Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Trump Versus Bush; Bangkok Bombing: Manhunt Widens; Deadly Police Shooting Ignites Protests; Judge Hints Brady Ban Could Be Dropped. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired August 20, 2015 - 05:00   ET

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

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: New Hampshire is the battleground for Republican presidential candidates.

[05:00:02] Donald Trump and Jeb Bush, they are leading the pack, dueling town hall events, focusing their attacks on each other.

The manhunt widening in the Bangkok bomb blast. Police now hunting for at least ten involved in the deadly explosion. We go live to Bangkok ahead.

Breaking overnight: chaos in the streets of St. Louis. Protests erupt after an officer-involved shooting. Details ahead.

Good morning and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. It is Thursday, August 20th. It is 5:00 a.m. in the East. John Berman has the morning off. Nice to see you, folks.

Let's begin in New Hampshire, where two of the top presidential -- Republican presidential contenders held dueling town hall events. Donald Trump and Jeb Bush both in that key early voting state, each getting their fair share of questions. Both also taking the chance to take shots at each other. Did either do anything to gain support in their Republican Party?

CNN political reporter Sara Murray with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Good morning, Christine.

Donald Trump held his first official town hall since becoming a presidential candidate here in Derry, New Hampshire, last night and it drew a big crowd, about 900 people packed into this venue to pepper him with questions, and hundreds of others were in an overflow room.

And the questions run the gamut, from immigration to illegal drug use, even to whether he has too much hubris to be president.

Now, on the top of Donald Trump's agenda was slamming his rival Jeb Bush. He went after him for being a low energy candidate. He went after him for his position on Common Core. He even went after him for having a small crowd at a nearby town hall. DONALD TRUMP (R), 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Have I gotten under

Jeb Bush's skin? I don't know. I will you tell this -- you mention the word skin and he said the other day one of the dumber thing I've heard ever in politics when talking about Iraq. That we, the United States, he said, have to show them that we have skin in the game, in order to go into Iraq. We've lost $2 trillion, thousands of lives, wounded warriors who I love all over the place, and he's talking about we have to show them we have skin in the game.

JEB BUSH (R), 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You're talking about Trump, right? You can mention his name.

He is -- he is the current frontrunner. He has done a pretty amazing job to get to that point.

But here's a deal, we're a conservative party, aren't we, the Republican Party? I think what people will vote for is a proven conservative leader that's done it. Not talked about it. That's actually done it.

And I have a proven conservative record, consistent proven conservative record -- when no one was watching, longtime proven conservative record.

Mr. Trump doesn't have a proven conservative record. He was a Democrat longer in the last decade than he was a Republican. He has given more money to Democrats than he's given to Republicans.

MURRAY: Now, Donald Trump's next stop will be in Alabama later this week. And he gave us a little taste of what to expect saying, they already have tens of thousands of RSVPs. An aide to Donald Trump's campaign tells me they are moving the venue to a football stadium.

Back to you, Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Sara, thank you for that.

Trump and Bush not the only ones. Chris Christie, Carly Fiorina, John Kasich and Scott Walker are in New Hampshire as well. Some events lasting late into the night. They're focusing on selling their own credentials.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R-NJ), 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You never wonder what I'm feeling. I'm going to show you. Third, you're never going to have to wonder what I'm willing to fight for because I'll fight for it. And fourth, you will never have to wonder how hard I'm willing to fight for it because you'll be able to see it with your own two eyes.

CARLY FIORINA (R), 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You will always know what I think. You will always know what I believe. You will never get a sanitized sound byte from me or bumper sticker or rhetoric. I know what I believe. I know what I know. I won't falter and I will not shy away from a fight, which is why I can win that general election because I'll land every punch we need to land.

GOV. JOHN KASICH (R-OH), 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I have a record. When I talk it is not about what I am going to do. It is what I have already done. This is not just what I -- you know, here's what in theory what's going to happen. I have been able to do it.

GOV. SCOTT WALKER (R-WI), 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm not intimidated by anything. I'm not intimidated by protesters. I'm not intimidated by big government union bosses. I'm not intimidated by Democrats.

