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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Trump Distances Himself From Michael Cohen. Aired 4:30-5a ET
Aired December 14, 2018 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[04:30:55] DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What he did was all unrelated to me except for the two campaign finance charges that are not criminal and shouldn't have been on there. They put that on there to embarrass me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: First the sentence, then the silence. Now the sabotage. President Trump pinning all his troubles on his attorney or a low-level PR man whichever you prefer.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Prosecutors now investigating the president's inaugural committee and a pro-Trump super PAC. Record cash was raised. But was it traded for influence?
BRIGGS: A 7-year-old girl dies in U.S. custody. She had just crossed into the U.S. with her father illegally. What DHS is saying.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yo, what are you doing?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's too early for this (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: A racist meltdown on the subway. Wait until you hear what one woman said during the morning rush in New York City.
Worst. That right there is the worst of America.
BRIGGS: Another reason not to ride the subway.
ROMANS: Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.
BRIGGS: I'm Dave Briggs. Happy Friday, everybody. 4:31 Eastern Time.
We start with the president breaking his brief silence on the sentencing of his former personal attorney and fixer Michael Cohen. In a series of tweets Thursday, the president said he did not direct Cohen to break the law but note he did not dispute directing Cohen to make illegal payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal who say they had affairs with him.
In an interview with FOX News, the president downplayed Cohen's role, saying he did, quote, "very low-level work."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: More public relations than he did law. But he did -- so you'd see him on television. He was OK on television. But years ago, many years like 12, 13 years ago, he did me a favor. He was on a committee and he was so responsive and so good. And I said he's a nice guy. And he was a lawyer and because of that, I did it. And you know what in retrospect, I made a mistake.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Oh, this story has been changing, folks. The president's new explanation for the hush payments the latest version of an ever changing story. Remember he once said he didn't know about the payments.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Mr. President, did you know about the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels?
TRUMP: No, no.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Then why --
TRUMP: What else?
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Why did Michael Cohen make this, if there was no truth to her allegations?
TRUMP: Well, you have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael is my attorney. And you have to ask Michael Cohen.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Do you know where he got the money to make that payment?
TRUMP: I don't know. No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: One person unconvinced by Trump's story, George Conway, husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway. The prominent D.C. lawyer slammed the president in a tweet. "Given that Trump has repeatedly lied about the Daniels and McDougal payments and given that he lies about virtually everything else, why should we take his word over that of federal prosecutors?"
ROMANS: CNN has also learned the president was present at an August 2015 meeting about the hush payments. The president was in the room. He met with Cohen and David Pecker, chairman of "The National Enquirer's" parent company, which is now cooperating with prosecutors. Michael Cohen will break his own silence this morning in an interview on "Good Morning America."
Our Jeff Zeleny has more from the White House.
JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Christine and Dave, as we begin a Friday here at the White House so much has happened here this week, but much of it has to do with Michael Cohen, of course, the president's long time lawyer and fixer.
The president speaking out in direct terms saying that he did not direct Michael Cohen to do anything that he did in terms of hush money payments. But as we have seen, the president's story in this has changed so many times.
This is what the president said yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: What he did was all unrelated to me except for the two campaign finance charges that are not criminal and shouldn't have been on there. They put that on there to embarrass me. They put those two charges on there to embarrass me.
What happened is either Cohen or the prosecutors, in order to embarrass me, said, listen, I'm making this deal for reduced time and everything else, do me a favor put these two charges on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZELENY: But the president's view of that simply is at odds with many of the facts. It is, in fact, a criminal investigation. It is, in fact, a crime that Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to and, in fact, was sentenced to.
[04:35:03] The president is not acknowledging any of that. He said that, look, his lawyer, he hired him to take care of all of this, and he also distanced himself from any knowledge from the "National Enquirer" parent company also having a role in the payment.
There are real implications of all of this here at the White House. Who is going to fill the Office of Chief of Staff? When these investigations happen, top Republicans I'm talking to say it makes it much less willing that anyone would want to come into the White House to work here.
So the question here is what is the next shoe to drop? The president is remaining defiant, others here are worried -- Dave and Christine.
BRIGGS: OK, Jeff Zeleny, thanks.
The "New York Times" reporting overnight federal prosecutors are examining donations to the Trump 2017 Inaugural Committee and a pro- Trump super PAC. The "Wall Street Journal" first reported an investigation into the inaugural and then CNN confirmed the reporting but the "Times" goes further. It says the inquiry is focused on whether people from the Middle Eastern countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE used straw donors to disguise contributions.
