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CDC Releases New Guidelines For Fully Vaccinated Americans; President Biden To Deliver First Primetime Address On Thursday; Britain's Royal Family In Crisis; Trial Begins For Former Minneapolis Officer Accused Of Killing George Floyd; NY AG Names Two High-Profile Attorneys To Lead Cuomo Sexual Harassment Investigation; NYC Prosecutors' Probe Into Trump Finances. Aired 5-6p ET

Aired March 08, 2021 - 17:00   ET

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

[17:00:00]

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And of course, we would love to hear a response about these two appointments made by the attorney general for this investigation that will be mainly focused on him. Pam?

PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: Yes. A lot of questions. All right, Brynn Gingras, thank you so much, reporting live from New York. Follow me on Twitter @PamaleBrownCNN or tweet the show @TheLeadCNN. Our coverage continues right now.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST (on camera): Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM. We're following major new developments in the coronavirus crisis. New CDC guidance for some 30 million Americans who are now fully vaccinated.

They are now being told they can safely visit unmasked in small groups and visit unvaccinated family members who are not at high risk. But they're also being told, they're being encouraged to continue to mask up in public and to try to avoid travel.

This new guidance comes as the $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill nears its final passage in the House of Representatives. That's expected -- now expected on Wednesday. And on Thursday, President Biden will deliver the first prime time address of his presidency to mark one year since the nation shut down.

We're also tracking fallout from that bombshell interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex whose allegations of racism and neglect have plunged the British royal family into crisis. The Harry and Meghan interview by the way is airing right now for the first time in Britain. We're going to go there live later this hour for the latest reaction.

First, let's get the details of the new CDC guidance just out for more than 30 million Americans who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Our national correspondent, Erica Hill, is working the story for us. Erica, new freedoms for those lucky enough to be fully vaccinated. ERICA HILL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right. And as you

mentioned, that number is now above 30 million here in the U.S. of people who are fully vaccinated. This guidance, we've been waiting for it, for weeks at this point as people are just looking for some rules essentially or some gentle guidance on what they can do safely once fully vaccinated.

The good news, Wolf, a lot of questions about can grandparents see their grandkids? The short answer is yes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HILL (voice-over): More shots in arms, more hope on the horizon.

ROCHELLE WALENSKY, CDC DIRECTOR: We are starting to turn a corner.

HILL (voice-over): The CDC finally offering long awaited guidance today for the more than 30 million people in the U.S. who are now fully vaccinated.

WALENSKY: If grandparents have been vaccinated they can visit their daughter and her family, even if they have not been vaccinated.

HILL (voice-over): Also okay, visits with other fully vaccinated folks, no masks or distance required, visits with low-risk unvaccinated individuals from a single household, also no mask or distance required. Plus no need to quarantine or test after known exposure to someone who has tested positive, but is asymptomatic. Travel still discouraged. Masks and physical distance still recommended in public, even when fully vaccinated.

JORGE RODRIGUEZ, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: You have to keep an open mind and we have to realize that right now, the flood gates are not open. We have to come out cautiously, cautiously.

HILL (voice-over): The CDC noting guidance will evolve as we learn more about the virus. While the pace of vaccinations is improving, the U.S. now averaging more than 2 million shots a day, equity remains an issue.

MARCELLA NUNEZ-SMITH, CHAIR, COVID-19 HEALTH EQUITY TASK FORCE: Assuming equity is not an aspirational goal. This is mission critical. Absent equity, we will not be able to stop this pandemic from continuing to claim lives, strain our healthcare system and weaken our economy.

HILL (voice-over): Key virus metrics continue their decline. Hospitalizations cut in half over the last month. Deaths also dropping. Average new cases now at levels not seen since October. But --

ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: Plateauing at a level of 60,000 to 70,000 new cases per day is not an acceptable level. That is really very high.

HILL (voice-over): Plus, fast-spreading variants on the rise. And yet more states are easing restrictions. Bike week pulling into Florida's Daytona Beach over the weekend.

RICHARD TRUDO, OUT-OF-STATE VISITOR: We've been locked up for a year. We had to do something to get out of town and do something fun.

