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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

South Carolina Police Officer Charged with Murder; Hackers Penetrate White House Computers; U.S. Speeds Involvement in Yemen; Rand Paul Hits the Road; Tiger Woods Talk About Making a Comeback. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired April 08, 2015 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:00] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: This morning, the community outrage and what the victim's family is now saying.

Good morning and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm John Berman. Great to see you today. It is Wednesday, April 8th. It is 5:00 a.m. in the East.

And we have new developments this morning in an alarming case in South Carolina. A police officer remains behind bars, charged in the murder of an unarmed black man who was running away following a traffic stop. North Charleston Police Officer Michael Slager arrested after a disturbing video emerged of the shooting itself.

Watch.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

BERMAN: Remarkable and disturbing, tragic all at the same time.

Let's bring in CNN's Ed Lavandera with the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, this dramatic video has ended with Officer Michael Slager, a five-year veteran of the North Charleston Police Department, being charged with murder.

This comes incredibly quickly. The shooting took place Saturday afternoon, just four days ago. And the state law enforcement department there in the state of South Carolina has charged him with murder.

In this video, it's dramatic, you see in the initial moments of the video the victim in this case, 50-year-old Walter Scott, very close to the officer but starting to run away. You see some objects fall to the ground. Officer Slager apparently said that he feared for his life or he felt like he was in danger because the victim had reached for his taser.

But Walter Scott gets about 25 feet away, four seconds later and eight shots, Walter Scott drops to the ground. He is later pronounced dead at the scene.

And then, one interesting piece, if you look closely at the video, at one point you see Slager go back to where the initial confrontation had taken place and then dropped something next to Walter Scott's body. It's not clear if that's the body. Then, moments later, he goes back and picks up that very same object.

It is clear, John and Christine, that this video played a dramatic role in these murder charges being filed against Officer Michael Slager -- John and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: Ed Lavandera, thanks for that.

Again, this was a traffic stop for a broken or cracked taillight.

On top of the state murder charges officer Slager faces an FBI investigation for possibly violating Walter Scott's civil rights. He's also likely to be named in a civil lawsuit planned by Scott's family. They were outraged, heartbroken, and they spoke to the media last night. Their lawyer called Slager, quote, "a cop who felt like he could get away with just shooting someone in the back."

Walter Scott's brother, Anthony, remembered him as a Coast Guard veteran and the father of four children.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTHONY SCOTT, SHOOTING VICTIM'S BROTHER: I have -- I had two brothers. I had two brothers. But now, I have one brother.

But out of my brothers, he was the most outgoing out of all of us. He had -- he knew everybody. He knew -- he knew family I didn't know. He knew he had friends I didn't know. He was well known in the community, everywhere. And he was just an outgoing type of person, and loving and kind. That was just his nature.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: City officials in North Charleston, they spoke out as well. The mayor says he is grateful that someone was there to capture that moment on camera and step forward with the video. The police chief says he has been devastated by the actions of his officer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR KEITH SUMMEY, NORTH CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA: The video is very demonstrative of exactly what happened. Without the video, and that was the only witness there was, actually, was the gentleman that was making the video, it would be difficult to ascertain exactly what did occur. We want to thank the young person that came forward with the video.

EDDIE DRIGGERS, NORTH CHARLESTON POLICE CHIEF: You've been around me a long time. And you know I think that all of these police officers on this force, the men and women, are like my children. So, you tell me how a father would react to seeing his child act, do something. I'll let you answer that yourself.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: South Carolina political figures reacting to the police shooting and these murder charges as well. In a statement overnight, Governor Nikki Haley said, "What happened in this case is not acceptable in South Carolina."

On Twitter, Senator Tim Scott said, "After watching the video, the senseless shooting and taking of Walter Scott's life was absolutely unnecessary and avoidable. My heart aches for the family and for our North Charleston community. I will be watching this case closely."

BERMAN: A broken taillight.

ROMANS: A broken taillight.

BERMAN: New this morning: U.S. officials are investigating a breach of White House computers by Russian hackers.

[05:05:01] U.S. officials briefed on the investigation say the White House hack is connected to a damaging intrusion into the State Department computers we've been telling you about since last year.

Justice reporter Evan Perez picks up the story now from Washington -- Evan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

EVAN PEREZ, CNN JUSTICE REPORTER: John, Christine, Russian hackers in recent months broke into sensitive parts of the White House e-mail system. They even can see parts of the president's schedule not disclosed to the public in real time.

