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The Situation Room
Interview with Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA); Capitol Insurrection Investigation; Senate Debates COVID Relief Package; Relaxed Restrictions in Massachusetts Prompt Concern, Confusion; NBA Commissioner on COVID Concerns Ahead of All-Star Game on Sunday; Cuomo Accuser Charlotte Bennett Calls Governor a "Textbook Abuser". Aired 6- 7p ET
Aired March 05, 2021 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[18:00:27]
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM with breaking news.
The Senate push to pass COVID relief is now at a standstill, even as millions of Americans are days away from losing critical benefits. Democrats are fighting to win support from a member of their own party, Senator Joe Manchin, for a last-minute change of jobless benefits.
President Biden says a new jobs report shows the rescue package is urgently needed, although it did show some new gains in hiring.
Also, tonight, a new CNN analysis finds the U.S. could reach herd immunity against the coronavirus by this summer through vaccinations alone, as the pace of shots continues to improve dramatically.
We're also following the escalating crisis surrounding New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. New reports say his aides rewrote data to hide thousands of nursing homes deaths, this as a he former aide is offering more detail about her sexual harassment claims, calling Cuomo -- and I'm quoting her now -- a textbook abuser.
There's a lot to cover.
Let's go first to our congressional correspondent, Ryan Nobles, up on Capitol Hill.
Ryan, a marathon Senate effort on COVID relief has now hit a wall over a fight over unemployment benefits. Where do things stand, Ryan, right now?
RYAN NOBLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, we are witnessing a staring contest between Republicans and Democrats right now over one of the most important provisions in this COVID relief package, and that's the extension of unemployment benefits, which is set to expire on March 14. And this what both sides are fighting over, a Democratic plan that
would extend those benefits through September, but at a lower rate, only $300 a week. And also, they would not be taxed until someone earned $10,200. On the other side, Republicans only want to see those benefits only extend through July at that $300 rate and there would be no tax benefit.
Now, the issue here isn't over necessarily the proposals themselves, but who is and is not supporting them. Democrat Joe Manchin has expressed interest in supporting the Republican proposal. If he crosses party lines and votes with Republicans, that means that they could insert this provision into the COVID relief package. And then it means it could be in trouble when it makes its way back over the House side.
Now, Republicans are accusing President Biden of being involved in this process. They claim he's reaching out to Democrats to try and keep them together and voting for the Democratic plan.
At any point, Wolf, what it's essentially done is drove this process to a grinding halt, Democrats refusing to continue the debate over this bill, which was expected to go into the early morning hours anyway, until they get a resolution to this particular standoff.
At this point, Wolf, there's no indication when that resolution may come -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Yes, this is a very dramatic moment, indeed.
Thanks very much, Ryan, for that.
Let's go to the White House right now where President Biden is again stressing the urgent need for this COVID relief package.
Our White House correspondent Jeremy Diamond is joining us.
Jeremy, with the Senate currently at this dramatic, powerful standstill, are there serious concerns over at the White House about COVID legislation, the future of that legislation?
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, no one here is hitting the panic button yet, but I can tell you the White House remains engaged very closely with Senate Democratic leadership.
And, obviously, they would like to see this Democratic compromise on the unemployment insurance go through and become part of this COVID relief package. They'd like to stave off this competing Republican proposal.
In the words of one senior White House official, no one here is freaking out yet. Part of that speaks to the experience this White House team has. They know that the legislative process gets messy towards the endgame here, as we are now. But, again, they remain engaged in this process.
Meanwhile, we heard from President Biden today as he continued to stress the urgency of passing this nearly $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill, even as we saw this new jobs report showing 379,000 jobs gained over the last month, much better than what was anticipated.
But the president said that more is still needed to keep that progress going and to prevent us from taking steps backward. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today's job report shows that the American rescue plan is urgently needed, in our view.
Our economy still has 9.5 million fewer jobs than it had this time last year. And at that rate, it would take two years to get us back on track. Some of last month's job growth is a result of the December relief package, but, without a rescue plan, these gains are going to slow. We can't afford one step forward and two steps backward.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[18:05:15]
DIAMOND: And now, even as these closed-door discussions continue on this unemployment insurance question, one thing that has been ruled out of this coronavirus relief bill is that hike of a $15 minimum wage.
That is something Democrats initially wanted. The Senate parliamentarian ruled it out, but, today, Bernie Sanders put forward an amendment trying to muscle it through.