HILL (voice-over): More states dropping mask mandates.

TATE REEVES, GOVERNOR OF MISSISSIPPI: We have to get our economy rolling so that individuals can get back to work. I actually trust Mississippians to make good decisions.

HILL (voice-over): Masks not mandated in Idaho, but even the recommendation of face coverings too much for some.

BRAD LITTLE, GOVERNOR OF IDAHO: It's not helpful for people to be burning masks. We want people to choose to make the right decision to wear a mask.

LEANNA WEN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: Masks and vaccines are our ticket out of the pandemic.

HILL (voice-over): Two simple measures with enormous impact.

(END VIDEOTAPTE)

HILL (on camera): And just picking up on that, Wolf, Dr. Walensky a short time ago today also urging Americans, in her words, to be part of the action that gets us out of the pandemic.

[17:05:03]

She said what happens next, whether we see another surge, is really going to depend on what happens in the next two months. And she said she hopes that local leaders will continue to encourage masks, physical distancing and also, Wolf, to encourage vaccinations.

BLITZER: Good advice all around. Erica Hill in New York for us. Thank you. Let's get to more on all of this. Our chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is joining us right now. So Sanjay, what do you hope our viewers will take away from these very important new CDC guidelines for what fully vaccinated people can safely do?

SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, I think the primary thing that people will take away is that there is a difference, there's an advantage to getting vaccinated because I don't think people have really heard that up until now that they heard that they were vaccinated.

And it was really important because that would protect them against getting ill, which is important, but they really couldn't do anything different with their lives. So, this is different now, Wolf. We can just show you.

First of all, fully vaccinated, that's an important term because that means if you received the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccine, two weeks after that second shot. The Johnson & Johnson is two weeks after the first shot. But here it is. You know, you can visit indoors with fully vaccinated

people. You don't need to wear a mask. You don't need to distance. You can be inside. So, that's different. That's going to feel much more normal.

You can also do the same thing if you're visiting a single household that is considered low risk, people who have been in low-risk situations. So, those types of things, I think, are going to feel the most different, I think, at least based on these new recommendations, Wolf.

BLITZER: I thought it was notable, Sanjay, that the CDC is recommending that Americans, even those who are fully vaccinated, continue to avoid unnecessary travel. Explain the thinking behind that.

GUPTA: I think they're being cautious, Wolf. I've spoken to people involved with these decisions. I think they're being cautious. I mean, there's a couple of things to keep in mind. There haven't been these large outbreaks associated with airline travel as a starting point, even before this discussion.

Airlines generally have better, sort of air exchanges than even, you know, residences or public buildings. But I think the idea that even if you're vaccinated, you're in a situation where you could come across someone who is vulnerable, either because of their age or because of pre-existing conditions.

Could you potentially, you know, very low likelihood, but potentially be a carrier? Possibly. And I think that that's what they're sort of driving at. Wolf, I can tell you that these recommendations will continue to change. I think they will be directly tied to vaccination rates.

So, we're at 10 percent now. In two weeks from now, we could be at 20 percent of the country vaccinated. And at that point, you may see a further loosening of these recommendations, Wolf.

BLITZER: Because the assumption is that if you're on a plane, even if the plane is pretty full and everybody is wearing masks, the ventilation system aboard the aircraft is pretty good. It's pretty rare that you're going to come down with COVID, right?

GUPTA: Yes. I mean, we've followed this, Wolf, I mean, you know, since the start because as you might imagine, this is a concern. You're in an enclosed location. But if there were going to be these big outbreaks associated with air travel, I think we would have seen them by now because as you just saw those numbers on the screen, a lot of people have been still traveling, right.

We had a million people a day roughly for the last four days. So it's -- we've been tracking that and we haven't seen those outbreaks. But again, Wolf, I think there's a tone difference now, right? When you look at these recommendations, first of all, they are coming straight from the CDC. Second of all, they're not binary. You can only do this, you can't do

that. You hear low risk, medium risk, high risk. But there's still a cautiousness about these recommendations.

BLITZER: There should be. This is really important. Sanjay, thank you very, very much.

