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Congress Certifies Biden Victory After Deadly Insurrection At U.S. Capitol; Pro-Trump Mob Storms U.S. Capitol In Act Of Domestic Terror; World Leaders Appalled By Deadly Insurrection At U.S. Capitol. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired January 07, 2021 - 05:30   ET

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

[05:30:00]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Alisyn says it's an administration that began with American carnage and ended with political -- American carnage.

Was yesterday the bookend -- the end of it? And will the Republican Party now -- despite the votes of those six or seven Republicans in the Senate and 130 in the House, will they see that this is not its future?

MILES TAYLOR, CNN CONTRIBUTOR, FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (via Skype): You know, I'm afraid, John, that this is not the end, and here's why. Yes, it was a dark day for democracy, but I also think from a national security perspective it signals that worse things are to come.

The president's stolen election myth will live with us for many, many years going forward. He has convinced people -- tens of millions of people that their democracy is broken. That's going to result in more violence in the future and it's something that we're very, very worried about. Our foreign adversaries will continue to exploit this to divide America.

And worse yet, John, the President of the United States has created a playbook for future authoritarians in our own country to use to threaten America from within.

But what's interesting here is this all started with the American people bringing Donald Trump into office and it can end with the American people.

And I would say this to anyone listening right now. If you don't have a new year's resolution yet, I would encourage you to consider running for office against one of the 121 Republicans who voted to support this effort in Congress and one of these so-called seditious six in the Senate that did the same. That should be your new year's resolution. Consider running for office.

If this started with the American people, it should end with the American people deciding that we're not going to put up with this and we're going to replace these individuals who have enabled one of the darkest days in American democratic history.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Margaret, when I look at these still pictures of the lawmakers in gas masks, hiding, cowering for their lives -- hiding under chairs, holding each other's hands -- of course, this is terrorism.

These are the pictures of terrorism. This is what it looks like when there's a mass shooting. This is what it looks like when there's a hijacking. This -- these are the images.

And, I mean, the idea that all of our lawmakers were in one place and if this marauding mob had been a little bit better organized, what they could have taken out in our country. I mean, I don't -- I just don't even want to let my imagination actually run that far of what would have happened if they had been even more armed or better organized.

And, you know, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy who blessed this action -- this -- you know, all of this obstruction by his members -- and then I heard him yesterday when this was unfolding and he sounded so scared, Margaret. He sounded so scared in the phoner that he made into Fox T.V.

How did this happen? What's happening? This is terrible. This is an assault on democracy.

I mean, it just -- you know, you play with fire and you get burned.

MARGARET TALEV, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST, POLITICS AND WHITE HOUSE EDITOR, AXIOS (via Cisco Webex): I think we are at a moment Alisyn where the Republican Party and the establishment Republicans are trying to figure out whether they can put the genie back in the bottle, and the answer is it's not at all clear that that's possible.

(Audio gap) that yesterday, before any of this happened, that a huge percentage of the country doesn't believe Joe Biden was legitimately elected and said even if Congress certified that vote they wouldn't believe it. I think we don't yet know whether the visuals that played out will galvanize and change American opinion.

What we do know that as of yesterday, an enormous number of Republican voters in the United States are Republicans because of their allegiance to Trump. And that has supplanted their allegiance to Mitch McConnell or small government or kind of the old, good, big business -- that old kind of bulwarks of what it meant to be Republican in this country.

And so, yes, it is a turning point to the extent that most veteran Republican politicians are now saying enough is enough and separating themself from Trump.

But where do the American people go who have the grievances, who have the working-class concerns, who've been inspired by these messages of nationalism and populism and taking action? Are they going to listen to Republican leadership when they tell them that's not appropriate -- you know, we're not doing that? And I think that is the real question. Two of my reporters were in those chambers -- the House and the Senate

chambers with lawmakers yesterday, barricaded, hiding under desks, praying, reaching for gas masks. That was a real moment of a shared fear shared across party lines -- shared whether you were a staffer or a lawmaker or a reporter. Hearing the banging at the doors, the cracking of wood, the shattering of the glass, or watching the weapons drawn -- Capitol police weapons drawn in windows last night, and trying to understand how it was going to end and what comes next.

