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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
The Race for President; Congress Gets New Role on Iran Deal; CNN Exclusive: Inside Yemen. Aired 4-4:30a ET
Aired April 15, 2015 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:00:22] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: This is Hillary Clinton's low-key listening tour. It looks more like a stampede, turning a small town Iowa school into a circus. But she's not the only presidential hopeful making key moves today. New developments in the race for the White House, ahead.
A nuclear deal with Iran facing a new critic, Congress. President Obama conceding to congressional involvement. But this could legislation derail years of negotiations?
And inside Yemen, devastated by weeks of war. CNN cameras get exclusively inside all this destruction. Remarkable. We are live.
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman. Christine Romans is sick today, but she is here in spirit. It's April 15th, 4:00 a.m. in the East.
And happening this morning: the Hillary storm moves deeper into small town Iowa. The campaign wants low-key listening events, what it is going is a near media frenzy. Look at that. Man, I've been there, not easy being a reporter covering a candidate in Iowa.
The key question now is, what do the actual real life voters think?
Senior political correspondent Brianna Keilar in Iowa with the latest -- Brianna.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hillary Clinton will spend her second day campaigning at a fruit company outside of Des Moines. This is after all a state where agriculture is king. This follows yesterday where she visited Le Claire, a small town of less 4,000 people. She stopped at a coffee shop, talked to some locals there.
And then she was there for a satellite campus at the Kirkwood Community College. She talked with students and faculty. She struck a populist tone, taking on Wall Street, and stagnant middle class wages.
HILLARY CLINTON (D), 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The deck is still stacked in favor of those already at the top. And there's something wrong with that. There's something wrong when CEOs make 300 times more than the typical worker. There's something wrong when American workers get more productive, that productivity is not matched in their paychecks.
KEILAR (on camera): The only policy position Hillary Clinton outlined was a proposal to do away with what she called unaccountable money. So, super PAC, and the big donors that have proliferated along with them. Noteworthy, though, she did not explain how that would square with Priorities USA, the Democratic super PAC that she has blessed to help her in her run.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: Brianna Keilar, thanks so much.
Republican presidential contender candidate Marco Rubio holds his first campaign event today, pushing for a plan for tax reform. The senator spent Tuesday stuck in Washington working on Senate business, and speaking to CNN's Jake Tapper. He said that Hillary Clinton is not entitled to the women vote any more than he is entitled to the Hispanic vote.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL), 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I would never assume that every Hispanic in America has to vote for me because I'm Hispanic, because my last name is Rubio. I have to earn their support. That may intrigue them about my candidacy, but ultimately, I have to prove that I'm the right person for the job.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Now, tied with Senator Rubio for sixth place in the latest CNN poll is New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who is not so far an official candidate. Even so, he's in New Hampshire trying to build a support for a presidential run in what he is calling his "Tell It Like It Is" tour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: I will not pander. I will not flip-flop, and I'm not afraid to tell you the truth the way I see it, whether you like it or not. I want to help lead a national conversation that rewards truth over pandering.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: He's calling for raising the retirement age for Social Security, and also capping those who can receive benefits at those making more than $80,000 a year.
New this morning, the nuclear deal, not with Iran exactly, but with Congress. A compromised deal that lets Congress weigh in on any final agreement between the U.S. and Iran, though the White House says now is now willing to sign. The legislation passed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously. CNN's Jim Acosta is at the White House with the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, the White House is giving up its fight with Congress over a bipartisan bill that would give lawmakers the ability to vote up or down on the Iran nuclear deal after Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee drafted a compromise bill, dropping some provisions that were opposed by the White House. Aides to the president said it was a measure Mr. Obama could support.
At issue is whether the bill would force Iran to renounce terrorism, a provision the White House deemed a poison pill aimed at killing nuclear talks. The amount of time lawmakers will have to weigh in on the deal was also shortened, meaning another White House demand.
[04:05:06] After repeated questions from reporter, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest acknowledged that the changes brokered by the committee's chairman, Bob Corker, and ranking member Ben Cardin were enough to withdraw the veto threat.
