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The Lead with Jake Tapper

Legal Showdown Brewing Between Special Counsel, Judge Cannon; John Eastman Fights To Get His Law License Back; Rare 4.8 Magnitude Earthquake Rattles The Northeast; IDF Releases Report On Attack That Killed 7 Aid Workers; U.S. Calls For Independent Probe Into Killing Of Aid Workers; New York Eclipse "Czar" On Tourism & Preparing For Potential Disasters. Aired 4-5p ET

Aired April 05, 2024 - 16:00   ET

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

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: A studio near Cleveland, Ohio, is offering customers several dozen eclipse-themed designs to commemorate the celestial event.

[16:00:08]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Yeah, Lorain County sits in the center of the zone of totality and the studios owner says she just wanted something to commemorate. She wants something to do there to commemorate the event. She said it's something positive that we can all be a part of.

You can be a part of it, too. We'll will be Indianapolis, in the path for "Eclipse Across America", starting at 1:00, and also CNN Max. Maybe we'll get tattoos of the sun and the moon. Maybe that would happen.

SANCHEZ: Quite the tease.

KEILAR: Uh-huh.

SANCHEZ: THE LEAD WITH JAKE TAPPER starts right now.

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JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: New York shakes and rattles while California rolls its eyes.

THE LEAD starts right now.

The strongest earthquake to rock New Jersey in more than 240 years. There are reports of some structural damage and just how long Northeast folks may feel aftershocks. We'll bring it to you.

Plus, two Israeli military officers fired for that strike that killed seven aid workers with World Central Kitchen, the non-profit started by celebrity chef Jose Andreas. Will Israel do more in the wake of criticism of the deadly strike?

But, first, new science today of what could be a brewing legal battle between the special counsel investigating Donald Trump and the judge overseeing one of the criminal cases against him.

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TAPPER: Welcome to THE LEAD. I'm Jake Tapper.

And we start today with our law and justice lead, and what could be a looming battle between special counsel Jack Smith and the judge overseeing Donald Trump's classified documents case, Judge Aileen Cannon. There already appears to be no love lost between federal prosecutors on Smith's team and Judge Cannon, who was appointed by Donald Trump, and whose performance has been questioned by legal observers.

Cannon has been slow to make some decisions which happens to help Trump's delay strategy. And one of her major rulings in the investigation was overturned by a higher court.

You might remember just a few days ago, prosecutors took the very unusual step of harshly lambasting her, suggesting that some of the judge's actions seemed based on a quote, fundamentally flawed understanding of the case, though one that has no basis in law or fact.

Well, Judge Cannon's now firing back in a filing of her own, leaving one to wonder how far this back-and-forth might go and whether special counsel Jack Smith might try to get Judge Cannon removed from the case.

CNN's Paula Reid joins us now.

And, Paula, how is special counsel Jack Smith going to handle Judge Cannon's decision yesterday?

PAULA REID, CNN CHIEF LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jake, I don't want to think of this so much as a personality clash as it is just a basic fact. Prosecutors can't go into a trial if they don't know how a judge is thinking about the law. And right now, they are asking the judge to decide whether she is going to let the Presidential Records Act factor into this case. That's at post- Watergate law that governs which records created during an administration belong to a president versus the government.

Now, Trump is using this as one of his many defenses, arguing that these were, quote, personal records. The special counsel is asked Cannon to reject that. In that fiery late Tuesday night filing, they wrote, quote, the court should be aware at the outset the Trumps entire effort to rely on the PRA is not based in any facts. It's a post hoc justification that was concocted more than a year after he left the White House.

The problem is, Jake, in her opinion yesterday, she didn't really answer the question. So they can't really appeal something she hasn't said or done. But as we get closer to trial, this issue, this question and many others will continue to come up. And if she does decide when they have to put forth their defenses, that she will let this in, then the special counsel can appeal. But at this point, she hasn't decided anything that can be appealed to

the 11th Circuit.

TAPPER: Will the special counsel's team do you think try to get Judge Cannon recuse from the case?

