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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

The Acting AG Says The End Of The Mueller Probe Is Near; Four Officers Shot In Drug Bust In Texas; Roger Stone Faces Arraignment This Morning In Federal Court In Washington; The U.S. Has Revealed Its Criminal Case Against Huawei. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired January 29, 2019 - 04:00   ET

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


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MATT WHITAKER, ATTORNEY GENERAL: This investigation is, I think, close to being completed.

DAVE BRIGGS, CNN EARLY START HOST: The acting A.G. says the end of the Mueller probe is near, but Democrats have fresh concerns about how much will be made public.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN EARLY START HOST: Kamala Harris faces the voters, what Democratic 2020 hopeful says about policy, her record, and debating Donald Trump.

BRIGGS: Four police officers shot during a drug bust in Houston, Texas. Two officers in critical condition, the suspects are dead.

ROMANS: And parts of the U.S. that feel colder than Antarctica, days of dangerous weather ahead from the upper Midwest to the Deep South. Get ready everybody, winter is here. Good morning and welcome to "EARLY START".

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I'm Christine Romans.

BRIGGS: Did you see that map, my friend?

ROMANS: Yes.

BRIGGS: It is 16 below without the wind chill in International Falls, Minnesota and the real cold comes tomorrow?

ROMANS: It does, yes.

BRIGGS: I'm Dave Briggs. Tuesday, January 29th. 4 AM in the east, borderline warm here in New York comparatively.

We begin, though, with the clearest sign yet that the Russia investigation is nearing its end. Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker told reports he has been, "fully briefed" and he says the end of the special counsel, Robert Mueller's probe is insight.

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WHITAKER: Right now, the investigation is, I think, close to being completed and I hope that we can get the report from director Mueller as soon as we - as possible.

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ROMANS: The Russia probe has already shown signs it is wrapping up. Some Mueller's prosecutors have moved to different jobs and his office has moved some cooperating witnesses like former national security advisor, Michael Flynn, towards sentencing.

Whitaker also rattled some Democrats when he said Mueller's decisions will be reviewed by the Justice Department.

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WHITAKER: I am comfortable that the decisions that were made are going to be reviewed either through the various means we have.

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BRIGGS: Democratic Senator Chris Coons called Whitakers remarks, chilling. As things stand, the Attorney General decides how much of Mueller's report is released to the public. For now that's Whitaker, but most likely Bill Barr in a few weeks.

Barr vows the report won't be withheld for an improper purpose, but won't guarantee to release it in full.

ROMANS: There is a move in congress to ensure no matter who is A.G., at least some of Mueller's output sees the light of day. Bipartisan legislation filed Monday would require the Special Counsel to summarize his findings in a report to Congress and the public.

BRIGGS: Roger Stone faces arraignment this morning in federal court in Washington. He was indicted last week on seven charges, including five counts of lying to Congress for his interactions with WikiLeaks.

Some expect the Judge to impose a gag order on the long-time Trump ally. So Stone is doing what he can to shape the narrative in advance.

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ROGER STONE, POLITICAL CONSULTANT: To form my house with a greater force than was used to take down Bin Laden or El Chapo or Pablo Escobar - to terrorize my wife and my dogs is unconscionable.

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ROMANS: Bin Laden? El Chapo? BRIGGS: That's right.

ROMANS: As you can see from this exclusive scene and video, the FBI knocked on Stone's door. The FBI did have a warrant and according to a lawyer for Stone association, Andrew Miller, Robert Mueller still wants witness testimony for a federal grand jury. He says the special counsel's team made it clear to him that an additional indictment of Stone or others is in the works.

All right, Senator Kamala Harris making her pitch to voters at a CNN town hall in Iowa, the first major television event of the 2020 race. The California Democrat laying out her agenda. Her top priority, a tax cut for the middle class. She backs Medicare for all and doing away with private health insurance.

She supports a green, new deal to fight climate change, paid parental leave, and what she calls reasonable gun control, like an assault weapons ban. She has a message for anyone who doubts her readiness to lead.

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KAMALA HARRIS, (D) CALIFORNIA SENATE: In my entire career I've heard people say when I ran and ran as the first woman who would win, it's not people aren't' ready, it's not your time, nobody like you has done that before. I haven't listened and I would suggest that nobody should listen to that kind of conversation.

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BRIGGS: Harris rejected criticism from Liberal circles about a record as a prosecutor. She believes there is still progress to be made on criminal justice reform.

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HARRIS: There are some people who will just believe that prosecutors that shouldn't exist and I don't think I'm ever going to satisfy them but I will also that there is so much more work to do. And do I wish I could have done more? Absolutely.

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BRIGGS: Meanwhile, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has Democrats awfully concerned after announcing he's considering a White House bid as an independent.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't help elect Trump, you egotistical, billionaire asshole.

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ROMANS: The concern among Democrats is that Schultz could help President Trump by splitting the Democratic vote. Mike Bloomberg is thinking about entering the race as a Democrat. He believes an independent run by Schultz could wind up getting the President re- elected, but Shultz isn't buying it.

