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Connect the World
The Escalating Radicalization Of American Politics; Brazilian Nurse In Manaus, We Have No Oxygen, People Are Dying; House Speaker To Speak Soon; Pelosi Speaks Amid DC Security Threats, Capitol Siege Fallout; Nancy Pelosi: If Any Congress Members Aided Rioters, "There May Have To Be Actions Taken". Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired January 15, 2021 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fears over renewed attacks in Washington, D.C., have turned the Capitol building into a fortress.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is a major security threat, and we are working to mitigate those threats.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is crazy, and the most extreme I have seen in 16 years.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From January 6th alone, we have already identified over 200 suspects, and if you are out there, the FBI agents are coming to find
you.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN, Abu Dhabi, this is "Connect the World" with Becky Anderson.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: D.C. on alert, Washington now resembling a fortress days out from the inauguration, this hour, we are expecting to
hear from the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi after she historically stamped her gavel on Donald Trump's second impeachment just days ago.
The Senate trial is now expected to start next week after Pelosi sent across the articles of impeachment. Well, President Donald Trump always
wanted a wall, and now he has plenty of them. The American Capitol on alert, and Washington, D.C., is more like a fortress than a citadel of
democracy these days just five days out from President-Elect Joe Biden's inauguration, some 21,000 National Guard troops standing by.
Outside Washington, every state is on edge making plans of their own with the FBI Director warning of extensive online chatter calling for more
violence after the Capitol Hill insurrection. The FBI has identified about 200 rioters and arrested more than 100, and five people died from the riot
last week, but it is becoming increasingly clear that it could have been so much worse.
Federal prosecutors say the rioters wanted to capture and assassinate election officials. Just take a listen to one man who was charged in the
insurrection.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The entire building is full of treasonous people, and death is the only remedy for what is in that building.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, authorities allege he is man seen beating an officer with the pole of an American flag, also today for the first time we are hearing
from the D.C. police officers who were guarding the Capitol during the riot.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL FANONE, DC METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT: And some guy started to get a hold of my gun, and they were screaming out, you know, kill him with
his own gun.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, those words are chilling. Let's get the latest from the arrests. CNN's Justice Correspondent Jessica Schneider connects us to
everything developing out of D.C.
JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: The nation's Capitol is on edge as it braces for potential violence before the inauguration.
Precautions being taken as thousands of National Guard troops flood the streets. The national mall will be closed on inauguration day and a source
tells CNN officials are considering raising the terrorism threat level.
The FBI Director Christopher Wray speaking publicly for first time since the attack on January 6th voicing fears that domestic extremists may have
been emboldened by the attack to carry out more.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTOPHER WRAY, FBI DIRECTOR: We are seeing an extensive amount of concerning online chatter that is the best way I would describe it about a
number of events surrounding inauguration.
SCHNEIDER (voice over): At a briefing with Vice President Mike Pence raises that investigators have made more than 100 arrests and received more than
100,000 digital tips.
WRAY: We have already identified over 200 suspects. So we know who you are, if you are out there and FBI agents are coming to find you.
SCHNEIDER (voice over): One alleged rioter Peter Francis Stager gave his reasoning for the violence that day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That entire building is filled with treasonous traitors and death is the only remedy for what is in that building.
SCHNEIDER (voice over): Federal prosecutors alleged he is the man in this video beating a D.C. Metro police officer with a flagpole. New video has
also emerged showing what appears to be people in tactical gear climbing the steps at the Capitol as rioters chant the national anthem.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, there is no doubt that they were prepared planned and quite intentional so all of this has to be reviewed thoroughly and
publicly and transparently because we cannot let this happen again.
SCHNEIDER (voice over): Prosecutors say former air force reservist Larry Lendl Brock photographed carrying a flex cuff on the Senate floor was
arrested on January 10th, and prosecutors say he may have intended to restrain lawmakers he viewed as enemies. Brock subsequently told "The New
Yorker" magazine he picked the restraint of the ground.
[11:05:00]
SCHNEIDER (voice over): Kevin Seefried (ph) who investigators say waved a confederate flag inside the Capitol was arrested in Delaware along with his
son and charged with entering or remaining on restricted grounds and violent entry or disorderly conduct inside the Capitol.