Nine Senate Democrats, though, joining all Republicans to vote against that. So that will not be in this bill. And, really, Wolf, this just speaks to the overall problem in this bill, where you were talking about Democrats really trying to keep this narrow, narrow coalition in the Senate together.
BLITZER: Yes, eight Democrats, including Angus King, who caucuses with the Democrats.
Jeremy Diamond, thank you very much.
Let's turn to the investigation of the Capitol insurrection right now. A former Trump administration official is now facing criminal charges in connection with the deadly riot.
Brian Todd is covering all the new angles for us.
What's the latest, Brian?
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right, Wolf.
Tonight, new information on serious charges being brought in this investigation, including, as you mentioned, charges against a former top State Department aide who had a top-secret-level security clearance.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TODD (voice-over): Tonight, the first known Trump administration political appointee has been arrested for taking part in the January 6 attack on the Capitol.
Federico Klein, a State Department aide at the time of the riot, with a top-secret-level security clearance, who had also worked with the Trump campaign, has been criminally charged with pushing police officers and entering the Capitol on January 6, documents show.
Prosecutors presented images allegedly showing Klein using a police riot shield to wedge open an entrance for rioters. Today, prosecutors asked the judge to keep Klein behind bars pending his trial, while he complained about cockroaches crawling over him in his jail cell.
And Jacob Chansley, the so-called QAnon Shaman, who donned face paint and a headdress and carried a spear inside the Capitol, appeared before a federal judge today. It comes as Chansley pleads his case in the media. Charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct, among other counts, Chandler told CBS "60 Minutes+" his actions were not an attack on the country, that he went to the Capitol because he thought Donald Trump had his back and that he was peaceful inside the Capitol.
JACOB CHANSLEY, DEFENDANT: I didn't break any windows. I didn't break in any doors. I didn't cross any police barricades. I was peaceful. I was civil. I was calm. I said a prayer and I sang a song.
ELIE HONIG, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: He was part of that mob. We have all seen the video of that mob. They overran the police. They went into the building. That individual was charged with more than just sort of wandering around. He was charged with destruction of property. He was charged with threatening the vice president. So, reality simply doesn't line up with that defense, as creative as it is.
TODD: Tonight, Democratic Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren is putting pressure on her Republican colleagues, collecting 2,000 pages' worth of provocative tweets and posts by Republicans in November, December and January, like this one from Congressman Paul Gosar January 2 -- quote -- "Sedition and treason for stealing votes is appropriate."
Lofgren raises the idea of disciplinary action. And Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell, a former impeachment manager, is suing former President Trump, Trump's son Donald Jr., Rudy Giuliani, and Republican Congressman Mo Brooks. Swalwell's suit accuses them of inciting the attack, aiding and abetting violent rioters and inflicting emotional distress on members of Congress.
One analyst says, even if the lawsuit doesn't succeed, key information could be uncovered.
JENNIFER RODGERS, FORMER ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY: I would expect them to seek documents, communications, text messages, phone records, e- mails, that sort of thing, and to ask questions about the communications that happened beforehand about any coordination between the campaign and the White House and these groups that were forming to bring their members on January 6. (END VIDEOTAPE)
TODD: In response to the lawsuit, Trump spokesman Jason Miller issued a statement saying that Congressman Swalwell has no credibility and is -- quote -- "attacking our greatest president with yet another witch- hunt."
Meanwhile, tonight, retired Lieutenant General Russel Honore, who prepared a report on security recommendations for the Capitol in the wake of January 6, is going to hold three briefings behind closed doors for members of Congress regarding those recommendations on Monday -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Brian Todd, thank you, Brian Todd reporting.
Joining us now, former Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Elizabeth Neumann, along with CNN's chief political correspondent, Dana Bash.
Dana, this lawsuit from Congressman Swalwell comes after another suit by Congressman Bernie Thompson -- Bennie Thompson, I should say.
Are Democrats looking for any avenue to hold the former president accountable after his acquittal in the Senate in the impeachment trial?
[18:10:00]
DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, any avenue that they possibly can.
In this particular case, the new lawsuit announced today by Congressman Eric Swalwell, it's an extension of what he argued in the impeachment trial as an impeachment manager about the culpability of President Trump and the people in and around President Trump.
And as we heard in Brian's piece, one of the most important things that you can find in any lawsuit, if it goes ahead, is what's known as discovery. And that is information as part of the preparation for the lawsuit on each side.
So, let's say that this is accepted, and the lawsuit goes forward, accepted by a judge that this can actually be heard. Eric Swalwell and his legal team could potentially be allowed subpoena information by people, documents really by the president, former president himself.
