Return to Transcripts main page
Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Search Intensifies for Teens Missing at Sea; New York Prison Break: Mitchell Tells All; Donald Trump on the Defensive; Death of "Cecil" The Lion. Aired 4:30-5a ET
Aired July 29, 2015 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to EARLY START, everyone. I'm John Berman. About 30 minutes past the hour. Christine Romans is off this morning.
Happening now, the search for two Florida 14-year-olds missing at sea is entering its sixth day.
[04:30:01] The Coast Guard has expanded the search area and it is now more than 41,000 square miles, that's about the size of Ohio. The boys' boat was found capsized Sunday, and there is serious concern that Perry Cohen and Austin Stephanos can survive in the water for only so long.
Cohen's mother tells CNN she is convinced they are still alive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAMELA COHEN, MOTHER OF TEEN MISSING AT SEA (via telephone): We know our boys. We know the determination and the courage that they have. We know the skills that they have. We know how athletically fit and able they are. Both of our boys learned how to swim before they learned how to walk. And so, we just feel very, very confident that they will be able to stick through this. They know that we're coming for them and we will get them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: CNN's Martin Savidge is in Florida with the very latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.
The Coast Guard has just completed its fifth night of searching for these two missing Florida teens and the search area goes all the way up to the coast of South Carolina. The question now becomes how long is this search going to actually continue on? The Coast Guard admits they are at that point of discussing about possibly bringing it to a close. They haven't admitted it yet, but they are talking about it, maybe what they have always said is that a person could last four to five days in the water given the conditions and we are at that point. The thing is the Coast Guard doesn't know when the boys ended up in
the water. Their boat was found Sunday. That is why the definitive lie is a little bit fuzzy here, but they admit that the time is running out.
Meanwhile, the family is trying to, as best they can, to prepare for that moment. In fact, they have a Go Fund Me account that has raised over a $100,000 which will be used to fund their own private search. It's one thing to be ready to carry on the search. It's another thing to be ready to carry that emotional burden when an official comes to you and says, there is no more hope -- John.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERNMAN: Martin Savidge, thanks so much.
New details this morning in the New York state prison breakout. The woman who represented Richard Matt and David Sweat escape plead guilty to charges that could bring her up to seven years in prison. Fifty- one-year-old prison Joyce Mitchell accepted a plea deal that lets avoid the most serious potential charge. That would be involvement in a conspiracy to kill her husband.
Joyce Mitchell's lawyer denies she was involved in such a plot to kill Lyle Mitchell and he is standing behind her, throwing some harsh words at the media.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPORTER: Are you standing by her?
LYLE MITCHELL, HUSBAND OF JOYCE MITCHELL: One hundred percent.
REPORTER: Why?
MITCHELL: Because I love her.
And you guys are printing lies.
REPORTER: What kind of lies?
MITCHELL: I have nothing to say to you.
REPORTER: What kind of lies do you think we printed? Do you think the plea was a good idea?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Lyle Mitchell right there.
CNN's Alexander Field with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, Joyce Mitchell was tearful in the courtroom as she accepted responsibility for her role in the escape pleading guilty to two different counts. At the same time, we are learning new details from her confession to police. She has admitted to putting hacksaw blades into the hamburger meat which was passed to the inmates but days after the escape she told investigators she was aware the two men were plotting to break out for three or four weeks before they managed to pull off that escape.
She also went into graphic detail about her relationships with both of the men, saying that she would write sexual letters to David Sweat and take naked pictures of herself. She says there was no sexual contact with Sweat but that Matt, one day, kissed her, taking her by surprise and other sexual encounters followed. She says Matt was the one who plotted to kill her husband Lyle.
She was asked to drive the get away car after the men broke out of the prison and she was told by them to bring a hatchet, a shotgun, and other provisions. Apparently, the two minute mates told Joyce they would all drive six to seven hours into the woods somewhere and hunker down for a week and then Richard Matt would split off and Joyce Mitch and David Sweat would be left together. But Mitchell told police she couldn't follow through with the plan ultimately because she loved her husband too much.
Lyle Mitchell was in the courtroom as Joyce accepted that plea deal. This plea deal protects her from having the district attorney pursue additional charges against her based on those sexual allegations and also the conspiracy to murder her husband. Joyce will be formally sentenced in September -- John.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: Alexander Field, thanks so much.
