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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Attorney General: Trump Campaign Was Spied On; Sudan's President Steps Down; Suspect Taken Into Custody in Louisiana Church Fires; Powerful Cyclone Slamming Rockies, Plains; Dwyane Wade Ends Career in Epic Fashion. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired April 11, 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: -- on that channel.
[05:00:01] They have a cult following.
DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: You can use them around the House, I think, right?
ROMANS: They have a cult following, a target line. They're really dynamic, they have been around for several years but sort of like the Martha Stewart of the middle of the country, really.
BRIGGS: Very good.
EARLY START continues right now. Was there spying on the Trump campaign?
(MUSIC)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM BARR, ATTORNEY GENERAL: I think spying did occur. Yes, I think spying did occur.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Attorney General Bill Barr now investigating the FBI, saying agents spied on the Trump campaign.
BRIGGS: An uprising in the Sudan. The president there stepped down and is under house arrest this morning.
ROMANS: A suspect now in custody in connection with fires at historically black churches in Louisiana.
BRIGGS: Six U.S. states are under blizzard warnings. Yes, it is spring. A severe storm striking the Rockies all the way to the Plains, and two feet of snow expected to fall in some parts of South Dakota.
ROMANS: Wow.
BRIGGS: Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Dave Briggs.
ROMANS: And I'm Christine Romans. It is Thursday, April 11th, it's 5:00 a.m. in the East.
Let's begin with Attorney General Bill Barr dropping a bombshell at a Senate hearing yesterday, telling lawmakers he thinks the Trump campaign was spied on, and he'll be looking into why.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARR: I think spying on a political campaign is a big deal -- it's a big deal.
SEN. JEANNE SHAHEEN (D-NH): You're not suggesting, though, that spying occurred?
BARR: I don't -- well, I guess you could -- I think that spying did occur. Yes, I think spying did occur.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Barr provided no evidence for that claim. A source familiar with his thinking later telling us he meant spying in quote the classic sense of intel collection. The source said Barr now wants to find out whether there was a proper basis for any surveillance.
CNN's Sara Murray has more from Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine and Dave.
Bill Barr, the attorney general, was back in front of lawmakers yesterday with a very surprising claim. He hinted that maybe the FBI and maybe intelligence agencies were spying on the Trump campaign during 2016, but he didn't offer any evidence to back it up. And, in fact, later on, he clarified his remarks, saying this.
BARR: I am not saying that improper surveillance occurred. I'm saying that I am concerned about it and looking into it -- that's all.
MURRAY: Barr also shared with lawmakers that he is looking into how this initial investigation into the Trump campaign began in 2016. That's certainly something that will be very pleasing to President Trump.
What may not be so pleasing, though, Barr also told lawmakers he's not going to look at the Mueller report and sanitize it so there's nothing that makes the president look bad. He said he's only going to do that about private individuals, not people who are holding public office.
And, of course, he faced plenty of criticism over his summary of the Mueller report -- over his decision to clear the president of obstruction of justice. He said that Mueller didn't actually instruct him to do that. He also didn't instruct Barr to leave this up to Congress.
And he said he still doesn't know how special counsel Robert Mueller feels about his decision to clear the president of wrongdoing when it comes to obstruction of justice.
Back to you guys.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRIGGS: OK. Sara Murray, thanks.
Congressional Democrats furious over Barr's assertion and his use of that hot button word, spying.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. MARK WARNER (D-VA): I'm amazed that the attorney general would make that kind of statement. I think it is, in many ways, disrespectful to the men and women who work in the Justice Department. And it shows, I think, either a lack of understanding or willful ignorance of what goes into a counterintelligence investigation.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): How very, very dismaying and disappointing that the chief law enforcement officer of our country is going off the rails yesterday and today. He is the attorney general of the United States of America, not the attorney general of Donald Trump.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Republicans strongly defending Barr. Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan saying how impressed he was with the attorney general adding, God bless him.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell took Barr's side on Fox News.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): Obviously, the question of whether you trust Bill Barr or not, he was confirmed unanimously as attorney general way back in Bush 41. He's an honorable man. He's not over there trying to cover anything up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Attorneys for White House lawyer under President Obama expect him to be indicted in a case stemming from the Mueller investigation. CNN reported late last month, the prosecutors were close to bringing charges against Greg Craig for allegedly making false statements concerning his work for Ukraine.
[05:05:00] It comes as the Justice Department is cracking down on unregistered foreign lobbying and consulting.
BRIGGS: Bernie Sanders taking his claim to be the leading progressive in a crowded field of Democrats unveiling his revamps Medicare-for-All plan Wednesday. More now from CNN's Ryan Nobles.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RYAN NOBLES, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Dave and Christine, there's no doubt that we knew Bernie Sanders was going to make health care a big focus of his presidential campaign, and yesterday was an example of that. Here on Capitol Hill, rolling out his Medicare-for- All 2.0. This would ultimately eliminate a private insurance market and go to a single payer government-run health care plan.