It is a possibility. And so that, they hope, will lead to at least, if not conviction of any kind, or if it's a civil suit, any real penalty, at least information becoming public.
BLITZER: That's -- it would be significant as well.
You know, Elizabeth, the lawsuit accuses Trump and his allies of inciting the January 6 riot up on Capitol Hill and even violating D.C.'s anti-terrorism law. You held a top role over at the Department of Homeland Security during the Trump administration. What do you make of this lawsuit?
ELIZABETH NEUMANN, FORMER U.S. HOMELAND SECURITY ASSISTANT SECRETARY: Yes, I'm very happy for anything that is going to allow us to get to the bottom line and the facts of what led to January 6 and the lack of sufficient preparation on January 6 and the lack of a proper response.
And those things, I'm coming to the conclusion that we're going to get bits and pieces through the congressional inquiries, and that's good. I'm glad they're doing that part of it, but I think we're going to learn more from the criminal investigation, if there is conspiracy, if there are Congress members that participated, more than just some tweets, but actually in a way that maybe encouraged certain people that were coordinating violence.
I think that's important to come out. It's most likely to come out through the criminal investigations. But, probably, the most important thing, after the last few weeks of hearings and even these lawsuits, this is increasingly becoming very, very partisan.
And that's not necessarily healthy for the country. We need to hold the individuals accountable that contributed to January 6, but it's probably better done through an independent bipartisan commission with subpoena power, so that we can actually get all of the facts out and march towards recommendations, so that this never happens again.
BLITZER: Yes, we've got to learn the lessons, you correctly point out, so it never happens again.
Dana, Democratic Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren put out a report on her Republican colleagues' social media posts, whether they supported this insurrection. And federal investigators are also looking, as you know, at communication between various lawmakers and some of the rioters.
How deep is the distrust right now up on Capitol Hill?
BASH: Incredibly deep. We have never seen anything like it.
I'm sure you're hearing from your sources on Capitol Hill as well, Wolf. It's really -- it's sad. It's stunning to think about the fact that so many lawmakers actually believe there is a need for those mags, security, to go into the actual House chamber.
And it's because there is such deep distrust. There is -- it's because you have actually elected members who are conspiracy theorists. And so, there's that, which is the most -- is the most vivid example of what you talked about.
But then there are the examples of what Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren released today, which is the members who were kind of stoking the big lie. That is public. And the question then, as we just heard, is, what is actually -- is there any evidence behind the scenes of real coordination, other than just the social media encouragement that we heard and saw from a lot of these members?
BLITZER: All right, Dana and Elizabeth, guys, thank you very, very much. Just ahead: As COVID vaccinations hit a record level, when will
Americans get guidance on what they should do and not do when they're fully vaccinated?
Also, new details emerging now on the two scandals surrounding the New York governor, Andrew Cuomo, and what it could mean for his future.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:18:38]
BLITZER: We're following the breaking news in the U.S. Senate right now.
A marathon series of votes on COVID relief has now come to a standstill, a complete standstill, as Democrats try to lock up the vote of one of their own. Talking about Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia deciding whether to back his party's revised plan on jobless benefits.
Joining us now, Congresswoman Karen Bass, a Democrat of California, a key member of the Judiciary Committee, the immediate past chair of the Congressional Black Caucus as well.
Congresswoman, thanks so much for joining us.
So, the Senate has made changes to the COVID relief bill that the House passed just the other day, losing the $15 minimum wage increase, narrowing who gets stimulus checks, lowering unemployment benefits.
Democrats have no room for error in the Senate, given the 50/50 split there. Does this, though, potentially risk losing votes, Democratic votes in the House?
REP. KAREN BASS (D-CA): Well, I don't think so.
I will tell you, though, the fight for 15 is going to continue until we get it done. But the American people need the relief immediately. And I thought it was shameful what Senator Johnson did. It was abusive to the staff, who were just terrorized a couple of months ago, that he made them sit there around the clock wasting their time reading the bill, delaying.
So, you would think that my Republican colleagues would want their own constituents to get the relief that's in the bill.
[18:20:01]
BLITZER: Yes, overnight, they had to read that 650-page bill. It took them almost 11 hours to read it. You could hear it in the voice of the staff members, how irritated and tired they were getting reading page after page after page.
Were you surprised to see eight Senate Democrats vote against the $15 minimum wage today?
