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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Former Officer Chauvin's Bodycam Video Shown For The First Time; Corporate CEOs Finally Speak Out Against Georgia Voting Law; U.K. Variant Driving Coronavirus Surge Across Europe. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired April 01, 2021 - 05:30   ET

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


[05:30:00]

LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: The trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin resumes this morning and no doubt we will see more of this, witness after witness reliving the visceral trauma of George Floyd's death under Chauvin's knee -- a death that launched a national reckoning on racism.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE FLOYD, MURDER VICTIM: (INAUDIBLE).

DEREK CHAUVIN, FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER: It takes a heck of a lot of oxygen to talk.

FLOYD: Yes. Come on, man.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: That is the last thing jurors saw Wednesday -- Derek Chauvin's bodycam footage shown publicly for the first time.

A witness who tried to calm Floyd broke down on the stand.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLES MCMILLIAN, WITNESS (Crying): Oh my God. I feel helpless. I don't have a mama either and I understand him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: CNN's Josh Campbell covering the trial. He joins us live from Minneapolis.

I just feel for all of these people who witnessed this and were a part of this tragedy, even tangentially. They're all on the stand talking about what a trauma this has been for them and how they wish they -- all of this could have played out differently. It's just been heartbreaking to watch.

JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, and that is one of the consistent themes that we've seen from these witnesses -- this sense of regret, this sense of guilt, wanting this to have ended differently, including that video that we just saw there.

Sixty-one-year-old Charles McMillian who was a local resident in the area -- he was there on the scene seeing that interaction between police and George Floyd. He broke down on the stand as he watched that video. Again, it just shows you that emotional side. His breakdown there causing the judge to actually recess the trial for a bit.

Now we also saw yesterday some CCTV footage from inside the Cup Foods which shows George Floyd interacting with store employees. It was alleged that he had tried to pass a counterfeit $20.00 bill -- that, causing one of the store employees to call police.

Less than an hour after that video, George Floyd would be pinned to the ground underneath those Minneapolis police officers.

Now, one of the cashiers from that store also testified yesterday in court, talking about the guilt that he is feeling even to this day. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What was going through your mind during that time period?

CHRISTOPHER MARTIN, CUP FOODS EMPLOYEE: Disbelief and guilt.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Why guilt?

MARTIN: If I would have just not tooken (sic) the bill this could have been avoided.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMPBELL: Now, yesterday in court, we also, for the first time, heard Derek Chauvin's voice on this body camera footage from the prosecution -- part of their exhibits that they had. He tried to justify his actions. Take a listen to that video.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).

CHAUVIN: Right, that's one person's opinion.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).

CHAUVIN: We've got to -- we've got to -- got to control this guy because he's a sizable guy --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, and I tried to get in the car --

CHAUVIN: -- and it looks like -- looks like he's probably on something.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMPBELL: Now, that was Chauvin's voice on that police footage.

It's unclear whether or not we will actually hear him testify. It's unclear yet whether he will be testifying in his own defense during this trial.

We do expect additional witnesses today as this murder trial continues. But as you mentioned, that theme that we continue to see, we expect it to continue to play out. People who were in and around that incident as George Floyd lost his life there at the hands of these Minneapolis police officers -- so many people expressing regret, so many people expressing remorse. Truly, an emotional time here in court here in Minneapolis, Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Thank you so much for your reporting and we'll talk to you soon. Thanks, Josh -- Laura.

JARRETT: All right, to coronavirus now.

The FDA okaying over-the-counter tests for use, even by people without COVID symptoms. The emergency authorization covers several take-home tests from Abbott and Quidel that have previously been authorized for people who do have COVID symptoms. No prescription is required but the FDA recommends repeat testing over a period of days for the most accurate results.

ROMANS: More hard proof that vaccines work. Nursing homes have seen a 96 percent drop in new coronavirus cases since vaccines began rolling out in late December. And COVID-related deaths have declined by 91 percent.

JARRETT: The CDC warning the U.K. variant could become dominant by March and there's evidence it has.

Health experts believe it's partly behind an uptick in cases in places like Michigan. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has doubled the state's vaccination goal now to 100,000 shots per day.

Florida also reporting more variant cases while spring breakers run amuck and then go home.

CNN has the pandemic covered coast-to-coast.

[05:35:01]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMARA WALKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm Amara Walker in Atlanta.

The crackdown continues in Miami Beach after officials say spring break crowds were out of control. So as a result of the chaos and disorder, the city of Miami Beach is now extending its state of emergency through Easter weekend. That means by 7:00 p.m., all outdoor seating at restaurants and

sidewalk cafes in the high-impact zone must close. The high-impact zone will be closed to people and cars from 8:00 p.m. to six in the morning. The restrictions take effect Thursday, April first and go through Sunday, April fourth.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm Martin Savidge in Atlanta.

