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Don Lemon Tonight

New York Democrats Demand Gov. Cuomo's Resignation; Stimulus Payment To Start Going Out This Weekend; President Biden Focuses On COVID Relief Bill And Vaccine Plan; Minneapolis Will Pay George Floyd's Estate $27 Million; Juror Selected In Trial Of Derek Chauvin; Harry and Meghan Allege Royal Family of Racism; Breonna Taylor's Mother Says Lack of Justice is Still Unbelievable; Capitol Insurrection; CNN Hero: Overcoming a Lack of Accessibility. Aired 11p- 12a ET

Aired March 12, 2021 - 23:00   ET

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


[23:00:00]

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DON LEMON, CNN HOST: Tonight, the pressure is growing on New York some battled Governor, Andrew Cuomo, to resign. New York's two U.S. Senators, majority leader Senators, majority leader Chuck Schumer, and Kirsten Gillibrand, joining most of the states' Congressional Democrats in calling on Cuomo to step down due to multiple allegations of sexual harassment, and his handling of COVID-19 deaths at state nursing homes.

President Joe Biden celebrating the new $1.9 trillion COVID relief law at a ceremony in the Rose Garden today. And telling Americans that help is here. The treasury department confirming tonight the first batch of stimulus payments will start going out to Americans in need this weekend.

Let's discuss. Matt Lewis is here. He is a senior columnist for the Daily Beast. And CNN political commentator Ana Navarro. Good evening to both of you. Ana, let's start with you. So, President Biden -- a huge week him, got something done at the majority of Americans want it while the GOP was essentially MIA, has the Republican Party given up on governing?

ANA NAVARRO, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Actually, I think they're governing a lot, and trying to do a lot of changes, but I also think they are gaslighting a lot. Don, you know, we're focused on what is happening in Washington. But I think one of the most transcendental things going on in the country right now, is that there are 253 pieces of legislation being (inaudible) by Republican legislators and legislatures all across this country, they are going to affect elections to come for decades should they pass.

In 43 states, beyond the state where I am, in Florida, they're trying to make it harder to vote by mail. In states like Georgia, they're trying to make it harder for souls to the polls. And there are so many different restrictions going on. In the meantime, we are focused on Dr. Seuss, Mr. Potato Head. And I think the newest one is pepe le pew, the skunk. The cartoon. It's been a very good week for children's books, toys, and cartoons while they distract us from this major thing going on all over the country.

LEMON: Yes. I made that point earlier. I think it's a strategy to get people to focus on what one hand is doing, while they're doing a sleight of hand with the other hand.

[23:05:01]

So, Matt, listen. Your new piece is title, my party has been overtaken by cancel culture trolls. Is this why Republican got steamrolled on COVID relief because they care more about Dr. Seuss and Mr. Potato Head than policy?

MATT LEWIS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes, I think that's definitely part of it, Don. Look, this $1.9 trillion COVID stimulus bill, and I think some of that money was probably well needed. But, man, $1.9 trillion is a lot of money. The conservative movement, there was a time when I think they would have seen this massive growth in government and spending as problematic. And they might have, you know not only voted against it, but presented a coherent argument against it, right.

It used to be that one-third of the conservative movement consisted of fiscal conservatives. The other two were social conservatives and national conservatives -- national security conservatives. You hardly heard anything about this spending. Basically, they were MIA, Don. And I think that they're much more focused on fighting this culture war, but they've actually surrendered, I think, the social contract here. The expectation of the agreement, the implicit agreement between government and the individual.

LEMON: Yeah. So, Ana --

NAVARRO: Matt, I agree, but I think they surrendered -- I think fiscal conservatives surrendered a long time ago, way before Joe Biden. Because the spending, the last four years, under Trump, has also been out of control. And I think that the COVID stimulus package under Trump was also quite bloated. Could have been smaller. And could have been more targeted to small businesses and people more in need. And also there needs to be more vigilance.

And I hope it's a lesson that the Biden administration has learned. There needs to be more vigilance, as to there not being fraud and people not taking advantage of loopholes, and people not using stimulus money to go buy themselves Lamborghinis and Maserati's. Things that happen under Trump. The fiscal conservatives have been MIA, kind of quiet for a long, long time, because they were acceding to everything Donald Trump did and asked for, and as we know, Donald Trump is really good at spending.

