Return to Transcripts main page

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 4:30-5a ET

Aired October 22, 2018 - 04:30   ET

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


[04:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

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.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DAVE BRIGGS, 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.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, 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.

BRIGGS: The White House considers a drastic move which could affectively decline transgender out of existence under federal law. Welcome back to "Early Start," everybody, I'm Dave Briggs.

ROMANS: A good Monday morning to all of you. I'm Christine Romans. It is 31 minutes pass the hour. Attempts by Saudi Arabia to distance Crown Prince 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 globe.

On Friday, the Saudis admitted Khashoggi died at their consulate in Istanbul. Claiming he was killed accidentally after a fist fight or confrontation escalated into a brawl.

BRIGGS: The Saudi Foreign Minister telling old Fox News Khashoggi's death was quote, a tremendous mistake, but a result of unsanctioned operation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

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.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: The foreign minister says the kingdom is determined to punish those who are responsible for Khashoggi's murder. International diplomatic editor, Nic Robertson standing by live in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Nic, good morning to you, 20 days now shifting explanations from the Saudis, where is this all headed?

NIC ROBERTSON, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CNN CORRESPONDENT: It doesn't seem to be headed to a particularly positive place. The confrontation between Tukey and at a very diplomatic level. But the reality is on the ground here, on what they heard from the Foreign Minister over the weekend, for Turkish officials, it doesn't seem to add up.

Not only does it not add up, it is their understanding of what happened in the Saudi consulate to Jamal Khashoggi. It doesn't add up the timeline that the Saudis are putting forward about their cooperation of the investigation with Turkish investigators. The Foreign Minister saying that they don't know where the body of Jamal Khashoggi is.

A senior Saudi source telling CNN that his body was handed over to a collaborator. But from the Turkish perspective, if the Saudis have that kind of knowledge then they would very much like to know who that collaborator is, because the trail to find Jamal Khashoggi's body is running cold. Day to day, the Turkish authorities or the chief prosecutor is talking to and questioning 28 more people who work at the Saudi consulate here that aim not just to get to the bottom of the mystery of what happened, but to discover where Jamal Khashoggi's body is.

His family wanted it back. His friends want it back. The President Erdogan here promising to speak out on Tuesday, more about these investigation, more about what they believed happened and the spokesman for his party saying that they are determined and that it is a matter of honor that they find out what precisely happened to Jamal Khashoggi. Dave.

BRIGGS: Really an intriguing figure in all of this is Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Our Nic Robertson, live for us in Istanbul, thank you.

ROMANS: President Trump speaking out against the Saudi's shifting explanation for Khashoggi's fate. Saying in the interview with "The Washington Post." Obviously there has been deception and there has been lies. But the President also defended Saudi Arabia as an incredible ally. And he clung to the possibility that the Crown Prince did not order the assassination. The president in fact praised Crown Prince Mohammad as a strong person with good control of his country.

BRIGGS: The reception for the Saudi explanation less warm on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers expressing deep skepticism and called for severe repercussions. Including several Republican senators typically in the President's corner.

[04:35:00] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

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.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: The conservative editorial board of "The Wall Street Journal" weighing in as well, they write quote, the U.S. Officials above all can't appear to be complicit in the whitewash of the murder of public embrace of Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, as of nothing happened. Americans understand that the U.S. has the interests in the Middle East that often 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.

ROMANS: All right. 15 days and counting to the midterm elections. The President now has up to 15 planned campaign stops and that is just in October. This week alone he is in Texas tonight for Senator Ted Cruz. 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.

BRIGGS: Still by a nine-point margin, likely voters would prefer that Democrats control congress. Over the weekend, President Trump was in Nevada where he seized on the migrant caravan in Central America and the pushed jobs, not mobs message attacking Democrats. Countering Trump in Nevada today, his 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, and Andrew Gillum, who is running for governor. ROMANS: Gillum and his Republican opponent Ron DeSantis sparred over

race and President Trump during a contentious debate last night hosted by CNN. One key issue, climate change and the environment. DeSantis attack Gillum for pursuing what he call a California style energy policy. Gillum returned pointing to DeSantis' climate change skepticism. The Tallahassee mayor also tried to tie DeSantis to President Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

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.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: 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.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

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 that American flag patch on our arm and that was end of story.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: The latest CNN poll has Gillum ahead of DeSantis by 12 points among likely voters. That is much smaller than the average of national polls.