Robert Sanford identified by prosecutors appearing to throw a fire extinguisher that hit a Capitol police officer on the head was arrested in
Pennsylvania and charged with four counts related to the riot, and Jacob Chancely (ph) who was seen in photos at the Capitol and is also known as
the QAnon Shaman (ph) faces six federal charges.
His attorney says Chancely wants President Donald Trump to pardon him, because his client was only following the president's invitation something
echoed by some of the rioters.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were invited by the President of the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Pete Muntean is standing by near the U.S. Capitol building, sort of - defies belief really when you listen to that reporting, and you are on
the ground, and tells us how law enforcement is planning on keeping this inauguration Wednesday safe.
PETE MUNTEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Becky, we are learning about layer upon layer of security here, and I can show you a little bit of that. You
know this is Pennsylvania Avenue. The parade route between the Capitol and the White House the roadblocks here stretched for miles. This spot
completely deserted. This spot would typically be teaming with people leading up to an inauguration.
Then you encounter the eight-foot tall fence here around the outside of the Capitol. We're also learning it's going in outside of the National Mall and
then beyond that, you can see that the 12-foot tall fence based in concrete here in front of the Capitol.
If anybody got to the other side they would be faced by 20,000 members of the National Guard and then another inner perimeter that we are just
learning of topped with razor wire, and fencing with razor wire at the very center of this, this is going to be an inauguration like no other, and
security here is very, very high, Becky.
ANDERSON: Pete Muntean is in D.C. for us. That is the sort of upshot the concerns about security as a result of what happened on Wednesday? Dozens
of suspects as we have been reporting have been charged for their role in last week's insurrection.
Now we are hearing from some of the police officers who were attacked by rioters and what they have to say and the picture they paint is truly
terrifying. Shimon Prokupecz has their story.
SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In last week's deadly coup attempt at the U.S. Capitol, a pro-Trump mob swarmed the building out numbering
embattling police officers fighting to defend it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FANONE: It was difficult to offer any resistance when you are only about 30 guys going up against 15,000.
MUNTEAN (voice over): D.C. Metro police officer Michael Fanone was in the group of officers at the west front entrance of the Capitol as rioters
forced their way in. They eventually pushed them outside into the crowd where Fanone says he was tasered several times.
FANONE: I remember like the guys were stripping me of my gear, and then some guys started to get a hold of my gun and they were screaming out, you
know, kill him with his own gun. At that point, you know, it is just like self-preservation. You know, how do I survive this situation?
MUNTEAN (voice over): While trapped the 40-year-old says he thought about using his gun to fight back.
FANONE: That would definitely give them the justification that they were looking for to kill me if they already didn't have made that up in their
minds. And so the other option I thought of was, you know to try to appeal to someone's humanity. And I just remembered yelling out that I have kids.
And it seemed to work. Some people in the crowd started to encircle me and try to offer me some level of protection. A lot of people have asked me my
thoughts on the individuals in the crowd that, you know, that helped me or tried to offer some assistance, and I think that kind of the conclusion
that I have come to is like, you know, thank you, but - you for being there.
MUNTEAN (voice over): This horrifying video shows the moment the violent mob storms into a tunnel of the building and trapping and crushing D.C.
metro police officer Daniel Hodges by the door.
DANIEL HODGE, DC METROPOLITAN POLICE OFFICER: There was a guy ripping my mask off and he was able to rip away my baton and beat me with it. And he
was practically foaming at the mouth. So, just these people were true believers in the worst way.
When things were looking bad, obviously I was calling out for all I was worth and an officer behind me was able to give me enough room to pull me
out of there, and they brought me to the rear so I was able to execrate myself.
[11:10:00]
MUNTEAN (voice over): Hodges - leaving the attack without any major injuries saying he was shocked some rioters thought authorities would be on
their side.
HODGES: The cognitive dissidence and the - these people were unreal. You know they were waving - flag and telling us we're not your enemies while
they were attacking us and kill of us.
MUNTEAN (voice over): The insurrection is even using unusual means in their efforts to break into the most secure areas of the U.S. Capitol building.
CHRISTINA LAURY, DC METROPOLITIAN POLICE OFFICER: The individuals were pushing and shoving officers and hitting officers, and they were spraying
us with what we are calling essentially bear mace.
