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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
At Least 23 Killed In Alabama Tornadoes; Senate Has The Votes To Block Emergency; House Dems Accelerate Probes Into Trump; New Accusations In Leaving Neverland. Aired 4:30-5a ET
Aired March 04, 2019 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unfortunately the death toll has gone up. We're at 22 right now.
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CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN HOST: Breaking overnight, nearly two dozen killed in an outbreak of tornadoes in Alabama.
DAVE BRIGGS, CNN HOST: The Senate has the votes to block the president's national emergency declaration, but is it enough to override a promised presidential veto.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is very clear it is obstruction of justice.
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ROMANS: House Democrats requesting documents for more than 60 people, including the president's son and financial gatekeeper for the Trump family business.
BRIGGS: And a new scrutiny on Michael Jackson's a decade after his death, new and disturbing firsthand stories of sexual abuse and the cover-up. Stunning documentary airing last night on HBO. Welcome back to Early Start, I'm Dave Briggs.
ROMANS: Nice to see you this morning.
BRIGGS: Good morning.
ROMANS: It is Monday morning, snowy Monday morning in the East. I'm Christine Romans, 31 minutes past the hour.
BRIGGS: All right. Breaking news out of Alabama, the death toll there now at 23 after a series of tornados ripped across Alabama and Georgia. At least 12 of the deaths occurred in one area. About five miles south of Opelika, Alabama. Here is the local fire chief.
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BYRON PRATHER, CHIEF OF THE OPELIKA FIRE EPARTMENT: A lot of destruction of their homes are completely gone. We all feel -- the family members are still missing. We're searching. We are asking people to stay out of the area.
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ROMANS: The sheriff in Lee County says the area looks like someone just took a blade and just scrape the ground.
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JEREMY DANIEL NORTON, GEORGIA RESIDENT: This whole area right here, it is very much -- just gone. Looking now though -- over this way which is mostly trees, it just looks like toothpicks broke just all through there. This came on so quick and changed so many lives. I mean, it is really sickening to watch.
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ROMANS: The number of deaths in this single tornado outbreak surpassing the toll from all the twisters in the U.S. for all of last year. Let's go live to CNN's Kaylee Hartung standing by in Opelika, Kaylee, how much warning did residence had, people had that this is coming?
KAYLEE HARTUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not a lot, Christine. It is stunning to hear that the death toll now up to 23 people. That including children, but it is additionally stunning to hear the details of how quickly this all unfolded. Now, if I could drive just five minutes up this road behind me past this police barricade, we would be what is essentially ground zero, but they won't allow that, those search and rescue efforts continue through the night.
As for that lead time, you know, this area was under a tornado watch, but the first warning was issued by the National Weather Service at 1:58 and it was 2:03 when the first reports of damage came in. That means a lead time of fewer than five minutes for the first people hit by that first tornado.
And then less than an hour later, a second tornado came through this area of Lee County. As we wait for the sun to come up, we know that another day will bring new challenges for authorities here. Here is Lee County Sheriff Jay Jackson.
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JAY JONES, LEE COUNTY SHERIFF: We're going to organize a search in the morning, we are going to have different agencies coming in, we're having personnel from all over the state and from our partners in Georgia, we are going to organize search areas in quadrants and we are gonna get started a more intensive search in the morning and covering areas that we already covered in, some additional areas as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP) HARTUNG: The National Weather Service Birmingham will be sending
three teams to the Lee County area and surrounding counties to assess the damage. Hopefully that will give us a better idea of the extent of the damage.
The governor here in Alabama Kay Ivey, she is already extended the statewide state of emergency that she first issued a little more than a week ago, because of flooding. There could be more severe weather in this area too.
And as we all began to realize how devastating these tornadoes were to the area, yesterday President Trump tweeting late last night that the people of Alabama and close by are careful and safe. Dave and Christine.
ROMANS: Just an awful day and another night and now the sun will come up and there will be a lot of work to do in the morning. Thank you so much for that, Kaylee for us, live there.
At this hour more than 80 million people are under winter weather alerts from Colorado to Maine. Take a look at this video of an avalanche Sunday on Copper Mountain in Colorado. Some vehicles had to be dug out, but there are no reports of injuries or anyone trapped, thankfully. The avalanche close part of Interstate 70.
[04:35:02] The radar system dumped plenty of snow on the central plains, it is bringing rain, snow or a wintry mix to the northeastern U.S this morning. Schools in New York City and Boston are already closed today. Expect flight delays as well. Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri is joins us live from the CNN Weather Center. So, what the damage report, Pedram?
