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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
President to Speak at Dallas Memorial; New Protests Across the Country; Donald Trump: I Am the Law and Order Candidate; Britain PM David Cameron Resigning. Aired 4:30-5a ET
Aired July 12, 2016 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[04:31:32] ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: President Obama arriving in Dallas in just hours. Set to speak at the memorial for five slain police officers. Emotions running high in the wake of another mass shooting.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: New arrests overnight as thousands protest police violence in cities across the country.
KOSIK: Donald Trump declaring himself the law enforcement candidate -- the law and order candidate, with new reaction to the police shootings and protests.
Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Alison Kosik. Good morning.
BERMAN: Nice to see you. I'm John Berman. Thirty-one minutes past the hour right now.
In hours, an important moment for this nation to come together after a week of pain and tension. A memorial service in Dallas for the five officers murdered after helping protect a peaceful protest. President Obama and former President George W. Bush are both set to speak and later visit with victims' families. Overnight, emotions ran high in a candlelight vigil organized by the Dallas police association.
Chief David Brown, who has been front and center really since last Thursday night, he embraced the families of those killed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF DAVID BROWN, DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT: Families, we love you. Have. We are now your surrogate family members. We're your brothers and your sisters. When you need us, you call because we'll not only be loving you today, we'll be loving you always, always, until the end of time. We'll be loving you until you are me and I am you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: The probe into the Dallas gunman's plans and motives is still under way this morning with new questions emerging.
Let's get more on that now from CNN's Ed Lavandera.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Alison, investigators continue combing through the community college building where Micah Johnson was killed early Friday morning after several hours of a standoff with police in the hours just after he had shot and killed five police officers and wounded seven more. One of the things that investigators and detectives are taking a look at in trying to unravel is the bomb-making explosives that was removed and found at Micah Johnson's house.
We've told by a federal enforcement source that there was about 3.5 pounds of different kinds of explosive material that was found inside the home. But what is not clear is what the intentions of that was. Was this part of a bigger plan? Was this part of a plan that Micah Johnson had thought about carrying out and didn't, or what exactly the intention was there. So, that's what we are looking at.
Local law enforcement here in Dallas tells me the material was found in every room in various parts of the house. So, that is one of the things that investigators are trying to unravel as well as those in the mysterious initials "RB" that according to the Dallas police chief Micah Johnson wrote with his own blood in two locations inside that community college building -- John and Alison.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: All right. Thanks, Ed. The shooter's parents are now speaking out, saying his time in the army changed him turning him from an idealist to wanted to become a police officer into a disillusioned hermit. The gunman's father said he was stunned by his son's actions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[04:35:01] JAMES JOHNSON, GUNMAN MICAH JOHNSON'S FATHER: I don't know what to say to anybody to make anything better. I didn't see it coming.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: Overnight, new protests across the country against what demonstrators called police brutality. In Atlanta, police arrested at least 16 people after hundreds took to the streets protesting last week's police killings of two black men, one in Louisiana and the other in Minnesota. The protesters marched to the Georgia governor's mansion and met with top Atlanta city officials.
CNN's Polo Sandoval has more from the scene.
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POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The city of Atlanta, one of several across the country erupting with protests now for the fifth night in a row. We ever march along with what were really hundreds of demonstrators, part of the Black Lives Matter movement that made their way here to the Georgia state governor's mansion, calling for accountability, for transparency, calling for justice.
Meanwhile, several police officers not just here on the ground but also in the air, keeping a very sharp eye on the crowd and making sure that they at least keep distance away from the governor's mansion.
I should mention that there is at least a good sign that there is some common ground here, as we are now seeing Atlanta City officials, including Kasim Reed, the mayor, and also, the police chief, a native of this city, George Turner, also have conversations with some of these demonstrators, even asking them into what is a mobile command center that's been set up here, to talk about finding that common ground. So, that is a good indication that things could potentially improve.
