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Documents Provide Insight Into Trump Organization Amid Criminal Investigation; France Imposes Third Lockdown As Cases Surge Again; Child Tax Credit Aims To End No-Win Choice For Working Moms. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired April 01, 2021 - 07:30   ET

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

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[07:30:44]

JOHN AVLON, CNN ANCHOR: New developments in the investigation into former President Trump's finances. "The New York Times" reporting that Manhattan prosecutors have subpoenaed the personal bank records of The Trump Organization's CFO Allen Weisselberg in an apparent effort to get him to cooperate.

Joining us now is CNN political analyst Maggie Haberman. She's a Washington correspondent for "The New York Times." Maggie, great to see you.

You know, you want to find the truth in politics you follow the money. That seems to be where prosecutors are going with Allen Weisselberg. He's someone who has been with The Trump Organization since Donald Trump's father was involved.

So how significant is this move by prosecutors?

MAGGIE HABERMAN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST, WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT, THE NEW YORK TIMES: Look, it's significant John in the sense that they are trying to squeeze Allen Weisselberg who is somebody, as you say, has been there for many decades and knows, certainly financially, where all of the bodies might be buried if there are bodies.

He has not been charged with anything and we should make that clear --

AVLON: Yes.

HABERMAN: -- but prosecutors are trying in their investigation of Donald Trump to pressure or press Allen Weisselberg to possibly cooperate with them.

What they're looking at right now in terms of his personal bank records is any gifts he may have received from The Trump Organization. And there's the question of whether these were -- these were properly marked in tax forms and so forth.

And so will this end up resulting in cooperation with Allen Weisselberg? I think it will take a lot. I think that Allen Weisselberg did not really bend other than limited

immunity to testify against Michael Cohen in the federal case against him involving the payment to Stormy Daniels, who had an alleged affair with Donald Trump. But, Allen Weisselberg -- the prosecutors in Cy Vance's office know -- is the key to learning a lot.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: It's so interesting, Maggie. He's an interesting character because he's a lockbox -- I mean, up until now.

Like, you never see Allen Weisselberg quoted. You never see him interviewed on T.V. I mean, he just appears to have been a completely dutiful soldier for Donald Trump. So as you say, it's hard to know if he would be inclined to ever turn and help the prosecution.

But here's how often he came up in Michael Cohen's testimony as being a key player.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. RO KHANNA (D-CA): Weisselberg is executive one, correct?

MICHAEL COHEN, FORMER ATTORNEY FOR DONALD TRUMP: Yes.

The bottom signature, I believe is Allen Weisselberg's.

I was asked, again with Allen Weisselberg.

I was instructed by Allen.

In the office with me was Allen Weisselberg.

Mr. Weisselberg, for sure.

Allen Weisselberg.

Allen Weisselberg.

Allen Weisselberg.

Allen Weisselberg.

REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ (D-NY): Who would know the answer to those questions?

COHEN: Allen Weisselberg.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: Well, it looks like it's Allen Weisselberg's turn to now explain what he knows. But if they don't have anything on him, Maggie, can they force him to say where the bodies are buried?

HABERMAN: Look, I think that he's going to resist it as long as he possibly can. I think that we have no way of knowing what, if anything, is there in terms of these records that they're subpoenaing and going through from his personal finances. So if there is something there that they can find as a pressure point, that could make it harder for him to withstand.

But as I said, he has been with that company for a very long time. It is going to take a lot and a while -- I think, based -- just based on every conversation I've had -- to get him to turn on Trump in some way.

AVLON: But, you know, Maggie, a lot of what's being looked at is stuff that the president and the ex-president has spoken to in the past Michael Cohen testified to. Basically, a pattern that some people in New York real estate apparently think in common of deflating values for certain purposes and increasing them for others.

The D.A.'s office, importantly, has gotten bank records for the first time, accountant records for the first time.

We know the case of Seven Springs, the Westchester estate, for example, where Donald Trump has said well, you know, one year I thought it was $80 million, the other year it was $150 million. I just -- I made the decision that that's how the valuation changed, acting like everybody does it. It's a smart thing to do.

Here's what gets me. Right now, we're having a national conversation again focusing on the trial regarding the murder of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by a police officer after passing a counterfeit $20.00 bill.

[07:35:00]

And yet, we're getting treated in some quarters as if you could increase the value on a property by a whim from $80 million to $150 million and it's all perfectly normal, if not legal.

What is wrong with this picture? If that's not a picture of two Americas I don't know what is. What the hell is wrong with this picture?

HABERMAN: What happened to George Floyd is horrendous. I think watching what has happened in this trial has been horrendous. Watching what is happening with these witnesses -- what witnesses are testifying to is horrendous, and painful, and gutting, and a reminder of systemic inequality, particularly in police departments.