REID: At this point, there is no indication in their filings, and from speaking from sources that they're going to do that. But, remember, Jake, she hasn't really done much. It's a very high bar to try to get someone remove from the case, but right now, they really wouldn't have much of a record to even present if they were going to make that effort.

For example, she has such a backlog. She has over eight motions to dismiss, still sitting on her desks. She has three other major defense motions, and she still has not decided on the trial date. Once she starts making decisions, if they don't like what she does, they can certainly appeal and then over time they can try to build a record if they want to try to get her removed. But as of right now, there's no indication they're going to do that.

TAPPER: All right. Paula Reid, thanks so much.

Also, in our law and justice lead today, former Trump attorney, John Eastman, the father of the illegitimate theory that Vice President Pence could single-handedly overturn the 2020 presidential election, is now fighting to get back his law license as he faces some of the consequences of his actions around January 6, 2021. A disciplinary hearing last month stripped Eastman of his ability to practice law in the state of California.

Eastman is arguing in a new court filing that he needs to be able to work as a lawyer so he can pay his own legal bills.

CNN's Katelyn Polantz is following the story for us.

Katelyn, what is his basic argument besides he needs the money and what comes next for him?

KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN SENIOR CRIME AND JUSTICE REPORTE: Well, right now for John Eastman, he can't law and he's on the path to disbarment, but he is telling a judge in California who has made his law license inactive and said he has no remorse what he was doing for Donald Trump after the election. This is something that is in violation of his ethics codes as a lawyer.

He's telling that judge, he has bills to pay. Those bills are because it's quite expensive to be a criminal defendant. He is one, alongside, Donald Trump in Fulton County, Georgia, for his 2020 election actions. He says his bills there are $1 million already. And if he goes to trial, which he says he wants to do to try and clear his name, his bills could be up to $3.5 million.

So he wants to keep practicing law to be able to pay those bills and what he's also revealed to this California attorney discipline judge, as he's trying to ask her to let him continue practicing law, he says, let me show you some of my clients, and those clients submitted letters and sworn statements to the court. They include the Colorado Republican Party who is hired, John Eastman to challenge the states open primaries and two Republican members of Congress pretty well- known people, Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene who say in their letters, there's no other competent, qualified attorney that they would trust, like one, John Eastman.

TAPPER: All right. Katelyn Polantz, thanks so much.

Joining me now to discuss is Ankush Khardori. He's a former federal prosecutor. He currently covers legal issues for "Politico" magazine anchors.

Ankush, thanks so much for joining us. Welcome to THE LEAD.

Let's start with what we just heard about John Eastman. Does he have a strong legal argument when he claims that being his lawyers, his livelihood and he needs to be able to practice law to pay his bills?

ANKUSH KHARDORI, FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: I don't think it's a particularly strong legal argument. It's possible that the courts will have some sympathy for him. It's possible to predict how they will resolve it but I don't think this is sympathetic argument at all.

I mean, this man was a very bad lawyer and he did a very bad job and quite possibly the highest stakes setting we could imagine in the run- up to January 6, and on January 6. He really shouldn't be practicing law and I don't know where Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene had been looking for lawyers, but he is definitely not the only competent lawyer that they can find. There are many, many more.

TAPPER: We know of two other former Trump attorneys who have taken plea deals in that Fulton County case to avoid trial, Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro.

You interviewed Johnny Eastman last year. Do you think his financial situation could affect his approach to the charges he's facing in Georgia?

KHARDORI: I doubt it. And the reason why I say that is because when I spoke to him last year as all this stuff was still underway, this proceeding was still underway. He was quite strident and I think even to this day, he really has not acknowledged any kind of error or mistake or note of contrition throughout this whole proceeding. He seems to want to fight this until the last possible opportunity.

And if you can't pay for his lawyers, many people can pay for lawyers. They get public defenders.

TAPPER: Right.

All right. Let's hop from Georgia to Florida when it comes to the classified documents case before Judge Aileen Cannon, there are questions about her conduct in this case. Some people wonder if she's just inexperienced. She was only confirmed at the end of 2020. Former Trump White House attorney Ty Cobb is not fully buying the idea that this is just inexperienced. And again, before I run this clip, I just want to remind people, this is a former Trump attorney. Let's roll the tape.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TY COBB, FORMER TRUMP WHITE HOUSE ATTORNEY: Yes, she may be incompetent, but at this stage of the game, you know, the -- her incompetence is so gross that I think it clearly creates the perception of impartiality -- of partiality in her attempt to put her thumb on the scale. So I think that should disqualify her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: What's your take?