Sanders arguing to a boisterous crowd that this is what the American people want and it's time politicians in Washington deliver.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The American people are increasingly clear, they want a health care system that guarantees health care to all Americans as a right. They want a health care system which will lower health care costs and save them money. In other words, the American people want and we are going to deliver a Medicare-for-All single payer system. Thank you.
NOBLES: Now, even though Sanders was introducing this legislation on Capitol Hill, it really has no shot of passing in the near future. This is really a 2020 campaign issue, and he had Kirsten Gillibrand by his side at this event and three other 2020 competitors who cosponsored this legislation, Kamala Harris, Cory Booker and Elizabeth Warren.
Now, each one of them also has a bit of nuance to their own health care proposals even though they are supporting Sanders in terms of this effort, and what we are seeing is Democratic candidates attempting to find some space here and to really present to the Democratic voters their plans for health care which poll after poll shows is at or near the top of list of concerns of Democratic voters.
Sanders believes he was out in front of this. He often talks about how this was a radical idea four years ago, and now it is mainstream politics. He is hoping this is something that resonates with the voters.
One thing he's not talking about is just how much it's going to cost Sanders instead saying that in the long run, it will be cheaper if the average American because whatever additional costs they have to pay in taxes will be offset by what they are saving in terms of not having to pay for premiums, co-pays, and much cheaper prescription drugs. We won't know the full cost until it goes through the legislative process and it could be some time -- Dave and Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right. Breaking news, in just the last few minutes, word that the president of Sudan has stepped down. After three decades in power, multiple sources telling us President Omar al-Bashir has resigned. He is under house arrest.
Thousands of protesters camped outside the military headquarters in Khartoum as the world awaits official word from state media.
Senior international correspondent Nima Elbagir is tracking the latest developments.
Nima, you were just there undercover trying to report on protests. You're from Sudan. This man has been in power most of your life.
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I was 11 when he came to power, and the majority of the population is under 30. So, for most of the country, this is the only thing they have known and yet, in spite of that, there have been -- the demonstrators are being very cogent about what it is they want, and they are staying on the streets because what they want is a full transition to civilian authority. They say they don't want anything of the structure of his rule to remain.
BRIGGS: So, these protests began, more than 3,000 arrests, several have been killed there. Give us a little sense of who President al- Bashir is and the type of terror he's inflicted there.
ELBAGIR: He's an indicted war criminal. He's wanted by the ICC. He used rape as a weapon of war against an uprising in the west of the country. He established torture houses, which is part of what we want Sudan to investigate, an entire architecture of oppression.
And what is extraordinary is eventually that yolk breaks. In spite of the use of live ammunition, people stayed on the streets, in spite of the threat and what has been interesting to observe is since the beginning of the process, the army has refused to engage, and clearly, they were waiting for the moment when they thought they would become this power broker, whether the people will allow them to be that remains to be seen.
ROMANS: I mean, what is the hope for the people on the streets, they want a democratic election some day, you have never voted in your country in an election.
ELBAGIR: No, never. They want a transition. They want a democratic election. They want the removal of oppressive Sharia and Islamic laws. They want women to be able to travel without guardianship laws. They want what they see everybody else has.
BRIGGS: It remains to be seen what the people will accept and whether this is a mixed blessing for the people, but looks like a step in the right direction.
[05:10:02] ROMANS: And what the White House says, and what this means for the U.S.
BRIGGS: Because they are on the state sponsor of terrorism list and remain so.
Nima, great to have you here this morning. Thank you so much for that reporting.
All right. Back here, blizzard warnings in a half dozen states. Over two feet of snow expected to hit some areas. Details ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: All right. A suspect is in custody in connection with fires at three historically black churches in Louisiana over a span of 10 days. Two law enforcement officials with direct knowledge of the investigation tell CNN the suspect is a 21-year-old male from St. Landry Parish. CNN has the name of the suspect but is not reporting it until it is announced by authorities. We expect to get more information at a press conference scheduled later this morning.
[05:15:00] BRIGGS: Spring in the Midwest and Plains has suddenly turned winter white. Blizzard warnings are in six states hit hard by a severe storm. These are live pictures in the Minneapolis area from our affiliate there, WCCO. They are expecting anywhere between 8 to 14 inches there in Minneapolis with two feet of snow on the way for some parts of Minnesota, as well as South Dakota.
Let's bring in meteorologist Derek Van Dam live in the CNN center with the latest.
Derek, good morning. This is a monster spring storm.
DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, it really is, and people are looking at the calendars going, what gives, it's the middle of April. We should be done with this.
But not yet. We have the storm system that continues to churn up across the Central Plains and it is a monster. It's got significant winds equivalent to a category 2 Atlantic hurricane, gusting 20 miles per hour yesterday in Pueblo, Colorado. You add in the snowfall that is piling up in feet, and you got a full-on blizzard.
