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Trump Campaign Accused of Threatening Fox's Megyn Kelly; Trump Pulls Out of Thursday's GOP Debate on Fox; Oregon Standoff Comes to An End; Blake Griffin To Miss 4-6 Weeks After Breaking Hand. Aired 5- 5:30a ET

Aired January 27, 2016 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:00] BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Following breaking news this morning. The Donald Trump campaign accused of threatening Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, less than a week before the crucial Iowa caucuses. Trump has pulled out of the Fox News Republican debate Thursday night accusing co-moderator Kelly a bias against him.

Fox News slashing back dramatically a Trump overnight with a statement that says capitulating their politicians' ultimatum violates all journalist standards. Fox News also accusing campaign manager Corey Lewandowski of leveling threats at Kelly in a call with a Fox News executive. It says, " Lewandowski stated that Megyn had a rough couple of days after that last debate and he would hate to have her go through that again. Fox News, as we can't give into terrorizations toward any of our employees."

The network promises to threat Trump fairly if he does attend the debate. But here's the lineup as it looks right now. Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Jeb Bush, John Kasich, and back on the main stage, Rand Paul.

CNN's Sara Murray has more from Iowa. Sara?

SARA MURRAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Boris and Christine. Donald Trump managed to Trump himself on the campaign trail in Iowa last night. The big news was supposed to be his pair of high-profile endorsements. Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio and evangelical leader Jerry Falwell Jr. But instead Trump said he's skipping the Fox News debate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, Fox is playing game. Yeah. A Fox is going to make a fortune. I told Fox you should give money to the wounded warriors. I'm not a fan of Megyn Kelly. I think she's a third rate reporter. I think she frankly is not good at what she does and I think they could do a lot better than Megyn Kelly.

And so I'm going -- I will be making a decision with Fox, but I probably won't bother doing the debate. I see they picked me number one. Not only number one, but number one by far. But probably I'm won't be going to be doing the debate. I'm going to have something elsewhere in Iowa. We'll do something while we raise money for the veterans and wounded warriors. We're going to do something simultaneously with the debate. But most likely I'm not going to do the debate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MURRAY: Now, the Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski took that a step further saying that Donald Trump definitely would not attend Thursday debate and even saying the campaign might hold a competing even in Iowa, possibly with a media partner.

Now the Republican National Committee tells us obviously they would like to see all of their candidates on stage but said each candidate needs do what's best for them. And it looks like Ted Cruz is trying to do just that, challenging Donald Trump in a one-on-one debate, no moderators.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This race is a dead heat between Donald and me. We are effectively tied in the state of Iowa. If he's unwilling to stand on the debate stage with the other candidates, then I would like to invite Donald right now to engage in a one-on-one debate with me any time between now and the Iowa caucuses.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MURRAY: So with the two top candidates in Iowa potentially defecting from that Thursday debate. It still an open question who will see on that stage. Back to you Boris and Christine.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Sara. Thank you for that. What an amazing 24 hours. How they get breakdown Trump's debate decision in all days political action like Trumps debates decision in Daily Beast, Editor-at-Large Goldie Taylor. Welcome back.

GOLDIE TAYLOR, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, THE DAILY BEAST: Good Morning.

ROMAN: From about yesterday afternoon to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

TAYLOR: Sure.

ROMAN: The development were flowing in an almost unbelievable phase. I want you to listen to what Trump said about Megyn Kelly last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Megyn Kelly is a lightweight. This is a lightweight. This is not a reporter. This to me is just a lightweight. Megyn Kelly shouldn't be in the debate. I don't care Megyn. When Megyn Kelly didn't ask me a question, she made a statement last time, I thought it was inappropriate. Everybody said I won the debate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: The statement that he is talking about is when she posed a series of things he had said about women very famously. This is what Megyn Kelly then said last night about Trump. SANCHEZ: OK.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MEGYN KELLY, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: Trump is not used to not controlling things as the chief executive of a large organization, but the truth is he doesn't get to control the media, and while he's made his position clear about me after that first debate, Roger Ailes made his position clear, too, and, you know, when Trump started it up again this past Saturday and resumed it again and again and again and again, he was told repeatedly our debate team is settled. The debate will go on with or without Mr. Trump.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Does this help him? Does this hurt him? Does this help someone else in the field? What happens now?

