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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
White House Slams Mueller Report; House Democrats May Hold Attorney General Bill in Contempt; Najibullah Zazi to Be Free Soon; "Star Wars" Actor Peter Mayhew Dies at 74. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired May 03, 2019 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:00] DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: -- who plotted to bomb the New York City subways a decade ago. Why Najibullah Zazi is on the verge of freedom.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARRISON FORD, ACTOR: Chewy.
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CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Mourning the loss of a gentle giant. Peter Mayhew who will live on as Chewbacca forever has died.
BRIGGS: And if you're not always happy, Burger King has your back. A new campaign with a purpose. The question is, what would your mood say today if you had a meal for this Friday?
ROMANS: "I need the weekend" is my meal.
BRIGGS: Exhausted.
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Dave Briggs.
ROMANS: And I'm Christine Romans, it is exactly 5:00 a.m., Friday, May 3rd.
Let's begin here with the president. He was thrilled with the Mueller report, but the White House not so much. A top White House lawyer, Emmett Flood, accused Mueller's team of playing politics, laying out facts far more detailed than what's typically found in a criminal indictment. Flood protested in a letter to Attorney General William Barr one day after the release of the redacted Mueller report.
BRIGGS: Flood described the report as, quote, "a prosecutorial curiosity, part truth commission report and part law school exam paper." It is true the Mueller report did not establish a criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and the Russians. Mueller did unearth substantial evidence of obstruction by President Trump but he did not say whether Mr. Trump should be prosecuted, a move the attorney general questioned on Capitol Hill this week.
ROMANS: The president touted the report as a total vindication, even though possible obstruction came up about a dozen times in that report. That includes when the president told then White House counsel Don McGahn to have Mueller removed. Last week, House Judiciary chairman Jerry Nadler subpoenaed McGahn to testify. Now the president says that's not going to happen.
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DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I have had him testifying already for 30 hours.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: So is the answer no?
TRUMP: And it's really -- I don't think I can let him and then tell everybody else you can't. I would say it's done. We've been through this. Nobody has ever done what I have done. I have given total transparency. It's never happened before like this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Total transparency without sitting down with investigators. Emmett Flood's letter also makes clear President Trump has not closed the door on asserting executive privilege. So expect this battle to continue.
Attorney General Barr was a no-show for a second day of scheduled testimony over a dispute about who would ask the questions. Congressman Steve Cohen showed what he thought about that with a bucket of KFC in a congressional hearing. And a porcelain chicken, mind you.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi offered a far more serious response about something the attorney general told Congress under oath weeks ago.
Manu Raju on Capitol Hill.
MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine and Dave. Now House Democrats are planning to move forward to hold the attorney general in contempt of Congress if he does not meet their demands. One of their demands, to turn over the full Mueller report, the underlying evidence, everything they have been asking for. So far the Justice Department only offering a less redacted report that does not include the grand jury information that Democrats are demanding and only allowing that report to be reviewed by a small number of members, 12 to be exact.
After Barr's appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee, the speaker of the House made very clear that she believes that the attorney general lied to Congress when he previously testified that he was not aware of concerns from the special counsel's team about his handling of the report, and she made some pretty dramatic remarks saying the attorney general committed a crime.
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REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): He lied to Congress. He lied to Congress. And if anybody else did that, it would be considered a crime. Nobody is above the law.
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RAJU: Now the Justice Department pushed back on that remark saying that this is baseless, it's inaccurate, and Barr's allies on Capitol Hill also defending him saying the Democrats really are trying to pursue one thing, impeachment, trying to go after the president at all costs.
Democrats are divided over that topic. Pelosi herself trying to tamp that down, Christine and Dave, saying that, look, this is something that will end at the Senate's edge and the impeachment is the easy way out. But unfortunately for her, not all Democrats agree -- Christine and Dave.
ROMANS: All right, Manu Raju, thank you so much for that.
The Pentagon accuses China of using espionage to steal U.S. military secrets. A new report says the Chinese are accessing cutting-edge military technology through a variety of methods, including foreign direct investment, just buying it, and also cyber theft. The report says China used these techniques to acquire sensitive, dual use or military grade equipment from the U.S. Just this week, former CIA Case Officer Jerry Lee pleaded guilty to charges he conspired to commit espionage on behalf of Beijing.
BRIGGS: A man who plotted to bomb New York City's subway goes free in a matter of days. Najibullah Zazi has been locked up since 2009 and has spent a decade helping the United States identify and prosecute terrorists.
[05:05:08] He was rewarded for his help Thursday with a 10-year prison sentence equal to the time already served.
ROMANS: A federal judge in Brooklyn citing his extraordinary cooperation with investigators. Zazi pleaded guilty in 2010 to three charges connected to a plot to bomb the subway around the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. On Thursday Zazi told the court, "I tried my best to correct my horrific mistake. I am not the same person. I find it almost hard to imagine what I was involved in in 2008 and 2009."
