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Trump Briefed on Reports Of China Targeting U.S. Forces In Afghanistan; Early Voting Total In Georgia Runoff Surpasses 2.6 Million; Florida Seniors Face Long Lines For COVID-19 Vaccine. Aired 12:30-1p ET

Aired December 31, 2020 - 12:30   ET

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

[12:30:00]

VIVIAN SALAMA, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: But they have moved to declassify it. Now, I have to assert that this intelligence thus far has been uncorroborated in the Trump administration asserting that this is definitely a threat. Of course, for months now, they've been trying to ramp up pressure against China. And they've been saying that China is a bigger threat than Russia.

Earlier this year, we thought that Russia actually had paid a similar situation, the bounty situation where they were paying the Taliban to attack U.S. forces and President Trump was informed about that. And so now we're hearing about China, although still the information is very curious, Jim, we're trying to learn more information even as we speak.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN HOST: No question, serious, uncorroborated. Interestingly, the Russia intel was uncorroborated. And if I remember correctly, the President attacked, it is uncorroborated, and therefore dismissed it. Vivian Salama, always good to have you on the story, thanks very much.

Joining me now to speak more about why the Trump administration will declassify this but also the nature of the threat, CNN counterterrorism analyst, former CIA analyst Phil Mudd. Phil, always good to have you on, thank you.

PHIL MUDD, CNN COUNTERTERRORISM ANALYST: Thanks for having me.

SCIUTTO: So first, let's talk about this. Listen, a lot of countries, and I wouldn't be surprised, frankly, if Russia and China were including that, want to see the U.S. fail and Afghanistan, right, and would have an interest it would seem in taking the lives of U.S. soldiers here.

Let's talk about China specifically, does this fit with their pattern of activity to pay non-state actors or outside actors to kill U.S. forces in Afghanistan?

MUDD: Boy, you've got the Russia story. As you mentioned earlier, Jim, in this story side by side, that the Russians typically in my world have been more aggressive in confronting the Americans and the Chinese and environments like that, so I would be so -- I would not be surprised if the Russia side of this story we heard months ago. I would be surprised at the China's side. That's why the word uncorroborated meant so much to me.

I want to see other information that tells us this is true before it's either declassified or before I see a President take action. Uncorroborated to me means we got a lot of work to do here, Jim.

SCIUTTO: OK. Let's talk about the President's contrasting if we want to call it that handling of what seemed to be identical root -- threats and intelligence from Russia and China, Russia and China, paying someone to kill U.S. forces in Afghanistan bounties, et cetera when it was Russia, the President dismissed it his allies said it's uncorroborated. Why do we need to take this seriously? Now you have China uncorroborated same charge, why does the President declassify and take this one seriously, and not that from Russia?

MUDD: Well, I think there's two angles to this. One is OK and the other is not. The OK piece of this is look, the President and he has the right to make foreign policy as he sees fit. The President likes the Russians. He doesn't like the Chinese. We started out with an invite --

SCIUTTO: Both of them trying to kill U.S. forces according to the intelligence. I mean, that's the thing. Wouldn't the commander-in- chief's national distinction, national compunction be to protect U.S. forces regardless?

MUDD: Sure. But what I'm saying is if he wants to tell the American people I have reason to dislike the Chinese because they're coming after the American forces. He can legally declassify what he wants. I'm not saying I like it. I'm saying, you know, presidents historically, go back -- going back to the Iraq war have declassified stuff all the time.

I tell you the part that is really irritating, and that is these reports about the lack of cooperation between the national security teams, between the White House and the Biden team. You got three weeks before the inauguration, the two national security teams, especially the White House should be talking and the White House should be saying this is what we're considering, the declassification, what do you think? Because as soon as they declassified, the Biden team has got to handle this, that's the problem here.

SCIUTTO: Well, listen, it was reporting earlier this week, a couple days ago on CNN, that they're not sharing the Trump DOD information on things like the Russia hack and the deployment of U.S. forces abroad. I mean, that affects U.S. national security, does it not?

MUDD: It does. But in this case, the information has to be shared whether or not Biden saw it before this press report. And I would guarantee he did after the press report, his national security team has the right and responsibility that he asked the Intel guys what's going on here.

Here's the question I would ask the question goes to CNN at the White House and CNN asking White House sources did the national security team especially the National Security Adviser at the White House, consult with the Biden team about what to do? I'm not saying I had to do this six months ago, but there's three weeks left. If you're going to dump this to the media today, you have a responsibility to tell the guys who have to pick up the pieces. And that's the Biden guys that the Trump guys don't like.

SCIUTTO: We'll ask. I mean, current pattern has been not to, but we'll ask the question. It's a good one, Phil Mudd.

MUDD: I'd like to give reports work.

SCIUTTO: I appreciate it. I listened to your advice. Happy New Year, Phil Mudd.

MUDD: Thank you.

