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Georgia Expands Vaccine Eligibility; New Video of Attack on Office Sicknick; Inconsistencies in Royal Interview; Win for Texas A&M for Sweet 16. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired March 25, 2021 - 06:30   ET

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

[06:30:00]

NATASHA CHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Downtown Atlanta, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where we've been a lot this past month, and that's turned into a FEMA supported site this week. So they're ramping up to 6,000 vaccinations per day, seven days a week. All of this in hopes to improve Georgia's number.

If you take a look at this map of how each state is doing and vaccinating its population, Georgia has fully vaccinated a little more than 11 percent of its population compared to 14 percent of the overall U.S. population. Right now there are a handful of states that are making vaccine available to anyone 16 and older. Alaska, Mississippi, West Virginia, Utah, certain counties in Arizona. But by this time next week, there will be about a dozen states where that's the case. And, in April, even more states will be opening up to all adults 16 and over.

Today, the Biden administration is announcing a $10 billion effort to really expand vaccine access, especially to those lower income, rural and underserved communities. And, keep in mind, if you suddenly became eligible for the vaccine today, like in Georgia, you can't just walk up to a vaccination site. All of the appointments today were booked far ahead of time. So it may take a little bit of patience for people to log on and find an available appointment in the coming weeks, Alisyn.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. Understood. And now, given that these new variants seem to be affecting younger and younger people, yes, it sounds like a good thing that the access is expanding to a lower age group.

Natasha, thank you very much.

So new video captures the assault on a U.S. Capitol Police officer. Officer Brian Sicknick is seen here just, well, before his death. And new evidence also of coordination between the insurrection among right wing extremists. We bring you all of this evidence, next.

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[06:35:46] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: New this morning, "The New York Times" publishing videos that capture the attack on U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick as he was hit with bear spray during the January 6th insurrection. This comes as prosecutors reveal evidence of coordination between right wing extremists groups ahead of the siege.

CNN's Whitney Wild has that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITNEY WILD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): As the U.S. Capitol was under attack, Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick was guarding the west side of the building. In new video, first obtained by "The New York Times," Sicknick is seen with fellow officer facing off with rioters. As the crowd pressed toward them, a man who prosecutors identified as Julian Khater walks toward the officers holding a canister, raises his arm and sprays what authorities believe was bear spray in Sicknick's direction. The spray hits Sicknick and he immediately turns away.

These photos, previously released, showed the three officers, including Sicknick, temporarily blinded and hunched over after being sprayed. Officer Sicknick died the following day. No cause of death has been released yet.

Julian Khater and George Tanios have been charged with assaulting the three officers, but no charges have been filed for Sicknick's death.

MICHAEL SHERWIN, FORMER ACTING U.S. ATTORNEY: If evidence directly relates that chemical to this death, yes, we have causation, we have a link. Yes, in that scenario, correct, that's a murder case.

WILD: Meanwhile, prosecutors are also releasing new details alleging coordination between the far right extremist groups, the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers. According to court papers, an alleged leader of the Oath Keepers, Kelly Meggs, wrote on FaceBook on December 25th, we have orchestrated a plan with the Proud Boys. Three days earlier, Meggs disclosed in messages that he had made contact with Proud Boys leadership, writing, I have made contact with PB, the Proud Boys, and they always have a big group, force multiplier.

Court filings allege Meggs discussed rallying 50 to 100 Oath Keepers to D.C. on January 6th and allegedly advised others that D.C. is no guns and advising to bring mace, gas masks, batons, and body armor. He allegedly wrote on December 26th, then wait for the 6th when we are all in D.C.to insurrection.

DOUG JONES (D), FORMER ALABAMA SENATOR: It, by its very nature, is showing an agreement, which is the essence of a conspiracy charge. And that allows the prosecutor to get into so much more evidence and to bring in so many more potential defendants.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WILD: (INAUDIBLE) charges. He's currently being held in jail. CNN is one of 14 news outlets to file a FOIA request to try to get

more footage, more footage relevant to that incident with Officer Brian Sicknick on January 6th. The Department of Justice, Alisyn, played ten clips earlier this week.

Back to you.

CAMEROTA: OK, Whitney, thank you very much for all of that reporting.

Joining us now is CNN's senior law enforcement analyst Andrew McCabe. He's the former deputy director of the FBI.

So, Andrew, up until now it was horrible to imagine what Officer Sicknick endured. Now we can see the horrible onslaught that he endured with the bear spray and the canister being sprayed into his face. And I was -- you know, the prosecutor mentioned this, even ten minutes after the incident, Officer Sicknick appears to be attempting to walk off the effects of pepper spray. He is rubbing and rinsing his eyes with more water and pausing at times while crouched over with his hands on his knees.

And so where does this leave us?

ANDREW MCCABE, CNN SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, it's an incredibly compelling piece of video. You know, like you said, Alisyn, we had still photographs of Officer Sicknick bent over and, obviously, deeply affected by the bear spray. But now you actually see it in real time as it's happening. It's very, very powerful evidence in the assault case against Khater and Tanios. That's -- it's a -- really an unassailable case. You see the crime happening.

