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At This Hour

Nation Braces for Verdict As Jury Deliberates Chauvin Case; J&J Vaccine Manufacturing Paused at Facility Under FDA Investigation. Aired 11-11:30a ET

Aired April 20, 2021 - 11:00   ET

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

[11:00:01]

WALTER MONDALE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT: We fought the good fight. And every one of us should feel good about that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Again --

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Again, Walter -- go ahead. Sorry, Poppy.

HARLOW: No worry. He was 93 years old.

Thank you for joining us today. I'm Poppy Harlow.

SCIUTTO: A lot of good comes out of Minnesota, doesn't it, Poppy?

HARRLOW: I think so.

SCIUTTO: And I'm Jim Sciutto.

NEWSROOM with Kate Bolduan starts right now.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Kate Bolduan. Thank you so much for joining -- joining us at this hour.

Minneapolis and the entire country is watching and waiting uneasily. The jury in the Derek Chauvin murder trial is deliberating right now as we speak for a second day. The 12 jurors behind closed doors considering three weeks of testimony from dozens of witnesses and hours of video evidence as they decide whether Derek Chauvin is guilty of three charges, second degree unintentional murder, third degree murder, second degree manslaughter.

The jury just -- the jury must reach unanimous verdict on each charge to convict or acquit. And with Chauvin's future in the hands of the jury, Minneapolis is preparing for more protests and possibly more violence. You can see right there, businesses near the courthouse, they boarded up. National Guard troops have been deployed to the downtown area and razor wire and barricades have also been put up.

And it's not just Minneapolis now. Other cities across the country are preparing as well, stepping up security ahead of the eventual verdict. Let's start in Minneapolis. CNN's Sara Sidner, she's live outside the

courthouse for us this hour.

Sara, it is now -- it is now watch and wait. What you are hearing about jury deliberations so far?

SARA SIDNER, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The jury has been deliberating -- they deliberated four hours yesterday from 4:00 to 8:00 and they started deliberations today at 9:00 p.m. New York time, 8:00 p.m. local time here in Minneapolis.

And you were talking about the security. I just want to give you some sense of what that looks like. Now, this has been here since the beginning of the trial, in order -- especially because to the right of you is the courthouse.

And so, surrounding the courthouse but this perimeter has gotten bigger over time. Surrounding other businesses, for example, other government buildings, I should say, for example, with the concrete barriers and the fencing that is very high and then you've got barbed wire on the top. And on the middle, you have razor wire.

So they are prepared for any kind of assault that someone might be planning on the courthouse. But they are very clear in that they will -- this will be evacuated at some point. When the jury comes to its decision, that the courthouse itself.

And I do want to talk a little bit about the feeling here, because what the feeling here has been over the past couple of days is one of rising tension. And that is partly because of the unknown. Not knowing what the jury is going to do. The worry about what that is going to -- what is going to do to the folks who have been waiting for this.

But there has been another issue that shooting and killing of Daunte Wright not too far from here. You know, we're talking ten miles from here. And so that ratcheted up and sort of took the cork off, you know, a bottle that had been shaken, if you will.

And, so you know, you have the two bits of tension that have got people really to a heightened state of aggravation and of fear of what is to come about the business owners here and also those who have been protesting for justice.

The family is here, the Floyd family. I talked to them last night. The interesting thing is Philonise, you know, I had a conversation with him. He is far more calm than the rest of us.

He said that he is in faith. He is -- he believes justice will be done. And he is just being patient, and asking others to be patient as well. We have no choice, right?

I mean, the jury has to do its work. It's going to look at the evidence. It's going to look through all the evidence and make a decision. But we are certainly in a moment where most people here are on edge -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Absolutely. Sara, thank you so much.

Joining me right now for more on what Sara is getting out, the feeling right now, is Andrea Jenkins. She's vice president of the Minneapolis City Council.

Councilwoman, thank you for being here.

How do you describe how things feel right now in Minneapolis?

ANDREA JENKINS, VICE PRESIDENT, MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL: Good morning.

You know, I -- I think the feeling is high anxiety. The community is on edge. I hosted a community meeting last night, community safety meeting last night with the mayor and the police chief and well over 100 people showed up.

You know, they were concerned. People are concerned about the over militarization that they see.

[11:05:06]

But also, you know, just concerned about the outcome of this trial as well.

BOLDUAN: And, Councilwoman, we know the trial has always been about more than just one police officer's actions or one man's tragic death. And that means that the verdict will as well.

I mean, do you think policing in your city is going to be different as a result of this trial?

JENKINS: You know, I certainly hope so. I do think that regardless of the outcome of the trial, I know that policing is going to be different in the city of Minneapolis. That's the work that my colleagues and I are doing along with so many other community members and community groups. But I think the verdict in this trial will have an impact on policing not only here own hopefully in Minneapolis but throughout the country.

