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National Guard Troops Allowed into Capitol After Banishment to Parking Garage; At Least 120 People Face Federal Charges in Capitol Attack; Biden Inauguration Rattle QAnon Believers; Japan Determined to Hold Olympic Games Despite Cancellation Rumors; Biden's First Foreign Leader Call to Be with Canada's Trudeau; China Sanctions Pompeo, 27 Other Former U.S. Officials. Aired 4:30-5a ET
Aired January 22, 2021 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:30:00]
KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR: Capitol complex in Washington D.C. after they were banished to a parking garage. Lawmakers erupted in outrage over the treatment of the troops as they were told they could no longer use the complex. Thousands of soldiers were using designated areas in the Capitol to sleep and rest.
Just one day ago the troops were protecting the complex against any more attacks during the inauguration. More than 25,000 troops were deployed to Washington D.C. Our Alex Marquardt has details on some of the suspects in the Capitol riot and how they were prepared.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): Two weeks since the insurrection at the Capitol, the arrests and charges are mounting by the day. Around 120 people have been charged and federal investigators have said there could be hundreds more.
Among the new arrests is a leader of the far right Proud Boys, Joseph Randle Biggs, arrested and accused of helping organize some of the violence. The FBI says he posted on Parler that followers should be blending in. The FBI believes Biggs and others wore earpieces to communicate, using walkie-talkie-like devices.
New Yorker Patrick McCaughey denied bail after being accused of assaulting D.C. Police Officer Daniel Hodges, who was crushed in the doorway, bloodied and crying for help. Hodges told CNN that one attacker was so violent, he was practically foaming at the mouth.
DANIEL HODGES, WASHINGTON DC METROPOLITAN POLICE OFFICER: The absolute zealotry of these people, how they would, they 100 percent believe that what they were doing was right and that they were the patriots and that no one would get in their way.
MARQUARDT (voice-over): Another New Yorker, Samuel Fischer, who was arrested this week, is alleged in court documents to have written on Facebook the day after the riots. It was awesome. People died, but it was f'ing great if you ask me.
Rioters were armed with all kinds of weapons, including, according to federal prosecutors, a hockey stick in the case of a Michigan man, Michael Foy, who was seen in this video at the capitol with the stick and allegedly attacked police officers with it.
The FBI arrested Californian Jorge Riley, who was a member of the state's Republican assembly and posted at length on Facebook admitting to being a rioter.
JORGE RILEY, ACTIVIST: We pushed our way into Nancy Pelosi's office. We just kept going further and further. I got pepper-sprayed three times. Officers were very nice to us.
MARQUARDT (voice-over): There were repeated mentions of the insurrection during the inauguration, which took place in the exact spot the rioting started. Among those watching, Joe Biden become president with disappointment were QAnon followers who had been duped into thinking that Trump would declare martial law and not let it happen.
We were promised arrests, exposures, military regime, classified documents, wrote one follower. Where is it?
Another spoke to CNN's Donie O'Sullivan.
WILLIAM WIETING, TRUMP SUPPORTER: I was in shock and I had to reevaluate everything the way my life was going to be now because it's so different than my expectations.
MARQUARDT: And we've learned that the FBI has raised its reward for information leading to the people or person who left the pipe bombs outside the Democratic and Republican committee buildings here in Washington D.C. on January 6th. That reward now at $75,000. A law enforcement official tells CNN that the elusiveness of the perpetrators may indicate a more sophisticated operation.
Alex Marquardt, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: So as you just heard, some QAnon supporters were also among those storming the Capitol. Just two weeks later may believers watched their conspiracy theories unravel as Joe Biden was sworn into office. CNN's Donie O'Sullivan reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... Constitution of the United States.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So help you god?
BIDEN: So help me god.
TEXT: What the *** is going on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Congratulations, Mr. President.
TEXT: I'm pretty much done. With Q after today is over.
TEXT: Nothing happened. Q turned out to be a massive Bollocks PsyOp.
DONIE O'SULLIVAN CNN REPORTER: The election was stolen. Biden would never become the president. Trump would round up the so called deep state in a reckoning. It was all part of conspiracy theories like QAnon that many Trump supporters bought into.
O'SULLIVAN: How are going to feel when Biden is inaugurated at noon today?
WILLIAM WIETING, TRUMP SUPPORTER: I knew you were going to ask me that. I don't believe -- this sounds so crazy and I recognize how crazy this sounds, but I don't believe Joe Biden is going to be sworn in as president today.
