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Trump's Chaotic Presidency Coming to an End; President-elect Biden Travels to Washington for Inauguration; FBI Warns Extremists Discussed Posing as National Guard; Capitol Police Officers Say They were Unprepared, Betrayed. Aired 9-9:30a ET

Aired January 19, 2021 - 09:00   ET

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

[09:00:25]

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Very good Tuesday morning. I'm Jim Sciutto.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Poppy Harlow in New York.

Twenty-seven hours from now, America will have a new president. Soon President-elect Biden heads to Washington, one day before he delivers a hugely consequential speech. The most consequential of course of his life, and takes on the challenge of uniting a deeply divided nation, an economy in crisis and a raging pandemic, as well as a vaccine distribution plan in shambles.

It is a lot ahead for the next president. Today nearly 400,000 Americans have lost their lives to COVID. This is the America the 46th president is inheriting.

SCIUTTO: And on this inauguration eve, flags now fill the National Mall. Look at them there. They represent each of the people who cannot be there, cannot witness due to the virus. And fears of more violence after the deadly insurrection on January 6th. 25,000 National Guard troops are now in the nation's capital. That is five times as many as the number of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. Five times.

But Biden is setting a new tone. He has invited every top congressional leader of both parties to attend mass with him in Washington tomorrow morning. Mitch McConnell, of course, Senate majority leader, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer have all said they will go.

As for President Trump, in his final hours, he is expected to drop a farewell video and a slew of new pardons. He'll then skip town tomorrow without giving his successor the same respect that the Obamas gave him four years ago.

We have team coverage for this historic day. We begin with John Harwood at the White House.

So, John, walk us through President Trump's final 24 hours or so in the White House.

JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Jim, there's a lot we don't know because the president's been hiding from the press and not having public events. What we've been able to see over the last few days has been pretty pitiful. This comical schedule that he announces every day, many meetings and phone calls, little gestures that amount to throwing thumbtacks under the tires of Joe Biden's oncoming vehicle, things like lifting travel bans from six days into Joe Biden's presidency which Biden will reverse, or this very amateurish report trying to rebut "The New York Times" on diversity that came out yesterday on Martin Luther King Day.

But even with a presidency in ruins, even with historically low approval ratings, President Trump still has the absolute power to pardon for the next 27 hours. And we understand that he's focused on how to use that pardon power. There will be some noncontroversial ones or some low-level people. Some celebrities perhaps who have been lobbied, but also you've got people who may know things about Donald Trump that he doesn't want revealed.

So you've got Steve Bannon who was an architect of the 2016 campaign facing fraud charges. He's a potential pardon. Allen Weisselberg, a leading figure within the Trump Organization. Of course the Trump Organization faces investigations. Will he issue some sort of preemptive pardon for Allen Weisselberg who's not been charged with any crime? We just don't know. But we understand that something in the range of 100 pardons are coming.

They'll come sometime today, we think. Not sure what time but of course he could issue pardons any time up until noon tomorrow when Joe Biden becomes president, guys.

HARLOW: Watching for those. John Harwood, thank you very much.

Let's go to Wilmington, Delaware, now where President-elect Biden will soon leave for Washington. Our MJ Lee is there.

Good morning to you, MJ. Before he goes, there is some sort of farewell event? Is that right? What's being planned?

MJ LEE, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Poppy. This is Joe Biden's final day in Wilmington, Delaware, as president-elect. This is the city where he spent the last few months preparing for the transition, where he really finished out his 2020 campaign during the pandemic, so there will be a farewell event where we expect him to speak briefly and then of course he heads down to Washington, D.C.

Initially you might remember he had hoped to take the train down to Washington, D.C., as he has so many times throughout his career. Will no longer be doing that because of heightened security concerns. And then once he gets to Washington, D.C., tonight, both he and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be attending a memorial service at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool.

[09:05:06]

Just such a stark reminder as he takes on the presidency tomorrow of how much this pandemic looms over his time in office. Now, of course, we have some new details as well about tomorrow and how he plans to spend the morning. He is going to be attending church services in Washington, D.C. and among the congressional leaders who will be joining him include House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and also interestingly, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell.

This is a show of bipartisanship, of deference, and of respect that the outgoing president, Donald Trump, has not afforded Joe Biden. So that is kind of a remarkable moment as well. And finally, as far as his Inauguration Day speech goes tomorrow, the most important speech, as you guys said, of his career, of his life, we know that the theme of national unity will be a big one and that will be so important especially in light of what we saw happen on Capitol Hill two weeks ago, guys.

