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Biden Considers Raising U.S Troop Levels in Europe; New York City Mayor Vows Real Plan on Guns After Officer Killed; Former A.G. William Barr Having Conversations with January 6 Committee. Aired 10- 10:30a ET

Aired January 24, 2022 - 10:00   ET

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

[10:00:06]

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN NEWSROOM: This comes as NATO allies put their forces on standby to be ready for that and State Department has, as a precaution, reduced staff and sent home family members from the U.S. embassy in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN NEWSROOM: Fast-moving developments there.

Plus, law enforcement on high alert after the deadly shooting of an NYPD officer. New York City now planning to immediately reinstitute a modified plain clothes anti-gun unit.

And minutes from now, opening statements begin in the federal trial for three former Minneapolis officers who helped Derek Chauvin restrain George Floyd in May of 2020. All three accused of violating Floyd's civil rights for not rendering aid or intervening before Floyd was killed. We'll bring it to you live.

SCIUTTO: We begin though with our top story. CNN International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson is in Moscow, CNN National Security Correspondent Kylie Atwood is at the State Department here in Washington.

Nic, let's begin with you. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will soon meet with European foreign ministers. There's been an effort throughout this to project unity among the NATO allies on the response to Russia. What is the plan today? What are they discussing?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPOMATIC EDITOR: Precisely that. We've listened to a number of the different foreign ministers going into that meeting, Danish, the Latvian, the Estonian, Lithuania, those countries that are closest to Russia have had the strongest lines. But E.U. has put out a report now, put conclusions from this meeting and they're saying, absolutely, the European Union stands alongside the United States, absolutely indivisible in terms of European Union security, that Russia -- they're telling Russia to deescalate the tensions, absolutely standing by behind Ukraine.

In fact, the European Commission president today, Ursula von der Leyen, announced another $1.35 billion of financial aid for Ukraine as it goes through this difficult situation and, of course, those Baltic nations, particularly concerned, with learned in the last few hours, that the Russian navy is sending 20 warships plus support vessels into the Baltic Sea. The Danish foreign minister has said that Denmark is sending one of its frigates into the Baltic Sea as well.

And we heard at that E.U. meeting the Irish foreign minister talking about Russian naval exercises that are being planned just 150 miles off the Irish Sea, raising that as a level of concern. The Russians say this is training. It's mine sweeping training, anti-aircraft training countersubmarine measures training. But 150 miles from the Irish Coast, that's raising questions.

GOLODRYGA: No surprise though as to why these leaders of these Baltic countries, in particular, members of NATO are welcoming news that the U.S. may increase its troop presence there.

Let's bring in Kylie Atwood, I want to delve deeper into the Ukrainian response about this reduction in U.S. staff at the embassy in Kyiv. Of course, it follows a similar move by Russia just a week prior.

KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right. The Ukrainians aren't happy about this. They think this is an overreaction on behalf of the United States and our reporting is that President Zelensky, Ukrainian president, told Secretary of State Blinken so much before this decision obviously was made. But there was an interagency decision on this front and we are told that the totality of the situation with Russia continuing to build up its troops along the Ukrainian border basically came down to a situation where the United States felt like they needed to get the wheels turning on beginning to pull folks from the U.S. embassy in Kyiv.

So, what they're doing now is allowing some U.S. personnel at the embassy to leave and they are ordering all of the families of Americans who work at the embassy to leave the country. We should also note that there are a number of Americans obviously who are in Ukraine, either visiting or living there, and what the State Department is telling them is that they should be looking now for commercial options to get out of the country because they said the State Department will not be in a position to evacuate them if Russia does invade Ukraine, and, of course, we have heard repeated times over the last week or so from Biden administration officials that that could happen at any point. And so that's why these preparations are under way right now. We'll see what more happens with regard to the status of the embassy and how many people they keep. It's still up and running but folks are leaving.

SCIUTTO: Yes. Bianna, I've got to tell you, from the beginning, I've been told that U.S. officials in the military do not want to get flat footed, like they felt they were in Afghanistan. They're taking steps here out of an abundance of caution. And, by the way, the Afghan government also said, hey, don't come out too soon because that's going to be a sign of fear, et cetera. And, of course, the administration got burned on that.

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GOLODRYGA: Yes. Some comparing Zelensky's message last week that there's something -- nothing to fear here, we've been through this for eight years now, similar to Ghani's the message prior to the Taliban taking over last summer as well.

Nic Robertson, Kylie Atwood, thank you, as always.

Of course, we've seen a major selloff in the Russian stock market. U.S. investors also paying close attention to this. Russia is a major supplier of natural gas to Europe and the number two oil producer in the world. So, in the event of an invasion, multiple officials are telling CNN that the Biden administration is putting together a global strategy to increase natural gas production.