BRIGGS: Facebook is purging some high-profile people from its platform saying they are, quote, "dangerous." They include Nation of Islam leader, Louis Farrakhan, notorious for using anti-Semitic language, and right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones who was banned from Facebook last summer but still maintained a presence on Instagram, which is owned by Facebook.
ROMANS: Also banned, Paul Nehlen, an anti-Semite who ran unsuccessfully for Congress, along with right-wing media personalities Milo Yiannopoulos, Laura Loomer and Paul Joseph Watson. Facebook says it has always banned individuals or organization that promote violence and hate regardless of ideology. But critics are really quick to point out that Facebook did not take any action against these accounts at the time they were actually in violation of company's rules.
BRIGGS: Yes. Yes, not when Alex Jones is spreading conspiracy theories about the Newtown shooting, for example.
This morning, tributes are pouring in for actor Peter Mayhew who played Han Solo's lovable Wookiee sidekick Chewbacca in the "Star Wars" films.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You made a fair move. Screaming about it can't help you.
HARRISON FORD, ACTOR: You know, that's not wise to upset a Wookiee.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But, sir, nobody worries about upsetting a droid.
FORD: That's because a droid don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Mayhew died this week at his home in North Texas. He was 74. Mayhew fit the bill for the Wookiee standing more than seven feet tall. He played Chewbacca in the original "Star Wars" trilogy and reprised the character in "Revenge of the Sith" and "The Force Awakens." He consulted on "The Last Jedi" to help guide his successor.
ROMANS: A memorial is planned for fans in December in Los Angeles before the release of the new "Star Wars" film. The final chapter in the Skywalker saga. Co-star Harrison Ford says in a statement, "Peter Mayhew was a kind and gentle man, possessed a great dignity and noble character." And Luke Skywalker himself Mark Hamill tweeted this tribute to Mayhew. "He was the gentlest of giants, a big man with an even bigger heart, who never failed to make me smile and a loyal friend who I loved dearly."
All right. U.S. job market is about as good as it gets. So how much longer can the good times last? Today's jobs report for April could hold some clues for us. Now economists estimate 185,000 jobs added in the last month. The unemployment rate expected to remain at 3.8 percent, just slightly above the nearly 50-year low reached last year.
This would be another win for President Trump following last week's strong GDP report. One thing to watch for in this report, manufacturing. Manufacturing jobs have boomed under the Trump administration, adding nearly half a million since he took office. Now that boom, though, could be fading as the effect of tax cuts and government spending cools down. U.S. manufacturers also face tariffs driving up costs and slowing growth in China and Europe. That's hurting demand.
Now despite recently strength, Moody's Analytics chief economist says the direction of hiring is actually pointing down, not up. There are now more job openings than there are job seekers to fill them, and the tighter job market is also lifting wages which in turn can slow hiring. BRIGGS: A major setback for SpaceX. The company confirming its Crew
Dragon capsule built to carry humans was destroyed during a test fire nearly two weeks ago. That could derail plans to begin flying astronauts to the International Space Station this year. On April 20th, the Crew Dragon was undergoing engine tests at Cape Canaveral when something went wrong in the final stretch. At the time SpaceX would only say an anomaly occurred but footage of the test leaked online shows the spacecraft erupting in flames there. The U.S. has not had the capability to flying humans into orbit since the shuttle program ended in 2011.
ROMANS: All right. The feds get their first ever conviction of a drug company CEO in the fight against the opioid crisis.
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[05:13:38] ROMANS: The disappearance of a pregnant woman in Chicago has eerie similarities to an unsolved case from last year. Marlen Ochoa-Uriostegui has been missing for more than a week. She is 9 months pregnant, 19 years old, 5' 3" tall. She has brown hair, brown eyes and a nose ring. Meantime, Chicago police continue to investigate the disappearance of a pregnant postal worker. 27-year- old Kierra Coles left her apartment in her work uniform last October and has not been seen since.
BRIGGS: The mother of a Chinese student admitted to Stanford claimed she thought her $6.5 million donation was for scholarships and to help the school. The woman identified only as Mrs. Zhao admits she gave the money to the central figure in the college admissions scandal, Rick Singer, but she insists it was not intended to buy her daughter's admission. In a statement, Mrs. Zhao says after her daughter Yusi got into the school, Singer asked for a donation, and she was told the money would help pay salaries and support students who could not afford to attend Stanford. She says she realizes now she was misled.
ROMANS: Now to the latest in the measles outbreak. The Scientology cruise ship Freewinds is heading back to its home port in Curacao. It's not entirely clear what happens to passengers and crew when that ship arrives now that officials have discovered a female crew member has the highly contagious disease. 300 passengers and crew have been quarantined. The ship's doctor requesting 100 doses of the measles vaccine.
[05:15:06] BRIGGS: And there are now measles concerns at two major airports. New Jersey health officials say a traveler with a confirmed case of measles was at Newark Liberty International Airport B and C terminals on March 12th, and may have gone to other areas of the airport.
Also potential measles exposure at Pittsburgh International Airport. There have been more than 700 cases nationwide this year and officials say the 25-year high is in large part because of the anti-vaxx movement.