SCIUTTO: MJ Lee, thanks very much. Those are going to be words that matter in this environment.

But we have this sad fact. "The Washington Post" is reporting this morning that the FBI has warned law enforcement that followers of the conspiracy group QAnon have discussed posing as some of the 25,000 National Guardsmen and women now gathered here in the capital to protect, to secure the inauguration.

HARLOW: Unbelievable. Let's go to our Pete Muntean. He joins us live again this morning for more on that.

I mean, just what could make their challenge even greater, and there you have it, that reporting, after the attack on the Capitol, the insurrection. Authorities really, it seems, Peter, looking at every possible threat ahead of tomorrow.

PETER MUNTEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's so true, Poppy. The threats keep coming in, and the tightness of security here keeps getting more and more strict all of the time. You know, police are in the process of closing down the bridges between Virginia and D.C.

I just want you to look at the National Guard checkpoint here. And the FBI tells "The Washington Post" that it's worried that domestic terrorists could pose as members of the Guard. We have learned that 25,000 members of the Guard are on the ground in Washington right now. But now the real question is, with all of these new threats coming in, how long all of this protection will have to last?

The head of the D.C. Department of Homeland Security says it could be some time. Here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTOPHER RODRIGUEZ, DIRECTOR, D.C. HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY: Right-wing extremism is not going anywhere. And I think we can definitively say that. And so one of the things that we want to do is see what does the new normal look like? And certainly, you know, this domestic terrorism, this right-wing extremism is going to be with us for some time in the months and years ahead.

(END VIDEO CLIP) MUNTEAN: Just want to put all of this into context for you, Jim and Poppy. This is about as close as one can get on foot to the Capitol right now. And we are blocks away. You can see that the city is boarding up in preparation for this, more of this going up all the time here.

This is going to be an inauguration like no other. 200,000 flags on the National Mall that has been cleared out. Not many people here in Washington. Typically a place that welcomes tens of thousands from all across the country for Inauguration Day.

HARLOW: Pete, you're so right. Thank you for putting it all in perspective for us.

Well, this morning, several U.S. Capitol police officers tell CNN they feel in their words, quote, "betrayed" by department leadership following the pro-Trump deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol.

SCIUTTO: This is the thing. They were put in danger here. And we saw that in the video. So many of them injured and one sadly killed as a result.

CNN justice correspondent Jessica Schneider joins us now.

Jessica, these officers claiming they were basically left high and dry, unprepared, given conflicting advice. They didn't have the right equipment on time. I mean, these are disturbing accounts.

JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, all of that, Jim. You know, these officers say there was no planning, no preplanning, no direction on how to handle the thousands of people who descended on the Capitol that day. These officers tell us that there was no all- hands planning session that usually precedes major events. And when they finally did get that reinforcement from Metropolitan Police, they actually had to shout out that they were officers, too, in what was a chaotic scene inside and outside the Capitol.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is our Capitol.

SCHNEIDER (voice-over): When a pro-Trump mob overran the U.S. Capitol earlier this month, some law enforcement officers left to protect Congress say they were unprepared to fight against the rioters. Five U.S. Capitol police officers speaking to CNN on condition of anonymity for fear of losing their jobs describing a feeling of betrayal by leadership. One saying there was no planning, no preplanning, nobody was giving direction on what to do.

The officers said they knew about President Donald Trump's rally and of a protest, but were not briefed as normal for major events and said they were left unable to defend themselves or the Capitol or make arrests.

[09:10:04] The insurrection was not completely unexpected. The U.S. Capitol police chief who resigned after the assault told "60 Minutes" he asked to activate the National Guard days before the siege. A request he says was denied by the sergeants-at-arms.

STEVEN SUND, FORMER U.S. CAPITOL POLICE CHIEF: We expected demonstrators with some potential for violence, not a directed, coordinated violent attack for the nation's capital. I consider those two different things.

SCHNEIDER: After the president rallied his supporters January 6th, one officer recalled a supervisor warning them on police radio about Trump supporters headed to the Capitol. Not expecting the crowd to quickly devolve into a riot.

"There was not enough people to stop what was coming. What hurt us was these people, they planned for it. They knew we weren't going to shoot," an officer recall. And one black officer added, "There was a lot of racism that day. I was called racial slurs and in the moment, I didn't process this as traumatic. I was just trying to survive."

Once inside, some rioters surrounding and fighting law enforcement while on their rampage. An officer telling CNN they came in packs and officers working inside are trying to lock down areas where members may be, trying to get members to secret hideaways and tunnels where they'll be safe.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was targeted in the insurrection, announcing last week an investigation into the security failures.