TAYLOR: Well, we've never anything like this in a modern era. Number one, with a political candidate of any strive especially on national race like this, taking on the national media, the very media that they count on for coverage.

I mean Donald Trump has earned more free press in this cycle that most candidates can afford in a lifetime of campaigns.

[05:05:01] And so, you know, let's leave that aside. But If I'm Donald Trump? Do I want to go this debate Thursday night? I've got near complete name saturation, you're absolutely right. I'm going to control the news cycle anyway, they're still going to talk about me as if, you know, you're holding a circuit and I've got a Broadway Show going on next door. And so that's what's really happening here. Does he have something lose has he got platform where other candidates can come and score their points.

And let them score their points with you. You're not going to lose any support. You're not going to gain any by going in the room either. So what do you really lose? I think the entire sort of fisticuffs with Megyn Kelly is a ruse frankly.

ROMANS: Do you think he doesn't want do the debate and Megyn Kelly is just sort of the excuse?

TAYLOR: Absolutely. I think that's the escape catch.

SANCHEZ: Quite a tactical move by Trump especially considering how much he loves the cameras, surprised that he's avoiding one this time.

TAYLOR: The cameras are going to follow him to where he goes that day. He's going to holding a wounded warrior event. The cameras will be there.

SANCHEZ: That's a good point. We heard Ted Cruz challenging him to a one-on-one debate. How do you think this plays out with the other candidates in the room that night? TAYLOR: Today this is a two-man race between Ted Cruz and Donald Trump for at least Iowa and then New Hampshire possibly into South Carolina. If I'm Ted Cruz, I've got to keep it that way. I can't fade into the back of the pack with the other let say eight, nine, or ten, you know, other people whose name, you know, everybody doesn't always remember. I need to keep this a two-man race, something that Ben Carson was unable to do. To do anything other than challenge Donald Trump to a one-on-one debate would be political (inaudible).

ROMANS: So does this debate then become more about substance and less about, you know, the Donald Trump personality and does that potentially allow one of these establishments candidates or even anti- establishments to break out?

TAYLOR: Oh, no. They're still going to ask them about Trump. And so, this is going to be and so sure. But what you're going to hear from them is on the positions they're not really very different from Donald Trump. You've sort of got variations of the kind of candidates that he is going down the stage. I mean, tell me where you can find daylight on the issues between Ted Cruz and Donald Trump. Tell me where there's daylight in the issues between Ben Carson or even, you know, Rand Paul maybe an outline.

ROMANS: Well, now he's back, you know, at the big table.

TAYLOR: He's back at the big kids' table. Yeah, it's kind of cool, isn't it?

ROMANS: That was big kids' table. But you got Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz right in the middle.

TAYLOR: Yeah, absolutely.

ROMANS: You know, is this Jeb Bush's last chance to break through? I mean, what Chris Christie glad to come home from the -- without Donald Trump in the middle of the room. I wonder if there's a chance for a real debate.

TAYLOR: But if you thought that Donald Trump was a wall for Jeb Bush. Ted Cruz unleashed will keep Jeb Bush checks all night. I just don't see him breaking out in bring this debate.

ROMANS: It's so crazy. Eight months ago it was Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush -- how would these two be able to battle it out. Or would they sell each other out or would they sell each other out to get to the top. And both of them are in the middle to the back of the pack.

TAYLOR: Middle to the back of the pack. You know, once you get beyond the one, two, three C, the rest of it is a wash.

ROMANS: All right, especially (ph) Democrats.

TAYLOR: Absolutely.

ROMANS: Come for us. Thanks Goldie Taylor.

SANCHEZ: Goldie, thank you so much.

Breaking news now on that that armed group that took over building at a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon. The groups' leader Ammon Bundy and several of his followers were arrested last night during a traffic stop. Shots were fired during the confrontation killing a rancher 55- year-old Robert "LaVoy" Finicum.

The FBI also says another one of the occupiers are surrendered police in Arizona. That brings the total number in custody to eight. Ammon Bundy's father Cliven responded by telling the L.A. Times, "We believe that those federal people shouldn't even be there in that state and be there in that county and have anything do with this issue. I have some sons and other people there trying to protect our rights and liberties and freedoms and now we've got one killed, and all I can say is he was sacrificed for a good purpose.

