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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Hillary Opens Iowa Campaign; Congress Gets New Power in Iran Nuclear Negotiations; Crisis in Yemen: CNN Exclusive. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired April 15, 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] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: We'll tell you all the implications.
You know, she's not the only candidate on the move today, big candidates making big stands. We'll give you all the latest in the White House, ahead.
The nuclear deal with Iran facing new complications, new considerations. A deal with Congress that would give Congress a chance to weigh in. How will this affect the years of negotiations?
And inside Yemen, devastated by weeks of war. CNN, cameras, they got an exclusive look at the destruction. You'll want to hear what they found.
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman. Christine Romans is off today. It is Wednesday, April 15th, Tax Day, 5:00 a.m. in the East.
Happening this morning -- the Hillary storm moving deep entire Iowa. Now this is what the campaign wanted to look like, low key, listening events. What they got -- this. The near media frenzy-- those poor guys -- forced to chase after the small Clinton convoy right there.
Key question, what do actual real life voters think about all of this? How is the candidate playing in Iowa?
Our senior political correspondent Brianna Keilar is there -- 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: Our thanks to Brianna Keilar in Iowa.
So, Republican presidential contender Marco Rubio holds his first official campaign event today. He will push his plan for tax reform. The senator spent Tuesday stuck in Washington, working on Senate business, and also speaking to CNN's Jake Tapper -- a really interesting interview.
The senator said that Hillary Clinton is not entitled to the women vote any more than that Marco Rubio 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: 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 actual official in New Hampshire, the first primary state, trying to build support for what can only be considered a likely presidential run. He is in the middle of 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: That truth includes pretty dramatic social security reform proposals.
Later today, Governor Christie holds a first of two New Hampshire town halls that he has sit for this week.
New this morning, the nuclear deal, not with Iran exactly but with Congress. A compromise bill that lets Congress weigh in on any final agreement between the U.S. and Iran -- a bill the White House now says the spread willing to sign. The legislation passed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously.
CNN's Jim Acosta at the White House with the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, the White House is giving up on 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.
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.
[05:05:00] 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: Our thanks to Jim Acosta at the White House.
From the White House, President Obama submitted the official request to Congress to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. 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, passed by Congress. But U.S. businesses and banks would be more inclined to invest in the Cuban market.
Iraq's new prime minister is canvassing Washington, calling 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 not millions but 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 is facing a budget deficit of $22 billion, mostly due to sagging oil prices.
There are fears this morning that ISIS may take control of the key Iraqi city of Ramadi within hours. An official in western Iraq tells CNN that ISIS fighters now have Ramadi essentially surrounded, and government forces are not sure how much longer they can hold on that city. They're calling for reinforcements and for air support from the U.S.-led coalition.
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 United Nations is now stepping in, voting to ban arms sales to the Houthis -- this as the Iranians are calling for a cease-fire there. 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.
And, Nick, you had exclusive access to what was an aid mission, really an attempted aid mission into Yemen.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Unsuccessful, but it managed to let 75 metric tons. This was UNICEF, United Nations children's agency, negotiating about two hours on the runway in Sana'a, the Yemeni capital, the airport there.
That was a complex talk and it was about 13 different types of permission. They managed to get two hours because the Saudi air force and the Houthis who control the airport permitted that. But that unloading you're seeing there, that is just such a small fraction of what Yemen requires right now. Food and water scares don't even talk about the number of injured who don't have the medicine they need. A little bit being delivered on those pallets you're seeing.
But this war is continuing. That the U.N. Security Council voted certainly is clear. They all agree, that Houthis should not be sold arms anymore. Even Russia in fact, who backed Iran, who backed the Houthis abstained rather than used their stand a Security Council veto. So, there's some sense of an international purpose, perhaps isolating the Houthis, not actually deterring on the ground.
But what it did do is deal with that looming human humanitarian catastrophe, perhaps already underway. It led the U.N. Secretary general to have a role of trying to negotiate a kind of force we used to land on that runway, merely a matter of hour, that's how complicated it is. Bombing could have resumed shortly after this. We simply don't know.
But that is not enough because there are so many children inside that country that don't have food and water that they need. So many injured not getting the medicine they need. This is just three weeks. The Yemen was in crisis before the bombing. Now, the tragedy is unfolding, John.
BERMAN: Nick Paton Walsh, there's so much need in that country right now. Thanks, Nick.
Developing this morning: a top al Qaeda operative in Yemen has been killed by U.S. drone strike. The terror group confirms that Ibrahim al-Rubeish died Monday on Yemen's southern coast. The 35-year-old Saudi citizen spent five years as a prisoner at Guantanamo Bay and served as a top spokesman for al Qaeda in Yemen. Rubeish is one of a half dozen senior members of al Qaeda killed in the last year by U.S. air attacks.
Time now for an early start on your money.
Asian stocks lower. China's economic growth slowed to a meager 7 percent in the first quarter. That's the lowest since 2009. That would be unheard of rate of growth here in the United States but in China, it is letdown.
European stocks are up, ahead of the European Central Bank's interest decision later this morning. ECB President Mario Draghi is expected to recommit to the bank's bond buying stimulus program.
[05:10:01] Here in the U.S., stock futures are up a bit so far. The big story this morning, Nokia is buying the French telecom firm Alcatel-Lucent. The deal was worth about $16 billion.
