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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

2016 President Race Heats Up; Yemen in Crisis: Violence Escalates; Duke Wins NCAA Crown. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired April 07, 2015 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:08] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: The race for the White House heating up this morning. Republican Senator Rand Paul set to make a major announcement.

Yemen in crisis. War intensifying in what was once a key ally in the U.S. war on terror. A ground assault on rebels who took down the president could soon begin as residents caught in the crossfire try desperately to get out. We are live with the very latest.

The Blue Devils on top. Duke defeating Wisconsin in a thrilling title finish. The big game moves and celebration this morning, ahead.

Good morning. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. It is Tuesday, April 7th, 4:00 a.m. in the East. John Berman has the morning off.

Happening this morning: another hat landing in the presidential ring as Rand Paul prepares to officially announce his plans for a 2016 run. The Kentucky senator will enter near the top of a crowded Republican field with CNN polling putting him in third place at 12 percent. Even so, Paul is hedging his bets, setting up an usual combined fund raising committee that will let donors give to both of his presidential and senatorial campaigns at the very same time.

We get more now from senior Washington correspondent Jeff Zeleny.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine.

The second Republican presidential candidate is going to throw his hat in the ring today. That Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky. He's going to have his announcement in Louisville, Kentucky, about midday.

He's going to try to run against Washington, trying to say he is a crusader from the outside, trying to build that coalition of libertarian voters, of younger voters, of Tea Party activists, all rallying against the establishment. If it sounds familiar, it probably should. He is not that different from Senator Ted Cruz, who, of course, was the first Republican to announce that he was running. But Rand Paul is somewhat different. He has been out campaigning for

longer than Ted Cruz. He is also running on his father's name. Ron Paul, of course, ran for president at least three times. He galvanized the support of libertarians.

So, Senator Rand Paul is a modern day version of his father's presidential candidacy. But the establishment is not taking him lightly at all. The Jeb Bush campaign in waiting we should say is watching this announcement very carefully. They believe that Rand Paul will be a force to be reckon with here.

But as Republicans are watching that, Democrats are still keeping an eye on Hillary Clinton. The Clinton campaign in waiting is on alert for a campaign at any day. It could come this week. It could come as late as next week. But by then, she is expected to be in the race as well.

So, the early version of the 2016 already is well under way. By the end of this week, we could have three candidates. And next week, Senator Marco Rubio is adding his name to the mix. So, a lot of political action here in Washington -- Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Jeff Zeleny, thanks for that.

With Hillary Clinton's expected announcement coming in the next week or two, we are learning more about the kind of campaign she plans to run. Sources close to the Clinton organization telling the "Associated Press" she will bypass big speeches, the huge crowds in the early going at least. Instead, Clinton will initially focus on intimate events that will put her in director contact with voters in early primary states. We are learning more this week about the Hillary Clinton e-mail controversy, as the Clinton library releases documents related to the former secretary of state starting Wednesday.

Jeb Bush likely to face questions as he visits Colorado today, questions over his 2009 voter registration form. The Republican presidential prospect laughing off a small tempest over listing himself as Hispanic. Bush, of course, his wife and children are Hispanic. Son Jeb Bush Jr. tweeted a link to a new story on the form and the comment, "LOL. Come on, dad. You checked the wrong box. #HonoraryLatino."

Bush Sr. responded with his explanation. "My mistake. Don't think I fooled anyone." The spokesperson says it is unclear where the paperwork error was made.

The shape of Israel's plan to block President Obama's nuclear deal with Iran becoming clearer this morning. Just one day after a leading Democrat said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has offered, quote, "no real alternative to the agreement hashed out last week in Switzerland". Israel detailed the changes it wants to make. The administration may disagree over whether they are realistic, since they include Iran stopping all nuclear research and development and exporting its uranium stockpile out of the country. CNN's Jim Acosta has more for us this morning from the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Christine, the White House is in rapid response mode as the president sells his nuclear deal with Iran. He's also taking on critics and Congress and U.S. like Israel. The president weighed in on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's demand that Iran recognize his nation's right to exist as part of a nuclear deal.

