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Don Lemon Tonight

Rudy Giuliani Tests Positive For COVID-19; Joe Biden Picks His Defense Secretary; President Trump Obsessed With Overturning Election Results; Georgia Lawmakers Receive Death Threats; Trump Refuses To Purchase More Vaccines. Aired 10-11p ET

Aired December 07, 2020 - 22:00   ET

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

[22:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN HOST: Ten on the dot is no longer my spot. "CNN TONIGHT" with the big star D. Lemon starts right now.

DON LEMON, CNN HOST: I don't know what you're talking about. It's not 10 o'clock. It's 4 o'clock. Your show.

CUOMO: You're playing with truthiness.

LEMON: It's not, no, what are you talking about? I say it's 4 o'clock in the afternoon right now and this is not my show. This is Anderson's show.

CUOMO: I've heard you be more off --

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: This is, what are you talking about.

CUOMO: -- than you are right now. I get what you're playing at, my brother.

LEMON: I know. Well, where's the lie?

CUOMO: I tell you where the lie is. The lie is that it stops with Trump. What I was just talking to the professor about that is, you know me. I don't get into some deep academic discussion. It's all about the practicalities. And we've heard this theory before that they believe they can convince Republicans to switch electors. That is his last chance.

The president is saying tonight I think the case has been made in court. The case has been made against him in court. But it is something to watch especially when you're in an environment when out of 249 men and women you got about two dozen who will say Biden won the election and Dusty Johnson pulls out of an appearance on my show among friends by the way. I welcome him here. But he'd rather bail on talking about relief of starving people than say anything that might get Trump mad. LEMON: That's what we're living in. I'm trying to make the point. I

know what you're -- I'm trying to make the point that this is not reality. That people are being played. I keep saying it. I know everyone says you can't -- all 71 million people who voted for Trump and not, suckers and whatever.

OK, then, a lot of those 71 million people need to stand up and say something. Need to do something. Need to call their lawmakers. Because they are really the bosses. They need to do something and tell the rest of the folks who are not living in reality that they're not living in reality. Come on over to the side of realness. Of facts.

Everyone keeps saying, let this process play out. Right, on the folks who are on the president's side. Chris, how many lawsuits need to be thrown out? The process has played out over and over and over and over and over and over. It has been thrown out over and over and over and over and over and over.

It has been tried and thrown out in state after state after state after state after state. It has been certified and recertified and certified and recertified and certified and recertified in place after place after place. In time after time after time.

If you keep believing in something that's not there what does that say to you about yourself? What -- it is not -- these people are not living in reality. And the people who are in office, are playing them for suckers and they know they are playing them for suckers. All those people out there saying, well the president, yes, he has every right. He has every right to, also has every right not to play the American people. He has every right to supposed to stand up for democracy.

CUOMO: Listen.

LEMON: He is not supposed to lead people astray. So, listen, I just get sick of, I'm sick of not living in reality. It is frustrating.

CUOMO: This is reality. This is the reality.

LEMON: But they're not -- they're being led astray. It is not true. None of what they are believing is true. None of what Giuliani is proposing is true. None of that bogus video that has been debunked and debunked and debunked, none of that is true. These are pipe dreams. It is never, ever going to happen.

In January, Joe Biden will be sworn in as president. No miracle is going to happen where he's not. Even if the Supreme Court takes it and they turn one state.

CUOMO: I do not think that is going to happen.

LEMON: I don't think it's going to happen either. I'm just telling people even if they do it and they turn over one state, right, this is about Pennsylvania, Joe Biden is still president. Because he still has enough electoral votes to be president. So just stop it, people. Like your parents used to tell you. Don't be a sore loser. You are supposed to be big in defeat. Not small. Sorry. Go on. CUOMO: No, it's your show.

LEMON: No, no, remember it's not my show.

