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Don Lemon Tonight
Rep. Liz Cheney Now Braver Than Ever; CDC Gives Green Light to Taking Off Mask; Democrats Felt Outrage to GOP Claim of Capitol Tour; Officer Fanone Remember the Horrors of January 6th Riot; Lawmakers Tried to Whitewash the Riot; Lifting of Mask Mandate Motivates More People to Get the Vaccine; QAnon Supporter Chased Down Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Aired 10-11p ET
Aired May 13, 2021 - 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: All right. That is it for us tonight. We have the big show now, CNN Tonight with the big star, D. Lemon. The unmasking. Put it back on.
DON LEMON, CNN HOST: By the way, that's Scott Beigel, one of my personal heroes from Marjorie Douglas Stoneman High School.
CUOMO: That's all right. You can wear a pin now.
LEMON: No, I have a shirt. I wore a shirt today. I actually worked out in it. So, I'm happy to be able to take the mask off outside safely, fully vaccinated, of course, still following the correct protocols.
CUOMO: The CDC says inside, outside, with vaccinated, with unvaccinated.
LEMON: Yes.
CUOMO: Some qualifications on buses and planes, but of course it's also going to matter what the place where you are, what their policy is because the CDC is just a recommendation.
LEMON: I almost walked into the studio with you --
CUOMO: Yes.
LEMON: -- maybe I'll do that. I'll go.
CUOMO: Yes, come on in. You want me to come to new it's really your show.
LEMON: Not really. Not really.
CUOMO: Show you how much bigger I am.
LEMON: No, you're stinky and you're weird.
CUOMO: Are you going to keep wearing a mask because you don't want to offend people?
LEMON: No. I'm going to keep wearing a mask because I don't know if someone is immunocompromised, and I think I want to set an example for those who are not fully vaccinated. No, I'm not going to keep wearing a mask outside. I will probably indoors, and I actually went into a public space today, a mall, and everyone had -- they asked me to put my mask on, and I did because it's not the rules here yet. It is by state and municipality, and they said New York City and New York state --
CUOMO: And by business.
LEMON: Yes, and by business. New York state has not adopted the guidelines yet, so tomorrow maybe in New York in public spaces indoors people won't be wearing masks, but we'll see. You're right. When they say no shirt, no shoes, no service, businesses can still tell you no mask, no service. So, you must carry your mask around and abide by the guidelines, and I will happily, gladly do that because what? This is not -- I'm not doing it for me. I'm doing it for other people, and that's it.
CUOMO: Right.
LEMON: I want to be a good citizen and a good human being.
CUOMO: The only push I have on it is that's not what the science says, but you can be courteous anyway.
LEMON: No, no. Yes, I understand that.
CUOMO: You can be courteous anyway.
LEMON: Yes. But that's really -- I'm sending a message to the people who are pretending they are vaccinated because you know there are going to be people, I'm vaccinated, and they're not vaccinated at all.
CUOMO: What do you think about the head of the CDC saying to me on the show last night, well, we've got to make sure, we've got to make sure --
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: I told you it was a great interview.
CUOMO: But she said, we've got to make sure, we've got to make sure, and then they announce it the next day?
LEMON: Yes. Well, maybe they made sure in those hours, Chris. You never know. I got to tell you what, though. You want to -- so when this was happening, we were in the height of COVID. We were in the middle of COIVD -- not in the height, but we were in the thick of it when that insurrection on Capitol Hill happened.
CUOMO: Yes.
LEMON: And you had those officers out there with all of those people, some of them not wearing masks. Right?
CUOMO: That was the least of their threat, but yes.
LEMON: Yes. So, you had it right there. The reason I'm getting to that is because Officer Michael Fanone is on tonight, live. He wants to respond to what they've been saying -- what some members of our government have been saying about an -- the insurrection, whitewashing it, playing it down, and he wants to respond to the video that was played last night. So, we're going to talk to him about it.
