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Stormy Daniels Files New Suit Against Cohen And Her Former Attorney; Ex-Fox News Analyst: Fox Has Become "Destructive Propaganda Machine"; Golden State Warriors Take 3-0 Lead Over Cleveland Cavaliers; Kate Spade's Husband Releases Statement After Her Death. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired June 7, 2018 - 07:30   ET

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

[07:30:00]

DAN ABRAMS, FOUNDER, MEDIAITE, LEGAL ANALYST, ABC NEWS: Yes.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: -- suspicion about that point.

ABRAMS: Yes.

CAMEROTA: OK, so here's some texts that are between Keith Davidson, her former attorney, and Michael Cohen, who is the president's attorney.

Here it is. This is about Stormy Daniels from Cohen to Davidson.

"I have her tentatively scheduled for Hannity tonight. Call me after your trial."

Davidson, Stormy Daniels' attorney, replies, "She can't do today. She is flying to L.A. tomorrow. I'm trying to get her to commit for tomorrow."

Cohen writes back, "It's really important. Why?"

An hour later, Cohen, frustrated, writes back. "This is no good. We need her by tomorrow. You just -- otherwise you just create another news cycle instead of putting an end to this one."

Then Cohen writes later, "Let's forget about tonight. They would rather have her on tomorrow so they can promote the heck out of the show."

ABRAMS: Yes.

CAMEROTA: Doesn't it sound like they're colluding there?

ABRAMS: Look, I know people are going to find this shocking -- the idea that two lawyers either working on a settlement or have settled cases end up talking together to figure out how to deal with the media aspect of it, meaning lawyers, like in any other industry, end up working together even if they're on other sides of an issue.

CAMEROTA: This is common? These texts don't strike you as uncommon?

ABRAMS: The only reason it's uncommon is because we're talking about going on T.V., right?

But she was paid $130,000. That's not nothing, meaning a settlement was reached.

And so, the idea that these two attorneys had been having conversations about how to deal with the media side of it, just to me, isn't that unusual.

Now, is there an argument to be made, for example, at the bar -- the Bar Association to say well, you know, we don't know that Davidson was representing her interests and there -- OK, file a complaint with the Bar Association.

What Michael Avenatti is trying to do here is he's trying to get discovery. He wants to get more information than he currently has. And I don't -- I'm not faulting him for trying. I'm just saying that this is a longshot lawsuit.

CAMEROTA: OK. I want to ask you about something that Rudy Giuliani, the president's attorney, said in Israel last night about Stormy Daniels and about her credibility. So listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUDY GIULIANI, ATTORNEY TO PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: So, Stormy, you want to bring a case, let me cross-examine you because the business you are in entitles you to no degree of giving your credibility any weight.

And secondly, explain to me how she could be damaged when she has no reputation. If you're going to sell your body for money you just don't have a reputation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: What about that, Dan? When -- do -- is that how judges and juries see it? If you're an adult film star do you have any credibility in court?

ABRAMS: Well look, let's separate out two questions. One is the damages question --

CAMEROTA: Yes, let's.

ABRAMS: -- that he's talking about, all right?

Look, is there a point that damages could be minimal -- sure -- in terms of reputational issues, not just because of her being a porn star but, you know, everything associated with her reputation at this point -- the value of it being harmed. OK, maybe there's a damages argument.

But it was so insulting, what he said before that about her. This notion that oh, Donald Trump's three wives are so amazing and this and that, and they've all got this credibility.

Oh, you know, Stormy -- as if Donald Trump would ever go for Stormy Daniels. She's too lowbrow for Donald Trump to ever go for.

I mean, you know, putting aside the possible falsity of that statement, the -- you know, the tone of that is so offensive.

CAMEROTA: Yes, his tone is offensive but in terms of his legal argument does he -- do people hold that thought in --

ABRAMS: Yes, of course.

CAMEROTA: -- juries and judges that she won't have any credibility because of her work?

ABRAMS: Well, credibility and damages are two separate questions.

CAMEROTA: Yes, the credibility one.

ABRAMS: On the credibility issue, no, it's not necessarily true that because she's a porn star she can't be credible. Of course, you can be a porn star and be credible.

The question becomes the damages questions, which he's trying to conflate it, right? He's trying to make it all well, there's no credibility, there's no damages.

Those are two very different questions and I think have to be viewed separately.

CAMEROTA: Let's talk about your book, "Lincoln's Last Trial." Tell us about this and the significance.

