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EARLY START

Trump Departing for G20 Summit; Trump Won't Rule Out Pardon for Manafort; Administration Saudi Briefing Backfires; House Dems Vote to Nominate Nancy Pelosi for Speaker; Washington Redskins Stands By Controversial Signing. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired November 29, 2018 - 05:00   ET

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


CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: High-stakes meetings with Russia and China await as President Trump departs just hours from now for the G20 summit.

[05:00:07] DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: The president floating an idea of a pardon for his jailed former campaign chairman.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: I changed my mind because I'm pissed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Angry backlash from senators who want to hear firsthand what the CIA director knows about the murdered journalist.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEADER: Are there dissenters? Yes, but I expect to have a powerful vote.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: Nancy Pelosi clears the first hurdle to become the House speaker, but the final vote is far from certain.

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Dave Briggs.

ROMANS: And I'm Christine Romans. It is Thursday, Friday eve, November 29th. It is 5:00 a.m. in the east.

We begin with the president, he will board Air Force One bound for that G20 summit in Buenos Aires later this morning. The future of global trade and security on the line. The president plans to press Chinese President Xi Jinping to open his markets to U.S. competition or face a deepening trade war.

And he is sharpening his tone against Russia over its conflict at sea with Ukraine, even threatening to cancel a meeting with Vladimir Putin. Also on the president's agenda, meetings with South Korean President Moon, Japanese Prime Minister Abe, German Chancellor Merkel, Turkish President Erdogan, Indian Prime Minister Modi and Argentina President Macri.

And on Friday in Argentina, the president is expected to sign a revamped NAFTA trade agreement with Mexico and Canada.

BRIGGS: The Russians say the meeting between Presidents Putin and Trump is set for Saturday morning on the G20 sidelines, if it happens. The Russian conflict is sure to come up. President Trump said he doesn't like the Moscow's aggression.

Meanwhile, the Russian foreign ministry suggests that the west knew about or planned the naval confrontation in the Kerch Strait and is escalating tensions between Moscow and Ukraine. A Russian court in Crimea ordering two months detention for all 24 Ukrainian sailors who are now being held pending trial.

More now from CNN's Fred Pleitgen, near the Kerch Strait in Russia.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The three Ukrainian ships remain impounded at the other end of the bridge that I'm standing at right now in the port town of Kerch. And a court in Crimea has also announced that 24 Ukrainian sailors who are on board on those ships are going to remain in detention for at least two months awaiting trial. The Russians, of course, accuse them of entering illegally into Russia's territory.

Now, Russian President Vladimir Putin, he came out on Wednesday and he said that he believed that the incident was what he called a planned provocation by the Ukrainian government and its president, Petro Poroshenko, when the Russians was in trouble ahead of an election in Ukraine. That's one of the reasons the Russians say they believe that this maneuver was pulled off. The Ukrainians very much denying that. They continue to say that it's the Russians who provoked this incident and are in breach of international law.

Now, the U.S. special representative to Ukraine, he came out and he said those ships need to be given back to the Russians immediately, and the U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis also coming out and blasting the Russians, saying they're showing that their word, quote, cannot be trusted.

The Russians, however, are not feeling as much blow back from the U.S. president. Dmitri Peskov, the spokesman for Russia's President Vladimir Putin saying he believes that despite the recent standoff, that the meeting between Presidents Trump and Putin at the G20 Summit that's upcoming, of course, that that meeting is still very much on. And Russia's President Vladimir Putin, he himself came out and he said that he believes that President Trump is positively inclined to bettering relations with the United States and Russia despite the incident that took place right near where I'm standing right now.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Taman, Russia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRIGGS: Fred, thanks.

President Trump striking a note of togetherness and unity as he and the first lady lit the national Christmas tree in Washington. The president praising Americans who helped their fellow citizens in need.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are one American family. We hurt together. We heal together. And we will always pull through together. This is the United States of America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: A presidential moment in Washington just a few hours earlier, the same president tweeting out a meme attacking the Russia probe, and look at that, imagining his enemies behind bars charged with treason. Among them, special counsel Robert Mueller and his direct supervisor, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. The president doubling down on the attack with the interview with "The New York Post" where he also dangled the pardon for his former campaign chair.