BASS: Well, I was a little surprised, but I think that there were different reasons why they did that.
I know a couple of the senators want to see the wage be a little lower than $15 and also want to have annual indexing. But it depends on where you are. In California, for example, we're on track to raise the minimum wage to $15, and businesses -- the state has not collapsed. As a matter of fact, the state is doing well.
And in California, it's very hard to live on $15. So, the idea that it would be even lower is a bit hard to take.
BLITZER: Yes. And, as I keep pointing out, the $7.25 current minimum wage, that was passed back in 2007. It went into effect in 2009. You can't make a living. You're in poverty if you're only earning $7.25 right now.
BASS: Yes.
BLITZER: It's got to go up.
Congressman Eric Swalwell, a Democratic colleague of yours, he's now suing former President Trump for the January 6 Capitol attack. And that follows a lawsuit by Congressman Bennie Thompson and the NAACP, for that matter. Do Democrats have a better chance of holding Trump accountable in the courts than through any congressional efforts?
BASS: Well, I really think that we should try all avenues. And I'm not surprised that there's a suit from Eric Swalwell.
I wouldn't even be surprised if you see suits in the near future from the staff, because people were just deeply affected. And I know one of the differences in his suit is, he includes other members of the Trump family and Giuliani.
But the suit that Representative Thompson has brought, I know I look forward to learning more about it and joining in that lawsuit.
BLITZER: Yes, I had Derrick Johnson, the head of the NAACP, on the show the other day, and he's part of that lawsuit as well.
Democratic Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, a woman you know well, published a report today detailing how Republicans may have expressed public support for the insurrection, this while federal investigators are looking into data showing communication between rioters and various lawmakers around the Capitol siege.
Are some members, from your perspective, Congresswoman, still fearful of some of their own colleagues?
BASS: Yes, they are.
I mean, it's to the point now that, as you know, to go vote, I have to pass through metal detectors, metal detectors, not because of the public, but because other members of Congress insist on wanting to carry guns on the House floor. It's ridiculous.
You would think that we were in the 1800s in the Wild Wild West. I have no understanding at all why a member of Congress needs to be armed on the floor of the House of Representatives.
BLITZER: Representative Karen Bass, good luck over there. Thanks so much for joining us.
(LAUGHTER)
BASS: Thank you.
BLITZER: Just ahead: more proof that masks protect against COVID-19, as multiple states are now defying health warnings and lifting their mask mandates.
And I will speak with the NBA commissioner, Adam Silver. We will talk about the pandemic safety concerns just ahead of this weekend's NBA All-Star Game.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:27:52]
BLITZER: Another hopeful sign in the pandemic tonight, a new CNN analysis finds the United States could reach herd immunity against the coronavirus by summer, this summer, through vaccinations alone.
Still, health officials are warning of potential setbacks, as some states are actually easing COVID-19 restrictions right now.
CNN's Alexandra Field looks at concerns about the loosening guidelines in Massachusetts.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Massachusetts now among the states in a sprint toward the COVID finish line.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can move forward with the reopening plan.
FIELD: If everything stays on track, Massachusetts is set to enter the final phase of its reopening plan before the end of the month, a rash of restrictions already lifted this month, concert halls, theaters and other indoor performance spaces all reopening with occupancy limits, restaurants now allowed to serve at full capacity with social distancing.
Some states are going much further, lifting virtually all COVID restrictions, like Mississippi and Texas. But here in Massachusetts, it's still a big leap, and it's raising confusion and concern.
(on camera): Not the lifeboat.
KAREN AKUNOWICZ, CHEF, FOX & THE KNIFE: Exactly, so it's certainly not a lifeboat.
FIELD (voice-over): Chef Karen Akunowicz kept her Boston restaurant up and running through the hardest parts of the pandemic. Now see says the new guidelines that let her fill her restaurant to capacity don't come with added protections for her staff.
AKUNOWICZ: I'm so disheartened that we were deemed essential through the entirety of the pandemic, but now we are not deemed essential enough to qualify for a vaccine.
FIELD: There's no date yet for when restaurant workers will qualify for vaccines in Massachusetts. So far, the state has fully vaccinated about 8 percent of its population, according to the CDC, in line with other states across the country, but far below what health experts warn is needed to keep us on the right track.
DR. ABRAAR KARAN, BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL: We have seen what happens over the last two times where we had a downslope in cases and then we had a resurgence again, and that caused us to again have to shut things down.
FIELD: After sharp declines in new cases and hospitalizations nationwide, numbers have hit a plateau.
