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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Caron Pushes Back Against Media; Security Audit Underway at Egypt's Airports; Six-Year-Old Boy Allegedly Shot by Cops; Israeli PM Meets with President Obama Today; Sexting Scandal Rocks Colorado High School; Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired November 09, 2015 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:17] ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: The doctor is in and pulling no punches. Ben Carson taking on the media for focusing too much on his past. Hear why he says the coverage of his campaign is, quote, "stupid."

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: New questions surrounding security to popular Egyptian airport. Was security lax before a plane went down possibly at the hands of an ISIS bomber?

KOSIK: Anger and sorrow in Louisiana. A community preparing to bury a 6-year-old boy shot and killed by two marshals. Demands for answers about why a police chase for the boy's father ended with the boy's death.

Good morning. And welcome to EARLY START. I'm Alison Kosik in for Christine Romans.

BERMAN: Nice to see you. I'm John Berman. It is Monday, November 9th. It is 4:00 a.m. in the East. Hopefully.

This morning, there's new criticism of the media from Ben Carson. The Republican candidate is pushing back against reporting that really scrutinize the stories he has told about his past particularly about his youth. A key part of Carson's personal narrative is that he says he was violent when he was younger until he turned to God, was transformed his life.

Campaigning in Puerto Rico, Carson offered a point-by-point rebuttal to some of the reporting by Politico or "Wall Street Journal" and also CNN. CNN's investigation could not corroborate several of Carson's stories including a description of punching a classmate in the face with his hand wrapped around a lock.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The kind of investigations that were done, you know, talking to the wrong people, not going to Wilson Junior High School where the lock incident occurred, but talking to other people saying, see? I mean, that's just stupid. And if our media is no better at investigating than that, it's sick.

The burden of proof is not going to be on me to corroborate everything that I ever talked about in my life because once I start down that road, every single day from now until the election, you're going to be spending your time doing that, and we have much more important things to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Donald Trump had a bit of a different weekend. He hosted "Saturday Night Live." An appearance which got good ratings but not so great reviews. He's a good dancer, though. On Sunday morning, he was back in the swing of things taking swings at his opponents.

Let's get the latest now from CNN's Chris Frates in Washington.

CHRIS FRATES, CNN INVESTIGATIONS UNIT CORRESPONDENT: Alison and John, fresh of his "Saturday Night Live," Trump took aim Sunday at his rivals for the Republican nomination. Trump was asked about the news that Marco Rubio issued previously unreleased American Express card detailing his spending. Now remember, Rubio has come under intense fire for charging personal expenses to the father Republican Party Amex card when he was in the state legislative leadership in Tallahassee. Here is what Trump had to say about Rubio's credit card spending.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I hope he's going to show his credit cards. And I hope it turns out to be good for him. Not bad for him. And we will see what happens. But I would like to see him not hurt himself on such a matter that, you know, should be very easy to understand and very simple to understand. So we'll see what happens if he gave the information, it will be very easy -- probably very to see whether or not anything was done wrong.

And frankly, I hope nothing was done that was wrong because that would be really terrible to be disqualified for that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRATES: So he didn't hit Rubio that hard and that's likely because there were no immediate bombshells in those Amex statements. But Trump did drop one of his signature passive-aggressive attacks when he said, I hope there's nothing bad for him because it would be horrible to be disqualified as president for that. So Trump is basically leaving the door open here to hit Rubio on it later. But that likely won't stop reporters from asking -- John and Alison.

KOSIK: OK, Chris, thanks for that.

And Hillary Clinton officially files for New Hampshire's first-in-the- nation primary when she heads there later today. The Democratic frontrunner will be holding a town hall meeting in Windham tonight.

Over the weekend Clinton proposed loosening restrictions on marijuana and called for more research into its medical benefits. Her top rival, Bernie Sanders, campaigning in Las Vegas, not holding back about why young people should care about his election.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Because I know you're going to go back and people are going to say, why did you go to this rally? Some guy that no one has heard of, why were you here? And I want you to tell them, I want you to tell them, if anyone tells you, you know, politics is (EXPLETIVE DELETED) and you should not get involved, I want you to ask them why it is that the Koch brothers and other billionaires are spending 900 million bucks on this election.