KHARDORI: I think I see things probably a little bit differently. I tend to ascribe these sorts of incidents where I can to sort of normal human frailties rather than malice. I do think she's inexperienced not just on the sort of criminal classified documents setting. That's very rare to have that type of experience. But more generally, complex large litigation, she doesn't seem to have any experience managing it, and a lot of the problems that, you know, Paula was referring to, the backlog of motions and things like that, I see as a function of that.

And I also see some of the commentary that she has been making, including this order this week that has been drawn rightly drawing a lot of attention as somewhat symptomatic, I think of maybe things making her a little uneasy in terms of the attention she's getting and the negative attention she's getting.

TAPPER: All right.

Ankush Khardori, thank you so much. Good to see you. Welcome to the show.

Also in the law and justice lead today, Donald Trump has for a long time now been inaccurately describing the January 6 prisoners as hostages, though he has not been specified to whom he's referring.

Finally, though he did name one, although he spelled your name wrong, but be that as it may. Today on Truth Social, Mr. Trump singled out, Rebecca Lavrenz, saying, quote, she is one of Joe Biden's January 6, hostages.

Now, prosecutors say that this woman roamed restricted areas of the Capitol on January 6, and a jury ever peers found her guilty of all four misdemeanor counts against her, misdemeanors.

We've been examining all of these cases in a series we call "Trump's January 6 Hostages" because a whole bunch of them are not like Rebecca Lavrenz who was found guilty of nonviolent misdemeanors, a bunch of them engaged in violent felonies, such as, for example, Zachary Jordan Alam of Centreville, Virginia. Prosecutors say Mr. Alam leap through a broken window to get into the Capitol on January 6, he tried to kick in the door.

He threw are red velvet theater rope from a balcony down at police guarding the rotunda in the House speaker's lobby, prosecutors say Alam walked up to Capitol police officers and shouted multiple times and apologies ahead of time for the language here, but he shouted at police officers, quote, I'm going to fuck you up. Again, he said this to law enforcement officers.

Prosecutors say Alam punched the glass of the speakers lobby doors with his fist, pushing up against three officers. That's when another one of the rioters, a woman tried to climb through the window and that woman was Ashley Babbitt whom a Capitol police officer seconds later, and he was worried about protecting members of Congress from this angry, violent mob. This police officer shot and killed her in what was later deemed in the line of duty.

Prosecutors say as Alam left that area, he yelled to fellow rioters that they, quote, need guns. Zachary Jordan Alam was arrested three weeks later in Pennsylvania. A jury found him guilty of all eight felony counts, including crimes involving assaulting police officers, plus three misdemeanors. Alam is supposed to be sentenced later this month.

Once again, that is one of Mr. Trump's J6 hostages, whom he says he will pardon and release as president. Again, these are not hostages. They're criminals

Here's video showing the other big story today. The moment one of 4.8 magnitude earthquake rattled than northeastern United States this morning.

This is the view from the top of New York's Statue of Liberty. Kind of a shaky view there. The epicenter was just north of Lebanon, New Jersey, less than 50 miles west of New York City. People well up and down the east coast could feel the tremors.

CNN's Polo Sandoval is in New York for us.

And, Polo, this part of the country for those watching abroad definitely not accustomed to earthquakes.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. How many times have you actually heard that? You've seen an earthquake or at least felt an earthquake, I should say in Times Square. It's highly unusual, quite historic here.

Now, New York City officials, Jake, they're reporting, no damage, no significant damages, also, no injuries. So really wanted the attention is now shifting to infrastructure and the assessment of it. We're talking things like over million buildings in the city alone. So far, the builders department here, New York City over no reports of any buildings compromise. So, that this session continues.