Georgia will soon start rolling back the state's remaining coronavirus restrictions. That's the result of a number of executive orders signed by Gov. Brian Kemp. Many of those changes will go into effect next week. They include lifting the ban on large gatherings and cutting back a lot of the safety guidelines for businesses such as bars, retail stores, and entertainment sites.

This comes even as federal health officials warn of a possible fourth surge and even as the governor himself is in self-quarantine after being exposed to the deadly disease.

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm Pete Muntean in Washington.

Delta Airlines will fill every seat onboard its flights starting May first. It is the end of an era. Delta was the last major U.S. airline to cap capacity onboard its flights -- policies that airlines put in place at the start of the pandemic.

Airlines insist that science is on their side. In fact, they say that heavily-filtered air onboard an airplane, plus federally-mandated masks will actually keep coronavirus transmission rates relatively low.

But Delta's CEO, Ed Bastian, goes one step further. He says that 65 percent of Delta's customers from 2019 will have at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine by May first.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right.

Delta unblocking that middle seat, and now joining a belated effort to take a stand against voting restrictions in Delta's home base of Georgia.

Delta's CEO Ed Bastian says he's had time to understand the true effect of the law. He tells his employees in a memo it was based on a lie of election fraud in Georgia. Quote, "It's evident that the bill includes provisions that will make it harder for many underrepresented voters, particularly Black voters, to exercise their constitutional right to elect their representatives. That is wrong."

The CEO of Coca-Cola also denounced voting rights restrictions in Georgia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JAMES QUINCEY, CHAIRMAN AND CEO, COCA-COLA: Let me be crystal clear and unequivocal. This legislation is unacceptable. It is a step backwards and it does not promote principles we have stood for in Georgia.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Black Fortune 500 executives also calling out their peers for their muted response. Seventy-two of them signed a letter challenging them to be more forceful condemning these laws.

President Biden more involved last night, endorsing an idea from the Major League Baseball Players Association to move the 2021 All-Star Game out of Atlanta.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I would strongly support them doing that. The very people who are victimized the most are the people who are the leaders in these -- in these various sports, and it's just not right. This is Jim Crow on steroids.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Jim Crow on steroids.

Activists calling on these CEOs to turn those words into action against voter suppression. The Georgia Democratic Party wants the CEOs of Coca-Cola and Delta to get behind two Democratic House bills that would help overturn voting restrictions in states like Georgia.

JARRETT: More bizarre twists in the sex trafficking probe of Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz.

"The Washington Post" reports that two men made a proposal to Gaetz's father, Don Gates. They would help the congressman if his father donated money to help them find Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent that was kidnapped in Iran. The idea being here that the congressman would then get public credit for finding Levinson.

The source now also confirms to CNN the Justice Department is investigating the congressman over allegations of sex trafficking that involves a minor.

ROMANS: It's part of a broader probe of another Florida politician. That investigation began in the closing months of the Trump administration under Attorney General Bill Barr. CNN has learned he was briefed several times.

And Gaetz claims he's a victim of extortion, but a prominent Florida official says even if there is extortion, Gaetz isn't off the hook.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVE ARONBERG, STATE ATTORNEY, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA: Extortion is not a defense to child sex trafficking. It's a smokescreen in my opinion here because you can have both these things. Even if there is extortion here -- and the evidence does not bear it out but we shall see -- it does not negate the crime of child sex trafficking. You could have both things at the same time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JARRETT: House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy says if the allegations against Congressman Gaetz are true he would be removed from the House Judiciary Committee. Gaetz has denied all wrongdoing in this case.

[05:40:01]

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JARRETT: With the U.K. COVID variant on the rise in the U.S., part of the reason for concern is what it's doing to Europe. Coronavirus cases driven by the variant are surging in some of the most populous parts of Europe, including among younger people. Ninety percent of Germany's new cases are the U.K. variant. Now, France locking down once again.

CNN's Melissa Bell is live in Paris. Melissa, what's the latest there?

MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: Well, we heard from the French president yesterday Laura, and after weeks and weeks of resisting France's third partial lockdown, in the end, he caved to the pressure and more specifically the numbers, referring to this variant-driven third wave as an epidemic within an epidemic.

[05:45:00]

The World Health Organization warning as well this morning that Europe's in trouble basically because these new variants -- and the one first identified in the United Kingdom, which now represents, not just as you said, nearly 90 percent of new cases in Germany but the vast majority of cases here in France -- the vast majority as well in Italy and in other European countries -- the World Health Organization warning that it isn't just that it is more contagious. It's also that it leads to greater, faster hospitalizations, and that's really what we've seen in France.