MUNTEAN (voice over): With President-Elect Joe Biden's inauguration just days away, Washington D.C. is on high alert, and Hodges says he hopes any
pro-Trump extremists stay out of the city to avoid another situation like last week's insurrection.
HODGES: Stay home, stop these but you know on the other hand I kind of hope - I hope they are caught, and let's leave it at that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The radicalization of American politics has become one of the most pressing issues that Joe Biden will face. The attack on the Capitol
did not come out of the blue. It was egged on by years of disinformation and conspiracy theories.
QAnon, the proud boys and fringe elements that would barely noticed by most of America, and now part of the fabric of the nation that is being changed
by Trumpism, and my next guest warns that every large political movement started at some point as a small fringe minority and when it catches on it
can engulf the whole society.
Arie Kruglanski is a University of Maryland Professor who has written extensively about political radicalization, and he joins me now, is what we
are seeing now a surprise to you, sir?
ARIE KRUGLANSKI, PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: Not really, because this process as you has pointed out has been evolving, and it has
been unfolding over the last decade in fact. It had several phases.
The first was the general optic, gradual optic in radicalization in the surfacing of various radical groups on the far right, Islamist groups so it
was on both sides. Recently, the four years in the United States witnessed an exit - intensification of this movement promoted both by the pandemic,
and also by encouragement from the president.
And finally, following the election, it came to a head with the idea that the elections were stolen and that something needs to be done, and finally
a date and a place were designated for action, and what we have been witnessing, the horror that we all have been seeing with unfolding on our
TV screens is the ultimate result.
ANDERSON: Let's get real now. Let's identify some characters and talk about why this is happening? I want to show the photos of Former Cleveland, Ohio
teacher Christina Priola (ph) inside the Senate Chambers. She submitted a resignation letter the next day. It read in part and I quote here.
I would be switching parts to expose the global evil of human trafficking and pedophilia including in our own government and children service
agencies, and so this is one of the main tenets of the QAnon conspiracy theory. Is this conspiracy theory now running and let's suggest ruining
people's lives and how does one go from teacher to insurrectionist?
KRUGLANSKI: The QAnon theory is one of the most viral theories that are now gaining popularity and appeal, and others, and there is a Brit David Ike
who is promoting the reptilian over take of world governments. There is of course the white supremacist neo-Nazis series.
There was a variety of series that are now extremely popular and people otherwise reasonable people are caught in those theories, and they believe
in them. So the question is why? And I think that there are three reasons and two of them internal to what the theories have to offer, and the third
having to do with the state of our society.
The theories have to - there is an intimate relationship between the theories and the radicalization.
[11:15:00]
KRUGLANSKI: The theories explain people's anxieties and the people's loss of significance and people's humiliation, and tell them what to do in order
to restore it. So there is a culprit or there is somebody, deep state, the Jews, people of color, the reptilians, pedophiles who are overtaking the
government, overtaking our country.
They need to be fought against, and if you find them and if you join the movement, your significance is going to be restored. So that is very strong
motivating factor for accepting of those theories.
Secondly, these theories make one feel unique and special that you know something that others do not know, and you know the truth whereas others
are misled by the lies propagated by the government, so that is another source of appeal, and finally, there's no alternative.
There has been dissolution of the traditional sources of information in our society, the media, the government, the congress, the Supreme Court, and
all suffered a signs, all suffered a tremendous loss of credibility, so we live in a kind of post-modernist hell where there is no truth, and yet we
need truth in order to live.
We need to believe in something in order to carry out our lives, and so comes this simplistic viral conspiracy theories, and they are believed
because of their appeal, and because of their simplicity.
ANDERSON: Sir, it has been a pleasure talking to you if not quite frightening to hear much of what you are suggesting, it is remarkable. Some
lawmakers now parroting these conspiracy theories and talk of whether this is what America has become revealing itself here?
And clearly Joe Biden will need to talk about some solutions, because if radicalization is a real thing in America, then new Joe Biden
administration has a big, big challenge on its hands. Thank you very much indeed for joining us.
You are hearing a heartbreaking statement from a family of a black man who died in police custody in Belgium. Hundreds of protesters there clash with
police in Brussels Wednesday four days after Ibrahima Barrie's death. More than 100 were arrested and five officers were wounded.