[05:35:08]

And I think that's the moment that we're in. What comes next?

BERMAN: Indeed, what comes next? It's a four-year question. It's a four-minute question because we do have 13 more days to deal with it right now.

John Avlon, thank you very much. Margaret Talev, thank you. Miles Taylor, thank you.

CAMEROTA: The insurrection at the U.S. Capitol was very hard to live through, we are told by the people who did it, as Margaret just told us. American lawmakers were forced to shelter in place with gas masks on, fearing for their lives.

We talk to the congresswoman in this photo, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAMEROTA: Breaking news.

This morning, Congress and Vice President Pence have officially affirmed Joe Biden as the winner of the presidential election. It happened after midnight and after the armed insurrection failed. President Trump had incited his supporters to storm the Capitol, prompting security to have to barricade the doors of the House chamber with lawmakers inside and their guns drawn.

[05:40:03]

Lawmakers like Congresswoman Annie Kuster, seen right here, were evacuated and forced to put on gas masks. Joining us now is that Democratic congresswoman, Annie Kuster.

Oh my gosh, Congresswoman, what a night, what a day you've had. Just tell us -- tell us what was happening in the chamber and how you got word that something very bad was unfolding.

REP. ANNIE KUSTER (D-NH) (via Cisco Webex): Well, it started out very peaceful. We were doing the most solemn act -- our constitutional duty to reaffirm that Joe Biden will be our president, Kamala Harris our historic vice president. So the news that you just announced is very important.

Vice President Pence was in the chair, Speaker Pelosi was on the dais, and it all started out very peacefully. But over the course of the first half-hour, we were getting word that the crowd had gathered, that they had stormed the steps, and then eventually we got word that they had breached the Capitol.

That's when the speaker and Mr. Hoyer and Mr. Clyburn were whisked out of the (audio gap) and I assume Mr. McCarthy as well. And then we were locked into -- I was in the balcony watching the proceedings. We were locked in by the Capitol Hill police. We had a shelter in place order. And then eventually we had to evacuate.

They told us to use the gas masks that are under the seats. And we had to scramble across the entire length of the balcony. But really frightening and everyone had to get out.

As I was leaving I looked back and could see them barricading the door. And it was shortly after I left that the shot rang out that broke the window. And within minutes, they had breached the door and they were in the chamber.

CAMEROTA: Oh my God. And when you were hiding and barricaded on the balcony did you think that they would breach the chamber? Did you think Capitol police would be able to hold them off?

KUSTER: No. It was clear there was insufficient force to hold them off. We did believe that they would breach the chamber.

We were scrambling to hide behind the wall of the balcony. It's a short -- up to the railing and I was trying to get my colleagues to safety, getting them behind the railing. I was trying to think clearly and wanted to get away from where if they had weapons -- we knew they had weapons -- that we would be out of the line of fire.

CAMEROTA: What did you think would happen when they breached the chamber?

KUSTER: I was frightened that it would be a mass casualty incident. That if they had automatic weapons they could have killed hundreds of members of Congress. Your lead-in was quite accurate that we were all very fortunate that the Capitol Hill police that were there were thinking as quickly as they had.

My understanding is that a number of the Capitol Hill police had been deployed to the Senate because Sen. Pence -- Vice President Pence had been evacuated and I -- we had heard that they had breached the Senate chamber. And so I was fearful for my life and trying to protect my colleagues.

CAMEROTA: How could you not have been fearful for your life?

KUSTER: Yes, it's not something you'd ever think about. We have a lot of security on Capitol Hill and we are prepared.

