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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Did ISIS Order the Texas Terror Attack?; Huge Bounties for Top ISIS Leaders; Poll: 48 Percent Say Clinton is Trustworthy. Aired 4- 4:30a ET

Aired May 06, 2015 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:15] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Investigating ISIS ties to the Texas cartoon contest attack. The terror organization claiming responsibility for the ambush that left two gunmen dead. But the question this morning, did ISIS ordered that attack or just inspire it?

What we're learning as the U.S. puts a new bounty on four dangerous ISIS fighters.

Team coverage on our big story begins now.

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

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm John Berman. It is Wednesday, May 6th. It is 4:00 a.m. in the East.

And developing this morning: new information about the two gunmen shot dead by police on Sunday as they tried to attack a contest in Texas, the contest draw cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.

The White House is saying the FBI is still investigating it is too soon to link ISIS to the attack. But counterterrorism officials are probing the online activity of the gunmen, Nadir Soofi and Elton Simpson, to see if ISIS really did have a hand in the plot.

CNN Justice correspondent Pamela Brown with the latest from Phoenix -- Pamela.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, John and Christine, officials I've been speaking it say it appears right now, ISIS is being opportunistic and claiming responsibility for this attack, but what is clear here according to officials is that this was more than just aspirational, that this is really reflective of the concern among law enforcement of ISIS fighters reaching into the U.S. through social media, identifying targets and finding people to recruit. In fact, one of the gunmen, Elton Simpson, had been in touch with terrorists overseas. In fact, that is a big reason why the FBI reopened an investigation into him.

And just weeks before the attack, we've learned that Simpson was tweeting with the terrorists in Somalia, who is aligned with al Qaeda. And in that tweet, he said, "When will they ever learn?" talking about the upcoming event in Texas. And in response the terrorist said, "The brothers from 'Charlie Hebdo' did their part. It is time for their brothers in the U.S. to do theirs."

We are also learning about the investigation and the timeline. We've learned from law enforcement officials that there were two long guns and four handguns found in the suspects' car. And it appears that those weapons were bought legally.

Also, officials say that the suspects drove from here, from their home in Phoenix, to Texas to carry out that attack.

There's still a lot of unanswered questions here, but one of the big looming questions is, how did someone who was under investigation by the FBI make it all the way to Texas to carry out an attack? Also, officials want to know who their associates are, if there's anyone else in the United States who communicated with the gunmen who were in their group and who may want to do something similar -- John and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Pamela Brown for us this morning in Phoenix.

Now, the family of one of the gunmen in the Texas attack is speaking out. Nadir Soofi's grandmother says the other gunman, Soofi's roommate, Elton Simpson, must have convinced Soofi to participate in that attack. Soofi's Pakistani father raised as a Muslim. His mother's side, his grandmother says Soofi was not discriminated against for his religion and that he was, quote, "a good boy, real responsible and respectful."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: Did he have a problem with how things are going in the United States? Did he feel like Muslim people were persecuted?

SHIRLEY DROMGOOOLE, NADIR SOOFI'S GRANDMOTHER: No, I don't think so because he wasn't persecuted. Whoever he was with talked had him into it.

REPORTER: That's how you feel about it?

DROMGOOOLE: Yes. There's no other way it would have happened.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: One of the gunmen did pledge allegiance to the ISIS leader, but did ISIS have a direct role in the attack or is its claim of responsibility just an opportunistic play for publicity?

ISIS has a record of just that, in Tunisia, Libya and Sydney. Also, a new development in the battle against ISIS, the State Department is now offering multimillion dollar bounties for information on four top ISIS fighters. For the latest on that, let's bring in CNN's Nick Paton Walsh.

Good morning, Nick.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John, we've learned about Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS and $10 million reward out for capturing him or information leading to that. But this announcement by the State Department gives a light really on to the leaders also in the crosshairs now. Four key names coming up.

One of the first which you haven't really heard too publicly in the past, that's $7 million being offered for the whereabouts of Abd al- Rahman Mustafa al Qaduli. Now, he, in fact, was part of al Qaeda, way back in 2004 in Iraq. He's been to Afghanistan, Pakistan, an 11-year track record as al Qaeda, then ISIS. So, a lot of history there.

But two other key figures we have heard before, $5 million offered for the whereabouts of each of those.

[04:05:00] Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, he's the well-known spokesperson for ISIS who pops up frankly more frequently than their leader does on many recordings or statements.