They think it's pretty important. And if they think it's pretty important, your friends should think it's pretty important.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[04:05:08] KOSIK: Meantime, there has been a shakeup in Sanders' campaign team. Sanders' state director in Nevada, Jim Farrell, stepping down for family reasons.

BERMAN: Donald Trump has used the BS word out loud in a rally. And so has Bernie Sanders.

New this morning, a Russian security audit under way in the Egyptian resort town of Sharma el Sheikh. The U.S. is increasingly confident it was a bomb that brought down a Russian jetliner that took off from the airport there, killing all 224 people on board. One U.S. official tells CNN it's, quote, "99 percent certain." Now Egypt is firmly denying the reports of lax security at the airport, but is inviting Russian experts to conduct airport security checks and make suggestions for improvements.

Joining us now from Sharma el Sheikh with the latest is CNN's Ian Lee. Good morning, Ian.

IAN LEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. What we're hearing from the Egyptians today is something we've been hearing for a long time. They are still saying that it is too soon to tell that this was a bomb that took down this plane. There was a loud bang on the voice recorder in the cockpit right before it went silent, right before this plane crashed. Egyptian officials say it could have been an engine exploding, it could have been a battery. But the predominant theory at least from the United States and U.K. officials is that it was a bomb.

Now we're hearing that the FBI may also get involved in this investigation. They haven't been formally requested to come to Egypt. But that is still very much open. They say that one area of expertise there, they're good at is listening to that loud bang to determine if it was a bomb or not. The investigation is still ongoing on the ground. They're looking for that residue from a potential explosion and debris, but also at the airport behind me, we do have Russian security teams on the ground, not just here, but around Egypt to make sure their airports are safe and secure for flights to return those stranded tourists.

BERMAN: All right, Ian Lee for us in Sharma el Sheikh. A lot going on there today and the coming days as that investigation continues. Thanks, Ian.

KOSIK: Happening today, a 6-year-old boy will be laid to rest and the two law enforcement officers charged with killing him will appear in court. First grader Jeremy Mardis was shot and killed after a police chase in Louisiana. Jeremy's father, Chris Few, was injured when the officers opened fire. His condition has been upgraded to serious. The two officers arrested based in part on body camera video.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COL. MICHAEL EDMONSON, HEAD OF LOUISIANA STATE POLICE: Jeremy Mardis, 6 years old. He didn't deserve to die like that. We took some of the body camera footage. Let me tell you something, I'm not going to talk about it, but I'm going to tell you this. It is the most disturbing thing I have seen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSIK: Police have not so far disclosed a motive for the shooting.

For the latest let's turn to CNN's Nick Valencia. He's in Marksville, Louisiana.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John and Alison, according to local media reports, at least one of the officers involved and charged in the murder of 6-year-old Jeremy Mardis has a troubled history. Back in 2011, 32-year-old Derrick Stafford was indicted on two counts of aggravated assault, one incident dating back to 2004, another occurring while he was still employed by the Marksville Police Department.

We have reached out to the Marksville Police Department as well as family members of Stafford. They have not gotten back to CNN. But in our research on both history of the officers, we could not find any instance in which either was convicted of a crime.

Meanwhile, in this community of 5,000, the focus is largely on 6-year- old Jeremy Mardis. Earlier, I spoke with his first grade special needs teacher at the site where he was shot and killed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We just brought this cute bear and puppy dog and the wreath from the Autism Network because when a child in a our community, you know, needs something, we're there for them.

VALENCIA: You guys are there for them. What goes through your heart and mind when you look at this?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just --

VALENCIA: For Jeremy?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm just know he is watching over everybody. He always was an angel.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VALENCIA: The funeral for that 6-year-old will be held later this afternoon in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Meanwhile, those two marshals, they're in custody behind me. They remain in this jail and they are expected also to have their first court appearance on Monday -- John, Alison.

