Return to Transcripts main page

New Day

Why Is Trump Lying About "Access Hollywood" Tape?; Roy Moore Fallout; Washington Post Confronts Fake Roy Moore Accuser. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired November 28, 2017 - 07:30   ET

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

[07:30:00] ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: So much so that yesterday, "ACCESS HOLLYWOOD" had to come out and one of the hosts, Natalie Morales, had to say for the record, that tape is real.

And here was Sarah Sanders trying to explain it yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH SANDERS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president addressed this. This was litigated and certainly answered during the election by the overwhelming support for the president and the fact that he's sitting here in the Oval Office today. I said what he didn't like and what he found troubling were the accounts that are being reported now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: So, Karoun, will he stop telling people privately that he questions its authenticity?

KAROUN DEMIRJIAN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST, CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER, THE WASHINGTON POST: I don't think that there's -- no.

I mean, first of all, I don't envy Sarah Sanders -- her job in having to explain away the president kind of going off script on all of these things. It must not be the easiest thing to explain.

But, it's -- no. He has decided to discount the fact that there is a tape that does not seem to be doctored at all. That he, himself, went on television and said, you know -- did a public televised apology and is now saying oh, that was all fake?

I mean, this is a president that tweets publicly about fake news even when the facts support what it is. If he's already taken the tact for the last almost year to basically tell everybody else that he means no, this was never a real thing. I think the tape was doctored.

As we were just saying in the last discussion topic, we were talking about there are people who will believe that despite what the evidence was, then the president's --

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: But that's why the example matters so much because, you know --

DEMIRJIAN: Right. CUOMO: -- sometimes there is nuance, there's context that gives a little bit of space for maneuvering, like the Pocahontas thing.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

CUOMO: The reason I think you have to stay on this one, at least for a little while, it is a naked attempt.

DEMIRJIAN: Yes.

CUOMO: It is only a pure and distilled version of what the president does when at his arguable worst. It is a lie, it is a calculated lie. It is to deceive a group of the population that he hopes believes it.

And, it is a window into well, what else will he do this about? That's why you call it out.

Did the tape really matter? No, it was voted on. Sanders is right. The people voted for Trump anyway.

Regrettable to some, maybe --

DEMIRJIAN: Yes.

CUOMO: -- but that's the reality.

But if he will lie about something that is so clearly demonstrably false, what else will he use this tactic on?

DEMIRJIAN: And it's very -- it's notable, too, that he's been doing it for so long. So you can't just actually say this is a reaction to the moment, a reaction to the hypocrisy argument because of charges against people like Franken and Roy Moore. This has been going on for a while so that says something, too, about his mindset.

CAMEROTA: Karoun, Chris, thank you both very much.

CUOMO: A little Tuesday treat for you here on NEW DAY. We need someone's take about these ongoing issues, whether it's Pocahontas or "ACCESS HOLLYWOOD" or the strategy coming out of the press secretary.

Who better than the handsome face on your screen, Anthony Scaramucci?

CAMEROTA: Oh, no. Is that the way this interview is going to go? You two complimenting each other on your Italian handsomeness?

CUOMO: No, no, no, although Italian men -- it's almost redundant.

CAMEROTA: I've watched this before.

CUOMO: Saying Italian handsomeness is redundant.

CAMEROTA: I've seen this segment before.

CUOMO: It's redundant.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

Meanwhile, Roy Moore is speaking out, saying that he's never even met the women who accuse him of sexually assaulting them as teenagers. One accuser says she has a yearbook signature that proves him wrong. You've seen that. Why won't she turn it over?

Her attorney, Gloria Allred, is here next.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROY MOORE (R), ALABAMA SENATE CANDIDATE: Thank you very much.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:37:27] CAMEROTA: Embattled Republican Senate nominee Roy Moore defending -- trying to defend himself against accusations of molestation and misconduct.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOORE: These allegations are completely false, they're malicious. Specifically, I do not know any of these women nor have I engaged -- have I ever engaged in sexual misconduct with any woman.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: All right.

Joining us now is victims' rights attorney Gloria Allred. She is representing Beverly Young Nelson, who says Moore sexually assaulted her when she was 16 years old.

Gloria, great to have you here.

GLORIA ALLRED, VICTIMS' RIGHTS ATTORNEY, REPRESENTS BEVERLY YOUNG NELSON, ACCUSER OF ROY MOORE: Thank you for having me.

CAMEROTA: You heard him. He says I don't know any of these women. Can you prove that he even knows her? That he knows these women?

ALLRED: Well, first of all, there have been a lot of misleading statements coming out of the campaign.

