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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Trump Attacks GOP Delegate System; U.S. Stock Futures Flat; Belgium Terrorists Had Planned to Hit France; Taliban Gaining Ground in Afghanistan. Aired 4:30-5a ET
Aired April 11, 2016 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:30:44] MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN ANCHOR: Donald Trump threatening to challenge Ted Cruz's big win in Colorado calling the delegate system corrupt. Trump struggling to keep the momentum going.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Bernie Sanders now questions Hillary Clinton's judgment. Announces her tone is condescending. The Democratic presidential race getting pretty intense.
KOSINSKI: And new details on the Brussels terror network. More strikes planned in France but foiled by investigators. The last minute changes that led to the Brussels bombings.
Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Michelle Kosinski.
BERMAN: I'm John Berman, 31 minutes past the hour right now.
New this morning, Donald Trump, his moment of Zen is over. After days of no public events, a pretty tepid Twitter action, the bluster is back aimed squarely at the Republican Party's delegate system. Trump is threatening to challenge the delegate haul. Ted Cruz won this weekend in Colorado. Overnight Trump complained about the state of the Republican Party picking its delegates in Colorado at a convention instead of a primary or a caucus.
This is what he put up on Twitter. "How is it possible that the people of the great state of Colorado never got to vote in a Republican primary? Great anger, totally unfair." Exclamation point.
Trump's new convention manager charges that the Cruz campaign won delegates with Gestapo tactics.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHUCK TODD, MSNBC'S MEET THE PRESS MODERATOR: What's a fair game to win a delegate? Is threatening a fair game? Is threat a fair game?
PAUL MANAFORT, TRUMP CAMPAIGN CONVENTION MANAGER: It's not my style. It's not Donald Trump's style.
TODD: What if --
MANAFORT: But it is --
(CROSSTALK) MANAFORT: But it is Ted Cruz's style. And that's going to wear thin very fast.
TODD: You think he's threatening delegates?
MANAFORT: Well, he's threatening the -- you go to his county conventions and you see the tactic, Gestapo tactics.
TODD: Gestapo tactics. That's a strong word.
MANAFORT: Well, you look at -- we're going to be filing several protests because reality is they are not playing by the rules.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: The Cruz campaign lashing back saying Cruz won Colorado by putting in what the campaign calls the hard work to build a superior organization.
Let's get the latest now. Going to bring in CNN's Chris Frates with the Trump campaign in Rochester.
CHRIS FRATES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, John and Michelle. After a three-day break, Donald Trump back on the campaign trail here at his home state of New York and New York crucial to Donald Trump, a battle ground here April 19th with 95 delegates at stake. Donald Trump has a shot at winner-take-all. And that's crucial particularly as Ted Cruz has been on a bit of a winning streak. In fact, Donald Trump starting to call into question those delegate wins by Ted Cruz.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We've got a corrupt system. It's not right. We're supposed to be a democracy. We're supposed to be -- we're supposed to be, you vote and the vote means something.
I want to tell you, it's a corrupt deal going on in this country and it's not good. It's not good. And it's not fair -- and it's not fair to you people. They're taking your vote away. They're disenfranchising people that want to see America be great again and politicians will never do it. They don't want to do it. They can't do it because their lobbyists and special interests are saying, we're not going to let you do it. It's no good and we've got to change the system, and it's got to change fast.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRATES: Donald Trump doing very well here in New York, still leading in the polls. In fact, on Sunday, a new FOX poll came out showed that he had 54 percent support, Ted Cruz just 15 percent support. Cruz lagging even John Kasich here in the state and Donald Trump using Ted Cruz's words against him. They remember Ted Cruz criticizing New York values. Donald Trump jumping on that, saying Ted Cruz was insulting New Yorkers. Ted Cruz firing back saying he was insulting the liberal political New York class, not New York voters. But if you look forward here, Ted Cruz is doing very well in the
delegate hunt. In fact, four consecutive wins, big wins in Wisconsin and Colorado. This week in Colorado, he took 34 delegates. The Donald Trump campaign saying that he used Gestapo tactics to win those delegates and threatened delegates. Ted Cruz folks said now way. We are -- that's just a Donald Trump temper tantrum. That's what we usually here the kind of sour grapes from the Trump campaign. We won because we have a superior organization.
In fact Donald Trump beefing up that delegate organization of his own, bringing in a delegate expert that conceded to compete here, going forward for New York, the next big battle ground, could be a winner- take-all. We should continue to hear Donald Trump throughout this week here in New York -- John, Michelle.
KOSINSKI: Thanks, Chris.