While these demonstrations have remained simple, we have seen several arrests. While the NAACP chapter here in Atlanta, Georgia, here in Atlanta has raised reaction by law enforcement level of restraint, they say there are limits. What we have seen are police officers reach the limit and actually make their way into the crowd and actually begin to detain individuals who have defied orders to remain on the sidewalk.
Ultimately, at least 15,000 protesters that have already taken to the streets of Atlanta and only a few dozen arrests. That is a good sign that there is that dialogue that continues in one of several major American cities that are erupting with.
Polo Sandoval, CNN, Atlanta.
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KOSIK: OK, that was in Atlanta. And in Memphis, the mayor and police held a town hall meeting where people spoke out for community policing and more funding for youth programs. In Brooklyn, more than 200 people gathered for an interfaith vigil honoring the five officers killed in Dallas and the victims of the shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota.
Protests taking over the streets of Chicago's Loop, up to 1,000 people taking part. The demonstrations did remain peaceful there.
And in Sacramento, hundreds marching on the state capitol. Many walking silently, telling reporters there is nothing to say that has not already been said.
BERMAN: New details from Minnesota this morning on the police shooting of Philando Castile. The lawyer for the officer said the taillight not the only reason the officer pulled Castile over. The lawyer says Yanez also stopped Castille because he matched the description of a suspect in an armed robbery days earlier.
Later this morning, Castile's family is going to be holding a news conference.
CNN's Rosa Flores has the latest.
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ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Alison, this is the intersection where Philando Castile was shot and killed by a police officer. It's been turned into a memorial.
Now we know from court records this was not the first time that Philando Castile had been stopped by the police. In fact, court records show he had been stopped 52 times since 2002 for things like driving without proof of insurance and with a suspended driver's license.
Now, protesters have said that all of this is racial profiling. The governor of this state agreed.
So, we took our question to a profiling expert. Was Castile racially profiled until the day he died?
PROFESSOR MYRON ORFIELD, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA LAW SCHOOL: I would say looking at the record, it's consistent with the pattern of being racial profiled.
FLORES: So, we have been seeing this hashtag #driving while black. Is that what the data is showing?
ORFIELD: Well, I think, you know, it certainly suggests that that's what's happening. Particularly when you look at a case like Mr. Castile's, you take a look at his driving record, he's got an awful lot of stops. It suggests a pattern of very aggressive policing.
FLORES: Now, according to the shooting officer's attorney, he says that this had nothing to do with race and everything to do with a gun present at the scene -- John, Alison.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOSIK: All right. Our thanks to Rosa Flores.
And developments also in the fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge.
[04:40:04] Sterling's family is calling on police to release surveillance video taken from the convenience store where the incident occurred. The owner of the store is now suing police, claiming officers illegally detained him for four hours, and confiscated his video security system without warrant. Baton Rouge police say the video will be turned over to the Justice Department.
The district attorney in the case has now recused himself because he is friends with the parents of one of the officers involved.
BERMAN: All right. Donald Trump declared himself as the law and order candidate, but also the candidate with compassion. Wait and hear what he now has to say about the police shootings and protests. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BERMAN: New this morning, Donald Trump is calling for immediate end to hostilities against police and declaring himself the law and order candidate.
[04:45:04] The presumptive Republican nominee says Hillary Clinton is weak. That's during a campaign appearance with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, one of those on the Trump short list for vice president.
Let's get more now from CNN's Jim Acosta.
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JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: John and Alison, Donald Trump will tryout another potential running mate later today when he appears at a rally with Indiana Governor Mike Pence.
The Indiana governor, along with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich appear to be the finalist for the vice presidential slot on the GOP ticket. Christie and Trump both spoke at the veterans event yesterday in Virginia Beach. That is where Trump ended the pause and political attacks since the shootings in Dallas and dubbed himself the candidate law enforcement can trust.
Here's what he had to say.
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I am the law and order candidate.
(APPLAUSE)
Hillary Clinton on the other hand, is weak, ineffective, pandering and as proven by her recent e-mail scandal, which was an embarrassment not only to her, but the entire nation as a whole, she is either a liar or grossly incompetent. Personally, it's probably both.
