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Companies Wrestle with Employee Vaccine Mandates; Governor Cuomo Accuser Files Criminal Complaint; Pentagon Investigative Team: Iran Behind Attack on Oil Tanker; South Dakota Motorcycle Rally Rolls on, Despite Delta Variant Threat; Kindness Outshines Adversity at Tokyo Games. Aired 1:30-2p ET
Aired August 06, 2021 - 13:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[13:30:00]
JOHN BONIZIO, OWNER, METRO OPTICS EYEWEAR, NY: But you brought up something before about the science says that it's not going to affect the ability of a woman to conceive or a woman who is breastfeeding.
And, you know, I think that there needs to be more said about that. I think that the CDC needs to come out with that. The government needs to do commercials about that.
And there needs to be stuff on television that says, some people are concerned about this, this is not true and this is why.
And they should be doing that. It shouldn't be up to me and other small businesses and people who are trying to eke out a living here and create jobs to bring that message home. That's not what we're here to do.
That's what elected officials are supposed to be doing. And that's what they need to step up and do.
ANA CABRERA, CNN HOST: Well, thank goodness you're doing it, too.
You point out that some of these people don't trust the elected officials and government. So it's important that you have the relationship.
Thank you for what you're doing and for your contributions, too, in terms of advancing the right information and employing people, giving people jobs.
I really appreciate your perspective. Thanks for all you shared today.
BONIZIO: Thank you. Thank you for shining a light on this issue.
CABRERA: Best of luck to you.
BONIZIO: Thanks.
CABRERA: Later this month, join CNN. We will have the "We Love New York City, The Homecoming Concert." This is a once-in-a-lifetime event. It's coming up Saturday, August 21st, exclusively on CNN. New York Governor Cuomo facing new legal challenges. That's next.
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[13:36:26]
CABRERA: The New York governor is facing growing legal trouble in the wake of that damming investigation that found he sexually harassed at least 11 women.
Now, one of them, a former staffer who accused Andrew Cuomo of groping her, has filed a criminal complaint.
CNN crime and justice correspondent, Shimon Prokupecz, joins us.
What are you learning about this complain, Shimon?
SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME & JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: We're told the woman went to the sheriff in Albany on Thursday and filed this criminal complaint.
This is the first criminal complaint we know of that has been filed against the governor.
What does it all mean? It means the likelihood, the potential that the governor could face criminal charges, has grown.
It certainly is significant that the woman filed this complaint. There's been a lot of questions about whether or not she would cooperate in a criminal investigation. And that is likely what's going on now.
As to what the governor is accused of doing to this woman, investigators have referred to her as Executive Assistant Number One.
The attorney general talked about her in the report that they filed.
And one of those investigators, who the attorney general charged with investigating this case, spoke about those allegations in the press conference on Tuesday. And here's what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNE CLARK, SDNY SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR: On November 16th, 2020, in the executive mansion, the governor hugged Executive Assistant Number One and reached under her blouse to grab her breast.
This was the culmination of a pattern of inappropriate sexual conduct, including numerous close and intimate hugs where the governor held her so closely you that her breasts were pressed against his body. And he sometimes ran his hands up and down her back while he did so.
There were also several occasions on which the governor grabbed her butt.
(END VIDEO CLIP) PROKUPECZ: Ana, now everything is up to the Albany district attorney.
The woman, at some point, will meet with the D.A.'s office. And then they'll have to decide whether or not they have enough to bring criminal charges against the governor.
But certainly, legal experts and people you talk to in the field certainly do expect now that this certainly is going to be taken much more seriously and that the governor could potentially face criminal charges here.
CABRERA: We know at least six jurisdictions have asked for more information for those reports, those documents in case they want to pursue or believe there's evidence to pursue criminal investigations and charges.
Thank you, Shimon Prokupecz.
This just into CNN. The Pentagon now concluding Iran was behind last week's deadly attack on a commercial oil tanker off the coast of Oman.
I want to go straight to Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr.
What led officials to this conclusion?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Ana, the Pentagon taking the pretty unusual step of calling out Iran directly, issuing a statement and several images of the damage caused to this commercial vessel back on July 30th off of coast of Oman.
How did it come to this conclusion? The ship suffered an attack from a drone, an armed drone that crashed into its deck. And this came after two failed attempts with other drones.
When the damage occurred, the "USS Ronald Reagan," a nearby aircraft carrier, put explosive experts aboard the commercial vessel. They gathered evidence. They got forensics.
They have now analyzed it and come to the conclusion this armed drone was the same type that Iran has used in the past.
Most interesting, they notified the British.
But they also notified the Israelis, who are very concerned about Iranian aggression in the region and have been ramping up their own rhetoric about the possibility of attacking Iran now they have U.S. evidence in hand -- Ana?
[13:40:11]
CABRERA: Barbara Starr, at the Pentagon for us, thank you.
