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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Texas Attacker Tweeted With ISIS; Huge Bounties For Top ISIS Leaders; Loretta Lynch Visits Baltimore; Clinton Calls For "Path To Citizenship." Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired May 06, 2015 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:30:00] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Team coverage breaking down our big story starts right now. Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Great to see you today. I'm John Berman. It's 30 minutes past the hour. Developing this morning, new information about the two gunmen shot dead by police on Sunday as they tried to attack a contest in Texas, a contest to draw cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.
The White House says the FBI is investigating and it is too soon to link ISIS directly 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 planning.
CNN's justice correspondent, Pamela Brown, with the very latest from Phoenix -- Pamela.
PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, John and Christine, officials we've been speaking with say it appears right now ISIS is being opportunistic in 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, we know 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 a terrorist in Somalia, who was 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 brothers in the U.S. to do theirs. We are also learning more about the investigation and the time line.
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 are still a lot of unanswered questions here.
But one of the big looming questions is, how did someone who is 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.
ROMANS: All right, thanks for that, Pamela, in Phoenix. Now the family of one of the gunmen in the Texas attack is talking. Nadir Soofi's grandmother says the other gunman, Soofi's roommate Elton Simpson. He must have convinced Soofi to participate in the attack.
Soofi's Pakistani father raised him as a Muslim on his mother's side. His grandmother says Soofi was not discriminated against for his religion. And that he was, quote, "a good boy, responsible and respectful."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did he have a problem with how things were going on in the United States? Did he feel like Muslim people were persecuted?
SHIRLEY DROMGOOLE, NADIR SOOFI'S GRANDMOTHER: No, I don't think so because he wasn't persecuted. Whoever he was with talked him into it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's how you feel about it?
DROMGOOLE: Yes. There's no other way it would have happened.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Now one of the gunmen had pledged allegiance to the ISIS leader, but there is a question of whether ISIS did have a direct role in the attack or whether its claim of responsibility is some sort of opportunistic play for publicity.
ISIS does have a record of doing that in Tunisia, Libya, and Sydney. While all that is going on there is a new development in the U.S. 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 known about Al-Baghdadi has a $10 million price on his head and information for his whereabouts. But yesterday just after ISIS claimed that they were involved in the Garland, Texas, attacks, they put out four more individuals, who they now have substantial rewards for information and whereabouts.
Now top of that list for $7 million is a man who's not been heard of too much in public in the past, Abdal Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli. He has a long track record in al Qaeda as early as 2004 as being to Pakistan, history in al Qaeda and Iraq, which morphed into Islamic state in Iraq which morphed into being ISIS.
Obviously a key leader in the eyes of the United States, but below him on this ranking in terms of financial rewards at $5 million each well- known public figure Abu Mohammed Al-Adnani, the spokesperson of ISIS from whom we hear from very often and very publicly.
And of course, also a man called Omar, the Chechen, more commonly, but his real name is Tarkhan Batirashvili. Now he is a Georgian national, who joined Syrian rebel ranks pretty early on, rose through extremist circles and became a key public figure in the early days of ISIS.
Actually you'd see him often more on social media videos with Baghdadi at the beginning, $5 million for his whereabouts too and finally $3 million for Tariq Al Harzi, leader in the border Syria/Iraq region.
[05:35:04] So these now clearly lined up as key figures in the ISIS hierarchy. But of course, investigators really to establish the older model we are familiar with of al Qaeda as to whether they are linked to the Garland, Texas, attacks will be trying to work out, if these key leaders somehow knew of that attack in advance or if we are looking at lone wolves inspired by ISIS ideology or ISIS supporters even on Twitter, a very different model -- John.
BERMAN: How hierarchical is ISIS to begin with, a very real question right now. Nick Paton Walsh for us, thanks so much, Nick.
ROMANS: All right, Senate Republicans narrowly passing a budget that would eliminate the deficit by the year 2024. The nonbinding measure calls dismantling of Obamacare. It features deep cuts to education funding, infrastructure and other domestic programs.
How big are those cuts? It's $5.3 trillion over the next ten years. The budget proposal will not be sent to the president instead it will serve as a blueprint for the GOP's economic platform. Rand Paul and Ted Cruz are the only two Republicans to vote against it.