Also roads and tunnels, bridges, as well. The MTA reported today that their infrastructure is actually built to withstand a seismic event to even greater stronger than the 4.8 earthquake that was felt on the Northeast today, and the transit system, which were told continues to operate safely and effectively, according to officials. The U.S. geological survey, Jake, they say that the epicenter of this -- of this quake was likely about 50 miles west of here in northern New Jersey.

And that being said that, were close to at least 23 million people according to that agency that may have felt some degree of shaking. And speaking to people throughout New York City today, Jake, I can tell you that the reaction is fairly mixed. There were some that were shaken, even scared by this event that took place on about 10:30 this morning.

But there were others, including a couple of fraud Mexico City, one also from California, who seemed unfazed. I myself don't even feel it. I was on the New York City subway system. But nonetheless, it certainly is historic and certainly something that people, even here at tech score talking about today.

TAPPER: All right. Polo Sandoval in New York, thank you.

Coming up, the notable spot of an aftershock halfway around the world shortly after that New Jersey quake.

But first, new criticism after Israel's report today revealing exactly what led up to that deadly strike killing aid workers from the World Central Kitchen. That's next.

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TAPPER: In our world lead in Israel, far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is reportedly fuming after Israel security cabinet held a vote without him on opening additional border crossings so aid, more humanitarian aid can be delivered to Palestinians in Gaza. This follows the IDF's release of its preliminary investigation, which highlights a series of mistakes behind those three airstrikes that took out three World Central Kitchen vehicles in Gaza earlier this week, killing seven.

CNN's Jeremy Diamond has more on what were learning from Israel's internal findings as U.S. Secretary of State Blinken is calling for an independent investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Six months into the war in Gaza, the Israeli military tonight delivering its most thorough and public admission of wrongdoing for killing civilians in Gaza. Four days after targeted air strikes killed seven aid workers, the Israeli military says several of its commanders violated military protocols and made errors in decision-making, leading to a fatal sequence of events.

At 10:00 p.m. on Monday night, a World Central Kitchen aid convoy departs this pier on the Gaza coastline, heading south on Al Rashid Street. Twenty-eight minutes later, the Israeli military says its forces identified a gunman on top of with one of the aid trucks.

As the convoy passes the World Central Kitchen welcome center, four additional WCK vehicles join the convoy, driving south along Al-Rashid and then east, arriving at a warehouse just off Salaheddin Street at 10:46 p.m. As aid pallets are unloaded at the warehouse, Israeli forces misidentify a bag slung over one of the passengers shoulders as a weapon, and soon Israeli commanders make a deadly and false assumption that the car is accompanying the trucks are not part of the aid convoy, but rather carrying Hamas militants.

World Central Kitchen had cleared the convoy, including the cars with the military, but the Israeli military says the commanders involved in the strikes had not seen that information. As three vehicles carrying the seven WCK workers leave the warehouse heading south on Al Rashid Street, Israeli commanders give the order to strike.

The first vehicle is hit at 11:09 p.m. and Israeli military official says, some of the passengers survive fleeing into the next vehicle. But two minutes later, an airstrike hits that vehicle a half-mile down the road at 11:13 p.m., a third missile hits the final vehicle. In just four minutes, seven members of the World Central Kitchen team are dead international uproar ensues, triggering the most comprehensive Israeli military investigation into its deadly actions in Gaza to date.

In the statement, the Israeli military said, the investigations, findings indicate that the incident should not have occurred. Those who approved the strike were convinced that they were targeting armed Hamas operatives and not WCK employees. The strike on the aid vehicles is a grave mistake stemming from a serious failure due to mistaken identification, errors in decision-making and an attack contrary to the standard operating procedures.

General Herzi Halevi, the IDF's chief of staff, dismissing to Nahal brigade officers involved in the incidents. Colonel Nochi Mendel, the brigade chief of staff, and an unidentified major serving as the brigade fire support officer.

Three others are formally reprimanded. Colonel Yair Zuckerman (ph), the Nahal brigade commander, Brigadier General Etze Cohen (ph), the division commander, and General Yaron Finkelman, head of Israel southern command.

In a statement, World Central Kitchen called the disciplinary actions important steps, but said without systemic change, there will be more military failures, more apologies and more grieving families, calling for an independent commission to investigate the killings. The IDF cannot credibly investigate its own failure in Gaza, the aid group said.