And then, the man more often known as Omar al-Shishani, Omar the Chechen, Tarkhan Tayumurazovich Batirashvili. Now, he is said to be a Georgian national who first came up through the ranks of foreign fighters and extremist ranks in Syria, and then rose to prominence in ISIS, too. The fourth man, being offered $3 million is Tariq al- Harzi, who said to be a leader in the Syrian-Iraqi border area.

Laying out very much here these rewards, some element of hierarchy and it comes, too, at a time, John, where little is known about the whereabouts of Abu Bark al-Baghdadi. He hasn't been seen in public since last year, few statements from him.

And now, this large amount of money replicating perhaps the increasing information and rewards that were offered during the hunt for al Qaeda nearly a decade ago underway. The key question being now exactly what is ISIS's strength in the field and those claims, we hear around the world of lone wolf attacks perhaps being affiliated or even organized by them what level of veracity or confidence can we have in those -- John.

BERMAN: Nick, you spend so much time in Afghanistan and around the world. Is there any history of these types of bounties, these rewards working, particularly in a place like Syria where the United States doesn't have many intelligence assets available?

WALSH: Well, it's tough really to work out quite when these rewards to get put into play. But, obviously, if you are giving out secret information of the whereabouts of the top ISIS extremist leader, then you're not likely afterwards going to go on TV and talk about $10 million you got for it afterwards.

So, obviously, these rewards, I think, are designed to be an incentive, get people to switch over. Then, there's the complex notion of intelligence gathering in the first place. You know, the people who offer these tips may end up themselves caught perhaps in a drone strike later on. We got a lot of speculation here. But remember, bin Laden, when he was caught, that was dogged lengthy analysis by the CIA, rather one particular any informant turning against him.

So, these rewards I think are designed to put a spotlight on key individuals, perhaps make them nervous, but also remind I think those who their adversaries, the U.S., quite the resources they are willing to throw at finding these people -- John.

BERMAN: Nick Paton Walsh for us -- thanks so much, Nick.

ROMANS: All right. Senate Republicans narrowly passing a budget plan that would eliminate the deficit by the year 2024. The nonbinding measure calls for the dismantling of Obamacare, features deep, deep cuts to education funding infrastructure and other domestic programs to the tune of $5.3 trillion over the next 10 years. The budget proposal will not be sent to the president. Of course, instead, it will serve as a blueprint for the GOP's economic platform.

Rand Paul and Ted Cruz the only two Republicans to vote against it.

BERMAN: I'm just wondering what the tune of $5.3 trillion is. You hum along to that tune? Is it like row, row, row your boat?

ROMANS: To the tune of $5.2 trillion.

BERMAN: I like that tune. All right. The Senate one step closer to taking up a bill that gives Congress a power to review any nuclear deal with Iran. Some Republicans call for the measure to include new sanctions against the Iranians and Senator Marco Rubio wants to require Iran's leaders to publicly acknowledge Israel's right to exist.

But Republican leader Mitch McConnell is using procedural measures to try to squash those proposals. A vote is now expected Thursday. Nuclear talks with Iran resume next week in Vienna.

ROMANS: Congress isn't the only hurdle for the U.S. team negotiating with Iran. The U.S. and Europe are trying to ensure Russia and China won't veto the automatic restoration of a U.N. sanctions against Iran if the Iranians violate an agreement. Moscow and Beijing have a history of opposing automatic measures and it has become a sticking point in these talks, John.

BERMAN: Hillary Clinton taking a stand in a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. The former secretary of state met with young people at a high school in Las Vegas where 70 percent of the students are Hispanic. She told me that hardworking immigrants who contribute to the economy should not be thrown away.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I will fight for comprehensive immigration reform and a path to citizenship for you and for your families across our country. I will fight to stop partisan attacks on the executive actions that would put dreamers, including those with us today, at risk of deportation. And if Congress continues to refuse to act, as president, I would do everything possible under the law to go even further.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Republican presidential hopeful Carly Fiorina slamming Clinton's call for a full path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. The former head of Hewlett-Packard insists that's not fair to immigrants who, quote, "played by the rules."

And she had choice words for the former secretary of state.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARLY FIORINA (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Unfortunately, I think she's pandering. I think we need to start with some basics, you know? We need to secure the border. It hasn't been secured under George W. Bush or Barack Obama. It needs to be secured, because the problem just keeps getting worse if we don't secure it. By the way, we should secure the northern border as well as the southern border.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[04:10:00] BERMAN: New poll numbers for Hillary Clinton on the issue of honesty and trustworthiness. They come at a brand new "New York Times"/CBS poll -- well, a plurality of Americans, 48 percent believe the Democratic front runner has those traits, and those numbers are up in just the last six weeks despite a scandal over her use of private e-mail servers during her days as secretary of state.