CUOMO: I am not as troubled, I am not as troubled by that dynamic which is really a lens into the past as I am with these re-Trumplicans who still in Congress who if they're this afraid of him and he lost what does it tell you when he goes and makes MAGA max and he starts getting in their ears and we start getting close to midterms and everybody there wants to be someone who can say not me. I didn't work with him.

LEMON: Yes.

CUOMO: I didn't do anything to help him, boss.

LEMON: Because --

CUOMO: I'm still good. That's who I'm worried about --

LEMON: Yes.

[22:04:59]

CUOMO: -- even with people starving in the streets they won't do anything. That's a scary sign. That's what I'm worried about.

LEMON: Yes, well. Keep worrying because that is exactly what's going to happen. That is what's going to happen. They need some tough love. They're supposed to tell the people the truth not supposed to lead them astray just because it helps you keep your job. Not what it's about.

Thank you, sir. I'll see you later.

CUOMO: D. Lemon. It's your show, brother.

LEMON: No, it's not.

CUOMO: I love you.

LEMON: No, it's not. No, you don't. None of that is true. This is --

CUOMO: I wish it weren't true sometimes. But it's true.

LEMON: This is CNN TONIGHT. I'm Don Lemon.

So, I just have to level with you. I'm sorry. This is the truth. And look, usually on this show I ask my guests questions but tonight I have to ask you a question and I want you to contemplate it. OK? Why are we as a country willing to tolerate death and destruction, all this death and destruction that is going on while we sit and watch?

The death of hundreds of thousands of Americans while this president ignores the disease that's killing us? Why do we, why are we accepting that? Why are we accepting the destruction of democracy while this president defies reality, insists on holding maskless rallies and events at the White House claiming that he won an election that he clearly lost?

They know he -- he knows he lost. They know that they lost. So why are you allowing that? Why are we allowing that to happen? This is crazy. This is nuts. Why is he fighting like a mad man to overturn the will of the people of the United States? And then he is continuing to rake in in the process hundreds of millions of dollars to finance his political future. That's what this is about.

He is raising money off of lies. Off of misleading you. That's horrifying. Do you even recognize what is happening to the United States of America? Now, I want you to think about it this way. OK? Especially for people who are out there, military families. People who are part of the greatest generation. People who fought and died. Our veterans. Fought and died in war if you have a family member.

Because 79 years ago today, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor killed 2,403 Americans. OK. So, FDR, Franklin Delano Roosevelt he was president at the time and he called it a date which will live in infamy. The current president once said this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I look at it, I view it as a, in a sense a war time president. I mean that's what we're fighting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON (on camera): War time president. Ignoring the fact that just about as many Americans have been lost each day, every day this month, to the virus. Another Pearl Harbor every day. And the president who thinks of himself as a war time president just doesn't care about fighting this war.

Nearly 15 -- can you wrap your head around this? Nearly 15 million Americans have been infected. Think about this number. I don't know if you can -- it's hard for even me to wrap my head around it, all right, and I do, I talk about it every night.

More than 283,000 dead. How much death and destruction are you willing to accept? And be played at the same time? Who is really crazy then? More Americans are in the hospital with the virus than ever before and you know who that includes? The president's chief election attack dog Rudy Giuliani. Hospitalized with the virus after traveling the country on his crazy train, throwing around baseless accusations, trying to overturn the election, frequently doing it maskless. Shaking hands all over. Talking to people right in their face. No mask. Coronavirus now.

Here he is, this is in Georgia, this was last week taking photos. There it is. Right? With maskless supporters taking the -- there you go. Took his down. Smile. But it wasn't just Georgia. In Michigan, Giuliani even asked others to take their masks off.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) RUDY GIULIANI, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S LAWYER: Would you be comfortable taking your mask off so that people can hear you more clearly?

UNKNOWN: Can you hear me now?

[22:10:01]

GIULIANI: Can everyone hear her clearly?

UNKNOWN: We can hear her.

