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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Trump's Border Visit; Trump: Shutdown Meeting a "Waste of Time"; Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein Stepping Down; Jeff Bezos & His Wife Are Divorcing; Report: A's Expect Kyler Murray to Enter NFL Draft. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired January 10, 2019 - 05:00   ET

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

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: -- of $137 billion.

[05:00:04] DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: Meaning if she gets half, she instantly becomes the richest woman in the world. But then she would dilute his shares in Amazon.

ROMANS: One of the richest people in the world. Yes. We'll see how that works out.

BRIGGS: All right. EARLY START continues right now.

(MUSIC)

ROMANS: President Trump heads to the U.S.-Mexico border today. But is it more than just a photo-op?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY), SENATE MINORITY LEADER: Unfortunately, the president just got up and walked out.

MIKE PENCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Democratic leaders are unwilling to even negotiate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: Nancy Pelosi says no. Donald Trump said bye-bye. The president walks out of a meeting with Democratic leaders, calling it a waste of time.

ROMANS: Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein plans his exit, what does it mean about how soon the special counsel investigation could wrap up? It's one of the big questions in that Russia probe.

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START.

BRIGGS: Good morning. Good morning, everyone. I'm Dave Briggs. Thursday, January 10th, 5:00 a.m. in the East.

How many times when you were young did a grandparent kind of offer candy to set the tone? President Trump did just that only he forgot that it is not grandkids, it is fellow grandparents. He offered Baby Ruth, Skittles, M&Ms to start the negotiation. Here we go. President Trump boarding Air Force One this morning,

bound for the border city of McAllen, Texas, as the federal government shutdown enters day 20. He is traveling even though according to the "New York Times", he said during an off the record meeting with network anchors Tuesday that the border visit is, quote, not going to change a damn thing but I'm still going to do it.

ROMANS: In that same spirit yesterday, the president walked out of his third meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Chuck Schumer. Afterwards, he tweeted that the meeting to end the partial shutdown was a total waste of time.

Here's how Senator Schumer recalled the sit-down.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCHUMER: He asked Speaker Pelosi, will you agree to my wall? She said no. And he just got up and said, then we have nothing to discuss, and he just walked out. Again, we saw a temper tantrum. He said, you -- if I open up the government, you won't do what I want. That's cruel.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Vice President Mike Pence and congressional Republicans remember things a little differently.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PENCE: The president walked into the room and passed out candy. I don't recall him ever raising his voice or slamming his hand.

REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY (R-CA), HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: The president then turned to the speaker and politely asked her, OK, Nancy, if we open the government up, in 30 days, could we have border security? She raised her hand and said no, not at all. The president calmly said, I guess you're still not wanting to deal with the problem.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: All right. More now this morning from White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Dave and Christine, that meeting between President Trump and congressional leaders ended with the president storming out after Democrats said that they would not budge on their refusal to give him anymore money for his border wall funding. It started out on a chummy note with the president passing out candy to several of those people in the room, but things took a turn when the president and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi started going back and forth on what the White House wants for this and what the Democrats say they are not willing to give up. And it ended with the president essentially telling them good-bye and leaving the room. Now, the Democrats say that the president was just throwing a temper

tantrum, the Republicans are disagreeing with that, but the bottom line of what this comes down to, is that was the third meeting that the president has had with congressional leaders in the Situation Room since this whole shutdown got started, yet we are no closer to resolving these talks. Now, of course, on Friday, that's the first day that those federal government workers will not be receiving their paychecks and then on Saturday this turns into the longest, continuous U.S. shutdown that we've ever seen in this country.

So, certainly, both sides are going to start feeling the pressure to come up with some kind of resolve. However, we're told by sources inside the White House that right now, there is no other meeting set up between the president and Nancy Pelosi or arguably the two people that ending the shutdown is going to come done to.

