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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen Departs; American Tourist Freed After Ransom Payment; Mick Mulvaney, Dems Will Never See Trump Taxes; Baylor Wins Women's NCAA Title; Missing Boy's Dad Speak Out; Texas Tech Celebrations Gets Out Of Hand; Netanyahu's Last Minute Move. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired April 08, 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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CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN HOST: Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen force to resign, the latest domino to fall as the border situation worsen.

DAVE BRIGGS, CNN HOST: And an American tourist freed after being kidnapped in Uganda, the tip of the tour company for future hostages by paying a ransom.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Democrats will never see the president's tax returns.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Never.

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ROMANS: The White House rejecting demands for the president's tax returns, setting up another major battle if a supposed audit of those taxes ever wraps up.

BRIGGS: And the Baylor Lady Bears are NCAA champions, their third title since 2012. The next champ will be crowned tonight of Virginia and Texas tech, you know, it's always tough, Monday night late, we need to change the Super Bowl, change the NCAA final. Good to see you everyone, good Monday morning, I'm Dave Briggs.

ROMANS: You just solve an all the world's problems.

BRIGGS: I'm going to reform the sports schedule.

ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans, it is Monday, April 8th. Its 4:00 a.m. in the East and breaking overnight, the Homeland Security Secretary, Kirstjen Nielsen is out. Nielsen has become the face of President Trump's hardline stance on immigration, now they were together at the border just Friday, but he has become increasingly frustrated with the crisis at the border and the growing influx of migrants from Central America.

Just days ago, the presidential abruptly withdrew the nomination of Ron Vitiello, the head of ICE and he cut aid to Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala for failing to stop (ph) the tide of migrants.

BRIGGS: A senior administration official tells CNN, Nielsen quote, believed the situation was becoming untenable, but the president making unreasonable and even impossible requests. One person close to Nielsen said she felt in limbo for the last week and that it wasn't her choice to leave. For more we welcome in White House correspondent, Boris Sanchez.

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BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Dave and Christine, a source close to Kirstjen Nielsen tells CNN that she did not resign willingly. We were told that she was under pressure from President Trump to hand in her resignation letter. We are also told that she didn't fight to try to keep the job and she didn't grovel or beg the president to stay in her post as the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

We understand that Nielsen came to the Sunday meeting at the White House not expecting to have to resign, but prepared to do so. In fact, I want to read you a portion of her resignation later. Listen to this quote, despite our progress in reforming Homeland Security for a new age, I have determined that it is the right time for me to step aside. I hope that the next secretary will have the support of Congress and the courts in fixing the laws, which have been impeded our ability to fully secure America's borders and which have contributed to discord in our nation's discourse. Our country and the men and women of DHS deserve to have all the tools and resources they need to execute the mission entrusted to them. I can say with confidence our homeland is safer than when I joined the administration.

A White House official told me that frustration was mounting on the White House's side as well. They said quote, it's about time. I'm told that President Trump was rarely happy with Nielsen's work. She was brought in at the behest of former chief of staff, John Kelly and when he left the administration in December, the door was open for her to be replaced, but I'm told that President Trump was happy with her performance during negotiating sessions over the government shut down with Democrats, but ultimately that faded away and the president wanted to restart, wanted to hit the restart button on his Department of Homeland Security, deciding to force Kirstjen Nielsen to resign. Dave and Christine.

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ROMANS: That's Boris at the White House. Thanks Boris. Nielsen said she will stay on the job until Wednesday to ensure an orderly transition. President Trump announcing Customs and Border Protection commissioner Kevin McAleenan and will become acting DHS Secretary. Now that recent the problem. McAleenan's appointment skips over acing DHS Deputy Secretary Claire Grady who is legally next in line for the post. So, she will have to go in order for McAlleenan to assume the role. There was a similar situation a few months ago, when the president appointed Matthew Whitaker, acting Attorney General.

BRIGGS: If McAleenan becomes temporary DHS secretary, there will be five acting cabinet level officials currently serving. A source tells CNN Pamela Brown, one of the reasons Nielsen stayed on the job as long was to repair her image. She felt she become the face of the administration's child separation policy.

Over the weekend we learned it could take up to two years to identify potentially thousands of additional immigrant families that U.S. authorities separated at the border. And late last night, more threats by the president to shut down the border, tweeting quote Mexico must apprehend all illegals or we will have no other choice. Our country is full.

[04:05:10] ROMANS: President Trump self-threatening tariffs on Mexico if he doesn't help with the number of undocumented migrants coming into the U.S. Before the president made that threat again last night, Economic Adviser Larry Kudlow said, he doesn't think it will happen.

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LARRY KUDLOW, WHITE HOUSE ECONOMIC ADVISER: He is saying, if need be, he may have to take emergency steps to deal with that. He is not about to do it. He is pulled back a wee bit. He is just issuing a warning and if you know this president as I do, you better listen to him.

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ROMANS: Trump said Friday, he would override his pending U.S. MCA trade deal to impose a 25 percent tariff on Mexican cars, taxes on auto parts, of course could have a crippling effect. Nearly every U.S. cars built using foreign parts. Kudlow also came to the president's defense on his nominations to the Federal Reserve board.