The question is whether or not prosecutors will ever be able to turn that assault case into a murder charge.

[06:40:02]

And it appears that at this point they are still missing that central piece to this puzzle, which is proving that the bear spray actually caused Officer Sicknick's death. That's the one -- the one piece we're all still waiting for.

BERMAN: So, Andy, yesterday you were on the air with us as we were seeing for the first time this communication -- these communications between the Oath Keepers and Proud Bows and other evidence that was released yesterday morning.

As we look at this, we learn more about the plans that were being laid by these groups. What jumped out to you as particularly important?

MCCABE: Well, John, it's incredible -- it's incredible insight into that very detailed planning that started taking place back in December and went right up until the days before the event. So you have -- you have Kelly Meggs really playing a central role in not just bringing himself and his friends, by gathering these two different groups, the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers and there's also references to the Florida 3 Percenters, making sure that everyone is in D.C. at the right time, really charged up and ready to go, has the right equipment.

The legal filing also details that Meggs actually paid for the hotel rooms of several of the different folks who he urged to attend. So he has two rooms in one hotel, and then he pays for an additional two rooms in a hotel in Arlington that others stayed in.

And another fascinating piece is this list of meetings that Meggs organized and, I guess, executed in an online app called Go To Meeting. The prosecutors actually have his kind of schedule of the folks that he's meeting with, and it very clearly lays out, you know, meeting and planning on D.C. and things of that nature. It's kind of a fascinating telling of that pre-riot story.

CAMEROTA: Yes, and, Andy, one more thing, we're out of time, but in terms of President Trump's culpability, Meggs also just spells it out in one of his e-mails. So this is -- the subject line is, Trump said, and he writes to one of his associates, it's going to be wild, exclamation point. It's going to be wild, exclamation point. He wants us to make it wild. That's what he's saying. He's called us all to the Capitol and wants us to make it wild. Sir, yes, sir. Gentlemen, we are heading to D.C. Pack your blank.

So, I can imagine that prosecutors trying to make the connection of why they went to D.C. on that date would find that e-mail interesting.

MCCABE: You know, Meggs got the message direct from the president and he executed the order. I mean case closed. It's a -- I'd be very happy with that evidence if I were working this case.

BERMAN: Sir, yes, sir.

Andy McCabe, thank you very much.

MCCABE: Thanks, John.

CAMEROTA: OK, now to this. After Harry and Meghan made those bombshell claims in their interview with Oprah, critics went looking for contradictions, and they found them. The claims that have not panned out from their tell-all interview, next.

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[06:47:06]

CAMEROTA: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made several bombshell allegations in that tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, but critics say some of the claims made by the Sussexes are inconsistent or untrue.

CNN's Max Foster is live in the U.K. with more.

Like what, Max?

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Alisyn, it's interesting because there were these big issues that were raised in the interview, which have had a really profound effect and really resonated as well. But critics are also pointing out some of the inconsistencies throughout the sit-down.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER (voice over): Whether or not you're team Sussex, it's hard to argue against the profound issues raised by the Oprah Winfrey interview, especially around suicide prevention and confronting racism wherever it may live.

But critics of the couple are pointing to inconsistencies in the tell- all interview, starting with their choice of platform. A major U.S. network with the most established interviewer on the planet when they previously pledged to engage with grassroots media organizations and young up-and-coming journalists.

Then there was this line --

MEGHAN MARKLE, DUCHESS OF SUSSEX: N, I've never looked at my husband online.

FOSTER: Twitter blew up with genuine disbelief, especially in light of what former best friend, Inagi Prety (ph) told "The Daily Mail." She was always fascinated by the royal family. She wants to be Princess Diana 2.0.

MARKLE: No.

OPRAH WINFREY: But you were certainly aware of the royals.

MARKLE: Yes. Of course.

FOSTER: And what critics, critics claim, that Meghan lied about when they were married.

MARKLE: You know, three days before our wedding we got married.

WINFREY: Ah.

MARKLE: No one knows that. The vows that we have framed in our room are just the two of us in our backyard with the archbishop of Canterbury.

FOSTER: "The Sun" getting hold of a copy of the marriage license showing the legal binding wedding was in the church, not the backyard. A spokesperson clarified, the couple exchanged personal vows a few days before their official/legal wedding on May the 19th.

The couple unknown for their distrust in the tabloid media and they voiced their frustration with how the palace tries to appease certain titles.

MARKLE: I think there's a reason that these tabloids have holiday parties at the palace. They're hosted by the palace, the tabloids are. You know, there is a construct that's at play there.

FOSTER: But tabloid reporters say they have no memory of such parties. Russell Myers, royal editor at "The Daily Mirror" tweeting, Meghan has just claimed Buckingham Palace throw holiday parties for the U.K. tabloids and now I'm wondering why I never got a ticket.

WINFREY: Were you silent or were you silenced?

FOSTER: Oprah's questions here has been the subject of countless memes. But the answer has been deconstructed too.

MARKLE: I've advocated for so long for women to use their voice and then I was silent.