The president insisted to National Public Radio that's a deal Iran never would have accepted.

[04:05:00] BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The notion that we would condition Iran not getting nuclear weapons in a verifiable deal on Iran recognizing Israel is really akin to saying we won't sign a deal unless the nature of the Iranian regime completely transforms. And that is I think a fundamental misjudgment.

ACOSTA: Part of the reason there is so much skepticism is the fact that a big portion of the framework agreement touted in the Rose Garden last week is hardly settled. The White House conceded the U.S. and Iran have yet to agree on when sanctions on Tehran will be lifted, also a confrontation between White House and Congress is becoming even more of a possibility as Republicans say they are busy gathering up Democratic support for a plan to have Congress vote on the final nuclear deal.

The White House said, again, the president will veto the measure, but Republicans are getting increasingly confident they may have enough votes to override that veto -- Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Jim Acosta, thanks, from the White House this morning.

In Yemen this morning, southern militias attacking Houthi fighters across several provinces, the backing from airstrikes by a Saudi-led Arab coalition. There are signs the Saudis may also be preparing for a ground invasion. Pakistan says Saudi Arabia has asked it to provide aircraft, warships and crucially troops to join in the battle against the Iranian-backed Houthis.

As the Saudi-led offensive enters its 13th day now, power outages and food shortages, water shortages threaten to create a huge humanitarian disaster and refugees scramble to evacuate the country in ever greater numbers.

For the latest on the situation, I want to bring in CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson.

Good morning, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, Christine.

Sixteen million people in Yemen ostensibly under Houthi control without electricity. That is what we are being told without electricity for much of the time. The most intense fighting around in the city of Aden, more than 50 people killed there yesterday. The Houthi, despite the Saudi airstrikes, appear to be making gains of the deep water port facility.

If the southern separatists, the people's movements, and the people loyal to the current president, can hold out against the Houthis, there is a possibility they can hold the port well enough to allow a Saudi Arabia-led coalition land force to arrive there. But that's despite Saudi is saying the land invasion is still a possibility. That at the moment seems remote and unlikely.

The situation across the rest of Yemen is unclear. There are so many different groups fighting al Qaeda, ISIS, groups loyal to the former president, the tribes with their own alliances.

Here on the Saudi Arabia side of the border, we've been up in the mountains with the Saudi border guards. They're positioned with the Saudi army. That is something new. They've got a lot of expansive high tech weapons up there. They're not expecting a ground attack up there from the Houthis, but they say they are ready. Three Saudi border guards have been killed in cross border fighting.

But the real question for the Saudis, they beefed up defenses we've seen on the border. The real question at the moment is, will they put in ground troops? And if they choose to do that, where will they do it? Aden seems to be slipping from a sort of possible grasp at the moment, Christine.

ROMANS: And the real concern here is this escalates into some sort of a regional conflict. You have players from all over the region with competing interests in Yemen right now.

ROBERTSON: You do. And Saudi Arabia believes that the Houthis are backed by Iran. Iran has denied that claim. But it's very much viewed by Iran as a power play by the Saudis.

The Saudis have been beefing up their military, spent 60 billion on the military over the past couple years. They see this as an opportunity to set their mark in the region, to show their leadership in the region. And, of course, getting a ground force into Yemen is one thing. The concern that strategists will tell you about and we have seen this in many places. You can get an army in, but the chances of getting bogged down in a multifaceted, multi-fronted complex civil war is going to be the real concern here, Christine.

ROMANS: Absolutely. Nic Robertson for us in Saudi Arabia this morning -- thank you for that reporting, Nic.

Kenya continuing its offensive against terror group al Shabaab as the manhunt continues for Mohamed Mohamud, the named mastermind in the city of Garissa. This as Kenya's military takes out two al Shabaab camps in Somalia where Thursday militants were apparently were based. Correspondent Christian Purefoy is on the ground for us with the

latest.

Good morning.

CHRISTIAN PUREFOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine.

As you said, the Kenyan authorities have taken two steps in retaliation against al Shabaab for this attack.