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KUDLOW: President Trump has every right to put people on the Federal Reserve board with a different point of view, he wants people on the Fed who share his philosophy. This is not a political issue.

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ROMANS: Several economists and business leaders have expressed concerns that Steven Moore, Herman Cain are not the most qualified candidates. Some worry the president is trying to sway the side by picking loyalist to balance out disagreements with his appointed Fed chair, Jerome Powell.

BRIGGS: Moment of big relief. As an American tourist and her guide are returned alive, they were abducted in Uganda's Queen Elizabeth National Park, last week these pictures captured just moments after Kimberly Sue Endicott and her guide were rescued from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Officials say the handover was quiet and peaceful. Both are in good health. A ransom for their release was paid by the tour company Wild Frontiers. Governments often avoid ransom payments, fearful it will encourage

more kidnappings. At this point it's not clear how much was paid, who the kidnappers are or who they worked for, and whether Endicott was targeted because she is American. The U.S. military provided support to Ugandan security forces including intelligence and surveillance.

ROMANS: All right. The White House is prepared to fight the release of the president's taxes, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman, Richard Neil has already requested six years of Mr. Trump's personal returns. He is citing a little known part if the tax code in his request to the IRS. Neil also asking for tax returns from eight of the president's business entities. Acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney though says, that is not going to happen.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To be clear, you believe Democrats will never see the president's tax returns.

MICK MULVANEY, ACTING WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: Oh, no. Never. Nor should they. Keep in mind that is an issue that was already litigated during the election. Voters knew the president could have given his tax returns. They knew that he didn't, and they elected him anyway, which of course is what drives the Democrats crazy.

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BRIGGS: He did lose the popular vote. So you could argue that both ways. Also note, the president's story is different, he insists he can't release his returns, because he is still being audited, a claim that has never been verified. You can be sure Democrats are looking into it.

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REP. DAN KILDEE (D-MI), CHIEF DEPUTY WHIP: We are looking very carefully right now as to whether or not the IRS is properly auditing and enforcing tax law on the president of the United States.

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BRIGGS: Trump attorney Jay Sekulow says Democrats have no legitimate legislative purpose for pursuing the president's tax returns and he insists there is no legal requirement for the president to release them.

ROMANS: All right. Congressman Devin Nunes says he is planning to spend eight criminal referrals to Attorney General Bill Barr. A top ranking Republican of the House Intel Committee said, Five of the referrals are for lying to Congress, misleading congress or leaking classified information.

The others, including allegations of lying to the FISA court. That approves for surveillance warrants. When he was chairman of the Intel community, Nunez launched an investigation of the FBI and Justice Department for alleged abuse of that FISA process. BRIGGS: More trouble for Boeing this morning. American airlines

announcing it is now cancelling flights all the way in the early June due to the grounding of the 737 Max. American had already cancelled flights through late April. It says, that by proactively cancelling more flights, it can provide better rebooking options. The airline has 24 737 Max jets in his fleets. Boeing now said, it is cutting back production on all 737 from 52 a month to 42. The 737 Max was grounded indefinitely worldwide after two fatal crashes that killed 346 people in Indonesia and Ethiopia.

ROMANS: A little crisis for Boeing. All right, nine minutes pass the hour. His son went missing nearly 8 years ago, now after a false sighting, James Pitzen says some good may come of last week's hoax.

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JAMES PITZEN, FATHER OF TIMOTHY PITZEN: (Inaudible). Get his face out back out there. He is alive somewhere. I know he is.

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ROMANS: We are now hearing from the father of Timothy Pitzen. The boy who went missing in Illinois nearly eight years ago. James Pitzen telling NBC news, there may be an upside to the hoax last week, by a 23-year-old man who claimed to be his son.

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PITZEN: (Inaudible), we'll get his face out back out there. He is alive somewhere. I know he is. You can't give up hope. AS soon as you give up hope then what should I do? Declare him dead? I mean, I'm not going to do that.

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BRIGGS: Timothy would be 14 years old now, eight years since his mother took him out of school, brought him to a motel and ultimately killed herself. Last week, a man claiming to be Timothy surface in Kentucky, but DNA test proved he was a fraud. James Pitzen says the experience was like ripping off a scab, but now says you've got to wait for the scab to heal.

ROMANS: A horrific accident in Phoenix leaves three people dead including a six-month old child. Authorities say, a fire truck on route to a structure fire on Sunday morning collided with a pickup.

[04:15:04] An adult man and woman in the pick-up were killed along with the baby. The cause of the accident under investigation. Reports say, the firetruck had its lights on and sirens on, three firefighters were taken to the hospital. They are said to be in stable condition.

BRINKLEY: Three members of Congress say the Trump administration is blocking their access to a homestead, Florida, facility. Housing unaccompanied migrant children. Debbie Wassermann Schultz, Donna Shalala and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell all represent South Florida. They say a new law entitles them to get in and the administration is violating that law.

The Department of Health and Human Services confirms access is being denied. They say a minimum two-week notification is required before any visit. The government announced last week the Senate will expand its capacity from 2,350 beds to 3,200 beds. The congresswomen say that expansion merits immediate scrutiny.

