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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Murder Plot to Kill Lyle Mitchell?; Tropical Storm Bill Batters Texas; Stocks Futures Are Higher; FDA Bans Trans Fat; Shark Attack Victim Speaks Out; Donald Trump, Unplugged. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired June 17, 2015 - 05:30   ET

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

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CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: New questions this morning about the woman arrested for helping two dangerous killers break out of prison. Her husband's attorney on the record about their relationship, as the search grows cold for the escaped inmates.

[05:30:00] Happening now: rain pounding Texas. The threat of dangerous flooding rising this morning. The damage done and what is still to come, ahead.

Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. John Berman has this Wednesday morning off. It is 30 minutes past the hour.

She may have been plotting to kill him and now Joyce Mitchell and her husband have come face to face behind bars. Mitchell is the prison worker, of course, who allegedly helped two cold blooded killers escape from a maximum security facility in upstate New York.

Now investigators believed she may have been plotting to have her husband murdered. Mitchell's lawyer insists that is not the case. He claims his client is devastated.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Could you tell us how your client is holding up, Ms. Mitchell?

STEPHEN JOHNSTON, JOYCE MITCHELL'S ATTORNEY: I haven't talked to her today but as of late yesterday, she was pretty distraught.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please elaborate on that. She had visitor today, her husband, correct?

JOHNSTON: That is correct.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you explain how that visit went?

JOHNSTON: I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Now that's the lawyer for her. The lawyer for her husband says he is not standing by her. Not standing by her. Officials investigate whether she had had a sexual relationship with both escaped inmates. Let's get the latest from CNN national correspondent, Jason Carroll.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, we are learning a little bit more about Joyce Mitchell and her alleged role in all this and why she may have initially agreed to be the get-away driver. A source telling CNN that she did have some sort of an inappropriate relationship with both Richard Matt and David Sweat and that same source telling CNN there may have been some sort of a murder plot to murder Mitchell's husband, Lyle.

And perhaps she felt threatened herself at some point and that she may have been coerced to being the get-away driver. Investigators also looking more closely at Lyle Mitchell to see if he knew anything at all about the escape plan.

His attorney telling CNN on Tuesday that he knew nothing about the escape plan or the murder plot. We could also tell you, Christine, that Lyle Mitchell did visit Joyce Mitchell when she was in custody out here on Tuesday. That visitation lasted for about an hour.

There was no physical contact between the two of them. They were separated by a glass partition and spoke over the phone. Joyce Mitchell, as for her, she was being held here not too far from here and moved to another facility to the south near Albany.

As for that massive manhunt, that is still very much under way. More than a thousand leads, but still no sign of these two men. Christine, it seems the trail has gone somewhat cold.

ROMANS: Unbelievable. Thanks, Jason.

Let's move on now to Tropical Storm Bill downgraded to do a tropical depression overnight. It's still taking a big toll in Texas. The storm rolled in Tuesday afternoon, high winds, taking down trees and power lines and 4 to 8 inches of rain swamping the eastern half of the state.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The roads are gone. The big rock piles, the dunes down the beach side, they are nonexistent. This water is just pouring in and flooding.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Officials have called for voluntary evacuations in parts of Houston where residents are still reeling from Memorial Day floods that swept away hundreds of cars and homes. We get more this morning from CNN's Sara Sidner.

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are in Seabrook, Texas. This is a very low lying area. We need to be fair about that because this is not what it looks like everywhere. However, there is some trouble from Tropical Storm Bill. A boat sitting here near the water where it should be, but we are actually in a parking lot, and next to us are homes. And these homes are kind of used to it because on the one side, they have the Galveston Bay, which is kicking up on the other side, an estuary.

So they are getting a lot of water and they are in a very low lying area. The water has made it into the garages of these homes here, but the folks here say, look, we are used to this. The worst we ever had was Hurricane Ike back in 2008.

