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EARLY START
Protesters Demand Answers in Freddie Gray's Death; Crisis in Yemen: Saudi Arabia Stops Airstrikes; More than 400 Migrants Rescued. Aired 4-4:30a ET
Aired April 22, 2015 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Growing frustration and a new investigation into the death of a man mysteriously injured during his arrest. New witnesses coming forward as protesters demand to know how Freddie Gray died.
A new silence over Yemen. Saudi Arabia stops dropping bombs but the fight between the Iranian-backed rebels in the country, Saudi-backed fallen government, that fight is far from over. We have live team coverage breaking down all the developments.
Plus, how will the U.S. now be involved?
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman. It is Wednesday, April 22nd, 4:00 a.m. in the East. Christine Romans is off today.
And happening today, a new protest is planned in Baltimore at the police station where officers brought 25-year-old Freddie Gray after arresting him 10 days ago.
Somehow, Gray suffered a severe spinal cord injury. And exactly one week later, on Sunday, he died.
Yesterday, Baltimore released the names of six officers involved in arresting and transporting Gray. All six of these officers are now suspended with pay. New witness are coming forward describing that arrest, as Baltimore's mayor vows to find out what happened leading up to the fatal injury.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAROLD PERRY, WITNESSED FREDDIE GRAY ARREST: I heard the young man screaming, "Get off my neck, get off my neck, you're hurting my neck." And then two cars pulled up shortly after that. One car door slammed and then another. And they must have went to him where he started hollering and screaming a little louder and the police say, "Shut the F up."
MAYOR STEPHANIE RAWLINGS-BLAKE, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND: There can't be any assignment of blame until we know exactly what happened. But we're going to get to the bottom of it. We know that while he was in our custody when he first engaged the police department, he was alive. He was breathing. He was responsive. When medical attention came to Mr. Gray, he was unresponsive and not breathing. We're going to figure out what happened.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: The mayor says that by May 1st, results of the investigation will get to prosecutors who will decide whether to file criminal charges. Now, the Justice Department announced it is opening a parallel federal civil rights probe before the investigation is even complete.
Our national correspondent Miguel Marquez is covering the protests and has the very latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John, an incredibly emotional evening near Baltimore with up to 2,000 people turning out to see for the first time the parents of Freddie Gray who showed up here at the western district police station. This is the place Mr. Gray was eventually brought after being arrested several blocks away from here.
His parents, miss mother in particular, overwhelmed by grief. They marched from here, back over to the point where he was arrested. At that point, everybody raised their hands in protest, in a moment of silence, as the family -- literally, all you could hear was hear them wail. Some of the people in this neighborhood still focused on this.
I'm going to show what you that protest earlier looked like.
PROTESTERS: Hands up, don't shoot!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want you to lift those hands up as high as you can. I want this to be a sign to the Baltimore City Police Department that this is not an act of surrender. But we're coming as a sign of strength, as one human being, one commitment, that we will not rest until we get justice for Freddie Gray.
MARQUEZ: And at one point then, protesters then, did start walking through the streets of this area of west Baltimore. They tried to grab the mike. They were very aggressive even towards us.
But they weren't angry at the press. They were angry at the police, they were angry at the mayor. People saying, it is us against them in this neighborhood, and what they want now is the six officers who are implicated in this, arrested and charged with first degree murder. They say they will be back tomorrow night. They will be back on Thursday. They're going to go down to city hall, they say, and stay there unless they get justice -- John.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: All right. Our thanks to Miguel Marquez for that report.
New this morning, the ousted president of Yemen is promising a return after the Saudi-led coalition declared an end to a nearly month-long air campaign against Houthi rebels. This Arab coalition claims it achieved its military objectives and that Operation Decisive Storm is over.
And this just in: Houthi fighters have launched a new attack on a Yemeni military brigade.
Our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson has the latest.
[04:05:01] Good morning, Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, John.
