Transcripts For KGO Good Morning America 20171212 : comparem

Election day here and voters choosing between roy moore battling multiple Sexual Misconduct allegations and the Democrat Doug Jones. The outcome is anyones guess. The stakes are so high for both parties and our team is of course, standing by, so lets first go to our chief national correspondent, tom llamas, for the latest. Reporter robin, good morning. In just a couple of hours roy moore is expected to ride up here on horseback like he does when he votes can cast a ballot for himself. The democrat in this race, doug jones, will be voting outside of birmingham this morning, in what many are calling the closest senate race in decades. That might be surprising to some including one of the candidates in this senate race is accused of molesting teenage girls. Reporter that mess, the Alabama Senate election and allegations of Sexual Misconduct reporter overnight, roy moore emerging back on the campaign trail after five days away admitting what his staff wouldnt, that he left town the weekend before the election. I took approximately 2 1 2 days to take my wife out of this mess and to let her relax with her son at west point. Reporter that mess, the Alabama Senate election and allegations of Sexual Misconduct from eight women. Two who say roy moore sexually assaulted them when they were teenagers. Moore has denied the accusations. Any message to your accusers . Yeah, tell the truth. Reporter moore popping up in a new interview days before alabamas election day, the candidate sitting down with a 12yearold girl. The video organized and posted online by a protrump group. And the former alabama chief justice also appearing in his final rally with the president s onetime chief strategist, steve bannon. This is greater than judge moore, right . Its even greater than the people of alabama. Reporter bannon savaging republicans for not backing moore including ivanka trump who said she believed the accusers. And that theres a special place in hell for people who prey on children. Theres a special place in hell for republicans who should know better. Reporter at the rally supporters telling me they simply dont believe the accusations. Do you think eight women came together and had a conspiracy and all of them are lying . Yes. I do. Why . Because they wanted to bring down roy moore. Reporter all eight stand by their stories. Moores wife also taking the stage and drawing attention with this statement. Fake news will tell you we dont care for jews, so i just want to set the record straight while theyre here. One of our attorneys is a jew. Reporter kayla moore went on to say they also have friends who are jewish. Meanwhile, just outside of birmingham, Democrat Doug Jones, rallying supporters with the help of nba legend and alabama native, charles barkley. Sir charles going after roy moore. At some point we got to stop looking like idiots to the nation. Hes playing to that base, the same people have been holding us back for many years. Reporter jones telling voters to put decency and alabama before political parties. We say no more to discriminating against those that are the least fortunate among us. Its just time, folks, that we say no more. Reporter so all eyes on alabama today and tonight when polls close at 7 00 p. M. Central. A democrat has not won a senate seat here in nearly 25 years. The last time, 1992. George. Senator richard shelby. Well bring in cecilia vega, also our senior Congressional Correspondent mary bruce, of course, on capitol hill. Cecilia, let me start with you. They will be watching this at the white house tonight. The white house started out at arms length from roy moore but the president went all in so hes got a lot at stake. Reporter we watched in realtime a real evolution here, george, you remember the president initially backed roy moores primary opponent then when the allegations roy broke, it was days for the president , he ignored questions, would not go there. Then finally that tacit endorsement. Now he is all in and recorded that robocall. We heard the Roy Moore Campaign say, a vote against roy moore is a vote against donald trump. This is going to be a real referendum on this white house. It sure is. Meanwhile, mary, republicans in the senate much more ambivalent and some said there has to be an ethics investigation for moore if he wins tonight. That could take months or years. Reporter george, in many ways, republicans here on the hill are in a bit of a lose lose situation. If he wins hes probably going to meet a lengthy ethics investigation that is a secretive process that could lead to anything from a reprimand to expulsion. In the meantime, talk about awkward, while Republican Voters in alabama may back moore, most republicans do not support him. A moore victory could further divide the gop. Every republican on the hill and out on the campaign trail will be asked where they stand on this issue, even some republicans admit a moore victory would be a gift to democrats, george. But, mary, if Democrat Doug Jones wins hes not likely to be in place before the tax bill is done. Reporter while that tax fight isnt likely to immediately be impacted here, a jones victory obviously isnt good for republicans either. They have just a slim twovote majority in the senate if they lose this key seat, it could put their agenda in real peril. George . Cecilia, let me bring this back to you. This is putting new focus on the president s accusers, a lot of back and forth at the white house briefing, and you have some senators calling on the president to resign or be investigated. Reporter yeah, three of those accusers came forward again yesterday. People who came forward during the Campaign Calling for congress to investigate. The white house is walking an impossible line on this one, george. The president and endorsing an accused child molester. They dont want to answer questions about his