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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Clevand Browns First Win in 635 Days; Christine Blasey Ford Prepared To Testify Next Week; Kavanaugh and Blasey Both Get Death Threats; Florence's Impact Still Being Felt In The Carolina's; Former Rap Mogul Suge Knight Facing Decades In Prison After Pleading No Contest Of Voluntary Manslaughter. Aired 4-4:30a ET
Aired September 21, 2018 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Why didn't somebody call the FBI Attorney six years ago? I don't think you can delay it any longer. They've delayed it week already.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN NEW DAY HOST: The president wants to get moving on a vote for Brett Kavanaugh. His accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, says she will testify. What does she want to make it happen?
DAVE BRIGGS: The president dismissed intel concerns about releasing classified documents, but he's reconsidering his latest order after foreign allies voice concern.
ROMAN: A Florida student with a pilots license managers to board an empty passenger jet. How did he get passed security and what was his intention?
BRIGGS: And the dog pound again (ph) rejoice. It took 635 days, but the Cleveland Browns are back in the win column.
ROMANS: That kid is so happy.
BRIGGS: Tough night for Jets fans.
ROMANS: Didn't you call this? I thought yesterday was -
BRIGGS: I did, thank you.
ROMANS: - you called it. You said there will free beer in Cleveland today.
BRIGGS: There's free beer in Cleveland -
ROMANS: And you were right.
BRIGGS: - and I have some free things on the way because Lindsay's already asking. I made a little bet. Good morning. Welcome to Early Start. I'm Dave Briggs.
ROMANS: And I'm Christine Romans. It is Friday, September 21. It is 4 a.m. in the east. Let's begin here with Christine Blasey Ford. She is ready to speak but only on her terms. Lawyers for the woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh when they were teens. Those lawyers tell the Senate Judiciary Committee their client is prepared to testify next week. They want the committee to offer, quote, "terms that are fair and which ensure her safety."
BRIGGS: Sources tell us Ford's lawyers and the committee staff held an hour long conference call. The date of the hearing remains the biggest hold up. Ford's attorneys ruled out Monday, the original date, and suggested Thursday. They also made it clear that at no time during the hearing could Ford be in the same room as Kavanaugh.
ROMANS: They made two other requests, that Kavanaugh to testify first and they want the committee to subpoena Mark Judge and other alleged witness.
And Senate staff recalled those ideas non-starters for Republicans on the panel. Spokesman for Senator Chuck Grassley said Judiciary Chairman remains committed to provided a fair forum for both Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh.
BRIGGS: After days of holding his tongue, President Trump showing signs that patience is wearing thin. He spoke to Sean Hannity in the warm up act before this Vegas rally.
(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)
TRUMP: Why didn't somebody call the FBI 36 years ago? I mean, you could also say when did this all happen, what's going on? To take a man like this and be (inaudible). Now, with that being said, let her have her say and let' see how it all works out, but I don't think you can delay it any longer. They've delayed it a week already.
(END VIDEOCLIP)
BRIGGS: Why didn't she call the FBI 36 years ago? Now, time to address that fully. Sunday, Professor Ford told the Washington Post she did report it 36 years ago out of fear she'd be in trouble for being at a party with alcohol, let alone the fact that she'd tell the police, not the FBI.
Kavanaugh has strongly denied the assault allegations. The White House released a letter from Kavanaugh last night in which he said he would be at the planned hearing. Phil Mattingly with more from Capitol Hill.
PHILL MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine and Dave, after days of no response from the legal team of Christine Blasey Ford, the Senate Judiciary Committee, both Republicans and Democrats, receiving and email saying that Christine Blasey Ford was willing to testify, did want to testify in a public hearing, but would not schedule on the scheduled date of Monday and would only testify under certain conditions and if the committee guaranteed her safety.
That led to a phone call - a bipartisan phone call, I'm told the first substance of interaction between Republicans and Democratic staff on the committee in an entire week trying to figure out what they steps forward will be. The endgame of those negotiations, while it's still an open question, it's very clear that both sides right now have entered the talks, trying to get to a point of a public hearing.
