Return to Transcripts main page
Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Trump: Blame Cohen; Feds Investigating Trump Inaugural & Super PAC; Girl Dies After Crossing Into U.S.; Chargers Stun Chiefs on Late 2-Point Conversion. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired December 14, 2018 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:02] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: And now looking into the inauguration committee and the pro-Trump super PAC. Record cash was raised. Was it raised for influence?
BRIGGS: A 7-year-old girl dies in U.S. custody. She just crossed into the U.S. with her father illegally. What DHS is saying.
(BEGN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you doing? It's too early for this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: A racist meltdown on the Brooklyn train. Wait until you hear what one woman said during the rush.
Good morning and welcome back to EARLY START, everyone. I'm Christine Romans.
BRIGGS: There is a positive spin to it.
ROMANS: I love that story. You dropped your Chapstick.
BRIGGS: It's Friday, folks. Fourteenth of December, 5:00 a.m. in the East.
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 have affairs with him.
In an interview with Fox News, the president downplayed Cohen's work, saying he did very low level work.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: More public relations than he did law. He did stuff. You would see him on television. He was okay on television.
But years ago, many years, like 12 or 13 years ago, he did me a favor. He was on a committee and so responsive and so good. I said he's a nice guy.
And he was a lawyer. Because of that, I did it. In retrospect, I made a mistake.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: The president's new explanation for the hush payments, the latest version of the ever changing story. Remember, he once said he didn't know about the payments.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPORTER: Mr. President, did you know about the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels?
TRUMP: No, no.
REPORTER: Then why -- 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. You have to ask Michael Cohen.
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, prominent DC lawyer George Conway, the husband of White House, Kellyanne Conway. He slammed the president in this tweet. Given that Trump has repeatedly lied about the Daniels and McDougal payments and given he lies about virtually everything else, why should we take his word over that 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" parent company, which is now cooperating with prosecutors. Michael Cohen himself will break his silence this morning in an interview on "Good Morning America."
CNN's Jeff Zeleny has more from the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Christine and Dave, as we begin here at the White House. So much has happened this week, but much has to do with Michael Cohen, of course, the president's long time lawyer and fixer.
The president speaking out in direct terms saying he did not direct Michael Cohen to do anything in terms of hush money payments. But as we have seen, the president's story has changed many times. This is what the president said yesterday. 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 charges on.
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.
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 chief of staff? When these investigations happen, top Republicans say it makes it less likely for anyone to come into the White House to work here. So, the question is what is the next shoe to drop? The president is remaining defiant, others here are worried -- Dave and Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRIGGS: OK, Jeff, thanks.
"The New York Times" is reviewing the donations to the 2016 inauguration committee and pro-Trump super PAC. "The Wall Street Journal" first reported an investigation in the inauguration and confirmed the reporting by CNN. But "The Times" goes further with the investigation of people from Middle Eastern countries, including Qatar and UEA used straw donors to disguise contributions.
ROMANS: Sources familiar with the probe tell "The Times" Paul Manafort, then the campaign chairman, says Tom Barrick create the super PAC.
[05:05:03] And the source says that a year ago, Barrick, who later led the inaugural committee told investigators told investigators Manafort viewed 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 inauguration. The inauguration committee said it worked in compliance with all applicable laws and disclosure obligations.
ROMANS: All right. Today, federal prosecutors 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 the issues not addressed last week. Mueller cited no prison time, citing Flynn's substantial cooperation with the Russia probe. BRIGGS: Flynn pleaded guilty about lying with the Russian ambassador during the transition. But, again, the president himself is not buying what is in the plea.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: A respected person and nice man. I don't know what he said about me. Maybe they scared him enough they don't make up the story. I have a feeling he is a tougher kind of guy than Cohen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Like the special counsel, Flynn is asking for no jail time. He offered to do 200 hours of community service.
A 7-year-old girl has died 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 and developed a 105-fever. Local EMS airlifted her to the hospital, but she died at the hospital.