The first was that the Olde Hickory House where my client Beverly Young Nelson alleges that she was a waitress when she was 15 and 16 years old never even existed or didn't exist at that time.

CAMEROTA: That's what he said?

ALLRED: Well, that's what defenders of Roy Moore have said.

Then, good reporters found through the public records in the library that, in fact, the Olde Hickory House was a restaurant at the time that Beverly said that she worked there. So that one has been completely demolished.

And also, CNN, through the good reporting that I happened to see a few hours ago, had on several women who allege that, in fact, they had worked there and that they had seen Roy Moore there.

CAMEROTA: And that brings us to the yearbook, right? So the yearbook is what, at your press conference with Beverly Nelson, you presented to prove that she knew him and that, in fact, he wrote this sort of affectionate, sort of inappropriate note to her when she was 16.

He and his lawyers have called that into question saying the signatures don't match, he wouldn't have signed his name that way, there are inconsistencies, and they've asked you to turn it over to a third party.

Here are the signatures. The one on the bottom is the one in the yearbook. The other ones are his signature from 2017 and 1999. And he says that that D.A. that you see in the 1999 one was his assistant, so that the bottom one was forged later basically, is his contention.

So he wants you to turn it over to a third party expert analysis. Will you do that?

ALLRED: Well, we immediately said that if the United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics and/or the United States Senate Judiciary Committee would hold a hearing we would be very happy to turn the yearbook over to have it examined by an independent --

[07:40:03] CAMEROTA: But why do have that premise?

ALLRED: -- expert analyst.

CAMEROTA: Why does it have to be the Senate Judiciary Committee? He's not a senator.

ALLRED: Well, no, and I said or the United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics. And I wrote a letter to both committees two weeks ago asking them to hold a hearing.

You're right, he's not yet a United States senator. He may never be a United States senator.

CAMEROTA: Right, so why the third jurisdiction?

ALLRED: Having said that, I have spoken to a former United States senator and on Sunday, to a former, very key member of the Republican Congress, both of who said you're absolutely right, Gloria. If the committees wanted to have a hearing now, even before he's elected or even if he's never elected but he's a candidate, they could do so.

It's politics. They can hold a hearing if they want to talk about whether a hangnail was caused by NAFTA.

CAMEROTA: OK, fair enough.

ALLRED: They could do it. CAMEROTA: But if they don't do that, what's plan B?

ALLRED: But wait a second. Here's what I'm saying.

I said two weeks ago that if the committee would hold a hearing, not only would we hold it -- give it to them to have an independent examiner examine it but our client, Beverly, will voluntarily testify under oath. And if, as, and when she testifies she would attest to the fact that she -- that that statement that is his signature --

CAMEROTA: Yes.

ALLRED: -- was written by him.

But we also want the committee to subpoena him, Roy Moore --

CAMEROTA: Sure.

ALLRED: -- to testify under oath. Notice this.

CAMEROTA: I understand.

ALLRED: He has not at all said to any reporter -- at least no reporter has reported it -- that he would testify under oath if our client would.

CAMEROTA: OK, but this -- if no Senate committee takes this on can't you just go to a third party handwriting analyst to solve this?

ALLRED: We could, but the key person is Roy Moore.

And let me just say one other misleading statement that Roy Moore has said because in a letter to Sean Hannity he said well, our client, Beverly Nelson -- he said, appeared before me. Before me was the quote in the letter, which I'm sure you have.

CAMEROTA: During a divorce proceeding.

ALLRED: During the divorce --

CAMEROTA: Yes.

ALLRED: -- proceeding.

Since he said that, her Alabama divorce attorney from the time has said publicly and to me that she never appeared before Roy Moore because the case -- they reconciled -- the parties reconciled --

CAMEROTA: Without her going before him -- got it.

ALLRED: She never appeared in court.

CAMEROTA: So there are inconsistencies. I hear you. But --

ALLRED: You could call them inconsistencies if you wish to be kind. I'd rather not call them inconsistencies, but these were misleading statements.

CAMEROTA: Can you put some of this to rest by going to a neutral third party and looking at the handwriting in the yearbook? Wouldn't that help?

ALLRED: Well, again, if he's willing to testify under oath, yes. And, by the way --

CAMEROTA: True, but without that. In the absence of that will you turn it over?

ALLRED: If at -- let me say in the absence of that it's not just a footnote. This is extremely important.

And if he is elected, clearly, the Senate Select Committee on Ethics will hold a hearing.

CAMEROTA: Fine, but before that.

ALLRED: At that time, there will be testimony not just by my client. I expect by other accusers as well.

CAMEROTA: Understood, but this would be good information for voters to have before that --

ALLRED: It would be. It would be good --

CAMEROTA: --that that was an authentic signature in the yearbook.