Will it actually get there? Well, I can tell you this right now. Republicans and Democrats are preparing as if a hearing will actually happen. Republican sources saying that Republican members are actually looking in to hiring an outside counsel, a woman. Remember, there are 11 Republican members on the committee. All of them are male. What they're trying to do is bring in a female outside counsel to ask questions at that hearing.
Democratic members say they, too, are preparing. What are they preparing for? Well, we'll have to see. It depends on if it actually happens. Guys -
ROMANS: All right. Phil Mattingly. Thanks, Phil. Both Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Balsey Ford have been the targets of numerous death threats now in recent days, and CNN has learned that Kavanaugh's wife, Ashley, has received multiple graphic emails since he was accused of sexual assault.
In one, a Kavanaugh critic writes, "my condolences to you for being to a rapist, although you probably deserve it." Ford is also married and has two teenaged sons. She has received death threats of her own. She has not been seen publically for several days.
BRIGGS: Meantime, public support for Kavanaugh's nomination is slipping.
[04:05:00]
A new NBC Wall Street Journal poll conducted after the allegation were made public finds more American's oppose his confirmation than support it by four points.
The increase in opposition coming from woman over 50, seniors in general and especially from independents who's support plunged by a whopping 31 points.
ROMANS: All right, President Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen is cooperating with special council Robert Mueller. According to ABC News Cohen has spoken to Mueller's team several times over the past month, the prosecutors focusing primarily on Mr. Trumps dealings with Russia. Cohen is also cooperating with the New York State investigation into the Trump family charity and the Trump Organization.
Cohen pleaded to eight criminal counts last month and implicated the president in payoffs to two women, payoffs made to influence the election. President Trumps lawyer Rudy Giuliani attacking Cohen labeling him as a professional deceiver.
BRIGGS: It now appears President Trump may not release certain documents related to the Russia Investigation at the urging of several close allies. It's a stark reversal, just days after, it's unprecedented a directive for the immediate declassification of certain documents. Including the application for surveillance on former Trump advisor Carter Page, here's what the president is saying now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, US PRESIDENT: We're moving along, we're working along; we're also dealing with foreign countries that do have a problem. I must tell you I called today from two very good allies saying please can we talk. So it's not as simple as all that. And we do have to respect their wishes. But it will all come out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: The White House did not immediately return our request for comment as to which allies the president has spoken with. Trump supporters claim with out proof that the FBI wrongfully obtained its warrant for Carter Page, and is hiding information that could discredit the Mueller probe. The decision to publically release the records prompted an outcry. The president was potentially jeopardizing critical intelligence sources, and politicizing sensitive materials in the midst of a criminal investigation.
BRIGGS: The personal gmails accounts of several senators and staffers from both parties have been targeted by foreign government hackers. On Wednesday Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon wrote a letter to the leadership that his office has been informed of the hack attempt. Google confirms telling Senator Wyden about the targeting by is not saying whether the attempts were successful.
In a blog posted on Goggles website the company say's the notices do not necessarily mean accounts were compromised.
ROMANS: It shows you the attempts still being made for information influence. President Trump once again defending his trade agenda, this time on Twitter. The President posted a video yesterday praising his tough trade policy. Claiming it has lead to deal making.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We're working on other trade deals. But the big one is China because for a long period of time China has taken advantage of our country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Now the president say's China is not to blame. Former U.S. politicians are. The two counties are currently embroiled in a trade war. But Trump claims his tariffs has turned the tide in favor of the U.S.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We're creating jobs like never before. So it's very important that China open its markets to its farmers and everybody else. Cause right now they're closed largely. And yet our markets are open to them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Trump gave an example. He used cars as an example. He say's Chinese cars coming to the U.S. are taxed at 2.5 percent. While U.S. car imports to China are taxed 25 percent. Now China - slash that Jimmy (ph) to 15 percent in July. That many thought that was an olive branch. But U.S. cars are still taxed higher, which is why the U.S. actually exports very few cars to China. Instead companies like Ford and GM, they build their cars there. In fact China has been GM's biggest market for the past six years.