Barrie was detained over the weekend according to prosecutors. The 23-year- old - lost consciousness at a police station and later died at the hospital. Prosecutors have launched an involuntary manslaughter probe, but
a lawyer for Barrie's family says the possible reasons for his death stated by officials do not add up. And now Barrie's sister is describing how she
got the news that her brother is gone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That they arrested him and that he had a stroke. We did not get more information about where he was or how he was. We called
several hospitals, and they said that he died in St. Jan hospital and that his identity card was still there.
We went to collect it, and at the same time they explained what had happened very briefly such as that he had gone into cardiac arrest. That is
all we know.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are shocked. All we want is just justice, we want that and we have nothing more to say. There will be a manifestation soon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Barrie was arrested after he reportedly gathered with a group of other people which would have violated Coronavirus restrictions. You're
watching "Connect the World". I'm Becky Anderson. It is 18 minutes past 8:00 in Abu Dhabi this is a show broadcast from our Middle East
Broadcasting Hub. We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:20:00]
ANDERSON: Well, Jordan's royal court is trying to get people excited about getting the COVID-19 vaccine. The King rolling up his sleeve on Thursday to
instill confidence in the country's vaccine roll out which launched this week, the country has also started giving the vaccine to refugees free of
charge.
Well, an announcement to make the blood run cold now, coming out of Brazil, as COVID-19 ravages its hospitals. The country's Health Minister says that
the health care system in the Amazonian City of Manaus is actually in "Collapse". Adding oxygen is running low, and people are waiting in line
for hospital beds.
Brazil is yet to start a vaccination campaign even though its COVID death toll is the second worst in the world behind only that of the United
States. CNN's Isa Soares was recently in South America reporting from hospitals. There she is connecting with us now from London, Isa?
ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, what we are seeing here in the City of Manaus, the heart of the rain forest as you pointed out there, Becky, is
a health care system in total collapse. I have been speaking to doctors throughout the day today, and many who are simply exhausted by what they
are seeing.
We have seen doctors trying to find oxygen cylinders for their patients, because there is no oxygen in Manaus. The demand the raise in cases is such
Becky, the surge demand for oxygen is up five-fold in the last 15 days in Manaus alone, so what doctors and health professionals have been trying to
do is manually pump air into COVID-19 victims, patients.
Imagine how exhausting and how hard that must be for them? While this is going on, Becky, there is a new variant that has been discovered in Brazil,
and so patients and families of loved ones are traveling throughout the country trying to buy some of oxygen, oxygen cylinders to keep them alive.
Have a listen to what this son had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The only way to save my mother was chasing oxygen. Asking for help from acquaintances and friends, because it was the only way
to let her live. The worst was about to happen to her, and if it weren't for the help of friends, she was not going to be with us anymore.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: There are so many people, Becky, really in mourning, a state of mourning right now, and so many people who have lost loved ones, because of
the lack of oxygen, and so many doctors are telling me that are dying of asphyxiation because of a lack of oxygen.
In the last 24 hours, the Brazilian air force has shipped in some oxygen cylinders and six in total and in terms of weight is roughly 10,000
kilograms of weight, but they have flown out COVID-19 patients who are in very dire states at the moment.
Now, the Health Ministry says that they have not seen a situation in Manaus some like what they saw in the peak back in April when CNN was on the
ground, but many are saying that what the government is doing now trying to step in with the oxygen is simply too late, Becky.
There were three instances of recommendation from authorities asking for a lockdown, and all three were ignored. Take a listen to this health
professional who pleaded on social media for Brazil to act for oxygen cylinders from Manaus.
[11:25:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I ask all of you for mercy. We are in a deplorable situation. The oxygen in one of our health units simply ran out, and there
is no oxygen and a lot of people are dying. If anyone has oxygen available, please bring it to the emergency area.
For the love of God, there are a lot of people dying. Please, share this video and share it to a lot of different place, and please, a lot of people
are dying for the love of God.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Now, in terms of this new variant, Becky, what doctors have been telling me is that it is too early to know whether it is more infectious
than the one that they currently have than the new variant that we have here in the UK, but I can tell you what one doctor told me that he is
seeing patients much younger patients in one hospital in Brazil, and patients are coming in with oxygen saturation of 80 percent within four
hours, they went down to 20 percent Becky.