And a lot of people notice, but I'm not intimidated by my own party's establishment because before I took all the rest of them on, I took on the establishment of my own party. I'll take on them in Washington, and anybody else who stands in the way of defending the American people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Jeb Bush, Carly Fiorina and Scott Walker remained in New Hampshire today. They have meet and greet in town hall events today. Donald Trump is off the campaign trail until tomorrow.

Marco Rubio looking for support in the key state of Michigan. He will speak before the Detroit Economic Club about his plan to turn around struggling urban cities. And we're expecting he's going to unveil his tax reform -- corporate tax reform proposal. He has said in the past he would like to lower the top tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent. Simplify the tax code to just two brackets at 15 and 35 percent.

[05:05:01] Rick Santorum will be in Washington, D.C. to address an audience and take questions at the National Press Club.

An attorney for Hillary Clinton now confirming her personal server was wiped clean before it was turned over to the FBI. This acknowledgement comes in a letter to Senator Ron Johnson, chairman of the Homeland Security Committee.

Clinton's campaign also acknowledging there was information on the server now considered classified. But an important distinction, that information was not classified at the time it was received. That's according to a campaign, which is even pointing to a FOX News report to make its case. In one case, e-mail is marked sensitive, but unclassified. In other case, the material contains no marking.

The Clinton camp trying to keep focus on 2016 and on the possibility of expanding field.

With calls growing now for the Vice President Joe Biden to enter the race, a spokesman for Clinton said he would be a welcome addition.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIAN FALLON, SPOKESMAN FOR HILLARY CLINTON: Hillary Clinton herself and everybody affiliated with her campaign has deep respect and admiration for Vice President Biden. There are a number of people on the campaign who actually worked for him directly. So, there's deep admiration and respect for him. He has more than earned the opportunity to take his time and make a decision.

We are just going to continue to operate our campaign in the way that we always have, which is to presume that we're going to have a competitive race regardless of what the rest of the field looks like.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Biden advisors have told him to make a decision by October 1st.

Breaking this morning: South Korea returning fire on North Korea, in retaliation for an apparent rocket attack. A defense spokesman from Seoul tell CNN the South fired a few dozen rounds back toward the North. A ballistic missile heading toward South Korea about three hours ago. No damage being reported.

New anger from opponents of the Iran deal after the revelation that Iran will be allowed to inspect one of its own military sites. The deal was first reported by "The Associated Press". It says inspections of the Parchin site would be governed by separate agreements. Those deals are between Iran and the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. The West has long believed Parchin was used for covert nuclear military activity.

The State Department now trying to downplay these new concerns.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KIRBY, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: The IAEA also has in place the most robust set of inspections, an inspection regime that has ever been peacefully negotiated with another nation. So, I won't talk about the details of these leaked documents or these draft documents from the IAEA. But I'll just tell you that we are comfortable, Secretary Kerry is very comfortable that the IAEA will have access and information that it needs to make a proper accounting of possible military dimensions for Iran's program.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Meantime, U.S. officials now voicing concerns Russia is moving ahead with plans to sell Iran a sophisticated missile defense system. The S-300 could damage Washington's ability to challenge Tehran's air space.

President Obama heading to New Orleans next week to mark the tenth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The president is expected to praise those who have a hand in the so-called rebirth of hard hit New Orleans and the whole Gulf Coast regime. The storm caused massive destruction and killed more than 1,800 people when it ripped through the Gulf region back in 2005.

Time for an early start on your money right now. Asian stocks are much lower. Shanghai down 3.4 percent. Big swings in Chinese stocks.

European and U.S. stock futures are down too. Yesterday was a tough day for the Dow. Down 162 points. The Federal Reserve is indicating it is approaching the first rate hike in a decade. But this morning, a lot of analysis is saying it is not a sure thing for September. The Fed noting many people on the Fed are concerned they have not reached the point of liftoff, but they are approaching.

Big drag on stocks. Oil. Oil prices stumbled 4 percent yesterday. They're down again this morning.

Government report showed U.S. crude stockpiles rose. Oil stocks the biggest losers. Look at Chevron, Exxon, smaller companies like Marathon Oil and Chesapeake Energy plunged even further. But again, I think the headline this morning, still very close to the first federal rate hike in nine years, but no certainty that it will happen in four weeks. Still a lot of discussion of what a cliff hanger this will be for the Fed.