UNKNOWN: We can hear you.

GIULIANI: OK.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON (on camera): We can hear him all right. That was just four days before the president announced on Twitter that Giuliani had the virus. And Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer says the whole thing was a potential super spreader.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER (D-MI): That hearing last week was reckless and it was unnecessary. It didn't change a thing. And yet it brought all of these people into a room, many of whom did not wear masks. They were there for over four hours. And enclosed. This is -- this is exactly what we're talking about when we highlight the different ingredients for a super, potential super-spreader event.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON (on camera): That as members of the president's party, our elected leaders, are standing by and allowing him to do nothing about this virus. While he tries to overturn the will of the people. Which is not going to happen.

Joe Biden is going to take the oath of office as our next president on January 20th. And there is absolutely nothing the current president can do to stop it. He lost. He keeps losing over and over and over. He keeps losing.

In fact, he is finding a unique way to lose the same states over and over and over and over. He lost the projected vote. He lost when all the votes were counted. He lost when the votes were recounted. Ballots counted three times in Georgia alone. He still is losing in the courts.

A federal judge in Georgia dismissed two motions this morning brought by Sidney Powell. You know, the one who said she is going to unleash the Kracken. The same Sidney Powell who claimed Venezuela's long dead Hugo Chavez somehow was mixed up in fraud involving voting machines. But this president doesn't seem to care how many cases get tossed out. How many votes he lost by? The reality TV president living his own unreality. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: You know, in politics I won two so I'm two and O and that's pretty good, too. But we'll see how that turns out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON (on camera): Whew. We already know how that turns out. You lost. You lost. That's how that turns out. It's already happened. It seems most of his party, the officials who got where they are by winning their own elections, so they know how to count votes, are they too cowardly to publicly acknowledge the rest of us, what we can see with our own eyes?

The Washington Post asked all 249 current GOP House members and senators this very simple question. Who won the election? Just 26 of them acknowledged that Biden won. Two correctly claimed that Trump won. Incorrectly claimed that Trump won. The vast majority, 221 congressional Republicans, simply avoided the question.

Like I said, they know how to count votes. They know Joe Biden won the election. They know they are too cowardly to admit that reality. They're afraid of what the current president will say or do.

Here is the irony of all of this. They cling to President Trump because they want to stay in power. It that -- it's that simple. And they will stay in power so maybe it worked for them. Even though our democracy is dying in the process. But what kind of power do they really have? What kind of power do you really have?

President Trump has been dangling on a string like hundreds of puppets. They've been dangling them, right, on the string. And he is never letting go. He's going to jerk you around and control you forever. So maybe you're staying in office but do you really stay in power? You gave him all your power. Now he holds your strings and you dance to his tune.

That or you really are OK with the president's craziness, his madness. His unhinged indecent attempt to steal the election from a decent man who used to be your colleague. Sometimes I'm not, I'm sure I'm not really sure which is worse.

And so now since every day is a new low the president's ride or die conservative defenders on Capitol Hill like Jim Jordan are urging him not to concede and to keep up his doomed fight.

[22:15:00]

You have to remember about the Republicans who are just keeping a low profile, the ones who privately called Joe Biden to congratulate him but won't acknowledge reality in public while local officials speak out and risk being targeted like Michigan secretary of state, Jocelyn Benson, who says dozens of angry individuals, some armed, shouted obscenities and chanted into bull horns outside her of house on Saturday night demanding she overturn the election results. All that as she and her 4-year-old son were inside finishing up

decorating for Christmas and getting ready to sit down to watch how the grinch stole Christmas.

Remember when Republicans were really upset? When the far left does that? Now they're doing it. That is a side they're choosing those Republicans who refuse to speak the truth that Joe Biden won the election. They're siding with a president who is trying to take down our democracy on his way out who is fanning the flames with his lies.