KARAN: I do think that these high-risk venues are still high-risk, and if we can avoid them, especially until all of those around us get vaccinated, that is really the key.
FIELD (on camera): Is the governor moving too fast here?
[18:30:00]
MARTY MARTINEZ, BOSTON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CHIEF: Yes, for us I think it's clear that what we're trying to do is balance out, you know, how we reopen it.
FIELD (voice-over): Boston chief of health and human services says the city will follow the state plan but at a slower pace. Businesses that are already open like restaurants are able to increase capacity. Some businesses that haven't been allowed to reopen yet will have to wait a few more weeks.
So why not wait longer?
MARTINEZ: The only real way to sort of eliminate COVID altogether is to not reopen things, right? We've heard the same argument and we just can't do that.
FIELD: But along with plans to move forward, Martinez says there will be more accountability.
MARTINEZ: We're strengthening our enforcement, strengthening our inspections.
FIELD: Chef Akunowicz, which is once again doing her best to roll with it, teaching Zoom cooking classes at home and churning out as many meals at the restaurant as she can. Social distancing guidelines are still in place.
KAREN AKUNOWICZ, CHEF, FOX & THE KNIFE: We are very conscious, I mean, I measured it out every single table to table that they're six feet apart.
FIELD: The reminder that this normal really isn't what it was before.
Alexandria Field, CNN, Boston, Massachusetts.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And joining us now Dr. Richard Besser, the former Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Besser, thanks for joining us.
This new CDC study that just came out reinforces what you've been saying for some time, what all the experts have been saying, as if there are any doubt, masks really do work. So what's your message to our viewers who live in states that are now saying they're lifting these requirements that they don't want to require masks?
DR. RICHARD BESSER, FORMER ACTING DIRECTOR, CDC: Yes, you know, Wolf, the data are clear, and it was one of the biggest things we learned last year is that masks really work. If people wear masks it provides protection not only to themselves but to people who are around them.
So my message to those people who are in states where the mandate has been lifted, what I would say is, well, the mandate may have gone away but that isn't saying that you have to put your mask away. Do the smart thing, wear your mask, provide protection to yourself and to those around you.
I really worry that these kinds of moves, they send a signal to people that the pandemic is over, and the pandemic is on the way out. But if we let up now, we could see another surge that would be a major setback and would lead to the loss of so many lives.
BLITZER: Yes, we've got to continue to err on the side of caution. CNN analysis finds that a current pace of about 2 million shots per day, the U.S. could actually reach what's call herd immunity by late summer without even taking into account Americans who have developed a natural immunity because they had COVID. Is that the point in which we'll start to see what we all are hoping to see, a return to normal?
BESSER: Well, you know, I think over the next three months when there's enough vaccine for every adult to be vaccinated who wants to be vaccinated, that's a time when we can start to see a change. The idea that restaurants are going to full capacity when the staff who work there are not vaccinated yet, the fairness in there -- how could you do that? You know, many of the employees who work in food service, work in restaurants are lower paid employees and there's not a lot of choice there. We really have to be sure to protect our employees as we're moving forward.
BLITZER: You're absolutely right. Dr. Besser, thank you so, so much for joining us. We really appreciate it.
BESSER: Thanks, Wolf.
BLITZER: Just ahead, ware going to talk to the NBA commissioner, Adam Silver, about this weekend's All-Star game, there you see him, what's being done to keep everyone involved safe during this pandemic?
Plus, the crisis facing New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is deepening tonight. He's already facing multiple accusations of sexual harassment and now new report say top aides tried to hide the true number of coronavirus deaths in the state nursing homes. Much more right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:35:00]
BLITZER: Tonight, the NBA is moving forward with its annual All-Star Game in Atlanta this Sunday despite serious questions and concerns about COVID-19 safety. Joining us now, the NBA commissioner, Adam Silver. Adam, thanks so much for joining us. I know you've got a lot going on right now.
This weekend's All-Star Game is happening amid this pandemic. There's no bubble, I take it. So what are you doing to protect the players? These are the best basketball players in the world. What are you doing to protect them, the refs, everyone else involved in this event?
ADAM SILVER, NBA COMMISSIONER: Well, actually, Wolf, there is a bubble of sorts that we're going to be operating under in Atlanta. As you know, we operated last season when we resumed during the pandemic in Orlando in what we all referred to as a bubble. And for the All-Star events in Atlanta this year, we're truncating All-Star weekend, which is usually Friday, Saturday and Sunday into one evening of activities beginning 6:30 Sunday night.