You have three patients, one man of 25 and another one of 24 and a young woman of 22, and the 25-year-old has died in the last 24 hours. He says the
young lady of 22-years of age will surely die, too, because of the lack of oxygen. Becky.
ANDERSON: So unnecessary Isa, thank you important reporting from Isa Soares. Let's get you up to speed on some of the other stories that are on
our radar right now. Almost half of Ireland's total COVID-19 cases have now been reported in the last two weeks. That means one in 67 people have
tested positive since the New Year.
Ireland has more than 163,000 confirmed cases - until last month had one of the lowest levels in Europe. Germany also struggling to contain its
outbreak reporting a record day of COVID deaths, more than 1,200 people died of the virus in Germany on Thursday pushing the country's death toll
past 44,000, and starting Saturday, all of France is being put under a curfew from 6:00 in the evening to 6:00 in the morning for 15 days.
Parts of the country had already been under curfew to fight the spread of Coronavirus, official says the outbreak is under control in France but they
want to avoid harsher measures they say down the road. You are watching "Connect the World." I'm Becky Anderson more after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, the Capitol of the most powerful nation on earth on high alert. Thousands of National Guard Troops patrolling Washington D.C. not
protecting it from some foreign adversary or sleeper cell, it's now awakening but from homegrown terrorists threatening violence around Joe
Biden's inauguration.
[11:30:00]
ANDERSON: Crews working to erect giant fences outside the Capitol building. The National Mall the place where people gather in the shadow of the
Capitol and the Washington Memorial now locked down. Inauguration rehearsal set for this weekend has also been postponed.
All of this comes after last week's insurrection, and at least 100 people have been arrested. Some 200 have been identified. In just a few minutes we
expect U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to talk at her weekly news conference. This is comes just two days after the House impeached President
Donald Trump for the second time.
The Senate will now take up the issue and put Mr. Trump on trial. We will join Nancy Pelosi when she begins to speak. Our next guest says that the
biggest test at the moment is not about Trump, but it is whether the Republican Party will assume serious responsibility for keeping the peace
in the coming days.
CNN Political Analyst David Gergen joins us now from Massachusetts. David, if they are to succeed, what do they need to do in order to ensure the
peace in the next coming days?
DAVID GERGEN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, it would be extremely helpful if Republicans across the board were to speak up and to ask their
demonstrators to stay home, to make it peaceful, and also, I think that if they would be willing to say that Joe Biden actually is the legitimate
president that would help a lot.
But on both fronts, Becky, I am afraid that the Republican Party has been disappointing. It has not seized the moment to really, and I think it is in
some peril as a party, but it does show you as we look ahead to the impeachment trial for Donald Trump that there were 10 brave souls on the
Republican side who voted against Trump.
But 95 percent, 95 percent of all of the Republicans in the House of Representatives voted in favor of Trump on the impeachment 95 percent. So
you can see how much of an uphill fight it may be in the Senate where the Democrats would need to get at least 17 Republican Senators on board and
that is going to be a tough, tough task for the Democrats.
ANDERSON: In order to try and ensure some peace, some peace ahead of inauguration and some peace post inauguration, and at the beginning of Joe
Biden's time in office, does a Senate trial at this point help or hinder, David?
GERGEN: Becky, it is an unknown. We are not certain at this moment. It is going to, if they fall short, well short of the 17, I think it is going to
be a problem for the Biden Presidency to mesh the whole effort to get Trump. And I think play into Trump's hands.
So, yes, I think it bears some risk. The other issue is that Nancy Pelosi would be addressing I'm sure momentarily is when this trial actually take
place? Is she going to push it back several weeks to allow Joe Biden to get his various nominees through the confirmation process which is so vital in
order to get up and get running as an administration early on? Is she going to put it off?
But if she puts it off too far, then the tempers cool, it may be a lot harder to convict frankly I think as time goes on. I may be wrong about
that, but I think that's probably true. And so it is a hard choice for Nancy Pelosi.
And in many ways, you can see how Joe Biden is already struggling? He gave a major speech on the economy last night, big, big speech; $1.9 trillion
plan to rescue us from the pandemic, and mostly aimed at the pandemic and big, big deal.
