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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Police Arrest Ohio Man for Terror Plot Against U.S. Capitol; French War on Terror; New Weapons, Money Trail in Investigation into Paris Attacks; Divers in Java Sea Face Grim Duty; Cosby to Face Potential Criminal Charges

Aired January 15, 2015 - 05:30   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 ANCHOR: Capitol Hill terror plot. Police arresting a man they say planned an ISIS-style attack. This morning, new information we're learning about this suspect.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: The French war on terror, trying to hunt down suspects who may be on the run, people who may have helped in the attack last week here in Paris. The French government now trying to take on al Qaeda. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula now claiming responsbility for being behind the attack at Charlie Hebdo. France now increasing its role in the fight against ISIS. A country very much on high alert this morning, but France still very much in mourning.

Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm John Berman live in Paris this morning.

ROMANS: And I'm Christine Romans. It is 29 minutes past the hour; there's a lot happening to get to in Paris this morning.

But first we want to go to breaking news this morning: new information on a terror threat in this country. An Ohio man is in federal custody, accused of planning an attack on the U.S. Capitol. A criminal complaint alleges that Christopher Lee Cornell had aligned himself with ISIS. His father tells CNN Cornell could never have carried out the plan.

Our justice correspondent Pamela Brown is in Washington with details.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Christine, the FBI says 20-year-old Christopher Lee Cornell from Cincinnati, Ohio, was in the final stages of carrying out his alleged attack of detonating bombs at the U.S. Capitol building and then opening fire on U.S. lawmakers as they ran out. The FBI has been keeping an eye on Cornell for several months, after a confidential informant tipped them off about some alarming statements he allegedly posted on social media about wanting to launch violent jihad.

At one point, he allegedly told the informant that he had been in contact with people overseas and wanted to murder U.S. government officials in honor of ISIS. And according to this criminal complaint, some of the communications happened over the summer. At one point, the informant apparently said I believe we should wage jihad under our own orders and plan attacks. And the FBI is alleging that, from there, he took concrete steps toward his goal, researching how to build pipe bombs and studying the buildings he wanted to target in D.C.

And then we learned that on Wednesday he bought two semiautomatic rifles, according to the FBI. Shortly after that, he was arrested and then charged with attempting to kill a U.S. government officer. His father spoke to CNN. He says he is shocked by this, that he had no knowledge of his son's alleged plot.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Do you believe he was inn involved with ISIS?

JOHN CORNELL, FATHER OF CHRISTOPHER LEE CORNELL: Heck no. There's no way. There's no way my son was involved with ISIS.

LEMON: But he did convert to Islam, did he not?

CORNELL: Yes, he did convert to Islam. Is that a crime? He belongs to Islam and at first I was concerned because of all of the stuff that you see in the news and everything. And he explained a lot of stuff to me, that he never had anything against Christians or anyone. You just have to let Christians believe what they believe and be where they are and he believes in Jesus. He knew the Bible inside and out; he knew the Koran. He's a pretty smart kid. I think he was really vulnerable, you know what I mean? But I think some of this, it just sounds so far fetched. I mean how in the heck was he going to -- he didn't even drive. I mean, he didn't have a car.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: It is important to say that officials are saying that they do not pose a threat -- that he did not pose a threat to the public during the course of the investigation. Christine.

ROMANS: All right, Pamela Brown, for that in Washington.

But, John, certainly a terror threat in this country, that is something that investigators have been long warning about, that ISIS can inspire people who have no ties to ISIS, but can inspire people to pursue such attacks. Now that's what the FBI is saying happened here. John.

BERMAN: I know. In the wake of what happened in Canada, in Ottawa, you know why they have been on alert for that type of situation in the United States.

Of course, here in France, the highest level of alert and tensions really rising. This in the wake of the new claim by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula taking responsibility for the terror attack last week against Charlie Hebdo, the satirical magazine behind me. At the same time, the nation is celebrating the issue of that magazine with its cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad on the cover. The government here has actually ordered prosecutors to crack down on

some kinds of speech. The Justice Ministry says that, since last week's attack, more than 50 people have been arrested or detained for what they call hate speech. It's against the law to defend or condone terrorism. Now, the sentiment, I would say, in this country at the official level and on the streets against radical Islam, it is growing. The lower house of parliament voted overwhelmingly to extend French participation in the coalition air strikes against ISIS. French President Francois Hollande announced he's sending a French aircraft carrier to the Indian Ocean to help battle ISIS.

And all this as the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will arrive here later today. He will be the highest level American official to visit this country since the attacks.