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): We must subject this whole complex to scrutiny in light of what happened and the fact that the inauguration is coming.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCHNEIDER: And Nancy Pelosi has since announced a retired general will lead that investigation into the security failures. In the meantime, Capitol Police did not respond to our request for comment.

But, Jim and Poppy, we've since seen videos of Capitol police officers acting valiantly when they were confronted, like that Officer Eugene Goodman.

SCIUTTO: Yes.

SCHNEIDER: He guided that mob away from the Senate chamber and we were told last week that Vice President Pence reached out to him to thank him for his efforts. But of course in talking with these officers, guys, a lot of concern that they were basically left to fend for themselves. No direction. No clear support. And perhaps we'll get some answers once this investigation and the hearings probably on this start, guys.

SCIUTTO: Yes. They're victims to this, right? Poppy, I mean --

HARLOW: Yes.

SCIUTTO: By being unprepared, it put them in danger.

HARLOW: For sure. Jessica, thank you for that reporting very much.

SCIUTTO: Still to come this hour, critical nomination hearings for key Biden Cabinet picks are happening in moments. This morning, we are getting a preview of what some of these nominees are about to say. We'll talk about how quickly they may or may not get through. We'll go live to Capitol Hill.

HARLOW: Also, President Trump is expected to issue potentially dozens of pardons on his final full day in office. Who may be pardoned? Coming up.

And it's often called the nuclear football. A case that contains highly classified equipment needed for a president to order a nuclear strike. Tomorrow on Inauguration Day, there will be two of them. How they plan to pull off an unprecedented handoff.

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[09:15:00]

SCIUTTO: This just in to CNN. We are learning that the Biden administration will make domestic terrorism a key focus of the National Security Council, a person familiar tells me this. A reflection of the significant threat the country is facing as it deals with the aftermath of the Capitol Hill riot. I'm also told to expect a series of early announcements of personnel focused on this threat, Poppy. A real sign of just how seriously the incoming president and his administration --

HARLOW: Yes --

SCIUTTO: Is taking this threat.

HARLOW: It's really important that they do, given --

SCIUTTO: Yes --

HARLOW: How much the threat has been elevated. Jim, great reporting. Well, hearings begin next hour for three of President-elect Joe Biden's cabinet nominees. Then two more start this afternoon. He will likely take office tomorrow with none of those key members of his cabinet confirmed, though, and that would be a first.

SCIUTTO: CNN congressional correspondent Sunlen Serfaty is on Capitol Hill. And Sunlen, a lot of things led to this delay. I mean, the riots among them, of course. But also certainly the partisanship we've talked about so many times. If he's not going to have these positions in place by tomorrow, how soon do we expect them to be in place?

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That right now, Jim, is still an open question. Today is the first step in the process of the incoming Biden administration getting their cabinet officials in place. But there are a lot of steps that they need to go through. Now, first up, of course, is the committee hearings, and those will start in earnest today. There are five committee hearings scheduled. Three starting notably in the next hour. We will be hearing from Janet Yellen to be Treasury Secretary in front of the Senate Finance Committee. She, of course, faces that huge task of getting the economy back on track in the middle of a pandemic.

And we know according to her remark, she'll be calling on Congress to go big on COVID relief. We will also be hearing in the next hour from Alejandro Mayorkas to be the DHS secretary. Certainly, the insurrection up here on Capitol Hill will be a central focus with his committee hearing, and also in the next hour, hearing from Avril Haines to be the next director of National Intelligence. And in her opening remarks, she'll vow to keep politics out of intelligence. She says, quote, "when it comes to intelligence, there are simply no place for politics ever." And then later this afternoon, we'll also be hearing from Tony Blinken; nominee to be Secretary of State and Lloyd Austin; nominee to be Defense Secretary. Now, it's unclear how quickly they will be able to move from the committee hearing to the full Senate if they're passed out of the committee. Certainly, the incoming Biden administration wants them to move swiftly and operate on a dual track, not only confirming cabinet nominees, but of course, taking care of the Senate impeachment trial. Jim and Poppy?

[09:20:00]

HARLOW: Sunlen, thank you. Big day ahead. Big few days ahead for sure. Speaking out for the first time since the deadly riot on Capitol Hill, former Attorney General Bill Barr tells "ITV News" he believes the rhetoric about election fraud was key in provoking the siege on the Capitol. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Perhaps, the debate about the integrity of the election was the final straw.

BILL BARR, FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: I think that, that was the thing that precipitated the riots on the Hill.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: With me now to discuss this and more, Democratic Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands. She's one of the house impeachment managers. A big job for you and your fellow impeachment managers ahead, congresswoman, thank you for being with us this morning.

