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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Officer Sicknick, Who Fought Rioters, Lies In Honor at Capitol; House Impeachment Managers, Trump Lawyers File Arguments; Democrats Pushing to Move Ahead on COVID-19 Relief Without GOP; Vaccines Going Out to Pharmacies Nationwide; Patriots Flying 76 Health Care Workers to Super Bowl. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired February 03, 2021 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:25]

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. This is EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Laura Jarrett. It's Wednesday, February 3rd. It's 5:00 a.m. here in New York.

And we begin with a solemn and significant reminder of the barbarity some in Congress seem bent on forgetting. U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick lies in honor today at the very scene of the crime. Less than a month after he was killed in a domestic terror attack there.

President Biden and the first lady paying their respects late last night. Meantime, CNN has learned investigators are struggling to bring Officer Sicknick's killer to justice.

CNN security correspondent Josh Campbell is starting us off this morning in Washington.

Josh, so remarkable to be back at the scene, just a month after officer Sicknick's death.

JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Laura.

And this was the scene of the crime, this was the same building that former Officer Sicknick protected for over a decade inside at various time with the capitol police. A solemn ceremony as you mentioned last night, a hearse arrived at the east steps of the capitol carrying the remains of the fallen officer. Once inside the rotunda, two officers escorted his remains and an American flag into a table at the center.

You then saw members of Congress and his former colleagues with the capitol police file in, paying their respects. A very solemn, a very quiet moment, again, for this fallen officer.

Now, we got word just before 10:00 p.m. last night that the president's motorcade had departed the White House. This was an unannounced visit. He arrived a short time later at the Capitol, President Biden and the first lady, walking up to the table where Sicknick's remains were lying, and putting their hearts over the heart, paying their tribute to this fallen officer.

And there was one other moment captured but was brief which symbolized what this represented. We saw Biden walk to up several wreaths and just shook his head, seemingly projecting how senseless this was, this death of this officer, after that capitol attack -- Laura.

JARRETT: Josh, we've seen so many hours, everyone has, of footage of protesters storming the capitol that day. But investigators are having a hard time building a case. It's amazing they're having a hard time finding evidence that actually shows who's responsible for Sicknick's death.

CAMPBELL: Yeah, absolutely. And you think about all that footage that you mentioned, that authorities have been poring over. We know that federal officers have been arresting rioters from coast to coast based on some of that video of the riot that day. As you mentioned, we still have not gotten details about where the investigation stands as relates to the murder investigation of former Officer Sicknick.

We are learning from our sources that it appears as though he did not suffer any type of blunt force trauma. However, we're told on the evening of the attack, he had collapsed, and then later succumbed, died, based on those injuries. But as of this point, authorities have not yet pinpointed an actual perpetrator. We're told that investigation remains under way.

JARRETT: All right. Josh, we know you're on top of it as the rest of the team as well. Thanks so much.

ROMANS: Singularly responsible, with those words, blaming former President Trump for inciting that insurrection at the capitol.

In pre-trial legal briefs, Democrats pushed to convict Trump and bar him from ever holding public office again. They write, there is no January exception to impeachment or any other provision of the Constitution. A president must answer comprehensively for his conduct in office from his first day in office through his last.

JARRETT: Trump's attorneys, meanwhile, filed their own briefs laying the groundwork to absolve him. The ex-president can only hope their verbal skills are sharper than their written one as they misspelled united in the opening line of the response brief.

More now from congressional correspondent Ryan Nobles on Capitol Hill.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN NOBLES, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Laura, Christine, good morning.

We're less than a week away from the start of former President Donald Trump's impeachment trial here on Capitol Hill. And now, that we've seen the legal briefs filed by the house impeachment managers and the former president, we're getting an idea how this impeachment may shape up.

It's clear that the president's legal team is going to argue that the claims he made about the election, leading up to the insurrection were just his First Amendment rights, that it was just free speech and it had nothing to do with the insurrection itself. Whether that holds water, it remains to be seen.

It seems pretty clear that there are still enough Republicans who believe that it's unconstitutional that it makes no sense to convict a president that's already left office.

[05:05:06]

But that argument is still one made here on Capitol Hill next week.

Now, the question we don't have an answer to quite yet is how long this process could take. The House impeachment manager, the lead impeachment manager, Jamie Raskin, telling CNN, he has no idea, there is no clues to whether or not witnesses will be called. How long those witnesses will be able to testify for.

So, there's a chance it could extend into the weekend, after it starts or maybe into the week after. The one thing we know for sure is that we need to buckle up for what could be a pretty lengthy process -- Laura and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Ryan, thank you for that.