LEMON: Do you want to respond, Matt?

LEWIS: I think that Donald Trump really discredited conservatives. For one thing, how could you possibly go talking about spending when your Party didn't even acknowledge that Joe Biden won the election, right? So, he's discredited them, I think, morally. But also just in terms of fiscal policy.

I mean, on his right, Donald Trump spent money like a drunken sailor. And Republicans supported that spending. And so now for Republicans to come in and oppose it, all of the sudden when its Joe Biden doing it, it would look hypocritical. So, I think that what we are seeing here, you know, some of us, we're concerned that Donald Trump not only would he be a very bad president, but that Donald Trump would actually discredit and undermine the conservative project. And I think we are seeing the continuation of that happening right now.

LEMON: And with that comparison, our apologies to drunken sailors. Thank you both, I appreciate it. Have a good weekend.

NAVARRO: Thank you for standing up for drunks, Don, I appreciate that.

LEMON: Thank you very much.

More now on the growing calls for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign. CNN's Brynn Gingras joins me now from New York Capitol in Albany. Brynn, good evening, thank you so much for joining us this Friday evening. New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are calling on the Governor to resign. On top of that you got 16 of 19 House Democrats from New York. This is an intense amount of pressure. But he's saying, it's all political.

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORREPOSNDENT: Yeah. That's right. I mean, and, Don, listen. Cuomo has a history, even more recent history, of basically labeling criticism against him as political, right. We saw this happen during the nursing home scandal earlier this year after the New York Attorney General's report. That was all political.

So, we're just sort of seeing that reiterated again and again. And just like you said, the pressure is mounting, and it literally has been every single day. More people coming out against him. First the more liberal Democrats here in Albany, going all the way up to now the two state Senators for New York.

Unclear what made them decide to turn around their judgment at this point? Was it the investigations that are now kicking off? Was it he more accusations? Does it really -- we don't know. But as far as Cuomo is concern, his point of view is that these lawmakers, whoever is coming out against him before these investigations are complete, he says it is politics at its worst. Listen to more on what he said today on the news briefing

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): People know the difference between playing politics, bowing to cancel culture, and the truth. Let the review proceed. I'm not going to resign. Part of this is that I am not part of the political club. And, you know what, I'm proud of it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORREPOSNDENT: And Don, he talks about the political club there. But you have to remember, in this same news conference, he talked about how he was running his father's campaign when he was in his 20s. He's been in New York politics for decades. So it's certainly hard to believe that that is a stance he's taking at this point, Don.

LEMON: Not to mention, his father was a Governor. So that's an interesting comment coming from him. Brynn, listen, a former Albany reporter wrote on New York Magazine an article accusing Governor Cuomo of sexual harassment. What is he saying?

GINGRAS: Yes, so, Don, this reporter -- like you said, an Albany reporter covering the Governor back in 2014. She no longer covers him. But she says that she was sexually harassed by him. She essentially said that she didn't think the Governor wanted to sleep with her. But she knew this wasn't about sex, this was about power. I want to read part of what she said in this magazine article.

She says, he put his other arm around my back, his hand on my waist, and held me firmly in place. And said, I'm sorry, am I making you uncomfortable? I thought we were going steady. I stood there and stunned silence, shocked and humiliated, but of course, that was the point.

Now, of course people can look at those comments and think that they're sort of arbitrary in some sense versus some other accusations that had come out against the governor but compared to the other allegations against the Governor. But as we have talk, more and more people, some people who don't want to come forward at this point. They talked about this just being the culture of the workplace, which of course Governor Cuomo is head of, Don.

LEMON: Brynn, thank you so much. I appreciate your reporting.