The hackers are believed to be working for the Russian government. And according to U.S. officials, they pulled off one of the most serious cyber breaches of U.S. government agencies.

This breach is one reason why U.S. intelligence officials recently increased warnings about the cyber threat from Russia. The White House disclosed suspicious activity in its unclassified e-mail systems in October. But officials say even unclassified e-mails contain sensitive information that's valuable to foreign spies.

The hackers got in first by breaking into the State Department's e- mail servers. Then they tricked someone into giving them access to the system serving the executive office of the president. Federal agencies are now warning employees to beware of so-called phishing e- mails. These appear to come from trustworthy e-mail accounts but actually contain malicious software which gives hackers the ability to take over their computers -- John, Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: Evan Perez, thank you for that, Evan.

Happening now, the United States is deepening its involvement in the battle for Yemen. State Department officials say the U.S. is speeding up delivery of weapons and increasing intelligence sharing with Saudi Arabia. For two weeks, the Saudis have been launching airstrikes against Houthi rebels who they say are being trained and armed by Iran.

Let's bring in senior international correspondent Nic Robertson who is live for us in Saudi Arabia -- Nic.

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

Well, those Saudi coalition-led airstrikes over the capital, Sana'a, not so heavy last night, targeting some areas around key oil fields, areas that Houthis are believed to be moving into, trying to take control of. So, those strikes apparently to stop them there.

Strikes around Aden yesterday do appear to have sort of blunted the Houthis' attack there. Aden quieter than it has been.

But this is the clearest indication yet from Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the clearest indication yet that the Saudi authorities here intend to continue this air campaign. This is what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

ANTHONY BLINKEN, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE: Saudi Arabia is sending a strong message to the Houthis and their allies that they cannot overrun Yemen by force. In support of that effort, we have expedited weapons deliveries, we've increased our intelligence sharing, and we've established a joint coordination and planning cell in the Saudi operations center.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: Now, with this increased intelligence sharing, it doesn't allow the United States to provide direct targeting information to the Saudis. However, what it does do, when the Saudis have decided what it is they're going to target, to share that with the United States. The United States to review it, and advise potentially for any civilian targets.

And yesterday, there was a case where a civilian target was right next to a military -- a civilian school, was right next to a military target. The military target was hit. It had been hit before, but the school was also hit, and six children were killed. So, this additional intelligence sharing agreement may improve that situation, Christine.

ROMANS: We certainly hope so. Nic Robertson for us in Saudi Arabia, thank you, Nic.

Now, critics of the deal to curb Iran's nuclear program are being disingenuous -- those words straight from the head of the CIA. John Brennan told students at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government that critics should not rip apart a solid deal. He said it's impossible to expect Iran to dismantle everything. Brennan did say, though, he understands why some could have reservations.

BERMAN: Another breakthrough in the historic thaw between the U.S. and Cuba might happen as early as today. The State Department expected to recommend that Cuba be removed as a state sponsor of terrorism. Once a State Department recommendation is made, Secretary of State John Kerry will pass that along to President Obama who has said he would quickly accept that recommendation. Then, Congress would then have 45 days to override the president's decision, but they would need a veto-proof majority to do so. It sounds like a "Schoolhouse Rock" episode right there, singing it on the Capitol steps.

All right. One week before tax day and IRS budget cuts are taking their toll both on the agency and possibly you if you're filing close to the deadline. The IRS commissioner is conceding that customer service is abysmal this year. That means not good. Only four in ten callers to the agency's toll-free help line are getting through to a real person. And when they do reach a real person, the customer service agents are instructed to only provide the basics like how to get tax forms and where to get online information.

ROMANS: Audits are down but so is patience, but so is patience running out. Patience is in short supply.

[05:10:02] Big oil getting even bigger. The big story this morning: Shell is buying BG Group, a British firm with prized oil fields off the coast of Brazil, the biggest oil merger in something like 20 years.

This is a $70 billion deal. We like to call that a super merger. If completed, it will add 25 percent to Shell's oil and gas reserves and 20 percent to production. Energy prices have tumbled. That's what you call a crash in a commodity, from $100 a barrel last summer to $50 a barrel now. That puts some producers in a crunch. Bigger firms can swoop in to take over. Shell just the latest to add to its expansive portfolio.