Donald Trump is standing by his man, even while creating some distance between himself and one of his special aides, special counsel Michael Cohen. Cohen triggered an uproar when he told a "Daily Beast" reporter, "You cannot rape your spouse," which is simply untrue. Cohen was fielding a question about a rape claim being launched against Trump by his ex-wife Ivana in 1990s when the couple was divorcing.
Cohen has since apologized for the remark and Trump tells CNN's Don Lemon, the matter is closed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Do you still stand by Michael Cohen?
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (via telephone): No. You have to understand, Michael was extremely angry because he knew it never took place. He knew this web site was a joke, considered a joke.
[04:35:03] And he was angry and maybe he didn't understand the question. But, no, I don't, I disagreed with him. In fact, when I read it, I disagreed. I didn't know that he said, or who knows what he said because, frankly, I'm not sure they reported accurately, anyway. But assuming he said it, no, I disagree with that.
LEMON: But you still, I mean, you're not going to fire him or get rid of him?
TRUMP: No, I'm not. He was very angry because they issued a false story to get publicity for themselves and to try and make themselves relevant, which they are not. People have been fired all over the place from that one, and others are failing, as you know, in that world. A lot of them are failing but this one is a particularly bad one. A lot of money was spent on it and it's been a disaster.
And he knew that and he said to them, you know, you're doing the wrong thing. You do this, you're doing the wrong thing. So, what happened is he probably got angry.
No, I disagree with him. When I first saw it, I said, wow, you know, it's something I disagree with, but that's the way it is. You know, he is speaking for himself. He is not speaking for me, obviously.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Cohen says his comments were inarticulate and admits the reporter's question sent him into a tailspin.
Tight political space for Hillary Clinton this morning. She is refusing to take a position on the Keystone oil pipeline. The Democratic front-runner has never publicly stated with whether she favors opposes construction of the 1,200 mile pipeline stretching from Canada to the Gulf.
She avoided the question again when a voter in New Hampshire asked her about it. And later, she explained why.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I was the secretary of state who started that process. I was the one who put into place the investigation. I have now passed it off as obvious because I'm no longer there to Secretary Kerry. This is President Obama's decision and I am not going to second-guess him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Democratic rival Bernie Sanders told reporters it is hard to understand how Clinton can be so concerned about climate change but not oppose the Keystone pipeline. Bernie Sanders is against it.
Secretary of state John Kerry and other top administration officials will be back on chill for a hearing this morning trying to convince lawmakers to support the nuclear deal with Iran. On Tuesday, Kerry warned a house committee that if the U.S. walks away from the agreement, it will accelerate Iran's path to a nuclear weapon.
The White House has won over a key Democrat, at least one, Michigan Sander Levin the longest Jewish member of Congress and staunch reporter of Israeli. Levin announced he supports the deal. This morning, an emergency NATO meeting called by Turkey has ended
with a broad statement against terrorism. Turkey sought the meeting saying it faces increasing security threats along its border from ISIS but also other groups.
CNN international correspondent Arwa Damon joins us from Istanbul with the latest.
Good morning, Arwa.
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
And Turkey is in a fairly vulnerable position at this stated and why it called for the emergency meeting. Also wanting to ensure it has the capital moving forward in its own anti-terrorism campaign wanting to ensure it has the backing of key NATO allies because, as you mentioned, Turkey is not just for the first time taking on ISIS in Syria by launching air strikes against ISIS positions, it has also reopened its front with the Kurdistan Workers Party, the PKK, bombing them, not just in northern Iraq, but also in some sensitive areas within Turkey's borders and there have been widespread concerns that Turkey could be facing retaliatory attacks by ISIS.
So concerned are some members of the population at this stage, John, that even though there have been unsubstantiated reports at this stage that some sort of attack could take place in Istanbul metro, for example, people are beginning to avoid that. Turkey also undergoing those crucial negotiations with the United States, finally opening up its bases and air space to U.S. aircraft.
Turkey realizing perhaps that its policy of trying to sit on the sidelines of not getting actively militarily involved in the war in Syria in this anti-ISIS coalition not really working out to turkey's benefits. But by getting involved in the war against ISIS, it is unfortunately inevitably making itself an even bigger target for the terrorist organization, John.
BERMAN: It is a dramatic policy shift. We will have to see what happens on the ground there both in Syria and Turkey over the coming days and weeks. Arwa Damon for us in Istanbul, thanks so much.