Here's what he had to say.
JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: What I am willing to say is that despite the things about it that we don't like, enough substantial changes have been made, that the president would be willing to sign it because it would reflect the kind of compromise that he'd be willing to sign.
ACOSTA: But Chairman Corker said there was another reason why the White House dropped its veto threat, that Republicans and Democrats were on the verge of lining up enough votes to override a presidential veto. Corker tweeted, "The simple threat that the White House dropped its veto threat because they weren't going to have the votes to sustain a veto."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: All right. Our thanks to Jim Acosta for that.
President Obama has submitted the official request to Congress to remove Cuba from the list of state terrorism sponsors. The Cuban government called the move a just decision. Lawmakers will have 45 days to view the request, they're not expected to block it. If Cuba comes off the list, some sanctions would remain in place, in fact, almost all sanctions would remain in place, but U.S. businesses and banks would be more inclined to invest in the Cuban market.
Breaking overnight, the Senate came together to approve the so-called Medicare "doc fix". The final vote was 92-8. The measure repairs a formula for reimbursing Medicare physicians. It passed just in time to head off a 21 percent pay cut for those doctors. The bill now goes to the president's desk. He has already said it will strengthen the health care system and he will be proud to sign it.
Normally, they have to pass one of these things every year. This is now for ten years. That is a big change.
Iraq's new prime minister is canvassing Washington for financial help today. Haider al Abadi met with President Obama and received a promise of $200 million in humanitarian aid. But the Iraqi leader says he needs billions to battle ISIS and rebuild his country. He will meet with members of Congress today, along with the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, the president of the World Bank, and senior executives from oil companies, and international banks.
Iraq facing a budget deficit of $22 billion this year. Falling oil prices a major problem there.
There are fears that ISIS may take control of the key Iraqi city of Ramadi within hours. An official in al Anbar province where Ramadi is tell CNN that ISIS fighters now have Ramadi essentially surrounded and government forces are not sure how much longer they can hold the frontlines. They're calling for reinforcement and air support from U.S. coalition. And we'll keep you updated as to the events there.
It has been three weeks since Saudi Arabia launched its first air strike against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. It has been a bloody campaign. The U.N. is now stepping in, voting to ban arms sales to the Houthis, this as the Iranians call for a cease-fire.
The conflict has triggered a huge humanitarian crisis with more than 120,000 Yemenis forced to flee their homes.
I want to bring in CNN senior international correspondent Nick Paton Walsh who has been reporting exclusively from Yemen, with some remarkable footage -- Nick.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John, we gained access to a UNICEF aid flight that landed in any functional airport or part functional airport left in Yemen. Now, they were delivering badly needed emergency nutrition and medical supplies to the millions of Yemenis there who desperately need help.
Now, the key problem they had was simply getting that plane in because they had to negotiate 13 different permissions. They had to negotiate an hour to two-hour long window between the Saudi air force and the Houthis who control the air force itself, to be able to land there.
We had had to leave in a hurry when they said suddenly the airport is closing now. And during that two hours, they only managed to get 75 metric tons of aid off that plane.
Now, that may sound like a lot, but it is nothing compared to what Yemen needs right now. And the issue is that airport runway and that brief period could only take some civilians out and allow some cargo planes to land. Yes, there has been some global action with the U.S. Security Council resolution suggesting there should be no prohibited arms sales to the Houthis fighting there. But that does not stop the fighting by any means or the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding inside Yemen. It was bad before the Saudis began bombing, now it's significantly worse. And that aid we saw getting in yesterday, in that brief period of time
in Sana'a's main airport, that's barely going to scratch the surface of the tragedy unfolding there -- John.
BERMAN: Given the situation, I found that surprising they even tried to land any kind of aid, convoy, or, you know, aid flights in there. What's the prospect for the next few days?
WALSH: Very difficult. I mean, the sand was a major issue frankly. The dust around there, too. And, of course, that window kept changing, there's uncertainty when it would properly be there.