In terms of whether Donald Trump broke the law, I'm not a lawyer so I can't say. I'm not a prosecutor so I can't speak to that. But certainly, there are levels at which wealthy people play in New York and elsewhere in this country where -- again, I'm not a lawyer so I can't say Donald Trump broke the law and got away with it, which is I think where the question goes.

AVLON: No, no, no, no. To be clear --

HABERMAN: But I do think -- but I do think --

AVLON: -- it's about two systems.

HABERMAN: Yes. AVLON: It's about two structures.

HABERMAN: Right.

Again, I'm not a lawyer so I can't speak to whether there is a system -- whether actually there is a different system or not. But certainly on the face of it when you hear -- at least when it comes to real estate -- but when you hear of somebody saying yes, I did that in this way.

And you are right, John, that in New York, anyway, that has been described to me by a number of people who have worked for major real estate developers as a -- as a fairly common practice or at least a known practice.

Yes, it speaks to the fact that there are things that people are doing that are treated as acceptable or OK, and we'll see if that is the case at the end of this investigation.

CAMEROTA: Maggie, thank you very much for all of your reporting and sharing it with us.

And John, I mean, your framing of that, I think it just puts everything into stark relief about -- George Floyd, at the end of the day, was held at gunpoint because of a $20.00 counterfeit --

AVLON: Correct.

CAMEROTA: -- bill.

AVLON: And yet -- and yet, money can get moved around in the millions of dollars and it's all considered acceptable in some quarters. It's just a tale of two cities in this case.

CAMEROTA: OK.

So, France is about to close schools again as that nation heads into its third lockdown. The U.S., as you know, is taking a very different tact. Which one will work?

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[07:41:32]

CAMEROTA: France is imposing another national lockdown this weekend as President Macron warns the country risks, quote, "losing control over the coronavirus." Average cases there surging again, nearing levels of last fall's peak.

CNN's Melissa Bell is live in Paris with more. What's the situation on the ground, Melissa?

MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Alisyn, this was a speech that Emmanuel Macron had resisted and resisted despite this variant-driven third wave. It was not so much that he buckled in the end last night under the

pressure as under the numbers. Those new cases that you mentioned, reaching, once again, that sort of peak we saw back in the autumn -- 30,000 to 40,000 new cases a day.

And, of course, what the rises in the new cases mean are driven very much by that new variant first discovered in the United Kingdom. It now represents, Alisyn, nearly 90 percent of cases in Germany, the vast majority here in France, the vast majority as well in Italy. It spreads faster. It leads to more hospitalizations.

So when you look at those new cases you need to think ahead to the next two weeks and what that's going to mean for ICUs. To give you an idea, at the very peak of the pandemic so far in France, there were just over 7,000 people in ICU being treated for COVID-19. The French government has announced that it is now creating 10,000 ICU beds. That is how bad they expect it to become because it is a variant that spreads faster, that leads to more hospitalizations.

And, of course, as you know, here in Europe, the vaccination campaign simply hasn't gone fast enough to keep ahead of that very fast spread.

So ICUs once again under threat here in the greater Paris region, as they are elsewhere. The result is that is for the next month we're going to be under partial lockdown for the third time in France. And this, even as the ICUs are saying -- some of the heads there -- that they're not even sure they're going to have the ability to cope with those incoming numbers, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Oh, no. I mean, Melissa, we are -- we really feel for you guys. We feel for you. We remember that experience here and we're obviously watching closely as to whether this is some harbinger of what we're facing.

Thank you very much for all of that reporting.

OK. So on a good note, new this morning, Pfizer is seeking full regulatory approval of its coronavirus vaccine, and the drugmaker now reports it is 91 percent effective, even six months after someone gets vaccinated. Pfizer also reports that its vaccine appears highly protective against the South African variant.

Joining us now to talk about all of this, we have Michael Osterholm. He's the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. Professor, always great to see you.

MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND POLICY: Good morning.

CAMEROTA: OK. So first, let's just talk about France versus us, OK -- taking two very different tactics. They're going into lockdown again. We are keeping our fingers crossed that people can somehow just keep up the masking and social distancing while we endure whatever these variants are. But there is one more factor and that is in terms of vaccinated population. In France, only four percent of the population is vaccinated. As of yesterday in the United States, 16.5 percent. So tell us we're not heading in the direction of France.

OSTERHOLM: I wish I could. But I think it's even more important to note that while you're highlighting France, if you actually look at other European countries, particularly Eastern Bloc countries -- Hungary, Poland -- we're seeing even much worse conditions there than we're seeing in France. And so, everywhere in Europe the B117 is surging right now they are in real trouble.

That is going to happen here. It's a harbinger of things to come.

And let me just put the vaccination effort into context. It's an incredibly important part of it.

[07:45:02]

And the news today on the Pfizer vaccine is obviously confirming what we've all said -- this is a great vaccine.