[12:34:38]

SCIUTTO: Still ahead. We go to the Georgia Senate runoff election where the Republican lieutenant governor says President Trump is creating a sideshow. How the tensions inside the GOP could affect that election, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCIUTTO: President Trump is calling for Georgia's Republican Governor Brian Kemp to resign. Why? Because Kemp won't support the President's lie that the election in Georgia was stolen, this comes days ahead of the crucial Senate runoff elections for Republican incumbent senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, which will determine whether the GOP maintains control of the Senate.

CNN's Ryan Nobles joins us now from Smyrna, Georgia. So, early voting, man, I mean it's hot there 2.8 million Georgians have already cast their ballots. Who has the advantage Democrats or Republicans?

[12:40:00]

RYAN NOBLES, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: You know, it's really hard to say at this point, Jim, exactly which party is benefiting from early voting. Democrats feel pretty confident about it and Republicans are sounding the alarm bells that they really need to get their voters out on Election Day.

But it is clear that the voters here in Georgia understand the stakes of this election, as you mentioned, close to 3 million early votes have already been cast. And take a look at the scene here behind me, as you mentioned, we're in Smyrna County, this is -- are in Smyrna, which is in Cobb County, there's one of five locations here that's going to finish their early voting today.

This particular line right here is going to take you about three hours to get through from the time you get to the back of this line, until you get all the way to the front. And if you can see, all the way back here behind me this line wraps around this corner. And these folks, some had been out as early as 4 o'clock this morning to get in line to cast their ballots here in this election. You know, it's amazing that so many people have taken advantage of this opportunity. It's a little bit more than two weeks of early voting time that Georgia voters have at their disposal. And the people that we talked to today that stood in line and some cases as little as 30 minutes as much as three hours. They were all surprisingly tolerant of the weight because they understood the stakes. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID BRATHWAITE, COBB COUNTY, GEORGIA RESIDENT: I'm happy to see the crowd this big, yes. People are taking it seriously. And hopefully we can, you know, make the right the right choice and get the right people in place. Yes, I'm a little bit surprised by the line. But thank God the land isn't as long as I expected it to be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NOBLES: So now early voting ends here in Cobb County today. It's different in some other parts of the state. Of course, everyone has the opportunity to still vote on January 5th, which is when this runoff election ends and of course, both President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be here in the coming days, as well as President Trump on the day before the voting ends here in Georgia. Jim?

SCIUTTO: It is amazing to see people take the time, right, to have to wait hours and hours to cast that ballot. Ryan Nobles, thanks very much.

Well, I spoke with Republican Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan this morning, both he and George's Republican Governor Brian Kemp are responding to the President's personal attacks on them. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. BRIAN KEMP (R-GA): There is a constitutional and legal process that is playing out and I'm very comfortable letting that process play out. But that horse has left the barn in Georgia and it's headed to D.C.

LT. GOV. GEOFF DUNCAN (R-GA): I'm worried that the sideshows and the distractions are causing some disruption around January 5th. And just because the guy I voted for didn't win, doesn't change the outcome of the election.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: Joining me now is former Republican Georgia State Representative Buzz Brockway. Buzz, thanks so much for taking the time this morning.

BUZZ BROCKWAY, FORMER GOP GEORGIA STATE REPRESENTATIVE: Thanks, Jim.

SCIUTTO: This afternoon, I should say. Anyway, tell us about the President's attacks here on the process. You got two key races coming up next week. Does it help or hurt Republicans chances in the runoffs? BROCKWAY: I think it's hurt. I absolutely do. And I think you can look at where early votes have come from. Congressional districts that are represented by Democrats here in Georgia, principally in Atlanta, have turned out at much higher rates than more rural and more Republican leaning areas.

And so, you know, we expect more Republicans to show up on Election Day. But I worry that we're digging too deep a hole to climb out of at this point that that's got me worried no doubt about it. And these attacks are not helping the situation.

SCIUTTO: Last month, you told "The New York Times" this about President's continuing barrage of attacks and false claims of widespread voter fraud. I had someone messaged me just last week, you said, saying Nope, I'm done. Can't trust the election. Never voting again. The President has a very dedicated group of supporters who don't really support the broader Republican Party, they support him. How broad do you find this phenomenon as you speak to constituents there, folks saying I believe the President it's all rigged. It's all rigged against us. I'm not going to take part.

BROCKWAY: It's better now than it was at that time when I talked to "The New York Times". But I think what's, you know, what's worrisome is these turnout numbers so far. And, you know, the President is coming here to Georgia Monday, I believe. And he'll be going to one of these congressional districts where turnout is among the lowest in the state so far.

So, I think they recognize that that it's perhaps have the wrong -- the opposite effect of what they had hoped it would. But it's very tight. And this is hurting, no doubt.

SCIUTTO: You say it's getting better. More people believe the fact of the election here. And I've spoken to other Republican lawmakers, Adam Kinzinger, earlier in the week. And he said that from constituency here's from that over time. They are accepting the reality here that the President's claims are fading, losing some power. I wonder if you agree with that.

[12:45:04]

BROCKWAY: I do, and I think the reason for that I think is, you know, it's one thing to say we're going to pursue every legal option available to us. And, you know, there are other options available, they're going to be challenging it in the Congress next week when they count the electoral votes.