All right. Breaking overnight. Fires are set as protesters march through the streets of St. Louis. All this sparked by a deadly police shooting. Details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Breaking this morning. ISIS moments claiming responsibility for a bomb that detonated overnight in Cairo. A car bomb exploded near a state security building in the northern part of the city. 29 people are injured, including six police officers. Egypt's health minister said the driver was picked up by a motorcycle and fled.

Breaking overnight in Thailand, police say this week's deadly attack on a shrine in Bangkok was not the work of a lone wolf. In fact, police saying it must have taken at least ten people to carry out that carnage. Officials also saying it does not appear to be an active international terrorism.

How are they reaching these conclusions?

Let's bring in CNN's Saima Mohsin live from Bangkok.

Good morning, Saima.

SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine.

Yes, they are trying to piece together what little information they had. You remember, they first identified the man in the yellow shirt on CCTV footage. They have been checking the CCTV footage again and again on a wider pitch now, Christine, and this time around, they identified now two other men.

You know, one in a white shirt and the other in a red shirt, both men seemed to have arrived at the same time and what police believe is an orchestrated strategic move, stood up in front of the man with the yellow shirt, blocked his view while he planted the bomb which was inside that backpack they believe, because that location exactly just about five meters away from me right now, is under the surveillance is where they believe he planted the bomb.

Now, they also seem to have left at the same time. After that, the man in the yellow shirt left the area. He went a couple of hundred meters away and took a motor bike taxi. Motor bike taxis are a popular mode of transport around here.

Now, late last night, my producer spoke to the motor bike taxi driver that took the man. He recognized immediately when police released that footage on the television with the man he had picked up. Now, he said this man gave him a piece of paper with two words written on it: Lumpini Park. That is equal to central park in New York, if you like.

He took him there. En route, he did not speak to him, but he did take a phone or make a phone call.

[05:15:01] But he spoke in a language that the taxi driver said was not Thai and not English. That's why the police have said this may well be someone who is not a Thai national. Although, of course, we cannot independently verify what that language is.

Now, police have also said they don't believe this is the mark of an international terrorist organization. We are not clear on how they came to that conclusion, but I suspect it is simply because there hasn't been a claim of responsibility yet. When there are attacks by ISIS, al Qaeda, any major international terrorist organization, they are always quick to claim it because the idea is to instill fear in the public. There is no claim of responsibility and that is why they say this is not the mark of an international terrorist group. They are still looking for up to as many as ten people -- Christine.

ROMANS: And the damaged shrine behind your shoulder there as the city tries to put the pieces back together. Thank you for that, Saima Mohsin.

A tense scene on the streets of St. Louis. Police confronting dozens of protesters. Fired smoke and tear gas into the crowds after a fatal officer involved shooting on Wednesday.

Authorities say the suspect, a black teenager, pointed a gun at officers as they tried to execute a search warrant. The St. Louis police chief said protesters ignored calls to disperse. Police forced to shield themselves as rocks, bricks and water bottles were thrown their way.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF SAM DOTSON, ST. LOUIS POLICE: At the intersection of Page and Walton, they blocked the intersection. As officers approached them to ask them to leave the intersection, glass bottles started to and bricks started to be thrown at officers. Officers had to use shields to protect themselves from the objects that were being thrown at them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Nine people arrested. Protesters set a vacant house on fire near the scene of the police shooting and reportedly burned an American flag.

Jared Fogle, once the face of subway chain, now admitted child sex predator. Now facing up to 12 1/2 years in prison. He is pleading guilty to possessing child porn of children as young as 6 years old. Pleading guilty for paying and arranging sex with minors.

We get more from CNN's Ryan Young in Indianapolis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, a lot of interest in this case. In fact, the courtroom was packed. Everyone watching Jared Fogle. He sat there, looking very nervous as he faced the judge, answering the questions. But we do know he pled guilty to child pornography. In fact, now we know there are 14 victims involved in this case, and he plans to pay each victim $100,000.

We learned details about the fact that he would leave Indiana, go to New York and pay for sex with minors. And, of course, court documents coming out detailing some of these interactions.

JOSH MINKLER, U.S. ATTORNEY: Let's call this what it is. This is about using wealth, status and secrecy to illegally exploit children.

JEREMY MARGOLIS, ATTORNEY: He has volunteered to make restitution to those individuals who have been impacted by his behavior. He knows that restitution can't undo the damage that he's done, but he will do all in his power to try to make it right.