ANTONY BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE: It's very important that Israel is taking full responsibility for this incident. It's also important that appears to be taking steps to hold those responsible accountable. As Israel pursues any military operations against Hamas, it has to prioritize the protection of civilians. DIAMOND: As bombs continued to fall on Gaza today, human rights groups continuing to raise questions about Israel's broader commitment to protecting civilians in Gaza vowing a longer road to accountability.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DIAMOND (on camera): And while the Israeli military has sought to convey the gravity of this error, the gravity of this strike killing seven aid workers, some members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government disagree with it, namely, Itamar Ben-Gvir, the country's national security minister, describing this as the abandonment of soldiers in the middle of war, calling this a grave mistake that he says conveys weakness -- Jake.

TAPPER: All right. Jeremy Diamond, thank you so much.

This Sunday marks six months since Hamas invaded Israel and began this horrific conflict, six months since those attacks killed more than 1,200 people in Israel, most of them civilian, some of them children, six months since 250 hostages were taken captive into Gaza by Hamas, with more than 100 still there, six months of a war that rages on between the IDF and Hamas with tens of thousands of lives lost and no end in sight.

CNN's Bianna Golodryga has been following four specific Israeli hostage families. This weekend, she's going to take a look at their fights to bring their loved ones home.

Here's a look at a piece of the conversation with the Kalderon family.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The last message we've got, the jump from the window and hiding in the bush. And then we lost the connection.

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): She later learned they jumped because terrorists were tossing explosives into their home, but they stayed hidden watching the horror for two hours.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And then a younger man, like 19 years old, was just jump on the window and make, like a gym, you know, like sport, one of the --

GOLODRYGA: Doing pull-ups?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, something like that. And then he saw them, just behind the bush, you know, and then this young boy called the Hamas terrorist my (INAUDIBLE) she couldn't run away because her legs fell asleep, she couldn't move.

[16:25:04]

It was very clever. It tried to get up to the roof, but then they saw him. They show the gun and they said go out or we shoot.

GOLODRYGA: Sahar, Erez and their 50-year-old father Ofer Kalderon were caught.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: And Bianna Golodryga joins me now.

Bianna, such a -- such a powerful interview that the Kalderon family, it's just one of so many still just waiting for Hamas and the other terrorists in Gaza to return their loved ones.

GOLODRYGA: Yeah. And the Kalderon family are among the lucky ones, Jake, because Sahar and Erez were part of that one week exchange where they were actually able to be reunited with their mother. Missing, however, is their father and being in Israel, we were there for a week in February you get a sense of the country's resilience, but you also get a sense of what is missing in the country. Everywhere you go, you see the "bring them home" dog tags, you see the posters "bring them home", you see all of these families just torn apart.

And those that have come home, Jake, are you can imagine going through therapy. They're not the same two of the families that we interviewed lived in kibbutzim. They are never going back to the kibbutzim, they told me. They don't trust their government to protect them. They were concerned even prior to October 7.

And now they're stuck. The government is paying for their housing, but there are new schools and new homes. And then you have all of those, the tens of thousands that are relocated from the north. Total, you have a quarter of 1 million people in Israel who are relocated at this point given the conflict and it's just not sustainable.

TAPPER: We are -- we are six months into this war as of Sunday. How are people in Israel feeling right now?

GOLODRYGA: They are feeling torn because they're country is obviously in chaos. They are at war and they want to protect their country and defend their country, but they see the direction that this war has taken. Yes, the majority of Israelis believe and support fighting this war, but they do not necessarily agree with how this war is being conducted. They don't necessarily have faith in their government.

You see the approval rating for Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud Party continue to suffer because they don't feel that he is doing enough, that his party in government is doing enough to bring these sausages home. Obviously, they're not negotiating with themselves. Hamas is also the key factor here and thus far, they're rejecting any hostage deals, Jake.

TAPPER: All right. Bianna Golodryga, thank you so much.

And everyone should tune in to hear more of this story on "the whole story with Anderson Cooper" this Sunday evening at 8:00 Eastern, only here on CNN.