Now, in that on the record lunch with news anchors the other day, President Trump, according to "The New York Times" told them that he did not believe that his primetime address or his trip to the border was going to change any opinions about where they are on whether or not it is worth shutting the government down over building the long promised border wall. Now, he's going to make that trip today. We'll have to see what he says. But right now, we're still very much in the middle of this government shutdown -- Dave and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRIGGS: All right. Kaitlan, thanks.

Republican senators planning to make an offer on immigration, they hope Democrats can't refuse. Sources tell CNN the deal would include the $5.7 billion that the president is demanding for his border wall in exchange for several Democratic initiatives, including protection for Dreamers. Republican senators met privately last night in Lindsey Graham's office with White House adviser Jared Kushner.

After the meeting, Graham sounded optimistic.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: I'm somewhat hopeful that maybe there is a way to get what the president wants in a fashion that would do the least amount of damage to the country as possible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[05:05:09] BRIGGS: Kushner told Republican senators if they came up with a proposal they could pass that includes funding for the president's wall, the White House would be open to more discussions. He did not, though, say whether his father-in-law would endorse such a plan.

ROMANS: The Democratic controlled House passing a financial services spending bill in an attempt to reopen parts of the government that are currently shut down. The measure would fund agencies like the Treasury Department and the IRS if passed by the Senate and signed by the president. It's a big if.

The vote because 240-188, and it is significant to note eight Republicans joined Democrats voting in favor. That is up from seven Republicans who supported a similar measure last week.

BRIGGS: Each day this week, the House plans to votes on individual appropriations bills to reopen national parks, as well as housing, transportation and agricultural departments. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell insists that he will not take up any measure without president's blessing. So, the bills appear to be headed nowhere.

ROMANS: We are getting new details about the timeline for the upcoming departure of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

As CNN's Jessica Schneider reports, the man who oversees the Russia investigation may have to be flexible about the date of his final day in office.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Dave and Christine, it turns out Rod Rosenstein has actually long been planning his departure. We know that the deputy attorney general has been signaling that he would leave the Justice Department when he was satisfied that Mueller's investigation was either complete or close enough to complete that it was protected. So with Rosenstein's upcoming possible departure, this could be the clearest sign yet that the Mueller probe is wrap upping up in the next several weeks.

And Rosenstein, he is also timing his departure in coordination with William Barr's likely confirmation. A source telling us that he will leave the Justice Department after the next attorney general is confirmed, which at this point is shaping up to be about mid-February at the earliest since the confirmation hearings don't start until Tuesday.

Now, we did see the president's pick William Barr up on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, and he told Senator Lindsey Graham that he plans to be transparent when it comes to the Mueller probe and any release of Robert Mueller's report to Congress or to the public. So that is Barr's stance.

But, really, it is fair to say, Rod Rosenstein, he has been the big protector and proponent for the special counsel. He appointed Robert Mueller. And he has given Mueller broad authority including interestingly including the special counsel to investigate allegations that Paul Manafort colluded with the Russians during the 2016 campaign. And that is a claim that we saw hinted at in court papers on Tuesday when Manafort's lawyers inadvertently revealed that Paul Manafort had handed over polling data to a Russian operative, Konstantin Kilimnik, with connections to Russian intelligence at the height of the campaign.

Now, Paul Manafort's lawyers have since come back saying that that polling data was actually intended to go to two Ukrainian oligarchs through Konstantin Kilimnik. It is unclear though why Paul Manafort wanted to give this polling data to him, to those oligarchs, and whether or not it satisfies Mueller's questions about any possible collusion here.

So that is the Manafort piece of it. But, really, the question now when it comes to Rosenstein, is where will the Russia investigation go once Rosenstein hasn't already been wrapped up by that point? And how will the presumable next Attorney General William Barr handle it?

Either way, the Justice Department is set to see a lot of changes in the coming month or two -- Christine and Dave.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRIGGS: You got that right. Jessica, thank you.