BERMAN: All right, Nick, thanks so much.

A deadly accident in a Washington, D.C. suburb. Four people were killed, 14 others injured when a van caught fire after colliding with a pickup truck at Hyattsville, Maryland. Police say a child was among the fatalities.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I stayed with one of the little girls and just held her hand. I think her leg may have been broken and she was crying and we tried to keep her awake, keep her still.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She had a burn on her face.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: And what did you do?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Actually I started saying John 3:16 to her. And that calmed her down from crying.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[04:10:07] BERMAN: Of the 14 people hurt, eight are in critical condition, including four children.

KOSIK: Time for an EARLY START on your money. Asian markets finishing mixed overnight. The Nikkei and Shanghai Composite both up under 2 percent. The Hang Seng losing almost 1 percent. The Dow, down slightly, just a little bit in pre-market trading.

On the heels of a strong jobs report, though, a top official suggesting interest rates may go up for the first time in almost a decade. The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, John Williams, saying the next step should be to gradually begin raising interest rates. The Central Bank expected to take up the issue at its December meeting.

So everybody now on pins and needles, saying I wonder if this could be the time.

BERMAN: This time really yes, probably until it's not.

(LAUGHTER)

KOSIK: Exactly. You said it.

BERMAN: All right. All sides hoping for a thaw today when President Obama hosts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Can this really frosty relationship warm up at all? This of course comes after a series of violent attacks inside Israel? We are live in Jerusalem next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOSIK: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Obama, their relationship in a word, it's been chilly. This morning, the two men are expected to meet at the White House. This is going to be a fence mending mission of sorts for Netanyahu following his speech to Congress where he lobbied against the Iran nuclear deal. The Israeli leader also seeking more military aid from the U.S. This coming amid a new wave of violence with more terror attacks in Israel.

CNN's Oren Liebermann live in Jerusalem with more on this.

So, Oren, to say their relationship is strained is an understatement. What really is expected to come out of this meeting?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Alison, this meeting could very much be viewed as a success as long as there are no fights, no bickering and no bad words between these two.

[04:15:04] But this is a chance for Netanyahu to focus on the U.S. military aid package to Israel in the aftermath of the Iran deal. Now that the deal is done Netanyahu has the chance to push to increase that military aid. Right now it stands at about $3 billion a year. That 10-year deal is up in 2018. So this is Netanyahu's chance to start lobbying for a bigger deal for perhaps even $5 billion a year.

It won't be a final decision in this meeting. It'll just be the beginning. Netanyahu knows he has to work with President Obama for just over a year and then it'll be on to the next president.

Now all of this comes amid a new wave of attacks. There were a few days of relative quiet here, but that quiet has since been dashed. One attack this morning where the IDF says a Palestinian woman approached the Eliyahu checkpoint, didn't stop -- that's in the northern West Bank. Didn't stop when told to by soldiers. Those soldiers opened fire and shot the alleged attacker. Then three more attacks yesterday.

I have to warn you, one of these attacks, the one you're about to see, has disturbing video. This is where the IDF says a Palestinian woman came to a checkpoint in Beitar Illit, which is an ultra-orthodox settlement south of Jerusalem. The IDF says as the woman's ID was being checked, and this is what you see in the video, she pulls out a knife and attempts to stab a security guard. She was shot on site by that security guard according to the IDF and taken to the hospital.

So that hangs over all of these discussions. It will be up to Netanyahu and up to these two what measures they can put in place to try to ease those tensions as Netanyahu works on that military aid package -- Alison.

KOSIK: All right, CNN's Oren Liebermann reporting live from Jerusalem. Thanks for that.

BERMAN: That's a big story here. Black football players in the University of Missouri, they are taking a big stand off the field. Promising not to play until the school president resigns over issues of racism on campus. What the school is now saying next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:20:30] BERMAN: A governing board at the University of Missouri will hold a public meeting today in the face of new racial tension on campus. Dozens of football players say they will not play until the university president Tim Wolfe steps down. Coaches say they support the decision to protest how the school handles alleged racism and discrimination on campus.

