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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Bill Cosby Charged with Sexual Assault; Epic Flooding Swallows Parts of Missouri; Heavy Security for New Year's Eve. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired December 31, 2015 - 04:30   ET

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

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: After a parade of accusers, Bill Cosby is officially charged with sexual assault. The Hollywood icon trading his head shot for a mug shot. A report from outside the courtroom moments away.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: Flooding of historic proportion making for disaster in Missouri.

[04:30:03] Rising river levels -- they're rising to record highs, washing homes straight off their foundations. The worst isn't over. We're going to have the latest from Missouri.

ROMANS: And a major show of force in cities around the world as the world prepares to usher in 2016. Police doing everything in their power to keep revelers safe. But one major European city calling off the party because of terror concerns.

Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

KOSIK: And I'm Alison Kosik. It's thirty minutes past the hour.

And reaction is pouring in this morning to the stunning news that for the first time, comedian Bill Cosby faces criminal charges. The TV legend is accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a former Temple University employee Andrea Constand 12 years ago.

The local prosecutor at the time declined to charge the actor, citing insufficient evidence. Constand sued Cosby and settled in 2006. And now following the parade of recent accusations against Cosby, his deposition in Constand's suit has been unsealed providing a new prosecutor with new evidence.

CNN's Jean Casarez was at Cosby's arraignment and has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, Alison, Bill Cosby was not late to his arraignment yesterday right here at this very small court house behind in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

When defendant Cosby entered the court, he appeared as though he couldn't see well and his attorney had his arm and really helped him step by step get to the defense counsel and sat him down in his seat. The magistrate judge took the stand a very short time later and really apprised Mr. Cosby of the criminal charges against him, alleged, aggravated indecent assault, explaining the various theories of the prosecution. She also told him bail was set at $1 million, 10 percent he would have to pay.

Cosby didn't saying anything. He doesn't have any emotion that came out through his eyes. He just was intently looking. But she was talking about the conditions of bail, saying that he could not have any contact with the accuser with the complainant. At one point he said, "With who?" And she said, "With the complainant." He seemed to understand. She said, "Do you understand what I'm telling you?" He said yes.

He gave up his passport. His attorney had it, gave it to the prosecutor as a condition of bail. The judge ended by saying, "Mr. Cosby, good luck." And Bill Cosby said, very matter of fact and very respectfully, "Thank you."

The victim, Andrea Constand, at this point, we believe remains in Canada. Her attorney said she was told one day ahead of time that charges would be brought. She is so grateful, I'm told, that this district attorney is believing and has confidence in her -- Christine, Alison.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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

Other Cosby accusers are applauding the news that an alleged victim will get her day in court. The lawyer for former supermodel Janice Dickinson released this statement, "Though he is a wealthy celebrity, Mr. Cosby should be subject to the same criminal and civil laws as everyone else. Mr. Cosby's arrest today is a highly visible chapter in the long journey towards justice. Every woman who stands up against Mr. Cosby does so in solidarity with the over 50 women who have now had the courage to speak out against him.

And supermodel Beverly Johnson tweeted about karma, writing, "When it comes down to it, truth is simple. There is nothing that we give to others that does not come back to us in some shape or form."

KOSIK: Attorneys for Cosby immediately slamming the prosecution of their client as political. Here is part of the statement. It says, "The charge by the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office came as no surprise, filed 12 years after the incident and on the heels of the hotly contested election for this county's D.A. during which this case was made the focal point." It goes on to say, "Make no mistake, we intend to mount a vigorous defense against this unjustified charge and we expect Mr. Cosby will be exonerated by a court of law."

Some high profile lawyers are also raising series questions about the prosecution. Tom Mesereau who, of course, successfully defended Michael Jackson against child molestation charges tells CNN he thinks the D.A. is going after Cosby because he made a campaign promise and because the statute of limitations was about to run out. Mesereau also said accuser Andrea Constand will likely be haunted by the settlement in her civil suit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM MESEREAU, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: My understanding is that the accuser in this case entered into a confidential civil settlement with Mr. Cosby, OK? Every confidential settlement I heard of involved payment of money with agreement where you acknowledge, the defendant, does not admit wrongdoing. If that happened in this case, and I have trouble believing it didn't and I were cross examining this person, the first thing I would ask her would be, what's more important to you, money or principle?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[04:35:02] KOSIK: And if Cosby is convicted, he faces ten years in prison.

ROMANS: No rain in the forecast from Missouri, but that doesn't matter. Historic flooding under way there this morning, only going to get worse. Overnight, state officials closed parts of a major interstate south of St. Louis, so they could push sandbagging efforts to the limit. They are hoping to keep the interstate open as long as possible.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon says the Mississippi River expected to crest later today will hit all time record levels. CNN accompanying the governor as he toured area by helicopter. Houses, neighborhoods, schools, all under water, many ruined. Rescue efforts under way across the state.

