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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

At Least 290 Killed In Easter Sri Lanka Attacks; Key Democrats Warming Up To The Idea Of Impeaching President Trump; Comedian Zelensky Wins Ukraine Presidential Election. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired April 22, 2019 - 05:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:30:26] MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN ANCHOR: Nearly 300 people now dead in coordinated Easter terror attacks in Sri Lanka. A security warning was circulated among police 10 days earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA): Now, it may be that we undertake an impeachment. What is the best thing for the country?

CHUCK TODD, MODERATOR, NBC "MEET THE PRESS": Do you think this is impeachable?

REP. JERRY NADLER (D-NY): Yes, I do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: A long pause, though. Some Democrats starting to come around on impeachment in the wake of the Mueller report.

KOSINSKI: A comedian who played the president in a T.V. show scores a decisive win as Ukraine's next president, bringing fresh uncertainty to a critical ally.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What are you doing? He's bleeding.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: And claims of excessive force in Florida. Video captured police slamming a teen's head to the ground. What that deputy is saying this morning.

Welcome back to EARLY START, everybody. I'm Dave Briggs.

KOSINSKI: And I'm Michelle Kosinski. It's 31 minutes past the hour.

The death toll in an Easter Sunday attack in Sri Lanka rising now steeply to 290 people. That number includes at least two Americans. The attack involved coordinated explosions in at least eight locations across Sri Lanka, including three churches and four high-end hotels.

Officials now say 24 people are under arrest so far. The State Department says terror groups are still plotting possible attacks with little or no warning.

BRIGGS: Also, a police source tells CNN an internal memo was sent by authorities before the bombings that contained a warning to raise security.

Senior international correspondent Ivan Watson live in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo. Ivan, what happened with that warning?

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Apparently, not a lot because the warning specifically noted that foreign intelligence -- a foreign intelligence service thought that it had information suggesting that a group identified as National Tawheed Jamaat -- it appears to be some kind of Sri Lankan organization -- was planning on using suicide attacks against Catholic Churches and the Indian High Commission here in Colombo.

And despite that warning, nothing seemed to have protected Catholic Churches like St. Anthony's Shrine behind me here where at least one suicide bomber struck, authorities say, sometime between 8:00 and 9:00 in the morning on Easter Sunday with devastating results. And not only here, but also at two other Catholic Churches across the country during Easter services. And then, these high-end hotels that were also hit here in Colombo as well.

So one government minister I've spoken with is saying this is an example of negligence and incompetence. It has to be investigated.

But while there are calls and criticism here, there is also a very fluid situation where we've just learned from a police spokesperson of some 87 detonators being discovered at the main bus station here in Colombo.

And just yesterday, hours after the main series of coordinated, apparently, bomb attacks that killed at least 209 people and wounded more than 500 -- when police were conducting a raid at one house here in Colombo there were then a series of bombings there that killed three police officers.

So the situation still very fluid with warnings coming from the U.S. State Department, with a curfew that is going to be imposed overnight, starting at 8:00 p.m. local time, and the authorities shutting down access to social media sites while calling on responsible reporting and trying to avoid the spreading of rumors.

So far, no claim of responsibility and the authorities, so far, are not accusing any particular group of being behind what appeared to have been a very well-coordinated and just devastating series of terrorist attacks -- Dave and Michelle.

BRIGGS: All right, just past 3:00 a.m. Ivan Watson live for us in Sri Lanka. Thank you. KOSINSKI: A frightening scene Sunday at an Easter service in San Diego. Church members tackled a woman carrying a 10-month-old baby and a handgun after she threatened to blow up the church.

Witnesses say the woman walked into the auditorium at Mount Everest Academy around noon during a non-denominational service.

[05:35:00] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID MICHAEL MILLER, HELPED TACKLE WOMAN HOLDING BABY AND GUN: And two minutes after I came in, this lady comes on stage -- came through the back with her baby and a gun. And she starts talking all this craziness about the rapture not being real and everyone's going to hell.