own accusers. The default answer, theyre all liars. Thanks very much. Michael . Now to that attempted terror attack here in new york city. We have new images of the suspect who told officials he was inspired by isis to set off that pipe bomb and one of the busiest subway stations in manhattan. Abcs gio benitez is at that station now, and gio, as suspected, security is on high alert this morning. Reporter thats right, michael. Good morning to you. This is a quarter of a Million People come through here every single day. I want to show you this right now because they just reopened it. This is that tunnel where that pipe bomb was detonated. You can see all of those commuters coming through here. Thats exactly how it would have been monday morning. This morning, Surveillance Video capturing the moment a homemade pipe bomb exploded in the subway tunnel. Watch here. Police say this man has the bomb strapped to his body, surrounded by unsuspecting commuters, then suddenly an explosion, a cloud of smoke and leaving the suspect on the ground only partially detonated. It was 7 20 a. M. , the middle of rush hour. This was an attempted terrorist attack. Thank god the perpetrator did not achieve his ultimate goals. Reporter moments after the blast, these four Port Authority Police Officers rushed towards the scene finding an injured male on the ground. Wires coming out of his clothes and reaching for a cell phone. He intentionally detonated that device. Reporter now this morning, police officially arresting and charging 27yearold akayed ullah with terrorrelated charges. They said he intentionally set off the device. And this morning, we know more about what was inside that bomb. Law enforcement sources telling abc news it was built from a 12inch pipe with black po powder and a 9volt battery that came from a christmas light. It was affixed to his person with a combination of velcro and zip ties. Reporter witnesses describe the sudden bang and smoke. Police were all behind him saying, everybody out of the building reporter five people hurt describe injuries from headaches to ringing in the ears, but none lifethreatening. In fact, all have been treated and released. And back out here live underground at Port Authority. I want to show you this image right now. Last night, one World Trade Center was lit up red, white and blue after this attack. We cant say this enough. All the injured have been released from the hospital, and no one was killed here, michael. What is the feeling in the subway this morning . Were looking behind you. It looks like business as usual. Reporter listen, michael. You know new yorkers. It is fastpaced down here. Lots of energy, and that really just means as you said, business as usual. Thank you, gio. Everybody getting back on track and going back to work. As they for more on the bomber and what may have inspired this attack, lets go to our senior justice correspondent, pierre thomas, in washington. Good morning, pierre. Reporter robin, good morning. There is real concern about the potential for copycats and more lone wolf radicals as we approach the heart of the holiday season. The attempted attack was a nightmare scenario. A wouldbe suicide bomber on mass transit. A suspect with no criminal background and not on the governments terrorism radar. This morning, the fbi and the nypd desperate to find out how akayed ullah ended up here sprawled on the ground severely injured after trying to kill himself and everyone around him in a terror attack. Authorities trying to answer how a 27yearold who had been living a quiet life in the u. S. For roughly seven years after immigrating from bangladesh became an isisinspired potential killer. Authorities say the onetime limo driver had been secretly assembling the bomb in his apartment after learning how to put together one online. His neighbors apparently, completely unaware. But several describing his demeanor as cocky. Ridiculous. You never know who your neighbors are. You just got to be careful. Reporter sources tell abc news ullah had no known ties to terror but investigators say he carried out his attack in the name of isis and read al qaeda propaganda online. At this point no evidence that those groups supplied direct training or financing for the attempted attack. We are now seeing an increased number of attacks, committed by people who are inspired by what they see online, who selfconnect with a terrorist ideology, but operate separate or independent. Reporter ullahs apparently been talking. Sources telling abc news he said he was angry about the plight of muslims making references to gaza, syria and iraq. The internet, wolf, is the bridge across the ocean. And i think thats what were seeing more and more. Reporter the fbi currently has roughly 1,000 isisrelated terror investigations ongoing in all 50 states. Many of the cases involve suspects with no direct ties to isis other than being radicalized online and this young man appears to be the newest poster boy. Sources saying the only reason he didnt kill anyone is his crude bomb malfunctioned. Very thankful for that. So how is this affecting security heading into the holidays, pierre . Reporter these are tense times. Law enforcement and intelligence officials are redoubling efforts and checking out all leads and i think in major cities like new york youll see Additional Police at public events, shows of force to signal that authorities are ready for anything. Thats right, thank you, pierre. Thank you, robin, and now to those wildfires out west. The massive thomas fire, raging in california for over a week now, threatening homes but thankfully firefighters are starting to gain some ground and abcs matt gutman is in Santa Barbara county with more and good morning to you, matt. Reporter hey, good morning, michael. Its hard to imagine, but what you are seeing behind me is actually a good sign. This is a backfire actually lit by firefighters. What