There's another key development emerging right now in the COVID crisis, final passage of President Biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus plan. Our senior White House correspondent Phil Mattingly is joining us right now. Phil, this was the president's number one priority. Update us on the very latest.

PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Yes, Wolf, from the moment President Joe Biden walked into the Oval Office 48 days ago, getting a handle on the pandemic was his and his entire administration's primary focus. And crucial to that focus, this $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package that the president will likely sign into law by the end of this week.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: And one more thing. This plan is historic.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): Tonight, President Joe Biden on the verge of clinching a transformative victory as he prepares to deliver his very first prime time address this week.

UNKNOWN: -- the bill as amended is passed.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): The Senate completing its marathon consideration of Biden's sweeping $1.9 trillion COVID relief proposal on Saturday with the House scheduled to follow suit later this week. And Biden, while highlighting vaccinations for veterans today, making clear he is unequivocally ready to sign.

BIDEN: As soon as I get it.

[17:10:00]

MATTINGLY (voice-over): Even as his administration continues to work behind the scenes to ensure the pathway is clear.

JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Obviously our focus continues to be on the American Rescue Plan, getting it across the finish line. The president is taking nothing for granted.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): The GOP opposition unyielding. Not a single House or Senate Republican voting for the plan.

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): This isn't a pandemic rescue package. It's a parade of left-wing pet projects that are ramming through -- they are ramming through during the pandemic.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): But the House vote will complete Biden's top task from the moment he set foot in the Oval Office, passing a sweeping bill to address the dual economic and public health crisis confronting his administration. The scale of the bill and its focus on those at or below the poverty line almost without precedent.

The stimulus checks, which would provide $5,600 for a typical family of four making less than $100,000. Extensions of emergency unemployment benefits for roughly 11 million Americans, an unprecedented expansion of child tax credit which would reach 66 million and is estimated to cut child poverty in half.

An expansion of the earned income tax credit for 17 million. Tens of billions of dollars for rental and homeowner assistance, and quietly bolstering the Affordable Care Act to reduce premiums for millions. Top Biden advisers in an internal staff memo obtained by CNN calling the package "a historic response to the moment of crisis we face."

PSAKI: We can't lose sight of what the bill actually means for the American people.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): Still, warning signs for Biden's future plans in the form of Democratic Senator Joe Manchin who is demanding bipartisanship on issues like infrastructure and immigration.

SEN. JOE MANCHIN (D-WV): I'm not willing to go into reconciliation until we at least give bipartisanship or get working together or allow the Senate to do its job. Just by assuming that hey, they'll never work with us, that's the other side. This is tribal. Republicans will never agree on anything or Democrats will never agree. I don't subscribe to that.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): For now, Biden firmly in Manchin's camp and maintaining the rules of the Senate in search of bipartisanship.

PSAKI: The president's preference is not to get rid of the filibuster. Look what we've been able to accomplish in the last six weeks.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): All as Biden is making clear, that whatever lies ahead for his agenda, his cornerstone legislative proposal is a big deal.

BIDEN: By passing this plan we would have delivered real tangible results for the American people and their families. And they'll be able to see and know and feel the change in their own lives.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MATTINGLY (on camera): And Wolf, White House advisers say the president's speech on Thursday prime time address will hail the likely passage of that coronavirus relief package, but it won't serve as the end game to the entire process, but rather the beginning.

The administration acknowledging they believe back in 2009 when President Barack Obama passed the stimulus, they did not do a good job of selling that proposal making sure people understood what was actually in that. So, far from immediately starting on a new legislative push, expect

the next several weeks I'm told, to focus on selling this proposal, making sure individuals know what they will get, what they should have access to, and making sure the implementation of these programs.

From getting checks out the door, to kicking into gear, the vaccine distribution plan, the national testing plan that will be the primary focus. Making sure, as Biden had said several times, that the government is actually working for the people who elected him. Wolf?

BLITZER: And President Biden wants to sign it into law this week. The deadline really is Sunday, that's when millions of Americans, Phil, would lose their extended unemployment benefits if this doesn't become the law, right?