After she started pointing the gun at the baby, one of the older gentlemen grabbed it from her and then me and a couple of other men tackled her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSINSKI: Police arrested the woman identified by local media as 31- year-old Anna Conkey.

They later found her 5-year-old daughter healthy and unhurt. The children are now in protective custody.

BRIGGS: A growing number of Democrats are warming to the idea of impeaching President Trump, including three key committee chairman who seemed hesitant in the past to even discuss the issue.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCHIFF: Now, it may be that we undertake an impeachment nonetheless. I think what we are going to have to decide as a caucus is what is the best thing for the country? Is the best thing for the country to take up an impeachment proceeding because to do otherwise sends a message that this conduct is somehow compatible with the office?

REP. ELIJAH CUMMINGS (D-MD): There comes a point in life where we all have to make decisions based upon the fact that it is our watch. And history, I think even if we did not win possibly -- if there were not impeachment, I think history would smile upon us standing up for the Constitution.

TODD: Do you think this is impeachable?

NADLER: Yes, I do. I do think that this -- if proven -- if proven, which hasn't been proven yet -- some of this -- if proven, some of this would be impeachable, yes.

TODD: All right, Congressman.

NADLER: Obstruction of justice, if proven, would be impeachable.

(END VIDEO CLIP) KOSINSKI: Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler plans to call former White House counsel Don McGahn to testify. According to the Mueller report, McGahn refused an order from the president to fire the special counsel.

BRIGGS: The White House now in full spin mode. The president's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, launching a blistering attack on the report even though he does not question its findings.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAKE TAPPER, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, ANCHOR, CNN "THE LEAD WITH JAKE TAPPER AND "STATE OF THE UNION": You're saying that this document is not credible.

GIULIANI: No, no. You -- how about looking at this way? People who were unfair to him, people who wrote an unfair report, people who came close to torturing people to get information and break them --

TAPPER: Came close to torturing people?

GIULIANI: Yes. How about -- how about having --

TAPPER: Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

GIULIANI: And then --

TAPPER: He put forward a report that ultimately cleared President Trump of conspiracy.

GIULIANI: And that takes every cheap shot imaginable because he couldn't prove it.

TAPPER: You call it cheap shots, other people call it evidence.

GIULIANI: But you don't -- you don't just spew out all this stuff.

TODD: Do you and the president accept the idea that the Russian interference was designed to help President Trump?

GIULIANI: I believe it was. I can't tell you for sure. I mean, I don't -- I haven't examined all that evidence. But I have no reason --

TODD: Does the president accept that?

GIULIANI: -- no reason to dispute it. I think he does.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: Not entirely clear about that. That won't go away.

Joining us now, Princeton historian and professor Julian Zelizer, a CNN political analyst. Good to see you, sir. Happy Monday.

JULIAN ZELIZER, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST, HISTORIAN AND PROFESSOR, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, CO-AUTHOR, "FAULT LINES: A HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1974": Good morning.

KOSINSKI: Thank you for coming.

BRIGGS: So, torture came up --

ZELIZER: Right.

BRIGGS: -- from Rudy Giuliani and a head-spinning day from the lawyer. But he -- one thing he told Jake really stood out. Let's listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GIULIANI: Any candidate in the whole world in America would take information -- negative --

TAPPER: From a foreign source? From a hostile foreign source?

GIULIANI: Who -- there's nothing wrong with taking information from Russians.

TAPPER: There's nothing wrong with taking information?

GIULIANI: It depends on where it came from. It depends on where it came from.

You're assuming that the giving of information is a campaign contribution. Read the report carefully. The report says we can't conclude that because the law is pretty much against that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: We have come a long way --

KOSINSKI: Yes.

BRIGGS: -- to now there is nothing wrong with taking information from a hostile foreign government.

What is the obvious signal sent to Vladimir Putin and what does that mean?

ZELIZER: Well, it's a terrible signal and that comment actually reflects the first part of the report, meaning a lack of ethical clarity in the campaign and now in the administration about what's right and what's wrong. And I think Giuliani, in some ways, revealed part of the essence of Trump's mentality with that statement.