REP. STACEY PLASKETT (D-VI): Thank you for having me.

HARLOW: It's really significant to hear that from Bill Barr who has, for the most part, been in lockstep with the president. The fact that he used the word precipitated in terms of what he believes the lies about election fraud did. He believes they precipitated the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol. Given that, would you like to call him as a witness in the Senate trial? PLASKETT: Well, you know, we're looking and strategizing right now

about what the trial will look like and what our strategy is. But what I would like former attorney Bill Barr to say is that, that language came from the president. He has not specifically named the president as the person who precipitated that fraud. That we know that the president for months engaged in claiming that the election was a fraud. Claiming that it was rigged, claiming that he had the election stolen from him, and that people had to fight to take back their democracy. Those are the things that Bill Barr has not said as yet that the president is, in fact, the conspirator of the crime that occurred on January 6th.

HARLOW: It seems like you might have a few questions for him as a witness, no?

PLASKETT: Well, let's see what he comes out with, in the next couple of days. And, listen, this -- the strategy on what we're going to do and how the trial will be conducted is being discussed right now by all of the managers. I've been blessed and honored to be named as one of them. We are all working as a cohesive group. It's just been a phenomenal team with the staff, and we'll see what happens.

HARLOW: There -- well, your fellow impeachment manager Ted Lieu told Wolf Blitzer last night, he expects the articles of impeachment to be delivered in his words, "this week". I wonder if you can get a little more specific for us. Like when?

PLASKETT: No, I'd be less specific than that even.

HARLOW: Wow --

PLASKETT: I think that the speaker will bring the impeachment articles when she and leadership, the Senate have made an agreement to receive them. And as impeachment managers, it's our job to be preparing for the trial. And so, that's the work that I'm going to be doing during that time. I think that's what we're all focused on right now, and I wouldn't put -- you know, you guys will be -- I'm sure, will know when those are going to be walked over.

HARLOW: Yes, I think we will --

PLASKETT: And we'll be in preparation for it.

HARLOW: So you were a prosecutor. You worked in a -- for a time in the Bronx D.A.'s office. So, you know a thing or two about being thrown quickly into a courtroom on something. So I just wonder whenever this trial begins, what do you view as your biggest hurdle?

PLASKETT: You know, I think that this is a unique opportunity and a unique trial because there aren't that many times when the jurors are not only witnesses to the crime. We've all been a witness to the crime that has been perpetrated against the American people. Not just on that day of January 6th, but the actions of the president leading up to it. But we also have jurors who are actually victims of the crime. They had that mob coming after them. The president told the mob to come directly for them, to stop them. To teach them a lesson. To make them do what he wanted. So that creates a very different trial environment. And I think it will be very dynamic.

HARLOW: We have a new CNN poll out this morning. And one of the numbers that struck me most in it, is that the majority of Americans, 53 percent believe that it is unlikely that President Biden will be able to ease the divisions in our country. The impeachment trial, whether you're on the side that believes it should take place and the president should be convicted or not, it very likely will further divide America. What do you say to folks who ask, then why do it, or your advice to the Biden administration after this trial to bring America together given this number?

[09:25:00]

PLASKETT: Listen, I think that the impeachment trial is the thing to bring healing to this country. We saw not only an assault against our democracy, an assault against not just members of Congress, but the staff and those that work there. But look at the vile language and the rhetoric that was used even before and during that. Anti-Semitism, racism, bigotry, white supremacy, insurrection. Every kind of thing that is not what America should be. To absolutely dismiss that and to move on is to say to those individuals who were hurt, those individuals who do not believe in that, the America that we should be, that that's OK. And so we have got to, in fact, stop allowing these things to continue on. There cannot be reconciliation. There cannot be a moving on and a healing unless the wounds are bound up. Unless we deal with the infection that is there. And I believe that the impeachment trial is part of that.

HARLOW: Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett, thank you for joining us, especially given how busy all of you are right now.

PLASKETT: Thank you so much. You take care.

HARLOW: Jim?

SCIUTTO: Got lots of work to do. So how will President-elect Joe Biden help unite this extremely divided country after four years of division under President Trump? What will his message be tomorrow? We'll discuss with someone who knows.

HARLOW: We're also moments away from the opening bell on Wall Street this morning. Futures all pointing higher, today, investors watching the confirmation hearing, particularly closely of Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen. Her message to lawmakers, quote, "go big" on the next COVID stimulus package. That is lifting markets this morning. We'll keep a close eye as it opens.

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