Lies that encourage his supporters some of them armed to scream obscenities outside the home of an elected official and her 4-year-old son. That is the side they are choosing. Good luck with that. Hope you can sleep at night.

We got some breaking news to tell you about. I want to bring in now CNN senior Washington correspondent, and that's Jeff Zeleny. So, thank you so much for joining us. Jeff, by the way, you are in Wilmington with the president-elect about his choice for the defense secretary, what do you know?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Don, we are learning tonight President-elect Biden has picked his defense secretary and he is going to announce it as early as tomorrow. And perhaps have an event here later this week but it is Lloyd Austin.

And Lloyd Austin if confirmed by the Senate would be the first African-American defense secretary. Of course, the Pentagon has had many issues with race over the years. This would be a barrier breaking move. No question at all.

But we are being told that Mr. Biden really has a long-standing relationship with this retired four-star general the leader of Cent command, central command retired in 2016. But we've seen pictures tonight of Joe Biden as vice president in Iraq where he was leading the command. They're having strong conversations there.

So, they go back more than a decade and they have, you know, this really long relationship. So, this is one in a series of Biden nominees we're seeing who he's comfortable with. He has a relationship with. But it's also a barrier breaking nomination.

We've seen the first woman treasury secretary, the first Latino to lead the Health and Human Services Department. And the Department of Homeland Security. And this of course would be in that vein as well, So.

So, he has some hurdles perhaps to be confirmed. He has to get a waiver from Congress because he is not a civilian. He's only been retired for four years and the rules say that you have to be out of the military at least seven years to lead the Pentagon. But probably fairly likely he will get that, Don. But certainly, a fascinating announcement that we are expecting at least officially tomorrow but we're confirming it tonight.

LEMON: Jeff, I have another question for you. ZELENY: Sure.

LEMON: Biden's message to the groups who have been pushing him to make more top minority picks, it was wait until we're done, wait until I'm done, he says. Any response from those supporters tonight?

ZELENY: No response so far but they were supportive of the choice of General Austin if he were to be picked to lead the Pentagon. So, they certainly will be pleased by this. But that is always what the Biden team has said. Wait until this entire puzzle is put together.

So now the next one we are looking for is attorney general. I'm told that will likely be announced next week so that also is an important piece of all this. But we're not even quite halfway through the cabinet yet. But they planned to have most of these announcements done before the holidays, Don.

LEMON: Jeff Zeleny joining us from Wilmington, Delaware with the breaking news. Jeff, thank you very much. I appreciate that.

The current president is not letting go of his doomed attempts to undo the will of the voters. Next, the latest state he is trying to pressure.

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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON (on camera): We have breaking news on how far President Trump will go to try to overturn the will of American voters. CNN is learning Trump called the speaker of Pennsylvania's House of Representatives twice over the past week about the state's election results.

The Washington Post is reporting the calls were to ask for help reserving his loss. This is a third state where Trump has directly attempted to overturn election results.

So, I just want to bring you now CNN's Senior political Analyst, Kirsten Powers, and the former White House communications director, Anthony Scaramucci.

Good evening to both of you. You guys know where I am on this, but this is crazy town.

Kirsten, so he called Republicans in Pennsylvania, berated governor, the governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, at Saturday's rally. I mean, these are people who were solidly in his corner by the way. He has previously spoke to Michigan Republicans. He is not giving up on this deal.

KIRSTEN POWERS, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: No. I mean, we have to really pause and consider exactly what he is doing. The idea that he wants them to reverse their electors that he is putting pressure in on various Republicans to basically overturn the results of an election. You know, this is the same person who along with the rest of the

Republicans have always spent all this time telling us about, you know, about how Democrats are always engaging in all these fraud and continuing to make these accusations but who is really the one that's doing it? It's Donald Trump, right?

I mean, he's the one, he's the one that's actually trying to break the rules and trying to win an election. He is not going to. I don't think anybody, we should make that clear to anybody who is watching, he is not going to be successful in this, but nonetheless, he is trying to overturn the will of the voters.