ROMANS: All right. The 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 is 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.

BRIGGS: 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 sports programs. The human rights campaign slammed the proposal Sunday, calling it a destructive precedent.

ROMANS: The American general who oversees NATO military advisory mission in southern Afghanistan, we are now learning was wounded in Thursday insider attack in Kandahar province. A NATO spokesperson says Army Brigadier General, Jeffrey Smiley is recovering from a gunshot wound and is still in charge of the command. Two Afghan officials, including the Kandahar police chief were killed in that attack. General Scot Miller, ahead of U.S. and NATO forces, drew his weapon during the attack but did not fire.

BRIGGS: Special counsel Robert Mueller reportedly investigating Roger Stone's conflicts of his ties to WikiLeaks.

[04:40:03] The Washington Post has Mueller is looking into whether Stone knew about the online group's plans to release hacked Democratic e-mails during the 2016 election. Investigators are scrutinizing Stone's communication from Trump campaign officials. To learn whether he lied to Congress about his alleged contacts with WikiLeaks. Stone claimed in 2016 he communicated with its founder Julian Assange through a back channel. Since then, both he and WikiLeaks have denied being in contact during the campaign.

ROMANS: 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. We got Fred Pleitgen live for us in Moscow, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BRIGGS: National security adviser John Bolton in Moscow set to meet

with the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov today. The meeting follows, President Trump's announcement that he is pulling the U.S. out of a landmark nuclear treaty with Russia. Fred Pleitgen live for us in from Moscow with all the details. Good morning, Fred.

[04:45:10] FREDERIK PLEITGEN, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Good morning, Dave. And the Russian certainly very angry about all this. They are saying that all of this could trigger a new arms race. They are accusing the U.S. of trying to blackmail Russia. Now, you are absolutely right, National security adviser John Bolton is on the ground here and he has that meeting with Sergei Lavrov. Some other top people of the Russian government as well.

The big question is there going to be a meeting with Vladimir Putin. From what we hearing from the Kremlins, they say that the meeting is in preparation but they have not finalized whether or not that meeting is indeed confirmed. I think, Dave, the thing the Russians are really trying to find out from the U.S. is whether or not President Trump's announcement that he made means the U.S. is definitely pulling out of the deal or whether or not there may be some wiggle rooms to try to maybe renegotiate things for these intermediate range nuclear forces treaty which of course was signed in 1987 and got rid of around 2,700 nuclear missiles in Europe and Russia as well.

So, a very important issue there. One of the things the U.S. has been saying is they have been accusing Russia of violating that treaty over the past couple years. The Russians say there is no evidence to support that. They accuse the U.S. of essentially violating the treaty. One thing that is very interesting that we just heard a couple of minutes ago is that the Chinese are commented on all of this, they say, that they criticized the U.S. for pulling out and naming China as one of the reason.

Because one of the things that President Trump also said, is he said, not only that the U.S. believe that Russia is violating the treaty, but they also think that the treaty which China is not a part of also puts the U.S. at a disadvantage against a resurgent China. But of course, can develop weapons in any way it wants. Dave.

BRIGGS: All right, fascinating. Great reporting from Fred Pleitgen, live for us in Moscow. Thanks.

ROMANS: All right. The lottery jackpot in uncharted territory with more than $2 billion up for grabs. That is from two potential lottery wins this week. Mega-millions are now offering a historic $1.6 billion jackpot with the drawing Tuesday. With no winner on Saturday, Powerball is now $620 million. That next drawing is Wednesday. Combined that is $2.2 billion. But even if you buy a ticket, the odds are not in your favor. You are more likely to be hit by lightning or eaten by a shark than to win the mega millions. And be careful folks of those office pools. A winning ticket could mean a lawsuit and years in court to settle the winnings. This happens. Lottery officials and lawyers say coworkers should get everything in writing before plunging down money in office pool. So we did a pool earlier this week. We did not write anything down. We have one e-mail.

BRIGGS: There was no contract.

ROMANS: there was no contract. But here are lottery winners who do office pools who spend years in court and an awful lot of money on lawyers' fees arguing over what the terms are.

BRIGGS: So skip the office pool. Just go yourself.

ROMANS: Put it in the 529 saving plan. That is my advice.