Remember when had Nokia was a giant in mobile phones? Remember those awesome removable batteries they had circa 2000? But essentially crushed by Apple and Samsung. Nokia sold its mobile phone business to Microsoft and has refocused on telecommunications and broadband.
Ten minutes after the hour this morning, new controversial video of police using their cruiser to run down a robbery suspect. So did officers go too far? 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)
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 firing his rifle in the air. You just heard that. Earlier in the day, police said that Valencia launched a one-man crime spree that included robbery, arson, and pointing the stolen rifle at officers and himself.
Police, what you can see here is they're tailing Valencia as he walked along.
Finally, Officer Michael Ovechko (ph), as you can see here, speeds his car up and slams into Valencia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(INAUDIBLE)
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)
[05:15:04] BERMAN: Valencia was taken to the hospital in serious condition and released into 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 firing eight shots at Scott as Scott runs 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 on Tuesday. 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 took almost three months but the jury has been seated for the trial of James Holmes, accused of killing 12 people, wounding 70 others in the Aurora, Colorado, the movie theater massacre there 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 now for April 27th.
This morning, jurors in the Aaron Hernandez trial returned 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.
CNN's Susan Candiotti has more from Fall River, Massachusetts -- Susan.
(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 that 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: Susan Candiotti for us in Massachusetts.
Two college students have been arrested and another is wanted 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, are accused in the assault. Cell phone video shows that attack took place on a sunny afternoon while dozen of people watched. Police say it is likely that the alleged 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 alleged victim contacted them after recognizing her tattoos in news reports. She told them she remembers taking a drink but she does not remember being raped.
All right. Bring on LeBron James. He scares me not. The red hot Celtics with just a phenomenal finish! They have secured a bid to the playoffs and we will face LeBron James and his so-called basketball team in Cleveland. Andy Scholes has the details in the bleacher report, next.
So, not everyone can afford to retire in Vail, Colorado, but one retired Navy SEAL found a way and a second career.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LARRY METZLER, VAIL, COLORADO: I was a member of underwater demolition team 12 and part of the Apollo 16 recovery team. A command module popped up. I jumped out. We put this location call around the command module, stop up on it, got the door open, the astronaut looks out.
It was phenomenal. One of my defining moments as a team guy.
My name is Larry, I'm a retired Navy SEAL and now I run a snow cat in Vail, Colorado.
What I enjoyed most about the snow cat driving is the ride up in the morning watching the sun come up over the Rockies, it's just spectacular. I also like the challenge of driving a snow cat. Certain amount of adversity that I like when (INAUDIBLE) kind of have to make it happened. I have tried kicking my feet up and it gets old after a while.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: Hard to park, at least parallel park.
[05:20:00] You can see Larry's whole story at CNNMoney.com/retireyourway.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: An NBA player is accusing a New York City police department of causing injuries that will force him to miss the rest of the season and the playoffs.
Andy Scholes has more in the bleacher report.
Good morning, Andy.
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, John.
Thabo Sefolosha, key member of the Atlanta Hawks, and he suffered a right broken fibula and ligament damage while being arrested in New York last week. And now, he's saying that the police are to blame for his injuries.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THABO SEFOLOSHA, NBA PLAYER: I hope you can appreciate I cannot discuss the facts of the case. The questions will be answered my lawyer in a court of law. I will simply say I'm in great pain, that I suffered significant injury and those were caused by the police.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHOLES: Sefolosha will have surgery this week. He's going to miss the entire postseason. The incident occurred outside of a New York City nightclub. Sefolosha was charged with resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration and disorderly conduct. The NYPD is not commenting on the arrest right now, but they did say the investigation is being turned over to the internal affairs bureau.
[05:25:03] The NBA regular season wraps up tonight, the eight team of both conferences are still up for grabs. The seventh team east however is not. It belonged to the Boston Celtics after Jae Crowder beat the Raptors with this awesome fade away with understand a second to go.
Boston will play LeBron and the Cavs in the first round of the playoffs which gets started on Saturday.
Scary moments in the Bigs last night. Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco get hit right in the face by a line drive off the bat of Cabrera. He would lay motionless on the ground for a while. Carrasco was taken for x-rays. Luckily, he only suffered a bruised jaw. The White Sox win this game 4-1. Luckily, Carrasco is OK.
Rockies and Giants game, we had possibly the catch of the season already. Colorado's Nolan Arenado running and he catches it over the shoulder.
BERMAN: Oh!
SCHOLES: And bounces it off. Look at this the wherewithal to throw to third. Almost getting to the runner.
BERMAN: He bounces! Oh!
SCHOLES: Bounces off the tarp.
John, he's already won two Gold Gloves in the first two seasons in the Bigs. I have to say we're only seven games into the season. I'm going to go out on a limb and say Arenado is going to win a third Gold Glove.
BERMAN: He like skips across the tarp there and then somewhat graceful landing in dismount. Wow!
SCHOLES: Yes, the tarp helped him otherwise he would have crashed into the stands pretty hard.
BERMAN: Man. All right. Well, congratulations to him. Andy Scholes, thanks so much for being with us this morning.
SCHOLES: All right.
BERMAN: All right. Twenty-six minutes after the hour.
Hillary Clinton's allegedly low-key Iowa listening tour, it is under way. But there is a frenzy following it. What do voters think of this? We'll tell you next.
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