LEMON: Yes. Hey, I'm just getting some information that the spokesman is saying that the Washington Post report is incorrect. So, we'll check on that. But let's continue on with what we're talking about here.

[22:25:00]

Anthony, I want to ask you because there are people who have carried water for this president time after time after time after time. And then when they don't do what he wants, then he throws them under the bus and then how many times does he have to do that for the next person to know it's going to happen to me and it doesn't really matter if you stand up or not.

At one point you're going to cross him so you may as well live in truth and reality instead of being dangled on a string like a puppet?

ANTHONY SCARAMUCCI, FORMER WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Well, you know General Kelly said that every relationship with Donald Trump ends in tears. You know, he ultimately jettisons the person and he go through another person. Why it happens?

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: But Anthony, help me out here. You're the perfect person.

SCARAMUCCI: Yes.

LEMON: You and General Kelly, right?

SCARAMUCCI: Yes.

LEMON: He did it to General Kelly. He did it to Bill Barr.

SCARAMUCCI: General Mattis.

LEMON: He did it to Mattis. He did it to Kemp.

SCARAMUCCI: Yes.

LEMON: He did it to the secretary of state down in Georgia. He did it to Fox News. So, go on.

SCARAMUCCI: Yes. So, you got to go 13 for 10 for Donald Trump. That's what demagogues want. You can't go seven for eight. You can't go six for eight. You got to go 13 for 10. It's a mathematical impossibility. And so, he wants people to disavow the Constitution, he wants people to break the law in his behalf but only he has the pardon power.

So, it will be interesting right now because what he is doing, Don, right now is he is continuing to break the law. And so, the egregiousness of it and then what is he going to do at the last minute? Is he going to pardon himself? Right now, he is basically perpetrating sedition.

And so, you tell me. And so, I don't understand why they're doing what they're doing but it feels like a bad breakup. They're trying to cower in the corner waiting for their respective spouse to leave town. The designated date of that departure is January 20th. And they're treating the guy like he has a borderline personality disorder and they're just hoping to God that the powder keg doesn't explode on them before the departure.

And so that's why you're seeing all of these people cowering, and not responding to him, not accepting interviews, staying away from the idea that Joe Biden is the president-elect.

LEMON: It's really unbelievable. Kirsten, The Washington Post editorial board. OK They are saying this. It is beyond our understanding how Republicans who claim to believe in democracy such as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy can remain silent. The president is incinerating belief in American democracy and almost the entire leadership of the Republican Party is complicit. Why are they silent?

POWERS: Because they believe the ends justify the means. And they believe that the Democrats are so evil and so terrible that they'll do anything to make sure that they're not in power. And even if that means aligning with somebody like Donald Trump who by the way a lot of them like. They're not just doing it out of fear.

I think that a lot of them are going along with this because they like Donald Trump. And they think they like the way Donald Trump demonizes everybody that's not his supporter and looks out for the base of the party. There are some people that are afraid of him and know that he is going to come after them but we have to be realistic about the fact that I think that some of these people are just more than happy to play along with this and I think that that says a lot about their character.

LEMON: So, they've gone from 2016, 2015, 2016, saying there is no way. This guy is terrible. He can't be our nominee. He's, you know, he's a con artist. He's built his business off the backs of poor people. And on and on and on. And now they all of a sudden like him? They really like him?

POWERS: Yes. I mean, certainly, I mean certainly some of them do. And look, and then obviously a lot of the voters really love him. So, it's not, you know, I think that I really do think the motivation, you know, and Anthony can speak to this more as being a Republican but from an observer's standpoint what motivates the Republican Party today is owning the lips.

LEMON: Yes.

POWERS: It is opposing Democrats.

LEMON: All right.

POWERS: That's it. There is no other animating feature.