ABRAMS: This is the only transcript that exists of any trial Abraham Lincoln ever argued. It's 100 pages. It's a murder case. It's an incredibly compelling case.

The transcript was only found in 1989.

CAMEROTA: And why was that? Why did it take that long to find it?

ABRAMS: It was in the garage of the great-grandson of the defendant. Transcripts weren't taken back then. I mean, it was only because the family had enough money to pay for a transcript.

So we get to see Lincoln's own words in a really close case. We get to see Lincoln, the lawyer, which is something you just don't get to see that often, and I think that's what makes the book different.

Remember, this is the same guy who transcribed the trial, who transcribed the Lincoln-Douglas debates for Lincoln. So this was like Lincoln's guy, the transcriber, and he's sitting there in court every day making sure he gets down every word that Lincoln said on behalf of this client.

[07:35:01] CAMEROTA: And this is the client -- the client is Peachy Quinn Harrison?

ABRAMS: Yes, it is.

CAMEROTA: And what will we learn about Lincoln in this that we didn't know?

ABRAMS: Well, I think you'll see how methodical -- smart he was as an attorney.

And you'll see something that people don't see very often and think about with Lincoln which is at one point in the book he gets so angry and so furious at a judge's ruling. The descriptions -- and we have real descriptions from people who were there at the time. It's as if he's almost going to jump over the bench.

And eventually -- I will give away this part of it -- he was able to change the judge's mind.

CAMEROTA: That's --

ABRAMS: Yes. But it's a really compelling story and just the case -- it's a self-defense case where Lincoln's representing the defendant.

So it was a really exciting transcript to go through and a really fun book to write.

CAMEROTA: Well, good for you. It is now available everywhere -- "Lincoln's Last Trial."

Dan, great to see you.

ABRAMS: Thank you for having me.

CAMEROTA: Thanks for being here -- John.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Spoiler alert. He just gave away the ending of the book.

ABRAMS: Not the very ending.

BERMAN: All right. Thank you very much, Alisyn. Nice to see you, Dan.

All right. So he spent years as a "FOX NEWS" analyst. He unloads on the network and one of its host. A strong message from Col. Ralph Peters, that's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:40:15] CAMEROTA: So, Las Vegas police have released new video and 911 calls of the largest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

Of course, we want to warn you these images and sounds are very disturbing. They show people running from the stage at the Route 91 festival as that gunman opened fire from his hotel room at the Mandalay Bay. Dozens of concertgoers called 911 moments after.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (Screaming): Gunshots.

911 OPERATOR: Hello, metro police.

(Screaming, gunshots)

911 OPERATOR: Do you see the person that got shot?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's many people on the floor that got shot.

911 OPERATOR: OK.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What are you talking --

911 OPERATOR: You said it was machine guns?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Machine guns are being fired into the 91 Route festival. There's like 30,000 people here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: OK, that 911 call was among more than 500 that have now been released by authorities.

BERMAN: Incredible video as strong storms spawned this huge tornado just outside of Laramie in Wyoming. More than 45 minutes after this video and photo started popping up on social media, the National Weather Service said the twister was still on the ground.

Look at this. Listen to that.

CAMEROTA: Yes, that's scary.

BERMAN: Yes. You know what you do when you hear that?

CAMEROTA: Run.

BERMAN: Exactly.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

BERMAN: So far, there are no reports of injuries.

CAMEROTA: OK, listen to this. In his first interview since leaving "FOX NEWS," longtime military analyst Lt. Col. Ralph Peters slammed the network, saying that he feels "FOX" has lost its way.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. COL. RALPH PETERS (RET.), FORMER STRATEGIC ANALYST, "FOX NEWS": For years, I was glad to be associated with Fox. It was a legitimate conservative and libertarian outlet, and a necessary one. But with the rise of Donald Trump, Fox did become a destructive propaganda machine and I don't do propaganda for anyone.

And frankly, you know, as a former military officer I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. And I saw, in my view, Fox -- particularly, the prime time hosts -- attacking our constitutional order, the rule of law, the Justice Department, the FBI, Robert Mueller. And, oh, by the way, the intelligence agencies.

And they're doing it for ratings and profit and they're doing it knowingly, in my view -- doing a great, grave disservice to our country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: Well, in that interview, Peters also added that he feels the Mueller investigation is the most important of his lifetime.

So, I have a lot of --

BERMAN: So?

