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Gov. John Bel Edwards (D-LA) is Interviewed about Hurricane Laura; Feds Launch Probe Into Blake Shooting; Marc Short is Interviewed about Hurricane Laura, Pence's Speech, Violence, and the RNC. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired August 27, 2020 - 08:30   ET

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

[08:30:00]

GOV. JOHN BEL EDWARDS (D-LA): We have to be very, very mindful of this, otherwise in a couple of weeks we're going to really pay the price here with more cases and hospitalizations. And, unfortunately, more deaths than we would otherwise experience.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: You said there are many people moving in for possible search and rescue. What do you know as of now in terms of need? What kind of calls are you getting?

BEL EDWARDS: Well, it appears now that we have more structural damage from the wind and less of a problem related to the surge, the storm surge, than we expected.

Now, of course, this is in Calcasieu Parish around Lake Charles. It could very well be the opposite down along the coast in Cameron Parish where they're -- the storm surge would have made impact first. And so we really -- we really don't have a full assessment yet.

The good news is, we didn't lose communications at all and so we were quickly talking to local officials, trying to figure out exactly what the situation is. We -- we can't get up and fly just yet, it's not safe to do so, but as soon as the wind speeds subside enough for us to get our National Guard helicopters in the air, we're going to have a much better readout on the damages.

I will tell you that we know that it's going to be extensive. This was an extremely powerful storm, but we are thankful that -- first of all, we haven't had a single report of a fatality yet.

BERMAN: OK.

BEL EDWARDS: I don't know how long that's going to hold up, but that's a blessing. And we also believe that the storm surge was about half of what had been forecasted. And, as you remember, that storm surge was characterized yesterday by the weather service as being unsurvivable. So it looks like we've got an assist there as well and certainly we'll take all the help we can get.

BERMAN: I was just going to ask you about fatalities. That is news that you're delivering right there. And so far, at least, good news, no reports yet of fatalities. I know it's early, the light is just coming up, just getting a sense of the damage there.

And, again, also good news, so far, the storm surge not the problem that was feared. But, again, it could develop over time because the winds are still blowing a certain way and I know salt water is still being moved inland.

What do you think the area of greatest need is at this moment?

BEL EDWARDS: Well, it's going to be going in and getting people out of homes that are no longer safe and habitable, making sure that we can get them safely transported to a shelter and, quite frankly, because of Covid-19 that shelter shouldn't look like it normally does where we have a big, open space and we're putting multiple families, you know, maybe hundreds or maybe even a couple of thousand people in the same shelter. We're going to need to quickly transition them into hotel and motel rooms, which -- which have been filled up with people who have evacuated on their own. And, also, all these power crews that have come into the state of Louisiana, these linemen, to restore power. So we're -- we're going to be looking for -- for hotel and motel space likely all across the state and -- and moving people as quickly as we can into those areas.

And then just making sure that we're mindful of the Covid-19. We have an immediate need that we have to take care of, but we -- we don't want to do it in a reckless way that causes more cases of Covid to -- to, you know, impact our state than necessary. And, of course, we won't know that for a couple of weeks.

And then, finally, we have to resume our statewide testing program. We -- we had to close those -- those programs down because of the storm and the same -- the National Guard, that -- that we've activated. In fact, we've activated the entire National Guard for the state of Louisiana for the first time in eight years. But they were doing an awful lot of our community testing. And so we're going to have to juggle all of this, resume our testing just as soon as possible, but also make sure we're taking care of the needs of the people of Louisiana. And not just southwest Louisiana. All of -- all of the western side of our state.

And as you go further north, the state is not as wide and we know that we had a very disruptive winds across the entirety of our state. When you get up to Alexandria and Rustin (ph) and Monroe. So this is going to be a very challenging situation.

I was able to speak to the president at about quarter after midnight last night. And he certainly is paying attention. We're thankful for that. But we're going to have a long road ahead of us to recover from this damage.