(APPLAUSE)
Not only am I the law and order candidate, but I'm also the candidate of compassion. Believe it. The candidate of compassion.
But you can't have true compassion without providing safety for the citizens of our country. Every kid in America should be able to securely walk the streets in their own neighborhood without harm.
ACOSTA: Mike Pence, who is running for re-election as governor, has until Friday to make up his mind as state law bars him from seeking two offices at once in Indiana. But don't count out Chris Christie. One source familiar with the process said Christie has been fully vetted for vice presidential slot -- John and Alison.
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KOSIK: All right. Jim Acosta, thanks for that.
The Republican convention platform committee meeting again in Cleveland in a few hours. The party official positions are emerging. The GOP is embracing religious values in the preliminary votes, opposing same-sex marriage, rejecting public restroom rights for transgendered people, and supporting the right of parents to put their LGBT children into conversion therapy.
The head of the platform committee, Wyoming Senator John Barrasso, insisting the party and presumptive nominee are uniting behind these plans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN BARRASSO (R), WYOMING: I met with Donald Trump on Thursday in Washington. He met with a number of senators. He knew I was chairing the platform committee. He said, let the platform committee work its will. He has great deal of faith and confidence in the people coming together and expressing their opinions. I've asked him to embrace the platform. And I believe that he will.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: House Speaker Paul Ryan's request to block Hillary Clinton from intelligence briefings has been rejected by the director of national intelligence. James Clapper telling Ryan that no officially nominated candidate will be denied access. Now, top House Republicans are asking the Justice Department to open a new investigation to determine whether Hillary Clinton lied to Congress about her private e-mail servers.
Attorney General Loretta Lynch facing questions about the Clinton email case when she appears before the House Judiciary Committee later this morning.
KOSIK: In just a few hours after a long, long, long wait, Bernie Sanders is set to endorse Hillary Clinton at a campaign event in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
In an interview with CNN, Vice President Joe Biden says the choice with voters is clear in November.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSEPH BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Here's the measure I think folks are going to apply. Look at Donald Trump and what he is saying and ask yourself, is it believable? Does he know what he is talking about? Will it solve any of my problems?
And look at what she has to say, what she's proposing, and the honesty of her proposals and her willingness to deliver on them. I think that's going to ultimately be the determination.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: Biden also addressed protests over police shootings, rejecting comments by former Mayor Rudy Giuliani who describes the Black Lives Matter movement as inherently racist. Biden called that a very broad statement. BERMAN: New details emerging in the deadly shootout in a courthouse
in Berrien County, Michigan. Two bailiffs were killed, a deputy sheriff and civilian wounded. Police are saying an inmate, 44-year- old Larry Darnell Gordon was being transferred from his cell when he grabbed the deputy's gun and opened fire while attempting to escape. Gordon was the shot and killed by other bailiffs.
KOSIK: All right. Time for an early start on your money.
And if you have money, a lot of you are going to be spending it on Amazon today. The second annual Amazon Prime Day is here. It kicked at 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Time to get shopping.
Amazon pre-viewed the deals on Twitter. They include a 55-inch Samsung smart TV for $549.
[04:50:02] It is selling its most popular tablet, the Amazon fire, for as low as $33. Other Amazon products are also being discounted like Kindle and Echo.
The shoppers can save 50 percent on popular toy brands like Barbie, Nerf and Fisher-Price. Like Christmas in July.
Rival Walmart is launching deals of its own to compete. It's got shipping for free all week. The Lenovo laptop for $399. And an XBOX console bundle with an extra wireless controller and popular Minecraft game, that sounds good, selling for $279, if you don't have it already.
All right. Be sure to check out other retailers as well. Amazon made up this holiday shopping day extravaganza and a lot of sites are putting items on sale to attract online buyers. Let the competition begin.
BERMAN: Best kind of holidays are the ones that are made up.
KOSIK: Absolutely.
BERMAN: All right. Temperatures set to soar in the Northeast. Let's bring in meteorologist Allison Chinchar for the latest.