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HOWARD SCHULTZ, STARBUCKS CEO: About 42 percent of the electorate self affiliates - identifies himself as an independent. Of those 42 percent, have never had a legitimate choice to vote for what they believe in.

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BRIGGS: We could also be hearing soon from Joe Biden, a former Vice President says he's a lot closer to making a decision about running now than he was before Christmas.

ROMANS: All right. One week from tonight President Trump will deliver the State of the Union. The President, on Monday, accepted Nancy Pelosi's invitation to give his speech to Congress on February 5th. It was originally scheduled for tonight, but delayed due to the government shut down.

The resolution coming after weeks of sparing between the President and the House Speaker, that included Pelosi calling on President Trump to delay the speech until the shutdown ended. The President, remember, firing back by canceling Pelosi's trip to Afghanistan.

BRIGGS: 17 days and counting until the next potential government shutdown. A 17 member bipartisan committee from the House and Senate trying to find common ground on a funding deal that covers border security, immigration, and perhaps a fall and they're flying blind because no one knows what the President might be willing to sign.

ROMANS: Republican Senator, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee tells CNN he wants President Trump and House Speaker Pelosi to stay out of the talks. He says their involvement will only complicate matters.

As for the chances of another shutdown, acting Chief of Staff, Mick Mulvaney said this.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is the President really prepared to shutdown the government again in three weeks?

MICK MULVANEY, CHIEF OF STAFF: Yes, I think he actually is.

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ROMANS: That was Sunday. Sarah Sanders said this yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SARAH SANDERS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The President doesn't want to go through another shutdown. That's not the goal. The goal is border security and protecting the American people.

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BRIGGS: That, by the way, the first press briefing of the entire year. Trump campaign manager, Brad Parscale pushing the President to hold firm on the border wall presenting him with internal polls that show voters in key swing areas believe a border wall or fence is needed.

ROMANS: All right. The government may been open for business but the damage has been done. The Congressional budget office tallies the shutdown cost at about $11 billion off of American GDP. Why? Delayed paychecks, reduced working hours, stalled contracts.

According to the CBO, about $8 billion will be recovered as workers return. $3 billion will be lost forever. Now investors will have to wait for the first estimate of fourth quarter GDP.

The Bureau of Economic Analyst report on GDP has been delayed through next week because of the awful long break in data collection. They were shutdown. The shutdown has already delayed other economic reports normally put out by the Census Bureau including trade, construction spending, and retail and new home sales.

A spokesperson for the Bureau said it was working on publishing a revise schedule as soon as possible. These missing economic reports have created uncertainty for investors in businesses about just what exactly is the health of the American economy.

BRIGGS: Four Houston police officers shot while trying to serve a search warrant.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bring down two more ambulances. We need more ambulances.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have multiple offers shot. Multiple officers shot. We need more ambulances.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're still in the house. They're still in the house.

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BRIGGS: The incident unfolded at 5 PM yesterday. About a dozen narcotics officers and several patrol officers approaching a residence where police suspected drugs were being sold.

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ART ACEVEDO, HOUSTON POLICE CHIEF: Immediately upon reaching the door, the officers came under first from one or two suspects inside the house. Once the officers reached the door and the gunfire began from the suspects, one of the suspects actually retreated momentarily to the back of the room and then that suspect came back and again engaged the officers in gunfire.

BRIGGS: Police returned fire, killing two suspects at the scene. Two of the wounded officers were in surgery last night in critical but stable condition. The two others who were shot are expected to recover. A fifth officer suffered a knee injury.

ROMANS: All right, yes. About 10 minutes past the house. A life threatening hard freeze making parts of the U.S. feel colder than Antarctica. Millions of Americans at risk form the coldest air in a generation.

Wind chills all over the Midwest will range from minus 20 to minus 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

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ROMANS: The biting cold already causing at least one death in Minnesota and two in Illinois. Illinois governor warning residents to watch out for hypothermia. Schools in Chicago closed today, that tells you how cold it is. When Chicago school is closed you know it's cold.

In Minnesota, Twin Cities schools closed today and tomorrow. I mean these are people who know about cold weather. Michigan and Wisconsin declaring states of emergency.

BRIGGS: Wow. Even in the Deep South, a deep freeze. Empty store shelves spotted in this grocery store in Alabama out of the cold. The governor there declaring a winter weather emergency. About 3,000 flights delayed or canceled outright today and yesterday. Mostly in Chicago, Atlanta, and Detroit, Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri with the brutal forecast.

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ROMANS: All right. Do not mistake cold weather with climate.

BRIGGS: Climate does not equal weather.

ROMANS: Two different things, ladies and gentleman - at Pennsylvania Avenue. The White House says...

BRIGGS: Speaking off...

ROMANS: ... all options are on the table with the deal with the crisis in Venezuela. Troops could even head to Columbia if you believe John Bolton's notepad.