BRIGGS: The 22 year old student pilot faces criminal charges for allegedly hopping a security fence at Orlando, Melbourne International Airport and boarding a passenger jet. The suspect Nishal Sankat is a student at Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne. A maintenance supervisor and a technician who were on the plane caught him, held him down, and removed him.
Sankat will be charged with trespassing on airport property, burglary, and attempted theft of an aircraft. Investigators do not know his motive. Sankat was not armed. The FBI responded to a similar incident you might remember, last month. When a ground service agent stole a turbo prop passenger plane in Seattle Tacoma International Airport, crashed it into an island.
ROMANS: A former Southwest Airlines employee is suing the company for discrimination. Jamal Parker claims the Houston Hobby Airports had a whites only break room for years, until recent renovations. He also claims he was unfairly fired from the airline due to his race. Parker is seeking unspecified damages.
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His court date is set for January. In a statement, the airlines says it works to foster a diverse and inclusive environment and does not tolerate discrimination of any kind.
BRIGGS: Ahead, another deadly shooting to report. Police are asking why a woman opened fire at a Rite Aid distribution center in Maryland.
ROMANS: And a week after Florence slammed the Carolinas, pollution is flooding in to the Atlantic, and rising waters still pose a danger for communities.
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BRIGGS: Police are searching for a motive this morning after a woman killed three people, wounded three more before fatally shooting herself at a Rite Aid distribution center in Maryland. The ATF and Baltimore FBI are assisting the investigation. This just a day after two other shootings in an office complex in Wisconsin and a municipal center in Pennsylvania that left a total of seven dead. Brian Todd has the latest on the Maryland attack.
[04:15:00] TODD: Christine and Dave, the sheriff of Harford County says this shooting began outside the building and then moved inside. Sheriff Jeff Gaylor (ph) says a total of six people were shot. Three of them were killed. Three remain hospitalized. The 26-year-old female suspect is also dead.
According to law enforcement, they've really not ascribed a motive yet for this attack, but law enforcement sources tell CNN that the suspect was 26-year-old temporary employee of this facility and that she was a disgruntled employee. Our sources are telling us that after she opened fire inside this facility, the suspect shot herself once, but that didn't work. And she shot herself in the head a second time.
According to a Rite Aid official, this was a massive facility in Aberdeen, Maryland, a Rite Aid distribution center where about 1,000 people work. According to law enforcement, law enforcement officers arrived within about five minutes of when this shooting started, but law enforcement official's tactical teams did not have to use their weapons. Christine and Dave -
ROMANS: All right, Brian. Thank you for that. A full week after Florence hit the Carolinas, the storm's impact still being felt. Take a look at these satellite images. Polluted floodwater carrying sediment and debris from the Carolinas into the ocean. You can see the water changing from light blue to dark blue as material gets dumped into the Atlantic.
BRIGGS: The death toll from the storm now up to 41 across the Carolinas and Virginia. 31 of those deaths happening in North Carolina. The state's governor, Roy Cooper, says nearly 74,000 people still don't have power. While rivers in North Carolina have crested and are falling, several South Carolina rivers are still rising. Nick Valencia has more from Conway, South Carolina.
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Dave and Christine, this has been described by residents here as a slow-motion disaster. As hard as some of the residents here have been hit by Hurricane Florence with flash flooding, city officials warn it is only going to get worse. And it's not a matter of if but when this river behind me, the Waccamaw River, overflows.
It was already about four feet past the flood level with the expectation that it's going to go perhaps up to 21, maybe even 22 feet and crest on Monday or Tuesday. In fact, city officials here were going door to door. Over 900 homes were knocked on to try to warn residents to evacuate now while they can.
Some of these areas I mentioned were overcome and inundated by flash flooding from Hurricane Florence. That flash flooding receded long enough for residents to go inside to some of their homes, collect their belongings, because as I mentioned city officials say that more flooding is on the way. Dave, Christine -
ROMANS: All right, Nick, thank you for that. Police charging a man in the brutal stabbing death of a Washington, D.C. woman who was jogging Tuesday evening. Based on surveillance footage, authorities say 23-year-old Anthony Crawford stabbed 35-year-old Wendy Martinez in what looks like an unprovoked attack.
