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New Day Saturday
Ex-DNC Chief Confronts Comey About Hacking; Looking Into Flynn's Contacts With Russia; WSJ: Trump Open To Lifting Russia Sanctions; Newborn Kidnapped 18 Years Ago Found Alive; Representative John Lewis: Trump Is Not "Legitimate" President. Aired 6-7a ET
Aired January 14, 2017 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: Well, welcome to Saturday. We are so good to have your company as always. I'm Christi Paul.
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Victor Blackwell. Welcome to your NEW DAY.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The FBI director has no credibility.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: FBI Director James Comey facing renewed scrutiny on both sides of the aisle.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jim Comey is an honorable person who I think made a bad decision.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When the director of the FBI can't answer those questions, it does shake our confidence.
DONALD TRUMP (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT: Putin did call me a genius and he said I'm future of the Republican Party.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Trump again denied claims that Russia has compromising information on him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: U.S. Department of Justice releasing a scanty report of the Chicago Police Department.
LYNCH: There is reasonable cause to believe that the Chicago Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of the use of excessive force.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When (inaudible) was first reported missing, the search was intense.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would be the happiest woman in the world to hold my baby.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We found an 18-year-old young woman with the same date of birth but a different name.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BLACKWELL: This morning, people across the country are expected to rally in support of immigration and civil rights in Washington. Immigrants and refugee leaders will gather at (inaudible) church in support of the #heretostaymovement, an executive action that protects dreamers from deportation. Plus, civil rights groups will rally at the Martin Luther King Memorial.
PAUL: In the meantime, Democrats are on the hill, and they're angry and upset with FBI Director James Comey regarding the Russian hacking, including former Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz voicing their anger during a closed-door briefing.
That as President-elect Donald Trump is suggesting he's open to lifting sanctions on Russia. Telling "The Wall Street Journal" in an interview, quote, "If you get along and if Russia is really helping us, why would anybody have sanctions if somebody's doing some really great things?"
He went on to add, he plans to keep sanctions for, quote, "At least a period of time."
BLACKWELL: Meanwhile, Republicans are already taking steps to dismantle Obamacare. House members voting 227 to 198 to repeal it despite not having a plan ready to replace it. Only these nine Republicans crossed the aisle decide with Democrats, most of them because that replacement plan is not prepared.
CNN's justice correspondent, Pamela Brown, is going to start with the former DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz and FBI Director James Comey, their battle, back and forth. She has details for us this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): FBI Director James Comey is facing renewed scrutiny on both sides of the aisle. House Democrats left a confidential briefing with Comey on Russia hacking fuming.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's classified. We can't tell you anything. All I can tell you is the FBI director has no credibility.
BROWN: The Republican-leaning "Wall Street Journal" editorial board says, quote, "The best service Mr. Comey can render his country now is to resign." Calling him too political for a position that's supposed to be apolitical.
This while the Department of Justice inspector general investigates Comey's actions before the election. His decision of holding unprecedented press conference last July closing the investigation into Hillary Clinton's e-mails and then breaking with DOJ policy by sending a letter just before the election, alerting Congress he was renewing a probe into her private server.
Democrats mad about his decision not to sign on to an October letter from the intelligence community saying Russia was behind the election hacks and refusal to speak publicly about the ongoing investigations and to people formerly connected to the Trump campaign and Russia.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He didn't say one way or another whether there's an investigation understand way?
JAMES COMEY, FBI DIRECTOR: Correct. Especially in a public forum, we never confirm or deny pending investigation. I'm not --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The irony of your making that statement here, I cannot avoid but I'll move on.
BROWN: Other Democrats who recently had a briefing with Comey, a registered Republican appointed by President Obama are coming to his defense.
SENATOR TOM CARPER (D), DELAWARE: Jim Comey is an honorable person who I think made a bad decision.
BROWN: Comey is at the center of another political firestorm for briefing the president-elect on unsubstantiated allegations against him last week. CNN has learned Comey had a one-on-one conversation with Trump after the intel meeting to brief him on the allegations. In a November interview with "60 minutes," Trump left Comey's future hanging in the balance.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: FBI director James Comey, are you going to ask for his resignation?
TRUMP: I think that I would rather not comment on that yet. I haven't made my mind up.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BROWN: As of now Director Comey is only three and a half years into the tenure FBI director tenure, and people familiar with the matter say he has no regrets about the decisions he has made about surrounding the recent investigations and has no plans to step down.
[06:05:05]He also released a statement saying he's grateful for the inspector general investigation and hopes the results will be shared with the public. Pamela Brown, CNN, Washington.