MATTINGLY: That's right. March 14th is the deadline. And Wolf, it's important not to just get it done by March 14th, but as early as possible. These are state-based systems that often time take several days to kick into gear.

That is why they're trying to get the House to pass this as soon as possible. Right now, still waiting for the Senate to send the bill over. Expectation or at least hope I'm hearing from House aides, is to get it passed and over to the White House by Wednesday, Wolf.

BLITZER: Yes. And then Thursday night the president wants to do this prime time address. We'll see what happens. Phil Mattingly, thank you very, very much.

Up next, we'll have more on the pending passage of the COVID relief bill and the president's upcoming first prime time address to the nation. We'll talk to about it with Biden senior adviser Cedric Richmond. He's there at the White House. We're going to him next.

Plus, dramatic fallout from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's bombshell interview. We'll go live to the U.K. where Britons are now seeing it for the first time.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:15:00]

BLITZER: President Biden is now nearing his first major legislative victory, a huge one, although he will likely have to wait until Wednesday for the House of Representative to vote on final passage of his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package.

The president will deliver his first prime time address to the nation on Thursday night. Joining us now to discuss is Biden's senior adviser, former congressman, Cedric Richmond. Cedric, thanks very much for joining us.

We thought the final vote in the House will happen tomorrow. Now it's being delayed a day. Is there any risk, from your perspective -- you only have about four votes to, you know, move around. Any risk that this relief package doesn't get passed in time to help the millions of Americans whose unemployment benefits will run out on Sunday?

CEDRIC RICHMOND, SENIOR BIDEN ADVISER: Wolf, we certainly hope not. This legislation is some of the most transformative legislation to be passed in the United States history especially during my lifetime. And I think that the Democrats in the House understand that and I think there's a real urgency to get it done so that we don't leave the 11 million people whose unemployment insurance will run out on, I think it's Saturday or Sunday, so we won't leave them out there hanging.

BLITZER: Ar you convinced that all the progressives, you need them all, basically, will go ahead and vote for final passage in the house even though they didn't like some of the stud done in the Senate?

RICHMOND: I think so because you have to look at what the bill does. The bill is really progressive. Bernie Sanders, tout it as the -- some of the most significant legislation for working families in modern history. We lift 11 million people out of poverty. We reduce child poverty by 50 percent. And 158 million households will get at least $1,400 checks to help them through this economic crisis.

[17:20:04]

That's a big deal. And I think that members of the House, I know what they feel. I know what they fight for every day. And this is the exact type of thing that they want to see happen. And so, yes, I'm encouraged and hopeful that we will be able to get this done no later than Wednesday and give Americans some assurance that the government will have their back.

BLITZER: The president is set to give his first prime time address to the nation Thursday night, one year since the start of this pandemic, the government shutdown -- not the government shutdown, the country shutdown for all practical purposes. What's the single most important message, Cedric, that the president needs to convey Thursday night to the American people?

RICHMIND: Well, I think he's going to convey the same message he did on the campaign trail, which was, he has a plan. He's executing that plan. And as a country, we're going to come together. We're going to beat this pandemic. We're going to rise from this economic crisis, and then we're going to build back better, which means we're not going to leave anybody behind this time.

We're going to make sure that we bring everybody along with us. And we want to make sure we expand the middle class and we help those that want to aspire to the middle class. And so I think that's going to be his message. I have not seen it and I have not talked to him about it.

But if I know Joe Biden, President Biden, he does exactly what he says he's going to do. And on the campaign trail he said he was going to pass this plan and then he would build back better.

BLITZER (on camera): I know you've been working really hard over there at the White House on equity when it comes to the COVID response. You and I are big NBA basketball fans. The NBA also dedicated the All-Star Weekend to that issue. But I want you to watch what Lebron James had to say about whether he will get vaccinated. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEBRON JAMES, NBA PLAYER: That's a conversation, you know, that my family and I will have, you know. And pretty much probably keep that to a private thing. That's a conversation between you and your family and not for everybody. So, I'll keep it that way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER (on camera): I was surprised when he said that because I thought he missed an opportunity to convince all of his fans it's so critically important, lifesaving, to get that vaccine. What's your reaction, Cedric?