CUOMO: I'll tell you what. I'd love to see them say what they say to him. And I don't mean this in a tough guy way.
LEMON: Yes.
CUOMO: But you tell a lie like that to a guy who paid the price for your own perfidy.
LEMON: Yes.
CUOMO: I'm be watching. D. Lemon, I love you.
LEMON: Yes. And he wants -- he wants to sit down with specifically one person or maybe two or three or four or a couple hundred and watch that video with him and then tell him to his face that that wasn't real. I'll see you tomorrow. Thank you, brother.
CUOMO: I'll be watching.
LEMON: I love you, sir.
This is CNN Tonight. I'm Don Lemon.
And what a day. Seriously, what a huge, huge, huge day. Just take a moment to think about what happened today, the day so many of us have been waiting for after more than a year of wearing masks. Now the CDC says if you are fully, fully vaccinated, you don't have to wear a mask anymore, not outside, not even inside. And if you're not fully vaccinated, this is a really good reason to roll up your sleeve. Just roll up your sleeve and get that shot so that you can ditch the mask.
Think about where we are tonight. You can't say the pandemic is over, not yet. Absolutely not. But this is a huge milestone after a 584,471 Americans have died, after more than 32 million people were infected. The president of the United States, Joe Biden, making the announcement Americans have been waiting for.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today is a great day for America in our long battle with the coronavirus.
[22:05:00]
Just a few hours ago, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC, announced that they are no longer recommending that fully vaccinated people need wear masks. This recommendation holds true whether you are inside or outside. I think it's a great milestone, a great day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: The president speaking without a mask today. It is a milestone, a great day, but there are still a lot of questions tonight, a lot that has to get sorted out. There's no question that this is a huge day for America. No doubt. And we'll have a lot more about this a little bit later on in the show.
That as the GOP is still pushing the big lie. Perhaps there's a bigger term for it than the big lie. We need to think about that, inciting violence, insurrection. Yes, perhaps there's a bigger term for it than the big lie. only a handful of people like Liz Cheney pushing back tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. LIZ CHENEY (R-WY): We all have an obligation, and I would say Fox News especially, especially Fox News has a particular obligation to make sure people know the election wasn't stolen. Fox News --
(CROSSTALK)
BRET BAIER, ANCHOR, FOX NEWS: You've said that numerous times.
CHENEY: Bret, I'm going to answer your question. Fox News needs to make sure that the American people --
(CROSSTALK)
BAIER: No. But if you're mentioning Fox News you have to know that with this show has said that numerous times.
CHENEY: Bret, you're doing the interview. I'm answering the questions.
BAIER: Congresswoman --
CHENEY: We need to make sure that the American people recognize and understand that the election wasn't stolen, that we shouldn't perpetuate the big lie, and that there's real danger.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: She knows how to answer a question, doesn't she? You would think that they would have learned by now that she won't be silenced. Silenced. She won't buy into that big lie. And Liz Cheney is right. There is real danger in perpetuating that big lie, the big lie that fueled the deadly insurrection at the capitol, the deadly insurrection that Republicans like Congressman Andrew Clyde shamefully, shamefully trying to whitewash.
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REP. ANDREW CLYDE (R-GA): There was no insurrection and to call it an insurrection in my opinion is a bold-faced lie. You know, if you didn't know the TV footage was a video from January the 6th -- you'd actually think it's a normal tourist visit.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: This guy, really? Kevin McCarthy dodging questions about that today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNKNOWN: These numbers say that the insurrection was like a capitol tour. One of them is here with you. I'm curious what you feel about that when clearly, you know, people died during the insurrection.
REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY (R-CA): What happened on the 6th was atrocious went through. Nobody -- when I look at the rioters that came in, those people should be held accountable to the rule of law, and that's exactly what's happening. Yes?
UNKNOWN: What about the members that are saying this?
MCCARTHY: Yes?
