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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Congress Rejects Saudi Story On Khashoggi; 11th Hour Midterm Push; New Rule Would Narrowly Define Gender; Republican Speak Out Against Saudis; U.S. To Pull Out Of Nuclear Treaty. Aired 4-4:30a ET
Aired October 22, 2018 - 4:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't bring a bone saw to an accidently fist fight.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They lost all credibility as it relates to explaining what has happened.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If the Crown Prince loved his country, he would not put his country in this position.
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CHRISTINE ROMANS, EARLY START SHOW CO-HOST: Congress not buying the changing Saudi cover story from the murder of journalist. The president calling out the Saudis deception. Riyadh maintains the Crown Prince is not involved.
DAVE BRIGGS, EARLY START SHOW CO-HOST: A big last minute push for both parties ahead of the midterms. The President and former President Joe Biden and others on the campaign trail today.
ROMANS: The White House considers a drastic move which could affectively decline transgender out of existence under federal law. Good morning everyone. It is Monday morning, welcome to "Early Start," I'm Christine Romans.
BRIGGS: It sure feels like Monday morning.
ROMANS: It feels like a Monday, it really does.
BRIGGS: It really has the Monday feel. I'm Dave Briggs. Monday, October 22nd. It is 4:00 a.m. in the east. We start with the latest on Jamal Khashoggi. Attempts by Saudi Arabia to distance Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman from the killing of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi have failed to quiet the international uproar. The series and inconsistent stories to explain what happen to the Washington Post columnist fueling skepticism around the world.
On Friday, the Saudis admitted Khashoggi died at their consulate in Istanbul. Claiming he was killed accidentally after a confrontation escalated into a brawl. ROMANS: The Saudi Foreign Minister told Fox News Khashoggi's death
was a tremendous mistake, but a result of unsanctioned operation.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Inaudible) is not aware of this, even the senior leadership or intention service was not aware of this. This was an operation, it was a rouge operation. This was an operation where individuals ended up exceeded the authorities and responsibilities they had. They made the mistake when they killed Jamal Khashoggi in the consulate and they tried to cover up for it.
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ROMANS: The foreign minister says the kingdom is determined to punish those who are responsible for his murder. International diplomatic editor, Nic Robertson standing by live in Istanbul. Nic, you know what is the latest here on it?
NIC ROBERTSON, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, I think for Turkish officials when they listen to what the Foreign Minister have to say, yes they will be in some incredulity, it is incomplete and inconsistent with some of the facts in the ground here. Not at least the timeline that he puts on -- when the investigation of why the investigation it was stared in Saudi Arabia and the idea that Saudi Arabia and Turkish investigators are working together and that is not consistent on what is happening on the ground here.
The Saudi Foreign Minister said they did not know where Jamal Khashoggi's body is. A senior Saudi source says it was handed to a collaborator here. But if there was this consistency among the Foreign Minister said about cooperation with the Turkish authorities, one would imagine Turkish authority would had been to catch up with that collaborator by now and so far, the investigators here have not been able to find Jamal Khashoggi's body. They don't seem to have a positive lead toward that. They questioning today 28, another number of people, 28 people who work in the Saudi consulate to perhaps find out more information.
But hat lead to find Jamal Khashoggi's body does appear to be going cold. The Turkish President Erdogan said he will speak on Tuesday about all of this and authorities here vowing that it is a matter of honor to pursue the investigation. Christine.
ROMANS: A matter of honor to pursue this investigation among the shifting story from the Saudis. All right. Nic, thank you for that.
BRIGGS: President Trump speaking out against the Saudis shifting explanations for Khashoggi's fate. Saying in the interview with "The Washington Post" obviously there is deception and there has been lies. But the President also defended Saudi Arabia as an incredible ally and claimed that the possibility the Crown Prince did not order Khashoggi's assassination. The President in fact praised Prince Mohammad as a strong person with good control of his country.
ROMANS: The reception for the Saudi explanation less warm on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers express deep skepticism and called for severe repercussions. Including several Republican senators usually in the President's corner.