But look at the state of Michigan. You can see where they're at right now. They've had over 162 outbreaks in schools just in the last week. And they are actually at above average in terms of their vaccine program for the whole country of the United States. So they're already vaccinated.

And it just shows that this vaccine level that we have is not going to be nearly enough to stop the surge of this B117 coming. If we had another three months to get people vaccinated it would be a different story, but we don't.

AVLON: Look, you know, Michael, you have been warning for months now that these variants could lead to a fourth wave. And certainly, these spikes in these states say that this is a real and present danger.

But I want to talk about the news out of Pfizer -- not just the 100 percent vaccine that seems to have efficacy at 100 percent for ages 12 to 14, but the new news today that as they apply for general use -- not just emergency -- they say it might only have a six-month impact, which means folks who are being vaccinated now might need to get another round in August.

CAMEROTA: But isn't it at least six months? Is it at least --

AVLON: It's at least six months but I --

CAMEROTA: -- or is it at the most six months?

AVLON: No, it's at least six months. But it raises the question of when folks might need a booster and that could be as early as the fall.

How does that logistically play out against this race against the new variants? OSTERHOLM: Well, you're right -- we're going to have to continue to monitor that. I'm optimistic that these vaccines will have more persistence over time in terms of protection. I think the key issue right now is keeping our eye on the ball of what's happening right now.

You know, the last time I was on here with you Alisyn we talked about the fact of trying to extend single doses to as many people as possible.

You know, we keep hearing in the media every day we're vaccinating three million people a day. Well, that's not really quite the story. Remember, this is a two-dose vaccine regime. So really, vaccinating about 1.5 million people per day.

We still have 15 million people in this country 65 years of age and older who have not had a drop of vaccine yet. Boy, could we really use more people being protected before this B11 surge occurs here. This B117 surge is going to happen. It's not an issue of if -- it's going to happen.

And if you follow as we've seen in the past year, the Upper Midwest and the northeast lights up first. They have the first set of cases. And then the southern Sunbelt states light up next. Even though we're seeing few cases in that area, mark my word in the next six to eight weeks we're going to see that area light up, too.

We need to get more vaccine out and that's the key message right now.

CAMEROTA: I mean, so far, we have been able to count on your predictions like clockwork.

AVLON: Yes.

CAMEROTA: You know, it was I think January 28th, Professor, when you said that you were really worried about the variants -- they were going to create a new surge. And not many people were saying that at the time.

And here we are -- or you said like roughly eight weeks. Here we are eight weeks later and we're starting to see that. And I know that gives you no comfort but your predictions have proven true.

But let me ask you something about that single dose. Not the single does, people who are half-vaccinated, like myself. If you've gotten one dose of Moderna or Pfizer how protected are you right now?

OSTERHOLM: By the CDC's own admission this past week in a publication they put out, after three weeks after that first dose you have over 80 percent protection.

Now, imagine you can either vaccinate two people with one dose each or one person with two doses. That one person will be protected at 90 percent; the other person at zero percent. That's about a 45 percent protection. If I vaccinate both of you with one dose that's 80 percent protection

for both of you. Now, you don't have to be a real great math major to understand that is the better position to be in.

And there was a major paper published this past week that demonstrates the very, very low likelihood of new variants emerging because of the single-dose approach. And remember, we're only saying single dose temporarily. We're delaying the second dose. We want people to get it but let's wait until we have much more vaccine in the stockpile in May and June and right now get ready for this surge.

You know, Alisyn, I take no comfort at all but I'm telling you right now, as you just said, we are just beginning this surge and denying it is not going to help us. We are walking into the mouth of this virus monster as if somehow we don't know it's here -- and it is here. Now is the time to do all the things that we must do to slow down transmission, not open up, and we've got to get more vaccine out to more people.

CAMEROTA: Professor Osterholm, we always appreciate the straight talk from you. Thank you very much.

OSTERHOLM: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: We'll speak to you very soon.

OSTERHOLM: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: Sarah Palin announcing that she has coronavirus. The former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee told "People" magazine that other members of her family are also sick with the virus, including her 12-year-old son Trigg who has Down syndrome, which makes somebody particularly vulnerable.

She says she was tested after losing her sense of taste and smell.

And she is now speaking out in favor of mask-wearing. She jokes that masks give her, quote, "the newfound luxury of being incognito."

[07:50:03]

I don't know that this is a new thing about her speaking out about masks. I think she said that she had been trying to be careful. But it's helpful when everybody says -- reminds all of that we have to wear masks.

OK. So for many moms who've had to leave the workforce during the pandemic, President Biden's child tax credit is a game-changer. We have a look at those it helps and those who are still struggling, next.

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CAMEROTA: President Biden's child tax credit is designed in part to help working moms who have had to abandon their jobs to care for their children, but many women will still be forced to choose between working and caregiving.