We know things need to change, and I'm really hopeful that this is a water shed moment that can lead to some of the changes.

BOLDUAN: Councilwoman, are you concerned about -- is your concern from within Minneapolis kind of what could happen after this verdict? Or is your concern of people coming in from outside of Minneapolis? I guess what is your biggest concern?

JENKINS: Well, you know, I mean, I think all of those things are a factor. Certainly, we have people in our community that are, you know, rightfully upset and demanding justice.

But we also know from experience from last summer, from earlier this year that there are actors from other communities from outside the state that have come to Minneapolis to disrupt, to create chaos. So, you know, my concern is around all of that. And I don't know if I can prioritize it, one versus the other. It just feels like we are really on edge and there are so many different entities and players concerned around this issue whether it's a -- an acquittal or a guilty verdict.

I think we are going to have some challenges that we're going to have to deal with as a community.

BOLDUAN: Yeah. Congresswoman Maxine Waters from California, she came to the state this past weekend and when she was on the ground, she said that if the jury finds Chauvin not guilty, that people need to be more active.

And her word that got a lot of attention is that people need to get more confrontational. The judge in this case criticized her from the courtroom for that saying that it could be grounds for an appeal by the defense. I want to play for you his words.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUDGE PETER CAHILL, HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA DISTRICT COURT: I'll give you the Congresswoman Waters may have given you something on appeal that may result in this whole trial being overturned. I wish elected officials would stop talking about this case, especially in a manner that is disrespectful to the rule of law and to the judicial branch and our function.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Councilwoman, what do you think of what the judge said but also just what Congresswoman Waters said?

JENKINS: Well, I want to lead with Council -- I'm sorry, Congresswoman Maxine Waters is one of my heroes. I really believe that she was, you know, talking about the back end of reality that if we are going to change policing, we are going to change and have transformative change in our community that we will continue -- we need to continue to fight and continue to confront injustice head on.

She is a child of civil rights movement. I mean, she was an active participant in that. And she is bringing those values to this conversation. And so I respect that.

I think relative to the judge, Congresswoman Waters' comments did not necessarily reach the jury. The jury was instructed to only use the issues that are presented in the case as a determination factor of them making their judgment.

[11:10:08]

And so, I don't see any problems with the statements that Congresswoman Waters made.

And I would go on to say that if there was a conviction, and then subsequent appeal, I really don't think her comments will play a role in that process.

BOLDUAN: First thing's first. We continue to watch and wait together as your community and as a nation to see what comes in this verdict as the jury deliberates.

Thank you, Councilwoman. Thanks for coming on.

JENKINS: Thank you for having me.

BOLDUAN: Coming up for us, President Biden calls the Floyd family just as the world is awaiting this verdict. Coming up next, his message to the Floyd family and we're also going to speak to George Floyd's aunt and cousin.

Also ahead, another roadblock for the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine. Why a Baltimore plant is halting production. We've got much more ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:15:22]

BOLDUAN: The family of George Floyd has been searching for justice for almost a year now. Ever since Floyd's death, back on May 25th, we learned today that as the jury began deliberations, the family also got a call from President Biden. Here is how George Floyd's brother described it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHILONISE FLOYD, GEORGE FLOYD'S BROTHER: He knows how it is to lose a family member. And he knows that the process of what we're going through, sow was just letting us know that he was praying for us, and hoping that everything will come out to be okay.

I'm optimistic about everything. Me and my family, we pray about it every day. I just feel that in America, if a black man can't get justice for this, what can a black man get justice for?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Now, Floyd's entire family watched the weeks of testimony really along with the nation, of course. And while his death and this trial have gripped the nation, this is still a devastating tragedy for one American family playing out in public view.

Joining me now is George Floyd's aunt, Angela Harrelson, and his cousin, __ Stevens.

Thank you both so much for being here.

Angela, the jury began -- is behind closed doors once again today. They began yesterday. They're deliberating heading towards a verdict.

How are you -- how are you all feeling this morning?

ANGELA HARRELSON, AUNT OF GEORGE FLOYD: For me, I'm just overwhelmed. My anxiety is up. I'm going to be honest. I'm on pins and needles. Because, you know, I'm trying to have that hope. And we need this verdict. Minnesota needs this verdict to be guilty.

America needs it. The world needs it. We need to get right this time, because there's been too many times it has gotten wrong.

BOLDUAN: Paris, how are you feeling?

PARIS STEVENS, COUSIN OF GEORGE FLOYD: I'm feeling the same way. The anxiety level is just so high right now. It's hard to describe the feeling. We never thought we would be in this sort of position. And, you know, when it comes to it being directed to the forefront for you, for your family is a totally different thing.

HARRELSON: Totally different.

STEVENS: And now that we're at the end of this journey, like my aunt said, we want -- we want this to be right. We want justice and a guilty verdict.