YOUNG: Of course, Jared Fogle well known for being the Subway spokesperson for 15 years. It is believed he is worth some $15 million. But as he left the court today, he did not seem like he wanted to be in the spotlight of the cameras.

We are learning more details of what he will face next. In fact, he will have home confinement before he finds out what he will face in terms of charges and how long he'll be in jail. The government can speak up to 15 years in prison for Jared Fogle. And, of course, as this case evolves, we'll continue to follow it -- Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Ryan, thank you for that.

A tragedy on the fire lines out west. Three firefighters killed battling a wildfire in north Washington state. Four others were injured. Officials say the fire in the small town of Twisp exploded just after residents were told to evacuate.

In Oregon, a wildfire that's burned 48,000 acres still raging out of control. The state's governor surveyed the damage in Grant County where dozens of homes have been lost and residents are dismayed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GOV. KATE BROWN (D), OREGON: It is a devastation up there. It's really horrible. My heart goes out to the families over the loss of their homes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have no faith in any of our government leaders. We need to do more. We have the laws. This was completely preventable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: The entire state of Oregon is facing extreme drought conditions. Some 200 active duty personnel deployed to help fight wildfires in seven western states.

All right. Could Tom Brady have his suspension for deflategate thrown out? A federal judge does not seem too pleased with the NFL and the handling of this controversy. Andy Scholes has the latest in the bleacher report, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:23:28] ROMANS: The deflategate drama continuing in a New York federal courtroom on Wednesday, but there still no resolution in sight.

Andy Scholes has more on this morning's bleacher report. Hey, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, Christine.

You know, Tom Brady and Roger Goodell were not in attendance yesterday, but Judge Richard Berman said that they both have to be back in court on the 31st if the two sides still haven't come to a settlement. Judge Berman asking the NFL lawyers some tough questions yesterday and he was also very critical in the way the NFL came to suspend Tom Brady.

The judge once again encouraging the two sides to come to a settlement. If they don't, he will issue a ruling after the August 31st hearing. Both said they would like a resolution by September 4th. But Judge Berman said that would be a quick turnaround for him.

All right. Tigers and Cubs playing at Wrigley last night. Pitcher Daniel Norris stepping from the plane for his first career at bat. That one is gone. Norris, the 19th pitcher in baseball history to hit a home run in the first at bat.

However, not all good news for Norris on the night. He strained his oblique in the fifth and had to leave the game. Tigers, though, would go on to win this one, 15-8. Rough night for (INAUDIBLE)

This may be the catch of the year. Piscotti hits to deep right center, but the Giants' Juan Perez climbed the wall and makes an amazing over the shoulder catch. Take another look. That is unbelievable concentration from Perez right there.

[05:25:01] The Giants would however lose this game to the Cardinals, 4-3.

This may be more amazing than that Perez catch. Brazilian Laso Schaller setting a new world record jumping off a cliff in Switzerland that is 20 stories high.

Christine, he was going 76 miles per hour when he hit the water. He did suffer minor injuries from the impact. For the most part, he was actually just fine. Christine, how much money would they have to offer you to jump off a cliff that is 20 stories high.

ROMANS: There is no money. A, I'm afraid of heights. B, I'm afraid of falling that fast. C, that just looks crazy. That looks crazy.

SCHOLES: I would die from a fall that high, probably. But me, too, there's no amount of money in the world I would be brave enough to jump off that cliff.

ROMANS: I would have a heart attack on the platform. I would have a heart attack on the platform, for sure.

SCHOLES: Amazing.

ROMANS: I did dive out of an airplane once.

SCHOLES: Really? Wow!

ROMANS: No, that was enough. I was trying to get over a fear of heights. That is a fear of falling out of a moving airplane. It's not a fear of heights. It's crazy.

Anyway, nice to see you. Thanks, Andy.

Donald Trump and Jeb Bush hold dueling town halls in New Hampshire. The two can't stop talking about each other. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: The race for president center stage in New Hampshire. Donald Trump and Jeb Bush competing for attention and attacking each other.

At least ten people believed to be behind the deadly bombing in Bangkok. We are live from Bangkok with new information on expanding manhunt.

Breaking overnight, protests erupt on the streets of St. Louis.