You know, we've been dealing with COVID. We've been dealing with the threat from within for several months now. And the threat from without is always there. You think of a terrorist attack, but this was domestic terrorism. This was literally the threat from within. And, you know, we protect our First Amendment and the right to gather.

I had just done a video myself that I planned to post earlier -- minutes -- you know, an hour earlier, saying everyone has a First Amendment right to gather peacefully.

I was disappointed by the election results four years ago, myself. It wouldn't be unusual to come and present your opinion. But these were terrorists. These were thugs. These were dangerous people.

And what I don't understand is that they had been preparing this online for weeks in advance. We had been hearing about it. We had been getting security briefings. We (audio gap) be out on the plaza and not to be on the steps. To use the tunnels under the Capitol.

[05:45:00]

But that it was such an inadequate show of force. If you've seen the photos of the show of force that is possible -- for example, for the Black Lives Matter --

CAMEROTA: Yes.

KUSTER: -- demonstrations -- full riot gear. Hundreds of police --

CAMEROTA: Yes.

KUSTER: -- and riot forces -- military.

CAMEROTA: Yes, and Congresswoman, why was that? Why wasn't the Capitol more secure?

KUSTER: We don't know the answer. That's part of the investigation.

I do know during the day when we were being held in the undisclosed location -- hundreds of members of Congress locked away; other members locked in their offices -- my understanding is the President of the United States refused to send the National Guard to protect the U.S. Capitol. It's a symbol of our democracy. There's no greater symbol -- maybe the White House -- but -- of our constitutional democracy that has withstood the test of time for over 200 years.

And because of his petty tyrant view about the transition of power -- this is the most sacred element of our democracy is the peaceful transition of power.

I was a part of that when Barack Obama was inaugurated and I came to the transition a couple of months before and was the first -- one of the first people to arrive, and it was so peaceful. And I remember at the time this is extraordinary. This was a close election. This is extraordinary and that's what it means to be an American.

And yet, this president has challenged every norm and now he's gone too far. And it's a genuine question today whether he can keep our country safe for the next two weeks. And I hope that Vice President Pence and the cabinet are seriously considering the 25th Amendment because it's not clear that he can keep us safe as Americans. CAMEROTA: In fact, I would say based on yesterday, he can't.

KUSTER: Well, and imagine our foes around the world. Imagine what our allies are thinking. I was getting contact all day from a friend in Norway who was so worried for us -- for our country and for me.

But I'm saying this is not safe. We could have been attacked. We were under attack.

CAMEROTA: Yes --

KUSTER: But --

CAMEROTA: -- you were.

Congresswoman Annie Kuster, we really appreciate sharing your personal experience. We know that it is traumatizing and already, hard to relieve. And we are thinking of you and praying for everybody who lived through that yesterday. So, thanks so much.

KUSTER: You're so kind. We're very grateful for all the support.

Every single one of my colleagues has their own story. I had two friends -- two women that were barricaded into a room for six hours right off the Rotunda. They could hear the terrorists in the building.

So we appreciate it -- thank you. And I just want to tell the American people the most important thing that happened is that we went back into that chamber and we fulfilled our constitutional duty. And in two weeks, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in in their own inauguration. So thank you.

CAMEROTA: That is the American spirit. That is remarkable after yesterday.

Congresswoman Annie Kuster, thank you very much.

KUSTER: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn in on January 20th, while President Trump incited domestic terrorists to storm the U.S. Capitol. We have much more of our breaking news coverage, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:52:18]

BERMAN: Breaking overnight, the insurrection failed. The attempt to block Joe Biden's election failed. Donald Trump tried to stop it but the electoral votes were counted out loud in the Capitol by Mike Pence, no less, and Joe Biden will be sworn in on January 20th.

Biden, himself, condemned the attempted coup in the midst of actual other news from the transition itself.

CNN's Jessica Dean joins us now with the latest -- Jessica. JESSICA DEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning to you, John.