BERMAN: John Bel Edwards, governor of Louisiana, as you said, this is not over yet. There's a hurricane still bearing down on your state. So we appreciate you being with us. And I know you have to be so deliberate because of coronavirus. Anyone whose ever been in a hurricane shelter knows it's the opposite of social distancing. You have to completely rethink everything you're doing. So we appreciate the work you're doing. Good luck. Please, keep us posted. BEL EDWARDS: Thank you so much, John.

BERMAN: A federal investigation underway this morning into the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. We're going to speak to a former detective from the Kenosha Police Department about all this, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:39:00]

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Developing overnight, federal investigators launching a civil rights probe into the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Police shot Blake seven times in the back as his young children watched in the car. But why?

Joining us now is Russell Beckman. He worked as a detective at the Kenosha Police Department for nearly 30 years. In 2014, he was one of the driving forces behind a law that now mandates police shootings must be investigated by outside agencies.

Mr. Beckman, great to have you here.

It will be so helpful to have your insider explanation of everything we've seen in the past four days in Kenosha. And so let's just start with the shooting of Jacob Blake. We have not gotten any information from the Kenosha Police Department about why this happened. Is that an offshoot of the law that you helped have passed whereby they no longer investigate themselves and exonerate themselves, it's an outside agency? But -- but we still don't know what the explanation was for why police say they did this.

[08:40:05]

RUSSELL BECKMAN, RETIRED KENOSHA POLICE DEPARTMENT DETECTIVE: Well, you may not know for actually quite a while. It's important that there be a thorough, comprehensive, objective and transparent investigation done into this. And I understand that the chief of police in Kenosha wouldn't necessarily want to interfere with that investigate. His agency's not in charge. The Wisconsin Department of Justice is. So I understand the frustration that citizens would have in not having the information. But it's important that the integrity of the investigation be protected. And I think that the officials in this -- in this case involved with this are acting in a way to make sure that that integrity is not threatened.

CAMEROTA: OK, that's fair and that's a great perspective. We do now know the officer's name of -- who fired the shots, Rusten Sheskey. He's been on the force for seven years.

According to the attorney general, they found a knife on the floorboard of Jacob Blake's car. The front seat. Given your experience on the Kenosha Police Department for so long, would your training suggest that if there were a knife in the car that you can shoot a suspect in the back? Does that explain what happened? BECKMAN: Well, one of the things -- an edged weapon is a deadly

weapon. And I -- I really am hesitant to comment on the actions of the officers until all the facts come in. We don't know exactly how far Mr. Blake was away from that knife, whether he intended to take control of that knife and use it. There's just so many things that we don't know. And I really don't -- am not comfortable speculating about it.

But I do know that if you do have to -- are forced to use deadly force as an officer, you use it in a way that you -- you shoot to incapacitate. That's how officers are trained. And, like I say, I just don't -- I think we need to reserve judgment until all the facts come in. And I know that makes no one happy when I say that, but certainly the fact that there was a knife on the floorboard is relevant to this and certainly if there wasn't a knife it would be relevant.

The bottom line is, we just don't know and I think it's important to let due process --

CAMEROTA: Yes.

BECKMAN: The rule of law prevail in this.

CAMEROTA: So --

BECKMAN: To assume and to make sure there's a competent investigation going on.

CAMEROTA: So then help us understand what's happened since then, what we've seen on the streets of Kenosha. There was vigilantism, there was chaos on the streets two nights ago and the -- we saw this 17-year-old with an AR-15 be arrested for -- and charged with killing two protesters. And just help us explain what we saw in that moment. I don't know if you've seen this cell phone video where the Kenosha police are offering water to, we believe, the suspect and other vigilantes with guns on the street and saying, we sure appreciate you guys out here.

Why would the Kenosha police want the help of armed vigilantes and say they appreciate them?