JAVAHERI: Yes, Christine. It looks like we'll get another couple inches of snow across parts of the northeast. Boston believe it or not, this single snowiest storm of the season happening here just a couple weeks before spring officially arrives. And about a foot of snow, depending on what part of town you take the observations, but generally, 8 inches, about 12 inches in store for Boston, again by 7:00 to y 8:00 a.m., conditions will begin to taper off here.
And then you notice how much has fallen so far this season, in its entirety about 16 inches. So the season's worth of storm coming down in the matter of a few hours here. And here's what is left of the system as it begins to push offshore. Right on an immediate coast, some of what a wintry mix across portions of Long Island, and working your way areas just to the north there, but Winter Weather advisories, winter storm warnings, quite of (inaudible) expire by 10:00 a.m. today. The damage of course, already done. Disruptions really beginning to build into the early morning hours.
Over 500 flights canceled, and a vast majority of them -- about 400 of these flights happening out of New York La Guardia, JFK, Newark and also Boston airports. About 250 flights also delayed so far this morning across portions of the northeast, but the system itself, once it's done, get a couple more inches for places such as Portland Maine that is about it. Blustery weather is what is in store here. That could lead to some
disruptions as we go in towards the afternoon hours. And that conditions as far as snow is concern begin to improve, but look at the air mass that's left behind this, highs today in Chicago in March, 14 degrees. In Minneapolis, about 8 degrees. These are running 25 to 30 degrees below average for this time of year.
Again, a few weeks removed from the spring season. Should be into the lower 40's in Chicago in places like St. Louis should be at 51, and the best we can do, about 23 degrees. With that said, the arctic area slated to set at least some 50 record cold high temperatures across the Midwest by this afternoon. So pretty impressive run of cool temps with all of the snow and of course the severe to the South.
ROMANS: Spring is right around the corner, but you got a Midwest -- you got to get through it for the last few weeks. All right, thank you so much for that, Pedram Javaheri.
JAVAHERI: Thank you.
ROMANS: All right, the Senate appears to have enough votes to block President Trump's national emergency for border wall funding. Senator Rand Paul has announced, he plans to vote for the Democratic resolution condemning the president's national emergency. The Kentucky Republicans says he shares the president's view that we need better border security, but he does not support the use of an emergency powers.
BRIGGS: In an op-ed for Fox News, Paul writes every single Republican I know decried the President's use -- President Obama's use of executive power to legislate. We were right then, but the only way to be an honest office holder is to stand up for the same principles no matter who is in power.
Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine, Liza Murkowski of Alaska and Tom Tillis of North Carolina are also planning to vote to block the national emergency declaration. That sets up the first veto of Donald Trump's presidency.
ROMANS: It's not clear when the Senate plans to vote on the resolution. It has to happen in the next two weeks. Congress would need a two thirds majority in both chambers to overwrite President Trump's veto, that's scenario is considered highly unlikely.
BRIGGS: The House Judiciary Committee accelerating its investigations of President Trump and his inner circle. Committee Chairman, Jerry Nadler, of New York expected to formally request documents today for more than 60 individuals.
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REP. JERRY NADLER (D), CHAIRMAN HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: From the White House to the Department of Justice, Donald Trump Jr., Allen Weisselberg, to begin investigations to present the case to the American people about obstruction of justice. It's very clear, the president obstruct with justice. (END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Allen Weisselberg, his chief financial officer of the Trump family business. He is thought to have detailed knowledge of Trump's tax situation. He's name came up repeatedly in Michael Cohen's testimony last week. Congressman Nadler says the list of names will also likely include former White House Chief of Staff, John Kelly, and former White House counsel, Don McGahn.
ROMANS: All right. Bernie Sanders launching his second bid for the White House with two raucous rallies over the weekend. A public embrace of his roots. He told supporters at Navy Pier Festival Hall, his years in Chicago as a student activist shape the world view his offering voters today.
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SEN. BERNIE SANDERS, (I-VT), U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Whether it is the struggle against corporate greed, against racism, sexism, homophobia, environmental devastation or war and militarism, real change never takes place from the top on down, it always takes place from the bottom on up.
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[04:40:00] ROMANS: Sanders never strayed far from his core message, a single payer health care system and the dismantling of the private health insurance industry.