RICHMOND: Look, the unfortunate part is it doesn't surprise me. There's some real hesitancy in African-American males and this administration since before we were sworn in, we were holding calls with influencers, especially African-American males, with the future surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, so that he can answer those tough questions.

Look, we've asked celebrities and others to come out and talk in favor of getting vaccinated. But what we've been doing is giving them access to the experts so that they believe in it when they say it. And so, look, I just take this as an opportunity to make sure that we get Lebron with Dr. Fauci or Vivek Murthy so that he can understand the science behind it.

Look, it was a vaccine created in 10 months, usually takes five to 10 years, with a former administration that was not that truthful. African-Americans have a history with Tuskegee experiment and other things. So, there is a hesitancy there, but what we're doing is being as transparent as we can.

We saw the president and vice president take it on TV. And we're going to keep pushing Americans that the safest thing you can do for your family, your friends, and especially your parents, is to get vaccinated. And the sooner we do that, the sooner we can open this country completely wide open for everyone.

So, it just gives us a chance to do what I think we need to do with a lot of people, and that's educate them on how safe the vaccines are and then hopefully Lebron James will come around and feel comfortable in telling everybody his decision.

But Lebron James has been such a socially conscious athlete that, you know, there's nothing I can say bad about Lebron. I mean, he has been a superstar in the community and on the court. So, we'll just take it as a chance to educate.

BLITZER: Well, good luck because I totally agree. I'm a huge Lebron fan as I'm sure you are as well. I was a little surprised to hear him express that hesitancy, but let's see what happens down the road. You have no hesitancy though, right, Cedric? RICHMOND: No, I've actually had the vaccine already. Well, I had COVID

and I had the vaccine already. Look, it's responsible and, you know, I want my son to be able to hug my mother. I want to be able to hug my mother myself. And I think the only responsible way to do that is for everybody to get vaccinated.

BLITZER: I totally agree. All right. Thanks so much, Cedric. Good luck over there. Appreciate it very much.

RICHMOND: Thanks again, Wolf.

BLITZER: Coming up, Britain's royal family in crisis as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle allege racism, neglect, and more in a truly extraordinary interview that's airing, by the way, right now in Britain.

Plus, we have details of an unexpected delay in the trial of a former police officer charged in the death of George Floyd.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:25:00]

BLITZER: Right now, Britons are getting their first look at the truly explosive interview in which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made explosive allegations about the royal family, which they cite as part of their reason for leaving the country.

CNN's Isa Soares is joining us right now from Windsor. Isa, the royal family has seen its share of scandals over the years. This seems to be unprecedented.

ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Very much so. Good evening to you, Wolf. It is a jaw-dropping interview by royal standards. That is for sure. And tonight, in this hour in fact, the U.K., people are sitting down, Britons are sitting down to watch this interview from with Harry and Meghan.

[17:30:01]

And as we wait, really for any sort of feedback from really response from Buckingham Palace, or from the royal household, still questions up in the air as to how exact, what exactly happened behind closed doors. Of course, the royal family has plenty to answer for wolf of allegations of neglect, as well as racism.

What we heard in that interview with Oprah was a prince who said he felt trapped. And he felt confined in this space, as well as a Duchess who felt so desolated. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

MEGHAN MARKLE, DUCHESS OF SUSSEX: And then they're non senior members. As we said --

SOARES (voice-over): I'm protected, unloved. And according to the royal couple, undermined by the firm.

MARKLE: I just didn't want to be alive anymore. And that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought.

SOARES: A feeling so intense it drove the Duchess to consider suicide.

MARKLE: We had to go to this event, and I remember him saying, I don't think you can go and I said, I can't be left alone.

OPRAH WINFREY, TV HOST: Because you were afraid of what you might do to yourself.

SOARES: But the onslaught continued with negative coverage of Meghan Markle, the royal family, she says, didn't lift a finger to defend her.

One of the more shocking moments involved a conversation Harry says he had with an unnamed member of the royal household about their firstborn son.

MARKLE: And also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born.

WINFREY: What?

MARKLE: And --

WINFREY: Who is having that conversation with you? What?