ALLRED: -- and it would --

CAMEROTA: Why not just turn it over to a third party?

ALLRED: And it would be very good information for them to have to know whether Roy Moore is willing to raise his hand and testify under oath to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help him, God.

Did he, in fact, assault Beverly? Did he, in fact, assault Leigh Corfman who says that when she was 14 years old she was assaulted?

Will the voters believe women who allege that they were assaulted when they were children or under the age of majority, or will they accept the denial of one powerful man?

CAMEROTA: The election is in two weeks so you still have a chance. In these two weeks will you turn it over to somebody --

ALLRED: And so does he.

CAMEROTA: -- other than -- on your side --

ALLRED: He has the chance to take the oath.

CAMEROTA: Understood, but on your side --

ALLRED: That's my side --

CAMEROTA: -- will you turn it over?

ALLRED: -- is I want him to do what my client, Beverly, says that she is willing to do -- testify under oath.

We've heard nothing. The silence is deafening as to whether he is willing to take the oath and testify truthfully.

CAMEROTA: Gloria Allred, thank you very much for being here.

ALLRED: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: We'll see what happens there in December -- Chris.

CUOMO: All right. Holiday shoppers are spending big money, especially online. We have the record-breaking Cyber Monday figures. What do they mean for you, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:48:57] CUOMO: Lower back pain? Is that where you keep your wallet? There may be a connection.

It's time for "CNN Money Now." Cyber Monday shattering online sales record.

Chief business correspondent Christine Romans in our "Money Center" with more. You talked it up and boy, did my family respond.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it came true, you know. All the hype turned out to be right.

Cyber Monday breaking records, Chris. Americans spent $6.6 billion online. That's a billion dollars more than last year.

Americans shopped on their desktops, their tablets, and especially, their phones. Smartphone purchases hit a record $1.6 billion.

Americans have shelled out $14 billion online just since Thanksgiving and Adobe predicts Americans will spend $100 billion online over the holidays, overall.

Now, this year really cements a titanic shift in American shopping behavior. The Amazon effect, if you will. Amazon's stock crossed $1,200 a share for the first time ever yesterday.

But it also signals overall strength in the economy, you guys. Consumer confidence is strong, jobs are plentiful, and the economy has grown at least three percent in the past two quarters, something President Trump celebrates and takes credit for.

[07:50:05] In a tweet, the president cheered strong new home sales and stock market gains. He pushed for tax cuts to keep it all going.

Now it's true the economy is doing well and it is happening on Trump's watch -- credit there. It is also due the wave began -- true, rather, the wave began before his election so there's always that debate about how much is inherited and how much is he propelling forward -- Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: OK, Christine. Thank you very much for that report.

So, to sports now. The NFL dropped the hammer on the two players involved in Sunday's Raiders-Broncos brawl.

Coy Wire has more in the "Bleacher Report." Hi, Coy.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Alisyn.

The NFL says that Broncos' Aqib Talib and Raiders' Michael Crabtree are both going to be suspended two games without pay as a result of this fight we showed you yesterday, pending appeal. Missing two game checks means missing out on about $1.4 million for Talib and about $781,000 for Crabtree.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich unleashed on a referee last night in his team's win in Dallas. Pop picked up two technical fouls and an ejection for arguing with a referee who gave the ball to a Mavs player after it clearly bounced out of bounds off of a Mavs player. Sure Pop should be expecting a fine as well -- Chris.

CUOMO: All right, my man. Thank you very much.

So, she pitched a fake story about Roy Moore to "The Washington Post" but a clue that she left online had reporters take a look at her real story. What was discovered? You've got to see this, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:55:15] CAMEROTA: The conservative group known for shady sting operations called Project Veritas now exposed for trying to entrap "The Washington Post." The newspaper confronted a woman who falsely claimed that Alabama Senate nominee Roy Moore impregnated her as a teenager.

CNN senior media correspondent Brian Stelter joins us live with the latest.

Wow, great reporting on the "The Washington Post" point. I mean, due diligence that they did, and what did they find?

BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT, HOST, and CNN "RELIABLE SOURCES": Yes, the "Post" has detailed this on their Website. This was an anti-media campaign by James O'Keefe that backfired. Check out exactly how it happened.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STELTER (voice-over): "The Washington Post" says this woman, identified as Jaime Phillips, approached the paper about three weeks ago, falsely claiming that Senate GOP nominee Roy Moore impregnated her as a teenager, leading to an abortion. During routine fact-checking, the "Post" uncovered several inconsistencies in her story, including this fundraising post for a woman with the same name, but says she accepted a job working for a conservative media outlet to combat the mainstream media.