A very opinionated Senator Bernie Sanders was here in THE LEAD yesterday. He told me he does not think Israel should get anymore us military aid until Netanyahu's policies on Gaza change. Is that sentiment shared across the Democratic Party? A vocal House Democrats going to join us next.

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TAPPER: And we're back with our world lead and the strong condemnation from independent Senator Bernie Sanders right here on the show yesterday. He criticized Israel's deadly attack on the World Central Kitchen convoy in Gaza earlier this week.

Here's part of what Senator Sanders told me yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT): Israel should not be getting another nickel in military aid until these policies are fundamentally changed. So if, you know, my view is no more military aid to Israel when children in Gaza are starving.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida is with me.

Congresswoman, what do you make of what Senator Sanders had to say? Do you agree? Do you disagree?

REP. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (D-FL): Jake, the accidental deaths (ph) of the WCK humanitarian aid worker was an absolute devastating tragedy, and one that should not have happened. And that is something that President Biden made very clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu. Israel has taken the steps necessary to quickly investigate, determine that their protocols were and communication were violated. And there was accountability with IDF leadership who were responsible for that, who lost their jobs.

Unlike many countries that certainly don't investigate that quickly and don't claim responsibility as Israel has. We already have account -- we already have the ability in place to condition our aid not just to Israel, but any country. The memorandum of understanding that President Biden issued just a few weeks ago applies to all countries to which we provide defense assistance and so that's the mechanism that's in place. But at this point, we have to remember that Israel was attacked on October 7, as you know.

What Bianna said in the -- in your conversation with her just a few moments ago, is absolutely accurate. I led a women members congressional delegation last week. And it is clear that life in Israel has turned upside down.

TAPPER: Yeah.

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: You have the towns in the north that have evacuated, the south evacuated. And that was Hamas's intent, to upend the security and stability of Israel and ends the normalization process, so that eventually there isn't an Israel. That's unacceptable and it's not going to --

TAPPER: So I'm interpreting that as a no, you don't agree that that Israel should not get any more military aid until they change their policies, as Senator Sanders suggested. He said that the Congress.

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: But they did --

TAPPER: But let me just --

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: They did change their policies.

TAPPER: Oh, okay, you're saying they did change their policies. But their overall policies in Gaza, they've changed that?

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Well, when President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu, after that very difficult conversation, Israel opened up the Erez Crossing and insured another access point, is stepping up humanitarian aid to make sure toward that more gets in, had that investigation and had their accountability and consequences as a result. And that's what needs to happen.

More aid gets in, that's what we as a delegation communicated with the prime minister last week.

[16:35:03]

But we also have to make sure that a deal is reached, that Hamas accept the deal on the table. It's at ten to one ratio of Palestinian prisoners who are terrorists that killed Israelis to every one hostage. That deal needs to be accepted so that there can be a ceasefire for six weeks, and ensure that we can get the hostages out, get humanitarian aid in. The ball is in Hamas's court right now.

TAPPER: So, "Axios" reporter, CNN analyst Barak Ravid wrote about President Biden's ultimatum in the phone call with Netanyahu and Biden reportedly told Netanyahu, if Israel does not change course in Gaza, quote, we won't be able to support you.

Do you think opening up this one crossing allowing more aid into Gaza from Israel will be enough for President Biden?

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Well, I think what was made clear in that conversation and I saw his report, it was made clear that the directions from and conversation with President Biden and the prime minister were that we need to make sure that more aid gets in, that a ceasefire is reached, attached to the release of the hostages. And that we absolutely have to make sure that Israel has the ability to continue to end the threat that Hamas represents a not have a terrorist organization sworn to its destruction on its doorstep.

But we have to make sure that Israel is taking all the steps and they do, they take unprecedented steps as you talk about, Jake, to ensure that humanitarian aid is not only getting in, but the civilians are removed from harms way as much as possible while Hamas is using their own people as human shields. And so this is a very difficult, dense urban warfare situation. Israel

has to do more as a result of being the one that is in inside of Gaza and there's more of expected of them. And we are indicating that while at the same time ensuring that were supportive of their ability to never have to go through another October 7th and ensure the safety and security and the -- and the continuity of their people.