CNN's Pamela Brown has more from the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAMELA BROWN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Dave and Christine.

In a stunning interview with "The New York Post", President Trump defended, retweeting a picture of his opponents behind bars, calling for them to face trial for treason. They include special counsel Robert Mueller, as well as Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

[05:05:04] When asked about that, the fact that also Rosenstein was also seen behind bars in the picture, the president responded to the reporters in this interview saying that he should never have appointed a special counsel. Meantime, the president also talked about a potential pardon for Paul Manafort, former campaign chairman, after prosecutors claimed he lied to the FBI. The president for the first time coming out and saying that it's not off the table for a presidential pardon for Paul Manafort.

He is also ratcheting up the language against Robert Mueller, taking it a step further, now comparing the probe to McCarthy-ism. Also in the interview, the president threatened to declassify documents that he claims would be devastating to Democrats. These are documents that he talked about declassifying this past September. But he says in the interview that Emmet Flood, the White House lawyer advised him that it would not be a good idea politically, but now the president is threatening to declassify these documents if the Democrats on the Hill go after him.

Back to you, Dave and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Pamela, thank you.

President Trump has denied two specific claims special counsel Robert Mueller is looking into. CNN has learned exclusively the president told Mueller in writing that Roger Stone never told him about the WikiLeaks plan to release Democratic Party e-mails stolen by Russian hackers. He also told Mueller he was never informed about the 2016 Trump Tower meeting with his son, campaign officials and a Russian lawyer.

We've also learned the president made it clear he was answering, quote, to the best of his recollection. The Trump Tower meeting and WikiLeaks are critical to Mueller's mission if the Trump campaign colluded with the Russians.

BRIGGS: A bill that protects special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation blocked once again from reaching the Senate floor. Republican Senator Jeff Flake and Democratic Senators Chris Coons and Cory Booker tried to force a vote by unanimous consent Wednesday but it was blocked by Republican Mike Lee of Utah. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell insisting the bill is not needed, Senator Flake not buying it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), SENATE MINORITY LEADER: This is a solution in search of a problem. The president will not fire Robert Mueller, nor do I think he should, nor do I think he should not be allowed to finish. We have a lot of things to do to try to finish up this year without taking votes on things that are completely irrelevant to outcomes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: Senator Flake says he will vote against every pending judicial nominee unless Senator McConnell allows a floor vote on the bill to protect Mueller.

ROMANS: A closed door administration briefing on Capitol Hill apparently backfiring Wednesday. The White House was hoping to stop a resolution to end U.S. support for the Saudi-led war against Houthis in Yemen. Instead, it sparked a backlash.

Senators on both sides furious the White House kept CIA Director Gina Haspel from appearing. Senators wanted to question her about the murder of "Washington Post" journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the possible involvement of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, MBS.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GRAHAM: I changed my mind because I'm pissed. The way they handled the Saudi Arabia thing is unacceptable. The briefing did not help me at all. Better understand the role that MBS played in the killing of Mr. Khashoggi.

(END VIDEO CLIP) ROMANS: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary James Mattis showed up to toe the administration line on the importance of the Saudi and U.S. relationship. Pompeo also noting there's no direct evidence Prince Mohammed ordered the murder.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES MATTIS, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: We have no smoking gun that the crown prince was involved. Not the intelligence community, or anyone else. There's just no smoking gun. We have not changed that accountability for the murder is our expectation of everyone involved in the murder. Accountability is our position. It has not changed at all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Senate aides say White House nixed Haspel's appearance because her answers might not aligned with the White House response to the murder.

Secretary Pompeo had no answer when asked why she wasn't there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE POMPEO, SECRETARY OF STATE: I was asked to be here. Here I am.