KOSINSKI: I mean, and Democrats -- you have said that it's always risky to go for impeachment. I think that Nadler pause was one of the most telling sound bites --

BRIGGS: Yes.

KOSINSKI: -- or lack of sound bites from the weekend. You see his indecision and how to answer this. That's not to say of all the indecision that's out there, but you're also saying that not doing anything is as risky.

ZELIZER: Right. So first, it's always uncertain how this plays out. There's no clear roadmap so Democrats can't really base it on that. They have to base it is there something impeachable that happened and then they have an obligation to act.

If they do nothing there's a risk. Politically, they could play directly into President Trump's line that this was all a witch hunt, it was all fake news, and help him win reelection.

But more important, they might help to legitimate the things that he did. If he obstructed justice and the Democrats decide to do nothing they, in some ways, might say that's OK for a president to do.

[05:40:04] So it's not clear where to go next that way.

KOSINSKI: (INAUDIBLE).

BRIGGS: There is reporting that would suggest the president wants them in the House to pursue impeachment because he believes this could be a Clintonian lesson where Republicans took a beating in the House after they impeached Clinton and then Clinton's favorability shot up 73 percent following that.

Should Democrats learn from what happened there?

ZELIZER: Well, they could look at that. But I think the substance of the actual charges is very different than with Clinton. This is much more severe.

And second --

BRIGGS: Because Clinton -- it was his personal, private life if you will?

ZELIZER: Absolutely, and that's what people responded to in terms of the substance.

Here, you're talking about election interference and multiple counts of obstruction of justice, and that's just in the Mueller report. Then we have to add everything else we've learned about the president.

Let's remember, 1974 went very differently. In fact, Democrats made the right decision. The public, in 1976, elected a Democratic president and a Democratic Congress. So --

BRIGGS: Richard Nixon committed a crime.

ZELIZER: Well, that's the question right now on the table in terms of --

BRIGGS: In terms of obstruction.

ZELIZER: Exactly.

KOSINSKI: Yes, and let's take a look at that. Ongoing investigations spawned by the Mueller report.

BRIGGS: Yes.

KOSINSKI: There are many. I think it's probably tough for the public to keep all this -- I mean, look at this. Roger Stone, hush money, finances, insurance practices.

I mean, and now you have Preet Bharara, a former U.S. attorney in the Southern District, saying well, you know, this is -- even when Trump leaves office there's a chance that this is going somewhere. So this is very, very far from over.

ZELIZER: Oh, absolutely. There's multiple investigations and -- taking place both inside Congress and out. And I do think the discussions taking place about starting an impeachment process, which is different than impeaching, are really on the table. And, Democrats today, I think will have that as part of their conversation.

BRIGGS: One thing is clear, Democrats haven't quite figured out which is the way they want to fight this president because we saw in the midterms moderate Democrats from suburban districts really led the way. There's this other fraction. It's going to bleed well into 2020, to Michelle's point. We'll be talking Mueller throughout this process.

Julian Zelizer, good to see you, sir.

KOSINSKI: Thanks a lot.

ZELIZER: Good to see you.

BRIGGS: Speaking of 2020, tonight, from CNN, live from New Hampshire, the first major candidate event of the 2020 campaign. Not one, not two, three, four, five town halls. Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, and Mayor Pete Buttigieg all on the same stage for a CNN town hall event tonight starting at 7:00 Eastern.

We should add one more Democrat is in this field. Seth Moulton, Massachusetts congressman, has joined the fray, Michelle.

KOSINSKI: A total of 19 now -- 19.

Well, in Ukraine, it is life imitating art. A T.V. comedian who played a teacher who becomes president of Ukraine is now the real president of Ukraine in what may be the most persuasive performance in history. Political newcomer Volodymyr Zelensky declaring victory after Sunday's presidential election.

Phil Black now live now from Kiev.