Watch this. This is terrifying as this unfolded live. This is a man trying to save his dog on the rooftop. He falls into the cold waters. Check out this truck towed up and out. Some of the river still inside. Watch as they open the door there.

For the very latest, let's bring in CNN's Martin Savidge. He is in Pacific, Missouri, for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine. Good morning, Alison.

This is not the way many, many people here in Missouri thought they would be spending their New Year's Eve. Out of their homes in emergency shelters as their communities are absolutely under water like they are here in Pacific. Even in the darkness, you can see, well, blackness back there. It's only the television lights offering illumination whatsoever.

This is about 7,000 people here, but you can duplicate this scene here over and over in the state. The governor has been up flying over the devastation and it is from the air that you get a true sense of how bad things are and how much water there is.

It's not just one river. It is the Missouri. It's the Meramec and it's the Mississippi River. It's the Meramec, though, which is what we are beside now that seems to be setting all the real records.

This is the state, of course, that has seen flooding in the past, but not usually at this time of year and not in this amount. The death toll continues to rise. It's over a dozen now. And though the water may be starting to recede here, the bad news is, it's all got to go somewhere. And that means the waters will only start rising in some other communities.

Flood warnings are being extended all the way down to now to nearly the Gulf of Mexico -- Christine and Alison.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: What an incredible weather event.

KOSIK: It really is. And more than 12 million people under flood warnings now in 19 states. You can see them there. It is extremely unusual for this time of year.

For the latest forecast, let's bring in meteorologist Allison Chinchar.

Good morning.

ALLISON CHINCHAR, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning to you both.

Yes, the good news is the rain is done. So, now, we begin the waiting process before the rivers can finally recede and they can finally begin the clean up. Right now, still over a dozen states dealing with flood warnings, flood watches or flash flood warnings. Here is a look at the current radar. You can see most of the precipitation is well down to the south and parts of the southeast.

We do have some snow in parts of the Midwest and Northeast, mainly lake-effect snow. But that's not going to affect areas like Missouri and Arkansas where they are dealing with a tremendous flooding right now.

Here is a look at the Meramec River. Again, current level: 43.9 feet, just barely under 44. The previous record was 39. So, we are well exceeding the previous record.

But again, the key thing is the delayed effect from a lot of this water, because of some areas crested on the 30th. Some will not crest until later today and down into the town of Chester, it's not likely not going to crest there until January 2nd. Although it is not raining anymore in the areas, it takes several days before the water can finally reach its peak and then begin to recede.

Here is a look at future radar. Again, most of that rain that's in the Southeast finally making its way to the Atlantic. We do have some areas of lake-effect snow up around New York. We could be dealing with some around Pennsylvania as well.

The good news is we're finally starting to see that recede. As it does, it will usher in colder temperatures. Even for parts of the Southeast, ladies, that have yet to experience much of winter so far.

ROMANS: Right.

KOSIK: All right. It is incredible to see that map and see what everybody is going through with those conditions especially in Missouri. Thanks so much, Allison.

ROMANS: All right. Turning now to the world of politics, most of the candidates laying low for the holiday.

Even so, big news this morning from Jeb Bush. A major shift in strategy. The Jeb Bush campaign is scrapping $3 million of TV ad buys in early voting states. Instead, those resources, that money will be redeployed with the campaign and sending more people, 60 or most staffers to those states.

Donald Trump doing the redeployment of his own, repurposing his signature slam of low energy for bush. He is now using it against Hillary Clinton and without softening the blow.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[04:40:04] DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Low energy can be applied to Hillary. I just don't like to use the same thing twice on one of my enemies. I consider them enemies. We view this as war. Don't you view this as war? It's war. It's war.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Speaking of war. Ben Carson's war chest in the headlines as well, with word he raised at least $23 million in the fourth quarter. That puts Carson at or near the top of the Republican fundraising race. Not a bad haul for a campaign that was reported just weeks ago to be in a fundraising crisis.

KOSIK: The U.S. reportedly preparing new financial sanctions against Iran. Officials say the action by the Treasury Department is directed at a dozen companies and individuals for their alleged role in the developing Iran's ballistic missile program. Iranian officials say any penalties would be seen as a violation of the July nuclear deal.

ROMANS: All right. Time for an early start on your money. The last chance to trade stocks for the year. U.S. futures are slightly higher right now.

The big story, another huge drop in oil. A there percent slump in oil prices yesterday. Oil is now down more than 30 percent for the year. Really rare to see a commodity move that much in one year.

Puerto Rico will default on the bond payments for the second time. The island owes $1 billion to creditors. On January, but the governor says it will fall short by $37 million. Puerto Rico faces a $73 billion in total debt.