ROMANS: Homeland security says border patrol agents took every step possible to save the child's life. It will investigate to ensure policies were followed. Her death is likely to intensify scrutiny of detention conditions at border patrol stations and facilities. The shelters are at or near capacity.
BRIGGS: "The Washington Post" reports that Republican Mark Harris directed a hiring of the campaign aide who is focus of the voter fraud probe in North Carolina. "The Washington Post" reports that Harris sought out Leslie McCrae Dowless despite his questionable track record. Harris lost against the 2016 election against an opponent Dowless was working for. Now Republican and Democratic officials are moving in anticipation of a fierce and protracted second campaign.
ROMANS: Leaders from both parties have all but publicly agreed a new election is necessary after allegations of absentee ballot fraud. Democrats are demanding Harris fully disclose his relationship with Dowless. Harris said he did not know 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 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 symbolic as the Republican-led House is not expected to take the measure up. During talks in Sweden, warring parties agreed to a cease-fire in the key port city. They agreed on a prisoner swap and humanitarian corridor to the city and future negotiations. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called it a pivotal first step.
BRIGGS: The U.S. military is looking for$331 million reimbursement from the Saudis and UAE. The Pentagon says it discovered accounting error and failed to properly charge the coalition fighting in Yemen for refueling services. The costs stretch back to March of 2015.
Vowing to pressure, the Department of Education will wipe away student debt for some 15,000 borrowers. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos fought for a year to block an Obama era law designed to provide relief to students cheated by for-profit colleges. The announcement cancels about $150 million in debt after the federal judge sided with 18 states and the District of Columbia. They sued DeVos for delaying the rule while the department worked on rewriting it.
ROMANS: All right. President Trump said General Motors CEO Mary Barra made a mistake by laying off workers and pledged to retaliate against the company. The president was upset with gm halting production in five facilities in North America and eliminating 14,000 jobs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: To tell me a couple of weeks before Christmas that she's going to close in Ohio and Michigan, not acceptable to me. And she's either going to open fast or somebody else is going to go in. But General Motors is not going to be treated well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: GM has said it closed plants to prepare for the future shifting from sedans and trucks and investing in self driving car technology.
[05:10:04] The president said GM job cuts won't hurt the U.S. economy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: It doesn't matter, because Ohio is under my leadership from a national standpoint. Ohio will replace the jobs in two minutes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: So, it's unacceptable, but it won't make a difference? Trying to have it both ways. GM said Thursday the focus is on the employees adding hourly workers may find jobs at other plants.
BRIGGS: Speaking of having it both ways. The tax plan had it fine to buy back stocks which was doing it right by the shareholders. In this case, GM did not do right by the shareholders?
ROMANS: It is remarkable the Republican president of the United States is weighing in on what matters to him.
BRIGGS: On what's acceptable him.
ROMANS: It's absolutely right. BRIGGS: All right. Ahead, an officer killed in the line of duty in Georgia. A police dog also wounded. The full story is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:15:16] BRIGGS: The man suspected of gunning down three people and injuring 13others in Strasbourg, France, has been killed in a shootout with police. It happened not far the scene of Tuesday's attack happened at a popular Christmas market.
Police approached a man who looked like the suspected Cherif Chekatt on Thursday night. Chekatt opened fire on officers when they tried to question Chekatt. The police returned killing the 29-year-old suspect. French prosecutors say Chekatt yelled Allahu Akbar, God is great, during the initial attack.
ROMANS: A police officer in Georgia has been killed in the line of duty during a traffic stop in Georgia. The suspect took off on foot pursued by the officer. The suspect then pulled out a gun and shot the officer. Other officers and a canine unit arrived on scene.
The suspect was found 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's name has not been released and has been with the department less than two years.
BRIGGS: Gun deaths in America reached a record high in America. Nearly 40,000 people died by guns last year. That is the highest number of firearm deaths in decades.
According to the analysis of data from the CDC. The number is a record high going back to 1979 when firearm deaths started to be coded into mortality data. It's an increase of more than 10,000 deaths over 1999.