[04:10:01] One is the air strikes on Somalia, on the al-Shabaab camps, about four-hour drive from where I'm standing. And the other is this wanted poster of the man they say is behind the attack, Mohamed Mohamud, and they put out a reward of over $200,000 for him and ask for information about his whereabouts.

While this is going on, yesterday, we had a grim reminder, Christine, about actually despite attention focusing on who is behind this, but what this is about. We were allowed into university yesterday where the attack took place where 147 people were killed. It really was quite shocking -- enormous amount of destruction and bullet holes and grenade attacks.

But perhaps most shocking was all of the students belongings, Christine. Still left in the dorms as the students were able to come back, but, of course, so many of them weren't -- Christine.

ROMANS: That is so sad. Do we know, Christian, why the terrorists targeted this university?

PUREFOY: Garissa has been targeted many times, particularly by this man, Mohamed Mohamud. He separates Christians and Muslims and killed Christians. There was a bus coming down in Garissa in 2013, his men stopped that bus and did exactly the same as they did in this university. As they said, they took out the passengers and separated them and killed the Christians.

Basically, Christine, Garissa is along the religious fault line, going across Africa from Somalia, all the way over to Nigeria, where you have a predominantly Christian sub-Saharan Africa and predominantly Muslim northern Africa. That's where the two religions meet. They get a lot of friction. It's groups like al Shabaab, Christine, that wants to try and create more division because it's in that chaos that they thrive, Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Christian Purefoy for us this morning in Kenya, thank you for that.

Time for an early start on your money this morning. U.S. stock futures are up slightly after a surprising rise. Stocks absorbed a weak jobs report. The Dow closed up 118 points. The New York Fed president helping easing concerns of the interest rate hike. It looks likely the first hike won't come until the third quarter or later.

Starbucks offering employees a college degree free of charge. Starbucks will offer four years of full tuition at Arizona State University online. It's available to 70 percent of full and part-time Starbucks employees who don't have a bachelor's degree. Seventy percent of Starbucks full time employees do not have a bachelor's degree. There is no obligation to stay with Starbucks after graduation.

One catch here, though: Starbucks will reimburse workers at the end of each semester. That means the workers bear the cost of the tuition up front.

Duke is once again the king of college basketball. The Blue Devils beat the Wisconsin Badgers, 68-63, in a thriller to claim the NCAA championship. It is the fifth title for Duke under Coach Mike Krzyzewski. Duke actually trailed by nine in the second half before storming back, led by 23 points from Tyus Jones who was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player.

Wisconsin senior Frank Kaminsky had 21 points, 12 rebounds, you know, he's losing effort. After the game, he tweeted, "Never been more proud of a group in my life. What we achieved will never been taken away from us. Thank you for having me at UW-Madison."

All right. Deliberations set to begin in the Boston marathon bombing trial, following a dramatic day in court. The emotional closing arguments, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:16:51] ROMANS: Jurors in the Boston marathon bombing trial begin deliberate -- deliberation, rather, first thing this morning. During closing arguments Monday, prosecutors linked the Tsarnaev brothers as a unified terror team. But Dzhokhar's attorney tried to persuade jurors, saying his client was merely influenced to carry out the attacks by his older brother.

CNN's Alexandra Field takes us inside that courtroom.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, survivors of the marathon bombings and family members filled the court to listen while prosecutors once again laid out the graphic details of those deadly attacks. They heard the prosecution implore the jury to find Dzhokhar Tsarnaev guilty of all 30 counts and they heard prosecutors tell the jury that Dzhokhar was a young man who wanted to terrorize, who planned to terrorize, that he and his brother considered themselves soldiers, mujahideen, and that they wanted to target the city of Boston.

Dzokhar's motive, according to the prosecution, laid out in the note he left in the boat, in which he writes, "We Muslims are all one body. You attack one, you attack us all."

For its part, the defense doesn't deny Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's participation in the events, but his attorney Judy Clarke says if not for Tamerlan, none of this would have happened. This is the strategy of the defense to show Dzhokhar as a younger brother influenced by his older brother. We'll see how of an impact that strategy has on the verdict phase of this trial. But it could have a significant impact on the sentencing phase of this trial.