Happy New Year. How about a race? Minimum wage workers in 13 states, here they are, will see more in their paychecks at some point in 2016. Plus, workers in ten additional states get a small cost of living increase.

Currently, 29 states and the District of Columbia have minimum wage above the rate of $7.25. In some places, it's much higher. The Fight for 15 as it is called once seemed like a far fetched goal. But in 2015, 14 states and cities approved a $15 minimum wage to take effect gradually. Another 13 will likely consider the issue in the New Year.

KOSIK: Always great to start out the New Year with extra money in your pocket.

An unprecedented show of force as New York City preparing for the ball drop in Times Square. It's a security scene playing out around the world. Details, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:45:35] ROMANS: Nerves on edge this New Year's Eve. Heightened security for the U.S. and around the world. President Obama briefed before his Hawaii vacation of a threat to New York, Los Angeles and Washington between Christmas and New Year's.

The NYPD responding at an unprecedented scale, deploying a record 6,000 police officers in and around Times Square. We have Miguel Marquez there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine, Alison, well, this is it. The crossroads of the world despite not being any credible threats will be turned into the most secure streets in the world. The ball will drop right down there. The famous New Year's Eve ball, more than 1 million revelers in Times Square here.

Police taking no chances though, saying even though there is no credible threat, they will plan for anything that comes at them. Six thousand police just for these few blocks alone. Tens of thousands of law enforcement to protect events happening throughout New York City.

What was once parties and good times are now considered soft targets. The threat of ISIS has changed for cities like New York. They will have to throw everything at it from the land, from sea, from underground in the subways, even from the air over the city to protect the entire city during the New Year's Eve celebrations.

They will have lots of bomb-sniffing dogs out and available. They will have radiation detectors, chemical detectors, and thousand of cameras as well to keep tabs on things.

The mayor of New York saying that because of Paris and San Bernardino, it has changed the way they look at security.

MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO (D), NEW YORK CITY: We pride ourselves in the city. We are the best prepared city in the country. The best prepared city to prevent terrorism and to deal with any event should it occur. There will be a tremendous number of officers who you will see and many officers you won't see. There will be obvious security measures you will see and a number of measures you won't see. What we can assure you is that the preparations are extraordinary.

MARQUEZ: New York City saying that special response team is able to respond to dozens of incidents at a time, that's because of the San Bernardino and Paris attacks. They want to be able to hone in and respond to any sort of small bore attacks in several different locations at the same time.

This will be the biggest security operation ever with 800 additional officers. New York City says it is prepared for whatever may come -- Alison, Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOSIK: OK, Miguel, not just New York City on high alert. A heightened terror alert cancelling of New Year's festivities in Brussels.

Let's go to CNN's senior international correspondent Nic Robertson who is live in Brussels for us.

You know, Nic, we understand just minutes ago, Belgium announcing terror charges announced against someone arrested yesterday?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, three people arrested this week, Alison. One of them arrested yesterday charged with terrorist murder. This is because of his belief and connection to the Paris terror attacks in November.

The prime minister appearing on national television last night to explain why the big fireworks celebrations here have been canceled. Right now, we are in the Grand Place, a very square in the heart of Brussels. You can expect revelers in this square, seeing the New Year later tonight. This is sort of, if you like, the equivalent of Times Square in New York, Trafalgar Square in London.

But the celebrations here will be much more muted. The fireworks that everyone enjoys this tradition here have been canceled. The prime minister saying that right now, Europe is in a new stage of its history, that the terror threat of the moment, the terrorists are more prudent and more professional than they have been the past, that threat right now is evolving, it changes hour and hour.

And the mayor of Brussels has said it is just he cannot provide security for all the people that will be expected here in the city center in a way he would like to be able to do to make the people of the city, the tourists here safe. That's why he says the fireworks have been canceled.

This is something we are seeing across Europe. More muted celebrations in Paris. Precautions in London. Additional precautions in Germany and Rome as well as all across Europe. This phenomena, threat by ISIS, is being replicated.

But, of course, new arrests here in Brussels is raising concerns -- Alison.

KOSIK: Nic, talk to us a little bit more about what authorities have found from this third suspect, specifically the cell phones.

[04:50:06] ROBERTSON: Sure, they found ten cell phones recovered during this arrest just yesterday here. Now, we understood and learned yesterday that a cell phone found outside the Bataclan Theater, where 80 people gunned down and murdered, during the terror attack in Paris last month. A cell phone found outside of there had in the 24 hours prior to the attack, sent 25 text messages to cell phones here in Belgium.

Now, it's not clear if the cell phones that were found during that arrest yesterday, the cell phones that received the text messages. But we do know the last text message sent was immediately before the attack at the Bataclan Theater took place and it said we are about to start. So, you know, more details have been learned. More of the arrests of the Paris related attacks continue across Europe, Alison.

KOSIK: All right. Nic Robertson live for us from Brussels, thanks for that.