CAMEROTA: I have a lot of thoughts about this.

BERMAN: Any you're willing to share?

CAMEROTA: Well, I even wrote a book about these themes, called "Amanda Wakes Up."

BERMAN: Almost available in paperback.

CAMEROTA: As of Tuesday.

BERMAN: Now available in paperback.

CAMEROTA: Because like Ralph Peters, I, too, was upset about the blurring of lines between propaganda and journalism.

So, Ralph now -- Col. Peters feels that he can speak freely now that he's there. I think some people would say what took you so long?

BERMAN: Yes.

CAMEROTA: There's been a blurring of lines, obviously. I don't know that viewers know the difference between the prime time hosts that he takes exception with and the great reporters. There are a lot of ethical issues that he brings up and we hope to be able to talk to him about that.

BERMAN: You know, the word he used there that is the most damning is "knowingly." That things are being done knowingly and deliberately to spread information that, in some cases, the truth is questionable shall we say.

CAMEROTA: Yes, and not everyone there is following the rules of journalism and so if you're not, then you don't -- you're not -- you don't have to adhere to the truth and to facts.

But again, I'm not sure that viewers know when the truth button is on and when the truth button is not on.

BERMAN: All right.

The Golden State Warriors now one win away from their third title in four years.

Andy Scholes has more in the "Bleacher Report." Hey, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hi. Good morning, John.

You know, 131 times in NBA history a team has fallen behind 0-3 in a playoff series. Every single one of those times that team has lost.

So this series, it's over. The Warriors are going to be champions again. It's only a matter of time.

This "Bleacher Report" brought to you by Ford -- going further so you can.

Now, game three last night -- I mean, it was another good one.

In the first quarter, LeBron looking superhuman again. He throws the alley-oop to himself off the backboard. He was great again, finishing with 33 points.

But, Kevin Durant was even better. Under a minute to go, K.D. from way downtown. He led Golden State with 43 points.

They would win game three 110-102.

And afterwards, LeBron saying that Durant is one of the best the game has ever seen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEBRON JAMES, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: He's one of the best players that I've ever played against -- that this league has ever seen -- his ability to handle the ball, shoot the ball, make plays at his length, at his size, at his speed. So there it is.

[07:45:00] The margin of error is very low. I mean, you can't -- you know, it's almost like, you know, playing the Patriots. You just can't have mistakes. They're not going to beat themselves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: The Warriors are going to go for the sweep and their third title in four years Friday night in game four.

And, Alisyn, I'm sure Berman, right there, is smiling hearing LeBron compare the Warriors to his New England Patriots.

CAMEROTA: Yes. BERMAN: He told me. He told me he was going to do that, actually.

CAMEROTA: Did you feed him that line?

BERMAN: LeBron texted me and I said OK, go for it.

CAMEROTA: I --

BERMAN: That's cool.

CAMEROTA: Yes, I understand. He has you on speed dial. I get it.

Andy, thank you very much --

SCHOLES: All right.

CAMEROTA: -- for all of that.

Now to this shocking story. Kate Spade's husband has broken his silence after the fashion icon's shocking death. His message, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAMEROTA: OK, now to the shocking story of Kate Spade. The husband of the fashion designer, Kate Spade, is breaking his silence after his wife's sudden and shocking death.

So we want to read Andy Spade's statement in full. It's long but we think it's important, so here it is.

[07:50:02] "Kate was the most beautiful woman in the world. She was the kindest person I've ever known and my best friend for 35 years.

My daughter and I are devastated by her loss, and can't even begin to fathom life without her. We are deeply heartbroken and miss her already.

Kate suffered from depression and anxiety for many years. She was actively seeking help and working closely with her doctors to treat her disease, one that takes far too many lives.

We were in touch with her the night before and she sounded happy. There was no indication and no warning that she would do this. It was a complete shock and it clearly wasn't her. There were personal demons she was battling.

For the past 10 months we had been living separately but within a few blocks of each other. Bea (their daughter) was living with both of us and we saw each other or spoke every day. We ate many meals together as a family and continued to vacation together as a family. Our daughter was our priority.

We were not legally separated and never even discussed divorce. We were best friends trying to work through our problems in the best way we knew how. We were together for 35 years. We loved each other very much and simply needed a break. This is the truth. Anything else that is out there right now is false.

She was actively seeking help for depression and anxiety over the last five years, seeing a doctor on a regular basis and taking medication for both depression and anxiety. There was no substance or alcohol abuse.