PAUL: All right, here to discuss that more, I want to bring in CNN politics reporter, Tom LoBianco. Tom, thank you so much. Agencies obviously they must know the protocol of the FBI. How difficult is it to decipher whether Comey breached it?
TOM LOBIANCO, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: Well, you know, it's interesting, looking back into why last year, were had he talked about not pursuing charges against Clinton after their investigation, a lot of Republicans were going after him. You know, it seemed kind of interesting, the comments they put out there. Democrats blasted him for that.
It almost looked like a course correction in October when he sent that letter saying that they're not reopening an investigation per se, but that they are looking at the e-mails again. In the meeting yesterday, the briefing inside the House, you had Democrats and Republicans there.
It was supposed to be about the Russian hacking. Much of it was. But you had that very dramatic confrontation where Debbie Wasserman Schultz who lost her job as Democratic Party chairwoman because of that hack, confronted him and said why didn't you come to me about this? It was -- I mean, very stunning.
PAUL: Is it protocol for him to go to her first?
LOBIANCO: It's hard to say. You know, the FBI did go to the DNC staff. There's some back and forth over whether or not obviously they went high enough up the chain there. Clearly there's anger there. That's not going away.
You know what's interesting, too, is we almost had another powerful Democratic woman in there, Nancy Pelosi, who -- she was never going to lose her job per se. But she got in some hot water because of those election results, being challenged by Tim Ryan, an Ohio representative, after the election.
And you know, that, you can look back and tie that back to the election hack. So, I mean, the ripples from this are just unbelievable and we've got some very angry Democrats right now.
PAUL: And speaking of unbelievable, there was this kind of drop the mic moment from the hearing this week. We want to listen to an exchange here between Mr. Comey and Senator Angus King.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SENATOR ANGUS KING (I), MAINE: Mr. Comey did you answer Senator Wyden's question that there is an investigation under way as to connections between either the political campaigns and the Russians?
COMEY: I didn't say one way or another.
KING: You didn't say --
COMEY: That was my intention at least.
KING: You didn't say one way or another whether there's even an investigation under way?
COMEY: Correct, I don't -- especially in a public forum, we never confirm or deny a pending investigation.
KING: The irony of your making that statement here, I cannot avoid but I'll move on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL: So, the irony being that he's contradicting his own actions it seems. He won't comment about a pending investigation now, but he did so publicly regarding the Clinton investigation during the campaign. Did he incriminate himself with that statement? LOBIANCO: You know, hard to say one way or the other whether it's incriminating. I'll tell you that Senate Democrats, House Democrats are steaming over this. You know, Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader had her press conference yesterday. And she said that she wants the FBI intelligence community to investigate this 35-page dossier.
Whether or not there's any truths to these claims that were in there. You know, they won't say that. They wouldn't confirm that. You know, you have some Democrats coming out after this briefing yesterday saying that they thought there were indications that they might be pursuing that but nothing clear.
So if you look at that, it kind of sounds like Comey has learned his lesson, but you know, there's no way to avoid that firestorm. As King said, his jaw dropped right there. He lashed into him, talking about the irony of the whole thing.
PAUL: Yes. Of course, we have "The Wall Street Journal" calling for his resignation. We'll see how this whole thing moves forward. Tom LoBianco, thank you so much. Appreciate it.
LOBIANCO: Thanks.
BLACKWELL: Just days after acknowledging for the first time that Russia likely meddled in the election, Donald Trump tells "The Wall Street Journal" that he's open to lifting sanctions on Russia. We're following the perspectives from Washington and Moscow. That's coming up next.
PAUL: Also, a family's nightmare is finally over. Can you imagine this, 18 years after their daughter was kidnapped she's found alive. We'll have the full story for you, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:12:32]
BLACKWELL: President-elect Donald Trump telling the "Wall Street Journal," he is open to lifting sanctions against Russia if they're willing to work together toward common goals like fighting terrorism.
PAUL: Trump also told the newspaper, quote, "If you get along and if Russia is really helping us, why would anybody have sanctions if somebody is doing some really great things," unquote. His comments came as the Senate Intelligence Committee said it is reviewing Russia's meddling in the U.S. election including whether any political campaigns have links to Russia.
BLACKWELL: Meanwhile, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee says Trump's national security adviser, incoming adviser, General Michael Flynn's call with Russia's ambassador to the U.S. is suspicious. That phone call happened the same day that the White House announced sanctions against Russia.
Our chief national security correspondent, Jim Sciutto, has more for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Confirmation that President-elect Trump's national security adviser, General Michael Flynn, was in contact with the Russian ambassador to the U.S., the very same day the Obama administration announce retaliation for Russia's unprecedented cyber-attack of the 2016 election.