ROMANS: All right. Five top drug company executives have been found guilty in a bribery case involving the opioid Fentanyl. The multibillionaire founder of Insys Therapeutics John Kapoor and four other top execs convicted of racketeering. Prosecutors say their scheme involved bribes, kickbacks, even lap dances for physicians who prescribed large amounts of the company's Fentanyl spray to patients who did not need it. They lied to insurance companies to cover it all up. It's the first ever conviction of a drug company CEO in the feds' fight against the opioid crisis. Appeals from those defendants seem likely.
BRIGGS: Ex-cons in Florida would have to pay to vote under a bill passed by the state Senate. The measure requires felons to pay all court ordered restitution, fees, fines and costs before their right to vote is restored. Republicans argue the payments are a necessary part of completing a sentence. The Democrats call it a hurdle to a new voter approved constitutional amendment did not intend. The Florida Senate also passed an amendment allowing judges to waive the payments or convert them into community service hours. The bill now goes back to the state House.
ROMANS: All right. Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh resigning under fire over a no bid book deal. She says Baltimore deserves a mayor who can move our great city forward. Pugh had already taken a leave of absence. City Council president Jack Young has been serving as acting mayor. He will become Baltimore's 51st mayor. The Baltimore City Council had called for Pugh's resignation. She came under fire when the University of Maryland Medical System spent $500,000 to buy 100,000 copies of a children's book she wrote and self-published.
We'll be right back.
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[05:21:42] BRIGGS: One of the NBA's rising stars broke out of a slump in a big way last night in Philly. Coy Wire has more in the "Bleacher Report" this morning. I'm assuming his name is not Kyle Lowry, who struggled mightily last night -- Coy.
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COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: No, Dave. Good morning to you. But Joel Embiid, he struggled mightily in games one and two in Toronto, scoring just 28 points. And sometimes even the biggest stars just need a little home cooking and a little encouragement from teammates to get going. Listen to this.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shoot it. Shoot the three. Shoot it.
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WIRE: And boy, did he ever shoot it. 33 points. He also had 10 rebounds and five blocks in a blow out. 116-95. And he caps it off with this, how about the athleticism. A windmill dunk from the seven- footer. That quite the reaction there. Sixers take a 2-1 series lead over Toronto, game four on Sunday. For the first time in 36 years, a baseball player won a game almost
entirely by himself. The Mets Noah Syndergaard has it all, great hair, strong arm and a thunderous swing. He struck out tens reside batters in a complete game shutout and then the man they caught (INAUDIBLE). On opposite field homerun to third, he's just the seventh player in the last 100 years to pitch a shutout and hit a homer for the only run in a game. The Mets win 1-0 and sits second on the NL East.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my god. Is that my car?
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WIRE: Washington receiver Paul Richardson surprises his mom with a brand new car. Her reaction was priceless. Mother's Day just around the corner, and good luck trying to top that. The second round pick back in 2014 signed a $40 million contract just last year. He says the only thing she ever wanted was that Range Rover there.
Mother's Day is nine days away, so start your planning, Mr. Briggs. Don't forget.
BRIGGS: Coy Wire, my friend, we have not seen you since the NFL draft a week ago tonight. You pulled off what I think was the highlight of the entire NFL draft. If you could kind of describe for us what you did there and why it was so impactful for the Bills community and really the whole country, I thought.
WIRE: Dave, appreciate that. Thanks, Christine. I had the honor of announcing the Bills' third round draft pick. I was announcing the third round and I read a story the day before I was supposed to do this about Ezra Castro, a man famously as Poncho B. He was diagnosed with cancer and he was told just the day before that he was going to have to be put on hospice. He wanted to be there for the draft. And it just crushed my heart that he couldn't.
So in a way I wanted to take him there. So I called him via Facetime as he's there in the hospital bed with his family by his side, and I took him up on stage with me and announced him to the crowd and they gave him quite the ovation, cheered him on just as he has cheered on countless Buffalo Bills players and the entire city itself.
ROMANS: Well done. Well done.
BRIGGS: Bravo, sir, well done, you're the man, Coy. Good to see you, have a good weekend, my friend.
WIRE: Happy Friday. Thanks, guys.
BRIGGS: Bravo.
ROMANS: You too. Bye, Coy.
[05:25:01] Twenty-five minutes past the hour, Burger King wants you to know it's OK to be grumpy.
The fast food chain rolling out a new line of real meals to reflect real moods. It's a nod, an obvious nod to McDonald's Happy Meals. These meals come in boxes that say, "Feeling your way is just as important as ordering your way." They're trying to raise awareness about mental health, combating social media pressure to be happy and perfect all the time. The promotional meals will only be available in five cities during May which is Mental Health Awareness Month.
BRIGGS: Ours would probably say exhausted.
ROMANS: Yes.
BRIGGS: But I do like the salted meal. In particular.
Ahead, a scathing letter from the White House claims Robert Mueller's team played politics. Could the president still claim executive privilege?
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