MARKLE: So --

WINFREY: There is a conversation, hold -- it hold out, stop right down.

MARKLE: There are several conversations.

SOARES: A stunning revelation that is tonight, rocking the royal household, which is yet to issue a response.

WINFREY: Yes. And he did not share the identity with me, but he wanted to make sure that I knew and if I had an opportunity to share it, that it was not his grandmother nor his grandfather, that were a part of those conversations.

SOARES: So who said it? And why did the royal family decide to deny Archie their son, a royal title and refuse to provide him with security.

MARKLE: The idea of our son not being safe, and also the idea of the first member of color in this family not being titled in the same way that other grandchildren would be?

SOARES: As ever, the couple has polarized the nation.

PIERS MORGAN, "GOOD MORNING BRITAIN" CO-ANCHOR: This is a two hour trash athon of our royal family. SOARES: This reminder of the attacks they had tried to shield their growing family from. Attacks that they say drove them to step down as working Royals, and starting new life in America away from a family and a father Harry says wasn't there when he needed the most.

PRINCE HARRY, DUKE OF SUSSEX: I feel really locked down. Because he's been through something similar. He knows what pain feels like. And this is, and Archie is his grandson.

SOARES: The wounds still roll. And while Harry says he wants to heal this Rift, the couple of scathing words could have the opposite effect.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

SOARES: Now, Wolf, the royal family thus far and the palace have been very tight lipped. Of course, the interview has been airing in the last hour here in the UK, but the royal family does have traditionally a policy of No Comment. But following this interview and these allegations that you heard out just there from Meghan and from Harry question, though, is whether they will be keeping to their policy or what they have to shift and really answer to those allegations. Wolf.

BLITZER: I guess the reaction on the street, the general reaction is -- has been mixed, some people supporting Harry and Meghan but other saying they did the wrong thing. Is that right?

SOARES: Very much. So speaking to people throughout London, the streets of London today, I was very surprised to see some of the reaction. I've heard people, I've heard vitriol, I think it's fair to say, I've had people praising Megan for standing out for coming out and speaking the truth. And I've heard many other saying that Meghan has led Harry astray and that together, they are bringing down the royal family.

So very, very mixed reactions. But it'll be interesting seeing once you've heard the interview in context and many people are hearing today, whether that will change as of tomorrow morning. Wolf?

BLITZER: All right, Isa, thank you very, very much. We'll get back to you.

Coming up either trial begins for the former police officer accused of murdering George Floyd.

We're going to take a look back at the case that changed the nation. Plus, we now know who will be leading the investigations of the sexual harassment allegations against the New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:39:21]

BLITZER: Very high tension and tight security jury selection now is expected to begin tomorrow for the former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who's accused of murdering George Floyd. CNN's Brian Todd is joining us right now. Brian this case brought about a reckoning on racism across the US.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right, Wolf. You know, this has been a historic journey for the entire country from George Floyd's death until this moment. There are not many observers who wouldn't argue that America is a different country from what it was a little over nine months ago.

We have to warn viewers the story contains some video that some might find disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

TODD (voice-over): It started with a police call over someone using a cane counterfeit $20 bill at a Minneapolis store. Officers found 46- year-old George Floyd in a parked car nearby.

[17:40:02]

Officers found 46-year-old George Floyd in a parked car nearby.

GEORGE FLOYD, HIP-HOP ARTIST: I can't breathe officer.

TODD: And as they move to put him into a squad car, Officer Derek Chauvin placed his knee on Floyd's neck for almost eight minutes, as Floyd cried out that he couldn't breathe.

AREVA MARTIN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Quite simply the video we watched as a nation as an entire grow where people watched the eight minutes that Chauvin kneeled on the back of George Floyd as he called out not once not twice, but at least 20 times, stating that he could not breathe and in his last cry was for his mother.

TODD: Within days, charges were announced against Chauvin.

KEITH ELLISON, MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL: That solution to that pain will be slow and difficult work of constructing justice and fairness in our society.

TODD: Chauvin has pleaded not guilty to second degree unintentional murder and second degree manslaughter charges. Three other former officers who are on the scene with Chauvin are charged with aiding and abetting second degree murder and aiding and abetting second degree manslaughter. They've pleaded not guilty.