I know he was expected to win. I mean, the margin of victory was enormous. But is this going to be a situation -- I mean, is there a fear there that they're going to regret the choice of somebody who did not talk about the issues at all and now has to face Vladimir Putin?

PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, indeed. It's an interesting question Michelle because there is now tremendous uncertainty. Expectations in some corners are so very high and yet, we simply don't know, in many ways, what Zelensky stands for -- how he's going to approach a lot of really big issues.

He was light on detail and policy, but he's very charismatic, he's got a likable smile, and it's just possible that in the eyes of -- eyes of many voters, the line between reality and fiction blurred in terms of that T.V. character that you mentioned -- the regular guy who accidentally becomes president who then goes on to fight corruption.

That was very much the idea -- the image that Zelensky portrayed through the campaign. But he didn't do it through talking about detailed policy. He campaigned in platitudes.

He didn't appear in public, he didn't submit to many interviews. He ran using online videos -- cheeky videos attacking his opponents.

And it's all worked for him. It's resonated throughout. It looks like he secured 73 percent of the vote, which is all pretty extraordinary.

But the reality is he's got some really big problems to deal with now. The economy is in real trouble. Corruption is very much an issue in this country still and a real point for many voters. And there is the war in the east of the country against Russian-backed separatists that's been going for five years now.

So, yes, this man who has made a career and become famous through being the comic, the clown -- he now has to stand up against that incredibly experienced statesman, Vladimir Putin.

President Trump has already phoned Zelensky to congratulate him on the victory, but also to congratulate Ukraine on the successful election because that's the other significant, historic point here.

[05:45:04] A sitting president is being removed peacefully and democratically. The last president was forced out through a violent revolution that left over 100 people killed, and that was only five years ago, Michelle.

KOSINSKI: Great point, Phil, and this will make a great movie one day. Oh, wait a minute --

BRIGGS: Absolutely.

KOSINSKI: -- he already starring in the role.

BRIGGS: Julia Louis-Dreyfus has to run --

KOSINSKI: Has to figure this out.

BRIGGS: -- in 2020, right? I mean, she's got to be number 20.

KOSINSKI: It cements the view around the world now that truly anyone can be president. And, I mean, who is to say that that's a bad thing because -- BRIGGS: And --

KOSINSKI: -- you don't know how it's going to work out.

BRIGGS: But this man, in Phil's words, is a clown --

KOSINSKI: Yes.

BRIGGS: -- taking on a former KGB agent.

All right. A 5-year-old missing in Illinois and police are focusing on what happened inside the boy's home.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:50:00] BRIGGS: All right, 5:49 Eastern time and back to our top story for a moment.

The Sri Lankan government admitting to intelligence failures and apologizing to the victims of the deadly Easter terror bombings. According to a cabinet spokesman, the government saw the warnings ahead of time. A police source tells CNN an internal memo was sent by authorities before the bombings that contained a warning to raise security.

KOSINSKI: Countries importing Iranian oil, including many U.S. allies, could face U.S. sanctions starting next month. Sanctions waivers will no longer be granted to those countries after May second. "The Washington Post" reporting that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to make that announcement this morning.

The State Department issued these 180-day waivers last November to China, Indian, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Italy, and Greece -- an idea to give them time to find alternative oil sources. U.S. officials say the goal of this policy is to drive up the cost of Iran's maligned behavior and address the regime's threats.

BRIGGS: Stop & Shop employees and the grocery chain have reached a tentative deal to end their 10-day strike.

United Food and Commercial Workers Union said late Sunday, Stop & Shop workers who were on strike will return to work Monday morning, adding, "The message you sent by collectively standing up for yourselves, your families, and for good jobs, has resonated not only with the company but all of America."

The strike began April 11th when 31,000 workers walked out of stores across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. "The Hill" reports the 3-year deal includes a pay increase for all associates and continued health coverage and retirement benefits.

I can now return to my only grocery store in my town.

KOSINSKI: Yes, you can eat again after a month.

BRIGGS: This is very good news for the Briggs family. KOSINSKI: Thank goodness.