And from the time the players arrive privately on Saturday evening to when they leave Sunday after the game, there will be in essence a work quarantine protocol. They'll only be at the hotel and will be at the arena. So they will be protected, and, of course, the testing protocol we've had in place all season, which is at least one lab based test a day and then together with a point of care test on top of that.
So, believe it or not, my greater concern is for the players who will be on break because we're taking a mid-season break right now. And while they will be following protocols, they will not be in a mini bubble of sorts. So it's the risk we're all living with COVID right now.
[18:40:01]
BLITZER: It's a horrible risk that we're living with. What about the number of fans who will be at the arena Sunday to watch all of this? Normally, it's a packed arena. I go every year, but what about this time in Atlanta?
SILVER: So, about half of our teams have fans right now. And depending on the jurisdiction, it's relatively small number of fans. In some cases, 10, 20 percent. The Hawks, the host team for All-Star this year, has had fans already for the last several games. And we're going to stall the pattern of the Hawks and have roughly 1,500 fans, but it will be invitation only. We have a partnership with the HBCUs for this game, historically black colleges and universities. And so, for example, you know, I know you well know from CNN and Atlanta that we're going to have Clark, Atlanta represented Morehouse, Spellman, three historically black colleges dating back to the 1860s in Atlanta. They will be represented along with 22 other HBCUs. So it will be invite only for those guests. We saw an opportunity here to feature those schools, the resources, the great graduates from those universities.
But, you know, I do feel it's important to say to your viewers that there will be nothing that we will be doing in Atlanta, unfortunately, that's open to the public. So, I want to discourage people from coming to Atlanta for the All-Star festivities. The players will be only at the hotel and arena and there will be no other events other than essentially a made for T.V. show coming out of the state --
BLITZER: I remember when there was an NBA all-star weekend in Atlanta, I think maybe eight or ten years ago, all the streets were jammed. People were coming in from all over the place to try to see some of the players. So, there would be about 1,500 people in the arena, an arena that holds more than 20,000. So, they will be spread out, I assume.
Let's talk about some of the substantive issues going on right now. As you know, last month, LeBron James reacted to the All-Star Game scheduling, saying he had zero excitement about this happening during the COVID crisis and after a short turnaround from last season. Are the players concerned? How are you addressing their concerns?
SILVER: We're working with the players. Look, it would be hypocritical for me to say the players should speak out on issues that are important to them but not when they're being critical of a decision that the league is making.
So, I understand for LeBron. I mean, think about last season because, obviously, they won the championship in the bubble down in Orlando, he spent a full three months there largely away from his family and his friends. And it was a somewhat short break before we began again right around Christmas week.
So, I understand LeBron's perspective. Of course, I have to look out for the well-being of 450 players in the entire league, and, again, this season is a month shorter. We're playing 72 games instead of 82 games. And All-Star weekend, just as you mentioned earlier, is historically a fan favorite. It's the number one fan engagement event. We have it a year, we have a global following. It's going to be televised in 215 countries and territories, you know, a billion social media images and views will come out of all-star.
So, again, I respect from LeBron's standpoint, he'd rather take a day off. I get it. At the end of the day, he's a professional. We conducted a draft for this All-Star on TNT on Thursday night. He was fantastic. He's been engaged in it. At the end of the day, he expressed his point of view, but then, of course, he knows that the fans want to see him and he's going to be there as the captain of his team. BLITZER: Let me get your reaction to this organization that LeBron James has founded. They're going to air a commercial on voting rights here in the United States during the game Sunday night. Let me play you a little clip. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look what we did. Look what we may have, and now look what they're trying to do to silence. Use an every trick in the book, an attack in democracy itself. But they saw what were capable of. And they fear it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: And the game, of course, is happening in Atlanta where Georgia Republicans, Adam, are trying to roll back absentee early voting guidelines in that state. How do you feel as commissioner about this next step in players' activism?
SILVER: Well, so let me begin with the commercial you just showed. I mean, I think it's fantastic that players are engaging in our democracy. I mean, that's what it's all about. And, you know, I've made this point to many who have asked me about it. It doesn't mean you necessarily have to agree with our players, but I think you should applaud their engagement in our system.
I mean, when we went down to the bubble in Orlando, you know, we were, in essence, dealing with twin pandemics.
[18:45:00]
We both had, of course COVID but also the country was roiling from racial issues stemming in part from George Floyd and other historic issues impacting black people in the United States.
