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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Snowden on the Run; Mother Attacked on Camera; Storm Clean-up in the Midwest; Poll: Most Americans Hate Their Jobs; Chicago Beats Boston to Win Stanley Cup; Wimbledon Stunner

Aired June 25, 2013 - 05:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Wanted and on the run. The man who exposed the government's secret surveillance program evading capture overseas. The world wondering, where is Edward Snowden. We have a live report from Russia, next.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: And caught on camera. A mother attacked by a robber. Vicious as her young daughter helplessly watches. This is awful.

ROMANS: And tornadoes and floods battering the Midwest. The clean-up has begun, but are more storms on the way?

BERMAN: Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.

ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. It's 30 minutes past the hour.

BERMAN: More now right now on what really is our story this morning, where in the world is Edward Snowden? You know, perhaps, more importantly, where is he going? The NSA leaker was expected to leave Moscow on Monday heading for Cuba and then on to South America. He's asked Ecuador for asylum, but he wasn't on the flight from Moscow to Havana.

No journalists have seen him at the airport. And now, the world is wondering, is he even there? Russia's foreign minister just this morning saying Snowden hasn't entered the country, although, that maybe a legal term splitting hairs. John Defterios joins us from inside the airport. John, what's the latest?

JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, we have a few things that we do know right now. We're inside the airport and our ability to move is very limited. We're in the transit zone. In fact, we're using a Wi-Fi line here, so we can't move around. We know this is the only transit hotel behind me. It's the capsule (ph). We checked with the registry. Edward Snowden has never been in the hotel.

So, if he's in the airport, he hasn't slept in a proper bed. That is for sure. Authorities here at the airport deny the fact that he's in this facility. We know that the flight to Cuba, the next one to Havana is on the board right here. It's SU-150, air flight 150, leaving at 1405. We also know that Edward Snowden is not registered on that flight as well. You talked about Sergei Lavrov, the foreign minister. He's spoken in the last hour, and he says that the accusations from the United States accusing them of housing Snowden are unacceptable and incorrect. So, that could mean that Snowden is somewhere within this facility or in a safe house somewhere else under another government, but that has not been verified just yet.

But the Russian government is suggesting here they don't have him under his control. We do know is that the U.S. passport that Snowden was holding has been revoked, but according to the founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, right now, Snowden is using a passport document for passage, basically, as an asylum seeker. So, he could leave the country if cleared by the Moscow airport where we're standing right now.

But again, this still has not been clarified, and we're waiting for this flight to see if, in fact, Snowden makes a late arrival to try to aboard for Havana today.

BERMAN: And John, when the foreign minister says that Snowden has not entered the country, that could be a legalistic term, because he could be in the transit area. Being in the transit area technically doesn't need entering the country, or as you say, if he's under some kind of other diplomatic protection or maybe some legalistic twists and turns there that Lavrov (ph) is try to get away with.

DEFTERIOS: Yes. That's absolutely the case. We've been on the ground here, John, for about five hours and have combed the entire transit area. I know there's a few other journalists, for example, from the Reuters news agency suggesting they're trying to do the same. No sight of him or anybody from WikiLeaks supporting him. It's quite interesting, though, I think in terms of prospective.

After the Boston marathon bombings, John, you had this great cooperation between United States and Moscow to go after those bombing suspects here in Russia, perhaps, because they can maximize the impact on the United States. Right now, we don't hear that sense of cooperation.

I think that's the frustration coming from Washington, then again in the last hour, hearing from the foreign minister of Russia as well, suggesting that the accusations from Washington at this juncture are unacceptable and undaunted (ph) -- John.

BERMAN: All right. John Defterios inside the airport in Moscow, really combing the hallways, looking for Edward Snowden. As of now, no sign. Thanks, John. Appreciate it.

Aurora movie theater shooting suspect, James Holmes, will be back in court today for a hearing dealing with a request to extend Holmes' mental health evaluation.

ROMANS: The judge ordered it after Holmes pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to that shooting rampage last summer. He's charged with killing 12 people and wounding 58 others in Aurora, Colorado movie theater. BERMAN: Jurors in the trial of reputed mob boss, James Whitey Bulger, are hearing about his time as an alleged informant for the FBI. A justice department agent read from Bulger's 700 FBI page file Monday detailing nearly two decades spent giving information to the agency. But the defense insists the file is not accurate, arguing a convicted former agent fabricated the file as part of an elaborate cover up.