Democrats are going to move forward with their big COVID relief plan with or without Republicans. On a call with President Biden and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer warned his caucus not to repeat the mistake of 2009 and risked undershooting with the stimulus package.

So, Democrats are laying the ground for a budget procedure that would allow it to pass on party lines. Now, one Democratic aide says the House and Senate could hammer out the legislative text to the measure next week. But remember, Democrats need all 50 members on board and they may not be there yet.

JARRETT: Republicans hoped the president would scale back his $1.9 trillion ask. It includes things like stimulus checks and on minimum wage hike, items largely popular with Americans. Mr. Biden believes the GOP's $600 billion alternative plan was just not enough, especially given the growing number of Americans spending more time on food lines than at work. The White House believes there's a much bigger risk at play here having a package that's too small.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The size of the package was determined not for shock value, but to address the dual crises that we're facing. And that includes ensuring that millions of Americans can put food on the table. One in seven American families don't -- are concerned about food security right now. It ensures that we have funding that we can reopen schools. So that kids can go back to school, mothers and fathers can not worry about their kids. And that people can apply for unemployment insurance.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JARRETT: Senators tell CNN that Mr. Biden is going to move quickly on this and won't let the talks dragged on. But the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is urging the Biden administration not to go around Republicans on this, fearing that it could foil any shot on bipartisan future work on infrastructure and the climate.

ROMANS: All right. The founder of one of the most successful companies in the world is taking a step back. Jeff Bezos will step back as CEO and transition to executive chair later this year. He's been Amazon's CEO since he founded in 1995. Since then, it's grown into a $1.7 trillion retail giant making Bezos one of the world's richest people.

Bezos will be succeeded by Andy Jassy. Jassy has been with Amazon since '97. He currently heads AWS, Amazon's Web Service, the biggest profit driver. Jassy is a long time member of Amazon's leadership group and has helped turn AWS into the world's biggest cloud computing provider.

Amazon announced a news along with its fourth quarter earnings, capping up a banner year as the pandemic boosted its retail and cloud business. Its sales were up 44 percent from the same period last year. Revenue from Amazon Web Services grew 28 percent. Amazon has delivered more than 1 billion products to customers worldwide during a record- breaking holiday season.

Bezos said stepping down as CEO was not about retiring. He told employees as executive chair, he plans to spend more time on his space startup Blue Origin and his newspaper "The Washington Post", among other priorities.

JARRETT: All right. Still ahead, looking for a more localized approach, coronavirus vaccines are about to go out to retail pharmacies nationwide, but how soon until you can get your shot?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:12:57]

ROMANS: Welcome back. Starting next week, COVID vaccines will be shipped directly to retail pharmacies, expanding access for millions of Americans. Health experts say getting more shots into arms is the best way to stop the spread of these new variants.

In the new -- in the initial phase, vaccines will ship to roughly 6,500 stores including Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid. The chains have existing customer bases and resources for mass immunizations.

JARRETT: As CNN has reported, states with more localized approach have vaccinated at a better pace. Now, obviously, national chains are not exactly community pharmacies, but they do bring the vaccines physically closer to people. Still, you'll have to wait your turn in line and those rules may vary state by state. And the White House is trying to manage expectations here because vaccine manufacturing still needs to be ramped up significantly.

ROMANS: To address that, Moderna has proposed increasing the number of doses per vial from 10 to 15. The company president says only a certain amount of vials can be filled in a set amount of time putting a limit on protection so far. And a New York vaccine availability is widening to taxi drivers and staff ahead of the state partially reopening indoor dining.

JARRETT: Nurses start your engines, a major sports hub now for drive- thru coronavirus vaccinations. CNN has this pandemic covered coast to coast.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Ed Lavandera in Dallas.

The sprawling Texas Motor Speedway has been turned into what is believed to be one of the largest coronavirus vaccine hubs in the country. In a place where you're used to seeing race cars traveling at almost 200 miles per hour, instead, you're seeing the slow roll of cars driving through 16 lanes of traffic with about 400 people staffing this event, all to get the coronavirus vaccine. You have to have an appointment.

And health officials in Denton County, North of Ft. Worth say about 10,000 shots were administered on Tuesday. And the goal is to vaccinate 30,000 people this week.

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: I'm Bianna Golodryga in New York.

[05:15:00]

Pointing to research that schools can safely reopen with proper mitigation, North Carolina's Governor Roy Cooper is urging schools to resume in-person instruction, Cooper, a Democrat, made his comments one day after state Republicans filed a bill requiring North Carolina's K-12 public schools to give students the option of in- person learning.