BRIGGS: Ahead, one former NFL star about to go free after two decades in prison. Now Rae Carruth wants a relationship with the son he tried to have killed.

[04:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BRIGGS: Dozens of Clemson University students are lucky to be alive after a floor gives way on a party near campus this homecoming weekend.

Wow. Police say 30 people were injured Saturday night when the floor collapsed and the party are suddenly plummeted into the basement. First responders were there in minutes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody was jumping. Next thing you know, I'm jumping, I had my hands up in the air. And the next thing all I can I feel myself is just falling like this. And then 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.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: Authorities say no one suffered life threatening injuries. Mostly broken bones and lacerations. A police investigation to the cause is ongoing.

ROMANS: 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, he is 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.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

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.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: 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 that vehicle. A second suspect, 19-year-old, Isaiah Pretlow has been charged with aggravated assault.

BRIGGS: New information about the night the Wisconsin teenager's parents were shot dead and she vanished.

[04:55:00] A 911 call appears to come from Jayme Closs' mother's cell phone and the door to the family's home was kicked in. The authorities have been searching for Jayme Closs for a week. Investigators say the 13-year-old disappeared just hours after her parents were shot. The FBI is out in herd with list of kidnapped or kissing people. Several local businesses are selling this green bracelets with the #findjaymecloss. All the proceeds will go to the Closs' family.

ROMANS: Former NFL star Rae Carruth is 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, Carruth used his vehicle to block his girlfriends, Sharika Adams car, so that a hired gunman can shoot her. Doctors performed an emergency C-section to save the baby, but Adams died four weeks after the shooting. The baby Chansler Lee Adams, was born with cerebral palsy. He is now 18 years old and is 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.

BRIGGS: Julia Louis-Dreyfus was celebrated last night in Washington receiving a Mark Twain prize for American humor. The acclaimed Emmy award winning comedic actress, best known for starring role in "Seinfeld" and "Veep" also battled breast cancer this year. On the red carpet, at the Kennedy Center, she offered this message for anyone else facing the disease.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

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.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: 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.

ROMANS: That is why I love her. OK. Let's us go check on CNN Business this morning. Global stocks higher today getting a boost from China. Look at that, Shanghai up more than 4 percent overnight. Rallying after last week. News broke that China's economy is growing at the slowest pace since the financial crisis. On Saturday, Wall Street close mixed with the Dow rose on strong earnings breaking a three-week losing streak. It is has been a rough October for stocks. Investors worry about global growth. The Dow and S&P 500 down more than 4 percent. NASDAQ down more than 7 percent for the month. Still, all three are up more than 25 percent since the election. So some perspective there.

More changes on the CBS board. Richard Parsons resigning after over four weeks as interim chairman. The reason, his health, Parsons has multiple myeloma, a type of cancer. In a statement, Parsons said he felt the situation was manageable when he joined the board, but unanticipated complications created additional challenges and his doctors advised him to cut back. The board member (inaudible) will replace him. This is the second big shake up at CBS. Long time CEO, Les Moonves left in September for the claims of sexual misconduct and of course we wish Parsons well.

All right. Mike Myers is back and scarier than ever. Earning one of the biggest debut for a horror film. Ever look, at that "Halloween" earned $77.5 million at the box office this weekend. That is the best opening ever for the 40 year-old slasher series. Halloween is the 11th film in the horror franchised, the film is a direct sequel to the 1978 classic. It was also hit with critics. The movie earned 80 percent on rotten tomatoes. Its opening also marked the second biggest ever for a horror film that is behind last year's "It," which had $123 million opening. I don't like scary movies.

BRIGGS: We are united on that.

ROMANS: I'm a baby.

BRIGGS: I am, too. I don't sleep well with scary movies. I get nightmares.

"Early start" continues right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

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.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: Congress not buying the changing Saudi cover story for the murder of a journalist. The President calling out Saudi's deception. Riyadh maintains the Crown Prince was not involved.

ROMANS: A big last minute push for both parties ahead of the midterms. The President and former President and Joe Biden and others on the campaign trail today.

BRIGGS: The White House considers a drastic move that could effectively define transgender out of existence under federal law. Good morning everyone. Welcome to "Early Start." I'm Dave Briggs. It feels like Monday.

RICHMOND: because it is Monday. It is Monday, I can confirmed. I'm Christine Romans. It is October 22nd. 5:00 a.m. in the East. Let's get started everybody here.