In late December, the Trump transition team says that Flynn and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak exchanged a series of text messages and a phone call. On Christmas Day, December 25th, Flynn texted the Russian ambassador, quote, "I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I look forward to touching base with you and working with you and I wish you all the best."
The Russian ambassador texted him back wishing him a Merry Christmas in return. Then on December 28th, the Russian ambassador texted Flynn again and said I'd like to give you a call. May I? That phone happened on December 29th, the same day the White House announced sanctions on Russia and ordered some 35 Russian diplomats to leave the country immediately.
Trump's transition team said the men did not discussed sanctions on Russia. Instead their conversation was focused on arranging a call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and President-elect Trump after the inauguration. The White House says its reaction depends.
JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: You can imagine why these kinds of interactions may take place. Why the incoming national security adviser may have the need to contact a representative of a foreign government based here in Washington, D.C. depends on what they discussed. Depends on what he said, in terms of whether or not we would have significant objections about those conversations.
[06:15:01]SCIUTTO: Flynn's ties to Russia have been scrutinized since the moment Trump tapped him to be his closest adviser on national security. Flynn was seated right next to President Putin at a Russian media gala in December of 2015 and previously had a paid speaking gig with "Russia Today," the kremlin's TV network before he took on a formal campaign role.
Trump again denied claims that Russia has compromising information on him and continue to accuse the intelligence chiefs of leaking the allegations. He tweeted "It was probably released by "intelligence," in quotes. Even knowing there is no proof and never will be."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCIUTTO: A transition official tells CNN that there is not frequent contact between Flynn and the Russian ambassador to the U.S. and this key detail, that there was no discussion of those new Obama administration sanctions on Russia in that December 29th phone call, the same day, of course, that those sanctions were being imposed. Jim Sciutto, CNN, Washington. BLACKWELL: All right, Jim, thanks. For more, I want to bring in David Fahrenthold, a reporter with "The Washington Post." David, good morning to you.
So let's start where Jim left off there. We heard from Delaware Senator Chris Coons yesterday invoking even the Logan Act saying that Americans should not be involved with foreign relations outside of the administration. He calls this call between General Flynn and the ambassador suspicious. What do you make of it?
DAVID FAHRENTHOLD, REPORTER, "WASHINGTON POST": Well, I think there's a big question here about whether the Trump transition team is sort of giving us the full version of facts and whether they give the full version of facts right away. This was first reported by my colleague, David Ignatius, on the "Post" opinion page.
That there had been this contact between Flynn and the Russian ambassador. The Trump team sort of said originally, well, it was a few texts and phone calls. Now we're seeing new reports that it was a number of phone calls, more than they said.
So, there's a question here about what they're doing and whether or not they're going to be forthright with their contact with Russia, which is a really important issue right now with Congress and media and the public.
PAUL: Just as the Senate has announced that a Select Committee on Intelligence will be investigating, at least reviewing, communications and connections between Russia and political campaigns.
Let's move on to what we heard from Donald Trump overnight in "The Wall Street Journal." That he would be open to lifting sanctions against Russia sometime in the future. How does that reconcile from the position of the campaign, the transition, I should say, with what we heard from Donald Trump on Wednesday, for the first time acknowledging that Russia likely meddled in the election. How do they reconcile those two?
FAHRENTHOLD: Haven't done very much to reconcile those things right now. Particularly they haven't spelled out what sort of concretely Trump wants from the Russians in order to get rid of those sanctions. He hasn't really named anything beyond sort of vaguely cooperating with us, with the United States, against ISIS.
If Trump is willing to drop those sanctions without really getting anything in return, especially, while he's under investigation by the Senate for his contacts with Russia. That's going to look unusual.
I think the bigger question for Trump here, is he coordinating his policy, is he sending mixed messages to the Russians and the public about what he wants with Russia.
On the one hand you have this willingness to drop sanctions without really naming any particular price. On the other hand, he sent Defense Department nominee to the Hill this week, James Mattis who said Russia was still a principal enemy of the United States and he didn't see a lot of room for cooperation. So he's sending two very different signals at once with those choices.
BLACKWELL: There were discrepancies up and down the list of issues with those nominees sent to the Hill this week. Let me ask you, we've got this Senate Intelligence Committee investigation coming and the Trump administration report that he promises within 90 days. Do we know what that White House review? That report will look like? Have they put any meat on that bone?
FAHRENTHOLD: No, as far as I know, he just described it as my people put out a report in 90 days. This is another thing that Trump has sort of continued to do, wait a few days and I'll give you a report on x or y.