Several in the courtroom heard Bulger actually say, "I'm not an informant," including an expletive. He said, "I'm not an informant" with another word involved. While lawyers hashed that what could be said about the file.

ROMANS: Turning now to the ongoing questions around Patriots' titan, Aaron Hernandez. Authorities were back looking in the area around his Massachusetts home Monday crawling through bushes, wading through a stream. They were said to be looking for more evidence in the death of a 27-year-old semi pro-football player whose body was found nearby.

Hernandez has not been charged in this death. Police are not talking about what it is they were looking for there.

BERMAN: A big clean-up underway this morning in parts of Iowa. A line of storms packing 70-mile-per-hour winds swept across the state. Several tornadoes reported. The storm damaged homes, brought down trees, also affecting some power lines.

ROMANS: The storm is also triggering floods in Wisconsin. Neighborhoods in several counties bailing out after being swamped by these floodwaters.

BERMAN: Look at that.

ROMANS: They washed out roads, damaged bridges. A landslide forced the closure of one state highway. As many as eight inches of rain reported in some areas. Damage estimates said to be in the millions of dollars.

BERMAN: Indra Petersons is tracking the weather for us this morning. What is in store for today?

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I'm looking at you -- I want to give you good news, but unfortunately, it's the same thing. Look at the stationary front. It's called a stationary front for a reason. It's still the same place. So, unfortunately, yes, the shower threat is there, even the threat for severe weather is still in the same place and the heavy rain in these typical spots again today in the Midwest, even Illinois, once again under (INAUDIBLE) as well as Iowa. So, flooding threat there.

Also a concern as we go through the afternoon. The other story is really this heat. I mean, it is so hot in the northeast. We have heat advisories out there. We're talking about temperatures that feel like the mid-90s. We were already a good 10 degrees above normal, but to add in that humidity, it feels hotter than it is. So, what is going on? We called (ph) a Bermuda high. What is that? Well, high pressure over typically the Bermuda area. It's very easy to understand.

But that's for you and all that warm moisture and heat all the way up the eastern seaboard. So, yes, we have warm temperatures filtering all the way northeast. But it also brings in all that moisture in from the gulf. And with that, we talk about those afternoon thunderstorms. So, it's that combination of those warm temperatures and the humidity that's making it just so tough out there. And there you, go, there's those heat indices we're talking in the mid-90s.

And then out to the west is, of course, is a dry heat but warmer, even the triple digit hit out there. So, hot and humid. And I felt it. It feels good in the morning, at least.

(LAUGHTER)

ROMANS: The advantage of the early show.

PETERSONS: Bingo.

BERMAN: Between 3:30 a.m. and 5:30 is lovely.

(LAUGHTER)

PETERSONS: Beautiful, guys.

(LAUGHTER)

ROMANS: Thanks, Indra.

All right. Most Americans, it turns out, hate their job. According to a recent Gallup study, 52 percent felt like they were not engaged at work and they were just going through the motions. Fifty-two percent. Another 18 percent say they were actively disengaged, meaning they don't -- not only don't they -- they don't care about their jobs, they managed to undermine their co-workers in some way.

Just 30 percent of the workers surveyed said they were regularly engaged or inspired by their jobs. The reports says all the disinterest and unhappiness not only affects company performance, it's costing the U.S. between $450 and $550 billions dollars yearly. And you know, a job coach recently told me, maybe in the last six months.

She said, the biggest problem the American office right now is that people need to think like I need to occupy my job, you know? Forget occupy wall street, occupy your job, because you know, we're not -- we're calling it in sometimes, not me.

BERMAN: Yes. Not Romans.

(LAUGHTER)

BERMAN: Probably not me as far as CNN.

Thirty-eight minutes after the hour. And coming up, we have some shocking video to show you. Just a brutal home invasion was caught on camera. A young mother attacked. And this morning, police still trying to track down this criminal.

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ROMANS: All right. Caught on camera. A shocking home invasion. This surveillance video from Millburn, New Jersey just outside New York City. The homeowner on the couch watching TV with her young daughter, and a man breaks in. You can see him dragging and punching her, eventually throwing her down the stairs. She had to go to the hospital.

The daughter was on the couch the whole time, watching as it happened, I'm sure, terrified. Police say the man never touched her, but he did take jewelry from the home after assaulting her mother. Police still, wow, police still searching for him.

BERMAN: I got to say, that's really hard to watch.