Here's the latest radar coming from the Minneapolis region. You saw in that live cam just a moment ago, some of the heavier snow on the roadways. That's going to lighten up over the next few hours. You get the winds. Visibilities will be reduced. That's why we have blizzard warnings, just outside of the city in Minneapolis that stretches across South Dakota and into northeast sections of Colorado.
Here's a look at the wind advisories, you can see that spreads a good majority of the plains states with gusts over 50 to 60 miles per hour today, and by the way, you want to keep an eye to the sky later this evening and the chance of severe weather exists.
Back to you.
BRIGGS: OK. Thank you, Derek.
Needless to say, call ahead on the flights, 700 plus cancelled in Denver. Minnesota, South Dakota, Colorado, check your flights. Thank you, Derek.
ROMANS: Travel nightmare. Thank you, Derek. Something we haven't seen since the great recession -- the nation's
top banking CEOs grilled by Congress r, ready to testify how well they are performing 12 years after the crisis. These men faced scrutiny in their roles in income inequality. Congressman Al Green asked if the next CEO of their bank would be a female or person of color. None appeared to have raised their hands.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. AL GREEN (D-TX): The record has to be made, all white men and none of you, not one appears to believe that your successor will be a female or a person of color.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: The executives have not testified before Congress as a group since 2009. Missing from the group was Tim Sloan, the recently stepped down CEO of Wells Fargo as that bank faces a number of scandal. Income inequality, central to this hearing, new data show middle classes in rich countries, including the U.S., the middle classes are shrinking and their economic power is diminished.
The OECD warning this stress on the middle class will have serious consequences for nation's economic growth and their social fabric. Maybe it's something you have seen in the rise of populism around the world, right? You can see that in the Brexit debate. You can see that in some nationalism in the United States.
BRIGGS: Only spreading. Yes, you're right.
OK. Ahead, Dwyane Wade making a statement in the final game of his legendary career. Coy Wire has more in the "Bleacher Report", next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:22:37] BRIGGS: All right. The NBA regular season wraps up and a pair of superstars wrapped up their hall of fame careers.
Coy Wire has more in the "Bleacher Report".
Good morning, my friend.
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Dave.
Two NBA legends, future Hall of Famers showing two ends of the emotional spectrum in the final games of their careers. Miami's 13- time all star Dwyane Wade was all smiles and laughs giving a hero sendoff on the road in Brooklyn. LeBron James, all there to hug it out before the game. The away crowd in Brooklyn giving way for massive ovation.
He saved some of the best for last, 25 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists in this game and watch his buddy's reaction when d. Wade knocks in a triple double here. Still a fun happy send off for D Wade and LeBron James even bringing back the video bomb from their days as teammates in Miami. The Mavs Dirk Nowitzki finished his career on the road as well, the
San Antonio Spurs put together a powerful tribute video that broke him down to tears.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: And now, a 14-time NBA all star selected to 12 NBA teams, a league MVP, and an NBA champion, a 7 foot forward from Germany, number 41, Dirk Nowitzki.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WIRE: Classy move by the Spurs, an overwhelming moment of reflection on Dirk Nowitzki's incredible 20-year career.
Dave Briggs, you had as many hits in the Majors as the Orioles Chris Davis this season. Davis owns a Major League record that no player wants. He's on a hit less streak that goes back to last September. He flies out in the 9th inning against the A's last night, extending his hitless streak at 50 at bats. Baltimore keeps playing him because he's the highest paid player. They owe him $92 million of the $161 million deal he signed back in 2016.
The Masters tees off in just a couple of hours, but the festivities got underway yesterday with the par three tournament. Here's one of the craziest golf shots you will see, Jordan Spieth skipping the ball six times across the water in a pond, and watch this, it lands closer than any ball you'll see there, within 10 feet of the hole. The 2015 masters champ would end the round with 3 over 30.
No par 3 winner has ever won the Masters. Sorry to you, Matt Wallace. Tiger tees off at 11:04 eastern. Andy Scholes will be live at Augusta starting tomorrow morning.
BRIGGS: Hello friends, Masters Thursday. Sunday looks rainy in Augusta, though. We might get Monday golf.
Coy, thank you, my friend.
Romans, what's coming up?
ROMASN: All right. President Trump's hand picked attorney general telling lawmakers he believes the Trump campaign was spied on. You'll hear from him next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARR: I think spying did occur. Yes, I think spying did occur.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Attorney General Bill Barr now investigating the FBI saying agents spied on the Trump campaign.
ROMANS: And an uprising in Sudan. The president there has stepped down and is now under house arrest.
BRIGGS: The suspect now in custody for starting fire in black churches in Louisiana.
ROMANS: Six U.S. states under blizzard warnings. A severe spring storm hammering the Rockies all the way to the Plains.
END