I mean, think about that -- a few days ago he said, just wait and I'll tell you what nobody else knows about the Russian hacking allegations. Those days came and went, we heard nothing. So he's not made this promise, but he said nothing about sort of what his review will entail.
BLACKWELL: One more thing before we let you go, the president-elect's Inaugural Committee has raised more than $90 million for the inaugural festivities coming up next weekend. That's private donations. It's a record. You compare that to roughly $43 million for President Obama in 2013, $55 million in 2009.
That's a lot of money for what the organizers have described as essentially a toned-down weekend. I mean, they're going to have far fewer inaugural balls. The parade they're expecting will be shorter. What are they doing with that money?
FAHRENTHOLD: Well, what they said is the money that's left over will be given to charity. You recall, I spent a lot last year writing about Trump's personal promises over the years to give money to charity. He would never name the charity he was going to give it to. He would give the profits to some clarity. We'll be doing the same sort of inquiry now.
If this ends and he hasn't spent half the money or a third of the money that he raised for the inauguration, where is that money going? How's he using it and sort of who gets to decide which charities benefit from the money.
[06:20:04]BLACKWELL: All right, David Fahrenthold, always good to have you.
FAHRENTHOLD: Thank you.
BLACKWELL: Thank you -- Christi.
PAUL: We have to talk about this cold case that is finally cracked this morning. A newborn baby kidnapped 18 years ago found alive now. You're going to hear her family's reaction and what happens from this point on.
Also, nearly 4,000 U.S. troops being welcomed in Poland right now. Why Russia says they see this move as a direct threat. Stay close. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PAUL: This one just -- it is just a stunner.
BLACKWELL: It's fascinating.
PAUL: An 18-year-old mystery that's finally solved. Kamiyah Mobley was just hours old when she was kidnapped back in 1998. I want to show you a picture of the woman who is accused now of posing as a nurse and stealing that newborn from the hospital.
BLACKWELL: All right, so now, the family is learning the baby they lost so many years ago is now a teenager living under a different name in South Carolina. CNN's Polo Sandoval has more on how this case was cracked and reaction from that girl's family.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VELMA AIKEN, GRANDMOTHER: I just always thought that it would happen one day. But I didn't have no idea it was going to be this day.
POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Velma Aiken's prayers were finally answered. The disappearance of her granddaughter, Kamiyah Mobley, captured the attention of the country December of 1998. She was just a few hours old when a woman dressed as a nurse walked out of a Florida hospital with her leaving behind no trace and a heart broken young mother.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would be the happiest woman in the world right now to hold my baby --
SANDOVAL: The exhaustive search turned up some clues but no baby Kamiyah.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You all have a good day, thank you.
SANDOVAL: Eighteen years and nearly 2,500 tips later, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office received the tips they needed. Investigators were led to the tiny town of Walterboro, South Carolina.
SHERIFF MIKE WILLIAMS, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA: We found an 18-year-old young woman with the same date of birth but a different name. So further investigation revealed that fraudulent documents have been used to establish that young woman's identity.
SANDOVAL: Sheriff Mike Williams says DNA analysis confirms that the 18-year-old woman in Walterboro is Baby Kamiyah.
WILLIAMS: In the interest of reducing any further trauma to this young woman, I am not revealing her name, the name that she's live under for all these years.
SANDOVAL: Gloria Williams the woman believed to have raised Baby Kamiyah was arrested Friday and charged with kidnapping. A neighbor of the 51-year-old woman tells CNN Williams and the girl she raised seem to have a normal mother/daughter relationship. [06:25:10]Today, the young woman faces a new reality, being away from the only mother she ever now. Polo Sandoval, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PAUL: Wow. Just thinking about that girl and everything that's going through her head and how she's going to reconcile that.
BLACKWELL: She had no idea any of this was going on. You realize your mother, the one you thought was your mother, has now been arrested for stealing you.
PAUL: Like to see how this plays out and hopefully that reunification of true mother and daughter.
BLACKWELL: Overseas now, nearly 4,000 U.S. troops are being welcomed in Poland this morning. Next, we're going to tell you why the move is being viewed as a parting message from President Obama.
PAUL: Also, unjustified shootings, guns pointed at children, really a bombshell report here on the Chicago police released by the Justice Department.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PAUL: Early on a Saturday morning, so glad you're with us. I'm Christi Paul.
BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell. Good morning. Civil rights activist and top Democratic Congressman John Lewis is in the spotlight after questioning President-elect Donald Trump's legitimacy following the Russian meddling in the U.S. election.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN LEWIS (D), GEORGIA: I don't see the president- elect as a legitimate president.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You do not consider him a legitimate president. Why is that?