UNKNOWN: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: And when CNN's Manu Raju asked again about it, he claimed, quote, "I don't know what he said." Remember when they all claimed that they didn't read the president's -- the former president's tweets, the former guy's tweets? They just want every -- they want to talk about anything but the assault on our government and our election and members of law enforcement at the capitol, anything but that. Anything they can do to play it down. Shameful.
Meanwhile, members of -- the members of his party, they're still spewing the same garbage today, still pushing the big lie even now, like Congressman Thomas Massie, who says he's not worried that pushing the big lie could spark more violence.
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MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Are you concerned by suggesting that there's something wrong it could lead to more violence here?
REP. THOMAS MASSIE (R-KY): No. No.
RAJU: Why?
MASSIE: No violence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: No violence. I got some video to show him coming up if he doesn't think there could be violence. The House Speaker Nancy Pelosi outraged that a Republican congressman would compare what happened on January 6th to, quote, "a normal tourist visit."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): Really? Really? Well, I don't know on a normal day around here when people are threatening to hang the vice president of the United States or shoot the speaker in the forehead or disrupt and injure so many police officers. I don't consider that normal. Multiple people were killed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Yes. No violence, sir. Let's remember exactly what happened on January 6th. You saw the exclusive video last night, video obtained by CNN that shows the insurrectionists attacking a true American hero, Officer Michael Fanone, dragged down the capitol steps by the mob, tased with his own weapon while he yelled, I got kids.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[22:10:02]
UNKNOWN: I got one.
UNKNOWN: All right. Easy.
UNKNOWN: Don't hurt him. Don't hurt him.
UNKNOWN: I got you. I got you.
UNKNOWN: Don't hurt him. Don't hurt him.
UNKNOWN: No, we're better than him.
UNKNOWN: I got you, man. I got you.
UNKNOWN: You can't do this.
MICHAEL FANONE, D.C. METROPOLITAN POLICE OFFICER: I got kids.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: More video to come tonight. It's hard to watch. Officer Fanone is here tonight live. I'm going to talk with him in just a moment right here on CNN, on this program.
And all of this is happening as the three-ring circus that is the Republican Party goes on. And make no mistake, it's all about getting attention, making a lot of noise, spewing garbage, trying to one-up each other to get the attention of the base. And nobody does it better.
OK, well, worse than the QAnon Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who confronted Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez outside the House chamber yesterday. A Washington Post reporter who witnessed the whole thing saying that Marjorie Taylor Greene chased AOC down, aggressively yelling at her, asking her why she supports antifa and Black Lives Matter, falsely labeling them terrorist groups.
Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez telling reporters today, quote, "I used to work as a bartender. These are the kinds of people that I threw out of bars all the time."
One day she's going to mess with the wrong one, and she's going to regret chasing anybody down the hall. Mark my words. And Kevin McCarthy sticks to his no see him strategy, telling CNN's Manu Raju, quote, "I didn't see that. I don't know what happened."
And let me not forget, please, Matt Gaetz. For months the feds have been looking into whether he allegedly broke sex trafficking, prostitution and public corruption laws and whether he had sex with a minor. It hasn't been -- he hasn't been charged, and he denies any wrongdoing, but his ex-Florida tax collector buddy plans to plead guilty and will cooperate with the process according to a source.
That's the Republican Party today, a party that's still trying to whitewash the brutal truth of what happened at the capitol on January 6th. So, we know exactly what happened that day. We know the brutal truth because we saw it in that video CNN obtained showing the attack on a true American hero, Officer Michael Fanone. He's here with me live next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNKNOWN: Get off him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[22:15:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: So, everyone sit down and pay attention to this next segment. Trust me. You saw stunning video last night on this show of exactly what happened to one of the officers who risked his life to protect the capitol on January 6th, and I'm talking about D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone, a true American hero.
So proud that I've gotten to know him, and I'm going to speak to him in just a moment. But first I just want you to see what he went through. This is difficult to watch, but it is the truth of what happened on that day. Here it is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNKNOWN: I got one!