ROMANS: Sources familiar with the probe tell the "Times" Paul Manafort, then the campaign chairman, suggested Trump confidant Tom Barrack create the super PAC and the source says that a year ago Barrack who later led the inaugural committee told investigators Manafort seemed to view the PAC as an arm of the campaign despite laws meant to prevent that kind of coordination.
BRIGGS: More than $100 million was raised for the inaugural. That was a record. The inaugural committee responding in a statement, says it worked, quote, "in full compliance with all applicable laws and disclosure obligations."
ROMANS: All right. Today federal prosecutors are set to file a reply to former National Security adviser Michael Flynn's sentencing memo. Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team will likely respond to things not addressed in their initial sentencing request last week. Mueller recommended no prison time, citing Flynn's substantial cooperation in the Russia probe.
BRIGGS: Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about contacts with the Russian ambassador during the transition. But again the president himself is not buying what's in the plea.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: A respected person and a nice man. And I don't even know what he said about me because, you know, maybe they scared him enough they go make up the story. But I have a feeling that maybe -- and he's a tougher kind of guy than Cohen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Like the special counsel Flynn is asking for no jail time. He has offered to do 200 hours of community service.
ROMANS: Alleged Russian spy Maria Butina has pleaded guilty in federal court. She admitted Thursday to attempting to infiltrate Republican political circles and influence U.S. relations with Russia before and after the 2016 election. The 30-year-old attended conferences organized by groups like the NRA and the National Prayer Breakfast.
As part of the plea deal Butina agreed to turn over evidence of crimes she is aware of and sit for interviews with law enforcement. She faces up to five years but likely will get zero to six months based on her plea deal and she's likely be deported after serving any jail time.
BRIGGS: A 7-year-old girl from Guatemala has died in U.S. custody after crossing the border with her father. The girl died of dehydration and shock after she was taken into custody with her father last week for illegally crossing into the United States. She had been in custody for eight hours when she developed a 105-degree fever. Local EMS air lifted her but she died at the hospital.
ROMANS: Homeland Security says Border Patrol agents took every step possible to save the child's life. And it will investigate to ensure policies were followed. Her death is likely to intensify scrutiny of detention conditions at Border Patrol stations and facilities. Those shelters across 17 states are at or near capacity.
BRIGGS: The "Washington Post" reports Republican Mark Harris directed the hiring of a campaign aide who is now the focus of a voter fraud probe in North Carolina. The "Washington Post" says Harris sought out Leslie McCrae Dowless despite his questionable track record. Harris lost the 2016 election against an opponent Dowless was working for. Now Republican and Democratic officials are beginning to maneuver in anticipation of a fierce and protracted second campaign.
ROMANS: Leaders from both parties have all but publicly agreed a new election is necessary following allegations of absentee ballot fraud. Democrats are demanding Harris fully disclose his relationship with Dowless. Harris has only said he didn't know about misconduct on his behalf. Republicans signaling they may need a new candidate believing Harris is now damaged goods.
BRIGGS: In a direct rebuke of President Trump, the Senate passed a resolution formally condemning Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the murder of journalist and U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi. The president has refused to condemn the Saudis despite evidence of an orchestrated murder plot. If the resolution also passes the House, the president will be forced to make a choice. Sign it and side with Congress or veto it and side with the Saudis.
ROMANS: The Senate also approved a resolution requiring the U.S. to end military support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. The move is largely symbolic as the Republican-led House is not expected to take the measure up.
[04:40:03] During talks in Sweden, Yemen's warring parties agreed to a cease-fire in a key port city. There was also agreement on prisoner swap, a humanitarian corridor to the city, and future negotiations. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called it a pivotal first step.
BRIGGS: Bowing to pressure the Department of Education will wipe away student debt for some 15,000 borrowers. Secretary Betsy DeVos has fought for a year to block an Obama-era rule designed to provide relief to students cheated by for-profit colleges. The announcement cancels about $150 million in debt. It comes two months after a judge sided with attorneys general from 18 states and the District of Columbia. They sued DeVos for delaying the rule while the department worked on the rewriting it.
ROMANS: And many of those students, by the way, veterans who were preyed on by those for-profit colleges. A real -- just a shame there.
All right. The president taking full credit for a strong U.S. economy. He made this remarkable claim in an interview with Reuters earlier this week. "It's hard to impeach somebody who hasn't done anything wrong and who's created the greatest economy in the history of our country."