BECKMAN: I -- I can't explain that. I -- I have a different attitude than maybe officers currently employed at the Kenosha Police Department. I wouldn't be grateful for the help of armed, untrained vigilantes whose character and motives can be questioned.

I -- I did watch exactly what you're talking about and I was appalled by it.

I also watched -- spent the entire night watching the live feed of the shooting and the events and I watched it in real time and it would -- I was disgusted by it.

Now, the fact is, is that it bothers me that certain people, armed -- so-called armed militia can walk around cities and at events being heavily armed but yet other groups of people are not allowed to. First of all, I believe that no one should be. But, yes, I think it's a problem and I think this attitude that some people are on the side of law enforcement and they get a free pass shouldn't happen and is clearly wrong.

CAMEROTA: Russell Beckman, we really appreciate your perspective and all of your expertise after 30 years on the force. Thank you very much for being with us.

BECKMAN: Thank you for having me.

How is the Trump administration responding to Hurricane Laura, as well as the racial unrest in Kenosha? The vice president's chief of staff joins us next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:48:36]

CAMEROTA: Hurricane Laura is pummeling the state of Louisiana this morning. President Trump is scheduled to address the nation tonight at the RNC. It's been a rough week with the nation reeling from the hurricane, coronavirus and violence in Kenosha.

Joining us now with what we can expect, as well as a recap of last night, is Marc Short. He is the chief of staff for Vice President Mike Pence.

Good morning, Marc.

MARC SHORT, CHIEF OF STAFF FOR VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE: Good morning, Alisyn. Thanks for having me back on.

CAMEROTA: Great to have you.

So we still don't know the full aftermath or damage from Hurricane Laura. Is there any talk in the White House, any consideration of postponing or changing the president's speech at the RNC tonight?

SHORT: Alisyn, I think the president looks forward to addressing the nation tonight. His remarks, I'm sure he'll address the situation with the hurricane too. But, as you know, last night the president had an opportunity to speak to the governors there. The vice president before his remarks got an update from the FEMA administrator Pete Gaynor, whose on the ground there. And the president will be getting more updates throughout the day.

We simply encourage people who are in the path of the hurricane to not let their guard down. I think sometimes when it comes ashore people then sort of rest easy. But there's a lot of flooding that will still occur with the -- as it moves inland. And so we ask people to continue to heed the advice of their local and state government officials.

CAMEROTA: OK, let's talk about your boss, Vice President Pence's speech last night.

One of the things that he said that's getting attention is, quote, people will not be safe in Joe Biden's America.

Do you think that people feel safe in Kenosha, Wisconsin, this morning in Donald Trump's America?

[08:50:05]

SHORT: Well, Alisyn, I think that we've seen a lot of violence in Democrat-run cities. What we've see is an unwillingness to help to enforce law and order in our streets. And that's what this president and this administration are going to continue to do.

And I think the -- the vice president last night was -- was drawing a contrast between America that -- that continues to hope for -- for more freedoms, but also continues to protect our law enforcement versus an America that we think would lead to socialism and decline and I think that continues to attack our law enforcement.

So I do think there's a very sharp contrast of divisions between the two sides.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

SHORT: And -- and I think that -- that that's what you heard last night.

CAMEROTA: But, to be clear, President Trump is president today and he was president in May when George Floyd was killed. And so why should Americans think that if they re-elect him to be president anything would be different than the unrest we've seen in these (INAUDBILE)?

SHORT: Because -- because, come on, Alisyn, I think you know -- you know as well as I do that this administration has stood strongly with law enforcement. That's why law enforcement is continuing to support this administration.

What the other side has done is continued to -- to continue to excuse violence in many cases against law enforcement. For the first time you heard Joe --

CAMEROTA: What do you mean, Marc?

SHORT: For the first time, Alisyn, you heard Joe Biden come out yesterday and condemn the violence. It's the first time that's happened. Didn't happen in Minneapolis. It didn't happen in Portland. It's finally happening in Kenosha. That's what this --

CAMEROTA: But, Marc, I mean the point is, is that it's already happening. It's on President Trump's watch. Why should we think anything's going to be different?

