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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Will Trump Press Putin on Ukraine?; President Trump Consumed by Russia Probe; Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired November 29, 2018 - 04:00   ET

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


[04:00:13] DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: High stakes meetings with Russia and China await as President Trump departs just hours from now for the G-20 summit.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: CNN has learned exclusively two critical answers that President Trump gave to Robert Mueller in writing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: I changed my mind because I'm pissed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: Angry backlash from senators who want to hear firsthand what the CIA director knows about a murdered journalist.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D), MINORITY LEADER: Are there dissenters? Yes, but I expect to have a powerful vote.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Nancy Pelosi clears the first hurdle to becoming House speaker, but the final vote far from certain.

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

BRIGGS: Good morning, my friend. I'm Dave Briggs. Good morning to all of you. It is almost Friday, November 29th. 4:00 a.m. in the East.

Is the president floating a pardon for Paul Manafort? We'll get to that shortly.

We start, though, with the president boarding Air Force One bound for the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires later this morning with the future of global trade and security on the line. Mr. Trump plans to press Chinese President Xi Jinping to open its markets to U.S. competition or face a deepening trade war. He's also sharpening his tone against Russia over its conflict at sea with Ukraine even threatening to cancel a meeting with Vladimir Putin. Also on the agenda, meetings with the South Korean president, Japanese

prime minister, German chancellor, Turkish president, Indian prime minister and Argentine president. On Friday, in Argentina, the president expected to sign a revamped NAFTA trade agreement with Mexico and Canada. Still needs congressional approval.

ROMANS: The Russians say the meeting between Presidents Putin and Trump is set for Saturday morning on the G-20 sidelines. If it happens, Russia's conflict with Ukraine sure to come up. President Trump has already said he doesn't like Moscow's aggression. Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry is suggesting the West knew about or even planned the naval confrontation in the Kerch Strait. A confrontation that's escalating tension between Moscow and Ukraine.

A Russian court in Crimea ordering two-month detention for all 24 Ukrainian sailors who were seized and are now being held pending trial.

We get more from CNN's Fred Pleitgen. He is near the Kerch Strait in Taman, Russia.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The three Ukrainian ships remain impounded at the other end of the bridge where I'm standing at right now in the port town of Kerch. And in a court in Crimea has also announced that 24 Ukrainian sailors who are on board those ships are going to remain in detention for at least two months awaiting a trial.

The Russians, of course, accuse them of entering illegally into Russia's territory. Now Russian president Vladimir Putin, he came out on Wednesday and he said that he believed that the incident was what he called a planned provocation by the Ukrainian government and its president, Pedro Poroshenko, whom the Russians say was in trouble ahead of an election in Ukraine. And that's one of the reasons why the Russians say they believe that this maneuver was pulled off.

The Ukrainians of course very much denying that. They continue to say that it's the Russians who provoked this incident and are in breach of international law. Now the U.S. special representative to Ukraine, he came out, and he said those ships need to be given back by the Russians immediately and the U.S. secretary of Defense, James Mattis, also coming out and blasting the Russians saying they're showing that their word, quote, "cannot be trusted."

The Russians are not feeling as much blowback from the U.S. president. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Russia's president Vladimir Putin, saying he believes that despite this recent standoff, that that meeting between Presidents Trump and Putin at the G-20 summit that's upcoming, of course, that that meeting is still very much on. And Russia's president Vladimir Putin he himself came out and he said that he still believes that President Trump is positively inclined to bettering relations between the United States and Russia despite the incident that took place right near where I'm standing right now.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Taman, Russia.

BRIGGS: All right, Fred. Thank you.

Here at home President Trump has appeared consumed by the Russia investigation. This intense focus reflected in a newspaper interview Wednesday where he returned to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe again and again. Refusing this time to rule out a possible pardon for former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Also defending his re- tweet of a meme attacking the Russia probe and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in particular.

Pamela Brown has more from the White House.