BRIGGS: We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:56:00] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What are you doing? He's bleeding.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSINSKI: A Florida sheriff's deputy under investigation for slamming a teenager's head into the ground and punching him moments after another officer pepper-sprayed the teen. The Broward County sheriff is vowing to conduct a thorough investigation.

In the arrest report, the deputy claimed he had to act quickly because he feared he would be struck or have his weapon taken from him. He's been placed on restrictive administration assignment.

BRIGGS: A 5-year-old boy missing in Illinois and police do not believe he was abducted nor walked away. Authorities say they've now put a special focus on the family's home.

The parents of 5-year-old Andrew or A.J. Freund reported him missing last Thursday. Police canine units only picked up Andrew's scent within the residence, indicating he had not left the home on foot.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDREW FREUND, SR., FATHER OF MISSING BOY: We're all just doing whatever we can at this point. I have no control over what people think. I just want my son to come home OK.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has been involved with the family since just after Andrew was born. Officials say there were signs of neglect by the mother.

KOSINSKI: A veteran zookeeper is recovering this morning after she was attacked by a tiger at the zoo in Topeka, Kansas. Officials say the woman and a 7-year-old male Sumatran tiger named Sanjiv were both in the tiger habitat when the animal essentially tackled her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRENDAN WILEY, DIRECTOR, TOPEKA ZOO, TOPEKA, KANSAS: It's a normal part of the daily process for her to enter that space to clean it, to maintain it, to put out enrichment items. All of that is normal. The one point that was not normal was that Sanjiv also found access to that space at the same time.

(END VIDEO CLIP) KOSINSKI: So, the zookeeper suffered cuts and punctures to her head, neck, back, and arm. She's currently in stable condition. The injured zookeeper is the facility's primary tiger keeper and has been working in that space for years.

The Topeka Zoo will not euthanize Sanjiv, the tiger.

BRIGGS: Big trouble for the first test of SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. SpaceX says the launch vehicle was undergoing engine tests and obviously, something really went wrong resulting in an explosion and thick plumes of smoke. If the issue is serious it could derail plans to fly astronauts into orbit later this year.

SpaceX and Boeing were each awarded multibillion-dollar contracts to develop their own spacecraft. Both capsules were supposed to start flying in 2017.

KOSINSKI: It's not so easy --

BRIGGS: No.

KOSINSKI: -- to get up into space.

BRIGGS: No.

KOSINSKI: Well, this is a story of how all great stories begin with the words "A Florida man." This one arrested and charged with impersonating a police officer after trying to pull over an undercover cop.

Police say 26-year-old Matthew Joseph Erris of Dade City, used red and blue lights on the grill of his vehicle. The undercover detective called the attempted traffic stop. Deputies say they found a realistic-looking airsoft pistol in the suspect's car and a light bar installed on the roof.

No word yet on a court date for Erris. But it sounds like he was doing everything right. I mean --

BRIGGS: A Florida man.

KOSINSKI: -- it sounded pretty 'by the book'.

BRIGGS: Do you know there's a card game --

KOSINSKI: Yes, yes, yes.

BRIGGS: -- on Kickstarter called "A Florida Man." You can contribute money to this. It's a beauty.

KOSINSKI: Right. Thanks a lot for joining us. I'm Michelle Kosinski.

BRIGGS: I'm Dave Briggs. "NEW DAY" starts right now. We'll see you tomorrow.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world. This is NEW DAY. It is Monday, April 22nd, 6:00 here in New York.

John Berman is off. John Avlon joins me. Great to have you here.

JOHN AVLON, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.

CAMEROTA: Let's get right to our breaking news because the death toll has soared in Sri Lanka. Nearly 300 people have been killed and more than 500 injured in coordinated bombings on Easter Sunday. The blasts targeting Christians at Catholic churches and tourists at luxury hotels.

The Sri Lankan government now blames a little-known Jihadi group for the bombings.

AVLON: The government there is also admitting that they knew about warnings before the attacks and is now issuing an apology to victims.

END