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Prosecution To Call More Witnesses In Chauvin Trial; Trial Captivates Customers At Store Near Where George Floyd Died; State Department Backs Away From Idea Of Beijing Olympics Boycott. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired April 07, 2021 - 07:30   ET

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

[07:30:00]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Best day yesterday. That they may have made some inroads or at least had some moments that may have raised questions with the jurors.

One of these moments was when the defense attorney was talking about the reaction that officers might have on the scene with the crowd and how it might affect their ability to provide medical support -- listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERIC NELSON, DEFENSE ATTORNEY FOR DEREK CHAUVIN: Does it make it more difficult to assess a patient?

OFFICER NICOLE MACKENZIE, MEDICAL SUPPORT COORDINATOR, MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT: It does.

NELSON: Does it make it more likely that you may miss signs that a patient is experiencing something?

MACKENZIE: Yes.

NELSON: OK. And so, the distraction can actually harm the potential care of this -- of the patient?

MACKENZIE: Yes.

STEVE SCHLEICHER, PROSECUTING ATTORNEY: Do the activities of a -- of a group of onlookers excuse a police officer from the duty to render emergency medical aid to a subject who needs it?

MACKENZIE: Only if they were physically getting themselves involved.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: So after everything the jurors -- jury has heard already, Channa, what's the significance of this?

CHANNA LLOYD, MANAGING PARTNER, THE COCHRAN FIRM: The significance is the defense got the acknowledgment that a crowd can interfere with their ability to render medical aid. It can cause them to have to pay attention to the crowd versus being able to do what they would normally do when it comes to medical aid. So the defense did get that nugget out of that particular witness.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Commissioner Ramsey, I want to ask you about -- obviously, we've all seen the video -- the sickening video of the knee on the neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds. But there have been some witnesses who have said well, yes, you can use a knee on a suspect, but not their neck, perhaps in between their shoulder blades or maybe their neck if necessary.

Here is the graphic, OK, of a police -- I believe a police training video where you see a simulation of a knee on what looks to me like the middle of the shoulder blades of a suspect. Did you hear anything in court or does this graphic rendering of this do you think help in some ways exonerate Derek Chauvin and what he did?

CHARLES RAMSEY, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST, FORMER PHILADELPHIA POLICE COMMISSIONER, FORMER WASHINGTON, D.C. POLICE CHIEF: (via Cisco Webex): Well, it doesn't exonerate Chauvin. I do think the defense had a better day yesterday than they had in previous days.

Let's talk about that photo real quickly. One, it does show an instructor with his knee between the shoulder blades. But the more important fact is Floyd was handcuffed before he ever came in contact with Chauvin. He was handcuffed by the other officers.

The second photo that I thought really worked in favor of the defense simply because the prosecutor didn't really push on redirect, and that was the photo of what looked like a fatal dose of both heroin and fentanyl. They really ignore a couple of key facts. One, you build tolerance against these kinds of substances. What might kill me wouldn't kill you, for an example.

But more importantly, when a drug dealer gets drugs the first thing they do is dilute it. They step on it. That's how they make their profit.

They turn a small amount into a large amount so it's not as strong as if it is pure. If it's pure, we call that a hotshot. That's when you're intentionally trying to kill somebody.

The third thing was the EMT, which was the previous question I think -- that they didn't ask the right question -- what do you do if you have a hostile crowd interfering?

One of the first things you do is call for backup. Did they call for backup? No, they didn't. How hostile could that crowd have been?

You either call for backup or you relocate -- one or the other. They did neither.

And so I think that the prosecution missed an opportunity to push back on those key areas. It may seem small but small things can grow into big things when it comes to planting a seed of doubt. BERMAN: So, Channa, let's talk about what we're going to see next. I don't know if it's going to today but soon, the prosecution is going to get into the cause of death and we are going to hear at much more length from medical experts, including Dr. Andrew Baker, who is the medical examiner who performed the autopsy. Also, Dr. Lindsey Thomas, a forensic pathologist.

What do you think it is that the prosecution needs to do here? What's the bar for them?

LLOYD: The bar for them is to have these medical experts testify to the fact that the drugs in his system could have created the very similar -- the slow breathing, the cardiac arrest. You want to see them hit those points because this is going to be their case in chief. That despite the way he was being held that he -- it was the drugs that contributed and were the major factor in this death.