There were no business problems. We loved creating our businesses together.

We were co-parenting our beautiful daughter.

I have yet to see any note left behind and am appalled that a private message to my daughter has been so heartlessly shared with the media.

My main concern is Bea and protecting her privacy as she deals with the unimaginable grief of losing her mother. Kate loved Bea so very much."

All right, joining us now is Dr. Jodi Gold. She's a psychiatrist and the director of The Gold Center for Mind Health and Wellness.

Dr. Gold, what a tragedy. How sad to hear that note. I mean, so shocking, primarily for me, to hear that there were no warning signs and it was sudden and they had talked to her the night before and heard that she was happy.

That sends a shiver down my spine because obviously, we all know people who are struggling at some point.

DR. JODI GOLD, PSYCHIATRIST, DIRECTOR, GOLD CENTER FOR MIND HEALTH AND WELLNESS: Yes.

CAMEROTA: How can there be no warning signs?

GOLD: Well, I suspect that there were warning signs. There may not have been warning signs the night before. We do know that she was struggling with anxiety and depression.

And I'm really glad that the husband came out with this statement. It's so heartfelt. It actually really does help to clarify things and help us to understand that she was struggling with anxiety and depression for a long time.

CAMEROTA: Also because there are rumors, of course, circulating. Anytime something like this happens when it's so sudden, there are rumors and there --

We do have reporting that there was a note left behind that referenced her daughter and her husband but we haven't revealed the contents of that note because again, we need the context of what she was going through and what her husband knows about this.

So I appreciate that he was saying that her daughter obviously needs privacy during this time. But what did -- when you heard about this and now that you know this information, what do you think was going on with Kate Spade?

GOLD: Well, she was clearly suffering from anxiety and depression and it's always a shock when someone kills them self.

What I'm so struck is that we talk about tragedy all the time here and you talk about it all the time. But this has really sparked a worldwide discussion about depression and suicide and I've been trying to understand why so much. And I think it's partly because she doesn't fit the bill of who we think actually usually kills themselves.

I mean, she was glamorous and successful, and on social media, and beautiful. And yet, she still suffered with anxiety and depression. So I think that's part of why there's so much of a discussion about it is that we don't feel like she fits the bill.

And the truth is is that depression affects almost seven percent of our population. Everybody out there has either suffered from depression or knows someone that has, so it's quite real and it affects everybody.

CAMEROTA: Oh, for sure. I mean, we have some stats on mental illness.

GOLD: Yes.

CAMEROTA: Women suffer from mental illness, 21 percent; men, 14 percent. So it's more due --

GOLD: Yes.

CAMEROTA: -- more female-related to have some of these struggles.

GOLD: Yes, it's more common -- depression is more common in women than in men but it's quite prevalent. The risk factors for suicide are often more common in men than in women. But it's a huge problem and suicide's real and talking about can raise risk factors.

CAMEROTA: More women have received mental health treatment than men. Forty-eight percent of women, 33 percent of men.

And I think that that's another one of the problems here, which is it sounds like she and the family were doing everything right. She was in treatment, she was being medicated, she was talking to someone on a regular basis.

And then, the idea that in a split second or for however long she was contemplating it, this happens.

I mean, what is the answer if those things don't work?

GOLD: Well, the answer -- I mean, it's a really serious mental illness and I think what I would want her daughter to understand is that she suffered from a serious mental illness. She clearly got treatment. She clearly tried to fight it and she lost the battle.

[07:55:02] And for people out there suffering from depression they don't have to lose the battle. There is help out there. And as friends and family, we do have to look for risk factors and signs.

It sounds like her husband is struggling with the fact that they didn't see the signs.

CAMEROTA: And what are those?

GOLD: The signs would be changes in behavior, withdrawing.

Social media is a big one. If you notice that a friend or family member is talking about suicide, talking about death, or even just looks strange and is doing something different on social media, you should reach out to them.

CAMEROTA: I mean, I think the other message for people who are struggling with depression -- and again, so many people are -- is that it can pass. You know, when you're in it you think that that cloud will be over you forever. But then, you can turn a corner and it does pass, and that cloud does lift. But it's hard to wait for that sometimes.

GOLD: It's such an insidious illness because one of the symptoms of depression is hopelessness. So when you're talking to someone who's depressed they will tell you there's no hope -- they might as well kill themselves. But the truth is it passes.

That's why you have to call hotlines. That's why you have to reach out to friends.