Rock-bottom prices also mean more layoffs for people who work in the oil industry. Since June, there have been more than 50,000 oil job cuts in the U.S. thanks to falling oil. This is a CNN money analysis. Layoffs are up almost 4,000 percent in the oil patch in the first quarter. No surprise when you see a commodity decline like that, boom.

BERMAN: I am struck at how big these companies are. You're talking about mergers in the 50-plus billion dollars, you're talking about tens of thousands of employees. They're huge companies.

ROMANS: The world runs on oil.

BERMAN: I guess so.

ROMANS: It does. BERMAN: All right. Eleven minutes after the hour.

Dramatic closing arguments in the Aaron Hernandez trial. A former NFL star accused of killing his friend. Now, the defense admits he was at the murder scene. This was a new development late in the closing arguments. We'll tell you all about it, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: The jury in the Boston marathon bombing trial resumes deliberations this morning. On Tuesday, the panel sent the judge two notes after a long seven-hour day. Now, the judge did not share the contents of the notes publicly but he told the jurors that he will answer their questions today.

CNN's Alexandra Field has more from inside the courtroom.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, John, a jury made up of seven women and five men spent more than seven hours on the first day of deliberations trying to determine the fate of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

[05:15:04] He faces 30 different counts, 17 of those charges coming with a possible death sentence.

If the jury finds him guilty of just one of those counts, this trial will go into a sentencing phase in which the jury will have to determine whether or not to spare Tsarnaev's life.

The defense has never denied Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's participation in the attacks, but it is still the responsibility of the jury to determine whether or not the government met the burden of proof in each of those 30 counts.

Deliberations will continue at 9:00 in the morning. The jury has already sent two notes with questions for the judge about this case -- Christine, John.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: Jury deliberations today in the murder trial of ex-football star Aaron Hernandez. During closing arguments on Tuesday, the lawyers for Hernandez acknowledged for the first time that their client was at the murder scene. This came as prosecutors say that evidence clearly shows Hernandez had a calculated plan to kill Odin Lloyd.

CNN's Susan Candiotti picking up the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A day of passionate closing arguments by both prosecutors and defense in the case of Aaron Hernandez. Prosecutors for the very first time identifying Hernandez as the trigger man in the shooting death of Odin Lloyd.

And defense attorneys for the first time saying that Aaron Hernandez was, in fact, at the crime scene, saying this, calling him a 23-year- old kid who in their words witnesses something committed by somebody he knew, indicating that they are trying to shift the blame on the two other people who were in the car that night.

Now, the jury spent about an hour and a half deliberating and will have their first full day of deliberations beginning in the morning at 9:00 a.m. -- Christine and John.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right, Susan. Thank you, Susan.

Rand Paul is on the campaign trail now, his first full day as a declared presidential candidate. The Kentucky senator will hold a rally in New Hampshire, home of the nation's first primary, following the Iowa caucuses. In his Tuesday announcement, the libertarian Republican took direct aim as the NSA surveillance program.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. RAND PAUL (R-KY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Warrantless searches of Americans' phones and computer records are un-American and a threat to our civil liberties. I say that your phone records are yours. I say the phone records of law-abiding citizens are none of their damn business.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Paul took aim at both parties, saying it is time to take the country back from what he calls special interests using Washington as a piggy bank.

BERMAN: Rahm Emanuel has won a second term in office in Chicago's first mayoral runoff, he beat his rival, Jesus "Chuy" Garcia. During his victory speech, the mayor thanked the crowd for putting him through the paces, and he made an oath to be a, quote, "better mayor because of it." The mayor also promised to do things differently in his new term, including a pledge to unite that city.

That was really, really close in the end -- a really tough battle for Rahm Emanuel.

ROMANS: And he is pledging to be a different kind of player. To be more inclusive, not so divided.

BERMAN: To be a different kind of man. I mean, he said, I'm just going to be different than I've been my whole life.

ROMANS: I'm going to be -- yes, right, the thing that made him famous and good at his job in Washington was tough on him in Chicago.

A pivotal election in the embattled city of Ferguson, Missouri. Voters tripled the number of black members on the city council by electing two black candidates. The move will change the political fabric of Ferguson after all the unrest that began last August. That's when Officer Darren Wilson shot unarmed teen Michael Brown. He avoided charges in that case.

BERMAN: Tiger Woods at the Masters. This is after taking some time off to work on his game to get his health back. He is there, and I guarantee you, CBS is thrilled. The Masters thrilled.