The people now who have COVID-19 and are in ICU -- more than 5,000 of them here in France -- the first time since April we've seen anything like that figure. And as the French president pointed out last night, the faces of those people have changed. Forty-four percent of them are now under the age of 65.

So they are more dangerous variants, they are spreading faster, and they are bringing different people into ICUs. ICUs now, here in the greater Paris region, really beginning to buckle under the pressure.

A great deal of criticism, however, for the French president having left this so late and having resisted these calls from so many doctors and heads of ICUs these last few weeks for faster, tougher action. In the end, many say it may be too little, too late to prevent these viruses and this new variant, especially, from causing havoc to France's healthcare system.

JARRETT: Yes. Part of the problem -- the same here in the United States -- is that younger people, of course, haven't been vaccinated yet and the virus is catching up.

Melissa Bell, thank you so much -- appreciate it.

Back here in the U.S., the Biden administration set to open a 10th shelter for migrant children in Houston as it races to find space for a soaring number of kids arriving alone at the southern border -- kids like this. New footage released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows what the agency calls human smugglers dropping two children over a 14-foot-high barrier into New Mexico.

Internal estimates show the U.S. is on track to see a record high of more than two million migrants at the border by this fall.

ROMANS: All right.

A major recall for a popular brand of hummus. Sabra is recalling 10- ounce packages of its classic hummus because of salmonella concerns after a routine FDA screening. No illnesses or consumer complaints have been reported. The affected packages have a 'best before' date of April 26th.

JARRETT: Shoppers, take note here. You could soon pay more for Huggies Pull-Ups and Scott Brand toilet paper. Kimberly-Clark, the maker of Cottonelle and Scott Brand is announcing it will increase prices on a majority of its consumer products in North America. The company blames rising commodity costs. Expect most of the increases to take place in June.

Well, what they thought was a traffic stop for speeding turned out to be something completely different for two Florida state troopers. The driver's pregnant wife was in labor and they were rushing to the hospital, but they never made it. The troopers delivered the baby on the side of the road.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's OK. She's OK. She's OK.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Oh.

JARRETT: It was a girl. Happy to report mother and baby both healthy and taken to the hospital. And thankfully, no speeding ticket.

ROMANS: Oh, the beautiful sound of a newborn crying.

Let's get a check on CNN Business this morning. Looking at markets around the world to start a new month and a new quarter, gains in Asian shares. They've closed for the day. And Europe has opened higher as well. Let's take a look at stock index futures to start the new up a little bit, but not very much. You know, stocks closed the quarter mixed Wednesday, capping off a turbulent month on Wall Street. The Dow fell 85 points. The S&P 500 hit a record high. The Nasdaq finished up 1 1/2 percent.

You know, even with the decline yesterday, the Dow had its best month since November. And take a look at the past year. The Dow was up 50 percent since the March low last year. The Nasdaq up 72 percent. Quite a rally.

Some relief for Americans who lost their job last year and have already filed their taxes. The IRS will automatically recalculate returns to account for the new tax break on the first $10,200 of unemployment benefits in 2020.

The president's American Rescue Plan waives federal taxes on the jobless benefits. But many Americans had already filed their returns before it was signed into law. The IRS says it will send any refund directly to filers starting in May and continuing into the summer.

Remember, the deadline to file your 2020 returns is now May 17th.

After a year of working from home, big tech companies are slowly bringing their employees back to the office and providing a blueprint, really, of what the return-to-work culture could look like.

Uber's new office in San Francisco opening at 20 percent capacity Monday with employees allowed to come back on a voluntary basis.

Facebook said it will open certain Bay Area offices at 10 percent capacity starting in May. Facebook employees also have the option of not returning to the office at all, Laura.

JARRETT: All right.

Coronavirus restrictions won't be the only changes for Cleveland Indians fans at Progressive Field this season. The team announcing that fans will be prohibited from wearing headdresses and face paint at home games.

The Indians already dropped their Chief Wahoo logo -- team logo and have pledged to change their nickname over backlash against racist caricatures.

[05:50:05]

Opening day of Major League Baseball finally here and so are the fans, but some stadiums will have more than others.

Coy Wire has this morning's Bleacher Report. Hey, Coy.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT (via Cisco Webex): Hi, Laura.

Plenty to be optimistic about this opening day. Last season, only 60 games long. It didn't start until late-July. But today, players are back on fields to start a full 162-game season in front of the real, live home crowds they've missed.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WIRE (voice-over): Last season's opening day -- it was take my cardboard cutout to the ballgame. Now, it's back to take me out to the ballgame.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, baby, here we go.

