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House Passes Voting Rights Bill; House Passes Police Reform Bill; Georgia Probe Heads to Grand Jury; Meghan Markle on Royal Family; Cuomo Apologizes but Rejects Resigning. Aired 9:30-10a ET.

Aired March 04, 2021 - 09:30   ET

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


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[09:32:23]

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Well, with the stimulus bill now in the Senate, Speaker Pelosi is making big moves on additional legislation in the House. House Democrats just passed two sweeping bills, both to expand voting access -- it's a huge issue -- and combat police misconduct.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go to our colleague Jessica Dean. She is on Capitol Hill following both.

Jess, let's talk about HR-1. Let's talk about all -- I mean there's a lot in this, as Jim said.

JESSICA DEAN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes.

HARLOW: Is there any chance it moves forward beyond this vote in the House?

DEAN: Well, there is so much in it, Poppy and Jim. And this is where we really see the Democratic agenda start to take shape here on The Hill.

But to your point, as it now gets kicked over to the House, where it's going to need 60 votes to avoid a filibuster, when it comes to HR-1, which is about voting, expanding voting rights and also campaign funding, that looks like a very slim, slim to none possibility that it can do that. It's just so partisan, a lot of these issues.

Now, let's get into a little bit about the bill and what it does because, as you mentioned, this is a dramatic overhaul of the nation's rules for voting and how they fund campaigns. It would ban restricting vote by mail in states. It would promote automatic voter registration. It would promote early voting and make that a rule across the land. It bolsters election security. Just major things here.

And then, of course, campaign finance. It's looking to stem the flow of money from unknown sources into campaigns. So a lot there. One key thing, Jim and Poppy, that is really massive and kind of gets

in the weeds, but it is very effecting, is what it would do with what's called redistricting, which is -- happens every ten years. Each state redraws the district -- the congressional districts in its state. And we talk a lot about gerrymandering and how it really becomes a very red or a very blue district.

HARLOW: Right.

DEAN: Well, this would call for a commission to be set up with five Democrats, five Republicans and five independent members who would redraw those districts. That could mean big, big changes because right now state legislatures do that. So if you have a Democratically or Republican-controlled legislature, you know, kind of how that's going to lean and whose going to kind of get the edge there. This would change that and could very much impact voting as we go forward.

But I think the takeaway, to your point, Poppy, is that this faces a massive uphill battle as it gets into the Senate where, again, it needs those 60 votes to avoid a filibuster.

HARLOW: Yes.

SCIUTTO: Unless -- unless Democrats decide to break the filibuster and the idea has been proposed of just for the Voting Rights Act and HR-1.

DEAN: Right.

SCIUTTO: To kind of like carve that out. We'll see.

DEAN: Right.

[09:35:01]

SCIUTTO: That's a lot of big questions.

Well, the House also passed a bill named in honor of George Floyd aimed at preventing police conduct.

What's in it because there was a bipartisan effort last year in the wake of Floyd's death that sort of died on the vine. Does this have any bipartisan support? Where does it go from here?

DEAN: Right. So this looks just slightly different, you guys. So this -- this passed the House last night. This was the bill they originally passed in the wake of George Floyd's death last year. It died then in the Senate, Jim, as you said.

Now we know that Representative Karen Bass in the House, a Democrat, has been talking with both Senator Cory Booker, a Democrat, but also Senator Tim Scott, a Republican, trying to kind of build some consensus around this bill to see what they can get done in the Senate. Again, this faces that 60-vote threshold to avoid a filibuster.

But here's what's in this bill. It's banning chokeholds at the federal level. It creates a national registry of police misconduct. It bans racial and religious profiling. It overhauls qualified immunity and bans no-knock warrants in federal drug cases.

Again, Jim and Poppy, there's so much more to this bill, but just to kind of give you the broad strokes, you can see what it's trying to achieve there. Now we look to the Senate. We look to see if there is any bipartisan leeway. Again, we know those talks are ongoing.

Jim and Poppy.

HARLOW: Yes, I mean Cory Booker and Tim Scott seem to be indicating that there is a place to meet in the middle here, even on something like qualified immunity. So maybe they'll work together.

DEAN: Yes.

HARLOW: Thanks, Jess.

This morning, Fulton County prosecutors in Georgia are expected to appear before a grand jury. This is the next step in the criminal investigation there into former President Trump's attempt to overturn the 2020 election results in that state.