UNKNOWN: Easy.
UNKNOWN: I got one.
UNKNOWN: I got you. I got you.
UNKNOWN: Don't hurt him. Don't hurt him. Don't hurt him. UNKNOWN: No, we're better than him!
UNKNOWN: Hold him. Hold him.
UNKNOWN: I got you. I got you. I got.
UNKNOWN: You can't do this.
FANONE: I got kids.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: I'm honored to be joined now by Officer Michael Fanone. Mike, thanks for joining. I appreciate it.
FANONE: Ye, buddy. Anytime. Thank you for having me.
LEMON: Yes. So that video is horrifying for me to watch, but I mean you lived it. What are you thinking and feeling as you see it?
FANONE: I don't know. I guess, like, sometimes I can watch that video, and I mean it's difficult each time. But I'll tell you like last night when I watched it, you know, on your show, like I just broke down. I think that was like the most difficult time that I've had since the 6th reliving that experience. I don't know if it was because it was, you know, right there on television or what the case, but, yes, it was -- yes, it broke me.
[22:20:09]
LEMON: So, I'm wondering because you've seen other video of the insurrection. We've talked about what happened to you, but we had never seen your -- and the public had never seen your body-worn camera video, and everyone is sort of witnessing something I think that personally had happened to you and maybe you had seen, and now the whole world had seen it, I'm sure that had an effect.
FANONE: Yes, no. I mean on the one hand, like I was relieved. You know, it's very difficult speaking out, knowing that, you know, there is a video accounting of what happened. People don't have to listen to me. They don't have to believe what I say, but they can watch the video.
LEMON: I want to ask you about one particular moment that got to me last night. You know, as I said, I couldn't watch the entire thing when I saw it, and I said live last night, I had never seen it. When I got to that point in the video, I just had to shut it off. It's after you were attacked and other officers are trying to bring you back into the tunnel. They're trying -- you were passed out, and they're trying to get you -- talk to you. Watch this, and then we'll talk about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIMMY ALBRIGHT, POLICE OFFICER, U.S. CAPITOL: I got it. It's my partner.
UNKNOWN: To the right. To the right. This way.
UNKNOWN: Where are we going?
UNKNOWN: The south door. Mike, stay in there, buddy. Mike, it's Jimmy. I'm here.
ALBRIGHT: They take his fucking vest off. Maybe he's having trouble breathing. Take his vest off. Mike. Mike, I'm here for you, buddy. Come on, dude.
UNKNOWN: Stand by.
UNKNOWN: Watch out. Watch out.
UNKNOWN: Wake up, brother.
UNKNOWN: Talk to me, man.
ALBRIGHT: Come on, Mike. Come on, buddy. We're going duck hunting soon.
UNKNOWN: Fanone. Fanone. You all right, brother?
FANONE: Did we take that door back?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: So, your first question was, did we take the door back? Why -- is that the first thing that was on your mind?
FANONE: I mean to be honest with you, like I don't remember. The first thing I remember is coming to. I'm lying on the floor staring up at, you know, a bunch of guys that look like, you know, aliens. Wearing gas masks and, you know, protective gear. I've said before really the last thing that I remember prior to that was telling individuals when I was out in the crowd that I wanted to go back into the -- into the tunnel.
LEMON: Yes. If you and those guys weren't able to hold that door, what do you think would have happened, Mike?
FANONE: I believe that, you know, best case scenario, a lot of officers would have been killed. You know, worst-case scenario, those -- that mass of individuals that were out there on the west front of the capitol would have made their way into the capitol.
And then, you know, just judging based off of the amount of violence that we experienced, when I say we, I mean those, you know, 147 MPD officers that fought to defend the west terrace. I believe that, you know, that violent group would have killed individuals inside of the capitol complex.