SCIUTTO: CNN Business Reporter Matt Egan is covering it. It's interesting, because Biden last week noted that if there's an energy war with Europe, Russia loses too, right? It's something like 45 percent of their national income comes from these sales. But Biden knows if that supply disappears, some major economic consequences from that.

MATT EGAN, CNN BUSINESS REPORTER: Yes, absolutely. And that's why this risk of a full scale invasion has set off a scramble to try to secure natural gas supplies. Biden officials are telling CNN that the United States has been in discussions with multiple companies and countries in Europe, North Africa, Middle East and Asia about stepping up supply of natural gas in the event of an invasion.

And, remember, Russia is an energy powerhouse. It's the number two natural gas producer on the planet. Russia produces more natural gas a year than the next the three countries. And it's not just that, but Europe is Russia's biggest customer. Russia provides more than 40 percent of Europe's natural gas and, you know, that gives Moscow a lot of leverage here. And so that's why the Biden administration is putting together these contingency plans to redirect and boost supplies and U.S. officials said that those talks include both Norway and Qatar.

Now, there's a few ways that we could see supply get threatened here. One, the west could decide to really hit Russia where it hurts the most, and that would be energy. That would mean putting sanctions on natural gas. The other risk here though is that Vladimir Putin could weaponize energy by cutting off supply of natural gas.

Now, this is not just a European story because Americans would actually feel the ripple effects as well. One of the issues here is that if natural gas prices in Europe really skyrocket, that's going to drive up demand for oil as factories and power plants in Europe, they switch away from gas to oil, and that, of course, would lift prices at the pump here in the United States and those prices have already been rising.

Remember, Americans are also dealing with home heating sticker shock. If you use natural gas to heat your home, prices are supposed to be up about 32 percent from last winter. I know I've noticed a difference in my bills, heating, oil and propane up even more. Now, we know inflation is a major problem for the U.S. economy. It's a big reason why the stock market is down sharply this morning. Jim and Bianna, the risk is that a conflict between Russia and Ukraine could make inflation even worse.

SCIUTTO: And raise those heating prices in the middle of winter for Europe and the U.S. That's also, of course, a pressure point. Matt Egan, great to have you on.

EGAN: Thanks.

SCIUTTO: Back here at home in the U.S., hours from now, Mayor Eric Adams of New York expected to address the rise of violent crime in New York City, this comes after just the saddest story, the fatal shooting of NYPD Officer Jason Rivera, just 22 years old. He was killed Friday when a suspect opened fire on him and another officer who was severely wounded. The suspect's gun, an illegal glock, there it is there, stolen from Baltimore 2017. Look at the size of that high capacity magazine as well. Bianna?

GOLODRYGA: It's such a tragic story. We just saw images of his mom crying as well in response.

CNN Crime and Justice Correspondent Shimon Prokupecz is following all of this. Shimon, what do we expect to hear from Mayor Adams today? We now we've heard from him practically every day since the shooting.

SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Right, and he was on with Dana Bash yesterday on State of the Union, where he talked about how he wants to bring back this anti-gun unit, the plainclothes officers who are going to be patrolling, trying to get guns off the street. So, perhaps we'll hear more about that.

You know, I think Eric Adams realizes that he needs to do something. He needs to say something. So, that is why we are expected to hear from him today, perhaps laying out some kind of plan.

The issue for NYPD and for, really, law enforcement in this city is that there are just too many guns on the streets of this city and a lot of the violent crime that we're seeing across the city is as a result of people who are possessing illegal weapons. So, perhaps we'll hear something, something from the mayor concerning what he plans to do to try and get these guns off the street.

GOLODRYGA: Yes. Listen, this is personal for him. This is not only his city, he was captain of the NYPD as well, where he served for over two decades. So, clearly, a lot of focus on what steps he will be taking next. Shimon Prokupecz, thank you so much.

[10:10:00] Well, joining us to talk about all of this is CNN Political Commentator and former Republican Congressman Charlie Dent. Great to have you on. Good morning, Charlie.

I want to focus on what you've written in response to the surge in crime we've seen throughout the country. And you write, Democratic mayors, councilmen and district attorneys have the power to course correct if they have the courage and political will to do so. If they don't, Democrats will pay a price at the polls. This is something that clearly not only mayors of major cities are focused on but the president of the United States as well. I want to play sound from him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, U.S. PRESIDENT: We shouldn't be cutting funding for police departments. I propose the increasing funding. Look, we ask cops to do everything, including be psychologists and social workers. Guess what? They need psychologists and social workers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: And this is something we've seen from Mayor Adams. He's expressed the same and promising to put more police, plainclothes police officers back on the streets and those that are helping mentally unstable people as well in subway stations. Do you think this is enough of a response that you've heard, not only from the president but from mayors, like Eric Adams?