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SEN BEN SASSE, (R) NEBRASKA: I think the cover stories from the Saudis is a mess. You don't bring a bone saw to an accidental fist fight inside an embassy in Turkey, or a consulate in Turkey. So the Saudis have said a whole bunch of crap which is not right accurate or true.
SEN BOB CORKER, (R) TENNESSEE: They lost all credibility as explaining what has happened. I can understand the President wanting to keep open channels, but I think those of us who want to speak directly to this, knows that this is just not credible.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM, (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: If the Crown Prince truly loved his country, he would not put his country in this position. If he truly respected the relationship between United States and Saudi Arabia, he would never have thought of this. I want to work with the President. We have to send the right message. Others who could do these or who would do this, who are watching us, I don't want to give them the green light.
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ROMANS: The conservative editorial board of "The Wall Street Journal" weighing in as well, they write, the U.S. Officials above all can't appear to be complicit in the whitewash of the murder of public critic Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, as of nothing happened. They could understand the U.S. has interests in the Middle East that also requires working with rulers and countries that can be brutal. But that should not extend to denying actions that offend our values when it occur.
BRIGGS: OK, 15 days and counting to the midterm elections. The President now has up to 15 planned campaign stops just in October. This week alone he is in Texas tonight for Senator Ted Cruz. Then in Wisconsin on Wednesday and North Carolina on Friday and in Illinois on Saturday. The President will have something new to crow about tonight, the new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll finds his approval rating at a new high. Only two points under his disapproval within the margin of error.
ROMANS: Still by a nine-point margin, likely voters would prefer the Democrats control congress. Over the weekend, President Trump was in Nevada where he seized on the migrant caravan in Central America and pushed jobs, not mobs message attacking Democrats. Counter-Trump in Nevada State's predecessor, President Obama campaigning for Jackie Rosen and Steve Sisolak, running for Senate and the governor's office. Joe Biden is in Florida today, campaigning with Senator Bill Nelson, Andrew Gillum, who is running for governor there.
BRIGGS: Gillum and his Republican opponent Ron DeSantis is sparring over race and President Trump through a contentious debate last night on CNN. One key issue, climate change and the environment. DeSantis attack Gillum for pursuing what he call a California style energy policy. Gillum returned fire pointed through DeSantis' climate change skepticism. The Tallahassee mayor also tried to tag DeSantis to President Trump.
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ANDREW GILLUM, DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR FLORIDA GOVERNOR: Donald Trump is weak. And he performs as all weak people do. They become bullies. And Mr. DeSantis is his acolyte. He is trying out to be the Trump apprentice.
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ROMANS: DeSantis also forced to confront accusations he has tried to used Gillum's race against him. Most notably, DeSantis warned for any in the Fox News interview that to not to monkey this up by voting for Gillum. The Republican strongly denied that comment was about race.
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REP. RON DESANTIS, (R), FLORIDA: You look at my record whether it is in the military and we're down range in Iraq, it did not matter your race. We all wore the same uniform. We all have the American flag patch on our arm and that was end of story.
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ROMANS: The latest CNN poll has Gillum ahead of DeSantis by 12 points among likely voters.
BRIGGS: Trump administration considering its most drastic move yet to roll back protections for transgender people. The New York Times reporting the Department of Health and Human Services pushing an effort to narrowly define gender as a biological condition determine by genitals at birth. The move effectively define transgender out of existence under federal law.
ROMANS: HHS wants a uniform definition for sex across the government under title ix. The civil rights law banning gender discrimination. HHS claims its definition is quote grounded in science. The Obama administration angered conservatives by widening the definitions of gender in federal programs, prompting fights over bathrooms, dorms and explicit programs. The human rights campaign slammed the proposal Sunday, calling it a destructive precedent.