And the Saudis have already responded with airstrikes for that. The Saudis last night, their military briefers said is this is the end of operations of airstrikes, over 2,400 airstrikes so far, but warned that the agreement that they believe, the Saudis believe that had been reached with the Houthis. That is the Houthis would put down their weapons and leave their cities. They are taken by force, including the town where this attack took place today, the Houthis attacking the only Yemeni military base that they didn't control. The Houthis were supposed to put down their weapons and leave the towns like that. That is clearly not happening.
Is this particular incident an isolated case of the rest of the Houthis going to abide by the agreement that the Saudis think that they have? At the moment, it's really -- it's very much in the balance.
One of the things that have been agreed was that one of the principal Houthi supporters, the ousted President Saleh would also leave the country and the army there that had been loyal to him, would also put down their weapons.
So, all of this at the moment, John, is very much something that could change to this day. But the understanding so far has been that these air strikes will end. And President Hadi of Yemen addressing his people this morning saying he will come back to Yemen and that they will hope to rebuild the country and heal the wounds that have occurred over the past few weeks, John.
BERMAN: Yes, whatever the situation on the air and the ground, the complicated nature of the relationships there certainly remain.
Nic Robertson, thanks so much.
As we said, the bombs may have stopped falling on Yemeni territory but a tense standoff offshore continues. U.S. and allied ships are patrolling the Gulf of Aden, prepared to intercept Iranian ships if they enter Yemen's territorial waters. The U.S. believes an Iranian convoy may be carrying weapons for the Houthi weapons. The president says the U.S. navy is there to secure the free flow of international shipping traffic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What we've said to them is, is that if their weapons delivered to factions within Yemen, they could threaten navigation, that's a problem. And we're not sending them obscure messages. We send them very direct messages about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Iran is praising the end to the Arab coalitions, air campaign, calling for humanitarian aid and backing a political process. Iran's foreign minister, Javad Zarif, tweeted, "Positive developments in Yemen should be followed by urgent humanitarian assistance. Intra-Yemeni dialogue and broad-based government. Ready to help."
The standoff in Yemen now threatens to complicate efforts to work out a nuclear deal with Iran. Those talks resume in Vienna today.
We have our senior international correspondent Frederik Pleitgen in Tehran this morning, to get a look at the Iranian perspective, Fred, and all of these myriad developments.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, certainly, and they're certainly at the headlines here, all of these developments here in Iran, as well in fact the speaker of Iran's parliament went on television earlier today and praised what he called Yemeni resistance against the Saudi airstrikes because, of course, as you know, there was a huge standoff also between the Saudis and the Iranians over, the Iranians blasted the Saudi air campaign, and also the U.S. support of it as well.
But as you say, at the same time, these sides are trying to reach that nuclear agreement, and it's really interesting to see how they're trying to separate these issues from one another. But at the core of everything, you really see this while you're on ground here, the core of everything is trust. And that's certainly something that's very much lacking in the relationship between United States and Iran.
I was actually able to speak to the commander of Iran's ground forces just a little while ago, and he told me that, of course, there was a possibility for additional cooperation between Iran and the United States, especially in the fight against ISIS, but in other matters as well. But he says the time just isn't right. Just listen in to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): At the moment, we consider the United States to be a threat to us because its policies and actions are threatening to us. We would like the U.S. to change its rhetoric and tone of voice, so that our nation could have more trust in U.S. military leadership.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: Of course, the feeling is mutual on the U.S. side as well. But it certainly seems as though the two sides do have common shared objectives especially when you talk about the fight against ISIS, and now, of course, this nuclear agreement as well.
The signals that we're getting from the government here in Tehran is that they want this nuclear agreement. Of course, they still have hard-liners here in the government, as well as the clergy were very skeptical of all this. But it seems as though when you talk to people here, you talk to government officials here, the mood is at least very positive.
One thing that happened this morning, a senior government official went on television and said for them, the main objective in these negotiations is going to be sanctions relief, John.