CHARLIE DENT, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, look, I certainly want Mayor Adams to be successful. I know he's trying and people of New York spoke loudly when they elected him, putting a cop in that job.

But if people are serious about prosecuting violent crime, I'll take you to the city of Philadelphia. I just have to tell you something. A former ADA there, Assistant District Attorney Christopher Lynett, just recently wrote, he said, in 2021, of the 6,500, nearly 6,500 charged violent offenses, 70 percent of the cases were dropped. 40 percent of non-fatal shootings were dismissed. I mean, one out of four gun involved murders were withdrawn. I mean, this is what we're dealing with right now.

So, the police can go out and charge these crimes but if they're not going to be prosecuted, well, then where are we? And that's what we're seeing in the city of Philadelphia, which had 559 murders. And, by the way, Philadelphia is about nearly one sixth, one fifth the size of New York City. I mean, that's what we're talking about. I mean, we have a real crisis going on in our major urban areas and it needs to be addressed.

Again, I think Adams is trying to do the right things. What he's talking about, I think, makes a lot of sense but he got to do more.

SCIUTTO: Charlie, I've spoken to members of the NYPD. They talk about exactly what you're talking about. They will arrest someone and they'll see that guy out on the street again before they even write up the paperwork, right? So, you have a policy issue on that side. But they also talk about the prevalence of guns, how easy they come from states with lax gun laws.

And I just want to show a picture of the gun that was used in this cop killing in New York, not just that it was a semi-automatic pistol but a high capacity magazine there. It's like a Tommy gun, okay, a factor in how many bullets the killer was able to get off at these cops here.

For a credible anti-crime policy, must cities, Democrats and Republicans, approach it from both those sides, the gun issue and the prosecution issue?

DENT: Absolutely. And, look, I think Congress has been negligent in not dealing with universal background checks on all private sales and cleaning up the mental health system to make sure those people are prevented from those who have been involuntarily committed. Those are also prohibited from purchasing weapons.

But I'll tell you, it's very depressing though to watch the local news in Philadelphia these days, just to see the number. I mean, just in December, a few days before Christmas, a congresswoman is carjacked in South Philly and there's a police officer shot in the shoulder twice, all in the same newscast while there's a high speed chase going on. I mean, this is the reality in these cities.

I have two kids in Philadelphia and a niece there and before the summer of 2020, they felt very safe. But my daughter was assaulted on the street just by some crazed woman, my son was shaken down at a gas station by three guys all wearing uniforms handing over money. I mean, my niece is in a neighborhood where they've been numerous carjackings. I mean, these are the things that -- hey, they're all okay, that's the good news. Bad news is a lot of people are not okay and this is a major issue that needs much more attention than it is needs received. In Philadelphia, if there's a police-involved shooting, you'll see press releases at all sorts of things but not so much if you're a random victim of crime.

SCIUTTO: I hear you. The advice in New York now is like stand behind a column, right, when train the approaching, because you had one fatal, someone pushed in front train fatally and another one thankfully survived more recently, but I hear you on those and I've heard a lot of stories myself.

Charlie Dent, thanks so much for joining us this morning.

DENT: Thank you.

[10:15:00]

SCIUTTO: Still to come this hour, Attorney General Bill Barr is now speaking with House lawmakers investigating the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. What they think he might know specifically about a draft order to have the military seize voting machines.

Plus, in moments, the federal trial begins for three officers accused of violating George Floyd's civil rights. We're going to be live at the courthouse. GOLODRYGA: And a ban on the word, gay. The Florida House just passed a bill forbidding educators from discussing any LGBTQ issues. The latest on a slew of controversial proposals that has Governor Ron DeSantis under fire this morning.

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GOLODRYGA: We have learned that the House committee investigating January 6th is now talking with former Attorney General William Barr. Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson says he intends to ask Barr about a draft of a Trump executive order that would have directed the defense secretary to seize voting machines in battleground states.

SCIUTTO: This is further indication that several former Trump administration officials are cooperating with the panel, even as several others are defying subpoena efforts.

CNN Law Enforcement Correspondent Whitney Wild, she is following the latest. So, Whitney, do we know the substance of these communications between Barr and the January 6 committee?

WHITNEY WILD, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONDENT: We don't yet know the substance but our understanding is these are pretty casual and informal conversations. But what the committee needs from Bill Barr is his assistance in helping build case that everybody in Trump's orbit knew that this idea that the election had been stolen through voting fraud was a total lie. He was instrumental to that because he was out front saying as publicly as possible that there was just no voting fraud that would have overturned the election. It didn't happen.

And so he becomes this very crucial part of the puzzle, and further, because he was at the Department of Justice at this really critical time in the month long period leading up to January 6th when there were people within DOJ who were questioning whether or not there was voter fraud, who were discussing whether or not this should be investigated. Again, DOJ coming to the conclusion that that simply didn't happen.