And some things at some point tragically in circumstances like that when there's so much firepower around, they may go wrong. The mere fact that the runway is intact and can take planes is astonishing, there's so much devastation around that airport, John.
[04:10:06] BERMAN: And tens of thousands of people forced to flee their homes in that country.
Nick Paton Walsh, thanks so much.
A shocking just released government report warns that hundreds of commercial jets could be vulnerable to hackers. The Government Accountability Office concludes it is theoretically possible for someone with a laptop to take over a jetliner's navigation system and commandeer a plane. One of the report's authors tell CNN that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, along with the Airbus A350 and A380s all have advanced cockpit systems that are wired into the same Wi-Fi system used by passengers and that might make them extremely susceptible to attacks.
It's time now for an early start on your money. Asian stocks lower this morning.
China's economic growth slowed to 7 percent in the first quarter. Now, that doesn't sound bad. In fact, it sounds quite remarkable. But it's the slowest pace since 2009, so it is a letdown in China.
European stocks up, ahead of the European Central Bank's interest rate this morning. ECB president Mario Draghi is expected to recommit to the bonds stimulus program.
Here in the United States, so far, stock futures not moving much yet. Big story this morning, Nokia is buying French telecom firm Alcatel- Lucent. The deal is worth about $16 billion. Nokia was once a giant in mobile phones. I had one for several years, but it's been just crushed by Apple and Samsung.
It sold its mobile phone business to Microsoft as it refocused to telecommunications and broadband. It had removable batteries, Nokia did, it was very useful in about 2000, 2001.
New conversational video this morning: police using their cruise tore take down a robbery suspect. Did officers go too far? We'll have the details, next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: Police in Arizona have released graphic new video of an officer using this patrol car to stop an armed suspect by running him down as he walks along.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[04:15:06] OFFICER: All right. One round just went out into the sky. It's definitely unlocked now. It's definitely loaded.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: The dash cam video recorded in February shows 36-year-old Mario Valencia. Earlier in the day, police said that Valencia launched a one-man crime spree that included robbery, arson and threaten to kill officers and himself.
Police as you saw tails Valencia as he walked along. Finally, Officer Michael Ovechko slams into Valencia. I think you see it again right here with his patrol car.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OFFICER: Man down.
CHIEF TERRY ROZEMA, MARANA, ARIZONA POLICE DEPT: If we're going to choose between -- maybe we'll let them go a little farther and see what happens, or we're going to take him out now and eliminate any opportunity that he has to hurt somebody, you're going to err on the side of -- in favor of the innocent people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Valencia was taken into the hospital in serious condition and released to the custody two days later. He faces 15 charges, including aggravated assault and armed robbery.
New details this morning in the actions of former Police Officer Michael Slager after the fatal shooting in North Charleston, South Carolina. Officials say Slager refused to speak to investigators who arrived to the scene about an hour after Slager fatally shot Walter Scott when Scott fled following a traffic stop. Cell phone video shows that Slager fired eight shots at Scott as Scott ran away. Slager has been fired from the force and is now charged with murder.
Robert Bates, the Tulsa volunteer deputy who fatally shot a suspect after pulling his gun instead of his taser, he's free on bail this morning. The 73-year-old surrendered to authorities. He's charged with second degree manslaughter in the death of Eric Harris who fled during a gun buying sting. Prosecutors accused Bates of negligence. His attorney claims the deputy made a split second mistake during a frantic arrest scene.
It's almost three months but the jury has been seated in the trial of James Holmes, accused of killing 12 people, wounding 70 others in the Aurora, Colorado movie theater massacre in 2012. The group of 12 jurors and 12 alternates includes 19 women and five men. Holmes has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. If convicted of the most serious charges, he could face the death penalty. Opening statements in the trial scheduled for April 27th.
This morning, jurors in the Aaron Hernandez trial return for a seventh day of deliberations. The former NFL star is facing a possible life sentence without parole if he is convicted of murdering Odin Lloyd in 2013.