[04:10:05] BERMAN: Interesting to see. You say the government supports it, but the government not always driving the ship surely in and of itself there with the clergy also playing a major role.
Frederik Pleitgen, inside Tehran, thanks so much.
The full Senate could begin debate as early as today on legislation giving Congress the power to review any nuclear deal with Iran. The Foreign Relations Committee last week unanimously approved a compromise version of the bill. President Obama had promised a veto before that compromise, which gives Congress 30 days to review an agreement. They get to read the agreement. They probably can't block it.
The president plans to sign this bill, this compromise measure, if there are no significant changes by the House and the Senate.
Call it Homeland Security West. The Obama administration is finalizing plans to open a satellite DHS office in Silicon Valley. Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson says the aim is to work with tech companies on improving cyber security, while at the same time recruiting tech workers for government jobs. The secretary says cyber security must be a partnership between the government and private secretary.
Attorney General Eric Holder announcing that the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Michelle Leonhart, is retiring. She's been under a whole lot of fire after revelations that DEA agents engaged in sex parties with prostitutes paid for by Columbian drug cartels. Leonhart told Congress she did not have the authority to fire these agents. Following her testimony, the House Oversight Committee issued a bipartisan statement of no confidence. The White House declined to defend Leonhart who has led the DEA since 2007.
Eric Holder, the attorney general, is still in office, because his proposed replacement Loretta Lynch is still waiting for a confirmation. Her nomination has been held up for months via an unrelated Senate controversy over a human trafficking bill. Now, that controversy appears to have been resolved.
The Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he expects to pass the compromise bill on human trafficking today which would clear the way for a vote to confirm the attorney general nominee. It does appear she has the votes, barely. And her vote could come as soon as tomorrow.
Loretta Lynch would be the first African-American woman to lead the Justice Department.
All right. Got a picture to show you -- pucker up for bipartisanship. House Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, they shared a kiss at a White House event Tuesday.
I like this because it looks like they're both enjoying themselves. We can have more of that in Washington. I want to see with Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell. This is a celebration at the White House to celebrate a compromise measure on the doc fix, which supports Medicare payments to doctors.
President Obama thanked lawmakers for coming up with this compromise. No word if he kissed them all.
Other news for you -- a surprising photograph stuns the courtroom in the sentencing phase for the Boston marathon Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and a dramatic case for the death penalty, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:16:07] BERMAN: What will the jury see today?
Impassioned arguments in the sentencing phase for the Boston marathon bombing trial. A jury must decide if convicted killer Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will get the death penalty. The prosecution opened in dramatic fashion, portraying Tsarnaev as a cold-blooded killer and America's worst nightmare. The jury heard from survivors of the marathon attack.
Let's get more from CNN national correspondent Alexandra Field.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John, unrepentant, uncaring, unrepenting and untouched by the sorrow he's created. That's how prosecutors described Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in the opening states of the penalty phase of this trial.
They ended opening statements showing a picture of Tsarnaev giving the middle finger to a security camera in his holding at the federal courthouse several months after the bombing. Prosecutors told the jury he was determined and destined to be America's worst nightmare.
The jury has already found him guilty of the death of Krystle Campbell, Lingzi Lu, Officer Sean Collier and 8-year-old Martin Richard. The government says each of the victims have time to feel pain, time to feel scared and frightened but no time to say good-bye.
As they make their case for a death sentence, prosecutors have already called three bombing survivors to testify in this phase of the trial, along with Krystle Campbell's brother and her father. He told jurors his daughter gave him a hug every day and that's what he misses most today -- John. (END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: Alexandra Field in Boston.
Disturbing details emerging this morning about a suspected terrorist. The FBI is now saying Abdirahman Sheikh Mohamud ventured to the battlefields of Syria. The goal: to follow in his big brother's footsteps and join al Nusra, which is an al Qaeda affiliate. Officials say Mohamud returned to Ohio with the intent to use the training that he got in Syria to attack a military facility or prison and execute Americans.