PAMELA BROWN, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Dave and Christine. In a stunning interview with the "New York Post," President Trump defended retweeting a picture of his opponents behind bars calling for them to face trial for treason. They include Special Counsel Robert Mueller as well as Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

[04:05:04] When asked about that, the fact that Rosenstein was also seen behind bars in this picture, the president responded to the reporters in this interview saying that he should have never appointed a special counsel.

Meantime, the president also talked about a potential pardon for Paul Manafort, former campaign chairman, after prosecutors claimed he lied to the FBI. The president for the first time coming out and saying that it's not off the table for a presidential pardon for Manafort. He's also ratcheting up the language against Robert Mueller, taking it a step further now comparing the Mueller probe to McCarthyism.

Also in this interview the president threatened to declassify documents that he claims would be devastating to Democrats. These are documents that he had talked about declassifying this past September but he says in the interview that Emmitt Flood, the White House lawyer, advised that would not be a good idea politically, but now the president is threatening to declassify these documents if the Democrats on the Hill go after him.

Back to you, Dave and Christine.

ROMANS: All right, Pamela, thank you.

President Trump has denied two specific claims Special Counsel Robert Mueller is looking into. CNN has learned exclusively the president told Mueller in writing that Roger Stone never told him about the WikiLeaks' plan to release Democratic Party e-mails stolen by Russian hackers and that he was never informed about the 2016 Trump Tower meeting between his son, campaign officials and a Russian lawyer.

We have also learned the president made it clear he was answering to the best of his recollection. The Trump Tower meeting and WikiLeaks are critical to Mueller's mission to determining whether the Trump campaign colluded with the Russians.

BRIGGS: A bill to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation blocked once again from reaching the Senate floor. Republican Senator Jeff Flake and Democrat senators Chris Coons and Cory Booker tried to force a vote by unanimous consent on Wednesday but it was blocked by Republican Mike Lee of Utah. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell insisting the bill is not needed but Senator Flake doesn't see it that way.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), MAJORITY LEADER: This is a solution in search of a problem. The president is not going to fire Robert Mueller nor do I think he should, nor do I think he should not be allowed to finish.

We have a lot of things to do to try to finish up this year without taking votes on things that are completely irrelevant to outcomes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: Senator Flake says he will vote against every pending judicial nominee unless Senator McConnell allows a floor vote on the bill to protect Mueller.

ROMANS: A closed door administration briefing on Capitol Hill apparently backfiring Wednesday. The White House was hoping to stop a resolution to end U.S. support for the Saudi-led war against Houthis in Yemen. Instead it sparked a backlash with senators on both sides furious. The White House kept CIA director Gina Haspel from appearing. Senators wanted to question her about the murder of "Washington Post" journalist Jamal Khashoggi and about the possible involvement of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, MBS.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GRAHAM: I changed my mind because I'm pissed. The way the administration has handled the Saudi Arabia thing is just not acceptable. The briefing today did not help me at all better understand the role MBS played in the killing of Mr. Khashoggi.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary James Mattis showed up to tow the administration line on the importance of the U.S.-Saud relationship. Pompeo also noted there is no direct evidence Prince Mohammed ordered the murder.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES MATTIS, DEFENSE SECRETARY: We have no smoking gun that the crown prince was involved. Not the intelligence community or anyone else. There's just no smoking gun. We have not changed that accountability for the murder is our expectation of everyone involved in the murders. Accountability is our position. That's not changed at all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Senate aides say the White House nixed Haspel's appearance because her answers might not align with its response to the murder. But Secretary Pompeo had no answer when asked why she was not there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE POMPEO, SECRETARY OF STATE: I was asked to be here. Here I am.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: The senators were very frustrated. Normally, in your past role as CIA director, you would be here briefing these senators on an issue this sensitive. Why isn't the CIA director herself here today?

POMPEO: I was asked to be here and I'm here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: In the end, 14 annoyed Republicans crossed the aisle of the Senate vote to advance the Yemen resolution, 63-37.

