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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Prison Break Tools in Frozen Meat?; New Calls to Remove Rebel Flag; President Obama on Race in America; Cyberattack on Federal Workers Grows; Tornadoes Touch Down in Illinois & Michigan; USA Defeats Colombia, Advances to Play China. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired June 23, 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: New calls this morning to banish the Confederate flag. South Carolina's governor wants the controversial battle flag removed from the state capitol there. Now, there are calls in Mississippi, even Walmart getting in on the action. Such an historic change in just a few days.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: A stunning word from President Obama in a new, candid interview about race in America. Six little letters causing an awful lot of discussion this morning.

Good morning. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

BERMAN: Great to see you. I'm John Berman. It is Tuesday, June 23rd. And it is 5:00 a.m. in the East.

Important, new leads in the manhunt for two convicts escaped from a New York maximum security prison. Authorities have found DNA from Richard Matt and David Sweat inside a hunting cabin near the town of Owls Head in Upstate New York. That cabin has been burglarized, just 20 miles west of the prison they broke out of more than two weeks ago. A witness spotted someone running into the woods near the cabin over the weekend. After that, about 1,000 officers, they descended on that tiny community with helicopters, ATVs and cruisers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: How confident do you feel about these leads?

KEVIN MULVERHILL, FRANKLIN COUNTY SHERIFF: All options are open. Everything is on the table. And like I said, I think these are the best leads we've had since the escape.

REPORTER: Are you confident they're here in your area, in your county?

MULVERHILL: I'm confident that if they're here, we're going to catch them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The information that's come in the last 48, 72 hours has been more credible and better leads probably than we've had since the escape. I think the noose is starting to tighten. (END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: A law enforcement source tells CNN the detectives are also combing through guest registries from hotels in the prison area, looking possibly for someone who might have a connection to the escapees. Officials also have a new theory on how the inmates got their hands on tools to break out of prison, from a shocking source.

CNN's Jason Carroll has more on that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine, John, investigators calling this one of their most significant leads to date, that evidence found inside that cabin, materials linking these two inmates to DNA that they also were able to extract from the materials found inside that cabin.

Again, a significant lead for investigators, but that's just one of the developments in this story, a story that just seems to have one strange development after another. This one has to do with how these inmates allegedly got some of that contraband inside the prison. We're hearing from a source that perhaps it came through frozen hamburger meat -- I say that again, frozen hamburger meat.

And investigators are looking at the possibility that contraband or tools were inside of frozen hamburger meat delivered to Richard Matt just a week before his escape. That, again, coming to us from a source here on the ground.

Now, you should also know that these two men collected their contraband over a lengthy period of time, but it is believed that one of the guards there at the correctional facility passed this frozen chunk of hamburger meat into the prison. It did not go through metal detectors which is a violation of prison policy. These two inmates, as you know, housed in the -- what was the so-called honor guard and the honor block and as such, they were allowed to cook. That was one of their privileges. They were allowed to cook there in their cells.

So, this is just many, one of the many points that would be investigated as this investigation moves forward -- Christine, John.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Jason Carroll, thank you for that.

Our other big story this morning, we're learning about new details about the months leading up to Dylann Roof's deadly rampage at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

Now, in February, after Roof apparently launched that racist Web site with that long, hate-filled manifesto, he used the money from his 21st birthday in April to buy a gun. Then, he began a twisted tour of South Carolina historic sites connected to slavery and the confederacy. And then, last week's massacre in Charleston. But instead of the race war he says he hoped to spark, the shooting

seems to be set to change the political climate across the South. Later this morning, a rally is planned at South Carolina's statehouse, calling on lawmakers to support removing the Confederate battle flag. It comes after South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley reversed her earlier position and joined both of the state's U.S. senators calling for the flag's removal.

This as the speaker of the Mississippi House says he wants to see the Confederate cross removed from his state's flag. And Walmart announcing it will remove all rebel flag merchandise from its stores.

We get more now from CNN's Ana Cabrera in Columbia, South Carolina.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANA CABRERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, the Confederate flag still flies out front of the South Carolina capitol. But now, the governor, Nikki Haley, is joining calls for the flag to go. And this sets up a debate that will likely play out in the next few weeks inside the state capitol, and with an eventual vote by state lawmakers which will determine the flag's future.

