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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Search For Woman Connected To Colorado School Threats; Mueller Report Could Be Unflattering; Effort To Preserve, Rebuilding of Notre Dame Begins. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired April 17, 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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[04:00:18] DEAN PHILLIPS, SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, FBI: She has expressed an infatuation with Columbine. Because of that, we were concerned.

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CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Armed, dangerous and infatuated with Columbine. Police in Colorado looking for the woman whose threats have shut down hundreds of schools today.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Plus, we're one day away from the redacted Mueller report. The president sees it as vindication but some aides are concerned it could paint an unflattering picture of the White House.

ROMANS: The long road to recovery begins for Notre-Dame Cathedral. Officials looking into what sparked the inferno as new stories of heroism emerge.

SANCHEZ: And it appears Felicity Huffman will go to jail for her role in a college admission scandal. Now, prosecutors have begun alerting others, they could be next to face charges.

Good morning and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Boris Sanchez in for Dave Briggs.

ROMANS: Nice to see you again this week. I'm Christine Romans. It is Wednesday, April 17th. Good morning, everyone. It is 4:00 a.m. in the East.

Let's begin with this story in Colorado. Happening right now, authorities are urgently searching for this woman. They say she is infatuated with Columbine High School. Threats led to lockouts Tuesday at Denver area schools, including Columbine where, of course, a mass shooting occurred in 1991.

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PHILLIPS: She has made some concerning comments in the past. She has expressed an infatuation with Columbine and the events, the shooting there that happened.

She was last seen out towards the foothills. And we have been trying to find her ever since.

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SANCHEZ: The timing of this is really important, too. Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of the shooting at Columbine High School. Hundreds of schools in about 20 districts in and around Denver are now closed today. We get more from CNN's Scott McLean.

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine, Boris, police in Suburban Denver are searching for an 18-year-old woman they say is armed and dangerous who has made credible but nonspecific threats against schools in Jefferson County. Her name is Sol Pais.

According to the be on the lookout alert that the FBI sent to local law enforcement, Pais was infatuated with Columbine. According to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, she came to Colorado only on Monday.

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PHILLIPS: She departed the airport and went to a store where she did procure a weapon. She obtained a pump-action shotgun and ammunition. We have no specific information about any specific threat to any particular school. We don't have that sort of credible information. But we do consider her to be a credible threat to the community.

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MCLEAN: Some area schools, including Columbine High School and others, went into lockout on Tuesday, which means it is business as usual on the inside, but no one can come or go from the building. Now, when the schools were let out, it was with extra police officers and security. Now, this is not the first time there have been threats against Columbine but this is an especially sensitive time given that Saturday will mark 20 years since 13 people were killed there in a school shooting.

Christine, Boris.

ROMANS: All right, Scott McLean, thank you for that.

In just about 24 hours, the Justice Department releases the redacted version of the Mueller report. President Trump is ready -- already putting his spin on it, silencing (ph) and tweeting, "No collusion, no obstruction". But some current and former White House officials aren't so sure this report will be flattering. Now, well, a few are predicting bombshells. There is plenty of apprehension.

SANCHEZ: Yes, advisors believe the full report will provide the most credible account so far of chaos inside the West Wing. The report is not going to be based on the kind of anonymous sources that the president routinely likes to attack. Instead, its account will be attributed to former officials and allies, witnesses who could face felony charges if they lied to investigators.

CNN's Kaitlan Collins has the latest from the White House.

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Christine and Boris, sources tell CNN that the president is eager for that Mueller report to come out on Thursday. He thinks it's going to back up his claim that he's been exonerated. But people surrounding the president are not so sure. Instead, they're worried that even though the report is going to be redacted by the Attorney General Bill Barr, they think that while it may not reveal sensitive information, it could still reveal embarrassing information.

There are tons of people inside the White House who used to be at the White House and allies of the president, who sat down with the special counsel and his team for hours upon hours, some of them dozens of hours revealing information about not only central events related to his investigation but also details of the president, his temper, work habits that they fear could embarrass the president and then in the aftermath of the report coming out on Thursday, they're going to have to deal with that.

[04:05:05] Now, the president is not expected to read this report page by page, line by line when it comes out. Instead, we've been told by one White House official that the president's legal team is going to read it and then brief him upon the key findings of it, what's notable in it.

Even though sources say that most White House officials have said they will want to read this report. Maybe they'll wait until they get home from work but they are curious what could be inside the report. However, the question is going to be, what is it going to reveal? Is it going to reveal this massive level of detail that this current and former White House officials fear and whether or not it's going to be embarrassing for the president. Because as one source told us today, they didn't get the best case scenario, it's going to paint a pretty unflattering portrait of what's been going on inside the walls of the West Wing throughout Robert Mueller's investigation.

Christine and Boris.

ROMANS: All right, Kaitlan, thank you for that.

A federal district judge is questioning the redactions Attorney General Barr is making to the Mueller report. Judge Reggie Walton is hearing the frame of information request by BuzzFeed seeking to have the Justice Department release the entire Mueller report.