WIRE (voice-over): Major League Baseball giving all 30 teams the go- ahead to host fans to start their seasons, but it won't be the same at every park.

New York's mayor is opening the doors to 20 percent capacity at Yankees and Mets home games, as is Chicago's mayor at the Cubs and White Sox parks. The L.A. Dodgers will be at 20 percent capacity when they open defense of their World Series title.

CLAYTON KERSHAW, PITCHER, LOS ANGELES DODGERS: Regardless if there's 10 fans or 2,500 or whatever it is, it's going to be a special day for all of us.

COREY KLUBER, PITCHER, NEW YORK YANKEES: We probably, as players, didn't realize necessarily how much we appreciate having fans in the stands until last year when there weren't any. Having fans in the stands makes it a more fun environment.

WIRE (voice-over): And with the Texas governor opening up his state, the Texas Rangers are wide-open, up to 100 percent capacity for their home opener, with masks. But starting on game two, that number will be reduced with social distancing.

How you watch the game is going to be a lot different than you're used to. You'll have to be in masks and practice social distancing. You'll even be encouraged to buy those peanuts and Cracker Jacks on your phone.

DOUG BEHAR, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF STADIUM OPERATIONS, NEW YORK YANKEES: We're very excited to have our fans back in the stadium and we appreciate their patience and understanding throughout this entire process. But it should be a seamless, recognizable experience, as they've had in the past.

WIRE (voice-over): While vaccines won't be required for fans to enter ballparks, some parks have jumped into being part of the mass vaccination effort. Boston's Fenway Park was one of 11 stadiums to open its doors as vaccination sites, with over 11 million shots being administered.

Major League Baseball also joining 12 other major sports leagues in a video helping to educate the public about the importance of getting vaccinated.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (Singing): I'll be seeing you.

(END VIDEOTAPE) WIRE: Now, Laura and Christine, the Rangers' decision to open Globe Life Field at full capacity has been met with widespread criticism. In an interview with ESPN last night, President Biden expressed his reservations -- listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: I think it's a mistake. They should listen to Dr. Fauci and the scientists and the experts. And -- but I think it's not responsible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: Rangers play at Kansas City today but the home opener is Monday -- full capacity -- more than 40,000. Social distancing will be really tough if not impossible in those stands, Christine.

ROMANS: Yes.

WIRE: President Biden again stressing fans have to be responsible.

ROMANS: All right, Coy. Thank you so much for that. Nice to see you this morning.

WIRE: You, too.

ROMANS: All right.

Uncle Sam wants you to design a new face mask. The Department of Health and Human Services launching a contest with $500,000 in prize money for the best mask. The challenge for would-be designers, you've got to fix issues like discomfort, fogged glasses, difficulty reading facial expressions, problems speaking through masks.

Up to 10 winners will split a $100,000 prize. Then as many as five finalists will share a prize of 400 grand.

JARRETT: That's a serious prize. You've got to get in on that.

All right, a Goodwill employee in Oklahoma had quite a surprise while sorting through a pile of donations. Andrea Lessing found $42,000 tucked between two sweaters. She was shocked but she didn't think twice about returning the money. Lessing said it was a lesson for her 6-year-old daughter on the importance of honesty.

And her good deed was rewarded. The owner of the lost cash gave Lessing $1,000 in return.

I have heard of money under the mattress, but not between two sweaters. Forty-two thousand dollars -- that's a lot of cash.

ROMANS: The bank is a little safer but I'm really glad the owner got the money back. That -- you know, cheers to Goodwill and for everybody involved tracking down the real owner of that $42,000.

JARRETT: The business correspondent in you is not happy with cash in the sweaters.

ROMANS: Return on investment in the sleeve is zero.

All right, thanks for joining us. I'm Christine Romans.

JARRETT: I'm Laura Jarrett. "NEW DAY" is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:59:27]

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: New video dominated testimony Wednesday, including this police body camera footage showing the initial moments of George Floyd's arrest.

MARTIN: If I would have just not tooken (sic) the bill this could have been avoided.

MCMILLIAN: I feel helpless and I just (INAUDIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: New cases are climbing. The national daily average up a quarter in the last week.

DR. PETER HOTEZ, CO-DIRECTOR, TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL CENTER FOR VACCINE DEVELOPMENT: By the fall, I think there's a good possibility we'll be vaccinating teenagers 12 and up.

DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY, DIRECTOR, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION: We are so close -- so very close to getting back to the everyday activities. But no, we're not quite there yet.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Alisyn Camerota and John Berman.