[05:05:06] But the governor's announcement just reverses what she said in previous statements in which she supported the placement of the flag here, in state capitol grounds, alongside the Confederate war memorial, saying it symbolizes the state's heritage. But she says, in light of the Charleston church massacre, she recognizes that this flag means different things to different people. And for some, it symbolizes hatred and racism and she says that has no place on state capitol grounds.

GOV. NIKKI HALEY (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: For good and for bad, whether it is on statehouse grounds or in a museum, the flag will always be a part of the soil of South Carolina. But this is a moment in which we could say that that flag, while an integral part of our past, does not represent the future.

Today, we are here in a moment of unity in our state without ill will to say it's time to move the flag from the capitol grounds.

(APPLAUSE)

CABRERA: Bottom line, only state lawmakers have power to remove the flag, and it will require a 2/3 majority to agree for the flag to come down. There does seem to be some momentum going in that direction but we'll have to wait and see -- John and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: Thanks Ana for that.

President Obama will travel to Charleston on Friday. President Obama, the first lady and Vice President Joe Biden, they will all attend the funeral for the pastor of Emanuel AME Church, Reverend Clementa Pinckney. CNN's Michelle Kosinski has the very latest from the White House --

Michelle.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, John and Christine.

Right. It was interesting to hear, after so many questions have been directed to the White House, when is the president -- is he going to visit Charleston? Now, they've announced that he and the first lady, and the vice president will be going there on Friday for the funeral of Reverend Clementa Pinckney, someone the president had met and knew personally. And the president will deliver the eulogy.

It almost seems like we're in this new period of how the president engages on and addresses race. I mean, we've heard several speeches lately where he uses extremely direct language. Speaking of which, this hour-long interview that he did with a comedian in a garage for a podcast called "WTF", the headline, of course though, that the president himself used the N-word.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNTIED STATES: And it's not just a matter of it not being polite to say nigger in public, that's not the measure of whether racism still exists or not. It's not just a matter of overt discrimination. We have -- societies don't overnight completely erase everything that happened 200 to 300 years prior.

KOSINSKI: Well, clearly, there is a shock value in that. That's the headlines around the world.

But the White House is denying that the president planned this out ahead of time. They said he was simply making a point in an informal setting and it just kind of came out. Some analysts are saying it is about time we heard the president speak so directly on the subject.

Of course, not everybody's happy that he decided to use that word in particular, but we're also hearing from people who are saying they're surprised that people are surprised. I mean, this is a word we don't feel comfortable using really when we're talking about that word, but it's hard to imagine that the president didn't think about the provocative power of it when he decided to use it even if it was on the spot. And this kind of discussion is clearly what the White House wants -- John and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Michelle Kosinski at the White House -- thank you for that.

You know, four Republican presidential candidates are scrambling to distance themselves from the head of a white supremacist group who may have inspired Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof. Earl Holt, this man, is the leader of the Council of Conservative Citizens. He has donated thousands of dollars to the campaigns of Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Scott Walker, Rick Santorum. Three of the four candidates announcing they are donating those contributions to the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund in Charleston.

BERMAN: It's nice to see that money going to a good cause.

A top executive from Japanese airbag maker Takata will testify at the Senate today. He'll be at a hearing. The company is involved in the largest automotive recall in history with at least 32 million vehicles affected. The faulty airbags are responsible for at least eight deaths. A report published by the committee claims that Takata executives actually halted safety audits worldwide during the recall. They were looking to save money.

ROMANS: The president's fast-track Pacific trade bill faces one more critical hurdle in the Senate today. It's a procedural vote that could clear the way for final passage this week. The fate of the bill is in the hands of a half dozen Democrats who are pro-trade but say they're concerned this deal, the president's trade deal, will kill jobs in America.

Time for an early start on your money. Looks like a great day for stocks, folks. European and Asian stocks higher on the hopes of a Greek debt deal. U.S. futures up a little bit here, too, after a nice run yesterday. The NASDAQ, record-high close, largely thanks to Greece.

[05:10:00] For the first time in months in negotiations, Greece's creditors suggested a last-minute deal to avoid default. They say it looks like that avoiding default is in sight. Greece submitted a proposal with more reforms yesterday. E.U. leaders say more work needs to be done, but it's promising enough to keep talks going in the next few days. You know, Greece needs money. It needs money to meet a $1.75 billion debt payment due to the IMF at the end of the month.

BERMAN: It is important to Grexecute that deal. I made the same joke last hour, but I couldn't think of a new one. So, I went back to the old --

ROMANS: Your brain is as fast as Greece lightning.