LEMON: I'll let you weigh in real quickly, Anthony, because I got to go to -- I got to get to my next block. But what's -- what do you say?

SCARAMUCCI: I think Kirsten is right about the triggering but I would disagree about liking him. I mean, I don't -- he doesn't like himself. Nobody likes this guy. They -- he's like walking around broken glass or egg shells. So, I don't see anybody honestly liking the guy. Help me find that person and I can probably prove in cross examination that that isn't true.

LEMON: Anthony, attorney, thank you very much. I appreciate both of you. I'll see you soon.

The New York Times reports the Trump administration turned down an opportunity to buy more doses of the Pfizer vaccine this summer. Seems like extra vaccines would come in handy considering what Dr. Fauci is saying.

[22:30:05]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: The blip from Thanksgiving isn't even here yet. So, we're getting those staggering numbers of new cases and hospitalizations before we even feel the full brunt of the Thanksgiving holiday.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON (on camera): United States reporting more than 102,000 people are in hospitals with coronavirus tonight. That's unfortunately a new record. And the sixth straight day of more than 100,000 hospitalizations. It comes as the New York Times is reporting that the Trump administration turned down an offer to buy more doses of the Pfizer vaccine over the summer. The Trump administration denying the Times report.

Joining me now, Dr. Celine Gounder, she is an infectious disease specialist and a member of the president-elect's transition COVID advisory board.

[22:35:02]

Thanks for joining, doctor.

Why on earth would the administration pass on buying more of Pfizer's vaccine?

CELINE GOUNDER, MEMBER, BIDEN COVID-19 ADVISORY BOARD: Well, I can't put -- we can't put ourselves in their shoes. But right now, we have a bit of our own home work to do. We are assessing how many doses were ordered, how many doses the companies Pfizer as well as Moderna for that matter, how many doses they have in production. What the timeline is for delivery and what the current administration plans are to deliver those doses.

It's not enough to manufacture those doses. We also need a plan for how to get those doses out to the general public.

LEMON: So, doctor, President Trump is expected to sign an executive order tomorrow to prioritize vaccine shipments to the U.S. but Pfizer says it might be June before the U.S. can get it because of commitments to other countries. Are other countries in a stronger position than we are yet again because of this administration?

GOUNDER: Well, look. I think it's important to remember that this is not the only vaccine in the works. You have the Moderna vaccine and then you have a couple other vaccine candidates that are following soon after on their heels whether that's NovaVax or Johnson & Johnson or AstraZeneca.

So I think we're actually going to have a number of different vaccines to work within the coming months and we've always known that in the initial couple months the supply would be quite limited and so we are going to really have to figure out how best to prioritize the limited number of doses for the maximum impact in terms of saving lives and preventing transmission.

LEMON: So, doctor, the former FDA Commissioner, Dr. Scott Gottlieb spoke with USA Today's editorial board and he thinks that by February or March the virus will collapse and then go quiet over the spring and summer.

This is a quote. He said, "we'll see cases get reported but we're not going to see major spread. They'll be sporadic, there will be sporadic outbreaks. I fully expect kids will be back in summer camp and people will be having barbecues again outdoors."

Now, that would be welcome news. Is that how you see it?

GOUNDER: Well, it certainly is an optimistic take and we do know that being indoors does drive spread of the virus. Whether we'll actually see the virus collapse in the spring or just a drop in transmission, I do think we will see a decrease in transmission. It's just hard to predict how dramatic that will be.

LEMON: The FDA is meeting on Thursday to discuss the emergency use authorization of the Pfizer vaccine. Once they approve it, should the president-elect be at the top of the list to get it?

GOUNDER: Well, I think it's important for as many of our elected officials to step up and demonstrate that we endorse the FDA authorization process. That if it is in fact granted, this vaccine is in fact granted an emergency use authorization that we believe in that process and that we ourselves are ready and willing to roll up our sleeves for it. Not to mention that the president-elect does fall into some of the higher risk groups that would be additional criteria here.

