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EARLY START

New Information on Gunman's Motives; Charleston Church Starts Healing; "Not the Time" for Politics; Explosion in Afghanistan; Report: ISIS Planting Mines at Palmyra; Greece at Make-Or-Break Moment; Apple Caves on Taylor Swift Threat. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired June 22, 2015 - 05:30   ET

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


[05:30:03] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: While that's going on, new details into the investigation into the escape itself.

Corrections Officer Gene Palmer was questioned Sunday by authorities for 14 hours, 14 hours. An attorney tells CNN that Palmer did receive a painting from inmate, Richard Matt, but had no knowledge of the escape plan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDREW BROCKWAY, ATTORNEY FOR CORRECTIONS OFFICER GENE PALMER: I can, 100%, confirm that he did not know that they were planning to break out of the prison. These two people are psycho paths. They are master manipulators. They're obviously in prison for life, so they have nothing, but time to develop schemes to take advantage of innocent people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Authorities say it is their job, of course, to make sure that they don't take advantage of correction officers. The correction officer's attorney tells CNN his client was out of town when Richard Matt and David Sweat broke out of Clinton Correction earlier this month.

BERMAN: Overnight, thousands of people joined hands in Charleston, South Carolina, demonstrating unity against the hate that drove a white 21-year-old to murder nine people at an African-American church last week.

Look at these lines. What a display. Police estimate 10,000 to 15,000 people formed a unity chain across the 2.5-mile long bridge between Charleston and Mt. Pleasant. We're learning more this morning about the gunman's hate-filled past.

Officials are digging into the 2000-word racist manifesto that appears on a web site registered to Dylann Roof. CNN's Alina Machado is in Charleston with the latest.

ALINA MACHADO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, even though that manifesto surfaced online over the weekend, the focus here in Charleston remains those nine lives who were lost in this terrible, terrible tragedy.

The manifesto is about 2,000 words long and it has very inflammatory language, not just about blacks, but also about other minorities. The manifesto was published on a web site that was registered to Dylann Roof.

And in this, the manifesto talks about a possible turning point, citing the Trayvon Martin case as a catalyst for change with Roof and perhaps what fueled what happened.

And also talks about why Charleston was chosen as a target. I want to read part of it to you. The manifesto ends with, "I have no choice. I am not in the position to alone go into the ghetto and fight. I chose Charleston because it is the most historic city in my state and at one time had the highest ratio of blacks to whites in the country.

We have no skin heads, no real KKK, no one doing anything but talking on the internet. Well, someone has to have the bravery to take it to the real world and I guess that has to be me."

CNN has not been able to independently confirm that, in fact, Dylann Roof was the author of that manifesto, but it was, again, published on a web site that was registered to him. We do know the FBI is carefully looking at that document -- John and Christine.

ROMANS: All right, Alina, thank you for that.

Now the focus in Charleston this morning is on the nine people slain in that rampage, on their families, their friends and on this wounded community. On Sunday, the scene of the tragedy became, once again, a place of worship where a congregation could grieve and try to heal. Our national correspondent, Martin Savidge was there.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, the church was filled to capacity and beyond. There are many people who felt that they had to be there. The couple I was sitting next to said they were simply walking by and were compelled to walk into the church.

On the other side of them was a woman whose family has been attending this church for over 100 years, a very mixed kind of congregation. Initially, people were nervous and security was tight. Uniformed police officers were patrolling in the outer aisles.

I think there were some nerves, but then that grand organ played, the choir began to sing and it just felt right. Much of this service was very normal, normal in the sense that similar kind of hymns you would always have and the kind of prayers you would always have.

And it was meant to deliver back that sense of community and church after so much tragedy. But you couldn't help notice, and certainly for the congregation, there were nine faces that were not there, including their own reverend.

So at times you saw this congregation up in its feet dancing in the pews celebrating life and at other times, you could see the people had absolutely collapsed under the weight of grief.

When that happens, other members of the congregation would come over and just sit next to them, put an arm around them, or in some cases love them and hold them close.