CNN's analysis shows the majority of those gun deaths were suicides. There were nearly 24,000 gun suicides in 2017. The highest number in 18 years.
ROMANS: A warning. Some of the language you are about to hear 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.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)
ROMANS: The 40-year-old woman identified is Anna Luchinski (ph). A man videotaping it has performed a citizen arrest. CNN has not been able to connect with Lushiana (ph) for comment.
BRIGGS: He's at concern as a lawyer. She will need a lawyer now. The man who filmed it is my hero.
Ahead, an epic comeback on Thursday night football and gutsy last second call. Andy Scholes has the story in the "Bleacher Report."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [05:22:29] BRIGGS: CBS reportedly agreed to a $9.5 million settlement with actress Eliza Dushku in 2017. Lawyers were hired to examine cultural issues at the network. The report says Dushku was allegedly subjected to an uncomfortable sex jokes from co-start Michael on the set of "Bull". Dushku confronted him about his remarks and days later was written off the show.
ROMANS: In a statement, CBS says we remain committed to a culture of a safe and respectful work place, our work is far from done. Michael Weatherly apologized for his comments. She declined to comment to the times.
A Southwest flight forced to turn around when a donated heart was left on board. The heart started in Sacramento and it was left on the flight to Dallas instead of taken out of the cargo hold. Southwest says the heart was meant for a medical donation, it was meant for a transplant. Sierra donor services organized the donation and the heart was received unharmed.
BRIGGS: Three of the biggest names in pop culture with the combined following of 125 million people on twitter all involved in a feud this morning. Kanye West and Kim Kardashian and drake. Kardashian sent this, Drake never threatened my husband or family. He paved the way for there to be a Drake.
As for drake, he has been quiet on the issue. His response so far is a story on Instagram with a bunch of crying emojis. We heard from Kanye with all love at 1:45 a.m.
Let's talk sports. Chargers shocking the Chiefs with a gutsy play call to win the game. Andy Scholes has the drama in the "Bleacher Report."
Good morning, Andy.
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Good morning, Dave.
You know, this is a big regular season match up. The Chargers and Chiefs. Down by 14 in the fourth quarter with five minutes to go and Philip Rivers leads them on a comeback. Mike Williams for the touchdown with four seconds on the clock. Instead of kicking the extra point to tie, the head coach goes for the win.
Rivers finds Williams wide open for the two-point conversion. Chargers knock off the chiefs with a 29-28 win snapping a nine-game losing streak to Kansas City.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PHILIP RIVERS, CHARGERS QUARTERBACK: This team just kept fighting. They want to call coach to go for two. I said let's win it now.
ANTTHONY LYNN, CHARGES HEAD COACH: We came to win. To me, it was a no-brainer.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BRIGGS: The Rockets and Lakers squaring off for the first time since earlier this season. LeBron getting frustrated with the officials. James Harden got to the free-throw line 19 times. At one time they started to play defense with their hands behind their back. Harden finished with 50 points and a triple-double. Rockets win big.
Finally, what makes everything in life better? A puppy. The St. Louis blues welcomed the 5 month old puppy to the ice. He was adopted from an organization to train and get service dogs ready for their forever home.
You see Barkley is out there having a blast chasing the puck around. He was good with the stick, too, Dave. We need an early start puppy. I think our moods would be better this early in the morning.
BRIGGS: O, absolutely. Just running all over the set with a puppy cam on it. You got Romans attention during the sports cast. That isn't easy.
SCHOLES: And you know what? That puppy has got 26,000 followers on Instagram in you needed more of Barley, the St. Louis, puppy.
BRIGGS: More than us combined? That hurts. Andy, thank you. Romans, we have your attention.
ROMANS: I love puppies. Especially puppies over politics anyway, right?
Twenty-seven minutes past the hour. First he didn't know. Then he paid Michael Cohen back. Then he didn't approve. Now it is not true -- now the shifting and punting of the blame although he has been tied to federal crimes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