BERMAN: The Senate is one step closer to taking up a bill that gives Congress the power to review any possible nuclear deal with Iran. Some Republicans called for a 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 quash all these proposals. The vote on a full measure expected on Thursday. Nuclear talks with Iran resume next week in Vienna.
ROMANS: Time for an EARLY START on your money, oil prices rising. U.S. crude oil back above $60 a barrel, highest price so far this year. You can see from the chart prices collapsed since last summer they fell below $45 a barrel. Weak demand, a glut of supply, the U.S. is producing a whole lot of oil, but that may be over. There's evidence production is slowing here in the U.S. So does that mean the end of cheap gas prices? The average gallon of regular is $2.64 a gallon.
Now that is up a quarter from a month ago so yes if oil prices keep climbing so will gas prices. But compare that with a year ago, it's still a lot cheaper than it was a year ago. The average American family has more money in its pocket right now because of these low oil prices.
BERMAN: They're way up over the last few months. No one was paying attention. It was like, gas is cheap now.
ROMANS: Gas it is will not just go down it will not just go up. I think it will keep going up a little bit. It will stay, but it will stay below last year's level for sure.
BERMAN: Baltimore's police chief says he is surprised, says he was left in the dark, when six of his officers were charged in Freddie Gray's death, sat down for a really interesting interview with CNN. We'll show it to you next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:41:13]
BERMAN: Important comments this morning from a man in the middle of all the controversy in Baltimore. After the death of Freddie Gray and the rioting that engulfed the city, Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts tells 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.
EVAN PEREZ, CNN JUSTICE REPORTER: John, in his first interview since violent protests broke out here in Baltimore and six of his officers were arrested, Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said he learned of the charges just moments before we did.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
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 your first words out of your mouth when you heard that?
BATTS: I don't want to get into that so much. I could 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.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PEREZ: And, John, Commissioner Batts says that one of his top priorities now is improving his relationship between his department and the community and the reputation of his officers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BATTS: There is a lack of trust within this community, period, bottom line. 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've 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.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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.
ROMANS: All right, Evan Perez for us this morning.
Now one of the six Baltimore police officers facing charges in the death of Freddie Gray is challenging the prosecutor in court. Officer Edward Nero claims that the knife Gray was carrying, when he was arrested was illegal, contrary to what Maryland's state's attorney, Marilyn Mosby has said.
His lawyers are demanding to see that 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've 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: It's very important here because Marilyn Mosby says the knife was that a switchblade. A switchblade would be illegal. She says the knife was legal. That will be a point of contention --
ROMANS: Absolutely. BERMAN: It's 44 minutes after the hour. The nation's new attorney general, Loretta Lynch, is now the highest level federal official to visit Baltimore since the unrest. She met with members of Freddie Gray's family as well as police, community leaders and city officials, including Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who stressed the need for action.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAYOR STEPHANIE RAWLINGS-BLAKE, BALTIMORE: We cannot afford to fail. I believe that the relationship between the police and the community, it's like a marriage, and separation is not an option. Divorce is not an option. We have to figure out how we're going to -- to make this marriage work and make it healthy, and make it thrive so our city can thrive.
LORETTA LYNCH, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL: What I've heard here today is how all of the people of Baltimore, every group that I've 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.
[05:45:11] I was able to meet with Mr. Gray's family this morning. It was really a privilege to do so, and just to express my condolences to them, and for their loss. So, and of course, our hearts do go out to them.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: The Justice Department is investigating the arrest of Freddie Gray and the injury he suffered 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 these flights from the FBI for aerial support using infrared technology to monitor movements in the city. The ACLU is questioning whether the surveillance operation was legal, the FBI, not commenting.
BERMAN: So the artist currently known as Prince plans to hold a mother's day concert in Baltimore in honor of Freddie Gray. He is asking everyone attending the rally for peace show to wear the color gray.
Concert promoter, Live Nation, says that several other industry superstars will also appear. Prince just recorded a protest song titled "Baltimore" in response to the death of Freddie Gray and everything that followed.