LEMON: I think all people would agree regardless of who the president is, Donald Trump or whomever, the president should get it. He is the leader of the free world.

So, Dr. Gounder, Dr. Fauci, he is, you know, saying that January could be a really dark time for the country. What do Americans need to do to keep themselves safe through the holidays?

GOUNDER: Well, look, the vaccines are coming but at the same time I think it's important to understand that while there is light at the end of the tunnel the tunnel is not short. And that if we do not double down now on the masks and the social distancing and if we're going to be around other people to do it outdoors versus indoors that we really will continue to see transmission.

We are seeing already transmission from the Thanksgiving holiday hitting hospitals right now and we will see another bump on top of that if we don't follow the public health guidance over the Christmas to New Year's period. So, I would just say, you know, this is the time to really double down on those things and realize help is on the way. Vaccines are on the way.

LEMON: Dr. Gounder, we've been speaking with you for months and now you are part of the president-elect's COVID advisory board. So, we've been getting some good information from you. And we thank you and good luck. We'll see you soon. Thanks so much.

State senators quarantined and facing death threats. That is the aftermath of Rudy Giuliani's hearing in Georgia and the Georgia state senate. I'm going to speak with two senators dealing with this. You don't want to miss it. It's next.

[22:40:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: The double recklessness of President Trump and his allies ignoring the coronavirus and spreading lies about election fraud now having disastrous consequences.

Two Georgia Democratic lawmakers are in quarantine and receiving death threats after the fallout from a state Senate hearing last week on November's election. Rudy Giuliani was there on Thursday appearing maskless seen in this image standing in front of those lawmakers.

Giuliani was hospitalized this weekend after testing positive for the virus. He also met with lawmakers last week in Arizona. The state's legislation now shut down out of precaution. And a similar scene at a Michigan legislative hearing now being described by Governor Whitmer as a possible super-spreader event.

Well, those Georgia lawmakers are spending much of the hearing, they're debunking bogus claims of fraud and ended up receiving death threats for doing so.

So, joining me now is Georgia State Senator Jen Jordan and Elena Parent. Thank you both for joining me. I really appreciate it tonight and I hope you guys are doing well.

[22:44:54]

So, Senator Jordan, let me start with you. Since that hearing you are facing death threats. You may have been exposed to COVID by Giuliani. I'm sure you knew there would be consequences but I imagine that this is more than you bargained for, right?

JEN JORDAN (D), MEMBER, GEORGIA STATE SENATE: Well, absolutely. I mean, I think Senator Parent and I have both faced the same things. I mean, we went in there. You go in there in good faith. You think that people are there to actually seek answers. To hear the information and have the experts come in. And so, when we basically just had Trump's legal team come in and kind of do this dog and pony show it was incredibly disappointing.

LEMON: So, what do you, explain to me dog and pony show. You said you are there for answers but what did you -- what did it end up being?

JORDAN: Look, we were told it was supposed to be a hearing about discovering what was going on with Georgia's election laws. No one gave ever gave any of us the heads up about Giuliani coming in or anybody else with the Trump legal team.

When I walked in the door and saw the mayor, Jenna Ellis, his whole legal team and also OAN in the corner live streaming, I knew there was something else going on. And, clearly, it was intended to really just be a show. Just so that they could live stream Giuliani and their witnesses without anyone actually trying to refute or question what the claims were. That's just unacceptable.

LEMON: Senator Parent, you have -- you've had to ask for police protection because your home address and other information posted online, people started posting on social media that you should be killed. First of all, that is terrible. I am sorry that's happening to you.

What exactly is it that you did to have this happen?

ELENA PARENT (D), MEMBER, GEORGIA STATE SENATE: I called out from the beginning of the hearing that the claims that Mayor Giuliani and crew were making were false and had been disproven for weeks and that there was nothing new there. And dared to ask what evidence can you show us that would change now the three -- the two recounts and second certification that we've had today of our election results? And for telling the truth I was immediately attacked as the hearing unfolded, online.