And on the Democratic side, real shift here, too, over the last week or so. Bernie Sanders now ratcheting up the rhetoric against Hillary Clinton with the crucial New York primary just eight days away. Sanders is expanding the argument over who is, quote, "qualified to be president." And now he is questioning the secretary's judgment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[04:35:03] SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: She may have the experience to be president of the United States. No one can argue that. But in terms of a judgment, something is clearly lacking.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSINSKI: Sanders also criticized Clinton in an interview with Jake Tapper on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION," calling her out for saying that young people who link her to the fossil fuel industry haven't done their research.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANDERS: I think that's a little bit condescending. I think in my experience with young people, you know, and I see them every day because they're coming out to our rallies, these are young people who want to be involved in shaping the future of this country. They are proud of this country. They want to make it a better country. I think they do a whole lot of research.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSINSKI: So now in her interview with CNN, Clinton seems to be drawing implicit contrasts to Sanders, saying she would keep any promises she made.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, look, I have said repeatedly that I'd take him over Donald Trump or Ted Cruz any day. I think people know that I will be a president who will follow through on what I said.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSINSKI: Clinton then picked up the endorsement of Maryland Congress Elijah Cummings. He's the top Democrat on the House Benghazi Committee.
BERMAN: We have a lot going on this week at CNN. Three nights, a CNN town hall event, it begins tonight at 9:00 p.m. A new twist this time. The Republican president candidates and their families answering voter questions.
Tonight is John Kasich, his wife Karen and their twin teenage daughters. Tomorrow night, Donald Trump with his family. Wednesday night it's Ted and Heidi Cruz. Family night on CNN. Three nights running. 9:00 p.m. Only on CNN.
KOSINSKI: But wait, there's more. Then on Thursday night is the Democratic presidential debate live at 9:00 p.m. from Brooklyn. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders face-to-face for the last time before that crucial New York primary. Again only on CNN.
BERMAN: Big week.
All right. President Obama speaking out on the controversy over Hillary Clinton's private e-mail server. He did an interview with FOX News. On "FOX News Sunday," the president defended the former secretary of state, but said he will not interfere in any way with the ongoing Justice Department and FBI investigations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I continue to believe that she has not jeopardized America's national security. Now what I've also said is that -- and she's acknowledged that there's a carelessness in terms of managing e-mails that she has owned and she recognizes. But I also think it is important to keep this in perspective. This is somebody who has served her country for four years as secretary of state and did an outstanding job.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Now in this interview, it's pretty wide ranging, the president noted what he thought was the biggest mistake of his time in office.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Probably failing to plan for the day after what I think was the right thing to do in intervening in Libya.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: He said after what happened in Libya was a mess after the U.S. involvement there. The president also explained why he keeps pushing for hearings on Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland despite Republican leaders' firm vow the hearings will never happen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: I don't object to Republicans saying, look, Merrick Garland may be a fine man. He may be an excellent judge, but I just disagree with them philosophically on a whole range of issues. So I'm going to vote against him.
I think that if they go through the process, they won't have a rationale to defeat him. So my point is go through the process. Go through the hearings. I think if you do that, the American people and the majority of senators will determine that in fact he's qualified to be on the court.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSINSKI: And Hillary Clinton's subway troubles from last Thursday were in the crosshairs on "Saturday Night Live." Comedian Kate McKinnon mocked Clinton's struggle to swipe correctly through New York's notoriously finicky turnstiles.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE MCKINNON, COMEDIAN: The New York City subway is the best way to get around. This isn't working, Metrocard. I'll just go in the old fashion way. I'll take a cab. Cab is the best way to get around.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSINSKI: You knew that was going to come up, right? Clinton also joked about her swiping snag at a charity event over the weekend, asking Mayor Bill de Blasio to, quote, "Do me a favor? Will you just fix these Metrocard slots? It took me like five swipes."
BERMAN: The best part was Hillary Clinton giving Bill de Blasio a high five, which for him is like holding his hand down here because he's 9 and a half feet tall.
All right. Joining us now for an EARLY START on your money, Alison Kosik.
Alison, let's talk about the markets. What's going on?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Let's talk about the markets, which looks like a rough start. Markets are turning around actually from earlier losses. That's a good sign.
[04:40:05] Asian markets are mostly lower. But European markets are higher. U.S. stock futures are following their lead.
On Friday oil prices soared more than 6 percent. But that wasn't enough for Wall Street. The Dow gained just 35 points. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq also closed slightly higher. All three ending the week down more than 1 percent.
President Obama meeting with Fed chair Janet Yellen later this afternoon. They're going to be talking about the economy and Wall Street reform. Also on the table, talk about executive compensation for top financial executives and whether the big banks need to do more so they're not, quote, "too big to fail." I'd like to be a fly on the wall there. It's close to press.
KOSINSKI: And it's been, what, more than a year since they've met, right? A long time.
KOSIK: A couple of years. A couple of years. Yes. So it's about time they meet face-to-face again.
BERMAN: A lot of power in one room.
KOSIK: Yes.
BERMAN: All right, Alison, thanks so much.