Cooper said while he won't issue a mandate to reopen schools, he hopes local school boards will take action, adding that remote learning should remain an option for students and teachers who are at risk.

ERICA HILL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Erica Hill in New York where vaccination sites are set to reopen by Wednesday morning. This, of course, after appointments were cancelled on Monday and Tuesday, due to that massive winter storm.

New York City says it's not scheduling any new appointments until it's taking care of those for Monday and Tuesday. New Jersey also working to reschedule appointments from earlier in the week. All of that state's mega sites will reopen for vaccinations on Wednesday as well.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JARRETT: Thanks to all of our correspondents for those updates.

Well, the Patriots aren't going to the Super Bowl this year, but their team plane gets to go for a worthy cause.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:21:18]

ROMANS: All right. Seventy-six vaccinated health care workers are heading to the Super Bowl on the New England Patriots team plane.

Andy Scholes has more on this morning's "Bleacher Report."

Hi, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine.

You know, one of the cool parts of Sunday's Super Bowl, even though they have limited attendance, they are honoring 7,500 vaccinated health care workers from around the country with free tickets. And Patriots owner Robert Kraft, well, he surprised some front line workers in his area yesterday with that news on a video chat that they'd be going to the game.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT KRAFT, PATRIOTS OWNER: What are you guys doing this weekend? Would you like to go to the super bowl?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you kidding?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No way. No way.

KRAFT: We just want you all to know how much we appreciate what you've done and what you represent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Yes. Such a great surprise.

Kraft is going to fly that group down to Tampa on the Patriots private plane. That's the same plane that delivered more than 1 million N95 masks from China last April. Workers from all six New England states were chosen for the all expenses paid trips.

All right. The Bucs meanwhile also have a special guest at the game, head coach Bruce Arians. He's 68 years old. This is the first time he's led a team to the Super Bowl. And his mother who lives in Pennsylvania is going to make it down to Tampa on Sunday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRUCE ARIANS, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS HEAD COACH: My mom's 95. And still lives in her apartment with her best friend Debbie who is her caretaker. And so, yeah, we're flying her down, my brothers and sisters that are coming. And doing everything we can to make sure that she is safe from COVID and has a great time at the Super Bowl.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: All right. NFL announcing that attendance for the Super Bowl is going to be 25,000 fans. Each of them going to be given bags filled with face masks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant, all are required to wear masks throughout the game. It was last announced 22,000 fans at the Super Bowl. But that didn't include people who would be sitting in the suites.

All right. Finally, another day, another directive, for Tom Brady. The sports apparel company Fanatic says they've sold more Brady merchandise between the conference championship game and the Super Bowl than any player ever. Of course, most of the sales coming from Tampa. But Fanatics did also say there's been very strong sales in Northeast cities like Boston.

So, Laura, all of those Patriots fans still supporting Tom Brady. I'm sure many of them rooting him on this Sunday.

JARRETT: I feel like John Berman, our colleague, is the one scooping up all of that gear.

SCHOLES: Probably got himself some stuff, yeah.

JARRETT: Exactly.

All right. Andy, thanks so much. Appreciate it.

SCHOLES: All right. President Biden paying respects to a capitol police officer whose killer has still not been brought to justice.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JARRETT: Good morning, and welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Laura Jarrett.

ROMANS: And I'm Christine Romans. It's 28 minutes past the hour this Wednesday morning.

Less than a month after a mob stormed the capitol riot, fallen Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick lies in honor in the building he died defending. A solemn remainder of the assault incited by the former president which he faces an impeachment trial next week.

His predecessor President Biden and the first lady paying their respects last night.

CNN security representative, Josh Campbell, live for us this morning in Washington.

Good morning, Josh.

CAMPBELL: Yeah, good morning to you, Christine.

A solemn -- a very solemn ceremony as this officer who protected the United States capitol for over a decade, returned to in fact the scene of the crime that received the injuries that resulted in his death that, of course, after the January 6th capitol attack. A very solemn ceremony last night as the hearse arrived at the east steps of the capitol, inside the rotunda of the capitol. Two officers, one carrying his ashes and another carrying an American flag, placed him on a table in the middle of the rotunda.

We then saw his fellow colleagues, members of the capitol police file in, as well as lawmakers paying his respects. Now, we got word that the president's motorcade was on from the White House. He arrived a short time later.

President Biden along with the first lady, walking into that rotunda, paying their respects. We saw Biden walk up.