ROMANS: Nine minutes past the hour. Time for an EARLY START in your money, Asian Market closed mostly higher this morning. China the exception, European stocks, U.S. stock features moving lower right now, ahead of a statement today from the Federal Reserve on interest rates. Yesterday's stocks surged, why? Climbing oil price. The Dow ended up 282 points, its best day since early December. This morning the oil is once again falling down almost 4 percent and back down to about 30 bucks a barrel.

Apple just had the most profitable quarter in American history. It sold almost 75 million iPhone just barely notching a new record from a year earlier. Apples quarterly profit a stunning 18.4 billion. Imagine making $18 billion in just three months.

So why are shares moving lower before the bell? Apple expects sales next quarter to fall for the first time in 13 years. Investors say they are getting ready for a new era of slower growth for iPhone sales, and iPhone sales is a big chunk. The margin on its iPhone and iPhone sales a big chunk of its profit.

[05:10:03] SANCHEZ: Definitely been a tough year for Apple stock.

ROMANS: Yeah, down I think 25 percent over the past year.

SANCHEZ: We have new details this morning on a manhunt to find three dangerous inmates who escape from a Californian jail. By the sheriff they says he extremely troubled.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Throwing (ph) violence in Manson broke out of a Southern California jail last week are still at large and authorities are now taking their appeal to the public for help to the next lever. A $200,000 reward now being offered for information leading to the capture of these fugitives. That's four times the previous amount as detail emerged about the elaborate escape from the Orange County jail. Police are also concerned the prisoners may have had help from inside.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) LT. JEFF HALLOCK, SPOKESMAN ORANGE COUNTRY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: We have parallel investigations that are occurring and the preliminary investigation into the escape and how it occurred has caused the sheriff concerns as to some of the jail inmate count practices and how they were conducted. Though information is still preliminary at this point the sheriff is extremely troubled by the length of time it took to determine that the three inmates housed in the maximum security jail were unaccounted for.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[05:15:09] SANCHEZ: Police say they have taken immediate steps to improve the inmate inspection process.

ROMANS: Never before seen documents related to the case of Boston Marathon bomber Jahar Tsarnaev will be made public today. The judge who presided over last years terror trial ordered that search warrant the photos legal exhibit be unsealed. Tsarnaev remains in solitary confinement at a super max prison in Colorado. He's appealing his convict and death sentence in the 2013 marathon attack.

SANCHEZ: The FBI says its fold a mass shooting plot targeting Masonic temple in Milwaukee. The suspect's 23-year-old Samy Mohamed Hamzeh. He is in custody. He's been under investigation since September. Authorities say that they initially plan to attack Israeli solderers and civilians in the West Bank. But he abandoned those plans to focus on an attack right here in the United States. Hamzeh allegedly told undercover agents that he wanted to commit an act of domestic terror.

ROMANS: Six Cleveland police officers have now been fired in connection with the deadly car chase in 2012. That chase ended with police firing 137 bullets at the car, killing Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams who were inside. The six include Michael Brelo the only officer indicted in the incident. He was indicted and acquitted last year of manslaughter. Official say six others Cleveland cops have been suspended without pay for up to a month, a 13th officer involved in that shooting has retired.

SANCHEZ: We should learn more today about the state's response to a water crisis in Flint when Michigan Governor Rick Snyder holds a news conference later this morning. Snyder is requesting federal medical aid for Flint residents under 21 with potential health problems related to the lead contamination.

Meantime a new report suggests the governor's office rejected guidance back in 2012 not to switch the cities water source to the Flint River.

ROMANS: Schools in Sebring, Ohio, will reopen this morning. They were close the past two days while the State EPA conducted additional water testing. Official say lead contamination in tap water went unchecked for months in cluster of villages including Sebring. Now, measurable levels of lead have been found in the town public schools, most are below the limit allowed by the federal government.

SANCHEZ: The death toll keeps rising in that historic blizzard that pounded part of the east this weekend. Officials say at least 48 people died in car accident, from carbon monoxide poisoning, and heart attacks while shoveling snow. The victims lead in 12 states stretching from South Carolina to New York.

