[Dave Briggs, Cnn Anchor:] Breaking overnight, the strongest sign yet the same system failed in two deadly Boeing crashes. We're live in Ethiopia.
[Donald Trump, President Of The United States:] The Democrats have to now decide whether they will continue defrauding the public with ridiculous
[Jessica Dean, Cnn Anchor:] President Trump in full attack mode in his first rally since he was cleared of collusion.
[Trump:] I have overridden my people, we're funding the Special Olympics.
[Briggs:] The president will keep funding for the Special Olympics after his education secretary spent two days backing up the proposed cuts.
[Dean:] And no shortage of madness. One seed barely hangs on and two seeds are headed home. Good morning and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Jessica Dean, in for Christine Romans.
[Briggs:] Happy Friday, my friend.
[Dean:] Happy Friday.
[Briggs:] Good morning, everybody. I'm Dave Briggs. It is March 29th. It's 5:00 a.m. in the East. We start with breaking news this morning in the Boeing investigation. According to "The Wall Street Journal", preliminary findings show a stall prevention feature automatically activated before the 737 MAX jet crashed this month in Ethiopia. That is believed to be the same sensor that brought down a Lion Air flight last October. Let's go live to Ethiopia and bring in CNN's Robyn Kriel. Robyn, good morning.
[Robyn Kriel, Cnn Correspondent:] Well, good morning, Dave. As you said, this preliminary report coming out of from what we understand a high level FAA briefing. Double-edged sword really for Boeing. At least it is the same system that failed in both cases, so it is the MCAS system failing. But they will have to answer many questions about why they didn't take care of this after the first Lion Air crash that killed hundreds of people. But at the same time, at least, it is not another problem with the plane. So a double-edged sword there for Boeing. Eight Americans were killed on this flight, 157 people killed in total from 35 different countries. Good news though for Ethiopian Airlines if this does intends turn out to be true because it will vindicate the pilots if it does turn out to be the MCAS system failure because it will likely not be blamed then on pilot error. But as you say, the preliminary report. It could take up to a year we understand for the final report to be released.
[Briggs:] All right. Robyn Kriel live for us in Ethiopia, just about noon there. Thank you.
[Dean:] Some Democrats are refusing to move on from collusion and so too is the president. Here he is from his first rally since he was effectively cleared of collusion.
[Trump:] After three years of lies and smears and slander, the Russia hoax is finally dead. The collusion delusion is over. The Democrats have to now decide whether they will continue defrauding the public with ridiculous bullshit. Partisan investigations or whether they will apologize to the American people.
[Dean:] House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff maintains there was collusion even if the special counsel could not prove it beyond a reasonable doubt. He is facing full-throated attacks from Republicans on his committee.
[Rep. Mike Conaway , Texas:] Your willingness to continue to promote a demonstrably false narrative is alarming. The findings of the special conclusively refute your past and present assertions and have exposed you as having abused your position to knowingly promote false information. We have no faith in your ability to discharge your duties in a manner consistent with your constitutional responsibility and urge your immediate resignation as chairman of the committee.
[Rep. Adam Schiff , Intelligence Committee Chairman:] My colleagues may think it's OK that the Russians offered dirt on a Democratic candidate for president. But I don't think it's OK. I think it's immoral, I think it's unethical, I think it's unpatriotic, and, yes, I think it's corrupt and evidence of collusion. And the day we do think that's OK is the day we will look back and say that is the day America lost its way.
[Briggs:] Republicans certainly disagree with Schiff's claims but at least one person on the president's favorite network agrees with him.
[Judge Andrew Napolitano, Fox News Senior Judicial Analyst:] I think that Congressman Schiff is correct in that report will be evidence of the existence of a conspiracy. Not enough evidence to prove the existence beyond a reasonable doubt.
[Briggs:] The Mueller report is 300-plus pages. So far, we've only seen that four page summary from Attorney General Bill Barr. Democrats are demanding the full release of the report by April 2nd, but the primary obstacle is the presence of grand jury information.
[Dean:] CNN has learned House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler offered Barr the opportunity to work together to get a court order to release the grand jury information. An aide to Nadler says Barr is open to Nadler's arguments but still a far cry to where the chairman is right now.
[Briggs:] Also breaking overnight, another attempt to undermine Obamacare blocked in court. A federal judge striking down a Trump administration rule that allows small businesses to band together to set up health insurance plans to skirt the requirements of the Affordable Care Act. The judge calling it a clear attempt at an end around. The Justice Department now considering all of its options before responding.