So, Minneapolis will pay the estate of George Floyd $27 million after the city council unanimously voted to settle a lawsuit with his family. As jury selection continues in the trial of ex-officer -- the ex-officer accused in his death and George Floyd's brother says this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHILONISE FLOYD, GEORGE FLOYD'S BROTHER: I thank the state of Minnesota for getting this settlement taken care of. But even though my brother is not here, he's here with me in my heart. Because if I could get him back, I would give all of this back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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[23:15:00]

LEMON: And we're back. The Minneapolis city council unanimously voting to approve a $27 million settlement to the estate of George Floyd. According to an attorney for the Floyd's family, that's the largest pretrial settlement in a wrongful death case ever. His brother saying Philonise saying this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FLOYD: Even though my brother is not here, he's here with me in my heart. Because if I can get him back, I would give all of this back. One thing that the world needs to know, America, we need to heal. This nation needs healing. Our family needs healing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So let's discuss now. Chris Stewart is here, an attorney for George Floyd's family. Chris. We're so happy that you're here. Thank you for joining us.

CHRIS STEWART, ATTORNEY FOR GOERGE FLOYD'S FAMILY: Oh, of course. Exhausted, man, but couldn't turn it down.

LEMON: Yeah, I can only imagine. So, George Floyd's family continuing to call for peace and healing. How is the family doing right now, and what is their reaction to this settlement?

STEWART: They're holding strong, man. You know, we were down there in Houston last weekend pushing the George form policing act. And they're just staying strong. They got to focus on things that they can help change. So, they're good. And Gianna is doing great. Still bright.

LEMON: Do you have any concern, Chris, about this settlement influencing the jury pool?

STEWART: No, really. I mean, you know, they're such separate cases. You know, you can't really delight one without fighting the other. You know, it's going to work out, how it is supposed to work out and that's, you know, hopefully with a guilty verdict. You know, people saw the video.

LEMON: Yes. Listen. Ben is often in this show. He's your associate, he said that this settlement was just one step on the journey to justice. What does the Floyd family want to see happen now for justice to be done?

STEWART: They want justice for everybody. You know, the significance about this settlement is that it changes the evaluation when a black person is killed. I mean, I've done these cases forever and African Americans are very under undervalued in these cases. This sets a new standard that equality matters.

LEMON: Seven jurors, Chris, have now been selected in the trial in the former police officer Derek Chauvin and a third-degree murder charge has been reinstated. How are you feeling about this trial and how's the family feeling as well?

STEWART: I mean, adding the other charge is good. You know, now the jury is going to have a lot of different options. We hope they go for the most severe. But now they have a lot of options. I would listen to all of the jury selections, and people sound like they're being honest, they are being intentional with their answers. And hopefully the Attorney General and his team are just, you know, going to do a phenomenal job. We have faith in them. LEMON: Chris, this is actually the second settlement involving a

Minneapolis police officer of at least $20 million just in the past couple of years. And the Minneapolis city council has voted to advance a proposal to replace the police department with a new department of public safety. Does the family support that?

[23:20:04]

STEWART: They're supporting a lot of the reforms that they're doing. You know, Minneapolis is being extremely proactive. I'm actually proud of that city council and the mayor. They're trying new policies, they're implementing strategies with policing, and they can serve as a test situation of reforms that can really help with policing across the board.

I mean, look, we're not going to get rid of policing. You know, I don't want to get rid of police. I mean, a lot of them do a good job. But rogue police officers and policies that just don't make sense and harm African Americans that has to stop.

LEMON: Chris, I haven't seen you in quite a while, it's good to have you on. Thank you so much. We are going to be speaking to you throughout this case, so, be well, get some sleep. Thank you, sir.

STEWART: All right, buddy.

LEMON: Thank you.

So, joining me now, CNN's senior legal analyst Laura Coates. She is also a former federal prosecutor. The perfect person to talk about this. Laura, I'm so happy to have you on. Good evening to you. Thanks for joining. A massive settlement being paid out by the city of Minneapolis, the largest ever in unlawful death suit. That's according to Benjamin Crump, could this sway the jury in the trial of this former police officer, Derek Chauvin?

LAURA COATES, CNN INTERNATIONAL LEGAL ANALYST: Of course, the full jury has not even been seated yet. So, they're going to obviously be made aware of this. They're not sequestered in some form or fashion. And they'd be made aware. And remember its part of the culmination of things. Number one, you already have former officer Chauvin fired almost instantly at this event occurred.

They were able to see the 8 minutes and 46 second video. And now they see that the city of Minneapolis has essentially recognized the culpability of a police officer by now awarding unanimously this verdict of the $27 million. And by verdict, I mean, of course, settlement, not through a trial on this particular instance here.

