on the country's highest court, he, he has the burden of persuasion and that is only fair.
BRIGGS: Some interesting optics on Monday.
Meanwhile, president Trump travels this morning to storm-ravaged North and South Carolina, the region still struggling with epic flooding from Hurricane Florence. Two detainees being transported by sheriff's deputies were killed Tuesday when their vehicle was overtaken by floodwaters. That raised the death toll to 36 with 27 of those fatalities coming in North Carolina, eight in South Carolina, one in Virginia.
More now from Miguel Marquez.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine, Dave, we're on the Person Street Bridge in Fayetteville. They had to shut down because engineers are concerned about all the debris moving under this bridge. I want to show something what's happening here.
We're on Person Street Bridge. Up there, that is the Grove Street Bridge. That bridge may have to be shut down as well because of the river here, the Cape Fear River. The water is still rising, has about a foot to go in the next 12 hours or so. They think that it will actually crest.
The bigger concern right now is this rail bridge just below us, the CSX rail bridge. You can see the amount of the waters hitting the bridge and the amount of debris that is now gathering in the center of that bridge, putting a lot of stress on it.
[05:05:00] We have a drone up overhead. Person Street. It can move over to the train bridge to show you exactly sort of how much debris is gathered and how much pressure there is on the bridge.
I want to point out one other thing here. There's a street light here. This is kind of amazing. That is normally where the end of a boat ramp is.
It is clearly 20 or 30 feet below that now, and one other picture to show you. This is a picture of right near downtown Fayetteville. That's about a half mile from where we are right now. That river is moving up toward the downtown area.
They've not seen anything like this since 1945. They believe downtown will be okay, but they're concerned that it's getting close to city hall, their visitors bureau, and several businesses in downtown Fayetteville, as well. Authorities here say they have done everything they can. And at this point, it is just sitting back and hoping that everything goes according to plan -- Dave, Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE) ROMANS: All right. Miguel, thank you.
President Trump standing by his unprecedented order to declassify a host of document and text messages related to the Russia investigation. Intelligence officials have voiced concern declassifying materials in an active investigation could jeopardize sources and methods. The president is not backing off his order to immediately declassify parts of the surveillance application for former campaign aide Carter Page.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We want transparency. What I want is I want total transparency. This is a witch hunt. Republicans are seeing it. The Democrats know it's witch hunt, too, but they won't admit it because that's not good politics for them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Democrats expressed profound alarm at the president's order. Even some Republicans are uneasy. Senate Intel Chairman Richard Burr says he would prefer to keep the documents classified. But he says declassifying is the president's prerogative.
BRIGGS: The president told Hill TV he did not read the documents before ordering them declassified. Didn't read them.
Breaking overnight, North and South Korea have committed to an era of no war on the Korean peninsula. At a joint news conference in the middle of their planned three-day summit, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un announced what Moon called a way to achieve denuclearization.
Paula Hancocks standing by live in Seoul.
This is a major development, Paula. But it comes with a big catch that Trump tweeted late last night after midnight is subject to final negotiations. Explain that.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. The headlines, it's a wide-ranging agreement. That there is a key ICBM test site that will be shut down. Now this is something that President Trump had order mentioned after the Singapore summit. He'd been promised by Kim Jong-un, there's no timeline for that.
But what we have that's new is that they have agreed now, the North Koreans, to allow international experts to verify that. Now beyond that, they have said that they would be willing to shut down the Yongbyon nuclear facility. This would be significant, but they have that caveat. They have put a condition on it saying that it -- it depends on U.S. corresponding measures.
Now, this really goes back to Pyongyang has wanted all along. They had wanted a step-by-step denuclearization, a quid pro quo, which Washington up until now has not wanted, they have wanted complete denuclearization, and they would consider concessions. But certainly, it is a wide ranging agreement.
We know that President Moon Jae-in will be going to New York to meet with President Trump on September 24th. He will brief him completely about all of these different branches of the agreement. We're hoping that we'll get more indication as to exactly what will happen next.
BRIGGS: And also an interesting announcement that North and South will bid for the 2032 Olympics as a joint bid.