If the jury finds Dzhokhar guilty of just one of 17 counts that comes with the possible death sentence, the jury will have to evaluate whether or not they choose to spare Dzhokhar's life -- Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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

A fourth New York City man indicted in the plot to support ISIS. Dilikhayot Kasimov was named in connection with the plot leading to the arrest of three others from Brooklyn in February. The 26-year-old allegedly raised cash for a co-defendant to travel to Syria to join ISIS. Three others charged in that plot have all pleaded guilty.

Closing arguments expected today in the murder trial of ex-NFL star Aaron Hernandez. The defense called three witnesses, resting its case in a single day. The jury could begin deliberations this afternoon. The former New England Patriot has pleaded not guilty in the shooting death of his friend, Odin Lloyd, in June 2013.

A North Carolina man charged with the death of three Muslim college students in Chapel Hill could face the death penalty. Craig Hicks was arrested in February for gunning down all of his victims. Police say an ongoing dispute over parking may have been a factor in that shooting, but said they aren't dismissing the possibility of a hate crime.

An explosion that rocked New York City's East Village now being investigated as a homicide. Investigators say it was caused by workers illegally tapping into the gas line. They are prepared to bring criminally negligent homicide charges against whoever is responsible. Two people died in that blast. Nearly two dozen were hurt.

A Maryland neighborhood in mourning today after eight members of a family found dead in their home Monday due to suspected carbon monoxide poisoning. Police say there was no evidence of foul play, but the power was off and the generator in the kitchen was out of fuel when Rodney Todd and his seven children ages 6 to 16 were all discovered in sleeping positions.

[04:50:09] Todd's coworker filed a report with police when he didn't come into work on Saturday.

"Rolling Stone" blasted for shoddy journalism and now could face a big lawsuit. How they got an alleged rape on campus so, so wrong, and why it could end up costing them, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: New details from Columbia University School of Journalism about its review of the now retracted "Rolling Stone" story on the alleged rape on the UVA campus. This review found failures at all levels of "Rolling Stone", errors Columbia says could have been easily avoided if simple basic standards were met by the author and others at that magazine.

And now, legal action on the horizon against "Rolling Stone."

The latest this morning from CNN's Sara Ganim.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA GANIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, Phi Kappa Si fraternity now says it plans to sue "Rolling Stone" after an investigation found there was no evidence of that gang rape as it was portrayed by "Rolling Stone" last year.

"The Columbia Journalism Review" says "Rolling Stone" failed on every journalistic level. The review of the story found the magazine writer didn't call enough sources and placed the credibility of the entire magazine on a single source, the woman named "Jackie" who is at the center of the piece.

[04:55:02] Now, Columbia's dean, Steve Coll, says all of this could have been avoided if the writer had just picked up the phone and called a few of Jackie's friends who she says were with her that night. Take a listen.

STEVE COLL, DEAN, COLUMBIA JOURNALISM SCHOOL: The result of calling friends would have been a whole another world of information. And that's why you do it, not just to be fair but because you learned things.

GANIM: Now, all three of those friends said they would have spoken to "Rolling Stone", and "Rolling Stone" admits that their stories would have presented red flags, not only to the reporter but to her editors who the reviewer said did not do enough. Instead, "Rolling Stone" honored the request from "Jackie" not to talk to anyone else until the story published.

Now, in the article, "Jackie" tells this horrifying story that she had been raped by several men at a Phi Kappa Si fraternity party. But Columbia says that "Rolling Stone" didn't do enough to get the fraternity's side of the story. Columbia also found there was no intentional wrongdoing.

Now, the story's writer, Sabrina Rubin Erdely, said in a statement, quote, "These are mistakes that I will not make again."

The alleged victim, Jackie, didn't cooperate with either investigation, Columbia or the police. "Rolling Stone" magazine has now apologized, retracted their story, but they say that no one will be fired -- Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: No one would be fired. A lot of people in journalism circles wondering how that can be.

Twenty-six minutes past the hour.

The 2016 presidential race growing this morning, a big announcement coming today. It could force other potential candidates to toss their hats into the ring quickly. We are breaking it all down, next.

(CROSSTALK)

ROMANS: The 2016 White House race growing this morning.