I want to bring in our senior international correspondent, Frederik Pleitgen, in. Fred, something happened overnight which I think really highlights the extreme level of almost nervousness right now in this city.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Nervousness and the way that the authorities here are just on the edge right now. There was an incident at the residence of Francois Hollande, the country's president, where a car went in the wrong direction against a one-way street and ran into a police officer. And of course all this set off all sorts of alarm bells. Because you have to keep in mind, last Thursday, a police officer at a traffic checkpoint was shot to death by a --

BERMAN: The first victim of Amedy Coulibaly.

PLEITGEN: Exactly. And so people thought this might be related to all this. There were some people who were saying this officer was hit deliberately. Obviously also the fact that they were disobeying all sorts of traffic rules and going directly towards the residence set off all sorts of alarms as well.

It appears as though possibly this was a group of young people, who the driver might have been somewhat intoxicated. They then tried to get away from the scene. Two of them were actually arrested. Two of them did get away. They said they simply lost their nerve and tried to get away as fast as possible. It certainly shows how on the edge this country is. Again, 10,000 troops that are being deployed, additionally, 5,000 cops that are being deployed additionally. So right now they are doing everything they can to try and keep the peace, and everything here really sets off a lot of issues.

BERMAN: Police feel like they're targets, too. Three of them did die last week.

All right, Fred, I want you to explain something I think to our American audience that may be surprising. The idea that 50 people have been detained or arrested for statements they have made, for things they may have drawn, for graffiti in support or at least condoning terror. PLEITGEN: Yes, and it's something that free speech here in Europe is

defined a little differently than it is in America. There are certain things that are deemed out of bounds in certain countries. In Germany, for instance, if you support the Nazis, if you say anything that supports the Nazi era, that is a crime. Here, it's speech supporting terrorism, allegedly supporting terrorism, anything that calls for the overthrow of the government system is something that is out of bounds and can be a criminal offense.

So that's why, as you said, they launched 54 cases where they say people have said things that support terrorism. One of them is a famous comedian here, who said at one of his gigs, he said, "Tonight, as far as I am concerned, I feel like Charlie Coulibaly," of course referencing the fact, he says, that is both French and of Algerian descent. But it was enough to get him arrested. This is someone who's done similar things before. He wanted to be provocative. But certainly is something where, for an audience in America, you would think why on earth would you arrest this guy? But it shows, first of all, that the laws are a little different here and also that the nation is very, very tense.

BERMAN: In this environment, this government doesn't want to allow it. Frederick Pleitgen, stick around. We have more to discuss with you in just a moment.

But I want to turn to Isa Soares right now to talk about the investigations, all of the leads they are now following in this case. And, Isa, No. 1 on the list, developments overnight. We learned of an arrest in Belgium, someone who may be connected at least financially or when it comes to weapons with Amedy Coulibaly.

ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Indeed. Good morning, John. If you are just joining us, let me bring you up to date with some new leads that we've had that developed in the last -- broken here on CNN in the last hour.

Belgium federal authorities telling CNN that basically they have arrested a man in Charleroi in Belgium, the man suspected in connection with arms trafficking. We have been told by the Belgium federal prosecutors that this man actually turned himself in to authorities.

Now it is believed that this man, we do not know if he is Belgium, we do not know if he's French, recently bought a car from Hayat Boumediene. If you remember, this is the woman that is on the run. She is the partner of Coulibaly and she is believed to be in Syria. Belgium federal authorities also telling CNN in the last hour that they raided this man's house last weekend. And, there, they found paperwork that linked him with Coulibaly when it came to weapons trails. So that is the weapons sale, authorities closing in on that.

Then we've got more in terms of the weapons trail. This time, coming here, focusing also on Coulibaly, but taking place in Paris. (INAUDIBLE) reporting overnight that they believe authorities telling them that there's perhaps a fourth accomplice. Why do they think that? Basically, if you remember, the authorities, French authorities raided an apartment here in France that belonged to Coulibaly. There they found weapons stashed as well as a flag, an ISIS flag, and also a set of keys. The set of keys, actually they're a motorbike's keys and they belong to this man. They believe that this man drove Coulibaly to the attack on Friday at the kosher store.

Another level, another layer to the puzzle, is the fact that this man is believed to have really been involved in an assault and an incident with a jogger in a Paris -- in Paris city center here where he was shot, the Parisian gentleman is doing OK. But what they have realized, really, John, that the ballistics from that incident are exactly the same as the ballistics from the kosher store from Coulibaly. So there is the connection once again to actually the weapons trail.

In terms of the money trail, also, breaking overnight, we have heard from La Voix du Nord, basically telling -- basically saying that Coulibaly, still focusing on Coulibaly here, took money out on December the 4th. This is a loan that he requested. He requested a loan of 6,000 euros. That is roughly $7,000. And he said he wanted the money quickly. In fact, he wanted it in eight days. He also asked to be covered by life insurance tied to that loan. He was never asked what that money was for, because the amount wasn't significant, so they said. But the paperwork that we've been looking it, we've been able to see it, it showed basically his earnings and it shows also that he lied about where he was working and duration of his employment. If you remember, in the video made public to the media post the attack, he said that the money -- the money he had, he had also given to the Kouachi brothers.