Meantime, cities are still working to clean up from the monster storm. Official say things are slowly getting back to normal and hard hit places like the nation capital. Federal offices are expected to reopen following a three hour delay.

ROMANS: Regrets? L.A. Clipper's star Blake Griffin has a few. Now that he'll be out another month or so. Andy Scholes has this morning "bleacher report" next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:22:20] SANCHEZ: He's typically known for his thunderous alley oops. But now, Clipper star Blake Griffin may be known for a different kind of hoops. He's going to missed about four to six week after breaking his hand when he punched team employee.

ROMANS: Oh. Andy Scholes, has more in this morning Clipper report. Hey Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning guys. Yeah, Blake Griffin and the team's assistant equipment manager they are good friend but the two of them got into an argument over the weekend in Toronto. And Griffen punched him in the face breaking his right hand. Now Griffin wasn't played since Christmas Day, do to a quad injury.

He was about to return to action but now he's going to be out at least a month. Griffin apologized on Twitter saying a situation among friends escalated and I regret the way I handled myself toward someone I care about. He went on to say, I'm working with the team on a resolution and getting back in the game as soon as possible. The clippers release a statement saying there's no place in the organization for this. Couch Doc Rivers calls the whole thing frustrating.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOC RIVERS, CLIPPERS HEAD COACH: This type of stuff shouldn't happen but it did, and it's real life, and you have to deal with real life stuff sometimes in our make-belief world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Former New York Giants CTE Tyler Sash was found to have a very high level of the generative brain disease DTE when he died at September at the age of 27, that's according to our report by the New York Times. Sash died from a accidental overdose of pain killers. The Times report Sash has the same level of CTE that Junior Seau had when he committed suicide at the age of 43.

The NFL is working with the U.S. anti doping agency and the Major League Baseball investigating Al Jazeera. American plan that Peyton Manning's wife and others players had received banned drugs. The NFL says this investigation will not be completed for the Super Bowl. Manning has denied ever taking any performance-enhancing drugs calling the allegations complete garbage.

Finally, this is a really cool moment for last night Blue Jackets and Canadiens game. Montreal's Dale Weise throws a puck to two young fans looking for a souvenir. The kid on the left, guys, obviously very disappointed that his buddy got the puck. But moments later Weise throws another puck and check out his reaction just priceless. Look at this. Holding it up to his cheek, like his going to hold that puck in two hands forever. That's just awesome.

ROMANS: I love it when those guys know how to treat the fans. You know, I mean there's so much focus concentration on this, you know, on the ice. And then ...

SANCHEZ: Yeah, of course. That's really what it's all about the fans, especially the young fans. That kid is going to hold onto that puck.

SCHOLES: Getting a puck or a baseball. I mean just that's the greatest thing when you're a kid.

ROMANS: That's awesome. All right. That's good sportsmanship after another story about bad sportsmanship.

SANCHEZ: Thanks a lot Andy.

ROMANS: All right. Thank you so much.

SCHOLES: Bye.

ROMANS: Fox News blasting Donald Trump's decision to boycott its upcoming presidential debate.

[05:25:02] Ted Cruz calling him Donald Duck. What Fox is now saying about the Republican front-runner? Next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Donald Trump refusing, refusing to participate in the next GOP presidential debate. Fox News blasting the Republican front-runner this morning for breaking down all the new drama.

SANCHEZ: Breaking overnight, in Oregon militia man killed, eight others arrested after dramatic shoot down with the FBI. Welcome back to EARLY START this morning. I'm Boris Sanchez.

ROMANS: So nice to see you this morning Boris, nice to have you here. I'm Christine Romans. This is 30 minutes past the hour.

Let's begin with the breaking news this morning. The Donald Trump campaign accused of threatening Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly. Less than a week to go before the crucial Iowa caucuses, Trump has pulled out of the Fox News Republican debate Thursday night and he's accused the co- moderator Megyn Kelly a bias against him. Fox News lashing back dramatically at Trump overnight.

[05:30:02] Fox accusing Campaign Manager Corey Lewandowski of leveling threat at Kelly and a call with a Fox News executive. Fox says, "Lewandowski stated that Megyn had a rough couple of days after that last debate and he would hate to have her go through that again. Fox News ...