LEWIS: I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: Georgia Congressman does not plan to attend the inauguration next week, joining a few other Democrats who will be absent. It will be the first one he's missed since he was elected to Congress in 1986. Some Republicans were swift to respond to Congressman Lewis' comments. They are urging him to find ways to work with the president-elect.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. DARRELL ISSA (R), CALIFORNIA: You know, John's a good man and I think he will in time feel that he used his words poorly. You know, similar conversations occurred when I first came to Congress 16 years ago when some members shot off about an appointed and not elected president. Ultimately, we all have to make this presidency a success. It is now the law we live under.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[06:30:00] BLACKWELL: Meanwhile, Democrats are strategizing to vision -- to build a vision of their party moving forward. Ahead of next month's election, the DNC is hosting forums showcasing their candidates for party chair.
Let's bring in CNN Politics reporter Eugene Scott.
Eugene, good morning to you.
EUGENE SCOTT, CNN POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Victor.
BLACKWELL: So to hear this from Congressman Lewis, after all that we heard from so many during President Obama's eight years about the legitimacy of the presidency, what does this tell us about the reluctance from some Democrats moving forward? Or is this isolated to just Congressman Lewis?
SCOTT: Well, this is certainly not isolated to Congressman Lewis. He joins at least two other lawmakers who will not be attending the inauguration in protest and out of frustration for how they believe Donald Trump ascended to the election. I think we see the civil rights icon tapping into what he will consider his deeply held convictions and values. He told Chuck Todd that you cannot be at home with something that you feel is wrong.
And I think this is something that we're going to see other Democratic lawmakers harp on as well even after the inauguration.
BLACKWELL: All right. Let's bring in CNN political commentator Symone Sanders, former spokesperson for the Bernie Sanders campaign.
Symone, you heard the comments from Congressman Lewis there. Is that appropriate for a member of Congress to question the legitimacy of the elected president?
SYMONE SANDERS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: You know, I think John Lewis is more than just a member of Congress. He's a civil rights hero. He's an icon. And he's somebody that's entitled to his opinion.
Look, I want to remind folks that just during this week, during the president-elect's press conference, which I'm very glad that he had, by the way, that it was Mike Pence, Vice President-elect Mike Pence, that alluded to the fact that people -- that this could not -- that they didn't want people questioning the legitimacy of the Trump campaign. It's Trump folks themselves that are concerned about the legitimacy of Donald Trump's presidency.
So is it appropriate or not? I'm not going to sit here and make judgments on whether or not it's appropriate for John Lewis to join the resistance. I'm here for the resistance, which I'm happy he and representative -- Congressman Barbara Lee are also sitting out from the inauguration. I think they are important -- you know, those are important actions, they are important staples in what's going to be a very long four years. And I'm here for that.
BLACKWELL: Let me ask you, Symone. There's a difference between -- and you tell me if you disagree, between a resistance to policy, a resistance to perspective and approach, and to say that the president is not legitimate. I mean, do you believe -- let me phrase it this way, do you believe that this was a free and fair election?
SANDERS: I do believe that this was a free and fair election that was muddled up with Russia meddling in our democracy. So again, I believe it was a free and fair election. I believe in the cornerstone of our democracy, our free and fair elections, but I do believe that that cornerstone of our democracy was compromised with the Russians hacking into our Democratic process. And I definitely think that's something that furthermore should not be a partisan issue because today, it was the Democrats. Tomorrow it could be the Republicans. You know, next week it could be the Green Party. So this is something that I think all folks, Democrats, Republicans, independents, Green, whatever, should be concerned about.
BLACKWELL: Eugene, to you, Democrats are gathering to focus on a way forward after the devastating loss in 2016 for their party. Is this more of an autopsy or is this really a way to kind of chart their path back to rebuilding what they called that blue wall?
SCOTT: I think it will be both. There certainly will be some time spent focusing on things that did not go well within the 2016 election within the Democratic Party. But quite a bit of attention will be spent on focusing on state races and legislatures. As we know, more than 30 state legislatures and more than 30 governors are Republican- run. And I think the Democratic Party realizes that if they want to be victorious in the next presidential election, they're going to have to start locally and getting people from their team in top positions in cities and in states.
BLACKWELL: One of those variables, Symone, moving forward to rebuild the party or move forward to 2020, maybe 2018 first, is choosing the chair of the Democratic National Committee. Labor Secretary Tom Perez on the list, Minnesota Congress Keith Ellison, Democratic Party chair in South Carolina, Jamie Harrison. I mean, what are the criteria for the leader to move this party forward? What are you looking for?