LEMON: You were speaking to -- Jimmy, your partner was there. What's your partner's last name? I forget. Jimmy --
FANONE: Jimmy Albright. LEMON: Jimmy Albright. And also, your friend and colleague Ramey Kyle
there as well.
FANONE: Yes.
LEMON: What do you want to say about them? Jimmy is trying to get you back, telling you you're going to go duck hunting trying to familiarize you with something to try to get your attention. But what do you want to say about them?
FANONE: No, I mean I love those guys. I'm -- you know, Jimmy knows how I feel about him, and I think Ray does as well. You know, both of those guys saved my life that day. Ray continues to save my life every single day since January 6th.
[22:24:56]
I -- you know, I've talked a lot about what I witnessed in that tunnel, the courage, selflessness, bravery of all those other officers. It was just incredible. You know, there were officers that were in there that under normal circumstances would have been, you know, on their way to a hospital in an ambulance, but they were picking themselves back up, getting back into the line and, you know, fighting to protect the capitol, protect their fellow officers. It was the most awe-inspiring scene of my life, and I'll never forget it.
LEMON: Is that why it's so insulting to hear members of our government, elected officials pretend that this was a normal tourist day or that these were peaceful patriots who were kissing and hugging the police officers there?
FANONE: Yes, no. I mean, I'm not interested in getting into, like, political squabbles. I'm not a politician. I'm not an elected official. I don't expect anybody to give two shits about my opinions. But I will say this. You know, those are lies, and peddling that bullshit is an assault on every officer that fought to defend the capitol. It's disgraceful.
LEMON: You -- would you like them to sit down and watch that video? Do you believe they've watched it?
FANONE: I -- I don't know. I mean I'm interested in sitting down with anybody that's willing to take the time to, you know, to listen to my account. You know, that's why I'm speaking out. I'm trying to, you know, represent the 850 MPD officers that saved the day to the best that I can.
LEMON: Have you reached out to them?
FANONE: So, I did write a letter to all elected officials, all elected members of our government.
LEMON: And?
FANONE: So far, I've received two formal responses. One of them was from -- well, actually they were both from two different D.C. council members. One was Charles Allen, and the other was Brianna Due (Ph). I've spoken with them on the phone as well. They were very gracious, and I thought we had, you know, some really good conversation, and they listened. They just took the time to listen. And I've spoken with other members, you know, prior to me offering that letter. And all the members that I have spoken with have been incredibly gracious.
LEMON: Mike, I have more video that I want to play from that day from -- that CNN obtained, another piece of your body camera footage, and I have lots more questions for you. If you'll hang with us, we're going to take a quick break. We'll come back and speak with Officer Michael Fanone live. We'll be right back.
[22:30:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Back now with Officer Michael Fanone who defended the capitol on January 6th. So, Mike, CNN obtained another piece of your body camera footage that shows D.C. Metro Police Commander Ramey Kyle wiping his face off from the C.S. gas, going back into the tunnel. Here's what happens when you get closer to the door. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RAMEY KYLE, METROPOLITAN POLICE COMMANDER: Don't give up the door. Hold it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: You told me that was a moment that inspired you. How so?
FANONE: I mean I just remember like, you know, Ray and I, we've known each other for a long time. We worked together as U.S. capitol police officers, you know, what seems like a lifetime ago. We both left around the same time and joined the Metropolitan Police Department. We worked together early on in our career. Obviously, our careers have taken us in different directions.
Ray is a commander, and I'm still an officer. But, yes, I mean looking at Ray, cool, calm, and collected in the midst of that chaos, still able to, you know, communicate with other entities on the radio and also give out clear, concise commands. I mean that's what leadership is all about. And I mean, I'm fortunate to work for a department that has leaders like Commander Ramey Kyle, Commander Robert Glover, and my chief, Robert Conte.
LEMON: You know, I'm going to play another clip, but hold off before we do that because I want to ask you about this, and I'm sure people are wondering. Listen, I've met Ramey. He's an incredible guy, also a hero as you said, very cool, calm, and collected.