BRIGGS: The American general who oversees NATO military advisory mission in southern Afghanistan wounded in Thursday insider attack in Kandahar province. A NATO spokesperson says army brigadier general, Jeffrey Smiley is recovering from a gunshot wound is till still in charge of the command. Two Afghan officials, including the Kandahar police chief were killed in the attack. General Scot Miller, ahead of U.S. and NATO forces, shoot his weapon during the attack but did not fire, Taliban have claimed responsibility.
ROMANS: All right. President Trump says he has a new plan to help Republicans in the midterms. More tax cuts. There is pretty much zero chances of coming together in time. The President told reporters Saturday, these new tax cuts are aimed at the middle class.
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DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are looking at again a very major tax cut for middle income people. And if we do that, it would be sometime just prior I would say, to November. I would say sometime around the 1st of November. Maybe a little more before that.
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ROMANS: It is not clear exactly what Trump meant. But that timeframe is just before the pivotal midterms elections. Here is the problem. There is no chance of any plan passing before then. Congress is in recess through the election. And even after it is unlikely to pass during the lame duck session. There is a deep partisan divide over the GOP tax cuts.
[04:10:00] Many critics say it helped corporate America, not the middle class which Trump acknowledged Saturday adding that this new plan would not be for businesses at all. Also not helping a new tax bill, the fact that the original $1.5 trillion tax cut is ballooning the deficit. The federal deficit rose to 17 percent in 2018, just $779 billion. The highest in six years.
BRIGGS: A lot of mystery there. Congress not even talking about this.
ROMANS: No. Congress is not talking about it. But the President has talked about it before. He has said that he wants the White House ways and means committee to go and start to look at, you know, tax cuts 2.0. But timing wise, looks impossible.
BRIGGS: Maybe framing something ahead of midterms.
All right. National security advisor, John Bolton, landing overnight in Moscow just days after the U.S. decided to pull-out of a nuclear treaty with Russia. Fred Pleitgen live for us in Moscow, next.
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BRIGGS: 4:15 Eastern Time. National security adviser John Bolton in Moscow set to meet with the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov today.
[04:15:06] The meeting follows, President Trump's announcement that he is pulling the U.S. out of a landmark nuclear treaty with Russia. Warren outspoken Russian senator says the U.S. is pushing the world to another Cuban missile crisis. Fred Pleitgen live for us in from Moscow with more. Fred, good morning to you, what are the implication of the U.S. pulling out of these deal?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Well, the Russians say there could be catastrophic implications of all of this. They say this could lead to a new arms race between the U.S. and Russia. Obviously a lot more nuclear proliferation, especially in the west of Russia and Europe, but they also think possibly in Asia as well.
You know, we are keeping a close eye Dave, on this visit by National Security Adviser, John Bolton. We know that he is meeting with Sergei Lavrov today. We also know he is meeting his counterpart, the big question is going to be, is he also going to meet Vladimir Putin, but we are hearing from the kremlin, apparently a meeting is in preparation but it is unclear whether or not if that has been finalized.
Now, it is IMF treaty of course, was signed in 1987. In the wake of it, around 2,700 intermediate range, nuclear weapons were removed from the west of Russia and also from Europe as well. So, that had huge implications. The Russians now saying if these treaty is gone, there could be rearmament. Now, the U.S. has been saying that the Russians has been violating this treaty for the past couple of years. NATO says as well.
The Russians, are firing back saying there is no evidence of that, they blame the U.S. for violating the treaty. Because the U.S. is - trying to create a missile defense system that I wants to put in Europe. So, as you can see some back and forth on this treaty over the past couple of years. By and large, our experts say they believe that the treaty was working and so what we can see here is, we can see a lot of anger coming from the Russians.
One final thought, Dave, I think what the Russians really want to hear from John Bolton, if they want to know whether or not this is a final decision on the part of the Trump administration, whether or not there might be some wiggle room to try and maybe renegotiate all of this.
BRIGGS: All right. We will await those comments from John Bolton. Fred Pleitgen live for us in Moscow, thanks.