Almost immediately after George Floyd's death, protesters stormed onto the streets of Minneapolis burning down a police precinct. Within the next couple of days, cities around the country exploded in anger.

But an overwhelming image was also that of peaceful protest with estimates of some 25 million people on America's streets engaging in genuine discussions on racial inequality and police brutality.

NBA players took the lead among sports leagues and calling for change, boycotting games, wearing slogans on racial justice on their jerseys, Confederate monuments and symbols were removed, changes that few could have imagined also came. Washington's football team got rid of its offensive nickname that it had had since the early 30s.

JOEY JACKSON, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: This was an everyone movement. If you looked at those crowds, you saw people who were of all colors and all persuasion.

TODD: Calls for police reform were met with real action. Minneapolis voted to defund its police department and shift some resources elsewhere.

BRIDGETT FLOYD, GEORGE FLOYD'S SISTER: We have to be the change --

TODD: By summer's end when George Floyd's family led the March on Washington, many observers believed America's racial reckoning had reached a point of no return.

MARTIN: There is not a conversation taking place in this country right now that doesn't involve systemic racism and how the impact of decisions that are made by lawmakers and policy makers and, you know, funding institutions in this country. how those decisions impact people of color.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

TODD: Areva Martin and Joey Jackson told us they believe the next focal point of the George Floyd saga will come with this trial of officer Chauvin and the trials of the other officers were on the scene. That moment they say will be a discussion about police accountability, how police forces train and that in screen, the officers who they hire and how they train them how to deal with issues of race, Wolf.

BLITZER: Very important. All right, Brian, thank you very much. Let's discuss that with the President and CEO of the NAACP. Derrick Johnson. Derrick, thanks so much for joining us. Very uncommon for police officers to face legal consequences after killing a civilian. How significant would a guilty verdict be in this case?

DERRICK JOHNSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO, NAACP: That would be hugely significant. This is not a reckoning around racism is a reckoning around our criminal justice system. And what we have a just system to hold people accountable despite what titles they carry, as so important in this moment that law enforcement officers who the world watch, kill an individual in broad daylight be held accountable as unreviewable.

And it no matter what defense they put forward he was allegedly trading with a counterfeit $20 bill. It is not a crime for the death penalty. It is not a crime by wish those officers had the right to take his life.

BLITZER: There's a new poll. I don't know if you saw Derrick in USA Today that found Americans are increasingly pessimistic about race relations right now among white Americans. Look at this just 13 percent think race relations have improved over the past year compared to 35 percent who think they've actually worsened and black Americans are even more pessimistic. 10 percent say race relations have gotten better, while more than half 54 percent say things have gotten worse in the past year. What do you what are those numbers say to you?

JOHNSON: It tells me that the previous administration created an atmosphere where xenophobia racism, anti-semitic behavior became part of the mainstream. And we've seen people act out whether is the book of Boogaloo boys, Three Percenters, Proud Boys, and the commander in chief himself what we witnessed on January 6, make no mistakes about it. It was domestic terrorism fueled by white supremacy mentality.

[17:45:08]

But this was an opportunity to move in a different direction. This is an opportunity to ensure that our justice system is actually fixed and that our communities can begin to focus on what type of nation we will want to be looking towards 2030 and removing ourselves from this specter of white supremacists behavior based in 1950.

BLITZER: All right, Derrick, thanks very much. Derek Johnson of the NAACP, appreciate it.

There's more breaking news coming up next. New York's Attorney General now has picked the lawyers who will lead the investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against Governor Andrew Cuomo as he faces new calls to resign. Plus, we have details of the long-awaited CDC guidance for Americans fully vaccinated against the Coronavirus will be right.

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[17:50:21]

BLITZER: There's breaking news in the sexual harassment allegations facing the New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Our national correspondent Jason Carroll's in New York working the story for us. Jason that we now know who will actually lead on the New York State investigation into these accusations tell us about that.