The tiny town of Sturgis, South Dakota, is bracing for hundreds of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts this weekend. You can see they are already arriving. Those are live pictures in Sturgis, South Dakota.
But how are officials going to make sure this doesn't turn into a COVID cluster outbreak? A live report from Sturgis just ahead.
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[13:45:24]
CABRERA: Vaccinated or not, tens of thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts are about to take over a town in South Dakota, just as they've done every year for decades.
This is the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. It starts this weekend.
And as a precaution, the city is offering free COVID tests to anyone who wants one.
Last year, there were outbreaks in at least six states linked back to this Sturgis rally. Right now, COVID cases are surging in South Dakota.
CNN correspondent, Adrienne Broaddus, is there for us.
Have you gotten a sense, Adrienne, of whether rally goers are taking this Delta threat seriously?
ADRIENNE BROADDUS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, Ana, this might give you some perspective. More people are expected this year than last year. An estimated 700,000 people in this town of Sturgis, which is less than 7,000 when it comes to population.
If you look, you can see motorcycles lining Main Street here in Sturgis. But not just Sturgis, motorcycles going for miles.
I talked to riders. And one woman saved up her vacation time to be here for 10 days.
When it comes to the Delta variant and the pandemic, that's not top of mind. Listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BROADDUS: Are you all concerned about COVID at all?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
(CROSSTALK)
BROADDUS: What was that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm vaccinated.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My wife, she has COVID right now.
BROADDUS: Are you concerned about COVID this year or the Delta?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. (EXPLETIVE DELETED) no. BROADDUS: Why not?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. Not where I am. Hell no.
BROADDUS: Did you get the vaccine?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hell no. I ain't getting it until they start telling me -- it's going to make you sterile and kill your (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
I don't trust it when it's not even approved yet but --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROADDUS: As he coughs there.
Meanwhile, some defiant riders.
But their engines that are revving throughout Sturgis, silence any fears of the pandemic.
We did speak with one couple who said they don't want to risk it so they're leaving town. When they come back, they say they won't be in Sturgis for at least two weeks -- Ana?
CABRERA: Adrienne Broaddus, thank you.
We'll be right back.
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[13:52:37]
CABRERA: What an accomplishment. Allyson Felix is now the most decorated woman in Olympic track & field history. The 35-year-old securing her 10th Olympic medal today, winning bronze in the 400 meters.
Felix and Carl Lewis are now tied for the most medals all-time among U.S. runners. And she could pass him tomorrow if she makes the podium in the 4 x 100-meter relay.
U.S. women also getting it done in beach volleyball. April Ross and Alix Klineman won gold after defeating Australia.
Klineman saying her victory in her Olympic debut has been an honor and a fairy tale ending.
It's not all about winning. These Olympics have proved memorable in another way.
CNN's Will Ripley reports on the kindness on display in Tokyo.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The legacy of Tokyo 2020 may not be measured in medals or COVID cases, but acts of kindness, moments of grace. Olympians choosing humility over hubris.
American gymnast, Simone Biles, cheering on her teammates even as she was struggling to compete.
American swimmer, Annie Lazor, hugging her South African competitor, who broke a world record to win gold.
ANNIE LAZOR, U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMER: To have someone right next to me break a world record, just as a fan of the sport in general, that's something that's pretty amazing to happen to you.
RIPLEY (on camera): Given there were no spectators and you were in this bubble in the middle of a pandemic, do you think that brought the athletes closer, this experience?
LAZOR: Definitely more of a sense of, we're just really happy that this is happening, really happy to be here.
RIPLEY (voice-over): Happiness written on the faces of the first ever Olympic skateboarders.
SKY BROWN, GREAT BRITAIN BRONZE MEDALIST, SKATEBOARDING: Skateboard winning is one big family. Getting on the podium with two of my favorite people is, like, awesome.
ROB KOEHLER, DIRECTOR GENERAL, GLOBAL ATHLETE: I think that we're seeing the camaraderie between athletes now.
There's always something good that comes from something bad. And I think this is part of what the pandemic has done is created a better community of athletes that are supporting each other under very difficult conditions in Tokyo.
To be supporting each other is huge.
RIPLEY: Support spanning across continents and badminton courts. When Denmark dethroned China to win gold in the men's singles, the players traded shirts as a symbol of respect.
[13:55:01]
These Qatari and Italian high jumpers, friends and competitors for years, opted out of a jump-off, deciding to share the gold.
GIANMARCO TAMBERI, ITALIAN GOLD MEDALIST, HIGH JUMP: It was just amazing. And sharing with a friend is even more beautiful.
UNIDENTIFIED QATARI HIGH JUMPER: Thank you.
RIPLEY: There were high fives and helping hands. After falling during the 800 meter, these runners from the U.S. and Botswana finished the race arm in arm.
A legacy of kindness and camaraderie outshining even the Olympic flame.
Will Ripley, CNN, Tokyo.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CABRERA: That is a perfect way to end the week.
Thank you for being with me. I'll see you back here Monday at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
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