However, his line of sight on what actually happened leading up to the riot is limited because he left about two weeks before the riot actually happened. However, his date of departure is critical here based on this new information we have over the weekend, which is there was this memo that you discussed earlier that would have directed the Department of Defense to seize the voting machines, the date on that memo, December 16th, about week before Bill Barr left. So, the committee would want to know what does he know about that memo, who wrote it, who saw it, did anybody take it seriously. And for more information on that, let's hear directly from the chairman of the House select committee, Bennie Thompson.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. BENNIE THOMPSON (D-MS): To be honest with you, we've had conversations with the former attorney general already. We've talked to Department of Defense individuals. We are concerned that our military was part of this big lie on promoting that the election was false. So, if you are using the military to potentially seize voting machines even though it's a discussion, the public needs to know.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WILD: Ultimately, I think the fact that we know that the former attorney general has had any conversations, multiple conversations with the House select committee, furthers this idea that this is a legitimate committee that even the former attorney general, who does not do anything he doesn't want to do is giving some level of credence to this investigation. Back to you.

SCIUTTO: No question. Whitney wild, good to have you covering it.

Well, minutes from now, federal trial begins for the former three Minneapolis cops who stood by and watched as Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd. Thomas Lane, Alex Kueng and Tou Thao are accused of violating Floyd's civil rights. It's a federal proceeding.

GOLODRYGA: CNN's Omar Jimenez in St. Paul, Minnesota, this morning. And, Omar, what's at stake for these former officers now?

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, for starters, this is the first trial that the other three former Minneapolis police officers charged in the killing of George Floyd are facing and all of them face a charge that they show that they violated Floyd's civil rights by showing indifference to his serious medical needs back in May of 2020 and two of them, Tou Thao and J. Alexander King, face a charge that they failed to intervene and stop Derek Chauvin.

Now, Chauvin is not a defendant in this particular trial, and that's because he pleaded guilty back last month when all four of them were supposed to be tried together. And so because of that, the judge severed his proceedings from these. And now what we're left with is Tou Thao, J. Alexander King and Thomas Lane have all pleaded not guilty to what they are faced with.

And when you look the juror panel was assembled, you've got 18 jurors here. Six alternates, as the judge indicated. He is concerned about the possibility of a COVID outbreak in the courtroom so he wants a little bit of latitude there, but, notably, not a single black man or woman selected as part of that jury.

Separately, some might be wondering why we're in St. Paul when the main proceedings or the main crux of this case happened in Minneapolis, and that's because, at the federal level, judges are randomly assigned for these particular cases and this one just so happens to be in St. Paul.

[10:25:08]

When the proceedings get under way in just about 30 minutes or so, we're going to hear from these individual attorneys for 30 to 40 minutes in a trial that is expected to last four weeks. Jim, Bianna? GOLODRYGA: of course, you'll be following this trial closely for us. Omar Jimenez in a very cold seemingly St. Paul, Minnesota, for us this morning, thank you.

Well, this just in to CNN, we are closely watching the Dow dropping over 700 points this morning. It's the seventh straight day of losses. The S&P also down to start the week.

SCIUTTO: Down though from that peak around 600 points down, still significant.

Matt Egan has been following that. Tell us what's contributing to the fall this morning.

EGAN: Well, Jim and Bianna, clearly, 2022 is off to a really bad start for Wall Street. And it really is about concerns about inflation and the Federal Reserve's plan to fight inflation. So, as you can see, the Dow down about 600 points, 1.7 percent, down about 700 points not long ago.

And this comes after U.S. stocks suffered their worst week since March 2020. The Nasdaq is on track for its month since 2008 and its worst January on record. And so this is really about how the Fed has telegraphed that they're going to end their bond-buying stimulus program. That program was really bullish for the stock market, essentially forced investors to bet on stocks.

The Fed has also penciled in three interest rate hikes, possibly starting as soon as March, and a lot of people on Wall Street think that that's not going to be enough, that the Fed may actually have to raise interest rates four or five times, I think Jamie Dimon said maybe even six or seven.

And we just have to remember that all the support from the Fed has been so positive for the stock market. So, as it goes away, it makes sense for the market to kind of recalibrate. The question, Jim and Bianna, I think is what will this do to consumer sentiment, because we know that people worry about inflation, and now, if they worried about 401(k) shrinking too, it's clearly going to be a negative.

SCIUTTO: True, no question. Markets go up and down. We'll watch to see if this is consistent. Matt Egans thanks, very much.

EGAN: Thanks.

GOLODRYGA: Well, Still ahead, Dr. Fauci says that he's confident the omicron variant will peak in the U.S. within the next few weeks. But some parts of the country are not out of the woods yet. I'll speak to a doctor in Nebraska who warns against letting your guard down too soon.

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