They just need someone to get a little bit of doubt as to whether or not it was the drugs to achieve that. If they can achieve that it's going to be very important for their case.

BERMAN: That's the defense. The defense needs to make that.

LLOYD: Correct --

BERMAN: How does the prosecution --

LLOYD: -- the defense.

BERMAN: How does the prosecution, knowing that -- I mean, there's no mystery what the defense needs to do here. Given that the prosecution knows that's what Nelson and the defense team will try to do, how do they get past that?

LLOYD: They're going to have to push past this and they're going to talk very much about tolerance. The fact that he was a larger man he wasn't exhibiting any signs of being extremely affected by the drugs. He seemed very stable.

[07:35:00]

They're going to very much focus on the fact that despite he has a history of drug use, despite that he may have taken the drugs that this was not the leading factor in his death.

CAMEROTA: And so, Commissioner, about that. I mean, obviously, the cause of death will be a huge point of interest. But you can't get past the fact that the police didn't render aid when he was in distress and that when the EMTs showed up they had to push or beg Derek Chauvin to remove his knee from George Floyd's neck.

RAMSEY: Absolutely right, absolutely right. The duty to care is essential. There was a point in time when he was no longer resisting. In fact, it looks like he became unconscious.

What did you do? Did you -- did you render any kind of aid at all, and the answer to that is no. I mean, he continued the pressure long after it was necessary.

That video is the one hurdle that the defense is going to have a heck of a time trying to get around if they're able to get around at all. And so, that's going to be the key.

Now, the pressure on the neck doesn't have to be the only cause of death, just a significant contributing factor. It's hard to believe that knee on the neck played no role at all in the death of George Floyd. And that, I think, is going to be something that they have to continue to hammer home because that was not only outside of procedure or training, it was just flat out the wrong thing to do that could cause great bodily harm and even death, which obviously I think it contributed to.

CAMEROTA: Commissioner Ramsey, Channa Lloyd, thank you both very much for all the expertise.

RAMSEY: And congratulations, Alisyn. It will be nice to sleep a little later, I guess, during the day.

And thank you both for the balance you bring to this issue of policing. Beyond the call of duty is very important and believe me, it is appreciated by every single person I've ever come in contact with in policing. You do bring some balance to the discussion, so thank you.

CAMEROTA: Commissioner, thank you so much for saying that.

LLOYD: Thank you, Alisyn. Take care --

CAMEROTA: Thank you both. I really appreciate it.

LLOYD: -- and best wishes.

CAMEROTA: Thank you. And I will see you guys -- I will look forward to seeing you in the afternoon.

The Derek Chauvin murder trial is captivating Americans, but at the corner market where George Floyd spent his final moments, customers are stopping in to watch the proceedings.

CNN's Sara Sidner explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA SIDNER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Few are watching the trial more closely than the folks in the neighborhood where George Floyd took his last breaths.

MAHMOUD ABUMAYYALEH, OWNER, CUP FOODS: Everybody that comes in takes a look at the trial.

SIDNER (voice-over): Inside Cup Foods, the place where Floyd allegedly paid for cigarettes with a counterfeit $20.00 bill, every day the television is set to the trial of the former officer accused of killing him. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the training that you received?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the training.

TRACY COWERS (ph), MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENT: It's sad. It's so sad and it's really sad to watch it in the raw.

SIDNER (voice-over): Minneapolis resident Tracy Cowers came in for her breakfast with her dog, Adore. Cowers reveals what everyone around here already knows. The strongest of emotions are just under the surface here. One scratch, this time in the form of a question, and sorrow flows out.

SIDNER (on camera): How hard is it to watch this trial?

COWERS: It's mindboggling how somebody is here to serve and protect and they're the very ones who harm you. Not all, but some do.

SIDNER (voice-over): She says she can't look away even though it hurts to watch.

ABUMAYYALEH: Why are you packing?

SIDNER (voice-over): The store owners say they have received both love and hate, especially after their former cashier testified he was the one who took the alleged fake bill from Floyd.

CHRISTOPHER MARTIN, EMPLOYEE, CUP FOOD: The policy was that if you took a counterfeit bill you had to pay for it out of your money -- from your paycheck.