And what I would really tell people out there is if you have a friend or family member that you're worried about, don't be afraid to ask them. Don't be afraid to ask if they're depressed and don't even be afraid to say hey, are you thinking about killing yourself?

CAMEROTA: Should you do that?

GOLD: Yes. People don't do it enough.

CAMEROTA: And if someone says yes, I actually have considered that then what do you do?

GOLD: Then it's time probably to step it up. It's time to be there for them and to help them get more support. But if you don't ask, you don't know, and people are really afraid to ask.

CAMEROTA: But can you alert their therapist. I mean, can you -- if somebody is contemplating suicide and you know that, then can you have them committed, for lack of a better word, because they're a danger to themselves? Can you do something really aggressive for that person?

GOLD: Well, I don't know if the goal is to initially get them committed. But what you can do and you're allowed to do -- that is to let people know. You can let a therapist know, you can let a doctor know.

The way confidentiality works is that the therapist or the doctor may not be able to speak to you, but you can call anybody's therapist or doctor. Pick up the phone and say I just want to give you information or I'm really concerned about my friend or my husband or my wife. You can always let people know.

There are suicide prevention hotlines. There's even crisis mobile units that will come to your home if you're worried.

CAMEROTA: That is really good advice. People need to not just sort of try to respect the person's privacy, which I think we're all inclined to do, but to be aggressive and to get involved.

GOLD: Yes, don't respect their privacy. This is a moment where privacy isn't so important. This is the moment where you need to reach out and they need to know there's people caring about them -- at least you know there's another side -- and get them the help they need.

CAMEROTA: We want to put up the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for everyone. It is 1-800-273-8255. It is available 24 hours a day. You can call anonymously -- 800-273-8255.

If you are having any sort of dark thoughts or you just want to talk to somebody you can call and talk to these folks and that might buy you more time.

GOLD: Yes, I hope people will call.

CAMEROTA: Me, too.

Dr. Jodi Gold, thank you very much for giving us your expertise on all of this.

GOLD: Thank you for having me.

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

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUSTIN TRUDEAU, PRIME MINISTER, CANADA: These tariffs are totally unacceptable.

LARRY KUDLOW, DIRECTOR, U.S. NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL: There may be disagreements, much like a family quarrel.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The G7 is now the G6 versus one because the other six are allied against the United States.

REP. TREY GOWDY (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: The FBI did exactly what my fellow citizens would want them to do and that has nothing to do with Donald Trump.

REP. PAUL RYAN (R-WI), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: I have seen no evidence to the contrary.

SARAH SANDERS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president feels strongly about this and I think he's got some real reasons to be concerned.

ALICE MARIE JOHNSON, PARDONED BY PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I want to thank President Donald John Trump.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This president is prone to people giving him an emotional appeal.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He has been stymied by the limits on executive power. This is something where he can just say boom and it happens.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Alisyn Camerota and John Berman.

CAMEROTA: We're busy.

BERMAN: Oh, good. You promised me you were going to turn around and come do the show. Thankfully, you did.

CAMEROTA: It's a busy hour.

BERMAN: You held true to your promise.

Good morning, welcome to your NEW DAY. It is Thursday, June seventh, 8:00 in the east.

President Trump reportedly grumbling about meeting with America's major allies because he won't be sufficiently feted or get enough special treatment. And that's just some of the suggestions in this brand new report from "The Washington Post" that the president is all kinds of grumpy about attending the G7 summit in Canada tomorrow.

Among other things, he reportedly thinks it's a distraction from next week's historic meeting with Kim Jong Un.

CNN has also learned exclusively that the president had a heated phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over trade where he blamed Canada for burning down the White House in the War of 1812. But again, just one of the problems with that comment is that Canada didn't.

CAMEROTA: OK, that's just the tip of the news iceberg -- there's more, also.

This morning, President Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, claims that adult film star Stormy Daniels has no credibility in her court cases because she quote, "sells her body."

That's not all that Giuliani said. He also weighed in on how the first lady feels about those allegations from Stormy Daniels against the president.

So we have brand new reporting on Giuliani's controversial comments.

Let's begin our coverage with Josh Dawsey. He's the White House reporter for "The Washington Post". Josh, great to see you.

Share -- give us the headline of your new reporting.

JOSH DAWSEY, WHITE HOUSE REPORTER, THE WASHINGTON POST: So, our reporting is on the G7 summit in Canada.