Let's get more now from CNN's Polo Sandoval.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John and Alison, over the weekend, the university president acknowledging that racism is a problem on his campus. He says that he's currently working to address some of the protesters' concerns. He also released several statements, one of the latest ones reading, quote, "It is clear to all of us that change is needed and we appreciate the thoughtfulness and passion which have gone into sharing of those concerns."

Jonathan Butler, who has met with Wolfe twice, wants the president out. He launched a hunger strike on November 2nd. And he says he won't eat until Wolfe is gone.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JONATHAN BUTLER, STUDENT ON HUNGER STRIKE: My body is literally shutting down. And with each passing moment and each passing day, it gets a little worse. But that's not what I like to focus on. What I like to focus on is what you do see nationally and what you see across other campuses, what you see on my own campus, is that students are finding their voices and they're fighting back. And they are standing up for what they believe in.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: Well, members of the football team joining the cause over the weekend, pledging to boycott games and practices until Wolfe steps down. The team's head coach Gary Pinkel also seemingly on board. He tweeted this photo with his team, saying, quote, "The Mizzou family stands as one. We are united. We are behind our players."

And this is really evidence that this is more than just a student movement here. And it's really not every day that we see the head of a major university system actually acknowledge publicly that there is a serious problem with racism on their campus. But activists say, at this point, some of these comments coming from the president is still not enough. They still want to see him gone. Meanwhile, the Mizzou Tigers are still scheduled for a game come November 14th. But it's still unclear if they'll actually hit the field -- John and Alison.

KOSIK: OK, Polo, thanks for that.

A high school sexting scandal rocking a Colorado town. Police say students at Canon City High School exchanged hundreds of nude photos of themselves. At least three phones were seized and a felony investigation has now been launched. Authorities are trying to determine whether any minors were involved. The school football team was forced to forfeit a game since many of those implicated in the scandal are players.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRET MEULI, PRINCIPAL, CANON CITY HIGH SCHOOL: This cuts to the core of who we are and what we're about and that's the part that kind of hurt us is, you know, we never ever would have thought anything like this would be going on to this magnitude.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSIK: Oh, social media and cell phones. Police say they are in the process of identifying suspects from photos and obtaining search warrants. Students have been suspended by school officials are not identifying them.

BERMAN: They can get into serious trouble.

KOSIK: Yes.

BERMAN: Authorities in Meridian, Mississippi, are trying to determine what caused this ridiculous sinkhole that swallowed 15 cars in the parking lot of an iHop. Customers say they heard a series of loud booms before the power went out and the sinkhole which is about 50 feet wide and 600 feet long, it opened up.

Look at that.

KOSIK: That is insane sized sinkhole, John.

BERMAN: Some three inches of rain fell in the area over the weekend.

KOSIK: That's like something you'd see in one of those movies like "San Andreas Fault."

BERMAN: How does that happen? No reports of any injuries, which is lucky, but those pictures are just stunning.

KOSIK: You wonder how long it takes for it to just sort of tear through that area.

BERMAN: When will it stop?

(LAUGHTER)

KOSIK: All right. Will the south get any relief from the wet weather? Let's get to meteorologist Pedram Javaheri.

(WEATHER REPORT)

[04:25:21] KOSIK: OK, Pedram, thanks for that. All right. Mystery solved in southern California. A bright light

streaking across the sky -- the night sky rattled some nerves over the weekend. Police were flooded with calls and social media was flooded with video of the strange light which was seen as far away as Arizona and Nevada. It turns out it was just a missile test. A Navy spokesman says an unarmed missile was fired off the coast from the USS Kentucky.

BERMAN: Allegedly.

KOSIK: Yes.

BERMAN: Allegedly.

KOSIK: John thinks it's aliens, right?

BERMAN: Allegedly. A missile test.

All right. No love lost between Ben Carson and reporters covering his presidential race. The neurosurgeon now taking on journalists who are asking questions about his past. Who's going to win this fight next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)