So, you have got this culmination of things. They're likely to yield the conclusion for many jurors that there is accountability that has been assigned. But accounting financially versus criminal convictions, very different forms of accountability in our justice system.

LEMON: Yes. So, Laura, I don't need to tell you, you're a former federal prosecutor, jury selection is really important, right. Cases are won and lost on jury selection. So far seven have been selected. I want you to tell me what this means. Alright. So, we have a breakdown of the demographics on the screen. What side are you looking for? Can you draw any conclusions about why they were chosen, Laura?

COATES: Well, of course, remember, the jury selection is the most important thing. Is the way you are able to have the audience that you are hoping to have that can be both objective and persuadable in many respects? And so, not looking to have jurors who know nothing about this case. The ideal juror is not the one who's had their head in the sand for the better part of a year and totally ignorant at the facts of this case.

We are looking for people who are going to be credibly able to convince the prosecutor, the judge, the defense attorneys that they will listen to the evidence as presented at trial. Those who come in, and professes to say, well, I have no opinion whatsoever, I've never formed anything, as opposed to those who are far more forthcoming in saying about their views on blue lives matter, or black lives matter, or what they believe in terms of how they described the action by Chauvin as killing George Floyd.

These are people you can rely a little bit more on in terms of confidence, and their credibility. Because they are willing to be forthcoming, and possibly receptive to only the evidence presented a trial. But still, Don, with these very high-profile cases, it's very difficult for people to come in with a fully blank slate. And be fully able to leave everything they know behind.

But that's the goal in prosecution, you want people not to leave their common sense or their experiences behind. But you want them to be able to listen to what is presented. And if the prosecution can prove every element, and they want to be able to have jurors who are receptive to that.

LEMON: I think anyone would say, Laura, and I think you'll agree with this, tell me if you don't. How could anybody, a juror, white, black, regardless of your ethnicity, see that video and not think that it is what it is? You know what I'm saying?

COATES: I mean it was a dramatic video. It was a less (inaudible), the reason it had such of the impact across this nation and the globe, was because it had such a visceral reaction that elicited from every single human being. To hear him speak. To hear him cried out. To see the, what seem to be complete dismissiveness of human life in that context.

Well, the thing about it is, each of these things finds elements in the crimes charge. You've got second degree murder. You've got third degree murder. You got a manslaughter charge that accounts for possibly the full spectrum of the visceral reaction. And what you think about in terms of officers as the benefit of the doubt that many jurors give Don.

I mean, one of the main questions on most criminal trial who adheres is about whether you're going to give more weight to the testimony of an officer than the average person. Why? Because we are trained in our minds, psychologically, to give that benefit of the doubt. Not to believe that a public servant is going to get up in the morning, put on his or her uniform, and walk with the intent to kill.

[23:25:07]

And so, all of these different charges is taking into account the psychology of this, but also the reality of what people saw. And of course, the George Floyd killing was illustrated of so many other cases, Don. And so the visceral reaction people had was not confined simply to what happened to Mr. Floyd. But what has happened to so many others in this country.

LEMON: Laura Coates, much appreciated, thank you, I will see you soon.

COATES: Thank you.

LEMON: The U.K.'s first black female Member of Parliament says that she doesn't think the queen is racist. She doesn't think Prince Charles is racist. But Meghan and Harris' allegations are much bigger than them. She joins me next.

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[23:30:00]

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LEMON: Tonight, the foundation created by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announcing it will support organizations tackling pressing issues like racism and mental health. Their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey alleging racism in the royal family is rocking the U.K., forcing a reckoning of systemic racism.

So I want to bring in now Diane Abbott, a member of parliament. She is the first Black woman elected to parliament. Thank you so much for joining us. You're the first Black female member of parliament. Meghan Markle is another ground breaker. What do you believe her experience was like?

DIANE ABBOTT, MEMBER, BRITISH PARLIAMENT: I think I have an idea of what her experience was like. I mean, what we're seeing is the Buckingham Palace as an institution. I'm not talking about individual member of royal family at this point. Buckingham Palace as an institution, the advisers, the aides, people who run it, is an institution in a residence, and Meghan would have come up against that. They could not come to terms with a Black woman marrying into the royal family.