theyre trying to do is black out this entire area to prevent the advance of that fire down to carpinteria below and all of this is to save the homes here. This morning, the thomas fire continuing its march towards carpinteria and montecito. On the ground, thousands of firefighters making a last stand to protect homes and from the sky, an enormous aerial assault. That is the fourth tanker weve seen in just a few minutes dropping that air retardant flying right over our head. And just a half mile from there, we met the claffey family. Their cars packed. Ive never seen anything like this before. Reporter they are among tens of thousands ordered from their homes as the fire advances. A lot of farmers are being impacted and people dont realize this is all agricultural land. So its not only your home is threatened, its that your livelihood. Our livelihood. Reporter little macy is the fifth generation of farmers to live here. In tow, her prized possessions. I brought all of my seals. Reporter the family fleeing the onslaught of the fire and noxious haze here for over a week now. How much concern is there about the air quality . Its terrible. Reporter fires like these have been blowing smoke up in the air for several days and its been settling down in the valley below. That has created a health risk with all the smoke in the air in three counties affecting tens of thousands of people which is why everywhere you go here you see people wearing these masks. Theyre even giving them out for free here in Santa Barbara county, michael. Thank you, matt. Amazing that is necessary. We move on to that powerful moment on jimmy kimmel last night. You saw him walk out with his little boy, billy, just off his second heart surgery last week and jimmy made a passionate plea to congress to Pass Health Care for all children in need. Take a look. Thank you. [ cheers and applause ] hi, im jimmy. This is billy. I was out last week because this guy had heart surgery. But, look, hes fine, everybody. He may have pooped but hes fine. Daddy cries on tv but billy doesnt. Its unbelievable. And we also want to thank the very bright and talented doctors and nurses at Childrens Hospital for who treated billy and not just billy, many kids with so much caring and compassion, children from every income level whose health is especially threatened right now because of the something you have probably never heard of. Its called c. H. I. P. Its the Childrens Health Insurance Program. It covers around it covers around 9 million American Kids whose parents make too much money to qualify for medicaid but dont have access to coverage, affordable coverage through their jobs which means it almost certainly covers children you know. So once again im asking you, billy is asking you to make two phone calls. You you should make, jam the house and senate phones. Tonight, tomorrow, as long as it takes. And tell them to take a break from tax cuts for a minute and fully fund c. H. I. P. Immediately. Guillermo, want to take billy . Yes, sir. Its starting to get and change him too while youre at it. And remember, no, dont get him under the arms. Remember, back to front, okay . Okay. All right. Thank you. All right. There you go. Like two babies. [ cheers and applause ] you know, this Childrens Health Insurance Program has never ever been controversial. Bipartisan passed by republicans and democrats year after year after year but its gotten held up by all these controversies in congress now so its actually important to have those phone calls made. Jimmy and molly have faced criticism for being so outspoken but they said if they can save one childs life, it is totally worth it. Absolutely. And this program does it. It does. To rob with the snow and cold moving into the northeast. Good morning, guys. Here it comes, the first signs of it, rush out to target and get your supplies. Hurry up. Out of kalamazoo, michigan. Lake enhanced there, but outside of chicago, an inch or two of snow as the leading edge of this cold air begins to drift to the south and freeze watches into florida in anticipation of this cold air and winter storm warnings out ahead of the system with significant snow expected across Northern New York and northern new england. Could see six to ten inches, especially in the mountains. Wind chills this afternoon. This is as warm as its going to feel today. 2 degrees in chicago. It will feel like minus 3 at windchills now brought to you by burgton good morning. Im meteorologist mike nicco from abc7 mornings. Grab the sunglasses, a brighter day but s sll a spapapapapapare alert, no wood burning through midnight. Clear tonight, just as chillry as this morning, and one model hinting at rain next weweweweek. 76 in santa cruz, 71 in ukiah. The rest of us 64 to 69. 37 in palo alto. Coming up here on gma, Sexual Misconduct allegations rock the nfl network. Three analysts suspended. Plus, there is new fallout for celebrity chef mario batali. Four women have come forward with accusations. Hes got an apology. And backlash is growing. Remember the video that has been passed around. Keaton, the bullied young boy seen by millions. New questions about his mothers social media post. Shes responding here on gma. Come on back. Es responding here on gma. Come on back. and roomba from irobot gets to work using two multisurface brushes and powerlifting suction to grab and remove everything from fine dust to large debris. Daily dirt doesnt stand a chance. You and roomba from irobot. Better together. And the golden retriever, thare very different. R, they eat digest and process energy differently. At royal canin® we developed over 200 precise forumlas, to transform every cat and dog into a magnificient animal. Royal canin®. Were on a mission to show drip coffee drinkers, its time to wake up to keurig. Wakey wakey rise and shine oh my gosh how are you . Well watch this. 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