It was very, very powerful. But I think also, too, people were wondering if they were going to talk about other issues that have been raised by this tragedy. In the sermon, the reverend said this was not the time.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REVEREND NORVEL GOFF SR., LED EMANUEL AME CHURCH SERVICE: There is a time and place for everything and now it's a time for us to focus on the nine families.

[05:35:09] I know I'm right because at this time, we need to be in solidarity and praying for families and our communities around this state and particularly in Charleston.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: After the service was over, I asked a woman if it had helped her and she said it did. But as a longtime member of the congregation, she said the pain runs so very, very deep -- John and Christine.

BERMAN: Thank you, Martin, for that.

In the wake of these killings, there are growing calls to remove the confederate flag, which is flying on the grounds of South Carolina's state capitol. Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley explained the controversy to Jake Tapper.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSEPH P. RILEY JR., MAYOR OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA: It sends, at best, mixed messages and at worst for people -- hateful people like Roof, it's an affirmation because they have appropriated something and used it as a symbol of hatred. So I think that needs to go into a museum, and I think it will.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Republican Mitt Romney joined the call, tweeting that the confederate flag should be taken down saying, quote, "To many, it is a symbol of racial hatred. Remove it now to honor Charleston victims." President Obama tweeted in response, "Good Point, Mitt."

ROMANS: Fire crews rushed to plane at New Jersey's Newark Airport overnight after the engine began throwing off sparks. Authorities say the Express Jet flight for United Airlines was preparing to take off for Savannah, Georgia.

The pilot noticed the sparks coming out of one the engines. The aircraft was immediately towed back to the terminal. Express Jet says the 41 passengers on board were put on a replacement plane. No one was injured. Not clear yet what prompted the engine trouble.

BERMAN: Big day possible at the Supreme Court. We'll get decisions coming down in some high profile cases, not exactly clear which cases they will rule on. One of the most anticipated that could come today, federal subsidies provided through Obamacare.

The question before the judges is which states are eligible for the federal tax credits that help offset the insurance costs for many low and middle income Americans. Is it every state or is it just the states with their own exchanges? This has to do with language, specifically --

ROMANS: Four little words.

BERMAN: Four big words in the law. The other major ruling anticipated on gay marriage, whether gay couples have a constitutional right to marry. As a side issue to that ruling, they're deciding whether states that do not allow gay marriage have to respect and honor the licenses granted in states that do. The opinions come out at 10:00 a.m. Again, not clear whether these issues will be sided on today, but they could be.

ROMANS: And I was looking into this financial ramifications of the gay marriage issue and John was very quick to point out, it's a moral issue, Christine, not a --

BERMAN: Well, this is a moral thing. Is gay marriage a constitutional right that could be allowed everywhere? That will be decided either this week or next week and that's a big deal.

ROMANS: You're right. You could be right this time. You are right. You are right.

Let's get an EARLY START on your money. European and Asian stocks are much higher. Investors are betting on a last-minute deal in Greece's debt crisis. E.U. leaders will meet today to discuss some proposals from Greece. If no deal is reached soon, Greece will default on its debts and potentially leave the Eurozone.

Uber says no gun, no ride. The new policy prohibits passengers and drivers from having guns inside vehicles. Uber changed its rules after two recent incidents where Uber drivers fired guns.

BERMAN: We have breaking news out of Afghanistan this morning. There's an explosion outside the parliament building. This is an attempted attack on the main government center there. We'll have the details, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Breaking this morning, an explosion and gunfire outside Afghanistan's parliament building in Kabul. We want to get straight to CNN senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson for the latest. Good morning, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for this attack. What they were trying to do was get inside the parliament building apparently targeting a vote of confidence in the defense minister there.

A message, if you will, from the Taliban that nothing sort of off limits for them and their message, as well, intending to say you might be voting for a defense minister, but we're still on the streets of the capital, we're still on the attack.

What we know that took place in the last few hours, a carful of explosives tried to drive into the parliament building. There's tight security there. It didn't make it in.

But there were six attackers on foot, armed with rocket propelled grenades, AK-47s. They tried to storm through that breach in the security. They didn't get through. They took control of a nearby building, 31 civilians were injured in that attack.