ROMANS: All right. Fifty-one minutes past the hour.

Twitter promising a tough chance on violent tweets. Amid criticism for failing to stop extremists from using the social network. So, what are the new rules?

We'll get an early start on your money next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Tonya Couch, mother of the so-called affluenza teen, back in the U.S. this morning. She landed just hours ago. You see her here in handcuffs in Los Angeles, while her son is still in Mexico.

Sources say Ethan Couch has been transferred to immigration holding facility in Mexico City. He is expected to remain there while lawyers file paper work seeking legal protection for couch and they try to block Mexican authorities from deporting him.

Couch violated his probation sentence from a drunk driving crash in which he killed four people, badly wounded two others.

[04:55:01] He and his mother were on the run for nearly three weeks before their arrest in Puerto Vallarta this week. Texas prosecutors planned to charge Tonya Couch, the mother, with hindering the capture of a juvenile. She could face up to ten years in prison.

KOSIK: Embattled Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announcing major changes in police training and department policy that include having a taser in every police cruiser. The changes follow a series of officer involved shootings Emanuel says the moves are designed to rebuild trust with communities and officers sworn to protect and serve.

We get more from CNN's Rosa Flores.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Alison and Christine, the Chicago mayor put it like this. He says he wants to inject humanity into policy.

Let me get you up to speed here. He says 21 percent of the cruisers out on the streets with police officers actually have tasers. That totals to about 700 units with tasers. Well, he wants to double that to 1,400 tasers out in the streets of Chicago. Now, that also comes with training for the police officers. Not only on how to use the tasers, but on how to deescalate the situation when they are out patrolling the streets.

What they want to do is they want to simmer down the situation so that less use of deadly force is actually used. Here is how the mayor put it in his own words.

MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL (D), CHICAGO: There's a difference between whether someone can use a gun and when they should use a gun. We as a city must train for that difference. We will improve communication between officers and individuals to make these encounters less confrontational.

FLORES: Now, this is not happening in a vacuum. In the background, the United States Department of Justice is also investigating the patterns and practices of the Chicago Police Department and one of the things that they're looking at, specifically, is training -- Alison, Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Rosa in Chicago, thank you for that.

Authorities say the woman accused of plowing her car into a crowded pedestrian along the Las Vegas Strip, killing one person, had marijuana in her system. But according to prosecutors, the amount doesn't appear to be enough to alter Lakeisha Holloway's mental state at the time.

The 24-year-old mother is charged with murder, felony hit-and-run and child endangerment. She had a 3-year-old child in a car with her. One person was killed and 35 others injured in the crash. Holloway right now is in custody. She is on suicide watch in a Las Vegas jail.

KOSIK: New York Knicks player Cleanthony Early recovering in a hospital after he was shot in the leg and robbed outside a strip club early Wednesday. A group of masked suspects reportedly surrounded Early's taxi and demanded his gold before shooting him.

According to ESPN, the bullet exited his leg and caused no structural damage. He is expected to make a full recovery. Early tweeted his thanks for everyone's thoughts and prayers, with a shout-out to you beautiful souls for caring.

ROMANS: All right. Let's get an early start on your money. This is the last chance to trade stocks for the year, and U.S. stock futures are slightly higher right now. The big story, another huge drop in oil, 3 percent slump in oil prices

yesterday. Oil now down more than 30 percent for the year. Today is the last trading day of the year. Stocks are basically flat. You know, they moved sideways most of the year, except for that decline and recovery in the fall. Right now, the S&P 500 is up just 0.2 percent for 2015.

California's equal pay laws are getting tougher. The state requires equal pay for men and women doing the same job. Starting January 1st, equal wages will be required for women and men who do substantially similar work, regardless of formal job description. The law also prohibits employers from firing works who disclose the pay of coworkers to other employees. Equal pay advocates plan to use the law as a model for legislation in seven other states.

Twitter is changing its policy on violent posts. The company said Tuesday it is taking steps to identify users who tweet hateful and violent speech and kick them off the social network. The update also bans people from using multiple accounts to avoid suspension. This is a real, real problem. Social networks have faced criticism for failing to stop terrorists from using social media to communicate. This marks the first time Twitter said users who tweet threatening things could be removed from the network.

KOSIK: A round of applause for the Twitter. I say, hear, hear.

ROMANS: EARLY START continues right now.

(MUSIC)

ROMANS: Bill Cosby defiant. His lawyers are promising a vigorous defense after he was charged with sexual assault. What are his alleged victims saying this morning? We have the very latest, straight ahead.

KOSIK: The historic flooding only getting worse in parts of Missouri. Roads and homes washed away by the power of rushing waters with nowhere to go but up. We will tell you where the danger lurks next.

ROMANS: And security out in force as the world gets ready to usher in 2016. Police working in major cities around the world to keep celebrations safe.