LEMON: I have been speaking with British guests this week, and they say that there is a huge issue of systemic racism in the U.K. Is that your experience as well?

ABBOTT: Oh, yes, that has been my experience, whether you're talking about business or the legal profession, the world of work generally.

And again, what has become clear is that although some of these institutions have had to discuss race, particularly in the light of Black Lives Matter, the royal household was the one major British institution that really had never had any discussion about race, had never questioned why all the people at the top in the royal household, the top aides and top advisers, are white males from a particular class background.

LEMON: So, we have been seeing the royals out this week. We saw Prince William. I want to ask you about his response in a moment. We also saw Prince Charles. And, you know, they have Black people with them now. And I'm just wondering, is that something new? Does that always happen? Is that normal, because I hadn't noticed it before?

ABBOTT: Well, I hadn't really noticed it before. But to be fair, Prince Charles has always been concerned about diversity.

LEMON: You cut out. Are you still there? You can hear me? You're there --

ABBOTT: I can hear you.

LEMON: OK. Good. So, listen. So, Prince William was the first member of the royal family to speak out publicly. He said that the royals are very much not a racist family. And the queen said in her statement that she intends to deal with these allegations in private.

Do you have any expectation that we're going to see some change -- some changes in behavior from the royals? You said you don't believe that particular members of the royal family are racist, but you think the institution itself is racist. Do you think we'll see changes?

ABBOTT: I very much hope so. I should say, as well, that although I think it's an institution properly in Buckingham Palace, there was a member of the royal family who asked questions and apparently was concerned about exactly what color the baby would be. Now, that is a textbook definition of racism. The most important thing is the color of the baby's skin.

But I hope we will see changes because unless Buckingham Palace and royal family face up to this issue, I think it will make it very difficult once the queen passes away for the royal family to continue in its constitutional role in Britain, but also in the commonwealth. They have to make changes. Their survival will --

LEMON: So, Diane, Alex Beresford was Piers Morgan's colleague on "Good Morning Britain," and he, of course, challenged Morgan on air for his disparaging comments about Meghan Markle.

He tweeted this today. He said it is important that we listen to the experiences of people, all people. We must recognize that the experiences of staff, friends and family will differ based on access. Put it this way. Going to a football game can be a very different -- can be very different to being in the changing room.

Now, Alex said yesterday that he didn't want Piers Morgan to quit the show. He just wanted him to listen. Is this part of the problem that people don't listen when it comes to these kinds of conversations? [23:35:00]

ABBOTT: Part of the problem is that people don't listen. And part of the problem is people react in a particular way when you want to talk about racism. They think you're saying that they're bad person and they get very defensive and quite aggressive as we saw with Piers Morgan. But actually, they're just being asked to look at themselves and to look at the way their institution works.

LEMON: Diane Abbott, thank you. I loved our conversation. I hope you'll come back sometime. Thank you so much. Be well.

ABBOTT: Thank you.

LEMON: Thank you.

One year since the shooting death of Breonna Taylor, and her mother is still waiting for justice. She speaks out to CNN.

Plus, we're learning about new links between some Capitol Hill insurrectionists and Roger Stone.

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[23:40:00]

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LEMON: Tomorrow marks one year since 26-year-old Breonna Taylor was shot and killed by Louisville officers inside her apartment during a flawed police raid. And as her friends and family continue to feel the heartbreak over her loss, they're saying that they're still waiting for justice for Breonna.

CNN's Jason Carroll has more on this story.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

TAMIKA PALMER, MOTHER OF BREONNA TAYLOR: I'll never get to a point where I'm over what happened to her.

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Tamika Palmer says she will mark the one year anniversary of her daughter Breonna Taylor's death by attending a rally Saturday to remind people justice has not been served.

PALMER: It has been a year for people, but every day has been March the 13th for me still.

CARROLL: Every day?

PALMER: Every day.

CARROLL (voice-over): March 13, 2020, the day Taylor was killed during a botched police raid at her apartment.

PALMER: It will always be that sense of anger because you know that she should be here.