SHORT: It is -- yes, because you're looking at what's happening as -- an erosion in Democratic-run cities. These have been Democratic-run cities for decades of leadership there. It's decades of leadership that's led to these -- to the -- to the violence. It's what this administration has asked to stop. It's what we've been doing, to send the National Guard in to help make sure that it's protected. It's what this administration did to end the violence in Minneapolis.

CAMEROTA: OK. So if President Trump is re-elected, there won't be Democratic-run cities?

SHORT: Of course -- of course there will be Democratic-run cities, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: So then what will change?

SHORT: But we're going to continue to make sure that we're protecting law enforcement and standing with the men who serve on the thin line and put their -- their lives at risk each and every day. That's what this administration is going to do.

We've not seen that. We've seen -- from the other side what we've seen is continued blame casting toward law enforcement.

So -- so, yes --

CAMEROTA: Now --

SHORT: There is -- there is a stark difference as to where we're going to see the path of two different nations --

CAMEROTA: Yes.

SHORT: Between a Trump/Pence administration versus a Biden/Harris administration.

CAMEROTA: Look, Marc, I mean part of I think what you're missing is that people saw with their own eyes what happened to George Floyd and they saw -- were able to see with their own eyes the piece of the cell phone video of what's happened to Jacob Blake.

SHORT: Yes. Yes.

CAMEROTA: Why didn't Vice President Pence talk about those names last night and those situations?

SHORT: Alisyn, I think what you're failing to understand is this president and this administration did condemn the violence against George Floyd. And what the vice president said last night, if you listened to his remarks, is he condemned it on all sides and said too many heroes have died in American's history to continue to see Americans strike down each other. That's on both sides of the equation. He's called for an end to the violence, period.

CAMEROTA: But -- but --

SHORT: That's what he said last night.

CAMEROTA: He -- but -- but why isn't he specifically naming Jacob Blake and what happened to him and, similarly, the vigilantism that's been happening in Kenosha. Does he support the vigilantism?

SHORT: He said specifically he wants to bring an end to the violence, period. He said it must stop. That applies to vigilante justice as well, Alisyn. It's an all-encompassing phrase to say, we want -- we're calling for an end to the violence, period. We don't know all the circumstances about what happened with Mr. Blake. The investigation is ongoing. But we want an end to the violence, period. As this vice president said again and again, we respect the right of people to peacefully protest. That is a hallmark of our country. But the violence must stop, period.

CAMEROTA: Does Vice President Pence support the NBA players' boycott of their season?

SHORT: I -- look, I don't know that you're going to see the administration weigh in on that one way or the other in my mind. It's absurd. It's silly. What you saw from the professional basketball association was a continued acceptance and non-denial or non-speaking out against China's continued abuse. Instead, wraps their arms around their cooperation with China.

CAMEROTA: Well, but I'm talking about this. I mean I'm talking about the protests --

SHORT: I am. I am. Yes, I know you are. You're talking about the NBA. And I'm saying, they're continuing to allow NBA players to continue to support China when they've continued to repress people, continue to persecute people for speaking out their minds and yet they're going to protest now, they're going to -- are they --

CAMEROTA: OK. I understand you're upset about that, but they're -- they're upset about Jacob Blake, what happened to Jacob Blake. And so why is that absurd?

SHORT: So if they want to protest, I don't think we care. I think at this point, there -- there's a -- if they want to say we're not going to play any more games, I don't think that's a position that you're going to see us speak out on one way or another.

CAMEROTA: Should President Trump meet with them about it?

SHORT: Look, I think we've been willing to meet with professional athletes time and again. You've seen that cooperation from -- from this administration from the start. But I do think that there is a discrepancy between what the NBA has chosen to speak out against and what they don't speak out against.