BRIGGS: Sanders and several other top Democrats coming together Sunday at a unity breakfast in Selma, Alabama. The 2016 Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton was there and she came with a warning.
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HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: Truth, facts and reason are under assault. And make no mistake, we are living through a full- fledged crisis in our democracy.
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BRIGGS: Many 2020 hopefuls were in Selma to commemorate the 54th anniversary of the bloody Sunday civil rights March when protesters were attacked by officers as they attempted to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
ROMANS: All right, that is something there. The president said ISIS would be driven from its territory by yesterday, that deadline has come and gone. So what is the time frame on the ground? CNN is live in eastern Syria next.
[04:45:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: All right. Good Monday morning to you. Huawei's chief financial officer is accusing Canadian authorities of violating her rights when she detained last year. Meng Wanzhou file a civil lawsuit to Canada alleging she was unlawfully detained in questioned for three hours without being advised of her constitutional rights. She also claims her electronic equipment and luggage were illegally search before she was told she was under arrest.
Meng was arrested last December in Canada at the request of the United States which claim she helped you Huawei circumvent U.S. sanctions in Iran. The United States has been pressuring its allies to limit Huawei's participation in 5g network saying it poses a national security threat.
The spokesperson for the Chinese government said Monday, quote, that the behavior of playing up the security risks in Chinese products by some U.S. officials is interference in economic activities by political means. The U.S. has also indicted Meng and Huawei on charges of bank fraud and sanctions evasion and he's formally requested her extradition from Canada. Meng and Huawei both deny the charges. Meng's next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday in Vancouver.
BRIGGS: President Trump surprising U.S. officials and regional allies claiming U.S. backed forces would have 100 percent of ISIS forces in Syria defeated by Sunday, but that deadline came and went and commanders of U.S. back forces on the ground say there is more work to do. CNN's Ben Wedeman live in Eastern Syria for us. Ben, where are we headed?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Dave, this operation began at 6:00 p.m. Friday local time, and it is ongoing. We were very close to the front yesterday and we saw lots of airstrikes, artillery, and mortar bombardments of that small encampment, only by half of a mile square. We understand that there are still some civilians who would like to leave, trying to leave, and the U.S. backed Syrian Democratic Forces have maintained one part of the front where they hope those who want to leave can. Although most of those leaving at this point are probably the families or people in some other way or another related to ISIS.
Now, what we've seen this morning is U.S. apache helicopters flying overhead. Just a little while ago there was another airstrike. I cannot stress just how small this piece of territory is, but it appears that the U.S. coalition and their allies on the ground are going very methodically in this operation. It appears trying to avoid civilian causalities even though there aren't too many civilians inside.
But they are also worried that there may be hostages. It is known that there is one Italian hostage that is unaccounted for and it is believed he could be inside that little encampment as well. So they are going at it very deliberately and cautiously, Dave.
BRIGGS: All right, just before noon, Ben Wedeman live for us in Eastern Syria. Thank you.
ROMANS: All right. Today is a big day for the opposition movement in Venezuela. Self-declared interim president Juan Guaido suggesting in an online speech that he plans to return home. He said if the regime dares to kidnap us, it will be the last mistake they make.
Guaido's warning back up by U.S. national security adviser, John Bolton. He tweeted that any threat to Guaido's return will be met with a strong and significant response. Guaido calling for street protests today and tomorrow in Venezuela. He met with leaders in Colombia, Argentina, Paraguay and Ecuador last week to rally more Latin Americans support for his transitional government.
BRIGGS: All right. After a busy week, Elon Musk says a new tesla is less than two weeks away. The details in CNN Business next.
[04:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: All right. Welcome back. A decade after his death, there is new scrutiny of Michael Jackson's life. The iconic pop singer, now the subject of a new HBO documentary "Leaving Neverland." It followed the story of Wade Robson and James Safechuck, both men claims Jackson sexually molested them when they were children.
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WADE ROBSON, MICHAEL JACKSON ACCUSER: I first remember is Michael, sort of, you know, moving his hands across my legs were both clothes in pj's (ph) and the his hands got to, you know, my crotch area, you know, sort of fondling there, I was seven, seven years-old when this began.
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ROMANS: Among the most shocking claims a secret system of bells, Jackson used to warn him when adults were approaching. Michael Jackson allegedly gave Safechuck drills to keep from getting caught.