TAPPER: I also to get your reaction to this big news from your home state of Florida this week where your state Supreme Court said that the current controversial six-week abortion ban can take effect because there's nothing in the Constitution to say that it can't. But the court also ruled that Florida can have a referendum of sorts on the ballot in November of a proposed state constitutional amendment, which would enshrined in the Constitution the right to an abortion. Governor DeSantis is predicting that voters will not approve the abortion amendment, which I think requires 60 percent approval.

Do you think you'll get 60 percent?

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: I do think so. The MAGA extremists Supreme Court at the appointed essentially established a near-total abortion ban that will take place in 26 days. And we'll have six months of horrific reproductive health care policy that we'll hear a story after story nightmare scenarios that women are going to be facing where the government, judges and politicians are going to interfere with their reproductive choices. We heard from a woman, Deborah Norbert, at a hearing we had, a field hearing we had in my district this week where she was forced under the 15-week ban to carry and her fetus to term and induce pregnancy while having no amniotic fluid and her baby was certain to be born without kidneys, who died 94 minutes later in her arms.

That is the kind of torture that Ron DeSantis' Supreme Court, and Ron DeSantis is putting women through in the state and it impacts the entire south. Voters will go to the polls. They have an eight out of eight opportunities to ensure reproductive rights in their constitutions and defeat referendums to take those rights away because they believed that politicians, judges, and the government should stay out of their bedrooms, examination rooms, and their (INAUDIBLE) counters.

TAPPER: Right. So, if you are able to rally 60 percent of people to vote in favor of that constitutional amendment enshrining abortion rights in the Constitution, that's going to potentially have a big impact on voter turnout, in general. And while -- well, I don't know, I get a -- do you think that actually it could help Republican -- whoever the Democrat is, that's going to face a Republican Senator Rick Scott. Could it even help Joe Biden win Florida? I mean, I'm a little skeptical having covered the 2000 Florida election and recount and such. But how significant do you think that that turnout can be?

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: This is really not a political question when it comes right down to it. There were over 1 million signatures that were obtained through get this amendment on the ballot, and 20 percent of those signatures. But that was like almost 200,000 more than they needed, 20 percent of those signatures were from Republicans. And so, this is -- this is an issue when it's been pulled in Florida

that cuts across party lines and nonpartisan affiliated voters.

[16:40:03]

They don't want the government or politicians in their personal private health care decisions. And the impact of this six-week ban being in effect for six months is going to make the choice very stark. By the way, we've had the minimum wage past with 60 percent of the vote, a dramatic change to the way our districts are drawn with 60 percent of the vote. We've had controversial contested amendments passed with over 60 percent of the vote and none of those had kind of across the board supports like this reproductive freedom amendment will.

So people will go to the polls and vote yes, on Amendment 4, and I think more than 60 percent will come to the polls to approve that.

TAPPER: Florida Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, always good to see you. Thanks for joining us.

While many of you scramble to find some of those special glasses you need to watch the eclipse next week, one woman is finalizing plans to make sure tourists in her city stay safe. We're going to talk to her about that monumental task, next.

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[16:45:00]

TAPPER: In our out of this world lead today, the New York Yankees are pushing Monday's game back a few hours because of the solar eclipse out, because it's -- I don't know, having thousands of spectators and players without safety glasses potentially looking up straight at the sun during the eclipse might be a bad idea.

The best views of the eclipse are expected to be in New York. That is, if the weather cooperates, of course. Regardless, New York's unofficial eclipse czar, Jessica DeCerce, who spent months preparing for Monday, will be watching closely to see if the state's plans run smoothly.

And Jessica DeCerce joins us now.

And, Jessica, I know that you do not like the term eclipse are, and I know you said it makes you cringe.

JESSICA DECERCE, DIRECTOR OF INTERAGENCY OPERATIONS, NEW YORK STATE: I do.

TAPPER: But it's such a cool title. I'm sorry. I want to acknowledge that you don't like it though. But more importantly, explain how monumental of a task you face to ensure that New York tourism benefits from this eclipse while also trying to make sure nothing goes wrong.