But, you know, if there's not been one judge anywhere in the United States of America appointed by -- some of them appointed by the President himself, who have who have agreed with these claims or made any sort of ruling in favor of these claims. And so that I think people are peeling away as things like that as the process plays out. People are peeling away and saying, OK, maybe it's not as bad as we were told it was.

SCIUTTO: All right or Bill Barr's Justice Department, right, or Republican state election officials, right? Anyway, Buzz Brockway, thanks for speaking. Truth to power, it's good to have you on. We wish you and your family the best in the new year.

BROCKWAY: Thanks, you too, Sir, Happy New Year to you.

SCIUTTO: Still ahead this hour, they're over the age of 65 and standing in line for hours on end, not to vote, that's just one of the vaccination rollout issues in Florida. What's creating such issues, such delays, and just how many people are actually getting the shot, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:50:47]

SCIUTTO: Well, the White House Task Force is acknowledging major nationwide delays in the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine. And nowhere is that problem those delays more obvious than in Florida, with some people bringing tents and lawn chairs to wait in line for hours including senior citizens. CNN's Ryan Young has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This bumper to bumper traffic jam twist around the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida aligns so long drivers have more than enough time to get out and stretch.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have to be patient but it's a good setup.

YOUNG (voice-over): Not just in Orlando, elderly Floridians across the state anxious to receive the COVID-19 vaccine are dealing with a similar situation. In Fort Myers many bringing lawn chairs as they sit and wait for hours, nine to be exact for this man.

BRUCE SCOTT, RECEIVED COVID-19 VACCINE: I personally feel there's got to be a better way.

YOUNG (voice-over): Because Florida has one of the largest populations over the age of 65. Governor Ron DeSantis decided to break slightly with CDC recommendations which call for frontline healthcare workers and first responders to be vaccinated first.

GOV. RON DESANTIS (R-FL): We believe that the better approach is to focus on the elderly first and foremost, then we'll get into essential workers.

YOUNG (voice-over): The vaccine much needed in the sunshine state, which has seen dark days this year, more than 21,000 COVID deaths so far, many of them seniors.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We know people that have not survived.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Unfortunately.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unfortunately. YOUNG (voice-over): But the problem is all 67 counties are handling the vaccine rollout differently, creating some confusion.

SCOTT: While I'm grateful to get the vaccine. I feel that there's got to be a better way to distribute this for people that really need it. Elderly that might be disabled in some way. They can't do it this process. So there's got to be a better way.

YOUNG (voice-over): The issue is not restricted the long lines. Some seniors have heard the vaccine is available and if started showing up in hospitals only to get turned away, while others fled hospital phone lines looking to make appointments.

In South Florida, Broward Health says they've already booked up with vaccine appointments and won't take on more patients until February. Back in Orange County, 30,000 people signed up within 24 hours on the county's website. They vaccinated more than 1,500 seniors on the first day, a dose of hope during this awful year.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Great. I can't wait to see my grandkids. I can't wait to hug those little guys. It's like it's, it just been so long and calming that so relieved. It's just wonderful.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're just feeling very blessed right now.

YOUNG (voice-over): Ryan Young, CNN, Orlando, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: Thanks very much for Ryan Young bringing us that story.

[12:53:29]

As we await 2021, gosh, only 11 hours to go here in the U.S. It is already a new year in other parts of the world, those lucky folks. The latest country to welcome the new year, Thailand fireworks over Bangkok there at the top of the last hour. And a very different kind of celebration in North Korea, this was the view at midnight where masked crowds did gather in Pyongyang.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCIUTTO: The Time Square in New Year's Eve, it is an annual party that the whole world tunes in to watch. But this year celebration, of course, will look very different. CNN's Brynn Gingras is in Times Square. So now many folks are going to be there tonight, a handful, but not many.

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right, Jim. And actually, I'm going to get out of the way so you can see behind me because what you're looking at here behind me is now the frozen zone. We just actually watched the NYPD put extra barricades up. And essentially no one who hasn't undergone a COVID test is going to be allowed inside there.

And that includes also just the general public. Only people who are performing in tonight's celebration, celebrities and also a select few of the 2020 heroes, frontline workers will be allowed inside those gates to actually watch the ball come down. And that's something that the NYPD has been working on as we -- just within these few hours is shutting down this area keeping the public moving along. That's the message they've also been sending is don't come out here for safety reasons.

And we also know, of course, the NYPD always is securing this area for this big celebration, Jim. They're actually operating at 80 percent less officers than what they usually do, because there will be fewer people inside Time Square. So definitely a different celebration as we bring in 2021, 2020 has never been the same. We've always been different this whole entire year. It's going to be no different for the celebration, but the good news is you can celebrate at home where it's nice and safe. Jim?

SCIUTTO: Brynn Gingras, thanks very much.

[13:00:02]

CNN's coverage from Time Square with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen kicks off at 8 o'clock Eastern Time, it is must watch T.V. tonight.