All right. Some other legal news, serious question this morning surrounding a Florida police officer for actions officials are now calling highly questionable. Officer Donald Fetz (ph) of the Lakeland Police Department near Tampa is accused of telling a 28-year-old to lift her bra and shake it out during a traffic stop. He was apparently looking for drugs.

ZOE BRUGGER, SEARCHED DURING TRAFFIC STOP: At first, I was angry. Now, I'm kind of just humiliated. I'm really like embarrassed. Actually, I feel degraded.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: No drugs were found, and investigators ultimately said there was no cause for reasonable suspicion that there were even drugs. No probable cause to even search like that. Prosecutors now say that the officer was not properly trained or supervised of how to handle traffic stops. The accused officer, meantime, is back on the job after a four-day administrative leave. We'll have more on this on "NEW DAY" coming up in a couple of hours.

ROMANS: All right. Scary moments in Central Massachusetts as a bus crashes into a home. Four people were hurt on this bus, including the driver. Inside the home, a mother and her three young children. One of those kids watching television just feet away from the bus hit. Yes. Minor injuries for them. Police looking into whether some sort of mechanical issue or medical issue, rather, for the driver was to blame.

BERMAN: That's just off the pike.

ROMANS: Yes. That's something. All right. Let's take a look at what's coming up on "New Day." Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan join us this morning. Good morning, you two.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR, "NEW DAY": Good morning, good morning, good morning.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR, "NEW DAY": Good to be with both of you. May I start?

BOLDUAN: If you would like to, you may.

CUOMO: Thank you very much. Russia's foreign minister now claiming Snowden didn't cross into Russia. Russia shouldn't be blamed. What is going on here? Is this about Edward Snowden? Is this about the NSA or is this really about America's mojo? We're going to talk to lawmakers this morning to figure out why the United States doesn't know where this man is and doesn't seem to be able to get anyone to help.

BOLDUAN: Yes, no kidding (ph). And also, a big "NEW DAY" exclusive. We're going to be talking to Paula Deen's sons. They've also been on TV with her. Her sons, Jamie and Bobby, they're going to be live with us to really get a first real reaction from the family on the latest fallout of their mother and the racial slur controversy surrounding her mother. We're going get their thoughts and ask them what's next.

CUOMO: And we have a mystery this morning. There is a statue. It is spinning, And John Berman did not do it.

(LAUGHTER)

CUOMO: So, how is this happening? We will look into it with grave concern.

BERMAN: The mystery, how can you be 100 percent sure that I didn't do it. I've been, you know, following this museum for a few days now. There are a lot possible explanations.

BOLDUAN: Because we find answers on "NEW DAY." You ask questions, we find answers.

(LAUGHTER)

BERMAN: That's the difference to be 5:59 and 6:01.

CUOMO: It is like a lifetime, my friend. Though, your point is strong. And now, I must figure out if it actually is you, Berman.

(LAUGHTER)

BERMAN: All right, guys. Can't wait to see the answers. We appreciate it.

BOLDUAN: Thanks.

BERMAN: Coming up here, the Heat hot in the streets of Miami. The victory laps for the NBA champs coming up next on the "Bleacher Report."

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BERMAN: What an ugly day for Boston sports fans, one that I would like to forget very much. First, the Celtics trade Doc Rivers, then the Bruins lose the Stanley Cup. In like 17 seconds they lost the Stanley Cup. Andy Scholes joins us now with more in this morning's "Bleacher Report."

ROMANS: Good morning.

BERMAN: It's not good story, but hi.

ROMANS: It's a great morning in Chicago.

ANDY SCHOLES, BLEACHER REPORT: Yes. Good morning, guys. Rough day for you, John, and the rest of Boston sports fans. As you said, the Bruins, they're less than two minutes away from forcing a win or take all game 7 at Stanley Cup finals, but everything changed in a matter of 17 seconds.

Boston up 2-1 late in the third period last night when the Blackhawks came storming back. Jonathan Toews' nice pass here to Bryan Bickell. This goal ties the game. Then, just 17 seconds later, off the rebound, Dave Bolland finds the back of the net. The Blackhawks shock the Bruins, 3-2. Patrick Kane named the playoffs MVP. Chicago wins their second cup in the last four years.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PATRICK KANE, NHL PLAYOFFS MVP: Hopefully, we can stay together a long time, because that's two cups in four years. And, we seem to only be getting better and better as players as time goes on here. So, it's unbelievable to be in this situation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: There was a huge upset in the first day of matches at Wimbledon. French Open champion and fifth seeded Rafael Nadal lost in straight set for the 135th rank player in the world, Steve Darcis. Now, lost in that Nadal's 22 match winning streak, and it's the first time he's been ousted in the first round of a grand slam event.

