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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Nearly 300 People Now Dead In A Coordinated Easter Terror Attack In Sri Lanka; President Trump Spent The Weekend Fuming Over News Coverage Of Details With The Mueller Report; Countries Importing Iranian Oil Could Face U.S. Sanctions Starting Next Month; The Boston Celtics Are The First Team On The Conference Semi-Finals. Aired 5- 5:30a ET
Aired April 22, 2019 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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DAVE BRIGGS, NEWS ANCHOR, CNN: One grocery store, and have had no where to buy toilet paper for the last ten days.
MICHELLE KOSINSKI, NEWS ANCHOR, CNN: A good ending to this one.
BRIGGS: Early Start continues right now. Nearly 300 people now dead in coordinated Easter terror attacks in Sri Lanka. Security warning circulated among police ten days earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ADAM SCHIFF, DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN: It may be that we undertake an impeachment, what is the best thing for the country?
REPORTER: Do you think this is impeachable?
JERRY NADLER, DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN: Yes I do.
KOSINSKI: Hey then (ph), some Democrats are starting to come around on impeachment in the wake of the Mueller report.
BRIGGS: A comedian scores a decisive win as Ukraine's next president, bringing fresh uncertainty to a critical ally.
KOSINSKI: There -- right there that's a source that claims of excessive force in Florida, video capturing police slamming a teens head to the ground, what the deputy is saying this morning.
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KOSINSKI: Good morning, and welcome to Early Start, I'm Michelle Kosinski.
BRIGGS: Good to have you here Michelle, I'm Dave Briggs, Monday April, 22. Five AM in the East, it is 2:30pm in Sri Lanka, and that's where we begin this morning. The death toll and an Easter Sunday attack in Sri Lanka rising to 290 people, that number includes at least two Americans. The attack involved coordinated explosions and at least 8 locations across Sri Lanka including three churches and four high end hotels, officials now say 24 people are under arrest.
KOSINSKI: The State Department says terror groups are still plotting possible attacks with little or no warning, also a police source tells CNN an internal memo was sent by authorities before the bombings that contained a warning to raise security. Senior international correspondent, Ivan Watson is live in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo. Ivan, what are we learning now, and you know, I understand that the suspects that they've arrested are believed to be locals, is that an official assessment at this point?
IVAN WATSON, INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: We're still working to nail that down, but basically the government here is calling this a brand new type of terrorism, Michelle. And that's saying a lot for a country that fought a civil war that went on for decades, it's been over for about a decade, but I mean look at the aftermath of this series of coordinated terror attacks that took place that ripped though St. Anthony's shine here, a Catholic church in Colombo on Easter Sunday.
You can still see damage here, shattered glass, and the clock tower seems to be frozen at 8:45 AM, which is roughly when we think the suicide bomber, as the government has put it, attacked this church as well as two other Catholic churches in two other cities, also attacking two other hotels here in Colombo with just a staggering death toll, at least 209 killed, more than 500 wounded.
Now the security forces do say that they had detained a couple of dozen suspects, but even that process has been deadly in some of the raids carried out after the initial blasts on Sunday. Some of the suspects at one house here in Colombo detonated more explosives, killing three police, so this is the kind of enemy that the security forces here are dealing with, and they're not taking any chances. They're imposing a curfew that starts at 8PM and runs overnight. They are blocking access to many social media sites, though it's pretty easy for Sri Lankans to get around that with VPN.
There are questions about a warning that was distributed between different departments of the security forces just weeks ago this month where there was a warning from a foreign intelligence agency about possible terrorist bomb attacks against Catholic churches and the Indian diplomatic mission here in Colombo, so you have some senior government officials accusing security forces and security chiefs of negligence and incompetence saying that places of worship like this should've been better protected in light of that warning. Back to you.
KOSINSKI: Just staggering to see after a period of peace there in Sri Lanka. Thanks, Ivan.
BRIGGS: Alright, back here a frightening scene Sunday at an Easter service in San Diego, church members tackled a woman who was carrying a 10 month old baby and a handgun after she threatened to blow up the church. Witnesses say the woman walked into the auditorium at Mt. Everest academy around noon during a non-denominational service.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DAVID MICHAEL MILLER, WITNESS: Two minutes after I came in, this lady comes on stage -- came though the back with her baby and a gun.
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MILLER: And she starts talking all this craziness about the rapture not being real and everyone's going to hell, after she started pointing the gun at the baby, one of the older gentleman grabbed it from her and then me and a couple of other men tackled her.
BRIGGS: Police arrested the women identified by local media as 31 year old Anna Conkey, they later found her five year old daughter healthy and unhurt. The children are now in protective custody.
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KOSINSKI: The White House now in full spin mode, reacting to a very damaging Mueller Report. The President's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani are launching a blistering attack on the report even though he does not question its findings.
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JAKE TAPPER, JOURNALIST, CNN: You're saying that this document is not credible --
RUDY GIULIANI, TRUMP LAWYER: No, no -- how about looking at it this way, people who were unfair to him, people who wrote an unfair report, people who came close to torturing people to get information and break them.
TAPPER: Came close to torturing people?