[22:34:58]
When I speak with both of you and especially when I speak to you now, I'm going to get feedback from folks that are saying, you know, does Michael have PTSD? Does Ramey have PTSD? How are they doing? Don, are you making sure that they are getting that help because that's also an important part of the story? Do you mind talking to me about that, Mike?
FANONE: No, not at all. Yes, I mean, I see a whole team of doctors. You know, several different therapists, participate in, you know, talk therapy. For a time, I was seeing a speech therapist for some of the cognitive issues that I experienced as a result of the traumatic brain injury and other injuries that I sustained on the 6th. All of them are wonderful. It's been, you know, fantastic interacting with them.
LEMON: But it's tough for you and for Ramey, I'm sure. I don't know you don't want to speak for him, but it's been tough for the officers who were involved in this. This is -- few people experience what happened to you all.
FANONE: Yes, no. I mean, you know, it's -- I see doctors. I see multiple doctors, but I don't see them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This experience like PTSD is very much like a roller coaster ride. Some days, man, I'm just good to go, and then other days or other times within the same day, I'm just broken.
And, you know, it's times like those that, you know, I call on Ray or Jimmy, my buddy Jeff, like -- and that's what -- that's one of the things like post-January 6th that's made me most proud of my department, is like those kind of self-help support groups have formulated just out of friendships and, you know, the camaraderie of having shared that experience together. Guys are really looking out for, you know, for their fellow officers.
LEMON: There is -- thanks for talking about that, Mike.
FANONE: Yes.
LEMON: There's another clip just obtained by CNN, and we see people with Trump gear on hanging out in the capitol rotunda. This is just 10 minutes before your brutal attack. And even though rioters have broken in and they're milling around, could you have anticipated what was about to happen to you?
FANONE: No. I mean, I remember that moment, you know, being inside the crypt just beneath the rotunda, and it was surreal. I was listening to my radio. You know, Jimmy and I were searching for, you know, the location where we could be of most assistance. But we were trying to digest -- like I was trying to digest the fact that, you know, all of this just insanity was happening inside the capitol building.
LEMON: And this is, they're just milling about. They had -- they had -- had they broken in at this point, or they're just in there milling about?
FANONE: Yes. I mean, I'm, you know -- I don't believe that any of those individuals that were in there, you know, were part of a tour group if that's what you're asking me.
LEMON: Yes. At the beginning of your body cam footage, you can hear someone in the crowd yell "I got one." Did you realize that you were a target?
FANONE: Yes. No, I knew like at that moment, like I was up shit creek without a paddle.
LEMON: Go on.
FANONE: Yes. So that was kind of like the moment before I got swept out, and, you know, when I -- when I finally like kind of got my bearings out in the crowd, I mean I knew -- like I recognized how far away I was from, you know, from the tunnel entrance, from other officers. I was surrounded. I was being, you know, violently assaulted from every direction, and that was when the tasing started, and I just remember, you know, excruciating pain and screaming out, and I remember the fear of losing control at that moment.
[22:40:08]
And I remember fearing that, you know, that I would not be able to protect myself and also protect, you know, my weapon, and that they may -- someone in the crowd may get a hold of my weapon and use it against me.
LEMON: You were making all these calculations while you're fighting for your life. Did you think you were going to die?
FANONE: I thought that was a possibility, yes.
LEMON: What went through your head? You got beautiful kids. I can't --
(CROSSTALK)
FANONE: I mean I was trying to --
LEMON: Go on. Sorry.
FANONE: I was trying to formulate a plan of escape. Like how do I survive this situation? You know, it was clear to me that there were individuals in that crowd that were -- you know, their intent was to kill me.
Like I said before, I thought about using deadly force, and then I thought that, you know, is that necessarily like the best -- best game plan to survive a situation? And I decided that it was not. The best tactic to use there was try to appeal to some of the individuals in the crowd, and it worked, and I survived.