CNN's Bianna Golodryga has more.

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BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN SENIOR GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST (voice-over): Like millions of other women, Diana Limongi put her career on hold for most of 2020 --

DIANA LIMONGI, WORKING MOM: When the pandemic hit I was like look, I can't -- like, I need to scale back.

[07:55:00]

GOLODRYGA (voice-over): -- with her son at home doing remote learning and her daughter's daycare shuttered.

LIMONGI: It's just not humanly possible, right, to do a full-time job and do all the things on top of that, right -- feed the kids and the constant interruptions.

Go wash your hands.

GOLODRYGA (voice-over): Today, there are fewer interruptions and more time for work.

LIMONGI: I was able to take on a project, which is exciting.

ENZO, SON OF DIANA LIMONGI: Hi, mom.

GOLODRYGA (voice-over): She says that's because her 9-year-old son Enzo is back in school in person five days a week and her 4-year-old daughter Sophia is in daycare full-time.

LIMONGI: I think it's a game-changer for my mental health. I think it helps to have that routine -- to not have to juggle that with my spouse.

GOLODRYGA (voice-over): Another game-changer --

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Help is here and hope is on the way.

GOLODRYGA (voice-over): -- the Biden administration's COVID-19 relief bill putting billions of dollars toward reopening schools and childcare facilities, as well as a child tax credit aimed at working moms like Diana.

LIMONGI: I am excited about it. Three hundred sixty dollars a month for a child under six, which is what Sophia is -- you know, it pays a week of childcare or $360 worth of groceries.

GOLODRYGA (voice-over): But many moms are still facing roadblocks.

MEREDITH DODD, PASTOR AND WORKING MOM: All three of our kids have been home since the beginning of the pandemic doing school remotely. Trying to work and manage three different sets of curriculum was impossible.

Let us rejoice.

GOLODRYGA (voice-over): We first met Seattle-area pastor Meredith Dodd in January.

DODD: The church could find another pastor in this moment but my kids could not find another mother.

GOLODRYGA (voice-over): She says she reluctantly left her job last year to oversee remote learning for her three children, each with special needs.

DODD: All three of my kids have medical issues. Keeping them safe and healthy is the highest priority at this point.

GOLODRYGA (voice-over): The Dodd children likely won't be returning to school until they are vaccinated, which means Meredith will delay returning to the pulpit.

DODD: This is my last Sunday serving as the pastor of Bryn Mawr. I don't know yet when I can accept -- yes, a position back in church long-term. I can't make that kind of commitment until my kids can safely return full-time to school and childcare.

GOLODRYGA (voice-over): Since the start of the pandemic, 2.3 million women left the labor force -- the worst levels in more than three decades, with women of color being particularly hard-hit. Research from the Women's Law Center also shows that the longer someone is out of a job the harder it is to find another comparably-paying one.

DODD: I would love to see women coming back to work and getting interview questions like what did you learn during the pandemic rather than why is there a two-year gap in your resume.

GOLODRYGA (voice-over): But solutions are possible.

KRISTIN ROWE-FINKBEINER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CEO, AND CO-FOUNDER, MOMSRISING: We're looking at right now helping to move the Paycheck Fairness Act through Congress. This makes sure that you can't have a double standard and using your prior pay to set your current pay. Instead, what you look at is how qualified are you.

GOLODRYGA (on camera): You scaled back and now you're starting to pick up again.

LIMONGI: Yes.

GOLODRYGA (on camera): Does that make you optimistic?

LIMONGI: Yes. I would never envision leaving the workforce. I worry that so many women are in that position that they have to leave a job that they love.

GOLODRYGA (voice-over): Bianna Golodryga, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CAMEROTA: Our thanks to Bianna for that.

And NEW DAY continues right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

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

CHRISTOPHER MARTIN, CUP FOODS EMPLOYEE: If I would have just not tooken (sic) the bill this could have been avoided.

CHARLES MCMILLIAN, WITNESS: 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.

CAMEROTA: Good morning, everyone. Welcome to our viewers in the United States and all around the world. This is NEW DAY.

John Berman is off. John Avlon is here. Great to have you here with us.

AVLON: Good morning.

CAMEROTA: Developing this morning, another mass shooting in the United States. Four people, including a child, killed in an office complex in Orange, California near Los Angeles. Another victim is in critical condition at this hour.

Police say the suspected gunman is in custody and injured. No word yet on a motive or the relationship between the suspect and the victims.

Of course, this once again raises the awareness of the hideous epidemic of gun violence in America. There have been at least 20 mass shootings in just the two weeks since the spa shootings in Atlanta.

AVLON: And the Derek Chauvin murder trial resumes this morning after a day of heart-wrenching testimony. New police body cameras captured George Floyd's struggle.