Susan Candiotti has more from Fall River in Massachusetts.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
Over the last six days for more than 34 hours, jurors have been deciding the fate of Aaron Hernandez. As they come and go from the courtroom each day, they do not look directly at the defendant. But then again, that's the same behavior they had during the trial.
They must decide whether Aaron Hernandez shot is and killed Odin Lloyd. The defense attorneys are arguing it's his friends who are responsible, that Aaron Hernandez himself was planning his future, and not a murder. We haven't had had any notes from the jurors during this past day. The last note we have from the jury was on Monday when they asked to reschedule a regular smoking break.
When the jury reconvenes this morning at 9:00 a.m., it will be their seventh day of deliberations. Will they reach a verdict?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: Two college students have been arrested and another is being sought in what police say was a spring break gang rape on the beach in Panama City, Florida. Ryan Calhoun and Delonte Martistee, both students at Troy University in Alabama, accused in the assault, have been accused of the assault. Cell phone video shows that attack took place on a sunny afternoon while dozen of people watched. Police say it is likely the victim was drugged.
Officials are expressing their outrage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF FRANK MCKEITHEN, BAY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: We can wear t- shirts that say save our beach all we want to. But that is not going to restore this girl who was viciously violated by these individuals.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Police say the victim contacted them after recognizing her tattoos in news reports. She told them she remembers taking a drink but does not remember rape.
Actress Rita Wilson revealed she is battling breast cancer. The 58- year-old actress and wife of Tom Hanks tells "People" magazine she had a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. Wilson underwent a procedure last week, expected to make a full recovery. She's taking a leave from a Broadway show but could return to the stage next month.
Throwing the book, a shocking punishment. The teachers caught in a cheating scandal. The details next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:23:32] BERMAN: A judge in Georgia calls it the sickest thing that's ever happened in Atlanta. A judge sentenced eight former public school educators between one and seven years in prison following their convictions in a huge test cheating scandal.
Let's get more from CNN's Martin Savidge.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Atlanta public schools cheating scandal has been hanging over the city of Atlanta for years. And now, it is finally coming to a conclusion.
In April, there were ten people that were found guilty of conspiracy but it's referred to as racketeering. It's a very serious charge that was essentially cheating. Racketeering is a crime that usually you hear talked about when it comes to mobsters or maybe drug dealers.
But essentially, what the prosecution has said was these teachers, these educators had conspired to change the scores to make the students look like they were performing better than they really were, when in fact they weren't doing that well. But it made the teachers look better and that brought benefits and that bought raises for them.
So, anyway, it comes down to the sentences to be read. And the judge was saying, look, I'm going to give you one more chance before I announce the sentence to let you accept a plea deal. And there were two people who decided they would take that final offer. They did get lesser sentences. In fact, one got six months in prison. But only has to serve on the weekends. Another got a year's worth of house arrest but really they only have to be confined during the evening hours.
[04:25:03] As to everybody else, though, the judge was furious because they didn't accept responsibility. They didn't even express remorse. And he said the greatest number of victims here were all of the students that had looked up to them.
So, the top three administrators, he gave seven years in prison. The others got anywhere from one to two years in prison, plus probation, plus heavy fines. And, remember, this is all just dealing with cheating.
It has been a very difficult time for the city of Atlanta. And you could say a long and embarrassing civics lesson has finally come to an end.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: Our thanks to Martin Savidge. A tragedy, pure and simple.
Hillary's low-key Iowa listening tour, it's on -- but was the former secretary of state able to show voters a more personable side? We'll have the details, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: Small town Iowa turns into big-time media circus. This is Hillary Clinton's low-key listening tour. It's not her fault, it was media there running around like crazy, because it's our job.
We're going to talk about the important thing, though, what is the candidate saying and how are voters receiving it. This as Republicans make some new key moves.
New complications for nuclear negotiations with Iran. The White House says it will sign a congressional bill that will give Congress say, or at least a chance to weigh in on the deal, what effect might that have on the negotiations? That's ahead.