Paula Hancocks live for us this morning, thanks.
ROMANS: President Trump says the U.S. is open to a trade deal with China as Beijing retaliates against America's latest round of tariffs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We're having a tremendous impact on China. As you know, we're doing a very good job with China. China's been taking advantage of the United States for a long time, but China wants to come over and talk, and we were always open to talking.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: No question the president has kept the pressure on here. The U.S. slapped tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods Monday. China hit back targeting U.S. imports like meat, clothes, chemicals, auto parts.
And that prompted the president to once again threaten China with more, even more, an additional $267 billion in goods could be subject to tariffs. That would cover everything the U.S. buys from China, even consumer goods that have largely been spared, shoes, electronics, toys. That means -- if you're putting taxes on everything, that means the consumer will likely pay more.
In fact, the auto industry warns the tariffs on car parts could raise the price of a new car by several thousand dollars.
[05:10:05] Now, this latest tit-for-tat could also hurt the future of trade talks. China and the U.S. had been gearing up to hold a new round this month. A powerful corporate lobby, the business roundtable, warns that tariffs are the wrong way to achieve real reforms. They threaten U.S. businesses and workers. For now, corporate profits are strong, at a rate of 10 percent the U.S. tariffs aren't as high as investors feared.
So, Wall Street shrugged all this off yesterday. Look at this, folks. Global stocks rose overnight.
BRIGGS: Wow. Not even blinking there.
Stormy Daniels sharing the X-rated details of her alleged sexual encounter with Donald Trump. Her new tell-all book, "Full Disclosure," includes graphic descriptions of Mr. Trump's anatomy. In a related story, Mario Kart was trending on Twitter throughout the day. She describes a broken home that includes being repeatedly raped as a
9-year-old girl by a man who lived next door to a friend. The adult film star says she wrote the book because she wanted to get all the facts out and have a chance to defend herself. The White House has not responded to requests for comment.
ROMANS: President Trump will be the focus of another tell-all book. This one penned by former Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. Titled "The Threat: How the FBI Protect America in the Age of Terror and Trump." The publisher says it's a candid account of McCabe career and his experience with President Trump. McCabe was, of course, abruptly fired by the president in March before his planned retirement date after coming under frequent attacks by the president. McCabe book set to hit store shelves in December.
It's been a good year in the Trump publishing industry. I mean --
BRIGGS: They were worried ahead of Trump about the publishing numbers. Yes, it's been massive. Simon and Shuster says the Woodward book is their biggest seller ever.
ROMANS: Ever.
BRIGGS: Yes, tremendous.
All right. Up next, a woman convicted of helping abduct Elizabeth Smart in 2002 is about to walk free.
ROMANS: And check this out -- these firefighters are battling a tornado of flames.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:16:24] ROMANS: The woman convicted along with her husband of abducting Elizabeth Smart 16 years ago freed this morning. Wanda Barzee and Brian David Mitchell tried on charges of kidnapping and sexual assault after holding 14-year-old Smart captive for nine months. Barzee was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in exchange for her cooperation against her husband. Utah officials refused to say exactly what time this morning Barzee would be released.
Smart was outraged at the news of the planned release and told CBS news that Barzee encouraged her husband to rape Smart.
BRIGGS: A homeless man has been charged with the murder of star Iowa state golfer Celia Barquin Arozamena. Arozamena was the well-known Spanish amateur golfer. She was found dead Monday after police say she was stabbed and left in a pond while playing a round of golf near campus.
Twenty-two-year-old Colin Daniel Richards has been charged with first degree murder. Police say he has a history of violence and told an acquaintance he had, quote, an urge to rape and kill a woman.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) COMMANDER GEOFF HUFF, AMES POLICE DEPT.: Richards had several fresh scratches on his face consistent with a fight. And he was attempting to conceal a laceration on his left hand.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Authorities say Richards was living in a homeless encampment near the golf course in Ames, Iowa.
ROMANS: A tragedy.
Take a look at this incredible video burning up the Internet right now. Fire fighters in British Columbia versus a firenado. Crews were trying to extinguish this fiery twister when the firenado suddenly snatched up their hose.