SANDERS: I am adding they're also -- there's also Chairman Ray Buckley who is with the Association of State Democratic Party Chairs who's also running.
Look, in the next chair, I'm looking for someone that is concerned about millennials, concerned about people of color that has an action plan for what I like to call the new blue crew. These are folks that don't usually -- they don't identify as Democrats, but they do support policies that are traditionally policies that Democrats have advocated for and worked for. And I think that's going to be a key task of the new chair in addition to fundraising.
Look, with these hacks that have happened with the Democratic National Committee, funders are weary of giving their money. They want to know that their dollars are going to something meaningful. So I'm looking for someone that is about -- that is here for color and concern about millennials, and young people. And I think that with all of the candidates we do have folks that can meet that bar. I'm not endorsing anybody in the race. But I am fortunate to be able to host, to moderate one of these town halls that are coming up.
BLACKWELL: Yes.
SANDERS: So I'm looking forward to asking those questions of the candidates and seeing what they're seeing.
BLACKWELL: Eugene, I want you to listen to some members of the House and House Democrats after that meeting with FBI director James Comey. They were angry, outraged. disappointed. Listen to a few of -- of those congressmen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's classified and we can't tell you anything. All I can tell you is the FBI director has no credibility.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jim Comey is an honorable person who I think made a bad decision.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When the director of the FBI can't answer those questions it does shake our confidence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: Now some have called for him to resign, but this puts Democrats in a difficult position because then you give the nomination to the incoming president Donald Trump.
SCOTT: Well, I think the position that Democrats want to be in is the one that they are trying to make as clear as possible. They deeply believe that the way the FBI handled this election and the investigation specifically into Hillary Clinton's e-mails lacked integrity, lacked honesty and was deeply problematic.
This is why many of us are really looking forward to seeing what this probe into the Justice Department -- I'm sorry, this probe from the Justice Department and into the FBI's handling of the situation will be -- will make clear and reveal. There's a lot more that people want to see that will help determine how we move forward.
BLACKWELL: Yes. The inspector general saying right now that there will be an investigation into the department's handling of that investigation.
Eugene Scott, Symone Sanders, thank you both.
SANDERS: Thank you. SCOTT: Thank you.
CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: And we do want to remind you to tune in for our CNN special tonight, Fareed Zakaria is talking with President Obama about the triumphs, about the struggles during his time in the White House. "The Legacy of Barack Obama." It's tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.
And still to come on your NEW DAY, after a 13-month investigation into the Chicago Police Department, the U.S. Justice Department finds a pattern, they say, of excessive force. So what happens now?
BLACKWELL: Plus, L. L. Bean, pulled into politics. The retailer caught up in the political crosshairs after Donald Trump publicly thanked a board member for her support. There's also an ongoing boycott. We'll have details of this, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:40:36] PAUL: Well, Poland is welcoming nearly 4,000 American troops today. This is the largest American military reinforcement in Europe in decades. They've been arriving in the country over the past few days. And the Kremlin calls their deployment a threat to Western interest and security. Now for the Obama administration this is an important move to reassure NATO allies.
Let's go to Poland now and CNN correspondent Atika Shubert.
Atika, what are you hearing from that point of the world?
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Christi, Poland is very much in favor of this. They'll be having a ceremony hearing in just under two hours. The Polish prime minister will be officially welcoming those U.S. troops. And as you can see here, there's a mix of U.S. and Polish troops here actually securing the area. Right now they're doing a bit of a security screening but we can't go any closer. But what we expect to see again is that official ceremony welcoming these U.S. troops.
You're talking about 4,000 or so soldiers not just here, but based throughout Poland. Four battalions, of about 1,000 soldiers each, with more than 2,000 pieces of military hardware including tanks, armored vehicles. All of this coming from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division normally based out of Fort Carson, Colorado. They'll be here on a nine-month rotation working alongside Polish troops and then moving on to other eastern European allies such as Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary.
This is all part of an agreement that was made last year to create a bulwark against Russian aggression and that is what is key. And Russia has already reacted to this. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said Russia considers this a threat and a military buildup near its borders -- Christi.
PAUL: All right. Atika Shubert, we appreciate the update. Thank you. BLACKWELL: Want to tease out for you. A shooting and tazing suspect
who present no threat, , a shooting at vehicles without justification, using force to retaliate against people.
PAUL: Those are just a few of the findings revealed in a new Justice Department report on the Chicago Police Department. This is the result of a 13-month federal investigation. I want to take you to Ryan -- CNN's Ryan Young now who has more on exactly what was found here.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LORETTA LYNCH, ATTORNEY GENERAL: The Department of Justice has concluded that there is reasonable cause to believe that the Chicago Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of abusive or excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution.
RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The U.S. Department of Justice releasing a scathing report Friday of the Chicago Police Department.
LYNCH: The Department of Justice and the city of Chicago have agreed to begin negotiations on an independently monitored court-enforceable consent decree.
YOUNG: The first steps after a 13-month long federal investigation of a department that has been under heavy scrutiny over officer-involved shootings and practices.
LYNCH: The systems and policies that fail ordinary citizens also fail the vast majority of Chicago Police Department officers.
YOUNG: The Justice Department began its investigation into CPD amid the public uproar over the 2014 shooting of a 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, who was shot 16 times by police. Investigators said they found numerous incidents of unjustified force, including shooting at fleeing suspects who presented no immediate threat, all signs, investigators believe, point to officers that are deficient in training, including de-escalation tactics, knowing when to use deadly force, and who have a clear need for more supervision.
VANITA GUPTA, PRINCIPAL DEPUTY ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: We observed training on deadly force that used a video made decades ago with guidance inconsistent with both current law and internal policy.
YOUNG: The Chicago Police Union wasting no time raising concern over what it calls the lightning speed of the Justice Department's investigation, saying, in part, "What also remains to be seen is whether or not the report might be considered compromised or incomplete as a result of rushing to get it before the presidential inauguration."
The report comes the same week that Senator Jeff Sessions, President- elect Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general, expressed skepticism about such decrees. LYNCH: A transition is coming in Washington, but the departure of one
or two people, and, yes, the top two at the Department of Justice move on, this agreement is not dependent on one or two or three people.
YOUNG: Body cameras, new training and more oversight are all practices Chicago's mayor believes will make for a better police force.
RAHM MANUEL, (D), CHICAGO MAYOR: All those things are things officers themselves have asked for and asked of us, and we haven't done our job, both as the leadership of the police and the city, providing the officers what they need.
[06:45:10] YOUNG: Ryan Young, CNN, Chicago.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLACKWELL: All right. Still to come, L.L. Bean catching backlash with rumors of a boycott after Donald Trump publicly thanked a board member for her support. I'll tell you the retailer's next move. That's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PAUL: Well, Maine retailer L. L. Bean is being pulled into the political crossfire after President-elect Donald Trump publicized a board member's support of his presidency in a tweet.
BLACKWELL: Now the feet galvanized support for the brand for some. But it also sparked an unwarranted or unwanted, some say, boycott movement.
CNN's Jason Carroll has details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Boycott L.L. Bean? Not if the president-elect has anything to say about it. Donald Trump tweeting, "Thank you to Linda Bean of L.L. Bean for your great support and courage. People will support you even more now. Buy L.L. Bean."
That after an anti-Trump movement called Grab Your Wallet added the outdoor retailer to its list of companies it says consumers should boycott for supporting Trump.
LINDA BEAN, BOARD MEMBER, L.L. BEAN: I think it's very much a case of bullying. It's bullying me. It's bullying the companies that I own.
CARROLL: Federal Election Commission reports show Bean donated $30,000 during the 2016 campaign to a political organization backing Trump. L.L. Bean is urging the boycott organizers to reconsider, saying in a statement released over the weekend, "No individual alone speaks on behalf of the business or represents the values of the company that L.L. built." Adding that, "L.L. Bean does not endorse political candidates, take positions on political matters, or make political contributions. Simply put, we stay out of politics." Trump, not the only one coming to the company's defense. Independent
Senator Angus King of Maine, where L.L. Bean is based, says, "The boycott efforts are misguided." King tells CNN, "L.L. Bean is a nonpartisan company. I have known them and worked with them for virtually all my adult life. They take no role in politics."
[06:50:09] Linda Bean says there is a political double standard, insisting her cousin's contributions to President Obama's campaign did not produce the same response.
BEAN: Definitely a double standard. And you know, they're -- both these guys won. Obama won and Trump won. My cousin's candidate, my candidate --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But your company --
BEAN: But I'm the one that's being targeted and vilified.
CARROLL: And Bean says those calling for her to step down from the company's board should not hold their breath.
BEAN: I never back down if I feel I'm right. And I do feel that they're bullies. That's all they are.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What if your friends --
BEAN: A small kernel of hardcore bullies on the West Coast in California trying to control what we do, what we buy, what we sell in Maine.
CARROLL: Trump's support for Bean is raising some questions about the president-elect's support for her family's company. Former FEC general counsel, Larry Noble, says Trump's tweet might have gone too far.