We thought yesterday's big news would be that Joe Biden was expected to tap Merrick Garland as his attorney general. Of course, it's one of the final remaining cabinet positions we've been waiting on and arguably, the biggest one. Judge Merrick Garland expected to be Biden's attorney general.

Garland, of course, was a top contender for several weeks as this has stretched on, but there were concerns because if he moved to attorney general that would create a vacancy in his judge -- where his -- in his court that would be tough to fill if Democrats didn't have a majority. And when that became clear, he was announced.

You see there additional names that the Biden team is expected to announce later today -- top members of their Department of Justice team.

Now, all of this happening, as you mentioned, during that violent takeover of the Capitol yesterday. We saw President-elect Joe Biden come out and address that situation as it was ongoing. He condemned the violence forcefully and almost immediately. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: Let me be very clear. The scenes of chaos at the Capitol do not reflect true America -- do not represent who we are. This is the United States of America. There's never ever, ever, ever, ever been a thing we've tried to do that we've done it together and not been able to do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: Again, President-elect Biden condemning that violence yesterday as it was happening.

Alisyn, important to note. In contrast to President Trump over the last four years when things like this have happened, we've had to wait to see if he would actually condemn what and what he would say. Biden coming out very quickly yesterday to condemn this violence and urge everyone to move forward together -- Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: It was very comforting to hear a cool-headed leader during that time as that was all unfolding.

Jessica, thank you very much.

World leaders are condemning the domestic terrorism at the U.S. Capitol and pointing the finger at President Trump. The attempted coup making headlines around the world.

And CNN's Clarissa Ward is live for us in London with more. What are they saying, Clarissa?

CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Alisyn, for four years, really -- particularly, U.S. allies have bent over backwards to try to maintain diplomatic norms -- to try to avoid calling out President Trump by name. But today, after those scenes of mayhem unfolded on television screens across the world, the gloves are finally off.

[05:55:14]

We've heard from Boris Johnson, the prime minister here in the U.K., describing disgraceful scenes in the U.S. Congress. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying Canadians are deeply disturbed and saddened by the attack on democracy. Heiko Maas, Germany's foreign minister, actually calling out President Trump, saying Trump and his supporters should stop trampling democracy.

We've also heard from the U.K.'s Home Sec. Priti Patel again calling out President Trump by name. Take a listen to what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRITI PATEL, BRITISH HOME SECRETARY: His comments directly led to the violence and so far, he's failed to condemn that violence and that is completely wrong. And he didn't actually do anything to, you know, deescalate that whatsoever. His language was not that to deescalate the violence, effectively. And what we are seeing is completely unacceptable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WARD: You know, it's not just U.S. allies who are calling this out as well. Countries that traditionally have been on the receiving end of press releases admonishing them for human rights abuses.

Venezuela, for example, coming out and saying with this regrettable event, the United States is suffering from the same ill it has triggered on other countries with its aggressive policies.

Also hearing from Turkey's Foreign Ministry on Twitter, saying we believe that the U.S. will overcome this domestic political crisis immaturity (ph). We recommend that our citizens in the USA stay away from crowded places.

Again, deliberately mimicking the language that the U.S. would normally use to warn its citizens in dangerous places in the world about maintaining security. The not-so-subtle subtext here Alisyn is that the U.S. has no moral authority to be lecturing anyone.

CAMEROTA: Just remarkable to hear the words of these world leaders this morning. Clarissa, thank you very much.

So, will President Trump be removed from office? More of our breaking news coverage, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

CAMEROTA: We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and all around the world. This is NEW DAY. It is Thursday, January seventh, 6:00 here in New York.

We are happy to report this morning that the insurrection failed. The weaponized attempt to block the election of Joe Biden failed, but it was ugly and it was deadly.

Outgoing President Donald Trump sent rioters to overrun the Capitol to stop the moment that you are about to see. This is Vice President Mike Pence reading and formalizing Joe Biden.