Well, it played - it had to compete against the Trump story in every regard, and today, the Biden story is actually a second or the third
division, and the Trump story is overshadowing everything. That makes it very difficult for Biden to govern and to come out.
What you want to do as president is to use that inaugural address as a springboard to action and rally the country behind you to get to the other
side to cooperate with you to get some things done, and in this case when we have so many new crises, there would be a new Franklin Roosevelt.
We need someone a president who can take on crises and battle them with the country behind him that is going to be hard for Joe Biden the longer this
Trump story hangs around.
[11:35:00]
ANDERSON: And a CNN op-ed David you wrote, and I quote Trump's greatest strength is perhaps his ability to convince large swathes of people that
what is true is false what is false is true. There are many in the Republican Party who bid to do the same even if Trump is out of office.
There are still plenty of congress people with fake news rhetoric.
That is something that Joe Biden will face as he comes into office. How difficult is that is going to be, to stamp out? It is part of the lexicon
these days.
GERGEN: Becky, it is such a good question. Listen, Donald Trump has injected enormous amount of poison into our political system, and one of
the biggest things, and I think it is the most dangerous thing he has done is that he has undermined faith in the election process, and convinced so
many people on the right that Joe Biden is an illegitimate president.
As long as it hangs out there, it is very difficult for Biden to govern, and to amass say 55 percent or 65 percent support for his domestic
initiatives or for his foreign policy initiatives, and so it would help so much if he Republicans would back away from this, but frankly and I hate to
make this analogy or this comparison, but frankly what we are going through on this big lie that he is, Biden is illegitimate?
What we are going through is similar to what Germany went through after the first World War I and with the big lie that Germany had lost the war not on
the battlefield, but because the people back home, the Jews in particular pulled the rug out from under the German forces and it was stabbing the
back as it was called.
That stabbing the back laid the ground work for the rise of Hitler. And it was - he would have become leader he was where it not for this big lie that
survived so long. So I think for those of us in the United States the fear is this big liable process. And it will be really hard to cleanse our
system from.
And I think that - it is just not good news for America, we're going to make it. We're going to get through with this but it's going to be a tough
uphill fight.
ANDERSON: And disturbingly, your analysis is so insightful, disturbingly, we are now learning more and more about the radicalization online of those
who have supported this sort of this big lie, and that not going to go away, and we were speaking to a radicalization expert who says that, you
know, things that these sort of things start as small groups, and these things grow and they can be so, so big and painful going forward.
I just wonder, and there were many people around the world who have heard from Americans and about America that this is not America, and this is not
who we are, and yet there are it seems, and enough people beginning to say, is this not America revealed at that point, it is, David?
GERGEN: I think that there is more than one America. And what we are seeing is a piece of America, but we also saw a piece of America down in Georgia
in the State of Georgia, the southern state known for the segregation for centuries voted for a black man to send him to the Senate that is also
America.
So you can't, and I don't think that we have a coherent America anymore, and what we have is a divided America, and we have a populous brand of
politics that is growing up in one part of our electorate, and somebody in Europe who are also keeping an eye on that and far-right in Europe has
become so popular in places like Hungry and elsewhere.
And at the same time I think the redeeming side of America where in the marches, this summer and in the last few months on racial equity, you saw a
lot of white kids out there; you saw a lot of white Americans marching in solidarity with the black Americans.
So I just think we have to be aware of - there are competing factions in the country now, it is not clear which faction is going to prevail, but I
do think that we do have a problem of in-built racism and we have a problem of sort of hooliganism that is coming out.
We learn today prosecutors are saying the day about this insurrection and the march on Capitol Hill, and storming Capitol Hill, they have found that
many of the people who were in those insurrections, and in those moments they came to quote to capture and to assassinate.
People were actively looking for Nancy Pelosi. She was hiding from those forces. They almost got to her. They wanted to shoot her.
[11:40:00]
GERGEN: So when she comes out today, think about it in that context and that is why so many Democrats are so angry, because they literally thought
they came to end their lives. And there were people calling their wives that afternoon and saying honey I'll never see you again, I'm afraid.