BOLDUAN: And, Paris, you and family, you want a guilty verdict. You want a guilty verdict on all three counts, of course. But what -- will you accept the verdict no matter what it is? Are you all preparing yourself for the possibility if he is found not guilty?

STEVENS: We have talked about it. We know -- but, listen, in the past when black and brown people have been on this same situation, they didn't have a choice but to prepare with an acquittal. When you think about the Trayvon Martin and other ones, Breonna Taylor that has gone through this process.

So what they have put black and brown people through history is hope of going on. And pushing through and being strong as a community, as a family, and as a nation.

We have to go on and push through, because that's how the black history has lived through the world, as much as they have gone through and white supremacy. We didn't have a chase to go on. And if this is an acquittal, we will be devastated. But we know our fight has to be much harder now, and we're going to continue to go on and fight as a family, because we never had a choice to do that.

BOLDUAN: Can you -- continue to push through. Continue to push through.

HARRELSON: Yes, always have.

STEVENS: Yes.

BOLDUAN: I want to play for you both, I know that you heard it, but I want to play for you what was essentially the very last statement that came from the prosecution's closing argument to the jury yesterday. Let me play this for you.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JERRY BLACKWELL, PROSECUTING ATTORNEY: You were told, for example, that Mr. Floyd died, that Mr. Floyd died because his heart was too big. You heard that testimony. And now having seen all the evidence, having heard all the evidence, you know the truth.

[11:20:01]

And the truth of the matter is that the reason George Floyd is dead is because Mr. Chauvin's heart was too small.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Talk to me what you think about that?

HARRELSON: Well, I -- I got it. Because when Perry was lying on that ground handcuffed and defenseless, he was asking for help. And when you ask someone for help, you look up to someone as a human being, when he asks for help. He lifted -- he looked up at Mr. Chauvin as a human being. I can't breathe. Translate. I need your help.

But Mr. Chauvin didn't look at him as a human being. So that's why he had a smaller of a heart than Perry did.

STEVENS: So he asked for help how many times?

HARRELSON: Twenty-seven, 30 times.

STEVENS: Twenty-seven, 30 times.

HARRELSON: That's all he wanted for 9 minutes to 29 seconds was to help. That's all he was asking for. But you have to be -- you have to see people as human beings to respond to them for help.

And this is a problem with America, especially towards black and brown people is that we're not looked at as equal because when you look at people as human beings, you would look at that person as being an equal.

STEVENS: Right.

BOLDUAN: And that's why I think I heard very poignantly many people say that humanity is on trial here as well. You know? At the very same time, you said, the anxiety level is so high. I can't imagine. I'm sure you can't put words to it.

But anxiety across the country is really high right now as the nation awaits the verdict. You've got cities preparing for potential unrest after the verdict. I would like to know what your message is to folks who may be planning to protest.

STEVENS: They have the right to protest. Of course, we want it to be peaceful. We don't want any other American to be hurt, anyone. But protesting is a way for us to be heard.

So I'm -- we want them to protest. It's okay. It's okay. But we have to keep walking the walk. That's my saying. We have to continue and continue to be heard. It's so important.

HARRELSON: Yes. It's like use your voice. But remember the message. And the message is that we are here to -- you know, we're here to help change this world. So everyone can be treated equally. And that was the message we have to remember that this is about not just racism, it's about equality. We need to help to be a participant to change this world to better place for future generations.

So that Perry's death is not in vain. Because we cannot let his death be his last word. So use your voice. But remember the message in this.

STEVENS: That's right.

And for true change to start, it has to come from the people. We have to change within ourselves. And that's just not colors people. It's all nationalities. Starting from when you're a small child.

BOLDUAN: I can see that in what you're saying as we started. You said no matter what, you must push through. I see that in both of you.

Angela, Paris, thank you very much.

HARRELSON: Thank you.

STEVENS: Thank you.

BOLDUAN: Coming up for us, sounding the alarm, how one rural county in Ohio is seeing the reality of vaccine hesitancy. Has supply now outpaced demand?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:29:06]

BOLDUAN: There's more trouble for Johnson & Johnson this morning. The FDA calling on the company to temporarily stop all vaccine production at its Baltimore facility amid an investigation into a manufacturing mistake that led to millions of doses being ruined.

It's the latest blow to the vaccine maker after the FDA and CDC ordered a pause on that vaccine being distributed as they're gathering more data on a handful of rare but severe cases of blood clotting issues in people who received that shot.

And a new Axios/Ipsos poll out this morning found a majority of Americans think the pause, that pause was a responsible move. But as that pause lingers, concern is growing that it is adding to vaccine hesitancy.

And make no mistake, the country is nearing a place where supply is not a problem. It's quickly becoming now demand.

Joining me right now is Kristy Fryman. She's the emergency response coordinator for the Mercer County, Ohio, health district.

Thank you for coming on. You are seeing this in your county. You opened the first drive through vaccine clinic back in January.