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Security Uncertainty Looms Over Inaugural Preparations; CNN: Trump Prepares To Issue Around 100 Pardons And Commutations; Incoming Biden Chief Of Staff: We're Inheriting A Huge Mess; D.C. National Guard Chief: Members Have "Multiple Layers" Of Screening; Pompeo Remains Loyal To Trump In Final Days Of Presidency. Aired 12-12:30p ET

Aired January 18, 2021 - 12:00   ET

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

[12:00:00]

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JOHN KING, CNN HOST: Hello to our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm John King in Washington. This is a special Martin Luther King Jr. Day edition of the CNN NEWSROOM.

It's a start of a monumental week. In 48 hours the Trump Presidency ends and the Biden Administration begins. There is a quiet chill in Washington right now. Security uncertainty hovers over inaugural preparations. The nation's Capitol is a grid of checkpoints and bomb- sniffing dogs.

The 20,000 strong National Guard contingent deployed across the city under increased scrutiny this hour reports detail worries of possible insider attacks, concern that some of the men and women charged right now of protecting the inaugural might believe President Trump's election lies and might look to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.

The National Mall in D.C.'s monuments and memorials all fenced off meaning you cannot visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on this holiday in his honor add that to the Trump legacy. The president-elect today spending this holiday morning, you see him right there, packing goods for families in need. That's in Philadelphia.

Joe Biden enters the Oval Office Wednesday with giant challenges and big ambitions. A unity message, a trust deficit with Republicans and the third of Americans who believe his win is illegitimate, an empty cabinet and a giant agenda that counts on a more competent, and yes, more active government.

Five of Biden's nominees for critical agencies finally get Senate hearings tomorrow, one day one issue, rebooting the Coronavirus strategy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY, INCOMING CDC DIRECTOR: Nearly 4,000 deaths a day, almost 400,000 deaths total by the middle of February. We expect half a million deaths in this country. And we still yet haven't seen the ramifications of what happened from the holiday travel, from holiday gathering in terms of high rates of hospitalizations and the deaths thereafter. So, yes, I think we still have some dark weeks ahead.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: President Trump refuses to reach out to the president-elect or to extend to him the normal transition courtesies. Aides say instead President Trump is anxious for a big send-off Wednesday morning and we are told to expect a long list of pardons and commutations in the final hours of Trump's tumultuous term.

Those late actions could impact the Republican mood for the coming Trump impeachment trial. Today still TBD on two big questions, when will House Speaker Nancy Pelosi send over the articles of impeachment? And when will that Senate trial start?

Let's go straight to CNN's Kaitlan Collins at the White House. Kaitlan, I guess from beginning to end, Trump has been norm busting, so it just rolls away. But he has not still, still not called the President-Elect Joe Biden. The State Department had to extend the invitation for the Bidens to spend the night before the inauguration at Blair House because the White House has not just stunning to the end.

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, John it's basically been a complete snub on the president's behalf and even the vice president, it took him over ten weeks to actually call the vice president-elect and talk to her about that transition.

But still no contact between President Trump and Joe Biden yet we are still not expecting it. Typically, what you've seen in the last several successions of the presidency, the former president leaves a letter for his successor. We have not really heard any reporting on whether or not President Trump intends to do that.

It seems incredibly unlikely given the fact that he hasn't even called Joe Biden yet, and so this comes as the president is still making his last-minute moves for his last few days in office. One of the big things that we're expecting either today or tomorrow is going to be the release of that list of pardons which we are told is about 100 people long.

And of course, there could still be some last-minute tweaks to it, but there has been some intensive lobbying going on, on behalf of former administration officials, close allies of the president, to make sure the people they want on that list are on that list.

And of course, it remains to be seen what the president himself is going to do out pardoning himself potentially or any members of his family. One person that we have heard is currently on the list is a prominent eye doctor from West Palm Beach, Dr. Salomon Melgen. He is someone who of course is a notable name because he was convicted on dozens of charges of health care fraud. He's serving about 17 years in prison. But he was also notable because

he was that co-conspirator named in the corruption trial of Senator Bob Menendez. Now of course Bob Menendez is known ally of the president, so president often complains about him.

But Melgen is a prominent figure in South Florida. He is got a lot of money, he is very influential. We're told that is why he is up for potential clemency from this president but that remains to be seemed really what that entire list is going to look like because while they had that meeting yesterday on pardons at the White House with the president, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and a few others.

Remember also on Saturday we saw Rudy Giuliani at the White House, and so that raised questions about whether or not he is going to be representing the president in this impeachment trial when we find out when it is exactly going to happen, but he has now said he will not be representing the president.