Coy Wire, you know what? Even Coy Wire is thrilled. The bleacher report is next.

ROMANS: It's not uncommon to see professional athletes struggle with money in retirement. That's not the case for former NHL player Jim Montgomery. For him, retirement means a lot more hockey.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM MONTGOMERY, FORMER NHL PLAYER/HOCKEY COACH: During your skates glisten off the ice and push forward and hear the snap of the ice break away underneath you, and then the competiveness of trying to get that puck first against an opponent, to feel that with your brothers and your best friends on the ice is something special I wish everyone could experience.

I'm Jim Montgomery. I was a professional hockey player for 12 years. And I retired, and now I'm a professional hockey coach at the University of Denver.

People don't open up their arms like they do when you're a professional athlete. So, it made sense to me that in coaching, I was going to have to volunteer or make very little money my first couple of years coaching.

As a coach, you're trying to impart on these young men so that they can enjoy that brotherhood together, and you're more of a father figure. How you help them grow individually as people will help ensure that they have great careers in whatever path they choose.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[05:20:17] ROMANS: A terrific retirement series. You can see Jim's whole story at CNNMoney.com/retireyourway.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Many of the world's best golfers in Augusta, Georgia, for the Masters. That starts tomorrow.

ROMANS: That includes Tiger Woods. He hasn't won a major tournament in almost seven years.

Coy Wire has more in this morning's "Bleacher Report."

Hey, Coy.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, guys. Yes, seven years since a major and it's been over two months since he's been in a tournament. What's he been doing? He's been chilling on his yacht, just hanging out?

He told the media exactly what he's been up to. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIGER WOODS, 4-TIME MASTERS CHAMPION: I worked my (EXPLETIVE DELETED) off. That's the easiest way to describe it. I worked hard.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: Tiger said he's been practicing from, quote, "sunup to sundown" to get ready for what will be his 20th appearance at the Masters. He's ready to rock. It's not all work and no play for Tiger, though. He's going to participate in the par 3 contest, and both of his kids will be caddying for him.

[05:25:04] In hoops news, the women of UConn and Notre Dame faced off in the finals of the NCAA tournament in a rematch of last year's title game. UConn has dominated all season. And last night was no different.

They dominated on offense. Look at that. Money. And they beat up the boards, bullied their way to a victory, 63-53. The Lady Huskies earning their third straight championship and tenth title. That's head coach Gino Auriemma, 10-0 in championship games. The Huskies are 78-1 in the past two seasons. Wow!

All right. Yesterday, we told you about how former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney finished in the top 1 percent with his NCAA bracket picks. Well, that was only good enough for 6,326th place among the 11.5 million entries in ESPN's challenge.

So, who ended up on top? How about this kid, 12-year-old Sam Holtz tied for first place, but he won the tiebreaker. Unfortunately for the little fella from Lake Zurich, Illinois, you have to be at least 18 to claim the grand prize. That would have been $20,000 gift card and a trip to the 2015 Maui Invitational. Man!

All right. Atlanta Hawks' coach Mike Budenholzer, he made a huge announcement that the team's pregame news conference yesterday before their matchup with the Suns. He said that the Hawks signed 8-year-old Lake Bozman to a contract. Now, Lake is fighting leukemia. In February, he was scheduled to go to Disneyworld with the Burt Show and Burt's Big Adventure. He was too sick to made the trip, but the Burt Show made it up to him in a big way. Lake Bozman signed the one-day contract yesterday, got his very own jersey, and sat courtside for the game.

Check him out on Twitter there. You can see him hanging out with some of the guys from the team. He even got to hang out with the cheerleaders. The coach Budenholzer said, guys, that, quote, "We look for very, very special people to add to our team who are brave and strong." And it was a great night for Atlanta. Bozman and the Hawks, they

crushed the Suns, 96-69 and broke a franchise record for wins with 58.

BERMAN: That's great to see. In some ways, that's the most important deal they'll sign all year, makes the biggest difference.

WIRE: Absolutely.

BERMAN: Coy Wire, great to see you this morning. Thanks so much.

WIRE: You, too, guys. Thanks.

ROMANS: Those are the sports stories I love. John Berman reads batting scores.

BERMAN: It's baseball season. I have to check the stats during commercials.

ROMANS: All right. Twenty-seven minutes past the hour.

A police officer charged with murder caught on camera shooting an unarmed black man in the back multiple times. The victim running away from the officer, new developments after the break.

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