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ALLISON CHINCHAR, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Allison, John, it is going to be another hot and sweaty day across portions of the south. We're talking 97 for the high today in Dallas, Houston, also into Little Rock with that heat index reaching well into the low triple digits. A high of 93 in Detroit, will top out at 97 degrees in Charleston.
But further north, we are feeling the heat. Take a look at this, St. Louis, average of 89. We are in the mid-90s.
Now, Minneapolis is going to be above average the next couple days. But we will finally get a slight cool down by the time we get to Thursday. We're keeping a close eye in the Midwest for severe weather today. Main threats are damaging winds, large hail and some isolated tornadoes from Green Bay, Chicago, Des Moines, down towards Kansas City.
That threat will push farther east for the coming days. You can see as we get to evening commute, it now starts to move into Indianapolis and Nashville as well.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOSIK: All right. Allison, thank you.
And it is safe to look at your portfolio. S&P is sitting at an all- time high.
BERMAN: Just like me. All time high.
KOSIK: Serious tests for the market. I'm going to tell you what could stop the rally when we get an early start on your money, next.
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[04:56:26] BERMAN: By the close of business Wednesday in Britain, the United Kingdom will have a new prime minister. For just the second time ever, it will be a woman. Now, David Cameron announced he will step down this week and not at the end of October as originally planned. This paves the way for Theresa May to take the rein of the 10 Downing Street.
CNN's Max Foster live in London with more.
This is just lightning fast change, Max. What can you tell us?
MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's hard to keep up, I have to say. British politics absolutely chaos right now. But you can encapsulated it there really.
I mean, Theresa May expected to have three months to get ready to go into 10 Downing Street. In the end, it's just two days. So, today, she is having to organize a new government for the U.K. as well as worry about moving into 10 Downing Street.
But there's universal support really for her. She is seen a s a very steady hand at a time of upheaval in the U.K. She is a heavyweight politician. People are looking how she's going to handle the economy and Britain's extrication from the European Union. So, she's got a massive job ahead of her.
But all the papers really coming out in support of her today, John. So, you have "The Telegraph", best deal for Britain. A lot of papers talking about her position as the second only female prime minister, as "The Financial Times" really making that point, the first one in 26 years. "The Sun" being more direct about it. She is famous for the kitten heels she wears.
"The Daily Mirror" actually pushing another challenge to her, saying there should be another election because the public did not vote for her as a prime minister. She is going to adopt the position. So, there you go. Also, a lot of people wondering what this means for David Cameron. He
is out of a job tomorrow. This is how he made the announcement, John. I want you to listen at the end after he finishes speaking, because he is humming. We are trying to interpret that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID CAMERON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: On Wednesday, I will attend the meeting for questions and after that, I expect to go to palace and offer my resignation so we will have a new prime minister in the building behind me by Wednesday evening.
(HUMMING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: So what is obsessing social media here today is was that a happy hum or a glum hum? Is he happy to go? Is he sad to go? These are the important matters we're trying to get to the bottom of today.
BERMAN: I don't think there is such a thing as a glum hum. But I'm sure your best people over there looking into it.
Max Foster, thank you. I appreciate it.
KOSIK: Maybe it is a take this job and shove it hum.
BERMAN: I think you sing that, you don't hum it. That's the thing. It loses some of the meaning if you're really humming.
EARLY START continues right now.
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KOSIK: In just hours, President Obama arrives in Dallas, set to speak at a memorial for five police officers slain in the street. What you can expect today.
BERMAN: New protests across the country over police violence. Thousands on the streets. New arrests at demonstrations overnight.
KOSIK: Donald Trump declaring himself the law and order candidate with new reaction to protests and police shootings.
Good morning and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Alison Kosik.
BERMAN: Nice to see you today. I'm John Berman. It is Tuesday, July 12th, 5:00 a.m. in the east.
And in just hours, an important moment for this nation to come together after a week of pain and tension, a memorial service in Dallas for the five officers murdered after helping protect the peaceful protests. President Obama and former President George W. Bush are both set to speak in later visits with victims' families.