BRIGGS: Nancy Pelosi taking a giant step toward a historic second turn as House speaker. House Democrats voting Wednesday overwhelmingly 203-32 to support her Pelosi's nomination.

[04:10:05] A small but vocal faction of Democrats tried to derail her bit for speaker, but Pelosi is staying strong.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PELOSI: I'm talking about scores of members of Congress who just gave me a vote or are giving me a vote of confidence. That is where our focus is. Are there dissenters? Yes. But I expect to have a powerful vote as we go forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: The make-or-break moment for Pelosi will come in January when the full House holds a final floor vote. Pelosi will need to convince at least half of the 32 Democrats who voted against her in order to be elected speaker.

ROMANS: All right. Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell reassured investors the Fed wouldn't risk killing off economic growth by aggressively raising rates next year.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEROME POWELL, FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN: We know that moving too fast would risk shortening the expansion. We also know that moving too slowly, keeping interest rates to low for too long, could risk other distortions in the form of higher inflation or destabilizing financial imbalances.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: All right. That's a lot of Fed speak, right? But the key here, the two little words that sent the Dow nearly 620 points higher. Tucked in the speech, Powell said the rates are, quote, "just below" the so-called neutral range. That's the level Central Bankers believe will neither accelerator nor slow economic growth. In October he said interest rates are still, quote, "a long way," from neutral.

That shift is what really launched stocks higher. The Fed left rates unchanged this month but is widely expected to raise rates again at a meeting in December. Investors interpreted Powell's comments as a sign the Fed may now only hike rates once or maybe twice at most next year as opposed to earlier forecasts of three to four rate hikes.

And, you know, I mean, the elephant in the room is that the president who's been bashing this guy -- he's the new Jeff Sessions, right?

BRIGGS: Yes.

ROMANS: I mean, he is bashing his handpicked Fed chief. The president publicly -- that was not mentioned yesterday.

BRIGGS: And is Jerome Powell blinking?

ROMANS: I don't think so. I mean, I think he looks at what's happening in the economy, you still don't see a lot of inflation bubbling through here. You have a very strong economy. His job is to keep just ahead of it so it doesn't overheat. Still raising interest rates, but suddenly giving the signal that he's not going to raise them too aggressively.

BRIGGS: All right. Ahead, Jeff Sessions with two words to describe his sudden ouster from the Trump administration.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFF SESSIONS, FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL: Pink slip. As everybody -- a lot of people have gotten pink slips, I guess.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: More from the now former attorney general just ahead.

ROMANS: Plus John Kerry 2020? The questions and his answer, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:16:41] ROMANS: The Pentagon has identified the three U.S. servicemen killed in Afghanistan earlier this week. They are Army Captain Andrew Patrick Ross, Army Sergeant 1st Class Eric Michael Emond and Air Force Staff Sergeant Dylan Elchin. They were killed Tuesday when their vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device near the city of Ghazni. Sergeant Elchin's mother trying to come to grips with the devastating loss.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAWNA DUEZ, MOTHER OF STAFF SERGEANT DYLAN J. ELCHIN: I didn't want him to go. He said, mom, I'll be OK. I said, Dylan, if anything happens to you, I says it's going to destroy me. And he said, mom, I'll be fine.

(END VIDEO CLIP) ROMANS: The Taliban has claimed responsibility for that attack.

BRIGGS: Police say a body in North Carolina has been initially identified as Hania Aguilar. The 13-year-old was abducted outside her home three weeks ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF MICHAEL MCNEILL, LUMBERTON POLICE DEPARTMENT: This is the outcome that we all feared. We wanted to bring Hania back home and bring her back home alive to our community. It hurts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: Police say the body was found in water on a road several miles from Aguilar's home. Authorities want the public's help to determine when and how the body was left there. Final confirmation will be made using dental records.