Police found Crawford in a park Wednesday. They arrested him and charged him with murder. Wendy Martinez was recently engaged.
(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)
KRISTINA MOORE, WENDY MARTINEZ'S FRIEND: Wendy should have been shopping for her wedding dress on Friday. There's a whole in our hearts that will never be replaced.
(END VIDEOCLIP)
ROMANS: CNN has been unable to determine whether Crawford has legal representation.
BRIGGS: More than 66 tons of ground beef are being recalled after a deadly E. coli outbreak. The company Cargill Meat Solutions says the beef products have been distributed nationwide. One person has died and 18 others have become sick with E. coli illness linked to the meat.
Officials say the recalled meat was produced June 21. USDA's concerned that some of the tainted meat may still be in consumers' freezers, so check your freezer for that label.
ROMANS: Right. At least 57 Detroit public schools have tested positive for high levels of copper, lead, or both in their drinking water. And test results for 17 more schools are pending. Last month, the district had to turn off the drinking water in all school buildings because some showed elevated lead and copper levels.
The city's water department blames aging plumbing systems. Lead consumption can be particularly harmful to children, causing impaired cognition, behavioral disorders, hearing problems, and delayed puberty. There's nothing - this is so dangerous to have lead in the water for those kids who are - literally they are drinking it every day because they're at school.
BRIGGS: How long did the city of Detroit have to suffer with this issue. We have a similar issue in my hometown that's being cleaned up over the weekend. It just - it doesn't make sense the delay there.
All right, speaking of delays, the last time the Cleveland Browns won a football game, President Trump had not yet taken office. Nearly two years it's been. Baker Mayfield the hero. I'll show you what happened.
ROMANS: I love - that kid is my hero.
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BRIGGS: Former rap mogul Suge Knight facing decades in prison after pleading no contest of voluntary manslaughter. Knight was accused of committing a hit and run in January 2015. He allegedly ran over two men after a confrontation on a set of the movie "Straight Outta Compton".
One of the men was killed. The 53 year old is scheduled to be sentenced October 4th. Prosecutors are calling for a 28 year sentence. The defense previously argued Knight was defending himself because one of the men had a gun.
ROMANS: Disney's CEO Bob Iger say's fans can expect a slow down in the Star Wars franchise films. The companies still stung by how the Solo spin off underperformed at the box office in the spring, released just a few months after the "The Last Jedi". Iger tells "The Hollywood Reporter" it may be been a little too much too fast.
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Alleged Star Wars fatigue, he say's going forward they'll be more careful about volume and timing. There is a new Star Wars film in the works, episode nine is currently in production due for release December 2019.
BRIGGS: For the first time since Christmas Eve 2016 the Browns are in the win column. Top draft pick Baker Mayfield engaged the offense after entering the game late in the first half, even catching a two point conversion. The Browns outscoring the Jets 18 to three in the second half after a tie and a tough loss the Browns can finally celebrate a 21 -17 victory.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MALE: The best part about it was that we were here at home. You know you got to feel the energy of the crowd. How badly they wanted it as well. We got to play for each other, but at the same time this city does deserve it. It's definitely up there for me. Had some great memories, but you know, just getting started.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Celebrations in Cleveland stretching into the early morning, at least 10 bars unloft (ph) their coolers and gave out that free Bud Light beer that Budweiser had promised upon the first Browns win. So congratulations' to the fans, probably still partying in some parts of Cleveland.
ROMANS: You called it. You sat here 24 hours ago and called it.
BRIGGS: I felt pretty good; I didn't see Baker Mayfield coming into this game. But the number one overall pick, they were rewarded, congrats. Ahead Christine Blasey Ford wants to make sure if she does testify about Brett Kavanaugh it's on her terms. What's she's asking for and what the president now say's about the time line for confirming his Supreme Court nominee.
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