That's right, he is taking credit for the greatest economy in the history. Is it? Well, some context for the president's hyperbole. So far this year a very strong 2,260,000 net new jobs. Better than last year, but it just matches the best years in the Obama administration.
What is true is the president has presided over the largest budget deficit in a strong economy. This year, the budget deficit projected to total about $970 billion up from $666 billion in 2017.
According to the Committee for Responsible Federal Budget, this year is abnormal. The U.S. is running high deficits despite low unemployment and that growing economy. Deficit should rise during a recession not boom so in its remarkable blog post, the organization is pointing out that this president can take credit for presiding over the largest budget deficit in a booming economy. Something that never happened.
BRIGGS: Don't hold your breath.
All right. Ahead, an officer killed in the line of duty in Georgia. A police dog also wounded. The full story, next.
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[04:46:15] ROMANS: The man suspected of gunning down three people and injuring 13 others in Strasbourg, France has been killed in a shootout with police. It happened not far from the scene of Tuesday's attack at a popular Christmas market. Police approached a man who they thought looked like the suspected shooter Cherif Chekatt on Thursday night. Chekatt opened fire on officers when they tried to question him. Police returned fire killing the 29-year-old suspect. French prosecutors say Chekatt yelled "Allahu Akbar," God is great, during the initial attack. Five victims remain in serious condition.
BRIGGS: A police officer in Georgia has been killed in the line of duty during a traffic stop. DeKalb County officials say the driver took off on foot pursued by the officer. The suspect pulled out a gun and shot the officer who was taken to the hospital where he died. Other officers and a canine unit arrived on the scene. They found the suspect hiding behind a building. The suspect shot the police dog which is in critical condition. Officers fired back killing the suspect.
The slain police officer whose name has not yet been released was with the department for less than two years.
ROMANS: Gun deaths in America have reached a record high. Nearly 40,000 people in the U.S. died by guns last year. The highest number of firearm deaths in decades according to new analysis of data from the CDC. The number is a record high going back to at least 1979 when firearm deaths started to be coded into mortality data. It is an increase of more than 10,000 deaths over 1999.
And CNN's analysis shows the majority of those gun deaths are suicides. There were nearly 24,000 gun suicides in 2017, the highest number in 18 years.
BRIGGS: Police now say a teenager who shot and killed himself in an Indiana middle school planned to commit an act of violence but they say they were able to stop him after the school district received a tip. The 14-year-old exchanged gunfire with police at Dennis Intermediate School yesterday before killing himself. It is not clear how many shots were fired or why the teen targeted the school. He was a former student in the district.
ROMANS: All right. A warning. Some of the language in this next story is offensive. A woman has been charged with two counts of assault after she attacked a female passenger on the New York City subway train.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yo, what are you doing?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's too early but --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You obviously have a problem.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's not even fighting you back.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Call 911 please.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stop being disgusting, (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What? What? What? What?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: That 40-year-old woman identified as Anna Lushchinskaya. The man filming later performed a citizen's arrest. CNN has not been able to reach Lushchinskaya for comment.
BRIGGS: Facing -- according to the "New York Daily News" facing menacing weapons charges, attempted assault and harassment charges.
ROMANS: Well, the whipping with the keys and -- I mean.
BRIGGS: Yes.
ROMANS: Yes. A lot of problem there.
BRIGGS: All right. Ahead, Starbucks at your door step. Get it here. The coffee giant planning to expand next year with delivery. How early, though, Romans? How early would they deliver? CNN Business is next.
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[04:54:11] BRIGGS: CBS reportedly agreed to a confidential $9.5 million settlement with actress Eliza Dushku in 2017. The "New York Times" citing a draft report prepared by lawyers hired by CBS to examine cultural issues at the network. The report says Dushku was allegedly subjected to uncomfortable sex jokes from co-star Michael Weatherly on the set of "Bull." Dushku reportedly confronted Weatherly about his remarks and days later learned her character was being written off the show.
ROMANS: In a statement CBS says, "While we remain committed to a culture defined by a safe, inclusive and respectful work place, our work is far from done." Weatherly maintains he was joking, says he immediately apologized to Dushku. Dushku declined to comment to the "Times."
BRIGGS: A group of people from West Virginia rescued after being trapped for days in an abandoned mine are suspected of trying to steal copper.
[04:55:06] Three people were freed about 24 hours ago. Now authorities are investigating why they were there in the first place and they could face charges. Entering an underground coal mine with intent to commit larceny is a felony in West Virginia.
ROMANS: I didn't see that twist coming from that mine story.
BRIGGS: New.