O'SULLIVAN: We met Trump supporter William Wieting here in Washington early on the morning of the inauguration. He says he's not a QAnon believer, but he does espouse some of its theories.
O'SULLIVAN: And the martial law thing is the sort of baseless conspiracy theory, you know.
WIETING: Will everyone wants to tag facts as conspiracy theory so it's just a way of discounting facts.
O'SULLIVAN: What if he doesn't declare martial law? Will that prove to you that it's -- by this time tomorrow that it was a conspiracy theory?
WIETING: No, if he doesn't declare martial law, then I will feel like my vote will no longer count in the United States and that's not a good thing.
O'SULLIVAN: Wieting and many other Trump supporters are living in a world of conspiracy theories.
[04:35:00]
As the reality of Joe Biden's presidency sit in, some QAnon forums were filled with people coming to the realization that they had been duped.
TRAVIS VIEW, CO-HOST, QANON ANONYMOUS PODCAST: There a lot of QAnon followers who feel very angry and disillusioned as they realized they had been misled. But there are also many people who are still doubling down, still trust in the plan. Still thinking that something very dramatic is going to happen.
WIETING: Joe Biden was just sworn in about 15 minutes ago.
O'SULLIVAN: So I met you right here -- WIETING: (INAUDIBLE) last night.
O'SULLIVAN: Last night. It was about 3 a.m. You were out here streaming live on YouTube. Do you feel like you've been duped? That you've been tricked, that you've been fooled in way here?
WIETING: Actually no. The way I felt, when I saw -- you know, I waited up until the minute that he said, I Joe Biden -- I actually woke up, I'm thinking to myself, my life is about to completely change. Because I've been saying I'm either a conspiracy theorist or a prophet. You know, kind of like this kind of Christian humor, I'm not a prophet. But I was just kind of in shock. And I thought that I had to re- evaluate everything the way my life was going to be now, because it's so different than my expectations. And I literally was just kind of walking around like what now.
O'SULLIVAN: Where are QAnon followers going now? I mean what's next?
VIEW: So some QAnon followers, probably a minority, will give up on QAnon and fallaway, still others will stick to the plan, believe that there's some sort of great dramatic revolution that's going to happen at any second. Still others will probably be recruited into even more dangerous and more militant extremist movements.
O'SULLIVAN: It's not as if all of this is going away now that Biden is president.
VIEW: No, I'm afraid not.
O'SULLIVAN: Do you think you might be around now that Joe Biden sworn in, you might be around if all the election rigging?
WIETING: No. I'm convinced the election was a fraud.
O'SULLIVAN: So as you can see there, he was able to accept that he had fallen for a conspiracy theory at least in some way about the inauguration but was unwilling to accept or realize that he had been duped about how the election was stolen. And I think that really highlights the challenge going forward. And you know, just because Biden was inaugurated doesn't mean that the challenges and problems of online misinformation is going away. And it's going to a major challenge I think for the Biden administration and for Silicon Valley and all of us to address in the years to come.
Donie O'Sullivan, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: Japan's prime minister and Olympic committees worldwide are denying the published report that Japan is about to cancel the Tokyo summer Olympics. The report in the "Times" of London cites a senior official as saying the government privately concluded the games cannot go on because of the COVID pandemic. But Olympic organizers say the Prime Minister is determined to stage the games with through safety measures.
So, let's get straight to CNN's Selina Wang in Tokyo with the details. Selina, the rumors set off a lot of panic. So, what do we know?
SELINA WANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kim, that's right. This is according to the "Times" of London report that you referenced. But we have seen a very strong rebuttals from the government, from the Prime Minister. They say Japan is still committed to hosting the Olympics. And just yesterday the International Olympic Committee president, Thomas Bach, said there is no plan B. The games will go on as scheduled, but no surprise that speculation right now is growing.
The outlook, the reality here in Tokyo is grim. The host city, we are in a state of emergency. Japan is dealing with a severe surge in COVID-19 cases. Right now travelers from around the world are ban from entering Japan. And when it comes to the vaccine as a savior here, Japan is behind many other countries in their rollout. Not expected to start that rollout until later next month.
Now even though in public there has been unwavering statements from the government that these games will go on, I spoke to the longest serving member of the IOC, Dick Pound, and he told me that he isn't 100 percent sure. Take a listen here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK POUND, VICE PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE: Confident, but not -- it's not a guarantee, of course. And everyone understands that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WANG: It's hard to over emphasize how big of a deal it would if these games were canceled. I mean, Kim, in modern history the Olympic games have only been cancelled a few times and because world wars broke out. And for Japan this would be a huge economic loss. They've already sunk more than $25 billion into the Olympic games. Not to mention the loss of face as well.