LARRY NOBLE, GENERAL COUNSEL, CAMPAIGN LEGAL CENTER & FORMER FEC GENERAL COUNSEL: He's really willing to use the power of the presidency to get what he wants at any given moment regardless of whether or not the president should be doing that.
CARROLL: Jason Carroll, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PAUL: Monday CNN has a special report that I'm sure you're going to want to tune in for. It's called "FIRST DAUGHTER IVANKA TRUMP." We're going to take a look at Ivanka's influence on fashion, on business, now on Washington. It's Monday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern only here on CNN.
BLACKWELL: The president-elect says he's open to lifting sanctions on Russia. Next, the latest on the transition. And we'll dig into Trump's plan to separate himself from his empire. And the warning from top ethics officials.
PAUL: Also, revenge rematches. Andy Scholes has all the details on the weekend of NFL playoffs.
Hey, Andy.
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Christi. The Patriots and the Seahawks at the Falcons. Will the home favorites win? We'll see that later today.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLACKWELL: The NFL playoffs continue today. Tom Brady and the Patriots hitting the field in what most think should be a walk in the park against the Texans.
[06:55:01] PAUL: Andy Scholes has more on this morning's "Bleacher Report" report. Except maybe the Texans fans.
SCHOLES: Well, you know --
PAUL: Because they're hoping, for heaven's sake.
SCHOLES: I'm a big Texans fan and we just never play well against Tom Brady and the Patriots.
PAUL: Why?
SCHOLES: We don't show up. We don't show up against the Patriots in five big time games. But hey, maybe it'll be different today. But the reason that the Texans are two touchdown underdogs in this one is because they don't show up in these games. And you rarely see a points spread two touchdowns in the second round of the playoffs because that's how much the Patriots are favored today.
Now these two teams actually did meet in the third week of the regular season, the Patriots won that game 27-0. And hey, Tom Brady was still under his deflate-gate suspension at the time. Now this is a student versus teacher matchup. Texans head coach Bill O'Brien, he once worked for Bill Belichick on the Patriots staff. Hopefully the Texans at least make a game of it later tonight.
Now the other playoff matchup today is also a rematch of the regular season between the Falcons and the Seahawks. Seattle won a close one over at Atlanta at home in that one. Today's game in Atlanta, the Seahawks, they're trying to get back to the Super Bowl for the third time in four years. They're going to kick things off later today at 4:45 Eastern. And then the Patriots and the Texans over at the field in the night. It's going to be a cold one in Foxboro tonight for that one. Kickoff temperature expected to be around 18 degrees.
This next story may surprise a lot of people, especially football fans. The great Bo Jackson says he wishes he would have never played football. Jackson who won the Heisman Trophy for Auburn he's the only player to ever make to the NFL pro bowl and Major League Baseball all star games. Jackson retired from the NFL in 1991 after suffering a serious hip injury.
Jackson telling "USA Today," quote, "If I knew back then what I know now, I would never have played football. Never." And he went on to say, "I wish I had known about all of those head injuries but no one knew that." I guess talking about that then. Jackson now adding to the list of former NFL greats that say they wish they would never have played the game.
PAUL: Wow.
SCHOLES: Again on the other side of the coin, though, guys, former players and current players who say they know the risk and they still would have and currently still will play football.
BLACKWELL: Yes.
PAUL: But it's a real indication of how they're suffering.
BLACKWELL: Yes. And there's a long list who say they will never let their children play.
SCHOLES: Absolutely. And that's where the -- you know, the discussion is now. You know, what's the future of the NFL and football in general.
PAUL: Right.
SCHOLES: With everyone knowing the head injuries that are out there. Will they let their kids play? And will the sport diminish because of the lack of people playing football?
BLACKWELL: Yes. All right. Andy Scholes, thanks so much.
More than 30 million people waking up to a threat of severe winter weather.
PAUL: Deadly ice -- there's this deadly ice storm that's sweeping across the heartland. We've got warnings, we've got advisories in places from Texas to Maryland. And look who is in to talk to us about it, meteorologist Jacqui Jeras live in the severe weather center. Good to see you, Jacqui. So where are you honed in right now?
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, we're really focusing in on the nation's midsection where some of the worst of the weather has been talking place in the overnight hours. Thousands of people are waking up without power now. Numerous accidents being reported especially in the southern parts of Missouri.
(WEATHER REPORT)
JERAS: Christi and Victor, back to you.
BLACKWELL: All right. Jacqui, thank you so much. Everybody, stay off the road. Please.
PAUL: No doubt about it. And boy, a lot of political news happening overnight in that arena.
BLACKWELL: We have a lot for you. The next hour of your NEW DAY starts right now.