Marco Rubio came out on top when voters were asked which Republican candidate they were most open to, followed by Jeb Bush and Mike Huckabee.

ROMANS: A ferry service from Florida to Cuba one step closer to reality. The Treasury Department reportedly granting licenses to several companies to begin transporting passengers and goods between Florida and Havana. The Cuban governor not commenting and it's not clear when the ferries might become operational if the Cuban government is on board. Ferries between the two countries ended with the Cuban revolution in 1959.

BERMAN: I guess that ferry ride is going to take about 10 hours to get from Miami to Havana.

ROMANS: Ten hours?

BERMAN: That's a long ride.

ROMANS: That is a long ride.

All right. Time for an early start on your money this morning.

Stocks are up a bit, a reversal from yesterday. Stocks hammered, the Dow fell 142 points. The NASDAQ dropped 1.6 percent. Why? The trade deficit is at a six-year high. Plus, oil prices are rising. Oil back up to $60 a barrel this morning, the highest since December. Oil prices fell below $45 earlier this year.

There was some speculation about prices maybe below $30. That never happened. And prices have been moving up ever since. Prices essentially collapsed because of a supply glut and weak demand that seems to be turning a corner, with U.S. production falling and better than expected growth -- economic growth in Europe. So, really oil prices, a big driver here today.

BERMAN: All right. Eleven minutes after the hour. Baltimore's police chief, he was surprised when he heard charges leveled against six of his officers, said he had only had minutes warning before the rest of the world found out. He now speaks in an interview with CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:15:00] BERMAN: Important comments from a man in the middle of controversy in Baltimore, after the death of Freddie Gray and the rioting that engulfed his city, Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts tell CNN that police must acknowledge that they are, in his words, "part of the problem". And he says he was surprised by the charges brought against the officers involved in gray's arrest.

Let's get more now from CNN's Evan Perez.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

EVAN PEREZ, CNN JUSTICE REPORTER: John, in this first interview since protests broke out here in Baltimore and six officers were arrested, the Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts says he learned of the charges just moments before we did.

ANTHONY BATTS, BALTIMORE POLICE COMMISSIONER: I found out that the state attorney was going on and what she was going to present probably about 10 minutes before she went on. She gave me a phone call and told me what she was about to do and that she was going on live. She told me what the charges were.

PEREZ: What were you first words out of your mouth when you heard that?

BATTS: I don't want to get into that so much. I can say that I was probably surprised, you know, by the information that I heard.

I think that the state's attorney was very focused on being independent in this particular investigation. She didn't want to be seen connected to the police organization. So, the communication was limited as compared to what I'm used to.

PEREZ: And, John, Commissioner says that one of his top priorities now is improving his relationship between his department and the community and the reputation of his officers.

BATTS: There's a lack of trust within this community, period, bottom line. And that's going to take healing. That's going to take us acknowledging as a police department -- not just here in Baltimore -- but law enforcement as a whole, that we have been part of the problem. Out of trying to be part of the solution, we have become part of the problem.

And when we acknowledge that and understand, we can start to heal. The community needs to hear that. The community needs to hear from us that we see that we haven't been part of the solution and that we have to now evolve.

PEREZ: And, John, while it's clear that the commissioner has to rebuild trust with this community, it's left to be seen how the state prosecutor and the police rebuild the trust that they need to work together.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right, Evan Perez, thanks for that, Evan.

One of the six Baltimore police officers facing those charges in the death of Freddie Gray, he is challenging the prosecutor in court. Officer Edward Nero claimed the knife Gray was carrying when he was arrested was illegal. Contrary to what Maryland State Attorney Marilyn Mosby has said. His lawyers are demanding to see the knife.

Mosby responded in a statement saying, quote, "The evidence we have collected cannot ethically be disclosed, relayed or released to the public before trial. As I previously indicated, I strongly condemn anyone in law enforcement with access to trial evidence who has or continues to leak information prior to the resolution of the case. These unethical disclosures are only damaging our ability to conduct a fair and impartial process for all parties involved."

BERMAN: The nature of the knife is a very big deal because these officers, some of them face false imprisonment charges.

ROMANS: That's right.

BERMAN: So, if it was an illegal knife, you know, perhaps those charges are problematic. If it was not an illegal knife, those charges --

ROMANS: The knife was the basis of the arrest in the first place.