SCIUTTO: CNN's Sara Murray has more on this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The investigation into Donald Trump's efforts to overturn Georgia's election results --

DONALD TRUMP, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: There's no way we lost Georgia. There's no way.

MURRAY: Intensifying as grand juries convene in Fulton County today, offering the district attorney her first shot at seeking the subpoenas she warned were coming.

FANI WILLIS, FULTON COUNTY, GEORGIA, DISTRICT ATTORNEY: What I was doing as a courtesy to people that I respect very much is simply putting them on notice that when a grand jury convened, which would be in March, that they could expect to receive subpoenas.

MURRAY: At the heart of Fani Willis' investigation, the now infamous call between Trump and Georgia's Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger.

TRUMP: All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have, because we won the state.

MURRAY: That call, just the starting point for Willis' probe.

WILLIS: Obviously, it's been reported around the world that phone call. And so we have said, yes, that is part of the investigation. But we're not narrowing it to that. MURRAY: Trump's recorded call with Raffensberger came after 18 other

attempts by the White House to reach the secretary of state's office, which legal experts say could help establish Trump's intentions.

MICHAEL MOORE, FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY, MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA: The repeated calls sort of start to tell the story that this was not, again, an official trying to talk to another official about problems that he or she might see in an election. It's more about, you know, how do I get to the place that I can win the race and what do we have to do about it.

MURRAY: Willis has already asked a number of Georgia officials to preserve documents, though they are not targets. Some had lawyered up even before her inquiries.

Willis has said she's also looking into the abrupt departure of former U.S. Attorney Bjay Pak. Rudy Giuliani's false allegations of election fraud before Georgia legislatures, and a call between Trump loyalist, Senator Lindsey Graham, and Raffensberger, which the secretary of state viewed as an attempt to toss out ballots.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): I categorically reject that. That wasn't my intent and that wasn't the purpose of the conversation to throw out ballots.

MURRAY: A person familiar with the investigation says the DA's office is likely to rely on subpoenas over voluntary requests for information to establish a clear court record of their pursuit of evidence.

Willis, the person said, is also unlikely to be deterred by broad claims of privilege the former president has tried to deploy in the past. Willis was quick to launch her Trump probe after taking office in January.

WILLIS: My career has taught me, no matter the political pressure, just do what's right.

MURRAY: As for when she'll decide whether to prosecute the former president, I'm in no rush, she tells the Associated Press.

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MURRAY: Now, Giuliani told CNN he was simply making the best case for his client, then President Trump, in Georgia, and any potential case against him would be vindictive and also a travesty.

Trump's team didn't comment for this story but, of course, in the past, they have said that there was nothing wrong with the call the former president made here in Georgia.

Back to you, Jim and Poppy.

SCIUTTO: Not the only time we've heard the phone call was perfect.

Sara Murray, thanks very much.

HARLOW: Well, ahead, the duchess of Sussex opens up to Oprah and the palace opens an investigation into her. We'll have the details ahead.

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[09:44:19]

SCIUTTO: Well, this morning, the royal rift between the palace and Prince Harry and Meghan is deepening. And, boy, is it public. Many are now questioning if it can ever be repaired now.

HARLOW: There is a big interview. It is set to air Sunday night. The duchess of Sussex tells Oprah that the palace actively spread lies about her. The palace's response is no comment. They have, however, announced an investigation into claims that she bullied her staff.

All of this as Harry's 99-year-old grandfather, Prince Philip, undergoes a heart procedure.

Let's go to our royal correspondent, Max Foster. He joins us.

Let's begin with the duchess of Sussex and how significant it is what she's now saying.

[09:45:03]

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: We should probably have a listen to it. I mean what's interesting about it, before we hear it, is that Oprah asks her a question about the palace. And Meghan answers referencing "the firm," which is actually a reference to the family itself.

But let's hear that moment that was released by CBS today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OPRAH WINFREY: How do you feel about the palace hearing you speak your truth today?

MEGHAN MARKLE, DUCHESS OF SUSSEX: I don't know how they could expect that after all of this time we would still just be silent if there is an active role that the firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us. And if that comes with risk of losing things, I mean, I -- there's a lot that's been lost already.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: So we've heard Meghan and Harry speak before about the attacks in the tabloid press, the lies that sat there and worked against them and ate them up effectively. Then we heard a bit previously about how Meghan felt unprotected because the palace wasn't going out and defending her against these lies.