And I think when the players went down there, they said we don't want to just be there as basketball players. We want to use the platform we have to speak out on issues that are important to us.
So, I applaud the engagement. As I said not everyone has to agree, but -- and hopefully people, you know, see the opportunity as Americans to engage in our system.
We had record turnout in the presidential election. I think that was fantastic, and I think our players are seeing it's not just about a presidential election. It's also city council votes matter, too. And so, they're getting engaged and people on all sides of issues are engaged.
And generally, of course, I'm in favor of voting rights. I think everyone is, and these issues have to be worked out in state legislatures.
BLITZER: Yeah, I know you're going to be raising several million dollars for the historically black colleges and universities. Do you have a number? SILVER: Well, we're beginning with at least $3 million that we're
raising, and we anticipate that through partners of the NBA over the course, you know, of the events and the attention that we'll draw to these HBCUs, you know, there'll be even more. It's not just a combination of the checks being written but the focus on the great graduates who have come out of those HBCUs.
In fact, you'll all love this, Wolf. As you know Earl Lloyd was the first black player to play in the NBA. He was a graduate of an HBCU, West Virginia State, you know?
So, it's -- there's a long tradition. We have Robert Covington from Tennessee State University from the Portland Trail Blazers who will be represented on one of the all-star competitions Sunday night, and obviously, the vice president of the United States right now is a graduate of Howard.
So there's a long legacy, and I think it's an opportunity to bring attention to those schools and their great graduates.
BLITZER: Yeah, I think it's really, really important if you're doing this kind of work. We'll be watching on our sister network the NBA on TNT.
Good luck. Let's hope everything goes smoothly. Adam Silver, the commissioner of the NBA, thanks so much for joining us.
SILVER: Thanks so much, Wolf.
BLITZER: Coming up, the New York attorney general makes a new move in the investigation of Governor Andrew Cuomo. We have new information. We'll share it with you when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:51:45]
BLITZER: Let's go to the New York governor right now, Andrew Cuomo, in crisis.
Our national correspondent Brynn Gingras has the latest developments from New York.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHARLOTTE BENNETT, FORMER AIDE TO GOV. ANDREW CUOMO: He is a textbook abuser.
BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Charlotte Bennett, the 25-year-old former staffer of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, telling CBS the man she saw as a mentor asked her to find him a girlfriend.
BENNETT: When he said he was lonely, I mentioned that his daughters had been around. And he also rejected that, and said, yeah, I love my daughters. But that's -- I want a girlfriend. GINGRAS: Bennett held an executive assistant position with the
administration last year. During one interaction with the governor when she was tasked to take dictation, Bennett says Cuomo told her to turn the recorder off, then the conversation turned personal.
BENNETT: Without explicitly saying it, he implied to me that I was old enough for him, and he was lonely.
GINGRAS: The following day, she was called to the governor's office again, and was alone.
BENNETT: I was terrified. I was shaking. I thought any moment, something can happen. And I have no power here.
NORAH O'DONNELL, CBS ANCHOR: And what happens when you're with the governor.
BENNETT: He asked me a few questions about how to use his iPhone and sends me back to wait. Then he calls me in and asks if I found him a girlfriend yet.
GINGRAS: Then it says Cuomo also seemed fixated on her history as a sexual assault survivor
BENNETT: I think abusers look forward of vulnerabilities, previous traumas, the idea that maybe I'm more willing to accept behavior because I have a history of sexual violence.
GINGRAS: Cuomo's office didn't respond to CNN's request for comment. Instead, pointed us to his apology on Wednesday.
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): I never knew at the time I was making anyone feel un uncomfortable. And I certainly never, ever meant to offend anyone.
GINGRAS: It's not the only controversy the governor is facing right now. A second over his administration's reporting of nursing home residents' COVID-19 related death data last year. "The New York Times" and "Wall Street Journal" citing an internal report from June reportedly shows the aides reworked to data in an effort to lower the death toll of these residents.
CUOMO: Nothing was hidden from anyone.
GINGRAS: The handling of the information now being looked into by the U.S. attorney's office and FBI.
ERROL LOUIS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: The consequences are going to be determined by the Justice Department. They're probing them for a reason, because you can't lie to everybody.
GINGRAS: Cuomo's staff telling us, the out of facility data was omitted after DOH could not confirm it had been adequately verified. This did not change the conclusion of the report which was and is that the March order was not a driver of nursing infections or fatalities.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GINGRAS (on camera): And, Wolf, we're getting more details about the Charlotte Bennett's interview with Norah O'Donnell, which was I'm told 3-1/2 hours long.