After that, they said, the rest of this, we can to deal with. They know not to put things in their garages and lift things up. And that's exactly what they've done. Most folks taking it in stride, there has been a tornado warning that has been in effect throughout the evening and into the night to midnight.

But so far this storm really hasn't done much damage. There is still always a concern about flooding and it's supposed to last at least through Wednesday, so everyone is waiting and watching to see what happens with Tropical Storm Bill -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right, thank you, Sara. You know, much of Texas still under flood watch today. The dangerous situation is not over yet. I want to get right to meteorologist, Pedram Javaheri.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning. Let's take a look at this because you know, for some people, the worst of the storm certainly is not over yet, models doing a pretty good job so far with the storm system.

At this point by this afternoon, the center of circulation of the tropical depression goes over the Dallas metroplex region. Once it gets there thunderstorm potential back in the picture and radar estimates totals 6 to 8 inches from La Grange and heaviest rainfall remaining offshore in the past 24 hours.

[05:35:08] Still some strong thunderstorm activity around the Port Lovoca region work your way to the north. Waco getting strong thunderstorms this morning and again, give it a couple of hours and we think Dallas will begin to pick up some tremendous rainfall as well.

You take a look, some 30 million people from Houston out towards St. Louis underneath the flood watches, warnings, and advisories that are in place this morning. The storm exhibiting some rotation so about 3.5 million people underneath a tornado watch that expires at 7:00 a.m. local time includes Houston as well.

So certainly something worth noting before the storm system slowly pushes out of this region in very slow moving feature here and by midweek to the latter portion of the week, the rainfall, anywhere from Indianapolis even towards Pittsburgh, and by Saturday night, New York City gets in on some heavy rainfall. That will be remnants of the storm system, so a wide reaching impact over this region -- Guys.

ROMANS: All right, thank you so much, Pedram. Millions of federal employees' records were not encrypted when they were allegedly stolen by Chinese hackers and security software that could have prevented the software, that software was never installed. That admission is coming from the Office of Personnel Management, the federal government's human resources agency. Intelligence officials are concerned that breach could be used to blackmail Americans, millions of Americans or recruit spies.

Dozens of new e-mails between former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton and her confidant, Sydney Blumenthal, could be released sooner rather than later, that is according to the top House Republican investigating the 2012 Benghazi attack. Blumenthal turned over the e- mails yesterday before appearing in a closed door deposition with Benghazi House committee members.

Time for an EARLY START on your money this Wednesday, U.S. futures higher while we wait for news from the Federal Reserve. No action expected today, though, we could get a better look at just how the feds sees the economy if it's on track, you could be looking at an interest rate hike as soon as September.

Soon you won't find trans-fat on any grocery store shelves. The FDA declared trans-fat unsafe for eating and told companies to get rid of them by June 2018. A lot of giants and restaurants have already phased out trans-fat especially after the FDA started requiring warning labels.

But some of the most popular food brands in America are still guilty, Bisquick, Duncan Hines frosting, Jiffy Pop popcorn, Popeyes onion rings and Cajun fries. These companies say they are working hard to change their recipes.

The former NAACP local leader accused of lying about her race defends herself with new questions about who her real parents might be. A bizarre new twist in an already bizarre story ahead.

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[05:41:19]

ROMANS: So former NAACP leader, Rachel Dolezal, now calling into question whether the white parents who raised her are actually her biological parents. They say they are.

Listen to this interview she gave to NBC's Savannah Guthrie. She insists there is no DNA proof her parents gave birth to her.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You doubt whether Ruthanne and Larry, who say they are your parents. You doubt whether they are your parents?

RACHEL DOLEZAL, EX-NAACP PRESIDENT: I'm just saying I can't prove that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There is a birth certificate that has your name and their names on it. Why would you doubt something so fundamental?

DOLEZAL: I'm not saying that I can't prove they are not. But I don't know that I can actually prove they are. The birth certificate was issued a month and after I'm born is certainly -- there are no medical witnesses to my birth.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are concerned she is not being rational and she's not being honest with herself or with others, and in her attempt to establish a new identity, she has become very malicious toward her biological family.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: Now she has even spoken, it doesn't clear much up. Still, it's so bizarre. Dolezal says that raising two black sons helped her, quote, "Own what it means to experience and live blackness."