SANCHEZ: Yes, the hearing on Tuesday, Walton said, "Obviously there is a real concern as to whether there is full transparency. The Attorney General has created an environment that has caused a significant part of the American public to be concerned." Judge Walton told the court he could ask to review the Mueller report in full confidentiality and then ultimately give it to organizations requesting it under the Freedom of Information Act.

ROMANS: Monday's fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris was an accident. Officials say the catastrophic inferno at was not deliberately set. Specialists are now inside the 850-year-old Gothic church securing its structure. They expect it will take 48 hours before Notre Dame will be safe enough to allow firefighters and preservationists to recover remaining artworks.

French President Emmanuel Macron also setting a timeline, an optimistic timeline on efforts to rebuild.

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EMANNUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT (through translator): I tell you tonight with strength, we are a nation of building. We have so much to construct. So yes, we will rebuild Notre-Dame even more beautiful. And I want that to be done in the next five years. We can do it.

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SANCHEZ: Some are saying that is a bit ambitious. Experts believe it could take much longer, perhaps 10 to 15 years. The effort already drawing help from around the world, donations by French philanthropists and businesses, topping $700 million. The cathedral's American namesake, Notre-Dame University, pledging $100,000.

ROMANS: And back in Paris, hundreds took to the streets last night in song and prayer.

For the latest, let's bring in CNN's Jim Bittermann who is live for us in Paris. Jim, a lot of sadness the last two days but a bit of hope hearing that the French president is so optimistic about rebuilding.

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, absolutely, he is saying five years which a lot of people, architects particularly, saying maybe a bit ambitious. But the five years doesn't come out of nowhere. In fact, five years should now a 2024. And that's the date of the Olympic Games here in Paris.

So, I think what the president has in the back of his mind is that he'd like to have Notre-Dame up and running in time for the tourists that are expected for the Olympic Games. In the case this morning, we've seen firemen are still spraying water on parts of Notre-Dame. The fact is that I think that they're trying to cool building down a bit and -- so the inspectors can get in. They want to make a very perfection -- a very exacting inspection of exactly what is -- has been damaged and what's been weakened by the fire and the events that came after that.

So, they're inspecting and -- as well as that the investigators from the prosecutor's office who are looking into the causes of the fire have in fact talked to about 30 witnesses so far. They are talking to people who were on site on April 15th before the fire broke out and as well as the security guards who were there trying to protect the building.

So, I think they're going to get to the bottom of it, but not maybe very quickly. They've got a lot of contradictory evidence and a lot of claims of liability that may be brought forward over the next few years. Boris.

SANCHEZ: Jim Bittermann reporting live from Paris. Jim, thank you.

ROMANS: All right, President Trump vetoes a bipartisan bill that would end U.S. military support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. It is the second veto of his presidency. Mr. Trump saying in a statement, the resolutions is "an unnecessary dangerous attempt to weaken my constitutional authorities".

SANCHEZ: Yes, the president saw the Yemen vote as a rebuke of his administration in response to the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The veto means the U.S. will continue its involvement in Saudi Arabia's offensive against Yemen's Houthi rebels seen as an extension of Iranian interest in the region, the bombing campaign being waged within -- to preventing Iran's expansion in that area.

[04:10:07] ROMANS: Attorney General William Barr making a major reversal deciding that some asylum seekers may be held indefinitely. He now says that some who have established credible fear and are subject to deportation cannot be released on bond by immigration judges. The move effectively blocks efforts by immigration advocates to push for bond hearings so asylum seekers can be released.

Barr's decision may affect thousands of migrants apprehended at the border. Immigrant rights groups argue there's no reason for the U.S. to detain people who are credibly seeking safety.

SANCHEZ: A guilty plea and an apology may not be enough to keep Felicity Huffman out of jail. A source telling CNN prosecutors plan to seek a four to 10-month sentence for Huffman's role in that college admission scandal. The Desperate Housewives' star and a dozen other parents last week agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy and to commit fraud.

ROMANS: Ultimately, Huffman's sentence will be up to a federal judge. She is due back in court May 31st. As CNN has reported, more arrests are expected in the scandal. And now, prosecutors have started sending so-called target letters to the suspects they have in their sites.

CNN's Brynn Gingras explains.

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Boris and Christine, these so- called target letters have been going out since mid-March according to a law enforcement official. Students have received them, graduates, other adults allegedly connected to this case. And the letters essentially tell the recipient that they're part of an ongoing criminal probe. They don't necessarily mean charges will be coming down the line for those who receive them. But this is really just the next step we've seen taken by the government.

The letters are standard, really in white-collar cases and are used when prosecutors don't have all the evidence they need to charge someone or they're not ready make an arrest. And they also essentially could be used as a bargaining chip for the government. So, get those charged to the negotiating table. In this case, prosecutors may be using them to get someone to take a plea deal to avoid arresting a young adult.

Boris and Christine, back to you.

ROMANS: All right, Brynn thank you for that.

SANCHEZ: If you already stocked your freezer for the summer, you may want to look in it again. A big ice cream recall you should know about, ahead.