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JAMES SAFECHUCK, MICHAEL JACKSON ACCUSER: He would do drills with me where you'd be in the hotel room and he would pretend like somebody was coming in and you had to detrust (ph) as fast as possible without making noise, so not getting caught most of the quite just, kind a fundamental. It was very much a secret and he would tell me that if anybody found out, his life would be over, my life would be over. And that something he tells you over and over again.
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[04:55:03] BRIGGS: Part two of Leaving Neverland airs tonight, the Michael Jackson estate has denied all the allegations and is suing HBO for a $100 million in damages. They say quote, we've always turn the other cheek when people had gone after members of our family, but we can't just stand by while watching this public lynching go on. First part HBO says airing the documentary will allow people the opportunity to assess the film and the claims in it for themselves.
ROMANS: Janice Freeman who was a contestant on "The Voice" in 2017 has died. She was 33 years old. A spokesman says she had an extreme case of pneumonia and a blood clot that travelled to her heart. Freeman competed on season 13 of The Voice. The power house singers stunned judges with her rendition of radioactive by (inaudible) Dragons. She was a fan favorite with her vocals and her inspiring story of beating cervical cancer and living with lupus. Janice Freeman has survived by her husband, her daughter and her mother.
BRIGGS: A man and his dog rescued after spending five days stuck in a car in the snow in Oregon. Jeremy Taylor and his dog Ally were found by a snowmobiler on Friday about 180 miles south of Portland. Taylor says his Toyota 4 runner became stuck in the snow and when he woke up the next day, he was buried even worse. He tried to walk away from the vehicle, but had to turn back. Taylor posted thanks on Facebook to his rescuers and to Taco Bell. He says he and Ally survived by eating Taco Bell fire sauce packets and periodically starting the vehicle to stay warm. Taco Bells saves life.
ROMANS: High praise for Morehouse College professor after a viral photo showed Nathan Alexander teaching a class with one of his student's baby. A baby strap to his chest. Well, it turns out the student Wayne Heyer couldn't find a sitter for his five month old daughter with midterms looming. He didn't want to miss the class, so he took her along.
BRIGGS: The professor offered to hold the infant so Heyer could take notes. Nathan Alexander tells CNN that part of his role as an educator is to provide opportunities for students and he deflected the praise to Heyer who says for student jobs. He is a full-time student and a parent, he also says, he's little Asada was very well behave.
ROMANS: All right. Let's go check on CNN Business this Monday morning. Global stock markets are higher, hopes of a trade deal finally between the U.S. and China. There have been hints all weekend long in that positivity extending to Wall Street where stock market futures are up a bit this morning. The Dow closed up 110 points Friday, the S&P and the NASDAQ both up close to 1 percent.
The 10 year anniversary of the bull market is coming folks in this month. In March 2019, it will be 10 years since that terrible time in March 2009, when the economy, remember, when it was in the midst of the great recession.
Now thanks to steady economic growth and a surge of corporate profits, the DOW and S&P 500 are up 300 percent since they hit bottom on March 6, 2009.
Bankrupt Gymboree has found a buyer for its brand. The Children's Place and GAP have agreed to purchase most ever of what is left of Gymboree. Children's Place will spent 76 million to acquire the rights to Gymboree and Crazy Eight brands will take over the contract for Gymboree play a music, Gap paying $35 million for the online business and leases to Jane and Jack stores, Gymboree's upscale brand. In January Gymboree filed for bankruptcy for the second time in less than two years. The acquisitions still need court approval, neither returned a request for comment on Sunday.
A new tesla is set to debut in less than two weeks. CEO, Elon Musk tweeted Sunday quote, Model Y unveil event on March 14 at L.A. Design Studio. Musk added the Model Y, it is about 10 percent bigger than the model 3, so it will cost about 10 percent more and have slightly less range for the same battery. This comes after tesla announced that customers can now order the cheaper model 3 for $35,000.
BRIGGS: OK. "Early Start" continues right now. Senate Republicans standing up to President Trump.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Completely destroyed homes. Just basically just slabs left for once stood a home.
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ROMANS: Breaking overnight, nearly two dozen killed in an outbreak of tornadoes in Alabama.
BRIGGS: The Senate has the votes to block the president's national emergency declaration, but is it enough to override a promised veto.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is very clear the president obstruct with justice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: House Democrats requesting documents from more than 60 people including the president's son and the financial gatekeeper for the Trump organization.
BRIGGS: And renewed scrutiny on Michael Jackson's a decade after his death, new and disturbing firsthand stories of sexual abuse and the cover-up.
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