SIDNER (voice-over): Christopher Martin, a teenager, tried rectifying it with Floyd. That didn't work and police were called. Martin now regrets that.

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

SIDNER (voice-over): The store owner, Mahmoud Abumayyaleh, says the store has received dozens of fake bills over time.

ABUMAYYALEH: When employees do take counterfeit bills part of our training is we tell them that they're going to be responsible to pay for it just as a deterrent. We've never made an employee pay for a counterfeit bill.

SIDNER (voice-over): The store has also received threats. But most people are sending support via stacks of mail for Christopher Martin and phone calls from all over the country.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just thought I would make a call to you to see if there was something we could do.

SIDNER (voice-over): We happened to be there during one of those calls.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You've done a wonderful job and this is what we need to do in society.

SIDNER (on camera): Outside the Cup Foods store there is not just a memorial to George Floyd anymore; it's more of a community center. There is community gatherings that happen at the former gas station and there's a community garden that all of the people helped plant and take care of.

SIDNER (voice-over): On any given day, Jay Webb, a former professional basketball player, is in the square planting hope and beauty.

JAY WEBB, FORMER PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYER, CARETAKER, GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE: We beautified an ugly situation.

[07:40:00]

SIDNER (voice-over): Feet away, Floyd took his last breaths last year. Then in March this year, another man's body lay dying outside the store. He was shot and killed by a resident.

Neighbors, business owners, and activists are battling back violence and arguing over the barriers that have closed off the streets to traffic to the square for nearly a year now. But there is still love and light being shared here.

WEBB: This is our response. Do your worst and we'll do our best.

This is his. This is his. Every direction, peace and love.

SIDNER (on camera): Despite the tension that appears on and off in that neighborhood, Jay Webb summed up the sentiment that he's trying to create there, as well as the others who take care of the memorial every single day. He said, "Do your worst and we'll do our best."

Sara Sidner, CNN, Minneapolis.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CAMEROTA: Our thanks to Sara for that beautiful report.

Will the U.S. boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics? We have the latest on what the Biden administration now says.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:45:22]

CAMEROTA: This morning the U.S. State Department is backing away from the idea of boycotting the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games over China's human rights abuses.

CNN's Selina Wang is live in Tokyo with more. What have you learned, Selina?

SELINA WANG, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Alisyn, that's exactly correct. You have the U.S. State Department essentially walking back statements that they are considering a possible boycott of the Beijing Olympics and walking back even those suggestions.

But you did have the spokesperson, Ned Price, saying that, quote, "We will continue to consult closely with allies and partners to define our common concerns and establish our shared approach to the PRC."

Now, the U.S. has accused the Chinese government of committing genocide against Uyghurs and other minority groups in Xinjiang where the U.S. estimates that as many as two million people have been detained.

But there is broad disagreement over the best way to counter Beijing. On the one hand, you have human rights saying that an outright boycott is necessary to protest the government and make sure that it isn't emboldened by hosting these games.

On the other hand, you have others, including the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee saying that boycotts simply harm athletes without accomplishing anything. They argue that the last U.S. boycott at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow to protest the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan did not actually accomplish anything.

Now, boycotts, however, could take many forms. On the one hand, it could simply mean not sending government representatives. On the other hand, it could be much more extreme barring U.S. athletes, spectators, and sponsors from being a part of it.

And the backdrop here, of course, is icier relations between the U.S. and China. You have disagreements widening in nearly every area, including China's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

So take a listen here to what President Biden recently had to say in this exchange.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: Have you had a chance to speak to any of your international partners -- any -- President Xi, who you go way back with? Have you had a chance to ask him if these reports are true that China maybe misled the world at the beginning?

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: No, I have not had that conversation with President Xi.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WANG: Meanwhile, you have Beijing whipping nationalism up at home. There has been a major boycott in China against brands like H&M, Nike, Adidas, and others for simply expressing concerns about forced labor allegations in Xinjiang. So you can see how challenging it would be for governments and corporate sponsors that are considering withdrawing from the Olympics.

And Beijing is essentially saying that they are not as concerned about international criticism as they were before and that they feel stronger now and that they do not need to cave to international pressure -- Alisyn. CAMEROTA: Selina Wang, thank you very much for all of that -- John.