LEMON: Senator Parent, are your Republican colleagues speaking up and condemning these death threats?

PARENT: I have gotten some calls from some of our colleagues which I appreciate. I don't know if anyone put it out online that they're disappointed that --

LEMON: Publicly.

PARENT: -- that I am going through this and that Senator Jordan is going through this. But the governor's office reached out and the lieutenant governor. They've been helpful and I appreciate it.

LEMON: Senator Jordan, have you, has anyone publicly stood up for you about these threats, condemned them?

JORDAN: No, not publicly. But I think it's kind of in line with what we've seen. I think the concern for a lot of Republicans is in this state is anything that is seen out of step with the president there is immediate backlash.

And so, you know, God forbid they actually come out publicly and say that it's not OK what's happening to me and Senator parent. And so, it's just kind of part of the pattern here where the President of the United States has basically cowed elected public officials in this state from doing just the right thing and what just makes sense.

LEMON: Senator Jordan another question. A source is telling CNN that Giuliani is currently expected to appear via Zoom in front of the Georgia House delegates this week. Are you concerned about how long this charade will go on? Because I said at the top of the show people keep saying this process should play out. How many times do you need a recount or to be thrown out of court? You have to be concerned about the length of this charade.

JORDAN: Look, today I listened to two court hearings where the judges ruled from the bench and dismissed the cases. One from federal court and one from state court. I mean, at some point in time people have to acknowledge reality, the law, the Constitution of the United States, and of the state of Georgia.

And to be quite frank, I'm glad that at least our House members, the members on the other side kind of the building are going to have the opportunity to actually hold his feet to the fire because they know exactly what's coming and what kind of charade they're going to try and put on.

LEMON: Senator Parent, I'll give you the last word here. What do you want to say to the American people, the people of Georgia, and to the people perpetrating this fraud? The president and Rudy Giuliani and the like?

[22:50:09]

PARENT: Well, to all of our election workers and poll workers throughout the country who have been vilified and attacked for simply doing their job I would like to say thank you to them. It's tough being in the position right now of having an internet troll army turn on me but I put myself out there to the public.

And it's so disappointing to see that the lack of moral character out of the person currently occupying the White House has caused a massive crisis of confidence of democracy all across the United States. And we need to do what we can to put that back together and move forward as Americans.

LEMON: Well, I want you both to be safe you and your families, and I thank you for standing up for our democracy and I thank you for coming on this evening. Best of luck. Again, please be safe. If you need anything, let us know.

PARENT: Thank you.

LEMON: Thank you.

JORDAN: Thank you.

LEMON: Thank you. The first lady announcing the completion of a project she calls vital. Take this. That project is renovating the private White House tennis courts.

[22:55:00]

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LEMON (on camera): Take this. On a day with more than 1,300 American deaths reported from the coronavirus, the first lady is unveiling the new White House tennis pavilion. Millions of Americans are sick with COVID or out of work, so many are hungry or on the verge of eviction. For many Americans it feels like the world is ending.

But, hey, look at the beautiful new tennis pavilion designed to fit in with the White House complex. The pavilion is not open to the public, is not a community project. Former first families have made their own modifications to the tennis court.

Former President Obama used it to play basketball. So, this is just another example of something that the Obamas did that the Trumps have tried to undo. The Obamas did have two terms in the White House so it's no surprise that the list is long and the Trump family is running out of time so they got to, you know, undo everything the Obamas did before they run out of time.

According to the first lady it is meant to be used solely by first families for leisure time. So one would -- one would expect the pavilion not to be used at all in the final days of the Trump presidency, right? There is no time for leisure while hospitalizations reach record numbers and ICU's are maxed out capacity all across the nation. Wait. For or should I say -- tennis anyone? We'll be back.

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