ROMANS: CNN has learned the Trump administration plans to announce a ban on bump stocks in the next few days. Bump stocks received national attention last year, remember, when a gunman in Las Vegas rigged his weapons with the devices to massacre 58 concertgoers. President Trump promised to ban bump stocks shortly after that tragedy. Under the new rule, bump stock owners would be required to destroy or surrender the devices to authorities within 90 days.

BRIGGS: Jeff Sessions taking the high road delivering the key note speech at last night's Annual Chicago Crime Commission Awards Dinner. The former attorney general reflecting on his experience as the nation's top law enforcement officer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SESSIONS: Well, a lot has changed since my visit here a few months ago, about a month ago actually. I got a new title. Former. Pink slipped. That's everybody -- a lot of people have gotten pink slips, I guess, but mine is a little more public than most. I got to say. But I really enjoyed the honor and I appreciate the president allowing me to serve almost two years in one of the greatest jobs in the world. I'm satisfied and fulfilled I think with what we were able to accomplish. And I'm excited for those who will continue to lead the great department.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: Sessions also criticized Chicago's leaders for not adequately supporting the city's police department.

ROMANS: You can add a familiar name this morning to the list of Democrats mulling a run in 2020. John Kerry. At a Harvard Institute of Politics event the 2004 Democratic nominee said he is thinking about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you a candidate for 2020?

JOHN KERRY (D), 2004 PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I'm thinking about how the hell to get out from under that question fast.

(LAUGHTER)

KERRY: That's what I'm thinking. I really am. You know, I said I'm not going to eliminate -- I'm not going to -- I'm not taking anything off the table. Am I going to think about it? Yes, I'm going to think about it. I've said that point blank simply because of all the things I've just talked about. If you care about these things, you have to think about it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[04:20:02] ROMANS: Kerry says he is open to backing other potential Democratic candidates including former vice president Joe Biden and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.

BRIGGS: Boy, is it going to be a wide-ranging Democratic field. How many do you think are in? 15?

ROMANS: I don't know. I just think there's real soul searching --

BRIGGS: Twenty?

ROMANS: -- going on.

BRIGGS: Yes.

ROMANS: You know, a real talent search going on in the Democratic Party right now.

BRIGGS: Going to be interesting.

Ahead, a new testament to the power of Taylor Swift. Details next.

ROMANS: Plus, how a 6-year-old boy managed to upstage the Pope. I love this kid.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BRIGGS: If you don't know where your romaine lettuce was grown, don't eat it.

[04:25:03] That's what the FDA says as it narrows down the source of that e. Coli outbreak to six California counties. The counties being investigated in the multi-state outbreak are Monterrey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz and Ventura Counties. Officials say romaine harvested outside these six California counties is not implicated in the current outbreak. Romaine lettuce entering the market will now be labeled with the harvest location and date.

ROMANS: Who is the most influential person on Twitter? Taylor Swift topped the annual list by the social media analysis

company Brandwatch. She only tweeted 13 times in 2018. So maybe less is more. Right?

BRIGGS: Less is more.

ROMANS: The rankings mostly based on genuine audience engagement. Topping the list of the most influential men on Twitter in 2018 and playing second fiddle only to Swift is Liam Payne, the former One Direction band member turned solo artist. And coming in at number three on the list, America's Twitter-in-chief, President Trump.

BRIGGS: And at his general audience at the Vatican Wednesday Pope Francis was the one watching. Six-year-old Wenzel Wirth, check him out, upstaging the pontiff who gave the boy his blessing. He's scaled the steps to the stage, examined a Swiss Guard's arm, and ran around like it was his own personal playroom when his mom tried to corral him and get him off the stage. Francis told her to let him be. The boy's father telling the AP that his son has speech limitations and behavioral issues, and they let him be free.

ROMANS: I love the look on the pontiff's face. He was truly captivated by this little guy. You know? All God's children.

BRIGGS: They're children. Beautiful.

ROMANS: All right. Could be one of the biggest tests yet of the President Trump's diplomacy. Risky talks on the horizon with the leaders of Russia and China. Next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)