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Right. Wolf, there are to lead investigators, the Attorney General making those -- announcing those names today one is a former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Joon Kim, the other is an employment discrimination attorney. Her name is Anne Clark. The governor for his part, saying he will be fully cooperating with that investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

CARROLL (voice-over): Embattled New York Governor Andrew Cuomo finds himself with fewer allies this evening as more calls come in from his own party to resign. The state senate majority leader a Democrat saying we need to govern without daily distraction for the good of the state Governor Cuomo must resign.

The assembly speaker in agreement saying in a news release, I think it is time for the governor to seriously consider whether he can effectively meet the needs of the people of New York.

Cuomo remaining defiant just by two more women accusing him of inappropriate conduct.

GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D), NEW YORK: I was elected by the people of the state. I wasn't elected by politicians. I'm not going to resign because of allegations. The premise of resigning because of allegations is actually anti-democratic.

CARROLL: One of the newer accusers Karen Hinton, we called an incident 21 years ago when Cuomo was Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and she was a consultant working for him. Hinton telling CNN, Cuomo asked her about her marriage and personal questions before embracing her inside his hotel room.

I thought it was too close for too long, and I felt it was too intimate. I just walked away like it's time for me to leave. Cuomo and says he has never touched anyone inappropriately and strongly denied the allegations.

CUOMO: Miss Hinton, every woman has a right to come forward. That's true. But the truth also matters. What she said is not true. She has been a longtime political adversary of mine. Highly critical for many, many years.

CARROLL: Several women have now accused Cuomo of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior. Analysts a former staffer telling the Wall Street Journal, the governor asked her if she had a boyfriend called her sweetheart, touched her on her lower back at a reception and once kissed her hand when she rose from her desk.

Cuomo again defended his actions.

CUOMO: I say to people in the office, how are you doing? How's everything, you're going out? Are you dating? That's my way of doing friendly banter.

CARROLL: This state lawmaker has heard enough from the governor and says his time should be up.

YUH-LINE NIOU (D), NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY: I think that there are a lot of grounds for his for his impeachment. There's also a lot of grounds for his resignation.

CARROLL: Still, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stopping short of calling from Cuomo's resignation, saying an investigation into the allegations should be completed by the State's Attorney General.

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY) MAJORITY LEADER: I have confidence that she will do that full and for thorough investigation, she will turn over every stone and not let any outside interference political or otherwise occurred.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

CARROLL: And Wolf as for that investigation, the team leading that investigation will be issuing a report that we report will be made public. And in addition to that an attorney representing one of the accusers speaking out about this investigative team tonight saying that she's encouraged by the team saying that it shows that the attorney general is quote, taking the matter very seriously. Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Jason, thank you very much. I mean, while there's more breaking news coming into THE SITUATION ROOM right now sources telling CNN that the Manhattan District Attorney's Office has subpoenaed documents from an investment company that loaned millions of dollars to the Trump Organization. CNN's Kara Scannell is working in the story for us. Kara, so what does this mean for the former president?

KARA SCANNELL, CNN REPORTER: Well, Wolf, that's right, so we're learning now sources telling CNN that the Manhattan District Attorney's Office has expanded its investigation to include a $130 million loan made to the Trump Organization for its hotel and condo Tower in Chicago.

Now, sources tell me that the prosecutors had subpoenaed Fortress Investment Group that's the company that had made a $130 million loan to the Trump Organization several years ago. And the reason why this is interesting is because Fortress then agreed to forget about $100 million of that loan.

[17:55:03]

So prosecutors are looking into whether the Trump Organization properly accounted for that loan (INAUDIBLE) and its taxes and whether they paid appropriate taxes on that loan. It's just another area that is now under scrutiny.

Now, the spokesman for the District Attorney's Office declined to comment as a spokesperson for Fortress. I reached Alan Garten, the general counsel for the Trump Organization. He declined to comment, though he previously told The New York Times that the Trump Organization appropriately paid for and, excuse me, appropriately accounted for and paid for all taxes on forgiven debts. Wolf.

BLITZER: Good reporting. Excellent reporting. As usual, Kara, thank you very much. Coming up new CDC guidelines for more than 30 million Americans who are now fully vaccinated.

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