[12:05:00]

COLLINS: Since we've been told ABC News saying that because he spoke at that rally before the insurrection on Capitol Hill that he cannot represent the president, but of course John this comes as we've heard there are a lot of tensions going on between the president and Rudy Giuliani, so it appears they are still finalizing what that legal team is going to look like.

John, of course this is going to be once the president is out of office. He's going to be back in Florida on Wednesday, he is leaving Wednesday morning. But look we saw moving trucks from a D.C.-based company today at Mar-a-Lago looking like they're getting prepared for the president's arrival there before Joe Biden is sworn in on Wednesday.

KING: It will be a remarkable 48 hours and we will watch the president's actions to the very end as the new team comes in Kaitlan Collins, grateful for the reporting and insights at the White House.

And just moments ago Kamala Harris resigning her Senate seat, that's all part of the run up to Wednesday's transfer of power the challenges for the administration are many, but the new president takes command of the U.S. government at a historic disadvantage.

As of right now he has no, zero confirmed cabinet officials ready to immediately take over government operations, with us to share their reporting and their insights at this important Jackie Kucinich of "The Daily Beast" and CNN's Jeff Zeleny.

And Jackie, that part there people around the country, around the world maybe don't understand it but normally the Senate would start confirmation hearings so that a president has a Defense Secretary, has a Treasury Secretary, in the last dozen years or so, has a Secretary of Homeland Security on day one.

We will get hearings tomorrow for Avril Haines she is the nomination for me the Director of National Intelligence. Janet Yellen for Treasury, Alejandro Mayorkas for the Department of Homeland Security, Tony Blinken for state. General Llyod Austin Defense but those hearings will be tomorrow.

Joe Biden will step into office and have to name acting at a moment of so many crises in the government. How much of an obstacle is that?

JACKIE KUCINICH, WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, THE DAILY BEAST: Well, not only that, John, he also has - for somebody who has this unity message, he also has an impeachment trial hanging over his head. And that will obviously you keep the focus on President Trump, on perhaps the fishers among Republicans and Democrats instead of this message that we're expecting him to put forward on Wednesday.

But surely they've been having these transition teams trying to, you know, brief these incoming bureaucrats that are coming into these various positions, but you can't substitute actually having someone foundationally there.

Again it's just another layer of uncertainty that Biden is going to have to face going into the government. I'm sure they're going to say they're going to be able to push through this like they pushed through some of the other delays, but, again, they're looking at a playing field that is very difficult going into their new administration.

KING: And it is understandable, Jeff, that they're asking for some patience. They haven't had confirmation hearings yet. They're coming into a time of raging pandemic. Listen to Ron Klain, he will be the White House Chief of Staff in 48 hours, saying, we're going to get going as fast as we can but we inherited some problems, listen.

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RON KLAIN, INCOMING BIDEN CHIEF OF STAFF: We're inheriting a huge mess here Jake. But we have a plan to fix it. The president-elect laid out that plan on Friday, five concrete steps to move us forward, to make pace with the vaccination.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: I get it, and they're right, they are inheriting several messages from the current administration. However, once Joe Biden takes his hand off that bible 48 hours from now, he's accountable.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: No question, it's about to be his mess, and they realize that, John, there is no question about it. But the fact that there are no cabinet secretaries in these key positions is important and it does matter.

I guess the bright side for the Biden team coming in that comes Wednesday as well in the afternoon; Democrats will now effectively control the Senate, a 50-50 split with then Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris splitting the difference there. So that's the bright side.

But there is really, you know, no - it's unfortunate and a sign of the times in Washington that these cabinet secretaries, at least some of them, have not already had hearings and been confirmed. One of them was supposed to be last week.

A Senator objected saying they wanted to have the hearing in person as opposed to virtually, as really all the business has been conducted. So the Republicans have been dragging their feet on this for weeks now. Come Wednesday the Democrats are in charge, but that doesn't mean the problems are any less.

The fact of the matter is there are so many challenges that the Biden team is inheriting. They realize that, but again come Wednesday two days from right now Joe Biden is President. So that is something they of course have to deal with.

But one thing they're doing John, I'm told they're looking across the government to find acting secretaries, to identify acting secretaries, people from the existing government who are, you know, essentially going to be in charge, at least until President Biden's own nominees can be confirmed.

So that is precarious in any situation. And given all of the things going on right now, all the threats going on right now, it is particularly dangerous.