LEMON: I want to spend a little bit more time on this subject and a little bit more time with mike. Mike, I'm talking to producers now. They're picking up what I'm putting down.
So, Mike, how did this -- this changed your -- I think the first time I talked to you, what I sensed was this kind of changed your whole perspective on life, your view on politics and the world and who actually supported police officers and what your mind-set had been before. Do you understand what I'm saying, and do you -- am I right, wrong? What do you think? FANONE: I mean it's definitely changed my perspective on quite a few
things. You know, like I still -- I am who I am. You know, I'm a free- born son of America. You know, I make my own decisions about different issues, whether it's politically or personally. Nobody tells me what to think, how to think. But I recognize like the dangerousness of political rhetoric and how it, you know, resulted in the violence that we saw on January 6th at the capitol.
LEMON: Yes. You were on Capitol Hill today. What was that like?
FANONE: I don't -- it was -- you know, it's exhausting. You know, telling that story is exhausting. Every time I get out there and speak publicly or really just speak to anybody, I feel like -- like I leave a piece of myself there and I just -- I'm never going to get that back, like I'm getting tired.
I hope that, you know, me speaking out publicly inspires other people, other officers, you know, other members of Congress, staff members, whoever. If you had an experience on January 6th, you know, it's time for everybody to come forward because I'm tired.
LEMON: Yes. I had to have a little pep talk with you today. I hope you appreciated it because I got a sense that -- the House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said this morning that he would -- he'd like to meet with you. Do you want to sit down with him?
FANONE: I mean I'll sit down with anybody that wants to talk about January 6th. I'll share my experiences with anybody that's willing to take the time to listen.
LEMON: Some Republican lawmakers -- I know this is not about politics, but I have to -- this is the honest truth that I want to ask you about. Some Republican lawmakers are still lying about the insurrection. I want to play -- this is what we heard yesterday. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JODY HICE (R-GA): It was Trump supporters who lost their lives that day, not Trump supporters who were taking the lives of others.
REP. PAUL GOSAR (R-AZ): To my knowledge, not a single person has been charged with a crime of insurrection.
CLYDE: You know, if you didn't know the TV footage was a video from January the 6th, you would actually think it was a normal tourist visit.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: What do you want to tell these people, Mike?
FANONE: I mean first, again, like I'm not going to beg anybody to come sit down and talk to me, but I would invite anybody to come and sit down and hear what I have to say and just to watch the body-worn camera footage. I mean, that really speaks for itself. I don't think I even need to talk to anyone.
[22:44:56]
I would also, you know, tell people that, you know, kind of peddling those lies, you know, people actually listen to politicians. You know, we hear them all day long. We got a 24-hour news cycle, and people like myself are sitting at home listening, and it's devastating.
I remember, you know, just the other day listening to the hearing on January 6th, and I was shaking for the better part of the day, and I'm not the only one. I was on the phone with dozens of other officers who were just absolutely traumatized by the rhetoric that was being used.
And I understand politics. You know, I get that, you know, there's a push to try to, you know, win back the House in the midterm elections. I understand all of those things. But some things supersede politics. You know, this isn't about, you know, the political future of one party. This is about right and wrong.
LEMON: What's helped you the most through all of this, Mike?
FANONE: Well, first and foremost, my family, my children. I think when I was at -- you know, at my worst, spending time with my kids was the only time that I felt normal. So, you know, Hensley, May-may, Piper, Caitlyn, I love them with all my heart.
You know, my mom has been an incredible friend and confidante, my dad, my siblings. But also, I found a lot of new friendships. Obviously, you know, you and me, you know, my chief, Robert Conte, and I have become close, Ray, Jimmy, Jeff, Pat. I mean there's just like countless people who have, you know, really propped me up when I just didn't want to get up anymore.