In a subsequent interview, reporters pressed Phillips about that online post and explained that she was being video recorded.

STEPHANIE MCCRUMMEN, REPORTER, THE WASHINGTON POST: You saw an interest in working in the conservative media movement to combat the lies and deceit of the liberal MSM? Is that -- is that still your interest?

JAIME PHILLIPS, ATTEMPTED TO GIVE FALSE INFORMATION ABOUT ROY MOORE TO THE WASHINGTON POST: No, no, not really.

MCCRUMMEN: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Not at this point.

MCCRUMMEN: No?

STELTER: Phillips claims the job was with "The Daily Caller" but the site's executive editor later told the "Post" that "None of us has interviewed a woman by the name Jaime Phillips."

During previous conversations, the "Post" says that Phillips pressed reporters to give their opinions on the effects that her claims could have on Moore's candidacy, raising eyebrows. But she insisted that she was not working with anyone that targets journalists.

MCCRUMMEN: And are you in contact with other people? Are you in contact with the Roy Moore campaign --

PHILLIPS: No.

MCCRUMMEN: -- or Steve Bannon --

PHILLIPS: No.

MCCRUMMEN: -- or "Breitbart" --

PHILLIPS: No, not at all.

MCCRUMMEN: -- or --

STELTER: However, on Monday, reporters for the "Post" say Phillips entering the offices of Project Veritas, an organization that uses fake stories and secret recordings to try to discredit news outlets.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Does Jaime Phillips works for Project Veritas? Did you guys send her to speak to -- pose as a victim of Roy Moore to "The Washington Post?"

JAMES O'KEEFE, FOUNDER, PROJECT VERITAS: I'm 15 late to this meeting so -- UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.

O'KEEFE: -- I've got to -- I've got to run. But I will -- we will get in touch with you, OK?

STELTER: Project Veritas founder James O'Keefe refusing to answer repeated questions.

AARON DAVIS, REPORTER, THE WASHINGTON POST: Does Jaime Phillips work for Project Veritas? Did you send her to approach "The Washington Post" under a false name and with a fake story? If you're not going to answer that question, we're done.

O'KEEFE: I want to talk about one of your --

DAVIS: I'm disappointed -- all right.

O'KEEFE: -- national security reporters.

STELTER: The newspaper now stinging the supposed sting artist, deciding to publish off-the-record details, saying "This so-called off-the-record conversation was the essence of a scheme to deceive and embarrass us. We weren't fooled and we can't honor an off-the-record agreement that was solicited in maliciously bad faith."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STELTER: Making up a sexual assault allegation, trying to discredit the real women who have come forward? Alisyn, it's hard to think of anything lower than that. But clearly, in this case, an attempt to hurt "The Washington Post" and help Roy Moore backfired in a big, big way.

CAMEROTA: And to be clear, these guys are provocateurs. They're not like doing journalism. They're not following the rules of journalism. They're trying to snag people in provocative sting operations.

STELTER: And then raise money by doing so, you know. CNN and "The New York Times" have also been targets of this group earlier in the year.

It's an attempt to expose media bias, they say. But really, it's an anti-journalism effort. They're not trying to improve journalism, they're trying to tear it down. But in the case of "The Washington Post," it backfired.

CAMEROTA: Brian Stelter, thank you very much. Great to have you.

We're following a lot of news this morning so let's get right to it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: Republican senators scrambling to shore up support for their bill ahead of a crucial committee vote.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think the tax bill is doing very well.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As the bill currently stands, I'd be a no vote.

MARC SHORT, WHITE HOUSE DIRECTOR OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS, DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT TRUMP: Sausage-making is never fun but all senators are looking to try to get the yes on the Republican side.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The con job's on the middle-class.

TRUMP: We have a representative in Congress. They call her Pocahontas.

SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D), MASSACHUSETTS: President Trump couldn't even make it through a ceremony to honor these men without throwing in a racial slur.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's been a very strong friend of Native Americans since he's been in office.

VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, AUTHOR, "BEYOND THE MESSY TRUTH": This was their day and he crapped all over it being an insult comic. I feel so sorry for those guys.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo and Alisyn Camerota.

CUOMO: Oh, what a beautiful day in looking up the Hudson here in New York City. Good morning.

Welcome to your new day. It's Tuesday, November 28th, 8:00 in the east.

Just a few hours and we're going to have a very critical day beginning for the Senate's GOP tax bill.

President Trump is going to head up to Capitol Hill. He's going to rally skeptical Republicans. That's the plan. The Senate Budget Committee is going to vote today to advance that plan or it's going to be stuck.