REPORTER: But senators were very frustrated. Normally, in your past role as CIA director, you would be here briefing these senators on an issue this sensitive. Why isn't the CIA director herself here today?

POMPEO: I was asked to be here and I'm here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: In the end, 14 annoyed Republicans crossed the aisle. The Senate voted to advance that Yemen resolution, 63-37.

BRIGGS: I, too, was asked to be here, and I am.

Nancy Pelosi taking a giant step toward historic second turn as House speaker.

[05:10:02] House Democrats voting Wednesday overwhelmingly 203-32 to support Pelosi's nomination. A small but vocal faction of Democrats tried to derail the bid for speaker, but Pelosi is focusing on the positive.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PELOSI: I'm talking about scores of members of Congress who just gave me a vote or are giving me a vote of confidence. That is where our focus is. Are there dissenters? Yes. But I expect to have a powerful vote as we go forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BRIGGS: The make or break moment will come in January when the full house holds a final floor vote. Pelosi will need to convince at least half of the 32 Democrats who voted against her to be elected speaker.

ROMANS: All right. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell reassured investors the Fed would not risk killing off economic growth by aggressively raising rates next year.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEROME POWELL, FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN: We know that moving too fast would risk shortening the expansion. We know moving too slowly, keeping rates too low for too long could risk other distortions in the form of higher inflation or destabilizing financial imbalances.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: The key two words that sent the Dow nearly 620 points higher. Tucked in that speech, Powell said that rates are, quote, just below the so-called neutral range. That's a level Central Bankers believe will neither accelerate nor slow economic growth. Neutral.

In October, he said interest rates are still a long way from neutral. So, that's a shift. The Fed left rates unchanged this month, but it's widely expected to raise rates again at its meeting in December.

Investors interpreted Powell's comments as a sign the Fed may now only hike rates once or maybe twice at most in 2019, opposed earlier forecasts of three or four hikes.

And left unsaid was the fact the president has been bashing him repeatedly, saying that, you know, he is loco. He is crazy. The president does the trade deals and he's not getting an accommodation from the Fed.

Also in Josh Dawsey's reporting in "The Washington Post", did you see it this week?

BRIGGS: About hike.

ROMANS: That he didn't think Janet Yellen, his predecessor, couldn't be the Fed chief because she wasn't tall enough. Now he has a tall guy that he doesn't like either.

BRIGGS: Interesting history. The chart showing the shorter the Fed chief, the lower the interest rates. Check it out, I can't make this up.

ROMANS: I can't really say the correlation is --

BRIGGS: No, it's not. But we'll get into it later.

Jeff Sessions with two words to describe his sudden ouster from the Trump administration.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JEFF SESSIONS, FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL: Pink slip. That's everybody -- a lot of people have gotten pink slips I guess.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: More from the now former attorney general just ahead.

ROMANS: Plus, John Kerry 2020? The question and his answer next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:16:55] BRIGGS: Jeff Sessions taking the high road, delivering the keynote speech at the Chicago Crime Commission Awards dinner. The former attorney general reflecting on his experience as the nation's top law enforcement officer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SESSIONS: Well, a lot has happened since my visit here a few months ago -- about a month ago actually -- I got a new title. Former -- pink slip. A lot of people have gotten pink slips, I guess, but mine's a little more public than most, I got to say.

But I really enjoyed the honor. I appreciate the president giving me two years in one the greatest jobs in the world. I'm satisfied and fulfilled with what we were able to accomplish and I'm excited for those who will continue to lead the great department.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: Sessions also criticized Chicago's leaders for not adequately supporting the city's police department.

ROMANS: And you can add a familiar name this morning to the list of Democrats mulling a run in 2020. John Kerry. At the Harvard Institute of Politics event, the 2004 Democratic nominee said he is thinking about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you a candidate for 2020?

JOHN KERRY, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: I'm thinking about how the hell to get out from under that question fast. That's what I'm thinking. I really am.