[06:50:06]

FOSTER: Is that true? Palace insiders will point to many occasions that show that Meghan was allowed a voice, they say, particularly on feminist issues.

MARKLE: And I think right now in the climate that we're seeing with so many campaigns, I mean, Me Too and Time's Up, there's no better time than to really continue to shine a light on women feeling empowered and people really helping to support them.

FOSTER: Insiders will also tell you they showed full support in Meghan. A junior member of her staff, whose now left the palace, told CNN, they bent over backwards as far as I could see. I think there was complete hospitality and kindness and grace. Everyone wanted to make it a success, a current royal source added. The queen's senior team was directed to avail themselves to ensure she had all the support needed.

MARKLE: Unlike what you see in the movies, there's no class on how to -- how to speak, how to cross your legs, how to be royal. There's none of that train -- that might exist for other members of the family. That was not something that was offered.

FOSTER: But CNN has been told the queen dispatched her closest aides to Kensington Palace, Lady Waiting (ph), Lady Susan Hassi (ph), and dresser Angela Kelly (ph) to offer advice, guidance and tutelage to the duchess. Royal aides say this was an unprecedented gesture of support for a new member of the family and that every department of the queen's household was open to Meghan.

Then there's the question of titles.

MARKLE: They were saying they didn't want him to be a prince or a princess, not knowing what the gender would be, which would be different from protocol.

FOSTER: The protocol the duchess referred to was issued by King George V and it limits princely titles to children and grandchildren of the serving monarch, as well as the first born child of the Prince of Wales, none of which applies to Archie, though he will automatically become a prince when Charles becomes king.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Some people are also asking why Oprah didn't push back harder on some of those claims, but it was never touted as a news interview, even if it did produce more news than most interviews.

Alisyn and John.

CAMEROTA: OK, Max, now I'm all turned around. Now I'm all confused. Now I don't know what to believe anymore.

BERMAN: I don't know think you've turned -- I think you were always -- always predisposed to be on the palace side.

CAMEROTA: No, no. You know I love Harry and Meghan, but I don't know -- I mean she doesn't feel supported.

BERMAN: Right.

CAMEROTA: They say they supported her. OK, that's -- that's a family. I mean that's called life. That's a difference in perception. I don't know if we're ever going to get to the bottom of that one. If you don't feel supported and you're depressed, that's your prerogative.

BERMAN: Right. You can't argue that someone feels a certain way, right? You can argue that something didn't happen, but you can't argue that someone doesn't feel a certain way about something.

CAMEROTA: Yes, and they exchanged their vows. They exchanged vows. OK, I mean, official wedding, I don't know.

BERMAN: There clearly is some stuff, though, that doesn't line up with reality, I will say that. We'll see. It's very important.

CAMEROTA: Oh, now whose side are you on?

BERMAN: I just think it's really important. I think, obviously, what happens in the royal family, you know --

CAMEROTA: I'm sensing sarcasm. Next time.

BERMAN: An incredible buzzer beater in overtime at the Women's NCAA Tournament. What made this moment extra special? The "Bleacher Report" is next.

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[06:57:41]

BERMAN: So Texas A&M reaches the Sweet 16 of the Women's NCAA Tournament with an overtime buzzer beater. Amazing stuff.

Andy Scholes here with the "Bleacher Report" from San Antonio.

Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, John.

So the Sweet 16 is now set here in San Antonio and the Aggies needing some heroics from one of their players in order to avoid being the highest seed knocked out of this tournament. Pick it up in the fourth quarter. Down two. Under 10 seconds to go. Jordan Nixon drives right, hits the layup to tie the game. We would go to overtime. Then, with time winding down, Nixon, again, this time banking it in for the win. Her teammates stormed the court to celebrate. Nixon, a career-high 35 points lifting the Aggies to an 84-82 victory over Iowa State. And she dedicated the win to her high school coach who died from COVID-19 last year at the age of 48.

All right, Oregon, meanwhile, upsetting three seed Georgia last night. Sedona Prince, who used her voice to call out the NCAA on the disparities between the men's and women's tournaments, scoring a game high 22 points, tying her career best in the 57 win over the Bulldogs.

And check out the locker room celebration. Always so much fun. The Ducks back in the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight tournament.

All right, finally, Patriots' offensive lineman Justin Herron is being hailed as a hero for helping save a woman who was being sexually assaulted. Police in Tempe, Arizona, honoring Herron yesterday after they say he and another man stopped the attack on an elderly woman in a park. The men were able to hold the suspect until police arrived and took him into custody. Herron, who's 6'5" and 300 pounds said he was in shock at what he was seeing and just wanted to do anything he could to help. And, John, the woman who they saved, she said that Herron and the other man are her angels.

BERMAN: It's an incredible story, Andy, and he talks about it. He says, when he realized what was going on, he walked up carefully because he didn't want to make the situation worse, didn't want to startle anyone exactly because he knows he's so big. He's a huge guy. Thank goodness he was there, really. Props to him.

Andy Scholes, thank you very much for that.

NEW DAY continues right now.

[07:00:03]

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There are many issues that people can bring up with President Biden, including his new push for gun reform, immigration.