ROMANS: Illinois is raising the legal age for purchasing tobacco products. Governor J.B. Pritzker signing legislation Sunday, that raises the legal age from 18 to 21. The new law takes effect July 1st, Illinois joins a growing list of states adopting tobacco 21 policy. New laws already in effect in six states. They are set to take effect in four states including Illinois. Statistics show the younger people are when they start smoking, the more likely they are to become addicted. Teens smoking rate has declined over the years, but the Public Health advocates won the popularity of vaping is threatening to reverse all of that progress.

All right, that right there, is one colossal snake. Scientists just captured a record length python in Florida. The Burmese python is one of the largest snake species in the world. This one, a female was more than 17 feet long. She weighed 140 pounds, had 73 developing eggs. It's the largest python ever found and removed from the big Cyprus National Reserve near Miami. A ranger's credit research and new tracking technology, using male pythons with radio transmitters to locate a breeding females.

BRIGGS: Wow, monster.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's Jackson on the drive for the lead. Three- point.

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BRIGGS: The Baylor Lady Bears holding off Notre Dame, 82-81 to win the NCAA women's championship. Baylor lead by 17, 12 in the second half, and needed those last second by Chloe Jackson, she finished with 26. Named outstanding player in the final four. Baylor wins its third national title.

Meanwhile, a new men's champion will be crowned tonight in Minneapolis when Virginia plays Texas tech's, four schools had competed first ever national title after Texas tech's final four win on Saturday. This was the scene in Lubbock. Students flipping cars and setting bonfires, the schools cancelled all classes after five today, hoping for better behavior from the tech faithful. You know, kids will be kids, but that is ridiculous. Damaging someone's car. Come on, kids.

ROMANS: There's celebration, and then there's vandalism. And it's all on tape.

BRIGGS: You are all on video. That's a great point.

ROMANS: Prosecutors have a lot of video to go through.

All right. Former Vice President, Joe Biden trying to ease concerns about invading personal space. He joked about it twice Friday.

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JOE BIDEN, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I just want you to know I had permission to hug Lonnie.

By the way, he gave me permission to touch him.

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ROMANS: All right. So some said the former V.P and possible 2020 contender just didn't get the message. In fact, SNL was all over it. Watch.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look, you guys know that I'm a tackle politician, right. OK? I'm a hugger, I'm a kisser and I'm a little bit of a sniffer, OK.

Really great to meet you, Gwen. I appreciate you coming here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. Vice president.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Once second, I'm just connecting. One second. Sorry for the interruption. I think nose-to-nose is going to be OK, here, because, look I did the 23 and me, you know, what's her name, Lizzy Warren, right? It turns out that I'm 1 percent Eskimo, so I'm allowed to do the kissing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A pro Trump group released a new ad saying that Biden's behavior with women is unacceptable and should instantly disqualify him from running. The group's name is Independent Republicans of New York or IRONY.

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BRIGGS: Well said. Does he not get it or does the media not get it. He doesn't have to apologize. The American people might not care.

ROMANS: You know, I think you've got two different, you know, two different constituencies here. I mean, the Democrats seem to care about it more than Trump supporters care about the accusation against him.

BRIGGS: Right. The candidates do. The congressmen and women do, but do the American people. Time will tell.

Ahead, one day away from a critical election in Israel.

[04:20:00] Benjamin Netanyahu with a last-minute ploy sure to invigorate backers and critics. We're live in Jerusalem.

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ROMANS: Fighting for his political life, Benjamin Netanyahu is making an 11th hour plea to his base one day before Israeli head to the polls. The Prime Minister is vowing to end settlement to the West Bank if he is re-elected. Let's go live to Jerusalem, bring in CNN's Michael Holmes. Michael?

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All right, Christine. Yes, this was a huge policy position to announce on the eve of an election. Widely as you said seen as a pretty calculated play to try to draw votes away from smaller right wing parties so that Benjamin Netanyahu could get enough votes head to head with his main opponent, Benny Gantz, to be the one invited by the president to form a coalition government.

[04:25:14] There are risks involved in this tactic. Those right wing parties are Netanyahu's potential coalition partners, of course, pulled too many votes from them, and one or more might not meet the Israeli threshold to sit in the commission. They got to get at least 3.25Seante votes to get seats. So, Netanyahu might get some seats from those parties, but lose coalition seats if those parties don't meet the threshold.

Now, as for the promise itself on settlements massively significant, because he wasn't talking just about major settlement blocks, he was talking about all of them, big and small and there are about 130 or so dotted around the West Bank. Annex them or taking sovereignty over them would make any notion of a viable Palestinian state all but impossible. There's no shortage of analysts here saying Netanyahu's promise was election hearing, were he to win that annexation idea might move way down his to do list. Voting 24 hours from now, people will be at the polls, Christine.

ROMANS: Yes. Might turn out to be one of those campaign promises, but very timely here. Thank you so much, Michael Holmes. Nice to see you.

BRIGGS: All right. Back here, President Trump fortifying his tough stance on the southern border, the Homeland Security Secretary has paid the price. Kirstjen Nielsen forced to resign.

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