CNN has uncovered a new clue to the possible identity of the mystery company fighting a subpoena from special counsel Robert Mueller. We've learned one of the law firms involved in the case is Alston and Bird, which has previously represented Russian interests, among them a Russian oligarch and Russian government contractor. We know from previous reporting the mystery company is government owned, a financial institution, but the identity of the company and government have been closely held secret. We do not know whether the firm represents the company, the government or some other interested party.

After several courtroom setbacks, the company may be forced to give Mueller the information he wants or face a steep daily fine.

ROMANS: President Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani says that the president is done answering questions from special counsel Robert Mueller. Giuliani telling "Reuters", quote, as far as we're concerned, everything is over, they could try to subpoena him if they want, but they know we could fight that like hell.

The president submitted written answers to the special counsel's questions back in November. Giuliani says Mueller raised the possibility of follow-up questions, but was told the president would not respond. Giuliani says Trump's lawyers have had no contact with the Mueller team since before Christmas.

BRIGGS: Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren heads to New Hampshire this weekend. Her visit to the first in the nation primary state will be her first as a presidential contender.

[05:10:01] The senator launched an exploratory bid for the 2020 Democratic nomination on New Year's Eve. Warren was in Iowa last weekend.

ROMANS: Her Senate colleague, California's Kamala Harris tells our Jake Tapper she will decide soon on a 2020 presidential bid. Harris believes the country is ready for a woman of color as president.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D), CALIFORNIA: The pundits can talk all day and all night, and there's a lot of chatter about which demographic will do this or that. It has been my life's experience that the American people are smart and they make decisions based on what's the best interests of their household, their family and their community. And I have faith that in 2020 and any other election, that will be their motivation when they vote.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Meanwhile, billionaire Tom Steyer says he will not run for president in 2020. The big Democratic donor says he will instead focus his efforts to take on President Trump by the outside namely through Need to Impeach. That's a group he founded after the election. He says that he is putting $16 million more into his impeachment campaign.

BRIGGS: Ahead of the firefighter's union blasting president for his threat to cut off emergency aid to California for the devastating wildfires. The president tweeted, quote: Unless they get their act together, which is unlikely, I have ordered FEMA to send no more money. It is a disgraceful situation in lives and money.

ROMANS: The president of the International Association of Firefighters responded in a statement saying, while our president is tweeting on the sidelines in D.C., our fellow Americans 3,000 miles to the left are mourning loved ones, entire communities have been wiped of on the map, thousands are still trying to figure out where they are going to call home.

State officials also point out that more than half of California's forests are owned and managed by federal agencies.

BRIGGS: Ahead, numerous calls being made to prosecutors with claims of sexual abuse against R&B singer R. Kelly. The latest on that investigation, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:16:12] BRIGGS: Dozens of protesters gathering outside of R&B singer R. Kelly's Chicago studio overnight.

The Cook County prosecutor in Chicago says her office is receiving numerous calls after she urged potential victims of singer R. Kelly to come forward earlier this week. Meantime, CNN learning an arrest warrant was issued last summer for R. Kelly's former manager, James Mason. Mason is accused of threatening to kill the father of Jocelyn Savage (ph), one of the women featured in the Lifetime documentary series "Surviving R. Kelly". Timothy Savage (ph) claims his daughter is being held against her will.

ROMANS: Lady Gaga tweeting overnight, vowing to take a 2013 song she recorded with him called "Do What You Want With My Body" off of iTunes and other streaming platforms. At the time, Gaga defended the collaboration by pointing to the bond they shared other, quote, very untrue things written about us. She now says, I stand behind these women 1,000 percent. I'm sorry both for my poor judgment when I was young and for not speaking out sooner. BRIGGS: The world's richest couple is calling it quits. Amazon boss

Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie divorcing after 25 years of marriage. They issued a joint statement on Twitter saying that they made the decision after a long period of loving exploration and trial separation. The couple adding: We feel incredibly lucky to have found each other. If we had known we'd separate after 25 year, we would do it all again.