[18:55:06]
This dealing with how she reported the sexual harassment allegations to her workplace superiors. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENNETT: I sat down and pretty quickly just said, I love working here. I love you guys. But the governor crossed the line with me last week.
And she asked me what I was referring to. And I said, he said he was lonely, he said he wanted a girlfriend, he asked me if I had slept with older men, he said he was willing to sleep with younger women. At that point, that was enough for her. She was like, what can we do here?
O'DONNELL: Two days later, she said she was transferred to a new job.
BENNETT: It felt to me like if I had a new job, we didn't have to investigate. And I really did not want it to be investigated. I was terrified.
O'DONNELL: You were happy with the deal?
BENNETT: Yeah.
O'DONNELL: But after the meeting, Bennett texted her mom saying she felt, quote, happy, relieved, and sad. He shouldn't have robbed this experience and this path from me.
Then on June 30th, Bennett was called into a into another meeting, this time with the governor's chief of staff and general counsel.
BENNETT: It was a long and thorough conversation.
O'DONNELL: What was the reaction?
BENNETT: At first, they apologized, they said it was inappropriate. When I asked them if they could let it go, saying I don't want this to be investigated, please drop this, you know, because I was scared.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GINGRAS: CBS says they received a statement from Cuomo's administration about this particular part of the interview. It said: We continue to believe the matter was handled appropriately and look forward to cooperating fully with the attorney general's review.
Of course, though, this is an extensive interview, Wolf, that Charlotte Bennett really lays out her case, which will be part of this New York attorney general's investigation. We're still waiting to get word on who the A.G. will pick as a private attorney. But we're getting word that the office sent a letter to the Cuomo administration, making sure they preserve all documents, all logs, all communications, as it relates to these allegations -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Brynn. Thank you very much.
I want to bring in CNN senior legal analyst, the former U.S. attorney on the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara.
Preet, thanks for joining us.
What's your reaction to what we just heard from this 25-year-old woman, Charlotte Bennett?
PREET BHARARA, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: I think it bears investigation. One of the things that the governor was quoted as saying is that, the first time he learned that anyone was uncomfortable was now, in the last few days. And as that accuser makes clear, in her statement, she had a meeting with the chief of staff and general counsel of the governor's office, presumably if they were following protocols, we need to see what those protocols are, there would have been some transmission of that complaint to the governor. And one serious question is, did they follow the proper protocols?
We've also learned that there has been a request for documents to be preserved. I think there will be a lot of documents that bear on the issue, of whether or not the governor knew about these allegations at the time, whether they took the proper steps, notwithstanding the fact that this person didn't want an investigation. That doesn't necessarily you don't have investigation, and whether or not there were other people who brought complaints to bear.
The only thing we know about these one or two complaints is because these people have come forward. And I think the A.G.'s investigation has to be broad in scope and find out what other complaints were made of this nature against the governor.
BLITZER: What is the request? Get into some specifics from the state attorney general to preserve all documents related to the sexual harassment allegations against Governor Cuomo, what does this tell you right now about the investigation, the state of the investigation?
BHARARA: So, it's a standard step that proves there's a real investigation taking place. They didn't want to wait until they've appointed an outside investigator, to make clear to everyone in the governor's orbit and in that office, and related offices, that they need to be careful, and not try to sweep things under the rug, or destroy evidence or hide evidence.
If the governor and his people were doing their jobs, they would have already sent internally a message to make sure everything is preserved, because what's going to be important beyond the statements of the women is what corroborating information there is, what emails were sent back and forth within the administration, if they knew they were following protocols and procedures, or not following procedures or protocols, what other people may have come forward. So the document preservation request, though standard, is incredibly important.
BLITZER: What kind of subpoena power, if there is subpoena power, will the investigators have?
BHARARA: Presumably, broad subpoena power, to try to get any documentation that's relevant to the matter, including these emails that I've been discussing, access to other complaints were made against the governor, to find out what he knew and when, and whether or not those things were follow. I'm going to give you another example, something the governor said this week.
BLITZER: Very quickly, we only have a few seconds.
BHARARA: He was asked if he took the same -- if he took the same sexual harassment training that other people had, he said yes. That should be readily provable and goes to his state of mind.
BLITZER: All right. Preet Bharara, we're going to continue this conversation. Thanks very much.
And to our viewers, thanks for watching.
"ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT" starts right now.