All right. Here's a bad combination. Double-decker buses, tall basketball players, and low overpasses. That's what the Miami Heat were faced with yesterday during the victory parade. Look at -- check out LeBron had to duck under that bridge. Luckily, he saw it coming and, well, they will enjoy the rest of the parade. An estimated 400,000 fans line in the streets of downtown Miami to celebrate the second straight NBA championship.

Well, the NBA draft is Thursday night. One of this year's top picks is having a little trouble deciding on what to wear. Kentucky Wildcats big man, Nerlens Noel has three suits in mind, and he's letting the fans decide which one he's going to wear for his big night. Check it out, guys. Here are your options. You got a nice blue suit with a lime green pocket square, a slick silver suit as well, and then blue pinstripe one.

You can cast your vote at NBA.com. And if it's my choice, I think he should go with the one in the middle. I like the silver look with the blue tie.

ROMANS: No, no. I love the lime pocket square. I'm going -- (CROSSTALK)

BERMAN: I was going to go with the one on the right, but you know, I have to say, Andy, based on what I've seen in the draft over the last, you know, ten, 20 years, these are all incredibly, you know, subdued and very sharp looking, I would say.

SCHOLES: You're right. I was expecting there to be at least one whacky one in there that he was going to, for sure, end up wearing with the fans voting for. But no, they're all pretty much Kentucky Wildcat blue theme. Very sharp.

BERMAN: And they will all look good on you as well. Andy Scholes, thank you so much. We appreciate it. We'll be right back.

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BERMAN: Speculation continues this morning about the next step for the NSA leaker Edward Snowden. Is he heading to Cuba, going to South America, staying in Moscow? Is he even there at all? Or maybe we should just listen to Jeanne Moos.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): And you think you've had some bad vacations? It was as if the world press were Edward Snowden's travel agent.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is he going to Cuba? Is he going to go to Venezuela?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If he goes to an independent third country like Iceland.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No report yet he's going to North Korea.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The only one not on the list yet.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wouldn't rule anything --

MOOS: No wonder they needed maps.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He planned to fly to Cuba on his way to seek asylum in Ecuador.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He will actually fly over the United States.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where in the world is Edward Snowden?

MOOS: Cartoonist Jeff Danziger imagined him in midair, jumping from a Russian air plot plane to air Ecuador. As the media massed at a Moscow airport chasing diplomats, showing Snowden's photo to passengers, it felt like a certain movie.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: NSA leaker Edward Snowden plays, "Catch Me If You Can." (SINGING) Come fly with me, let's fly, fly away

MOOS: The Leonardo DiCaprio's con artist character used a bevy of flight attendants to distract those pursuing him.

(SINGING) Let's float down to Peru.

MOOS: Make that Ecuador. But when reporters piled on the plane they thought would take Snowden there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a producer on that plane.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We had our own crew on that plane.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They went up and down. They didn't see him on board.

MOOS: Just an empty seat where Snowden was expected.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's a good 50 percent of the people on board are going to be journalists.

MOOS: CNN's Phil Black was one of those stuck on the 12-hour flight without Snowden who seemed to melt away. No wonder one YouTuber portrayed Snowden as snowman. "Guardian" columnist, Glenn Greenwald, tweeted that all the media excitement was this white bronco moment, but at least we knew O.J. Simpson was actually in the vehicle we were following. Jimmy Kimmel tossed Snowden into nonsensical, confusing "question of the day" to see what folks would say.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you agree with the commissioner's decision to postpone game seven tonight because Edward Snowden leaked Obama's plan to use drones to strike the down the summer solstice?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely not.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Man, I don't think this is the interview for me.

(LAUGHTER)

MOOS: Snowden even got some advice on where to go from David Letterman.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He should go to the Olive Garden. You're always family here.

(LAUGHTER)

MOOS: And it's better food than on that air flopped (ph) flight.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: Funny, but you know who's not laughing? The White House this morning. I'm sure they are taking this very, very seriously. On that note, let's bring in "NEW DAY" anchors, Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan. They will take it from here.

BOLDUAN: Good morning, guys. Thank you so much.

CUOMO: It's good to be with you. We're at the top of the hour, and you know what that means here on "NEW DAY." It is time for the top news.