New information in the investigation into the Brussels bombing. Raids over the weekend leading to the arrests of two new suspects. We're going to tell you the new information that investigators have learned next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:45:13] KOSINSKI: Dramatic new details this morning about the terrorists who attacked Brussels last month. New word that they initially planned to attack France yet again, but then changed their minds when police closed in. This is according to authorities in Belgium who now confirmed the Brussels bombings and the Paris attacks were carried out by the same ISIS network.
And this morning we're learning more about Mohamed Abrini who says he was the man in the white hat believed to be that third and only surviving suspect for the Brussels airport bombing. He was taken into custody Friday.
So let's go live now to Brussels and bring in CNN's Kellie Morgan.
Kellie, tell us some of these -- about some of these latest developments.
KELLIE MORGAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, yes, Michelle, we had a development in this investigation every day since the arrest on Friday of Mohamed Abrini and five other suspects. He does appear to be talking to police. As you said, he's confessed to being the third airport bomber. The most bizarre thing that we heard from him over the weekend was that he sold the hat that he's seen wearing in all that CCTV footage. So he does appear to be talking, the question is, whether or not police believe him.
We need to remember that yes, there were five other people arrested on Friday. It could be one of those people who are also cooperating with police. Among them, Osama Krayem. Now he also, like Abrini, has a link to captured Paris suspect Salah Abdeslam. Now police believe that he was the second man that they were hunting in relation to the metro attacker in Molenbeek. So we have these -- we are learning of this French plot just a couple of days after the capture of all these men on Friday.
So we know that the information came from the computer that was recovered outside the Schaerbeek apartment, which the Brussels attackers used to make their bombs. So the question is, are these men in some way helping police piece together that data that they found -- Michelle.
KOSINSKI: Thanks so much, Kellie.
BERMAN: History is unfolding in Hiroshima this morning. Secretary of State John Kerry becoming the first U.S. secretary of state to ever visit that Japanese city. He's there for a two-day summit with the G- 7 leaders.
The White House says the secretary will not apologize for the U.S. dropping an atomic bomb on Hiroshima to end World War II. He will acknowledge the enormous loss of life after the U.S. became the first and only nation to ever use a nuclear weapon.
KOSINSKI: A U.S. Navy officer in custody this morning, awaiting trial for espionage. Officials say the unidentified officer was arrested eight months ago, but details were kept under wraps for reason of national security. So all we're being told is the officer was a lieutenant commander who's accused of illegally sharing secret information and wrongfully transporting classified material along with one count of paying for a prostitute and another for adultery.
BERMAN: CIA director John Brennan says his agency will not engage in waterboarding or any other enhanced interrogation techniques even if the future president orders it. President Obama banned waterboarding in 2009. Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and Ted Cruz both suggested they would end that ban if elected with Trump going a step further saying he would bring back waterboarding.
KOSINSKI: Danny Willett is the 2016 Masters champion. The 28-year- old Englishman shot a bogey free 67 in the final round, winning the season's first major by three shots. But it was an epic collapse by Jordan Spieth that everyone will remember. The defending champion squandered a five-stroke lead with nine holes to play hitting two balls in the water at the 12th for a quadruple bogey.
BERMAN: I can't believe it when I'm watching this. That's just not the way Jordan Spieth normally plays.
Bond set at $1 million for a 30-year-old suspect who allegedly shot and killed former New Orleans Saints football star Will Smith. Cardel Hayes was booked on second-degree murder charges Sunday. New Orleans police say he and Smith exchanged words after their vehicles collided Saturday night. Shots were then fired with Smith fatally injured and his wife Raquel wounded.
KOSINSKI: There are some severe thunderstorms ahead today in the south. Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri joins us now with the latest.
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Michelle and John, good morning to you both. (WEATHER REPORT)
BERMAN: All right, Pedram, thanks so much.
New backlash this morning over the Mississippi's religious freedom bill. And this rock star is speaking out. We'll get an EARLY START on your money next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KOSINSKI: There are new gains this morning for the Taliban in Afghanistan. The militant group is moving ever closer to reclaiming Helmand Province, the largest region in the country and a strategic location along the border with Pakistan.
Let's go live now to CNN senior international correspondent Nick Paton Walsh in Kabul with some CNN exclusive reporting -- Nick.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Michelle, the concern really is that as Afghan troops seem to falter. U.S. officials saying that real issues over the past year in defending Helmand against the Taliban. Remember, that was such a vital province in the U.S.-NATO campaign. They lost so many lives defending it.
[04:55:07] Part of the Afghan defense can be undermined by two men we've spoken to who say they used to be Afghan soldiers, but the lack of supplies, the lack of command meant they changed sides to join the Taliban. Now this feeds into a broader narrative of concerns that Helmand is really at risk of falling under greater Taliban control particularly the capital of it, Lashkar Gah. That took a lot of U.S. effort to defend as well, although I have to say the Afghan acting defense minister was very clear to me that if it does fall, he'll resign.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOHAMMAD MASOOM STANEKZAI, ACTING DEFENSE MINISTER OF AFGHANISTAN: It will not fall.