GIULIANI: Yes, how about --
TAPPER: -- Wait, wait. They put forward a report that ultimate cleared President Trump --
GIULIANI: And that takes every cheap shot imaginable, because he couldn't prove it.
TAPPER: You call them cheap shots, other people call it evidence.
GIULIANI: But you don't -- you don't just spew out all this stuff.
REPORTER: Do you and the President accept the idea that the Russian interference was designed to help President Trump?
GIULIANI: I believe it was, I can't tell you for sure, I haven't examined all that evidence but I have no --
REPORTER: Does the President accept that?
GIULIANI: -- but I have no reason to dispute it. I think he does.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BRIGGS: Giuliani even defended the campaigns willingness to take information from the Russians, Boris Sanchez filed this report over the weekend.
BORIS SANCHEZ, JOURNALIST, CNN: Dave and Michelle, according to sources, President Trump spent the weekend fuming over news coverage of details in the Mueller Report and the depiction from some former White House officials of a White House in chaos. A president that is unhinged, paranoid, and angry and aids that either ignore or refuse to carry out his orders.
Meantime, the Presidents attorney, Rudy Giuliani, was on the Sunday morning talk shows, he spoke with Jake Tapper on State of the Union, and Jake asked him about some of the behavior outlined in the Mueller report, specifically whether it was ethical or moral. Listen to Giuliani's response.
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GIULIANI: Any candidate in the whole world in America would take information, negative (ph)--
TAPPER: From a foreign source? From a hostile foreign source?
GIULIANI: There's nothing wrong with taking information from Russians.
TAPPER: There's nothing wrong with taking information from Russians?
GIULIANI: Depends on where it came from. It depends on where it came from. You're assuming that the giving of information as a campaign contribution. You read the report carefully. The report says we can't conclude that because the law is pretty much against that.
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SANCHEZ: The strategy here from the President's legal team is one that we've seen before. They're now just questioning the creditability of people sided in Mueller's Report even as they accept the reports general findings. We should point out; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is scheduled to hold a conference call with the Democratic caucus at 5PM on Monday to talk about the possibility of pursing impeachment, Dave and Michelle.
BRIGGS: Far from out of the woods, Boris, thank you. A growing number of Democrats are warming to the idea of impeachment, including three key committee chairmen who seem hesitant in the past, even discussed the issue.
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ADAM SCHIFF, DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN: Now it may be that we undertake an impeachment, none the less. I think what we are going to have to decide as a caucus is what is the best thing for the country. Is the best thing for the country to take up an impeachment preceding because to do otherwise sends a message that this conduct is somehow compatible with office.
ELIJAH CUMMINGS, DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTITIVE: There comes a point in life where we all have to make decisions based upon the fact that it is our watch. And, you know, history I think, even if we did not win possibly, if there were not impeachment, I think history would smile upon us for standing up for the constitution.
MALE: Do you think this is impeachable?
JERRY NADLER, DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN: Yes, I do. I do think that this -- if proven -- if proven, which hasn't been proven yet, some of this -- if proven some of this would be impeachable, yes.
REPORTER: Alright --
NADLER: Obstruction of justice if proven would be impeachable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Chairman Nadler plans to call forward White House council Don McGhan to testify before the House Judiciary committee, according to the Mueller Report, McGhan refused an order from the President to fire the special counsel.
KOSINSKI: And Politico is reporting Democrats on this Judiciary committee are already engaged with the Justice Departmemt. They're making preliminary arrangements for Robert Mueller to testify next month.
BRIGGS: Alright, to an astounding story in Ukraine, where life is imitating art. A TV comedian who played a teacher who becomes President of Ukraine is now the real President of Ukraine; political newcomer, Volodymyr Zelensky, declaring victory after Sunday's presidential election. Phil Black, live from Kiev with all the many policies that Volodymyr has talked about through this policy, oh wait Phil, there were none.
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PHIL BLACK, CORRESPONDENT CNN: Yes, that's right, it was pretty much policy free for the Zelensky campaign, and it was extraordinary in other ways too, as you say. He's not a regular politician, he -- by his own definition, his own words, he's a regular guy, a non- politician who's here to clean up politics in this country.
That is the character that he plays on television, that is the character he played through his campaign, and he did it not through interviews and rallies and public appearances, and detailed policy discussion, but through pretty cheeky online videos, social media, through mocking his opponents and the old guard (ph) of Ukrainian politics, and it was on the whole, really effective, it resonated with a huge amount of Ukrainians and the exit polls that count so far, well it all points to a really spectacular result, winning about 73 percent of the vote.
A mix of people who are simply fed up and desperate to vote for something other than the status quo, that's the protest vote, and then those who are genuinely sold on Zelensky, who have projected their hopes and dream onto his very vague campaign and now have extraordinarily high expectations that it will be a real challenge to meet because this a country with a long list of problems that he is going inherit on day one.
A really struggling economy, and of course that ongoing war against Russian backed separatists in the east of the country. Volodymyr Zelensky is now going to have to go face to face, that's this professional comedian and clown going face to face with one of the worlds most experienced statesmen, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.