BERMAN: Famed Hollywood composer James Horner is missing and feared dead this morning. A small plane registered to Horner crashed in central California on Monday. The pilot was the only occupant and was killed immediately on impact. Authorities have not yet named the victim.

Horner is best known for his work on the 1997 film "Titanic."

Horner earned two Oscars for "Titanic," best original dramatic score and best original song for the Celine Dion classic "My Heart Will Go On."

New information this morning on the cyberattack on U.S. federal workers. And really, it goes way beyond that. It is four times larger than previously thought. Private information of 18 million former and current government employees compromised.

So, is China behind the attack? We're live with the response next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: So, it seems the cyberattack targeting federal employees is much more far reaching than first thought. The number of employees affected has gone from about 4 million, believed to be 4 million, now to 18 million, and that number could rise even more.

The U.S. is pointing the finger at China, but what does Beijing have to say?

Let's turn now to CNN's David McKenzie in Beijing for that.

China coming forward and saying, hey, we did it, we're sorry. Not really, huh?

[05:15:00] DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, maybe hell is frozen over today, yes, John.

No, in fact, China says that is not its fault and it's not it, and it's irresponsible of the U.S. to make these accusations, particularly in this case. You know, we've had many accusations over the past year, more than that, even, John, and sometimes with very specific evidence. In this case, they didn't give or administration officials with the Obama administration, frankly, haven't pointed the finger directly at Beijing at all.

So, it's a little bit less clear cut this time from the perspective of those who might be sympathetic to the U.S. viewpoint. China is accused, though, by officials, investigators, of hacking into some 18 million, perhaps more, current, former and prospective federal employees.

Now, the reason this is worrying to many is it could also include those who are trying to get highly sensitive security clearances to work in government jobs or contract fields with the government, including in homeland security. So, it's a major issue.

Who's at fault? Well, that's just finger-pointing at this point. But certainly, both China and the U.S. have been saying they want to figure out some kind of dialogue on the issue of cyber hacking, but at this point, the dialogue seems very far away, indeed -- John.

BERMAN: It seems to be, you did it, no, we didn't. I have to say, the scope of this is just enormous.

David McKenzie in Beijing -- thanks so much.

ROMANS: It's almost like, you did it, no, we didn't, but you did it, too.

BERMAN: Right.

ROMANS: You know?

BERMAN: Sounds like my voice. ROMANS: All right. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan revealing he has an

advanced form of cancer. The 59-year-old has been diagnosed with non- Hodgkin's lymphoma. He says he will not step down. He intends to keep working while receiving aggressive chemotherapy treatments in the coming months. The cancer has advanced. Hogan says his chance of survival is good.

BERMAN: Six Baltimore police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray go on trial October 13th. The 25-year-old Gray died in April after suffering a spinal injury while in police custody. His death triggered widespread protests, also riots in Baltimore. The charges against the six officers range from second-degree manslaughter and assault. Also, there are misconduct charges as well.

ROMANS: All right. Rap mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs is out on bail this morning after a felony arrest on the UCLA campus for assault with a deadly weapon. Now, police say the assault Monday at the campus athletic training complex involved a kettle bell, which is used in weight training.

The alleged victim was not identified, but TMZ reports the target was the strength and conditioning coach for the UCLA football team. Combs' son is a defensive back for the Bruins. In a statement, UCLA football coach Jim Mora called it, quote, "an unfortunate incident for all parties involved."

BERMAN: You said this is helicopter parenting at its worst.

ROMANS: Helicopter parenting coming into -- oh, yeah.

BERMAN: Yes, can't do that to your son's coaches.

ROMANS: No.

BERMAN: All right. Tornadoes tearing into the Upper Midwest overnight. A twister that hit Cole City, Illinois, reportedly sparked fires and left people trapped in collapsed buildings. In Illinois, west of Chicago, emergency officials say damage to a major campground is catastrophic, but they have been able to rescue five people who were trapped inside trailers.

In Eastern Michigan overnight, a tornado did severe damage in the town of Millington. You can see the trees just torn apart there, houses as well. Crews are still in rescue mode. Another twister slammed into Portland, Michigan, ripping roofs off homes and churches and collapsing a Goodwill store. Five people were injured there.

ROMANS: All right, that severe weather moving into the Northeast today, folks. Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri tracking that weather for us from the CNN weather center.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hey, John and Christine. Good morning to you.