ROMANS: All right, Hillary Clinton taking her strongest stand yet on immigration. A new position drawing criticism from Republicans this morning, details next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:50:04] BERMAN: Hillary Clinton taking a stand in favor of 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 them that hard-working immigrants who contribute to the economy, in her words, 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: The Republican presidential hopeful, Carly Fiorina, is slamming Clinton's call for a full path to citizenship. The former head of Hewlett-Packard insists that it is not fair to immigrants who quote, "played by the rules." And she had some 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)
BERMAN: New poll numbers for Hillary Clinton on the issue of honesty and trustworthiness. They come in a brand-new "New York Times"/CBS poll. A plurality of Americans, 48 percent believe that the Democratic front-runner has those traits.
And those numbers are actually up in the last six weeks, despite what some consider a scandal over her use of private e-mail servers during her days as secretary of state.
Senator 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: 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 Tsarnaev family's dysfunction. A psychiatrist testified the father suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. 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: Unprecedented new water restrictions now in place in drought- stricken California. State officials have approved a measure that requires cities to cut water use by up to 36 percent while encouraging homeowners to just let their lawns die.
A brown lawn, they say, should be a status symbol. California's Water Control Board lacks the staff to enforce these restrictions. It's not clear how they plan to punish offenders. California Governor Jerry Brown is backing legislation that calls for fines of up to $10,000.
ROMANS: A lot of people talking about how agriculture still really is the big consumer of water in the state. What about restrictions there? All right, 52 minutes past the hour. Is retirement as we know it a thing of the past? Does John Berman have to work until he's 100? The harsh reality about how long we may have to work, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:56:37] ROMANS: All right, welcome back. I'm Christine Romans. Let's get an EARLY START on your money this morning, U.S. stock futures up right now, you know, better than yesterday when the Dow fell 142 points. The Nasdaq lost 1.6 percent, the trade deficit six- year high because of a strong dollar.
Oil prices are climbing above $60 a barrel right for the first time since December. Oil prices collapsed because of oversupply. They've been creeping up steadily since March.
Sheryl Sandberg posting a moving tribute to her husband on Facebook last night after a memorial service for her late husband the Facebook executive called Dave Goldberg her rock.
She said, quote, "We had 11 truly joyful years of the deepest love, happiest marriage, and truest partnership that I could imagine."
The 47-year-old CEO of Survey Monkey, he died Friday after falling on a treadmill while on vacation. Our thoughts go to Sheryl Sandberg and her children.
Traditional retirement may be a thing of the past. According to a new study, 82 percent of people age 60 and older said they plan on working past the age of 65 and 52 percent, deep sighs from John, 52 percent say they plan to work while in retirement.
One positive thing here, millennials are saving for retirement. The study found 67 percent of workers in their 20s have stashed way some money already.
And they have time on their side so for them, I'm really happy that millennials are saving money and I'm really sad you have to work so long. BERMAN: Living in mom and dad's basement you can save some money.
All right, 58 minutes after the hour, we have new information in the Germanwings crash that killed 150 people back in March. "NEW DAY" starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: An attempted terrorist attack was foiled.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is more than just inspiration, more than just a lone wolf.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have individuals who have never been part of a group, but just because of an ideology I'm going to invest in a weapon and attack.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Baltimore's police commissioner was kept out of the loop by the prosecutor.
BATTS: I can say I was probably surprised by the information that I heard.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The D.A.'s Office absolutely has no trust whatsoever with the police commissioner or its department.
CLINTON: I will fight for comprehensive immigration reform and a path to citizenship.
FIORINA: I think she's pandering and we need to secure the border.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to our viewers here in the U.S. and around the world. You're watching NEW DAY and we do have breaking news. The co-pilot who crashed Germanwings Flight 9525 into the French Alps rehearsed his suicide mission earlier in the day. This is according to the German tabloid build quoting sources close to the investigation.
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: So we expect French investigators to release their interim report at any moment on that crash that killed 150 people in March. But we already have some stunning findings from that report.
Let's get right to CNN senior international correspondent, Frederik Pleitgen, he is live in London with all of the breaking details. What do we know, Fred?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Exactly how Chris says. This is information that we have according to "The Build" newspaper in Germany, which we know has had very good leads on this story as the investigation went on in the earlier part right after the crash.
And they're now reporting that they've had access to this BEA report and have findings from it. One of the most interesting is that this pilot, Andreas Lubitz, might very well have practiced the dissent that he later then conducted into those mountains while he was on the outbound flight.