CARROLL (voice-over): None of the officers who raided Taylor's apartment have been charged in her death. Instead, a grand jury brought charges of felony wanton endangerment against one of them, Brett Hankison, for firing through Taylor's wall into a neighboring apartment.

The state's attorney general defended the officer's action, saying they were justified because Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired at the officers first that night.

UNKNOWN: The male was holding a gun, arms extended in a shooting stance.

CARROLL (voice-over): Walker argued he fired in self-defense, thinking someone was trying to break in. He says the officers never identified themselves, but the officers say they did. Just this week, a Kentucky judge permanently dismissed charges against Walker, who was initially accused of attempted murder for shooting at the officers.

STEVE ROMINES, ATTORNEY FOR KENNETH WALKER: He's just supposed to say thank you and walk away? No, there has to be a consequence. There has to be accountability.

CARROLL (voice-over): Accountability is a key not only to people like Walker and Tamika Palmer --

UNKNOWN: And they boxed us in.

CARROLL (voice-over): -- but to thousands of demonstrators such as Pastor Timothy Findley, who protested over the past year calling for police reforms in the wake of Taylor's death and the deaths of other African Americans at the hands of police.

TIMOTHY FINDLEY, PASTOR: When we think about March 13th now, it's Breonna Taylor not just remembering her name, but has really become a rally call, a rally call for justice in our city, justice in our state.

CARROLL (voice-over): Last year, the city of Louisville paid Taylor's family $12 million in a civil settlement, and passed Breonna's law, which bans no know warrants and mandates the use of body cameras during searches, and the city's mayor says there has been a top-to- bottom review of the Louisville Metro Police Department.

UNKNOWN: There's a lot to do. We have done a lot. But we're going to keep working at this.

CARROLL (voice-over): But it's still not enough for Palmer. With no officers charged in her daughter's death, she says justice is something that still eludes her. With the help of her attorney, she penned an open letter to President Joe Biden in The Washington Post, asking his administration to enact national policies to hold police accountable.

LONITA BAKER, TAYLOR FAMILY ATTORNEY: I guess I'm hopeful because we're at a point of reckoning where if we don't fix it, we're going to be in a lot of trouble.

PALMER: She's more hopeful than me.

CARROLL: And why is that?

PALMER: It's a trust thing at this point. I don't trust them.

CARROLL: And Don, this update, Taylor's mother filed a complaint with the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department's Professional Standards Unit, basically alleging that six of the officers there filed false information about Breonna Taylor related to that raid.

Now, tonight, we have a statement from the police department which says in part they believe in transparency and that they will investigate that complaint thoroughly. Don?

(END VIDEO TAPE)

LEMON: Jason Carroll, thank you so much.

Capitol riot, conspiracy, prosecutors building their case, but coming up against at least one roadblock. The latest on the insurrection investigation. That's next.

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[23:45:00]

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LEMON: Tonight, a federal judge in New York releasing a Capitol rioter, Thomas Sibick, who allegedly took part in the brutal assault of a D.C. police officer Michael Fanone. The Justice Department appealing the decision.

Prosecutors say Sibick was seen on body cam ripping off Fanone's badge and radio, later burying the badge in his own backyard. Officer Fanone spoke to CNN about his experience during the riot.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL FANONE, D.C. METROPOLITAN POLICE OFFICER: I remember, like, guys were stripping me of my gear, these rioters, pulling my badge off my chest. They ripped my radio off of -- off my vest, started pulling like ammunition magazine from their holder on my belt.

[23:50:00]

FANONE: And then some guy started getting a hold of my gun, and they were screaming out, you know, kill him with his own gun.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, that as investigators are now saying that more than 400 people could be charged in connection to the siege on the Capitol, and the first plea deal may come in a matter of weeks. Prosecutors are now setting their sights on building out a conspiracy case against members of the far-right extremist group the Oath Keepers.

CNN's Jessica Schneider has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: In what shaping up to be one of the largest and most complex criminal probes in American history, tonight, prosecutors are zeroing in on members of the extremist anti-government group the Oath Keepers.

UNKNOWN: Going to the Capitol, overrun the Capitol.

UNKNOWN: We are in the (bleep) Capitol.