BERMAN: Exactly.

All right. The nation's new attorney general, Loretta Lynch, is the highest level federal official to visit Baltimore since the unrest. She met with members of the Gray family, as well as police community leaders and city officials including Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. The mayor stressed the need for action.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR STEPHANIE RAWLINGS-BLAKE (D), BALTIMORE, MD: We cannot afford to fail. I believe that the relationship between the police and the community is like a marriage, and separation is not an option. Divorce is not an option. We have to figure out how we're going to make this marriage work, make it healthy, and make it thrive so our city can thrive.

LORETTA LYNCH, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES: What I heard here today is how all of the people in Baltimore, every group that I have mentioned, and certainly everyone with whom I was privileged to meet, is committed to making that better. And by that, I mean both community and police alike.

I was able to meet with Mr. Gray's family this morning. It was a privilege to do so to, and just to express my condolences to them and for their loss. So, and, of course, our hearts do go out to them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: The Justice Department is investigating the arrest of Freddie Gray and his fatal injury while in police custody.

ROMANS: The FBI reportedly flew surveillance planes over the scene of the Baltimore riots. Officials telling "The Washington Post", Baltimore police requested the flights from the FBI for aerial support using infrared technology to monitor movements in the city. The ACLU is now questioning whether that surveillance operation was legal. The FBI is not commenting.

BERMAN: The artist currently known as Prince plans to hold a Mother's Day concert in Baltimore in honor of Freddie Gray. He's asking everyone attending the rally for peace show to wear the color Gray. The concert promoter Live Nation says several music industry superstars will also be there in addition to Prince. Prince just recorded a protest song titled "Baltimore" in response to the death of Freddie Gray and everything that follows.

ROMANS: All right. California ordering an unprecedented water cutback.

[04:20:00] A drought emergency getting worse. Details, ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: The penalty phase of the Dzhokhar Tsarnaev trial resumes this morning in Boston with the defense nearing the end of its case. In court Tuesday, the focus was on the Tsarnaev family dysfunction. A psychiatrist testified that the father suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. And an expert on Chechen culture told jurors about the power given to older brothers. Defense lawyers are trying to spare the convicted marathon bomber from the death penalty by showing he was controlled by his older brother Tamerlan.

BERMAN: The man accused of kidnapping and murdering University of Virginia student Hannah Graham now faces capital murder charges, which carried a possibility of death sentence. Virginia prosecutors unsealed a new indictment against Jesse Matthew. Eighteen-year-old Hannah Graham was last seen with Matthew before she disappeared back in September. Her remains were found weeks later near the Virginia campus.

ROMANS: Unprecedented new water restrictions now in place in drought- stricken California. State officials approving a measure that requires cities to cut water use by up to 36 percent, while encouraging home owners to let their lawns die. The California's water control board lacks the staff to enforce the restrictions. It's not clear how they plan to punish offenders. Governor Brown is backing legislation that calls for fines up to $10,000.

BERMAN: The Brown laws will be a status symbol, proof you're trying to help the cause out there.

[04:25:01] Floyd Mayweather says bring it on. The boxing champ tells EPSN Steve A. Smith that he is willing to give Manny Pacquiao a rematch in one year after Pacquiao recovered from shoulder tornado. Manny the Pacman suffered a torn rotator cuff while training for the fight.

There's a lot of controversy going on here. He will be operated on this week. Surgery is not the only issue. Pacquiao now faces lawsuits and a possible suspension from the Nevada boxing officials for failing to disclose his injury prior to the fight.

ROMANS: There's a question who he says he did disclose it but maybe not -- right before the fight --

BERMAN: Controversy is inevitable around boxing.

ROMANS: Yes.

How involved was ISIS in the attack on a controversial cartoon contest in Texas? That's the question. New information about the gunmen, who they were communicating with, we got that after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Investigating ISIS and a possible connection to the Texas terror attack. Did ISIS order the shooting or the gunmen acting alone? We have new information on this attack, as the United States targets four key ISIS leaders. We have team coverage breaking down this big story, now.

Welcome back to EARLY START, everyone. I'm John Berman.

ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. It is exactly 30 minutes past the hour.

Developing this morning, new information about those two gunmen shot dead by police as they tried to attack a contest in Texas -- a contest to draw a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed. The White House is saying the FBI is still investigation. It's too soon to link ISIS to that attack. The counterterror officials are probing the online activity of the gunman.