[Dean:] Republicans on Capitol Hill growing anxious, hoping for guidance from the White House on Obamacare alternatives, but so far, crickets. And after a failed repeal effort in 2017, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wants no part of this fight. He's telling "Politico", quote, I look forward to seeing what the president is proposing and what he can work out with the speaker. So what is the president proposing?
[Trump:] Well, we're working on a plan now. There is no very great rush from the standpoint that we're waiting for decisions in the court.
[Briggs:] No very great rush. Vice President Pence's chief of staff said the opposite just the day before.
[Marc Short, Chief Of Staff For Vice President Mike Pence:] The president will be putting forward plans this year that we hope to introduce into Congress.
[Briggs:] It's been an eventful week for efforts to tear down Obamacare. On Monday, the Justice Department reversed its position and said that the entire Affordable Care Act should be struck down. Wednesday, a federal district court judge blocked the administration's efforts to allow states to impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients.
[Dean:] Funding for the Special Olympics will continue now that the president says he is overruled his education secretary. Betsy DeVos spent two days on Capitol Hill defending the decision even though she said she wasn't personally involved in making it.
[Betsy Devos, Secretary Of Education:] Let's not use disabled children in a twisted way for your political narrative. That is just disgusting and it's shameful. And I think we should move on
[Unidentified Male:] Well, Madam Secretary, let me tell you what? Eliminating $18 million out of an $80 billion $70 billion or $80 billion budget I think is shameful, too.
[Dean:] DeVos went on to say the Special Olympics already gets a lot of private donation that the federal budget is tight. But after she made the case, President Trump then publicly undermined her.
[Trump:] I've been to the Special Olympics. I think it's incredible. And I just authorized a funding. I heard about it this morning. I have overridden my people. We're funding the Special Olympics.
[Briggs:] Shortly after the president's comments, DeVos issued a statement saying I'm pleased and grateful that the president and I see eye to eye on this issue. This is funding I have fought for behind the scenes over the last several years. DeVos proposed similar cuts in previous years. She did donate a portion of her salary last year to the Special Olympics. "The Washington Post" has uncovered documents that allegedly show President Trump frequently exaggerated his assets while he was a businessman. "The Post" reports Trump would hand out documents outlining his finances and assets, the accuracy of those documents coming up at Michael Cohen's hearing just last month.
[Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-cortez , New York:] Did the president ever provide inflated assets to an insurance company?
[Michael Cohen, Former Trump Lawyer:] Yes.
[Briggs:] Just some of the highlights from this "Post" report Mr. Trump said namesake tour has 68 stories, it has 58. He claimed he owned a 2,000-acre vineyard in Virginia. The land records show about 1,200 acres. And Mr. Trump said he had 55 home lots to sell in southern California when records show he had 31. That is a $72 million difference in revenue. No comment from the White House nor the Trump Organization.
[Dean:] The city of Chicago is demanding "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett pay $130,000 for the police investigation into his alleged attack. He was indicted for staging a hate crime against himself in Chicago. But all charges were dropped this week.
[Mayor Rahm Emanuel , Chicago:] Given that he doesn't feel any sense of contrition and remorse, my recommendation is when he writes the check in the memo section he can put the word "I'm accountable for the hoax."
[Dean:] Prosecutors insisting their case was solid even after the charges were dismissed.
[Briggs:] President Trump is calling for a federal review on Twitter. Neither the FBI authorize DOJ have said that they will do so.
[Trump:] That case is an absolute embarrassment to our country. And somebody has to at least take a very good hard look.
[Briggs:] The Illinois Prosecutor Bar Association says dismissal of the Smollett case is, quote, abnormal and unfamiliar. In another bizarre twist, the office for the top prosecutor Kim Foxx now says she did not formally recuse herself from the Smollett investigation. Her office saying that she only separated herself from decision making out of an abundance of caution.
[Dean:] The embattled CEO of Wells Fargo, Tim Sloan, is stepping down. Sloan has worked at Wells Fargo for three decades and says the bank would benefit from a fresh perspective. The bank's board plans to replace him with an outsider. The company has struggled to overcome a litany of scandals. In 2016, there was national backlash over employees creating millions of fake accounts to meet sales quotas. Wells Fargo also admitted charging borrowers for auto insurance they didn't need and mortgage fees they did not deserve.
[Briggs:] All right. Ahead, the U.K. was supposed to leave the European Union today. Instead they will vote for a third time on a deal that has failed twice. We're live at 10 Downing Street, next.