Let's take a look at what's coming up on "NEW DAY." Michaela Pereira joins us now. Good morning, Michaela.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR, "NEW DAY": I'm not touching that right this second given my whole story. It really is.

We have a big show coming up for you on NEW DAY. We are going to have the very latest on the manhunt for those two escaped prison inmates. Authorities are now expanding their search.

We are also learning more about the prison worker believed to have helped them escape. There are new details about what she allegedly told her husband about the plot. We are going to speak with the sheriff that is involved with the investigation and we are going to talk with former prison officials about that escape.

Also the presidential race, well, it certainly took an interesting turn yesterday! This happened, Donald Trump announcing his bid becoming the 12th GOP candidate. How is he going to affect the party's chances of taking the White House in 2016 and how serious is he this time? We will talk about Trump and the race with the Republican contender, Carly Fiorina, who joins us live.

And did you check out Jeb Bush's slow jamming the news last night? Genius.

ROMANS: Really funny, very funny. His first appearance there and I'm sure we are going to see more of him on that. OK, thanks, Michaela. Talk to you soon.

One of Sunday's shark attack victims from North Carolina speaking out from his hospital bed. The 16-year-old Hunter Treschl had his left arm amputated below the shoulder. Now he describes the moment the shark first began to attack.

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HUNTER TRESCHL, SHARK ATTACK VICTIM: I was in waist-deep water, I would say, playing with my cousin, like I said. I felt this kind of hit on my left leg, like I felt like it was a big fish coming at you or something. Then I felt it like one more time and then it just hit my arm.

It was -- that was the first. I saw it was biting up my left arm kind of, then it got that off eventually and it swam -- I don't know if it swam away, but I was able to move and got out of the water with the help of my cousin and got to the beach.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Terrifying. He nervously laughs about how he got the arm off. Wow. A 12-year-old Kirsten Yao also had her left arm amputated. Her parents say she should be able to keep her left leg, which was also bitten.

Donald Trump is officially running for president, now on the attack against his opponents. His tough talk ahead. While Jeb Bush slow jams with Jimmy Fallon next.

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ROMANS: The Donald's big campaign kickoff was pure Trump. The billionaire jumping into the Republican race for president with a rambling stream of consciousness, the speech taking direct aim at some of his Republican rivals firmly taking his claim as the outsider-in- chief.

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DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: All of these politicians that I'm running against now, they tried to disassociate -- I mean, you looked at Bush. It took him five days to answer the question in Iraq. He couldn't answer the question. He didn't know. I said is he intelligent?

Then I looked at Rubio, he was unable to answer the question, is Iraq a good thing or a bad thing? He didn't know. He couldn't answer the question! How are these going to lead us? How are we going to go back and make it great again? We can't. They don't have a clue. They can't lead us. They can't. They can't even answer simple questions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: We get more on Trump's big announcement from CNN senior Washington correspondent, Joe Johns.

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Christine, Donald Trump heads for New Hampshire today after making his first campaign stop last night in Iowa. He's been flirting with a run for president for decades, but finally made it official on Tuesday. His kickoff event was about as raw and unfiltered as it gets for the modern presidential candidate.

[05:50:05] Saying what was on his mind and not letting the script for his kickoff speech get in the way and not shy either about it as well. For other candidates like Mitt Romney, last cycle, it was a delicate issue.

For Trump, it's a selling point. By any standard, an unusual kickoff speech, moving back and forth between prepared text and extemporaneous remarks, jumping from topic to topic and issue to issue.

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JOHNS: Trump was very clear who he sees as bad and good, starting with the current occupant of the White House. He called the president a bad negotiator and called the president's signature health care plan a big lie.