ROMANS: All right. A Southwest Flight from Seattle to Dallas forced to turn around when a donated human heart was discovered left on board. The heart's journey began in Sacramento. It was mistakenly left on the connecting flight to Dallas Sunday night instead of being taken out of the cargo hold in Seattle. Southwest says the heart was meant for a medical donation. Sierra Donor Services which organized the donation says the heart was eventually received unharmed.
BRIGGS: Another reason to look up to 7'2" retired NBA great Dikembe Mutombo. He welcomed 8-year-old Matadi to Los Angeles from Congo. Matadi has a tumor growing on the left side of his face and needs life-saving surgery.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DIKEMBE MUTOMBO, RETIRED NBA STAR: Very difficult for a father to see a child who is 8 years old who was born like all of us, but they have not gotten the opportunity. Now hopefully that changed the life of this young man and go back to live a normal life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Wow. Mutombo's foundation sponsored his trip. Doctors at L.A.'s Osborne Head and Neck Foundation are performing the surgery for free. Kudos to Dikembe. ROMANS: And we wish that little guy well. Speedy, speedy recovery.
All right. Let's get a check on CNN Business this morning. Global stock markets are lower in Asia. Markets closed lower there after China reported industrial output and retail sales growth missing expectations in November. European markets opened lower in early trading there.
On Wall Street, futures are down as well. Look, you know, the markets have been living and dying by trade headlines. China trade headlines. The Dow closed up 70 points. Giving back most of an earlier rally as much as 214 points. You've seen that, right? Big move and then reversals by the end of the day. The S&P 500 was flat. The Nasdaq closed down 0.4 percent.
Is Starbucks coming to your doorstep? Starbucks plans to expand coffee delivery across the U.S. with Uber Eats as a part of a broader strategy to reach more costumers. Starbucks began testing delivery in Miami in September. It will begin offering it in nearly a quarter of its more than 8.000 U.S. stores early next year. Customers will also be able to get their coffee from that tap. Every U.S. Starbucks location will offer nitrogen infused cold brewed coffee by the end of next year to meet customer demand.
The expansion is part of Starbucks' plan to sell more products next year especially as its frappuccino sales slip. Coffee out of the tap, cool.
BRIGGS: Sign me up.
ROMANS: Virgin and Galactic supersonic space plan soared into space Thursday for a milestone test flight. This was so cool. The rocket power plane VSS Unity was flown by two veteran pilots to a maximum altitude of 51.4 miles. That surpasses the 50-mile mark the U.S. government recognizes as the edge of space. The plane's success means Virgin Galactic would be just months away from taking up its first load of tourists. A goal it has worked for since it was founded in 2004. Virgin Galactic says about 600 people have reserved tickets priced between $200,000 and $250,000 to ride aboard its supersonic plane.
BRIGGS: All right.
ROMANS: Would you ride it? Would you do it?
BRIGGS: If I had the money, sure. I'm about $249,000 short at the moment.
(LAUGHTER)
BRIGGS: But yes, all right.
If you've ever re-gifted a holiday present, you're not alone. It turns out even the president is guilty. His son, Don Junior, who obviously has the same initials as dad shared this hilarious family story. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP JUNIOR, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SON: You know, there was one Christmas where he may or may not have given me the gift that I had given him the year before because I monogrammed it. And he was like oh yes, here. I'm like, I know you didn't get this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Well played. We've have done it or thought of doing it. Jimmy Fallon brought this up last night.
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JIMMY FALLON, HOST, "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JIMMY FALLON": Speaking of the holidays in a new interview, Donald Trump Jr. says that his dad is a re-gifter.
(LAUGHTER)
FALLON: So when Robert Mueller gives the president a subpoena, he's just going to re-gift it to Don Junior so you understand when that happens.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: We had to take the negatives.
ROMANS: Yes.
BRIGGS: Thought that was a funny story that we've all -- have you regifted?
ROMANS: Well, I have. But the thing with Don Junior is that he's the same monogram as his dad's.
BRIGGS: DJT. Yes.
ROMANS: And his dad passes along --
(CROSSTALK)
BRIGGS: So that kind of works. Justified?
ROMANS: Yes.
BRIGGS: All right. EARLY START continues right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What he did was all unrelated to me except for the two campaign finance charges that are not criminal and shouldn't have been on there. They put that on there to embarrass me.
(END VIDEO CLIP) DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: First the sentence, then the silence. And now the sabotage. President Trump pinning all his troubles on his attorney Michael Cohen.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Prosecutors now investigating the president's inaugural committee and a pro-Trump super PAC.