Their extreme wealth may relieve some of the stings. Still, the divorce could end up being quite costly. Washington, a community property state, meaning wealth acquired during the marriage is split equally. Bezos is the world's richest person with an estimated net worth of $137 billion.

ROMANS: All right. Wall Street is slowly beginning to recover. The Dow closed 92 points higher Wednesday. It has spiked about 2,100 points. That's 10 percent since Christmas Eve.

The S&P 500 posted modest gains, its first four-day win streak since September. Nasdaq closed higher as well, rallying for the ninth time in 10 days. Investor angst has pain soothed by calming word from the Federal Reserve, a strong December jobs report and hints of progress in resolving the U.S./China trade war. U.S. oil prices helped as well.

Remember when the president said this last week?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: People see the gasoline is way down. And the reason it is way done is because I called up some of the OPEC people, I say, don't do it.

I said, do you think it is luck that that happened? It's not luck. It's not luck. I called uncertain people and I said let that damn oil and gasoline, you let it flow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Well, since then, U.S. crude prices have risen 12 percent, they are now above $52 a barrel. Gas prices, though, are still falling. The current average price for a gallon of regular is two cents lower than just a week ago.

But you have the president tied his fortune -- credit to the stock market and stock market fell. And he took credit for lower oil prices and oil prices rose. So I guess it is a presidential fade, I guess we'd say in the markets.

BRIGGS: All right. Ahead, three NFL teams filling their head coaching vacancies and a lot of fans here in New York are furious. Andy Scholes tells you why in the "Bleacher Report", next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:23:59] BRIGGS: Heisman trophy winner Kyler Murray scheduled to go to spring training with the Oakland A's next month, but could skip out on baseball for the NFL draft.

Andy Scholes has details in the "Bleacher Report."

Good morning, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, Dave.

You know, Kyler Murray, he signed the contract to play baseball with the A's after being a first round pick and the deal was to play just one year of football at Oklahoma. But "The San Francisco Chronicle" is reporting that the A's now expecting Murray to declare for the NFL draft. Now, will that just be a formality or will the Heisman trophy winner give up baseball and give back his big signing bonus to go play football?

When I asked Murray about this last month, he seemed it still be weighing the decision.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: You haven't 100 percent ruled out the NFL.

KYLER MURRAY, 2018 HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER: Right now, I'm going to play baseball. That's the deal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Many have Murray projected as a first round pick. If Murray declares for the draft, a big day to watch out for is February 15th, that is the day the A's report to spring training.

[05:25:02] That's when Murray would have to decide if he is going to play baseball or get ready for the NFL combine.

Now, there are just two head coaching openings left, Bengals and the Dolphins. According to reports, three jobs filled on Wednesday, Browns hiring from within promoting Freddie Kitchens as head coach.

Broncos meanwhile hiring the Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Fangio coached in the NFL for 34 years as an assistant. This will be his first gig as the man in charge.

The Jets meanwhile hiring Adam Gase as their head coach. He was fired by the Dolphins last month after going 23-25 in three seasons. Jets fans not very happy about that hire.

All right. Finally, medical staff at the games are supposed to be there to care for the players. Check out this game this Brazil, the medical cart comes out and runs over his foot. And the guy on the cart when he gets off was just kind of laughing about it.

I guess we could have a good laugh about it too because he wasn't hurt too bad. He was actually able to come back into the game. But pretty comical that the guys coming out to care for him ended up running him over. Don't see that happen very often.

BRIGGS: I don't mean to laugh, but nobody takes a dive like soccer players.

SCHOLES: Maybe it will teach him a lesson. You think twice before you take that dive because the carts might run you over.

BRIGGS: It's a good point. Good lesson from Andy Scholes this morning.

Good to see you, my friend.

Romans?

ROMANS: I don't think the driver knew he did it ever. He was walking out, calm as could be, sets the brake.

All right. Thanks.

All right. President Trump heads to the U.S.-Mexico border today as he tries to make his case on immigration, but are congressional Republicans behind him?

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