SCHNEIDER (voice-over): Prosecutors are now building out a major Capitol riot conspiracy case against nine Oath Keepers. A federal prosecutor telling a judge Thursday that new charges are coming against more members, all while the group's connections to Trump ally, Roger Stone, are becoming apparent.

ROGER STONE, TRUMP ALLY: This is nothing less than an epic struggle for the future of this country between dark and light.

SCHNEIDER (voice-over): An FBI agent telling a judge in Alabama that a member of the Oath Keepers named Joshua James chauffeured Roger Stone as part of his security detail surrounding the Stop the Steal rally on January 5th, one day before the insurrection. James's wife testified that her husband was paid around $1,500 by the Oath Keepers for his security work in at least two events, including that rally.

Prosecutors say Oath Keeper Robert Minuta was seen screaming at police on the steps of the Capitol just hours after he appeared to stand guard by Roger Stone's side outside the Willard Hotel in Washington. Minuta wore a VIP guest credential to the Trump rally before the attack along with an Oath Keeper's hat and patch. He was identified by the FBI inside the Capitol wearing ballistic goggles, a radio with an earpiece, and possibly carrying bear spray, according to an FBI affidavit.

Stone has denied having advance knowledge of the Capitol breach and said he only accepted security from the Oath Keepers because of death threats.

UNKNOWN: A traitor!

SCHNEIDER (voice-over): But a federal judge in D.C. is openly questioning the conspiracy case against one Oath Keeper member, 65- year-old military vet Thomas Caldwell, ordering him release from jail where Caldwell has been held for several weeks. The judge said there is no direct evidence of planning from Caldwell, a strike at prosecutors' conspiracy charge against him.

Prosecutors accused Caldwell of discussing transporting weapons across the Potomac to the Capitol. Caldwell will now be released and put on house arrest, forced to wear GPS monitor and barred from communicating with members of the Oath Keepers.

And prosecutors are now revealing a new court filing, the vast scope of the insurrection investigation, a criminal probe unlike any other in American history.

Federal investigators are pouring through a mountain of evidence. They are reviewing more than 15,000 hours of surveillance tapes and police body camera footage, about 1,600 electronic devices, and they have conducted hundreds of searches of electronic communications like e- mails and text messages.

More than 900 search warrants have been executed in almost every state around the country, and prosecutors expect at least 100 more people will eventually be charged, adding to the nearly 300 people already publically identified and charged.

(On camera): And tonight, we have learned more than a dozen federal prosecutors have been sent here to Washington to assist the U.S. Attorney's Office. And while plea deals are in the works, the logistics of this investigation combined with backlogs in the courts mean any trials could still be 12-15 months away. That's according to people briefed on this probe. Don?

(END VIDEO TAPE)

LEMON: Jessica Schneider, thank you so much. We will be right back.

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LEMON: While COVID-19 has forced many people into isolation for safety reasons, that feeling is an everyday reality for some of the 61 million Americans living with disabilities.

This week's CNN hero became paralyzed from the waist down and struggle for years to attain a healthy lifestyle. Now, motivated by his own successful journey, he provides an adaptive training and nutrition program that helps people with disabilities push beyond their limitations towards fuller lives. Meet Wesley Hamilton.

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WESLEY HAMILTON, CNN HERO: Come on, easy!

My main goal is to teach people how to take control of their life.

Yeah, there you go.

Take full accountability and embrace your reality.

Slowly, you can start right here. When we go through our program, it's only the beginning. I want to be there through your whole journey because I want to see you successful.

There we go. One more.

I have gained so much from my injury, and I want other people to have that same mindset.

You are learning that you are about to do more.

I believe that once we help someone now, they have the ability to help someone else. This is something that has to have a ripple effect. We coming together and empowering each other, and being an inspiration for one another.

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LEMON: Wow. What an inspiration, Wesley is. And to see Wesley's full story and learn more about his work, go to cnnheroes.com. While you are there, nominate someone you think should be a CNN hero.

Thanks for watching, everyone. Our coverage continues.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: We begin with growing calls on New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to step down from some of the heaviest hitters in the state of national politics.

CNN's Shimon Prokupecz joins us now from the state capital, Albany. So, talk about the latest figures in the Democratic Party calling on the governor to resign.