Mohamud pled not guilty on Friday to charges of providing support to terrorists.
Federal officials say they are now reviewing a sudden violent confrontation between a woman and a U.S. marshal caught on video. Watch this.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)
BERMAN: To recap what you just saw, the deputy U.S. marshal snapped Beatris Paez's (ph) cell phone, smashed it and kicked it. The video was taken from an onlooker across the street. The confrontation happened on Sunday during a multiagencies surveillance operation involving a biker gang in South Gate Florida. Paez and the ACLU maintain that her constitutional rights were violated.
A Tulsa judge has given Robert Bates, the volunteer deputy who fatally shot a suspect. He says he meant to subdue with a taser. The judge has given that man to vacation in the Bahamas. Bates pleaded not guilty to second degree manslaughter on Tuesday.
At a court hearing, the judge granted Bates to go on an island vacation with his family. That decision outraged the family of the Eric Harris, the man who was killed. They say it sends a message of apathy for the life of the victim.
Fracking is now being blamed for a series of earthquakes in Oklahoma. State officials and the Oklahoma Geological Survey say it's very likely that wells are causing this round of quakes in Oklahoma. They say the most intense activity is occurring over an area that's seen a significant increase in waste water disposal over the last several years.
New details in the tragedy sat sea. What caused a boat packed with migrants to capsize? This catastrophe is bringing new light, shining new light to this human trafficking crisis. We're live with the very latest, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:23:34] BERMAN: We're learning new details about Saturday's deadly migrant ship disaster off the coast of Libya. More than 800 people are believed to have been killed in that disaster. Now, there are astronomical estimates of just how bad the migrant
crisis could get this year as more and more people try to flee devastated parts of North Africa to point. Breaking this morning, a ship bearing 400 migrants just docked in Sicily. That where is where we're live with CNN senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman and joins us.
Ben, what's the situation?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, John, this is a ship from the Italian navy which apparently has brought these people, there's 446 migrants, ten nationalities, but it appears the majority of them are Syrians. They've been picked up over the last few days. We've seen women and children on board the ship as well.
Now, we also understand that also on board are some of the crew members of those smugglers boats that were rescued here. So, just a little while ago, we saw agents from the European Police Agency go on board. So there may be arrests happening as well.
In addition to this arrival, elsewhere in Italy on the island of Lampedusa, 1,200 migrants have come aboard as well. So, here we are at 10:24 here, Italian time, and by my calculation, 558 migrants have already arrived. So that gives you an idea of the scale of this problem.
[04:25:02] You know, we've been focusing on the catastrophe that happened in the early hours of Sunday morning when as many as 150 people may have died at sea. But what we're having is daily, hundreds and hundreds of migrants arriving. The Italian authorities struggling to deal with them, to house them, to shelter them, to feed them, to provide them with subsistence once they arrive.
But it's becoming a real political hot potato and something that the Italian government cannot deal with alone. They need the assistance of the European Union and the resources as well to deal with this, John.
BERMAN: Of course, in some cases, the European involvement has made things worse, not better. But Ben Wedeman in Sicily, witnessing this situation as more and more migrants dock right before your very eyes. Thanks, Ben.
Three people are dead this morning after powerful winds, torrential rains and heaving flooding hammered eastern Australia. Stunning video shows entire home just getting washed away in the raging waters, in the town of Dungog. The owners of that home -- wow, look at that the owners of that home barely escaped.
The destruction is widespread around Sydney and throughout New South Wales. More than 200,000 are without power still. Beach conditions are perilous, look at the boats getting rocked at shore.
A carnival cruise ship was stranded at sea during one night of storm. It is now safely docked in Sydney. Luckily, all 2,500 passengers are doing OK. Anger, questions and new frustration over a death of a man
mysteriously injured his arrest. We'll tell you what new witnesses are saying, next.
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