He also went after some of the Republican contenders, including Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio. His challenge will be his low approval ratings, 58 percent of Iowa Republicans who responded to a poll said they would never vote for him.

The Trump campaign says that dynamic will change now that he's in the race. They expect his approval ratings to rise. A Trump campaign was welcomed by some who said they hoped he would make the race more entertaining. But some Republican strategists fear it could turn the race into a reality show -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right, Joe Johns, thanks. As Donald Trump hits the campaign trail, rocker, Neil Young is blasting the billionaire for using his classic song "Rocking in the Free World" without his permission.

In a statement, Young's longtime manager says, "Donald Trump is not authorized to use "Rockin' In The Free World" in his presidential candidacy announcement. Neil Young is Canadian citizen is a supporter of Bernie Sanders for president of America.

Presidential candidates and former Florida governor, Jeb Bush stopping by "The Tonight Show" Tuesday to slow jam the news with Jimmy Fallon.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm looking forward to hitting the campaign and discussing the issues that are important to all Americans and having spirited debates with my fellow Republicans about how to solve them.

JIMMY FALLON, HOST, "THE TONIGHT'S SHOW": You don't want to mess with little Jebby because when it comes to debating, he's a master.

Now, while we are talking about the issues, where do you stand on immigration?

BUSH: Well, Jimmy, we are a nation of immigrants and I believe everyone should have the chance to achieve the American dream, and to translate for that for all of your Spanish speaking viewers -- (inaudible).

FALLON: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold the telephone -- I know you just got back from Miami, but I didn't think I was interviewing governor pit bull!

BUSH: Fireball!

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: It was the first-ever late night appearance for Jeb Bush.

All right, parents, are you worried about your little darling's future? I got the best jobs for millennials for you. That's next.

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[05:57:15]

ROMANS: Good morning. I'm Christine Romans. Let's get an EARLY START on your money. European stocks lower right now. Last-minute negotiations to avoid a Greek default still ongoing, still racking nerves of investors.

U.S. stock futures looking more upbeat, though, right now. Later today we will hear from the Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen. No action on interest rates is expected, but we will get a better look at how the fed sees the economy and that outlook determines when interest rates will finally rise.

We now know when Rupert Murdoch will pass the torch to his sons at Fox. It will officially July 1st. James Murdoch will become CEO of 21st Century Fox and Lachlan Murdoch will share the chairman position with father. Rupert Murdoch is one of the most influential media moguls. He built an empire at Fox that includes the film studio and network and news channel. Sources close to the family say he'll remain actively involve helping his sons take over.

All right, parents, listen up. These are the best job prospects for millennials, ages 18 to 30, list out today, advertising account executive, the median salary, $115,000 and millennials are in high demand.

Also the top five best jobs for millennials, civil engineer, computer systems analyst, data scientist and financial planner, notice the trend? A lot of these STEMS jobs, science, technology, engineering and math.

All right, stunning new details this morning about the woman arrested for helping two killers break out of prison as she meets with her husband behind bars. "NEW DAY" picks up that story right now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Despite more than 1,000 leads, still no sign of Richard Matt and David Sweat.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Joyce Mitchell warned her husband Lyle Mitchell that he was in danger.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sees her husband for the first time since her arrest.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He said that he is standing by her.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you an African-American woman?

DOLEZAL: I identify as black.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's not the Rachel we used to know.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a lie! I don't believe this term of transracial.

TRUMP: I am officially running for president of the United States! The American dream is dead.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Golden State Warriors are the 2015 NBA champions. Their first title in 40 years!

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Now that is the city. Good morning, welcome to NEW DAY. It is Wednesday, June 17th, 6:00 in the east. Authorities are now zeroing in on who else helped two murderers escape from a New York maximum security prison expanding their focus inside and outside the prison. Other inmates causing distractions, other staff, how big was the plot and why would anyone help?

[06:00:03] ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: This as Joyce Mitchell, the prison worker who allegedly helped the killers escape gets a jailhouse visit from her husband. How much did he know about the plot?