KING: Right, which is why, Jackie Kucinich, every new president wants to turn the page. Every new president wants to say here is my agenda from hour one on that first day. Biden wants to turn the page on Trump probably more than say Obama wanted to turn the page on Bush.

[12:10:00]

KING: He just wants a brand new beginning and so you hear about they have released a memo on all these executive actions, we will get right out of the box, reversing President Trump's Muslim travel ban. Rejoining the Paris Climate Accords, requiring masks on federal property, meaning federal transportation as well, extending restrictions on evictions and foreclosures because of the COVID crisis, extending the pause on student loan payments because of the COVID crisis.

Given the fact that you're team has not in place, given the fact that you're still waiting for the Senate to flip from Republican control to Democratic control that will happen this week. How important is it for Joe Biden to have these executive actions to show there is a new sheriff in town?

KUCINICH: I mean, it's critical, because it's something he can actually do himself with the sign of a pen rather than having congress pass some of his initiatives. That said, even that's going to be difficult. Yes, you're absolutely right, it is - as Jeff said, it is a positive thing for Joe Biden that he will have control of the House and the Senate.

But that doesn't mean his agenda items are going to sail through. These majorities are razor, razor thin. Something like some of the stimulus that he's talking supporting and helping push through, there are pockets of the Democratic Party that that might not go over with. So this is going to be tooth and nail and difficult. These 100 days - there's going to be no honeymoon, I guess, is the fastest way to say this, for Joe Biden. It's going to be tough from day one.

KING: No honeymoon. We'll see if just a return of normalcy and someone who understands and respects the government. Maybe that will help a bit. Jackie Kucinich and Jeff Zeleny, grateful for the reporting and insights as we begin this very important week here in the nation's Capitol.

Up next for us, more on that week the FBI is now investigating a chip involving a woman, a possible stolen laptop from Speaker Pelosi's office and Russia. But first, this flashback it was on MOK day two years ago Kamala Harris, soon to be the Vice President, announced her run for president.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: The future of our country depends on you and millions of others lifting our voices to fight for our American values. That's why I'm running for President of the United States. I'm running to lift those voices, to bring our voices together.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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[12:15:00]

KING: Authorities hope one way to discourage attacks on the Biden inauguration is to continue their aggressive round up of suspects from the Capitol insurrection. The FBI says Donovan Crowell and Jessica Watkins for example of Ohio, members of a self-styled militia accused of forcing their way through a crowd using military style tactics.

Investigators say John Ryan Safford (ph) of Indiana cop on video with bare spray during the riot, wearing a hat tied to a far-right anti- government group. 24 year-old Robert Giessen of Colorado seen with a bat alleged to be a member of related armed far right group.

Also on our charts Timothy Hale-Cusanelli of New Jersey, he is an army reservist with security level - with secret level security, described buy an informant as an avowed white supremacist and Nazi sympathizer.

And the FBI now is investigating a tip that Riley June Williams possibly stole a laptop from the office of the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with a goal of selling that laptop to Russia. Our Crime and Justice Correspondent Shimon Prokupecz joins us now.

Shimon, as we learn more about the suspects, number one, and that when you read reports that the FBI is vetting members of the National Guard because it is worried about possible insider attacks, that is chilling.

SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME & JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: It really is, John. You can kind of understand the concern, right? You have about 25,000 National Guard troops coming from all over the country. I've seen people here from Pennsylvania, from other states, all across the country.

There are still National Guard troops arriving here today. I just saw several buses heading into the Capitol compound here. The secret service is at the gate, actually, with dogs. The U.S. Capitol police sniffing even those buses that are ringing in National Guard troops and even military vehicles as they were entering the Capitol compound, they were being swept for bombs.

I just want to give you a picture - show you what's going on here at the Capitol. So we are closer to the Capitol here now, and you can see the razor wire fencing, and there are about a dozen or so National Guard troops, heavily armed National Guard troops here standing.

Not every National Guard troop is heavily armed some on the outer perimeter doesn't have some of the heavy weaponry. As you said, John, there is this concern of the insider threat. The Head of the Washington, D.C. National Guard addressed that this morning.

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MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM WALKER, DC NATIONAL GUARD: A regular background check is enhanced with more screening, more details and it's layered. So the FBI is part of it, the secret service is part of it, and once they are certain that there is no insider threat, then that soldier, guardsman or airman is given a credential.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PROKUPECZ: So we have seen that. We have seen the National Guard troops wearing credentials. But to enter some of the more secure areas, there are even actual layers of security for law enforcement officials and National Guard troops to get deeper inside the Capitol.

On the exterior is one thing but as you get closer and more inside to the Capitol and certainly that inauguration stage, the level of security, John, just increases.