BERMAN: So, new surveillance video obtained by CNN captures U.S. Capitol attacker Noah Green purchasing a knife in a D.C. cutlery shop just before he rammed his car in U.S. Capitol Police Officer Billy Evans and another officer last Friday.

After crashing into a security gate police say Green got out of the car with a large knife and lunged at the officer when a third officer shot him.

Officer Evans will lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol next week.

CAMEROTA: A doorman and a concierge at a New York City apartment building have been fired after they witnessed a brutal attack on a 65- year-old Asian woman and did nothing. Surveillance video showed them closing the doors to the building's lobby while the attack occurred.

The alleged attacker is facing several charges, including assault as a hate crime.

The union says these two fired employees will appeal.

BERMAN: The Los Angeles sheriff will release more details this afternoon on what caused Tiger Woods to crash his SUV this past February. Last week, Sheriff Alex Villaneuva said the investigation was completed but could not release the report without Woods' permission.

The golf legend suffered serious leg injuries when his SUV rolled up a highway. Woods spent weeks in the hospital and is now recovering at home.

Oh, there I go. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:53:28]

BERMAN: So before we get to our next story, I want to bring in someone that Alisyn Camerota hasn't seen at this hour for more than six years.

CAMEROTA: No.

BERMAN: There he is --

CAMEROTA: No, no -- no way.

BERMAN: -- Tim Lewis.

TIM LEWIS, ALISYN CAMEROTA'S HUSBAND (via Cisco Webex): Good morning.

CAMEROTA: How -- honey, how did they rope you into this?

LEWIS: I'm a team player. CAMEROTA: Oh my gosh. How did you do that? This is the most

surprising thing.

BERMAN: Have you ever seen him, like, at 7:15?

CAMEROTA: No. God, he looks good.

LEWIS: How do I look in the morning?

CAMEROTA: You look fantastic, honey, and I'm going to really enjoy seeing you in person at this hour.

The funny thing is, John and everybody, I am not a morning person. Tim Lewis, my hubby, is a morning person. He is up voluntarily at this hour. Am I right, Tim?

LEWIS: That is correct. I'm looking forward -- I'm looking forward to us having a more normal schedule going forward. I'm looking forward to maybe going out to dinner on a Tuesday night, maybe watching Netflix on a Friday night and you not falling asleep at 7:15.

But I also -- I also am going to miss the morning show. You guys have been a big part of my morning routine as well and that's going to be -- that's going to be a tough change.

And I think I speak for a lot of viewers when I say morning news is more than news, in particular, during the last year-plus with all of the -- all of the craziness and you guys have been a fantastic source of calm. You know, sometimes -- our news sometimes being funny but always providing that kind of balance that gives people some -- a ballast in the morning, honestly.

[07:55:08]

So I look forward to our life but I will also miss the mornings with you and John.

BERMAN: I keep telling you you picked a good one.

CAMEROTA: I know, I really did.

BERMAN: How did you -- how did you pick -- how did you land a guy like that?

CAMEROTA: I tricked him, obviously. It's obvious to everyone watching.

Tim, thank you. I really, really appreciate that.

And Tim has been my champion through all of this. I mean, I have been -- this will shock you John because I know I never complain and you've never heard me complain. But occasionally, I would complain at home when I was tired and exhausted and feeling completely crushed by our schedule.

And Tim was the person who would say get back in there. You've got to get back in there. The news demands it. Now get in there and tell America what they need to hear.

BERMAN: I just have two questions for Tim. Number one, are you sure that you're going to miss like the falling asleep on the couch, drooling at 7:45 on Friday nights?

CAMEROTA: It's so pretty.

BERMAN: Are sure you're going to miss it? And number two, are you sure that it's not going to happen anymore?

LEWIS: Well, the -- I'll be honest with you. By Friday night, I'm actually looking forward to getting to bed at like 8:00-8:30. That seems pretty luxurious to me as well. But it's nice to have the option of taking it out big and maybe staying up until 10:00 and going out to dinner on a Friday night.

BERMAN: Whoo, go out -- 10:30.

LEWIS: It is -- it is a crazy life schedule.

CAMEROTA: Yes, agreed. It is very funny that Tim says that like at -- sometimes on Friday nights, Tim turns to me at dinner at 6:30 -- should we just go to bed now? I'm like can we wait until 8:00?