None of the lawmakers injured, we're told, although the parliament was evacuated during this attack. This is not untypical of the Taliban to attack inside Kabul. We've seen them hit softer targets recently like guest houses.

They kill people, injured people there, but it does seem to be that the Afghan security forces, because they've got tight security around the perimeter of the parliament were able to hold back this Taliban attack and at this time, we're told that the six Taliban attackers have all been killed -- John.

BERMAN: The attackers have been killed, no one inside the building there. The smoke inside that chamber makes a vivid picture. All right, Nic Robertson, thanks so much.

ROMANS: All right, 44 minutes past the hour. Let's take a look at what's coming up on a new day. Alisyn Camerota joins us this Monday morning. Hi, Alisyn.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, guys. Great to see you. So of course, the manhunt for those two convicted killers, it heated up over the weekend. The search for Richard Matt and David Sweat is going into overdrive thanks to a solid lead and a possible sighting. So we are live on the scene with all the latest.

And unity and hope in response to an act of hate. The city of Charleston coming together to remember nine precious members of their community, this is as an online manifesto surfaces that appears to be a window into the mind of the murderer. So what may have motivated him to kill? We will analyze that this morning. We'll see you at the top of the hour.

ROMANS: Thank you, Alisyn.

BERMAN: New reports this morning, ISIS planting explosives in an ancient historic city. We'll have a live report next on what they might be trying to accomplish.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:48:49]

BERMAN: New this morning, reports that ISIS is planting bombs and mines around the ancient ruins of Palmyra in Syria. Reuters says a London monitoring group is reporting on this ISIS tactic on one of the Middle East most important historic sites.

ROMANS: CNN Ian Lee monitoring the situation. Good morning, Ian.

IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John and Christine. There is increased activity around Palmyra also known as "Tadmore" (ph) in Arabic. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights is reporting in the past 48 hours, there have been multiple air strikes by the Syrian regime. At least ten people killed including children.

We're also hearing reports of a build up by the military regime on the outskirts of the town in a potential bid to try to retake it. Palmyra is a very strategic part of Syria. It sits on a crossroads leading to Damascus and Holmes. We don't know why they're laying these mines.

One theory is that they're preparing for a potential attack and we've seen ISIS use this tactic in other parts of Iraq and Syria. One is a deadly attack to stop the advancing army.

The other theory is that they could be preparing to blow up the ancient sites, which unfortunately we've also seen in the area they control. But both theories don't bode well for the ancient site there.

[05:50:09] ROMANS: Intentions unclear, but what the outcome pretty clear. Thanks so much for that, Ian Lee in Cairo for us this morning.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter is in Germany this morning to attend his first NATO meeting as secretary. He'll speak today at a forum in Berlin calling for a united NATO. Carter says he will also lay what officials call America's strong.

But balanced approach outline to deterring Russia's military aggression while they say maintaining Moscow's role in helping allies fight terrorism and hammering out a nuclear deal with Iran.

BERMAN: So did you see the end of the U.S. Open? It was thrilling. Jordan Spieth, he won. You can see him right here sinking a putt. I believe this was 16, which gave him a healthy lead going into 17 and 18. But it's not how Jordan Spieth won that people are talking about. It's how Dustin Johnson blew it.

Dustin Johnson, you see him right there managed a three putt on 18. He had a 12-foot putt that would have won it. He had a four-foot putt that would have tied it. Dustin Johnson blows a chance to win the U.S. Open.

Jordan Spieth, barely old enough to drink. He's now won two majors in a row. He's from Dallas, Texas, the Dallas area. Andy Scholes said he covered him growing up and he used to sit around talking to other sports reporters saying I bet you that kid turns into something.

ROMANS: He sure did.

BERMAN: And now he is the youngest U.S. Open champion as Bobby Jones in 1923.

BERMAN: All right, a different look at President Obama thanks to a photo the First Lady tweeted out on Sunday in honor of Father's Day. The throwback snap shows President Obama playing on a beach with the couple's two daughters, Malia, now 16, and Sasha, now 14. Mrs. Obama wrote, quote, "Thinking today and every day about the fathers of these two, Happy Father's Day.