Time for an early start on your money. Alison Kosik is here with that.
Good morning.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: We are seeing green arrows this morning. So, it looks like a pretty good day so far.
Asian shares are rallying and seeing though, a lot of volatility in stocks in China. Shanghai's benchmark index, though, is up 3 1/2 percent today, European shares, U.S. stocks futures are mostly higher as well.
But you know what? A lot to change that because we are hearing from the Federal Reserve today and investors are looking for any clues about a looming interest rate hike. A lot of companies also opening their books today as earning seasons rolls on, including Facebook reporting after the bell.
[04:40:04] Health care spending is soaring. Spending in the U.S. hit $3.1 trillion last year or almost $10,000 per person. That's increase of 5 1/2 percent. This is because more than 8 million Americans have gotten insurance through Obamacare.
Health care spending is expected to keep growing rapidly in the coming years because of the improving economy and the aging population. Interestingly enough, John, spending numbers I just mentioned would have been even higher if it weren't for the fact people are going to the doctor less because they have to pay a bigger share out of pocket for those medical bills.
BERMAN: Interesting. All right. Alison, thanks so much.
Lawmakers moving forward with a plan to defund Planned Parenthood after a third undercover was released by activists. Details, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: New video this morning of Tennessee police pulling over the man who would go on to shoot and kill five members of the military two weeks ago. The video is from early in the morning of April 20th. Police pulled over Mohammad Abdulazeez for erratic driving. You can see right here. He was having trouble walking in a straight line. He gets irritated and refuses a blood test.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POLICE OFFICER: The reason why you wouldn't want to do the test?
MOHAMMAD ABDULAZEEZ: I don't feel I should be taken in right now.
POLICE OFFICER: OK. Fair enough.
ABDULAZEEZ: I mean, with my driving, was it --
POLICE OFFICER: It was, it was. I'm starting to smell the odor of marijuana. Do you have weed on you somewhere?
ABDULAZEEZ: No, sir.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[04:45:01] BERMAN: Abdulazeez was shot and killed after his attack in Chattanooga on July 16th.
New trouble for Planned Parenthood. An antiabortion group released a new video that shows an official talking about pricing for aborted fetal tissue. It comes as the Republicans in the Senate move forward with plans to vote on a bill aimed at restricting federal funding for Planned Parenthood.
CNN's Chris Frates with more now on the video. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS FRATES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, John. The latest graphic and highly edited video from the activist group the Center for Medical Progress features an interview with a woman who used to work for a company that bought fetal tissues from Planned Parenthood.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The harder and more valuable tissue, the more money you get. So, if you can somehow procure a brain or a heart, you're going to get more money than just, like, Chorionic villi or umbilical cord.
FRATES: The video also includes a Planned Parenthood official discussing per organ pricing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you think that per item thing works a little better because of how much you can get out of it?
FRATES: Planned Parenthood says they don't use federal funds for abortions, or profit from fetal issue, saying any money received covers the procedure's cost.
DAWN LAGUENS, PLANNED PARENTHOOD: The politicians have not wasted one minute trying to go from finding the facts to turning things into a political circus.
FRATES: Abortion opponents gathered in dozens of cities on Tuesday, calling on Congress to defund the group. The rally in fronts of the U.S. Capitol drew three Republican presidential contenders.
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Today, the U.S. Department of Justice should open a criminal investigation into all of those individuals.
DR. BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Are we going to become a culture of life or a culture of death?
SEN. RAND PAUL (R-KY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Today, I have good news. The Senate will vote on defunding Planned Parenthood before we go home in August.
FRATES: In the conference call with reporters on Tuesday, a Planned Parenthood executive said the video was put out by militant anti- abortion extremists who selectively edited the video -- John.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: Chris Frates, thanks so much.
Planned Parenthood is responding to the video in a statement saying, "Based on a two-minute edited excerpt from a lengthy conversation, false and baseless accusations are being promulgated again about medical providers. The opportunity to donate fetal tissue has been a source of comfort for many women who have chosen to donate."
The father of Colorado movie theater James Holmes is expected back on the witness stand today for the sentencing phase of the trial. Robert Holmes told jurors on Tuesday he and his wife had now idea before the 2010 massacre that their son was mentally ill. The defense is also expected to call Holmes' mother today. The jury is weighing whether to sentence him to life in prison or death.