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[04:16:17] ROMANS: All right, the White House is standing by President Trump's controversial picks to the Fed Board. Trump plans to nominate Herman Cain and Stephen Moore to the fed's interest setting committee, reshaping the board to his liking. Both men have drawn widespread criticism. Cain's bid appears to be dead on arrival. He just doesn't have enough Republican senators supporting him. Meanwhile, Moore has been criticized for reversing his opposition to low interest rates. Both are currently undergoing a background check.

Larry Kudlow, the president's chief economic advisor says, the two men have the president's support.

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LARRY KUDLOW, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL ECONOMIC FUND: Stephen Moore is in the process. We support him. We support Herman Cain. We'll just let things play out in the vetting.

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ROMANS: And here's what Kudlow said when asked if the White House is interviewing other candidates.

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KUDLOW: We're talking to a number of candidates, we always do.

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ROMANS: White House advisors have said that Trump wants to nominate people who share his economic views, economic views that sometimes are out of the mainstream. Cain and Moore have world views that are just that outside of the mainstream. And many believed they do not have the qualifications to find tune monetary policy.

SANCHEZ: Newly revealed text messages in the Jussie Smollett case now show how exasperating the experience was for Chicago prosecutor Kim Foxx. She describes the embattled actor as a "washed up celeb who lied to cops" in text messages to staff. Foxx also wrote, "when people accuse us of overcharging cases, 16 counts on a class 4 felony becomes exhibit A. Pedophile with four victims 10 counts. Washed up celeb who lied to cops, 16. Just because we can charge something doesn't mean we should."

Last month, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office dropped 16 felony charges against the Empire actor. Smollett, of course, was accused of staging a hate crime against himself in Chicago. He agreed to forfeit $10,000 bail and to perform community service.

Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream is facing a limited recall. There may be tree nuts in it that are not mentioned in the ingredient or allergy lists. The affected Chunky Monkey pints have best buy dates of August 28th, 29th and 30th in 2020. Also recall the Ben & Jerry's coconut seven-layer bar, it's usually sold in retail stores in a tub containing of 2.4 gallons. The company says it has received no reports of illnesses associated with that recall.

ROMANS: Certainly, it's so scary when you teach your kids to read the label --

SANCHEZ: Right.

ROMANS: -- and make sure they know and then --

SANCHEZ: The label is wrong.

ROMANS: -- it's in there.

All right, hockey history. The best team lead goes down fast in the playoffs.

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[04:23:25] SANCHEZ: Some breaking news overnight. Two officials tell CNN that Sudan's ousted President Omar al-Bashir was transferred to prison on Tuesday evening. They say he's being held separately from other regime figures and he's under stepped-up security. al-Bashir was ousted by the military in a coup last week. The African Union Peace and Security Council has warned the Sudanese military, they have to hand the country over to civilian rule within two weeks or the council will revoke Sudan's membership in their organization.

Back in the States, brick-and-mortar store closings are spiking across the country. U.S. retailers announcing 6,000 closures already this year, that's more than all of last year. And according to a report from Coresight Research, bankruptcies in the retail sector are piling up and chains are aggressively closing underperforming stores.

ROMANS: Payless, Gymboree, Charlotte Russe and Shopko have all filed for bankruptcy this year. They will close to combine 3,720 stores, even thriving retailers like Walmart and Target are quietly closing a handful of stores. Although those companies have been -- are opening new ones, too. Thousands more store closures could be on the way in the next few years as online shopping replaces physical stores.

The millions of dollars rolling in to help rebuild Paris's historic Notre-Dame Cathedral have inspired donations to rebuild three churches in Louisiana, three churches that were intentionally burned down. Fundraising efforts for the churches started last week and reached more than $150,000. Then on Tuesday, the GoFundMe campaign skyrocketed to $925,000 and counting. [04:25:02] The fires targeted historically black churches in rural St.

Landry Parish. The fundraising campaign started by the Seventh District Baptist Association is working with government officials and local leaders to make sure all money raised is given to the three churches.

SANCHEZ: There was history on the ice last night. The Columbus Blue Jackets completing one of the most stunning playoff upsets, ever, in professional sports. Columbus, the number eight seed, sweeping the top-seated Tampa Bay lightning in four games in the first round of the NHL playoffs. The lightning had one of the best regular seasons, ever. They tied the NHL record for wins with 62. Columbus capped their historic sweep with a 7-3 victory Tuesday night. It's the franchise's first ever playoff series win. They now face either Boston or Toronto in the second round of the NHL playoffs.

ROMANS: See, now, that's when I get interested in sports, when the underdog comes.

SANCHEZ: Yes.

ROMANS: And, you know, throws everything upside down, that's what I like to see.

SANCHEZ: One of the winningest teams in regular season history getting toppled by the eight seed. Who would have thought it?

Well, hundreds of Colorado schools are closed today as authorities hunt for a woman, they say, is armed and infatuated with Columbine High School.

ROMANS: And the president viewed the Mueller findings as vindication. But could the full redacted report paint a less flattering picture? We find out tomorrow.

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