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ROMANS: All right. The U.S. stepping up efforts to force President Nicolas Maduro from power in Venezuela, new sanctions target Venezuela's oil industry in effort to deprive the Maduro government of the cash that allows him to hold on to power. As for further U.S. action, National Security Advisor John Bolton not ruling anything out.

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JOHN BOLTON, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: The President has made it very clear on this - on this matter that all options are on the table.

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BRIGGS: You saw that yellow pad Bolton was holding. Reporters noticed scribbling that appear to say 5,000 troops to Colombia. Currently there are just a few hundred U.S. troops there. Asked to explain the notes, the White House telling CNN, "As the President has said, all options are on the table". Can't image that was a mistake. We get more now on the crisis in Venezuela from CNN's Nick Paton Walsh in neighboring Colombia.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, Dave, mounting U.S. pressure against the government of Nicolas Maduro. He's going to be facing on Wednesday and Sunday renewed calls for protest inside Venezuela.

We don't know quite what volume of people that will bring on the streets is the key test really here whether they can on the streets keep up pressure but Juan Guaido has been clear to the people who support him. He's trying to get humanitarian aid in here, he's trying to get his hands on assets of the Venezuelan government that have been sanctioned and taken out of their possession abroad to try and ease the intense economic crisis. It's causing people, frankly, to be on the brink of starvation, hyperinflation.

The calls (Ph) of Venezuela government just yesterday to revalue their currency and we've also heard from the U.S. administration National Security Advisor John Bolton appealing to the Venezuelan military who have stood staunchly by Nicolas Madura despite calls for them to rise up to appealing to them to enable an ordinarily transition, but we have to see that either his external pressure really translates into change internally.

When I was there recently we didn't get the feeling, frankly, the country was on the brink but this is a very volatile situation with a lot of pressure from abroad and it really isn't quite clear exactly how the security forces will play out in the weeks ahead, Christine, Dave.

ROMANS: All right, Nick Paton Walsh for us in Bogota this morning. The U.S. has revealed its criminal case against Huawei, alleging the China telecom giant stole trade secrets and violated sanctions on Iran.

The Justice Department Monday unsealing two indictments against Huawei detailing a slew of allegations. One accuses Huawei of trying to steal trade secrets from T-mobile promising bonuses to employee's who collected confidential information on competitors. The other alleges money laundering to evade Iran Sanctions. The

agency also revealed formal charges against the Huawei CFO, Meng Wanzhou. Meng was arrested in Canada in December and the U.S. wants to extradite her.

In a statement, acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker said, "China must hold its citizen's and Chinese companies accountable for complying with the law". Chinese foreign ministry responded to the allegations saying, "For some time now the United States has deployed its state power to smear and crack down on targeted Chinese companies in an attempt to kill their normal and legal business operations".

This could complicate efforts by Washington and Beijing to negotiate an end to their bruising trade war. High level trade talks between China's (Inaudible) and U.S. officials are scheduled to begin on Wednesday.

BRIGGS: All right, ahead a veteran dies with no family to be found, but a cemetery in Texas would not let his burial go unnoticed. The amazing gesture next.

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BRIGGS: You may want to keep tabs on your children's screen time. A new study finds more time spent staring at a video screen is linked to poor development in toddlers. The findings published in the journal "JAMA" Pediatrics found a direct association in screen time in ages 2 and 3 and development at 3 and 5.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, most children of all ages in the U.S. spend a total about 5 to 7 hours a day in front of screen including watching T.V., working on a computer, or playing video games.

ROMANS: The parenting issue of our time. No question.

BRIGGS: Indeed.

ROMANS: All right, a Texas cemetery worried that no one would show up for a U.S. Air force Veteran's burial, but thousands of complete stranges made sure that didn't happen.

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The cemetery said it has been unable to reach Joseph Walker's family or friends. Walker died in November. He was in the Air force during the Vietnam War. The Central Texas State Veteran cemetery put out a Facebook request, if you have the opportunity, it said, please come out and attend. We do not leave veterans behind.

Jake Tapper and Texas Senator Ted Cruz among those who echoed the call to action.

BRIGGS: The result, so many people showed up to Walker's burial yesterday that cars were backed up on to a nearby highway as you can see off there in the distance. The ceremony started late to allow everyone to attend.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was just a testament to the bond that we share as having served, whether it be in the Army, Air force, Navy, or Marine Corps, Coast Guard, doesn't matter. We've served so we all share that common bond and this just shows you how strong that bond is.

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BRIGGS: The ceremony included a fly over followed by military honors. Three rifle shots followed by a solemn horn playing taps.

You know, it's just a reminder that sometimes people don't know what to say to veterans, say something. Say thank you, reach out to them.

ROMANS: That's right.

BRIGGS: I think sometimes you see them in the airport and you don't know what to say but - because some don't after all like to hear the thank you for your service but try something.

Ahead, Kamala Harris lays out her policy and how she opposed the President at a CNN town hall. Democrats are growing anxious about a third party bid.

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