LEMON: Yes. Well, Mike, I'll say this. I love you, brother. I'm here for you. I'm here for Jimmy. I'm here for Ramey and for all of the officers. Anytime you need me, you know where to get me, and I appreciate you coming on this program, not just sharing it with me but sharing with the world. And the last thing I'll ask you is, why do you think people need to be reminded or never to forget what happened on January 6th?
FANONE: I mean it's -- you know, it was described as like the most significant attack on our democracy in 100 years. I hope that we never experience anything like that again. I mean, there were real casualties that day. There were officers who were injured physically and some emotionally that, you know -- like that changed me forever, and there's hundreds of other officers who are, you know, living through the same experiences. You know, there were real people hurt that day.
LEMON: Well, it should not be forgotten, and I hope every news organization in the world, broadcast or otherwise, runs this interview. Mike, keep your head up, brother. Thank you so much.
FANONE: Thanks, buddy. Love you.
LEMON: Love you too. We'll be right back.
[22:50:00]
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LEMON: A huge day today, the CDC releasing new guidance saying people who are fully vaccinated don't need to wear masks, whether they're inside or outside.
So joining me now to discuss, Michael Osterholm, he is the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy and the author of "Deadly Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs."
What a day this has been, what a rare mood I'm in, it's almost like being in love. Doctor, think about what we've -- where -- how, you know, what we've gone through and where we are now, a huge milestone. Did you think we'd get to this point already?
MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, MEMBER, PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN'S COVID-19 ADVISORY BOARD: Well, I do -- I knew we'd get to this point someday. I think the question is, how are we going to get everybody else to this point? Remember that the recommendation is for those individuals who have been vaccinated and right now we still have 42 percent of adults in this country that have not received any doses of vaccine, and 64 percent that have received only one out of the two doses. So, we've got a ways to go. But what this does say, that if you get vaccinated, this is the future that you have.
LEMON: Some people are wondering why the CDC is bouncing back and forth between issuing strict guidance, then loosening to this degree. Is it intended to encourage more people to get the vaccine?
OSTERHOLM: Well, the first thing is we now have data from six different studies which actually demonstrate that if you're vaccinated, you don't pose a big risk for getting reinfected and transmitting the virus to others. Remember, that was the whole point of trying to understand why you wear these face cloth coverings or masks.
The very original purpose of wearing them was to keep people who are infected from transmitting the virus to others through blocking those respiratory droplets that you exhale out. And, of course, now we know, with being vaccinated, you're not that big risk. So, I think it made perfect sense to do it now, because this, in fact, is the time we have the data to support it.
LEMON: Yes, you know, businesses are now going to have to make their own decisions based off of this guidance and there's concern that folks who aren't getting vaccinated, right, this is the honor system, aren't getting vaccinated are going to start dropping the masks. Is this going to be -- is this honor system and do you think that that is real? I mean, we know that hasn't worked so far. Do we think that's a smart thing to do?
[22:55:01] OSTERHOLM: I think it's going to be a huge challenge and now the next really big issue that we have before us is this concept of immune passports, evidence that you and I have been vaccinated and that we're protected. You know, I've willingly given up my eyeballs and my fingerprints to a private company, so I get on and off a plane quicker. I would actually be very, very excited to go to a restaurant or a play, some kind of church event, if I knew I was sitting next to someone that they too had been vaccinated.
So, I think you're going to see a major push, despite opposition, over the course of the next months to actually enact some kind of program where you could share that information. And I know that I would go to a lot more restaurants if I knew that every one that I went into, I was in a restaurant with all people who had been vaccinated.
LEMON: Right on. If you want to go to certain countries or go overseas, or you want people to come in. they've got to show their yellow card, the vaccinations and all that stuff. So, hey, I say do it as well. Thank you. It's good to see you, Michael.
OSTERHOLM: Thank you. Always good to see you. Thanks, Don.
LEMON: I appreciate it. We got a lot more huge news from the CDC today, that's a huge story. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is here to weigh in after this.
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