KING: Sad to see it but necessary given what happened at the Capitol just about two weeks ago. Shimon Prokupecz, grateful for your reporting on the scene there, and we are grateful to the overwhelming number of those National Guard troops and others who are protecting the Capitol at this moment.

[12:20:00]

KING: Up next, it is choosing time for Trump loyalists, stay in the mega crowd or seek a little distance?

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KING: A quick count of the president's public events in recent days gives us a window into his final days' isolation. President Trump has not made a public appearance since six days, back when he blamed Democrats, yes, blamed Democrats, for the country's division.

[12:25:00]

KING: The president's taped addressed has stayed very tight to the script especially since the lawyers have had a lot of influence on those scripts since the Capitol insurrection the president egged on. Since the November 3rd election, that 76 days ago the president has done just one on camera interview and has spent the same number of days on his golf courses as he has had events open to the media. 16 this out of sight dynamic creates an executive vacuum filled on Sunday by the Vice President.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE PENCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My fellow Americans we've all been through a lot this past year. The true at all, I've seen the strength and resilience of the American people shine forth. I have faith that the day will come when we put these challenging times in the past and emerge stronger and better than ever. We will be at our land.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Joining us now, Toluse Olorunnipa of "The Washington Post" and CNN's Kylie Atwood. And Toluse, let's start with you and the vice president, it is striking only in the age of Trump. He finally reaches out extent on comment courtesy by calling the vice president-elect and sharing notes.

He adheres to the constitution when the Electoral College meets and when congress tries to challenge those results and does his job and yet somehow that is breaking news in which he has to worry about angering the president.

TOLUSE OLORUNNIPA, WHITE HOUSE REPORTER, THE WASHINGTON POST: Yes, Mike Pence is going through the motions of a peaceful transfer of power and by doing so he is finding himself on the opposite end of President Trump the person that he has been in lockstep with over the past four years and there have been very few times where Mike Pence and President Trump have not been on same page.

But this is one of them and Mike Pence essentially has to choose between the constitution and the outgoing president and in this case he is choosing to abide by the constitution after giving credence to some of the president's claims about election fraud.

When push came to shove, Mike Pence realized that he had to follow the constitution. He could not overturn the will of 81 million voters and try to install President Trump into a second term when the voters said otherwise.

But in doing so he is potentially putting himself at risk for the future of whether or not he wants to have some kind of political future in the Republican Party. He is trying to chart a different course and may be prepare for a post-Trump Republican Party. But right now the Republican Party still continues to be in the throes of the president; of President Trump is still his party. Looking at polls, Republicans voters still want President Trump to be the leader and President Trump seems to be willing to play that role and inflict damage of anyone who prepares to have a push for a post-Trump era.

It seems like President Trump wants loyalty and he had loyalty from Mike Pence over the past four years, but he hasn't had enough of it, and right now it seems like Mike Pence is on the out and that could make it very difficult for him to have a political future beyond this presidency.

KING: And Kylie, the vice president is not the only mic in the Trump inner circle trying to figure out what will the post-Trump Republican Party look like? And not the only mic with ambition, political ambitions in the post-Trump era, whatever that looks like the Secretary of State, the man you cover quite well and quite closely, tweeting just today, in two days we will undergo a transition of power.

I hope America will stay the course and keep putting America first as we have the past four years. Follow me at Mike Pompeo. So a much Trumpier message there number one, from the Secretary of State and then I guess his personal Twitter handle now that he loses his official Twitter handle. Mike Pompeo also trying to figure out where does this go?

KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right John. I mean, the Secretary has spent the greater part of the last few weeks focused on tweeting about the foreign policy accomplishments, as he views them, of the Trump Administration, right?

So he has - I think we have some images of those for you, but he has showcased things like President Trump's meeting with Kim Jong-Un even though there was no success on denuclearization there. He has put up pictures of himself meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu obviously Israel is that a real fundamental shift in the foreign policy realm for the Trump Administration.

He has also celebrated things like the new U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade agreement. All of these things he has tried to showcase of course while there has been a really challenging transition of power from the Trump Administration to the Biden team.

And I think it is important to note that the Secretary has overseen a number of changes in the foreign policy round for the Trump Administration. Iran, Israel, Afghanistan and China there are some real serious policies that were implemented, and the Secretary wants to showcase those.

But as we've done some looking at what the Secretary and his legacy really mean here, as you pointed out, he has been a really tried and true soldier of President Trump's since the beginning. He came into the administration as a Director of the CIA. He has stayed on as Secretary of State.