DECERCE: Well, it's delicate balancing act. Of course, we want to welcome as many people as we can to New York state because we have a lot of assets to show off, our beautiful downtowns in Upstate New York. But at the same time when you have a lot of people coming into a system, it can strain transportation, communication systems.

So we've been giving it a lot of thought for about 18 months to come up with a plan that balances that. And we're trying to encourage people to have a memorable experience, but to do it safely.

TAPPER: You're also preparing for really bad traffic beyond just regular tourist traffic. Why?

DECERCE: Well, we've got places in New York state that are great at moving people upstate New York. Buffalo has -- Bills games, they know how to move people. Rochester had the PGA championship. The Adirondacks have a lot of tourism, but that's all happening all at once.

So we're surging resources, but we haven't seen this happen all at once. And then you add additional, you know, hundreds of thousands or millions of people coming in. It will strain the system. We are expecting backups.

We did see from research in other states experienced in 27, we saw backups and so were planning for that and were just trying to prepare the public for that and ask them to be prepared. It'd be safe.

TAPPER: What was one of the most unique challenges you're facing while planning for this eclipse.

DECERCE: The weather is always a wildcard. Upstate New York is in April, it could be shady (ph) and sunny or the snowstorm like we had this week, or a little bit of both anywhere else. So as we say in Upstate New York, you have to be prepared for anything.

So the weather is a wildcard, I don't think were going to get snow, but I don't know what's going to happen. It could forecast could change on a dime.

TAPPER: Does today's earthquake, which was largely felt in Manhattan, change any of your plans for the eclipse on Monday?

DECERCE: It does not.

TAPPER: Okay. Good to know. Jessica DeCerce, thank you so much. Best of luck.

DECERCE: Thank you very much.

TAPPER: And just minutes after the earthquake rattled much of the east coast of the United States earlier today, we noticed the earth shake and a different spot. We'll tell you about that.

Plus the new report counting just how many women are sitting in big company C-suites these days. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [16:52:39]

TAPPER: Our leads around the world starts with a coincidence. Less than an hour after this morning's earthquake in New Jersey, Taiwan was hit by another aftershocks, slightly stronger than the Jersey quake one of hundreds since Wednesday's magnitude 7.4 quake that killed ten people and injured about 1,000. Authorities say nearly 700 people in Taiwan remained stranded, many at a hotel blocked off by damage, one in the mountains.

For the first time in nearly two decades, the percentage of women in C-suites of publicly traded U.S. companies has dropped. That's according to S&P global market. In 2023, women held 11.8 percent of the C-suite roles assessed. That was down from 12.2 percent in 2022. This is the first time women have lost ground there since S&P began measuring this in 2005.

Coming up this Sunday, "Space Shuttle Columbia", the final flight, it's a CNN original series about the 2003 fatal mission of seven astronauts who set off for 16 days in orbit, a mission that ultimately led to complete disaster.

Here's a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEOO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For the first two plus minutes of the mission with the solid rocket boosters attached, there's no option for abort. You have to wait until they're done and burned out and cut away. That's a death zone. No matter what happens in that scenario, you cannot do anything.

That was when this Challenger went down.

(COUNTING DOWN)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The weird thing is that you see that flash see this smoke coming up and its like, whoa, well, that's sucks. There's no sound and then boom.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: "Space Shuttle Columbia", the final flight, also pays tribute to the men and women aboard that mission. And the series began Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, only here on CNN.

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. calls the January 6 attack one of the most polarizing topics on the political landscape. You might be surprised but what else he said in a statement today about the Capital riot. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:59:29]

TAPPER: Welcome to THE LEAD. I'm Jake Tapper. And this hour, the countdown to the final four and women are

dominating the games. Sports commentator Bob Costas will be here to talk college basketball and more.

Plus, new comments today from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the January 6 attack. His polarizing remark as he questions the fallout of that day.

But we're going to start this hour with breaking news. U.S. is actively preparing for a quote, significant attack by Iran against Israel. That's an attack that could come within the next week, we're told. This is according to a senior administration official, Biden administration official, who says a direct strike on Israel by Iran is one of the worst-case scenarios at the White House is preparing for.