One firefighter so frustrated he threw rocks at the twister. A crew member who shot this said it was more than 200 feet high and threw burning logs across their fire-control line for some 45 minutes. They did eventually get the hose back. It was melted.
British Columbia is experiencing one of the worst fire seasons on record.
BRIGGS: Just incredible video.
All right. Ahead, way too much drama for the winless, surprisingly winless Pittsburgh Steelers. Why one of the star players failed to show up for work. There he is. Now, their quarterback being linked to Stormy Daniels.
LINDSEY CZARNIAK, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Oh, come on!
BRIGGS: Lindsey Czarniak has more in the "Bleacher Report."
CZARNIAK: It's only two games in, and you're bringing that up, Stormy Daniels.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:23:03] BRIGGS: The Pittsburgh Steelers have yet to make it to the win column, they're two weeks in. They are making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
ROMANS: All right. Lindsey Czarniak has more in this morning's "Bleacher Report." Hey, Lindsey.
BRIGGS: Hey, you all know what fixes everything? Winning. How about that? You do it and all goes away.
But to add to any stress, it is the primetime stage for the Steelers Monday night. They will be on Monday night football in just five days. They're one of the most talented teams in the NFL, there's no question, but the off-the-field drama continues to overwhelm.
The all pro running back Le'Veon Bell, he's holding out for a long- term deal. Hasn't played a down this season. He's actually been seen in Miami. He is set to become a free agent in March.
Meantime, all pro wide receiver Antonio Brown, he has remorse for the coaching staff on the sidelines during the loss to the chiefs at home Sunday. Look at this, he was reportedly frustrated that he wasn't getting the ball enough. So, to make things worse, Brown did not show up to practice on Monday. That's a huge deal, because obviously, it was glaring. He forced his coach to answer questions about his whereabouts.
He lit up Twitter after the game, responding to a staff member who was critical of Brown's importance to the team's offense. He said, trade me, let's find out. That's what he tweeted yesterday.
Head coach Mike Tomlin tried to downplay any drama.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE TOMLIN, PITTSBURGH STEELERS HEAD COACH: I wanted sometimes you got negativity. There were negative exchanges on the sideline. The frustration associated with not playing well and not winning. I understand all that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CZARNIAK: In other words, I don't want to talk about it. Let's move on.
The Steelers, by the way, as I said, they're going to try to get the first win of the season when they play the red-hot Buccaneers on Monday night football. So, they don't get any breaks there.
And moving to baseball, to Camden Yards last night. The Orioles hosting the Blue Jays with an interesting twist on the uniforms. The players had their team name and their names on the back of their jerseys spelled out in Braille.
It was the 40th anniversary of the National Federation of the Blind moving its headquarters to Baltimore. So fans were also given Braille alphabet cards to spell out the names of their favorite players.
[05:25:03] Kind of a cool spin, right?
ROMANS: Cool.
CZARNIAK: A team that's been struggling.
BRIGGS: Not very many fans. Yes, 43 wins, worst team in baseball.
I just want to clear up -- we teased a link between Ben Roethlisberger and Stormy Daniels. What happened now is the night after Stormy Daniels allegedly slept with President Trump, she saw Trump or Donald Trump with Ben Roethlisberger at a party. Roethlisberger walked her to her room. That's all we know.
CZARNIAK: The president at that time asked Ben Roethlisberger to do that because he was going out there. So -- BRIGGS: There's no indication that anything else happened, just that
Roethlisberger walked her to her room. But you know, he doesn't have a great track record. That's why this --
CZARNIAK: Roethlisberger. That's why it is a talker.
ROMANS: And Stormy Daniels' attorney tweeting about it yesterday.
BRIGGS: Intrigue.
CZARNIAK: It was interesting because it was a nugget that was dropped and then not really addressed. And the team, you know, no one else wanted to address it.
ROMANS: Welcome to 2018, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to 2018. Nice to see you.
BRIGGS: All right. Ahead, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, throwing plans for highly anticipated Monday hearing in doubt.
ROMANS: And this, North and South Korea just signed a new agreement involving denuclearization? That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