WALSH: At all?
STANEKZAI: At all.
WALSH: If it does, would you resign, or if it did?
STANEKZAI: It will not fall. If it fall, there is no doubt I will resign, but sure, it will not fall.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALSH: Now that's a kind of remarkable statement, frankly, of how confident he feels, but also how significant if would be if Lashkar Gah did fall into the hands of the Taliban. And I have to tell you, with this summer fighting season ahead, where the violence picks up, there are great concerns Taliban have already too much on the front both in the south and Helmand. That could bring them lots of cash if they get hold of the opium trade down there and Kabul itself hardly safe. Just this morning a bus load of Education Ministry employees hit by an explosion killing two, wounding seven. This is a country many fear that is sliding towards even greater insecurity. So distant from the assurances given by U.S. and NATO officials before the drawdown of troops here -- Michelle.
KOSINSKI: Wow. And after so many years. Nick, thank you.
BERMAN: Investigators in southwest India now questioning five people and looking for 10 more after a fireworks disaster at a temple killed at least 106 people. The explosion happened during Hindu New Year's festivities. Police filed a culpable homicide case against fireworks contractors and officials at this temple. They say sparks from the fireworks display ignited a stockpile causing a larger which destroyed the temple. As for the temple and official and a storage shed as well as nearby homes.
KOSINSKI: And at the same time, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit New Delhi today, the next stop on their royal tour of India. Over the weekend they played cricket in Mumbai with one of the -- one of India's biggest stars. Today the royal couple will lay a wreath at India Gate and pay respect to Mahatma Ghandi. They'll also attend the 98th birthday celebration for the Duke's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.
BERMAN: They're just like the rest of us.
KOSINSKI: I know you're going to be watching.
BERMAN: The Duke and Duchess. I love the Duke and Duchess. They're my favorite duke and duchess, by the way, in the world.
KOSINSKI: Really?
BERMAN: Absolutely. I can't name a single other. But they're pretty good.
KOSINSKI: Good to know, John.
BERMAN: Let's get an EARLY START on your money. Alison Kosik joins us now.
Hey, Alison.
KOSIK: Hey, good morning. Seeing a big turnaround, stocks turning around from earlier losses. Asian markets are mostly lower. So are Europe markets. U.S. stock futures, they are following their lead.
So guess what today is? Today is the first day for earnings season when companies hand in their report cards for the first quarter. And guess what, Wall Street is bracing itself for the worst earnings season since the great recession. This week, we're going to be hearing from JPMorgan, Wells Fargo and Citigroup.
The plunge in oil prices, turmoil in currency markets and a slowdown in global growth hasn't been good for American businesses. And none of this portends to be good for the stock market which has actually managed to turn itself around quite a bit since the February losses.
More backlash over Mississippi's religious freedom law. Canadian rocker Bryan Adams cancelling his Mississippi show this week in protest to the state's law. The musician said this, "I cannot, in good conscience, perform in a state where certain people are denied their civil rights due to their sexual orientation."
Bruce Springsteen canceled his Sunday show in Greensboro, North Carolina. He was protesting a similar law in the state. The laws have drawn fierce criticism for banning legal protections for gay and transgender people.
You know, we've seen the power of the purse from companies influencing these states to not have these kinds of discriminatory laws. We'll see if music does the same thing.
KOSINSKI: Yes. Well, we'll see a lot more of that.
BERMAN: Plus the NBA said it won't play the all-star game in Charlotte next season if they don't change what's going on.
KOSINSKI: Still waiting for a statement from the White House, though.
BERMAN: Really? Interesting. They haven't said anything.
KOSINSKI: I mean, they've commented in the briefing, but to put out a statement on these laws. I'm not sure that they will, but something the people are watching.
BERMAN: Thanks, Michelle.
KOSINSKI: Thanks, Alison.
EARLY START continues right now.
Donald Trump back on the campaign trail and making some strong accusations. Is the voting system unfair?
BERMAN: Bernie Sanders now questioning Hillary Clinton's judgment. The fight for New York is getting pretty hot.
KOSINSKI: New development into the investigation into the Brussels bombings. Terrorists plotted more attacks in Paris. The last-minute changes that led to the deadly airport and subway blasts.
Good morning. And welcome to EARLY START. I'm Michelle Kosinski.
BERMAN: I'm John Berman. Great to see everyone. It's Monday, April 11th. It is 5:00 a.m. in the East.
New this morning, Donald Trump. That period of calm it appears to be over after days of no public events and pretty tepid action on his Twitter account. Back with some bluster aimed squarely at the Republican Party and the delegate system.