The Prime Minister has said he wants Japan to host these games as proof that humanity has overcome the pandemic. But at the same time, you're dealing with growing public opposition here in Japan. Nearly 80 percent of people now do not think the games should be held this year. This according to a recent poll by a national broadcaster NHK and that very much tracks with what I'm hearing when I speak to people here on the ground -- Kim.
[04:40:00]
BRUNHUBER: All right, thank you so much, Selina Wang in Tokyo.
Well Joe Biden will pick up the phone today and make Canada's Prime Minister the first foreign leader to get a call from the new U.S. president. We'll have details on the camaraderie and the controversy they're expected to discuss. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BRUNHUBER: Canada's governor general has resigned after current and former employee accused her of creating a toxic workspace. Julie Payette flew in space twice on shuttle missions as a Canadian astronaut. As governor general she was the representative of Canada's head of state for Queen Elizabeth. Although she signed bills into law, her role was largely symbolic.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported last year that her employees complained of harassment and bullying so severe, some were reduced to tears. Payette said she took the complaints seriously but didn't apologize or admit to misconduct.
Canada's Prime Minister will be the first international leader to get a call from the new from the new U.S. president. Joe Biden is to speak with close ally Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the coming hours. The White House says they're likely going to discuss Mr. Biden's executive order to revote the permit for the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline.
For more on this let's bring in CNN's John Defterios. John, I imagine that phone call will be generally warm, but Trudeau's tone might be a little frostier on the subject of the pipeline, which the Canadian government supported. But for Biden, killing Keystone is part of the big picture, just a piece of his larger climate agenda.
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN BUSINESS EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: Yes, I think that's a fair comment, Kim. Joe Biden has to have high impact in the first 100 days of office. And his COVID-19, the current stimulus package on the table, and fighting climate change, those are his three key priorities right now.
[04:45:00]
So the optics of the Keystone pipeline just don't fit into that sort of narrative.
So a quick history on that. President Obama halted the project, President Trump brought it back. And it looks like Joe Bide is ready to kill it off. Now for Prime Minister Trudeau, it's a bit of a challenge. Of course he has so say I'm not happy about Keystone, but he did add in his statements that he was -- so it was very new on saying that he was very please the U.S. is coming back into the Paris Climate agreement.
Now Joe Biden has a big ambitious plan. And he wants to have a $2 trillion stimulus package later in this year to accelerate the green energy transition, 100 percent renewables by 2035. It's ambitious. He's putting John Kerry as a special envoy, also on the National Security Council to make it happen.
But Prime Minister Trudeau, he has to take a step back and say, all of that rustling with Donald Trump over NAFTA, it'll be smoother sailing no doubt with Joe Biden with the exception of this pipeline.
BRUNHUBER: Yes, well on that though, in Canada, Alberta's premiere called it a gut punch and called for sanctions against the U.S., such as the anger in the West and we've seen similar anger in the U.S. Republicans of course quick to accuse Biden of killing jobs. So Biden's green agenda faces plenty of headwinds here.
DEFTERIOS: Yes, again, Kim, you're correct. The premiere of Alberta for the oil and gas region of Canada, needed to take that stance. Nothing will change actually. Canada is the number exporter of curd into the United States -- three million barrels a day. They're just not going to complete this project and they have two other pipelines. U.S. the number one gas producer combined around the world, of course.
Joe Biden's not saying we're going to scrap shale. He's not going to attack Texas where they have the majority of the jobs. But he's saying, if you want to hit this target of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees centigrade, we have to accelerate this energy transition. He's also a firm believer -- and I spoke with those in his administration about creating new jobs through the green energy transition itself, away from oil and gas in the future. So it's his priority. He's going to push it, but he has to get financing within the U.S. Senate, which not going to be easy.
BRUNHUBER: Yes, absolutely. All right, that's so much, John Defterios in Dubai. We appreciate it.
Well there's no love lost between China and the old Trump administration. The Chinese government has slapped Mike Pompeo and 27 other former officials with sanctions. It's accusing them of quote, prejudice and hatred against Chine.
Kristie Lu Stout joins from Hong Kong with more detail and the challenge for the Biden Administration. China didn't wait long before hitting out at the outgoing administration, both in word and in deed, right?