So you're starting to get a picture of all that money coming from, and the weapons trafficking. Also, all this happening a day after al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula made a claim, saying that they were behind the attack by the Kouachi brothers at the offices of Charlie Hebdo. They said, and I'm quoting, they chose the target, they laid the plan, and also they financed the operation. That was their words. The U.S. government basically saying overnight they believe the tape is in fact authentic. There is doubt over involvement, planning and indeed its financing. So you're starting to get a bit of an idea of this puzzle that seems to go from Bulgaria, now to Belgium, and here in France as well as linked now people, including Hayat Boumediene, maybe in Syria. John.

BERMAN: We are getting this look at the leads they're following right now. Isa Soares, thanks so much.

I'm going to get back to Fred Pleitgen. Because we're also getting a view that we did not have before inside that kosher market -- security footage as the attack was being carried out by Amedy Coulibaly.

PLEITGEN: Yes, and those pictures that we got, we have only have still images. We don't have the actual video of all this. First of all, are going to be very important. Because we know that all of the suspects in the case that are known of are dead. Amedy Coulibaly is dead. The Kouachi brothers are dead. So they do shed light on what might have gone on. One of the things that stands out to me is that you see Coulibaly

wearing that bulletproof vest with that camouflage on it; that's the same -- appears to be the same bulletproof vest he was wearing in that ISIS video where he was claiming that he was acting on behalf of ISIS. So that's very interesting to see when was all this recorded, how far were these events apart.

Then of course you see the actual situation there in that supermarket, and you see how he kept control of those people there. How he forced them to stand crammed together. There was one picture also where he's standing behind one of the hostages, forcing the hostages to have his hands on a wall. And the interesting thing in that picture is also you see him holding a gun. And it is believed, as Isa just said, with that -- that gun may have been used by this other suspect in the shooting of a jogger, a Tokarev pistol that Coulibaly also used there in the kosher supermarket.

So it does help the authorities to piece things together a little bit. But of course the main thing it shows many people in the public here is just how awful the situation was there, where you have those dead bodies laying around at the cashier. And if you look at the time when that picture was taken, though, that dead body, it's about four hours before the actual police raid happened. So that's how long the people there had to deal with that situation.

BERMAN: I can't imagine just how awful it was. And to see a stroller at one point in the aisles, the stroller of a child we believe was taken and hidden in that freezer, it is chilling to see.

Frederik Pleitgen, thanks so much for being with us. I really appreciate it. Christine, let's go back to you in New York.

ROMANS: All right, thanks, John. The lines in Paris at the news stands for the Charlie Hebdo edition were very, very long. Have been for a couple of days. Charlie Hebdo selling out. And it's fetching a high price online now.

The magazine came out yesterday, one day (sic) after terrorists attacked its offices -- one week, rather, after the terrorists attacked its offices. Now, it's official price is 3 euros; that's about $3.50. But on eBay, copies have sold for $600 already. Many other copies have bids well over $100. This morning, people lined up an again for a second day at news stands and kiosks to get a copy. Many places sold out early, just like yesterday. Distributors say another one million copies will be released tomorrow for a total of 5 million copies.

Happening now, divers searching for victims on AirAsia Flight 8501. We are live with the very latest from Jakarta next.

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ROMANS: Welcome back to EARLY START. Now that the fuselage of AirAsia Flight 8501 has been found, divers working in the Java Sea face an especially grim duty. They've started to search the wreckage for the bodies of those who perished in last month's crash. Officials say if the divers encounter any trouble, crews may lift the fuselage out of the water.

I want to get right to CNN's David Molko; he's live in Jakarta. David, what's the latest? David, can you hear me? What is the latest in the search for the missing passengers in that fuselage?

DAVID MOLKO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, some news here just in in Jakarta. We are learning from the head of the investigation here, one of the senior investigators from the National Transportation Safety Committee, that they are now comparing information from the two black boxes. So we talked about the cockpit voice recorder and the data from the flight data recorder. They are now trying to compare what happened with the why, putting the pieces together of what the pilots said with what actually may have happened on board, what the aircraft was doing at the time.

Out in the Java Sea, one thing we have not talked about with this fuselage is the cockpit. Is it attached? Is the crew where they're exactly supposed to be? And what about the position of the switches in the cockpit? All of that definitely could shed light on the investigation into what happened into Flight 8501.