BERMAN: That's a young, young President Obama. No gray hair.

ROMANS: And the girls are so tall and young women now, you know?

BERMAN: Father's Day. You have a good Father's Day?

ROMANS: I did. I had a great Father's Day.

BERMAN: One of my boys sent me a note that said, you are funny and in my Father's Day, you really mean it? He goes, no.

BERMAN: Taylor Swift taking on Apple and the tech giant is bending over backwards to keep Taylor Swift happy. The power of one pop star's Twitter, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:56:23]

ROMANS: All right, welcome back. It's Monday morning. I'm Christine Romans. Let's get an EARLY START on your money this morning. End of the road for Greece. Investors betting on a last-minute deal to avoid a Greek default.

BERMAN: Look at that.

ROMANS: Yes, a big morning so far. Stocks around the world are higher. U.S. stock futures up almost 1 percent. You could see those gains disappear if Greek debt talks hit yet another dead end.

BERMAN: But those increases show people think something is going to happen.

ROMANS: There's some real confidence and they're really running out of time.

No bad blood between Taylor Swift and Apple. Swift threatened to pull her 1989 album from Apple Music. Apple is promoting a three-month free trial of the new service. Swift objected to its decision not to pay writers, producers or artists during that time. She said this in a blog post, "We don't ask you for free iPhones. Please don't ask us to provide you with our music for free, for no compensation." BERMAN: This is a big deal. I mean, Taylor Swift, just brow beat Apple into backing down. I mean, Apple is one of the biggest and most influential companies on earth, but Taylor Swift bigger and more influential.

ROMANS: Absolutely. In response, Apple says it will change its policy. It will pay artists even during the free trial.

BERMAN: It took like two hours for Apple to respond.

ROMANS: Apple, zero. Taylor Swift, one. All right, a huge weekend at the box office, "Jurassic World" was on -- did you see this?

BERMAN: No.

ROMANS: Are you going to see this?

BERMAN: Maybe someday at home.

ROMANS: A $102 million in the U.S. for its second weekend. The movie has been hit worldwide. It could pass the $1 billion mark today. The dinosaur sequel ended Pixar's box office winning streak. "Inside Out" came in second, $91 million.

It's the first Pixar debut to fall short of the number one spot since 1995. It was the second biggest U.S. opening behind "Toy Story 3." There are good summer movies out there and people are going to the movies.

BERMAN: There is a pent up demand for blockbuster.

ROMANS: I asked, Jessica, was it good? She said I don't know. I said did you scream? She said, yes, a lot. I think that means it did its job.

BERMAN: All right, the search for two escaped inmates in New York appears to heat up overnight. There is intense police activity reported a new area. "NEW DAY" picks that up starting right now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Richard Matt and David Sweat now on the U.S. Marshall's most wanted list.

BERMAN: Just hours ago, there was a possible new sighting.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will continue to search this area until all leads have been exhausted.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They told us, stay home and lock your doors and windows.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A manifesto captures the 21-year-old's troubling words.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The focus here in Charleston remains those nine lives who were lost.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was as if they touched on the tragedy, but did not dwell on the tragedy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That symbol lass to come down. That symbol must be removed from our state capitol.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're proud of being who we are and where we're from.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome to your NEW DAY. It is Monday, June 22nd, 6:00 in the east. We do have breaking news. A potential sighting for the two escaped convicted killers in New York. The map showing the search range, and it was like 300 miles now from the prison up to one border in Vermont, the other edging into Pennsylvania. It is all about this new tip.

CAMEROTA: So for more than two weeks, the fugitives have eluded police, but investigators may be closing in this morning. So we begin with CNN's Sara Ganim. She is at the site of the latest surge of police activity that's in Owl Head, New York. What's happening there, Sara?

SARA GANIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Alisyn.

[06:00:00] Overnight police setting up a perimeter here, moving in their search teams to an area about 32 miles due west of where the prison facility is.