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, and in fact, it was just hours before Joe Biden was sworn in when China's state run Xinhua news agency bid, quote, good riddance Donald Trump on social media and online. And shortly after that, again, on the day of the inauguration that China announced sanctions on 28 former high level Trump officials, including the former U.S. secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, as well as Peter Navarro, Robert O'Brien, Matthew Pottinger, Alex Azar, John Bolton and Steve Bannon.
Now the sanctions followed final moves by the Trump administration against China including additional sanctions as well as that declaration saying Beijing had committed, quote, genocide against ethnic Muslim Uighurs in Xinjiang. And, you know, now sanctioned these 28 former officials -- some of them listed just as you saw on your screen -- as well as their family members are now banned from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. And any organization or institution linked to them would have their activities restricted when it comes to doing business with China.
On Thursday we heard from the spokeswoman of the ministry of foreign affairs Hua Chunying, who rationalized the sanctions and also offered a sort of roadmap ahead for U.S./China relations. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) HUA CHUNYING, CHINES FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON (through translator): The Trump administration, especially Pompeo, has laid too many land mines. Dismantled to many bridges and destroyed to many roads to be cleared and repaired.
I think both China and the U.S. needs to pluck up the courage and show wisdom to listen to each other.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STOUT: Now CNN reached out to the Biden administration for comment on these new sanctions. And in a statement, we received this from the spokesperson of the National Security Council, Emily Horne, writing this, quote --
The Biden/Harris administration has noted China sanctioning of more than two dozen former Trump administration officials and posing these sanctions on inauguration day, is seemingly an attempt to play to partisan divides.
It won't work. Americans of both parties oppose the unproduction and cynical move. President Biden looks forward to working with leaders in both parties to position America to out-compete China.
[04:50:00]
Unquote. Now, Kim, this may be a new administration, but we know that there are multiple points of contention between U.S. and China on multiple fronts and the relationship remains rocky. Back to you.
BRUNHUBER: Yes, it'll be interesting to see whether that front relationship will thaw at all under the new administration. Thank you so much. Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong.
Well there were mainly spectacular images during President Biden's inauguration. And one meme that's gone viral. Bernie Sanders keeps warm with his grumpy sheep gloves. We'll have that just ahead. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BRUNHUBER: Well whenever the U.S. holds a presidential inauguration attention is inevitably drawn to what the first ladies past and present wear. But this year a pair of mittens left everyone smitten. CNN's Jeanne Moos reports on Bernie Sanders grumpy chic fashion statement.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): People gushed about Michelle Obama's outfit.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can I just remark of how flawless Michelle Obama, is?
MOOS (voice over): Some even gushed about the $2,000 sneakers worn by an in law of Vice President Kamala Harris.
[04:55:00]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Rocking some Diore, Air Jordan's, amazing, amazing.
MOOS (voice over): But none of that gushing came close to the gushers of memes inspired by Bernie Sanders for what was dubbed his grumpy his --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Grumpy chic look.
MOOS (voice-over): There was just something about the pose, the mittens, the social distance.
One company is already rushing to turn Bernie into a bubble head. His image is on a set of birch coasters, selling for a night 11.99 on ETSY. He's been transferred to Forrest Gump's bench behind the resolute desk seated in the "Game of Thrones", thrown. Appropriately dressed for crossing the Delaware or less heroically --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: An old man on his way to the post office.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As if he had an appointment at the DMV.
MOOS (voice-over): Or was taking a break with the boys in that famous skyscraper construction photo.
MOOS: True, Bernie's mittens may be on the far fringe of fashion.
MOOS (voice-over): But so what if he's seemed dress for riding the subway rather than attending the inauguration looking warm, tweeted Dion Warwick. People were smitten with the mittens made for him two years ago by a Vermont schoolteacher fan.
JEN ELLIS, MADE MITTENS FOR SENATOR SANDERS: I gave those mittens to Bernie as a gift just expecting nothing in return. And I think it's beautiful that they've gone so far.
MOOS (voice over): They are made out of old wool sweaters with fleece from recycled plastic. Sadly, I have no more mittens for sale Jen Ellis tweeted after a flood of requests. Maybe the look isn't everyone's cup of tea. Maybe he'll never be described as --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely flawless.
MOOS (voice over): But Bernie saw no flaws in his inaugural look. Coming from Vermont --
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT): We know something about the cold. We're not so concerned about good fashioned. We want to keep warm.
MOOS (voice over): Bernie is in just warm, he's hot, capable of making pottery and love in mittens.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York. (END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: That last image is going to haunt me.
Well that wraps this hour of CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Kim Brunhuber. "NEW DAY" is next.
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