BERMAN: It's a convenient excuse, right, when you're at dinner. I hope no one I know is watching this -- you know, so like at 7:30. Oh, like John's got to go to sleep, you know. He's got to go to sleep. You have to leave.

It's not the company. I promise you it's not the company.

CAMEROTA: That's true. But for us it's not an excuse. We really -- I am face-down in bed at 8:00 most nights.

BERMAN: That's on Saturday nights when there's no show the next day.

CAMEROTA: Yes, yes.

So I look forward Tim to finding out what adults do after 8:00 p.m. I mean, I hear, like you said, that there is some exciting things that could happen.

LEWIS: Yes. You'll also -- you'll also be doing some driving of kids to school and --

CAMEROTA: I'm sorry, what?

LEWIS: -- some homework --

CAMEROTA: What?

LEWIS: -- at 9:00 on Wednesday night, so it's not all fun.

CAMEROTA: I don't remember agreeing to that. Tim has seen -- I mean, Tim has done all of that -- all of that stuff because I've been too tired. Tim handles all of the schedules, all of the driving, all of the homework. Frankly, Tim, I'm not sure I can help them with their math homework, but OK. I mean, I --

LEWIS: That's good. I can't either.

CAMEROTA: I can try to dive into that.

BERMAN: The other thing is I'm sure you guys are going to be up late watching sports every night, right?

CAMEROTA: Yes.

BERMAN: I mean, now you can -- now Alisyn can stay up and watch "MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL" -- watch the Chiefs play.

LEWIS: Exactly -- go Chiefs.

CAMEROTA: Tim --

BERMAN: You're going to have to explain to her the whole time --

CAMEROTA: No, no.

BERMAN: -- that it is football.

CAMEROTA: No, no, no.

LEWIS: There's no one who is less sports literate than my wife.

CAMEROTA: But Tim, I think that the NCAA bracket proved that I -- there's a closet sports genius somewhere in here.

LEWIS: No, you're lucky.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

LEWIS: You are -- you are incredibly lucky.

CAMEROTA: I am lucky.

BERMAN: Well, Tim, this -- you know, this is what you get. You know, he's a lucky man, too. Let me just say that.

CAMEROTA: That's very nice of you but I am truly lucky. Tim, thank you for all of your support during these --

LEWIS: Thank you.

And then, seriously -- I'm not kidding -- thank you, John and thank you, Alisyn. These have -- it's been some tough times and you guys have been a real source of equanimity, I think for people.

BERMAN: Someone had to sit next to her --

CAMEROTA: Thank you.

BERMAN: -- for three hours every day.

CAMEROTA: It's true.

Tim, love you. Thank you very, very much.

LEWIS: All right, take care.

CAMEROTA: I really appreciate it.

BERMAN: NEW DAY continues right now.

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

BERMAN: All right, welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world, and Alisyn Camerota's husband. This is it.

CAMEROTA: The surprises just keep coming. I mean, really, truly, I'm already shell-shocked. It's already a lot to take in and I know we have another hour but thank you, guys. I mean, I appreciate this.

I have so much to say later in the program. I hope you'll stick around. But it's an intense morning. It is an intense morning here for me.

BERMAN: In the meantime, let's do a little bit of news.

CAMEROTA: OK, let's get to it.

There are major developments overnight in the scandal surrounding Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz. "The New York Times" reports that in the final weeks of the Trump administration, Gaetz sought blanket preemptive pardons for himself and his congressional allies. Gaetz is a staunch Trump supporter but the "Times" says the request was viewed by Trump advisers as a non-starter and never granted.

The timing is interesting but it is not clear if Gaetz knew at the time that he was being investigated by the Feds for alleged sex trafficking and prostitution crimes.

BERMAN: So the pace of vaccinations brisk, but President Biden is urging Americans not to let their guard down against coronavirus, saying we're not yet at the finish line. Another 60,000 cases reported overnight. Variants spreading fast in five states that now account for nearly half the new cases in the U.S.

There's also troubling information about the lasting side effects on the brain of some COVID survivors.

CAMEROTA: But we begin with the Matt Gaetz investigation. Joining us now are CNN White House correspondent John Harwood and CNN congressional correspondent Lauren Fox. Great to see both of you.

John Harwood, "The New York Times".