BRIGGS: I can see your point, Phil. That war's claimed the lives of thirteen thousand, some serious problems for a professional clown. Phil Black, live for us in Kiev. This look re-eected a real estate reality show guy, but at least he spent several years talking about policies and ideas, whether you agree with them or not, this is an astounding development.
KOSINSKI: So, you could say he should win an Oscar for his convincing performance of a guy who becomes president, but he's already won the presidency, so.
BRIGGS: I've not seen Servant of the People, I don't speak the language, but it'd be interesting to -- I'll find some clips.
KOSINSKI: You'll have to watch that.
BRIGGS: Alright, ahead.
KOSINSKI: Eight U.S. allies could face sanctions if they keep on buying oil from Iran. A big move from the state department, next.
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BRIGGS: Check on CNN Business dial (ph) the first report card of the year for the American economy, first quarter GDP is due Friday. Investors will be watching closely after worries about a U.S. economic slow down weighed on their minds at the start of the year.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta estimates 2.8 percent growth in the first quarter, analysts pooled (ph) by market data research group, Refinitiv forecast an average of 1.9 percent. Weaker than expected report could drive Wall Street and other assets lower. President Trump made big promises of three, four, even five percent growth, but many economists think, economic growth may have peaked for now as the sugar high from cooperate tax cuts is fading and global growth is slowing. The economy widely expected to grow at a slower speed in 2019 and last years 2.6 percent.
KOSINSKI: Countries importing Iranian oil, including many U.S. allies could face U.S. sanctions starting next month. Sanctions waivers will no longer be granted to those countries after May second. Washington Post reporting that Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo is expected to make that announcement this morning.
So, the state department issued these 180 day waivers last November to China, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Italy and Greece, the idea was to give them time to find alternative oil sources. Now, though, U.S. officials say that is going to change. The goal of the new policy is to drive up the costs of Iran's maligned behavior and address the regimes threats.
BRIGGS: Ahead, the Oakland A's centerfielder taking a home run away, but that was just half of what makes this one of the craziest baseball plays of the season.
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WOMAN: What are you doing? He's bleeding.
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KOSINSKI: A Florida sheriffs' deputy under investigation for slamming a teenagers head into the ground and punching him moments after another officer pepper sprayed the teen. The entire incident, of course, caught on camera. Broward Country Sherriff's department is vowing to conduct a through investigation, in the arrest report the deputy claims he had to act quickly because he feared he would be struck or have his weapon taken from him. He has since been placed on restrictive administrative assignment.
BRIGGS: Wow, alright, let's talk a little sports now, the warriors taking a commanding 3-1 lead over the clippers after when (ph) Sunday Andy Scholes has more in the Bleacher Report, Andy, good morning to you, it was one lost by Golden State earlier and people were talking about what's wrong with the Warriors, not much.
ANDY SCHOLES, SPORTS CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Yes, not much Dave, and this is a perfect example of yesterdays game of why the Warriors are basically unbeatable, Steph Curry goes one for nine from three point range yesterday, didn't even matter, because you know if Steph's having an off game, chances are Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson wont be, and Thompson breaking out of his slump in a big way, in game four, he was red hot in the first half, scoring 27 points, he finished with 32 for the game as the warriors win big, one thirteen one oh five (ph), and Thompson saying after the game a dip in the Pacific helped him break out of his slump.
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KLAY THOMPSON, BASKETBALL PLAYER: We went to the beach, played some volleyball, I'm like I'm just going to jump in the ocean, I just know that will reset my mind and it worked, so -- I don't know if I'm going to jump up north, because it's freezing, but something I'll definitely contemplate if I don't shoot the ball that well the rest of the year.
STEPHEN CURRY, BASKETBALL PLAYER: (Inaudible) The pacific ocean is undefeated.
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SCHOLES: The Boston Celtics, the first team on to the conference semi-finals, they won game four on Sunday, one 10 one oh six over the Pacers to complete this sweep. Indianapolis native Gordon Hayward, big game in his home town, scored 20 points off the bench for ball sitting (ph). Get this, with all their rich history this was only the Celtic sixth sweep in a seven game series.
The Raptors and Magic also playing game four yesterday of their series, Toronto head coach Nick Nurse, just an awesome reaction to his team getting called for a three second violation, he held that fact for 11 seconds, like he was watching an episode of Game of Thrones instead of NBA basketball. Finally the A's turning a double play for the ages yesterday against the Bluejays, Ramon Laureano, going to leap at the wall to rob this homerun.
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SCHOLES: But then he air mails the throw trying to get the double play at first, but luckily Nick Hundley, the catcher was there to back it up and he throws out Justin Smoak at second for the double play and Dave, this was the old eight two four double play. There probably then, what do you think, a handful of those in Major League Baseball history? Pretty cool play.
BRIGGS: I certainly cannot remember one, you can't get throwing out (ph) there if you're Smoak, good stuff, Andy Scholes, thank you my friend. Alright, what's coming up?
KOSINSKI: An internal security warning was circulated 10 days before coordinated Easter Terror attacks in Sri Lanka, the death toll spiking overnight to nearly 300.
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