The big priority continues to be this effort to recover bodies presumably trapped inside the fuselage. Divers facing a very tricky task, extremely sensitive work. Plan is to bring as many up to the surface directly. If that doesn't work, if they can't get inside, then they will look at the bigger plan, which is to try to raise that fuselage up to the surface using giant air bags and methods of pulleys, cranes, and cables. Christine, this is slow, painstaking work. Obviously it has to be done with dignity for these families. In the words of one family member watching this, when he saw the pictures for the first time -- thank god, thank god, thank god. We expect and imagine that other families are feeling the same way. Christine.

ROMANS: All right, David Molko in Jakarta for us. And thank god they found the fuselage, but at the same time, it is essentially a graveyard for a hundred of those people there and needs the utmost of dignity as they do this. Thank you, sir.

New trouble this morning for Bill Cosby. Police now investigating a new -- a new -- rape claim against Bill Cosby. Details after the break.

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ROMANS: ISIS fighters are still making gains in Syria, even after three months of pounding by coalition forces, close to 800 air strikes. U.S. and independent assessment say bombing campaigns have pushed militant forces out of some key battlegrounds in Iraq, but the same cannot be said for Syria. In fact, Syria continues to be a haven for Islamic State militants and they've kept making progress there.

A "Washington Post" journalist detained in Iran for months has been indicted and will stand trial. Tehran's announcement comes following Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to Geneva pushing forward talks over Iran's nuclear program. Current and former U.S. officials believe the prosecution of Jason Rezaian, an Iranian American, will complicate the Obama administration's efforts to forge a nuclear deal with Iran.

A major management shake up at the Secret Service. Four of its most senior officials overseeing protection, investigations, technologies, and public affairs being forced out following a series of scandals and security breaches at the White House. The agency's acting director says change is necessary to get a fresh perspective on how we conduct business.

House Republicans going on the offensive. They're passing legislation to overturn President Obama's executive actions on immigration and to remove protections for so-called DREAMers. Those are immigrants brought illegally to the country as children. Speaker John Boehner says the president's executive, quote, "overreach" left the Republican controlled House with no alternative. But 10 GOP members voted against the final bill.

Sexual assault claims against Bill Cosby could go from scandalous to criminal. The LAPD says it will investigate new allegations brought by Chloe Goins. She says Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion back in 2008 when she was 18 years old. More than a dozen other women have made similar accusations against the comedian. Now, Goins' attorney says the claims by his client might be the first to fall within California's statute of limitations.

If you have questions about filling out or filing your tax return this year, do not count on the IRS for help. A report by a federal watchdog group says taxpayers will bear the brunt of the tax cuts in the IRS with customer service expected to be the worst in more than a decade, and it's not likely to improve any time soon. Republican lawmakers want to cut the IRS budget by another $346 million for this fiscal year.

They'll be up bright and early in Hollywood this morning to hear the nominations for the 87th Academy Awards. Among the expected Best Picture nominees, "Boyhood". It's a coming of age story that was 12 years in the making. A unique film. Also "Birdman" with its star Michael Keaton, who should also hear his name called in the Best Actor category. Julianne Moore, a leading contender for a Best Actress nomination. She plays a woman with early onset Alzheimer's in the film "Still Alice". Eddie Redmayne, who portrays Stephen Hawking, in "The Theory of Everything" should also be a contender in the Best Actor race. And "The Grand Budapest Hotel" is expected to be among the most nominated films. You can see the Oscar nominations live here on "NEW DAY" at 8:38 a.m. Eastern Time, so just a few hours from now.

President Obama calling on Congress to provide a new job benefit to workers. We've got an EARLY START on your money next.

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ROMANS: Let's get an EARLY START on your money this Thursday morning. Strong day for Asian stocks but European shares pulling back from big gains earlier today. U.S. stock futures are lower here right now. Ugly day for the Dow yesterday -- four days lower in a row. December retail sales were weak and an earnings report from JPMorgan Chase disappointed.

Wild market moves out there, folks. Commodities and oil are crashing. The ten-year note yield yesterday falling to a record low. Some perspective, though, for the stock market. Even with recent selling, stocks are only down just about 4 percent from those record highs hit in December. But a lot of big market moves in commodities, in oil of course, in treasuries, and of course in currencies.

BlackBerry shares, watching this morning, sinking before the bell. The stock got a 30 percent boost yesterday on rumors of a Samsung buyout but BlackBerry and Samsung denied a takeover. That's sending the stock back down more than 15 percent before the bell. BlackBerry has lost almost of its market share in smartphones; it's shifted its focus to software. It's trying here for a turnaround.

The president is renewing his fight for paid sick days. The White House announcing via LinkedIn plans to push Congress on the Healthy Families Act that would allow workers to earn up to seven paid sick days a year. It would mean a huge change for the 40 percent of workers in this country who don't get any paid sick time. The U.S. is the only advanced nation with no paid sick time policy.

58 minutes past the hour. "NEW DAY" starts right now.