Pretty wild setup in the overnight hours across portions of the Midwest. In fact, look at the images coming out of Wrigley Field. We know the Dodgers playing the Cubs. Typically, the globular clouds, you know, the instability in the atmosphere, some thunderstorms popping up in the region. But literally an explosion of thunderstorms, we have one round, a second round into the overnight hours spawned some 13 tornadoes, nearly 300 reports of damage when it comes to weather-related damage.

And the lightning strikes all over the place. Upwards of 1,000 inside the last three hours. So, pretty impressive sight when it comes to the severity of the weather, the line of active weather now pushing off to the East. The ingredients in place there for some dangerous weather also across portions of the Northeast.

But some sudden reports of tornadoes in and around Illinois. That was the most we've seen since the beginning of April for the state of Illinois, as far as tornado reports. But notice some models take you to the afternoon hours, storms really begin brewing around Washington, New York, and Boston. Sixty-seven million people in line for active weather.

And pick your place, anywhere on the Northeast, from Washington, to Baltimore, New York, Boston, all of them going to see some rough weather by this afternoon.

When the front cruises out of here, and some cooler temperatures return. Heat indices up into the 100s. New York City, by this weekend, how about 30 degrees cooler, into the mid-60s? Pretty nice stuff.

Let's send it back to you.

BERMAN: Wow, 65 degrees on Sunday. That's not summer.

ROMANS: No.

BERMAN: All right, World Cup soccer! The U.S. taking on Colombia in the round of 16. The Americans held scoreless in the first half, a ridiculous miss on a PK!

[05:20:02] Will they prevail? Andy Scholes with the details in bleacher report, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: This was a stunner. New evidence found by ESPN suggesting that Pete Rose not only bet on baseball -- we knew that -- when he was a manager, but he bet on it while he was still playing.

ROMANS: Wow.

BERMAN: That is something that Pete Rose has always denied.

ROMANS: Andy Scholes has more in this morning's bleacher report.

Hey, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, guys. Yes, in 2004, Pete Rose admitted to betting on baseball, but he said

he only met while managing the Reds. Rose has always denied betting on the game while playing, but new evidence discovered by ESPN's "Outside the Lines" tells a different story.

ESPN obtained copies of a notebook that belonged to former Rose associate Michael Bertolini. The notebook was seized by a raid during the U.S. postal inspection service in October of 1989 and has been sealed ever since. It shows betting records for Rose in 1986. He was still playing at that time.

Now, there's no evidence that Rose ever bet against the Reds. John Dowd, who originally led major league baseball's investigation into Rose, called this notebook the missing piece, and that this closes the door on Rose ever being reinstated into baseball.

Now, Rose released a statement last night, saying, "I'm eager to sit down with Commissioner Rob Manfred to address my entire history, the good, the bad and my long personal journey since baseball. That meeting likely will come some time after the all-star break.

[05:25:00] Therefore, at this point, it's not appropriate to comment on any specifics."

Many people were believing that Rose may be reinstated during the all- star game this year in Cincinnati.

All right, the U.S. national team taking care of business last night against Colombia in the knockout round of the women's World Cup. This game was actually tied at the half. In the second half, though, Colombia was down to their third-string goalie. Alex Morgan scored the first goal for the United States and they tacked on a penalty kick later on. U.S. wins 2-0 and will play China in the quarterfinals on Friday.

All right. Today is finally the day. Tom Brady versus Roger Goodell. The commissioner set to hear Brady's four-game -- his appeal of his four-game suspension for deflategate. It's all going to go down at 9:30 Eastern this morning at the NFL's office in New York City.

The NFL's Players Association is prepared to argue the suspension is grossly inconsistent with past league disciplinary actions, claiming the judgment was based on insufficient evidence.

Guys, Roger Goodell is the iron fist in this case. He will and he will alone decide whether or not to overturn Brady's four-game suspension. A lot of people think it's going to get dropped to something like one, two, three games. We'll have to wait and see what happens.

ROMANS: I'll bet he unclenches that iron fist, at least a little bit, Andy Scholes.

SCHOLES: I know you're hoping so, Berman.

BERMAN: I am. SCHOLES: When do you think Brady will be back on the field? That

Steelers game seems out of the question opening week.

BERMAN: Not game one, but maybe game two or three.

All right, Andy. Thanks so much.

ROMANS: To be a fly on the wall in that meeting, huh, right?

BERMAN: I know, I know.

New tips, new clues and new manpower now searching for two killers who escaped from prison. Why investigators believe they are now close to tracking down these two killers. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)