You know, I said I'm not going to eliminate -- I'm not going -- I'm not taking anything off the table. Am I going to think about it? Yes, I think about it. I said that point blank because of the things I just talked about. If you care about these things, you have to think about it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Kerry says he is open to backing other potential Democratic candidates, including former V.P. Joe Biden and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

BRIGGS: It's going to be interesting. The old versus the new.

ROMANS: Yes.

BRIGGS: Ahead, though, we'll talk a little sports. The Washington Redskins under fire for signing a player who is just accused of domestic violence.

Coy Wire has more on the "Bleacher Report", next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:23:22] BRIGGS: The Washington Redskins are standing by their controversial signing of linebacker Reuben Foster just days after another domestic violence arrest.

Coy Wire has more in the "Bleacher Report" this morning.

Hey, buddy, people are wondering. How much has changed since the Ray Rice incident four years ago? And it seems like not enough.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, certainly not with this one team, right, Dave? Washington was the only organization to put in a waiver claim to have former first round pick Reuben Foster join their team and they are being highly criticized for their decision. The 49ers released him after his arrest Saturday night. Foster was charged with abusing the same woman whose allegations earlier this year led to domestic violence charges against Foster then. Those charges were eventually dropped.

Foster can't immediately play or practice with the team as he has been placed on the commissioner's exempt list while the league reviews this matter. Something head coach Jay Gruden was quick to point out when answering questions about this yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY GRUDEN, WASHINGTON HEAD COACH: Well, he has a lot of work to do before he thinks about anything as far as being with the redskins. Like I said, he's got the NFL to deal with, he's got the law enforcement to deal with, he's got us to deal with. We hold our standards very high also. We just want to get to the bottom of what happened.

But at the end of the day, we decided to make a move and we'll deal with the outcry, so to speak.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: There are seven university of Alabama football players and former teammates of Foster currently on Washington's roster. Several of whom who stood up for him at a press conference in a locker room conversations yesterday. Foster's arraignment has been pushed back to January 3rd, four days after the regular season ends. [05:25:00] Let's move on to Redskins. They played in Tampa Sunday in

front of the smallest crowd ever seen at Raymond James stadium in the last five years. Local media reported approximately 40,000 fans of the capacity 65,000 plus.

What are the Bucs going to do to fill the stands, you might ask? Well, they are offering season ticket holders two extra tickets for free to the Sunday game against the Panthers. A limited number will go out on a first come-first serve basis. Only the Bengals have fewer fans per game than the Bucs this season. Tampa has lost seven of their last nine games.

Now, you may notice watching football on Sunday, there are going to be some flashy fashion on the feet of these players. A number of players wearing special cleats for a good cause. It's called My Cause My Cleats.

Cowboys receiver Allen Hurns is one of the many players trying to curb gun violence. The Miami native is going to wear cleats honoring the Douglas high school tonight against the Saints. Drew Brees in that same game going to sport some golden cleats supporting his cancer foundation. My former teammate Matt Ryan got as blue boots supporting March of Dimes to provide care and support for Matt's wife Sarah and their twin boys who are born prematurely.

Over 800 players taking part in the project of the next three weeks, I had some designed for me by artist Nicholas Avery in support of the Atlanta Humane Society. And yes, I'm a cat guy. If you see closely there, it's Mr. Mo and Louisa, my two cats.

This is to help encourage anyone considering a pet to adopt one. Both of our cats are rescues. You can clown these or the fact that I'm a cat guy all you want.

BRIGGS: I like the cleats but you'd be the cat guy. That one threw me off a little bit.

Nice to see the NFL allowing this, but they should draw a clear line when it comes to domestic abuse.

WIRE: No doubt about it, Dave.

BRIGGS: Great cleats, though, Coy. Thank you, my friend.

Romans, over to you.

ROMANS: Are you allowed to kneel during the anthem in your cleats or just wear the cleats with social message?

BRIGGS: Fair question.

ROMANS: All right. It could be one of the biggest tests yet of President Trump's diplomacy. Risky talks on the horizon with the leaders of China and Russia, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)