ROMANS: At least 18 people killed and 178 others injured in the train derailment in northeastern Taiwan. The train was traveling at a coastline popular with tourist, 366 passengers on board. Among the dead are eight members of the same family. The CNN affiliate in Taiwan says they were coming back from the wedding in Taipei City. A 43-year-old American woman was also hurt. The cause of the derailment is under investigation.
All right, an alleged cop killer remains on the loose in Georgia. Hear from the officer's emotional sister next.
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ROMANS: Dozens of Clemson University students are lucky to be alive this morning after a floor gives way on a party near campus this homecoming weekend. Police say 30 people were injured Saturday night when the floor collapsed and the party plummeted into the basement. First responders were there in just minutes.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody was jumping. Next thing you know, I'm jumping with my hands up in the air. And the next thing I feel myself falling like this. And when I wake up, because I blacked out, I see like girls everywhere with blood all over their faces. And everything like that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I had a (inaudible) pieces in my leg, a bad cut from people grabbing me and jumping over the wood.
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ROMANS: Authorities say no one suffered any life threatening injuries. Mostly broken bones and lacerations. A police investigation to the cause is ongoing.
BRIGGS: A manhunt is under way for the suspect of the killing of the Georgia police officer. Police say, 18-year-old Tafahree Maynard is still at large, being charged with aggravated assault and felony murder in the shooting death of Officer Antwan Toney. Officer Toney was answering a call about a suspicious vehicle, Saturday. Moments after speaking to his sister.
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CAROL JOHNSON, ANTWAN TONEY'S SISTER: I talked to him, but he was pulling up to the call. So I wrapped up. He said OK, I got to go. I have to take this call. I'll call you right back. The last time I talked to him and the next phone call I received was from his lieutenant.
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BRIGGS: Police say the officer was approaching the car when Maynard fired from inside and struck him. The car sped off and crashed about a mile away. Officials think as many as four people were inside. A second suspect, 19-year-old, Isaiah Pretlow has been charged with aggravated assault.
ROMANS: The Ney York police department pulling thousands of body cams from service after one explodes. The Department says an officer notice smoke rising from his bodycam on Saturday, shortly after he yanked the camera off, it exploded. No one was injured. About 20 percent of the NYPD's 15,000 body cams are the Vievu Le-5 model that blew up. CNN has reached out to Veivu's parent company Axon for comments.
BRIGGS: Former NFL star Rae Carruth, due to be release to a North Carolina prison today. The one time Carolina Panther's wide receiver was found guilty of conspiracy to murdering his girlfriend and their unborn child nearly 20 year ago. Prosecutors say, used his vehicle to block his girlfriends (inaudible) car, so a hired gunman can shoot her. Doctors performed an emergency C-section to save the baby, but the baby died four weeks after the shooting. The baby Chansler Lee Adams, was born with cerebral palsy. He is now 18 years old and being cared for by Sharika's her mother, Sandra Adams. Carruth sent Adams a letter earlier this year, apologizing for Sharika's death and expressing an interest in relationship with their son.
[04:25:05] ROMANS: All right. Julia Louis-Dreyfus was celebrated last night and receiving a Mark Twain prize for American humor. The acclaimed Emmy winning comedic actress, best known for starring role in "Seinfeld" and "Veep" also battled breast cancer this year. On the red carpet, a t the center, she offered this message for anyone else facing this disease.
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JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS, ACTRESS: Power through. Keep fighting. One step at a time. For true and that certainly helped me get through. Just think about it in almost in a weird way. Baby steps. What is the next hurdle? And that is what I would encourage anybody who is in the middle of it. Just keep focused.
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ROMANS: I just love her.
BRIGGS: How do you not?
ROMANS: During the awards, she added cancer is not at all funny, but a big part of dealing with it is finding the funny moments. The twain award show airs November 19, on PBS.
BRIGGS: You know we sit around, we complain about these tough days we had and we see Julia Louis-Dreyfus laughing off cancer. An inspiration.
Shifting stories meanwhile from the Saudis. Failing to quiet international uproar over the murder of the journalist. The President towing a fine line, but members of Congress say they are ready to act.
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