Authorities in Texas released new video of Sandra Bland in jail. They say the footage provides proof that Bland was alive and well at the jail in Waller County, Texas. And the video the say dispels some of the rumors that she died during her arrest and was perhaps dead in her mug shot. The 28-year-old Bland was found hanging in her jail cell after an arrest a routine traffic stop. An autopsy concluded it was suicide.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell upheld the four-game deflategate suspension for Tom Brady, which could prompt the Patriots quarterback and the players union to make a federal case of it. It will prompt them. They will file a suit today.
Goodell said by destroying his cell phone, Brady tried to cover-up evidence of his role in the, quote, "underlying scheme to alter footballs". Brady's agent blasted the decision calling the appeals process a sham. The NFL Players Association says it will file an appeal on behalf of Brady presumably in federal court, probably in Minnesota.
Unrelated to Minnesota. A Minnesota dentist is wanted for killing a lion while on a safari in Zimbabwe. He is now speaking out. We are live with the story next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: New this morning, authorities in Zimbabwe say a Minnesota dentist is responsible for killing one of that country's most beloved lions. Walter James Palmer of Eden Prairie in Minnesota is expected to face poaching charges. A task force in Zimbabwe said he paid threes $50,000 to track and kill Cecil, a beautiful protected lion who was being tracked by researchers at Oxford University. You can see the famous black, beautiful mane right there.
I want to bring in CNN's David McKenzie live from Lion's Rock in South Africa.
Good morning, David.
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESOPNDENT (via telephone): Good morning, John.
This case has sparked outrage around the world. Cecil, this famous lion from Zimbabwe is dead. He was shot with a bow by this hunter. They say the hunter is a Minnesota dentist named Walter Palmer. He's dentist of the area. He put out a statement saying, 'Everything to my knowledge about this trip is legal, probably handled and conducted. I had no idea that the lion I took was a favorite until the end of the hunt. I relied on the expertise of local professional guides."
So, certainly it seems he is passing the buck on to the guides. He is now in Zimbabwe facing charges and authorities saying they are looking for this American hunter who they accuse of doing this and killing this famous lion.
BERMAN: It is sad. We are looking at pictures of Cecil, David, while we are talking to you.
This brings up serious questions about poaching. Poaching is such a controversial issue in that part of the world.
MCKENZIE: Certainly, poaching is a major issue. In this case, it was trophy hunting rather than poaching. So, people will come in, often legally, very frequently from the United States and hire professional guide, pay a lot of money, tens of thousands of dollars in cash, the hunt precious games.
The hunters say this is the way to funnel money back conservation, but conservation groups say this issue of Cecil is a perfect example of their perspective that this practice should be banned altogether. We are at a center in South Africa where they rehabilitate big cats. Some of them, in fact, were bred just to be hunted.
There is a movement against the practice but the hunters say they have every right to shoot these animals because it is perfectly legal.
[04:55:01] But the legality of this particular hunt of Cecil is (INAUDIBLE) -- John.
BERMAN: Thank you for that. Distinction between trophy hunting and poaching, but trophy hunting in this case is highly controversial. David McKenzie in South Africa, thanks so much.
So, parents, did your children bomb the SAT? Why that may not be a problem any more. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: Time for an early start on your money. Alison Kosik is here with that.
KOSIK: Good morning. We're seeing green arrows across the board. U.S. stock futures, they're higher. Yesterday, the Dow jumped 190 points and shaking off a five-day losing streak.
One stock break in that trend is Twitter, shares down 12 percent before the bell. That is after some straight talk from founder and interim CEO Jack Dorsey who says Twitter needs an overhaul to make it easier to use and that will take time.
BERMAN: Tweet us your thoughts on that, if you can! It's not too hard to use.
KOSIK: Come on.
Are you in Windows 7 or 8 user? Guess what? Your PC is getting an upgrade today and by many accounts, Windows 10 is downright awesome! It took time for Microsoft to get Windows 10 exactly right and it asked for feedback and made dozens of changes and the results is an operating system familiar to everyone who's used windows before. It's got a more modern design and streamline notification and improved personal assistant. Plus, upgrading is free!
Windows expect 1 billion devices to run on the new operating system in the next few years.
Parents, did your child bomb the SAT? I don't think you did, you're one of the smartest guys I know. Well, guess what, it doesn't matter. If they are applying to George Washington University, the college just became the largest and most prestigious to make standardized test scores optional! Oh, my God, I can't believe it!