Now she's taken it up a level, saying, they were effectively acting against her. And not just the palace, but the family as well. And I think it is all reference to this idea that they don't comment on speculative stories as a protocol in the palace. But Meghan felt -- it made Meghan feel very vulnerable. We have to get the full context, of course, about this from the full

interview. But I think that's where she was going with that. And it's, obviously, unsettled a lot of people in the palace.

SCIUTTO: Wow, that is very public. We know how uncomfortable the public is -- the palace is when these kinds of rifts go public.

I do want to ask you about the latest on Prince Philip's health. Ninety-nine years old. A heart procedure now?

FOSTER: Yes, he went through a heart procedure. We're told it was successful. But we're also being told that he's going to have to stay in for a few days to be treated. So he's been there a very long time now, several weeks now. And, obviously, a lot of concern about him. A lot of coverage, I have to say, here in the U.K. Perhaps it's inappropriate this Oprah interview while Philip's in hospital. But the Oprah interview is timed according to CBS' schedules we hear from the other side.

So it's all become very complicated. And, of course, these bullying accusations as well against the duchess currently being investigated by Buckingham Palace. An awful lot on their plate right now.

HARLOW: For sure.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

HARLOW: I think a lot of people will be watching on Sunday night.

Max, thank you very much for that.

SCIUTTO: Well, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is apologizing again. This after three women now have come forward accusing him of either sexual harassment or unwanted advances. He is, however, refusing to resign. His reasoning, his argument, his defense, that's coming up.

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[09:52:14]

HARLOW: In his first public statement since three separate women have accused him of inappropriate behavior or sexual harassment, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is apologizing and he's saying he's embarrassed.

Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): I'm sorry. I'm sorry for whatever pain I caused anyone. I never intended it. And I will be the better for this experience.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: CNN's Athena Jones joins us now from Albany. She's been covering the story. So, Athena, also in a statement he made it clear he's not resigning. I

wonder, any reaction to his statements yesterday from his accusers?

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there is quite a bit of reaction, Jim, from his accusers. But when asked about the resignation, you know, he was asked explicitly, what about these investigations you're facing, not just the sexual harassment investigation that's just about to get underway, but also the ongoing one into the counting -- the state's counting of COVID deaths in nursing homes.

And he said, look, you know, it's not going to be a distraction. I can still negotiate the budget. I did it last year in the height of the pandemic. That was certainly a distraction. I managed to do it. Politics didn't elect me. I'm going to continue to do the job that the state of New York -- New York voters elected me to do.

But when it comes to this apology, it was certainly a more fulsome one than the one we saw on Sunday night. He said, you know, his intention -- he acknowledged that his intention doesn't really matter here.

Listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): I never knew at the time that I was making anyone feel uncomfortable. I never knew at the time I was making anyone feel uncomfortable. And I certainly never, ever meant to offend anyone or hurt anyone or cause anyone any pain.

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JONES: And so we heard him make that point several times, this was not my intention but I acknowledge my intent doesn't matter.

But his critics and his accusers are taking issue with this idea that he didn't realize he was making people uncomfortable. For one, the latest accuser, Anna Ruch, who has only so far spoken to "The New York Times," she, in telling her story, said that after the governor put his hand on her lower back at that -- at that wedding reception in the summer -- or in 2019, she removed his hand and he allegedly told her that she was being aggressive. So that would indicate that he had some way of realizing that she was uncomfortable.

If you look at Lindsey Boylan, who is his former aide, who was the first person to accuse him, saying that he kissed her on the lips back in 2018, she put out a statement saying -- a tweet saying, you know, how can we trust you -- how can New Yorkers trust you to lead, Governor Cuomo, if you don't even realize or you don't know when you're making your own staff uncomfortable.

[09:55:03]

And a lawyer for Charlotte Bennett, who is the second accuser, a former aide, to accuse the governor of inappropriate behavior, she put out a statement saying, first of all, the governor's press conference was full of falsehoods, but also, more specifically, this idea that he didn't understand he was making people uncomfortable doesn't hold water because her client, Charlotte Bennett, took his complaints about his behavior directly to some of the top members of the governor's staff and was, you know, moved to another job. And so they believe that this investigation will show that members of the governor's staff perhaps did not act as they should have, as they were legally required to act.

Jim and Poppy.

HARLOW: That is all such important context, Athena, to point those things out specifically after what he said yesterday.

Thank you for your great reporting on this and we'll stay on top of it, of course.

Ahead, federal law enforcement officials preparing for another potential attack nearly two months after the deadly insurrection on the Capitol. We'll take you there, next.

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