CAMEROTA: I want to ask you about what's happened with coronavirus, particularly the CDC guidelines. Why did the CDC change their guidelines this week on their website to lessen the need for testing?

SHORT: You know, Alisyn, I think that the testing is a remarkable story in our country. That in February, when the vice president took control of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, collectively, 8,000 tests had been conducted.

[08:55:04]

We partnered with the private sector so now there are over 800,000 tests being conducted every day.

CAMEROTA: Right. So why lessen it? So why not -- but I -- but -- but --

SHORT: And what CNN -- what CNN -- what CNN doesn't cover, Alisyn --

CAMEROTA: Yes.

SHORT: Is that over 80 million tests have been conducted --

CAMEROTA: Right.

SHORT: Which is more than six times of any other country in the globe.

CAMEROTA: Beautiful, but why are you lessening it.

SHORT: Any other country in the world.

CAMEROTA: Why now are the guidelines saying that if some -- if you come into contact with someone who has coronavirus, you don't need to be tested?

SHORT: There's not -- they're not lessening, Alisyn. There is not -- there is not -- there -- there is not lessening. People are still able to go get tests. If their doctor suggests to go get a test, go do it. The guidance -- the guidance --

CAMEROTA: But why isn't the CDC telling you to do that?

SHORT: The guidance that was updated is because there continue to be backlogs in the system with the testing, particularly for people who are getting tested who are asymptomatic. We want hospitals --

CAMEROTA: OK, so it's because of the backlog. So you're having to slow it down because of it's backlogged?

SHORT: People -- people -- no, it's not a matter of slowing down, Alisyn. Over 800,000 tests are being conducted a day, more than any other country in the world. Six times more than any other country in the world. And so, you know, when -- when we talked about the number of cases, the reality is that many countries are not doing the same level of testing. They're only asked to be able to get tested when they coming in.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

SHORT: We have more -- just yesterday you saw the FDA authorized a new Emergency Use Authorization for a whole nother set of testing to do surveillance testing in large communities.

CAMEROTA: That's great. But -- but, again --

SHORT: That's what we're doing.

CAMEROTA: One last question, I know that we're running out of your time, but why wasn't Dr. Fauci -- why was Dr. Fauci under anesthesia when this decision was made?

SHORT: Dr. Fauci was having surgery, but I think I heard you in the last segment put out pretty conspiratorial theory. It sounds like a Tom Clancy novel.

The reality is, Dr. Fauci is going to be at our task force meeting today. He's been a valued member of our team. And he had the opportunity, on multiple occasions, to weigh in because we discussed this over multiple sessions.

CAMEROTA: And he didn't like it. He says he doesn't like it.

SHORT: We discussed it over multiple sessions and the paper document was circulated for weeks before it finally came out, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: So you're saying he didn't speak up?

SHORT: So -- so -- no, I'm saying that we've always listened to Dr. Fauci's guidance. But to suggest he was not a part of the discussion is ridiculous. It's not a conspiracy.

CAMEROTA: Well, he's saying that he wasn't. He's the person whose saying, I was under general anesthesia.

SHORT: He said -- he said he was under anesthesia when the final meeting happened. That is absolutely true. He was. And I'm glad to tell you that he's recovering well and he'll be at today's task force meeting.

CAMEROTA: OK. Marc Short, thank you very much. Your time -- I wish your time weren't up. We have so much to talk to you about, but we really appreciate you being on NEW DAY.

SHORT: Thanks, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Thank you.

BERMAN: I've got to say, there's a lot there. It was astounding, first of all, that he called what the NBA players are doing is silly. He said he thinks it's still what he's seeing right now.

One other thing I just wanted to correct, because he lied about what Vice President Biden did after George Floyd. Vice President Biden absolutely did condemn the violence on the streets there after George Floyd and he did again yesterday with Kenosha.

CAMEROTA: Appreciate that.

CNN's breaking news coverage of Hurricane Laura continues after this very quick break.

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