ANDERSON: To capture and assassinate lawmakers was one of their calls. You have been identifying thank you, David. And in fact, we're going to stop
this interview now, because Nancy Pelosi is now in front of the microphone, and let's listen in.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): --to celebrate and observe Martin Luther King Day Monday, today is actually Reverend Martin Luther King's birthday and as we
observe it in this extraordinary time, it is important to remember his words and all of them so appropriate at one time or another.
Today I remember him saying that true peace is not merely the absence of tension, it is the presence of justice. I particularly am drawn to that
phrase, because one of my favorites that I have in my office is Pope Paul XVI. He said "If you want peace, work for justice."
The connection is very clear. Justice is called for as we address the act of insurrection that was perpetrated against the Capitol complex last week.
Right now our managers are solemnly and prayerfully preparing for trial which they will take to the Senate.
At the same time, we are in transition. With the COVID relief package President-Elect Biden announced last night, he is delivering on what he
said when he was elected. Help is on the way. His plan makes big bold urgent action building on some of our democratic initiatives in the last
congress including an increase in direct payments to $2,000, vaccine distribution and testing support in a fair and equitable way of addressing
the disparities and access.
Additional aid for small businesses and funding for state government to protect our hero's jobs, extension of unemployment benefits, help for
renters for food insecure people and for our children
As the last jobs report of the Trump Administration shows the need could not be more urgent. Moody Analytics says this morning they say that this
package, the rescue and recovery package put forth by Joe Biden last night, this package will take us to full employment by 2021 one full year earlier
than it would occur without it 2021 versus 2022, one full year earlier.
In five days Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in as President and Vice President of the United States. Following the attack last week on the
Capitol complex, there has been unprecedented mobilization of security in the Capitol.
I want to express gratitude to our Capitol police, to the National Guard who are present here to protect our democracy. They have shown great
courage. Very proud of them and I was honored to be able to extend gratitude to them in person on behalf of the congress.
We must subject this whole complex to scrutiny in light of what happened and the fact that the inauguration is coming. To that end I have asked
Retired Lieutenant General Russel Honore to lead an immediate review of security infrastructure inters agency processes and command and control.
The general is a respected leader with experience dealing with crises. As a Former Vice Director of Port Operations J-3 with the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
his focus was military support to civilian authorities.
[11:45:00]
PELOSI: Military support to civilian authorities, and he has experience with the National Capitol Regions Security. House leadership has worked
with General Honore seen up close and person of his excellent leadership at the time of Katrina, particularly - was the head of our Katrina task force.
So he and I and others know how fortunate we are that the general has accepted of is willing to do this?
The members are moving forward with strong oversight committees of course to have after action review, there is strong interest in the congress in a
9/11 type commission and outside commission to conduct that after action review.
In the meantime, I'm very grateful to General Honore for taking on this responsibility. I find this to be a very emotional time as I said to the
members. We are very passionate to our reaction to this assault on our democracy, on this temple to democracy, and we are very passionate about
our reaction, but we must be very dispassionate in how we make decisions to go forward for security, security, security.
As I see many of the film and the incitement of it all by the President of the United States, but as you see the film, one figure of so many
disgusting images, but one figure of a man in a shirt with Auschwitz on it, Auschwitz - this January one year ago I had the privilege of bringing a
delegation in January to the - museum of the holocaust in Israel to join heads of state, and I came as head of this congress to observe the 75th
anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
On the way to Israel, I brought the delegation to Auschwitz and Birkenau probably one of the most transformative national security visits that we
have - all of our travel outside the country is about our national security and so was that. To see the dehumanizing of people that was perpetrated
there was so, so overwhelming.
To see this punk with that shirt on and his anti-Semitism that he has bragged about, to be part of a white supremacist raid on this Capitol
requires us to have an after action review to assign responsibility to those who were part of organizing it, and incentivizing it.
In the meantime, we are grateful to General Honore for making some recommendations to us in how we can keep our members safe, our staff safe.
The people who make the building function, our custodians and the rest who had to clean up after this insurrectionist mob but security.
We take an oath to protect and defend the constitution, our democracy, and that is what we will do. And we will protect all of those who are here to
honor their oath of office, questions? Yes, ma'am?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: --a couple of things. Is there any update on the - on when you might send the articles of impeachment to the Senate, and also
when the House might take up President-Elect Joe Biden's recovery package?
PELOSI: Well, we can start with that. We are very pleased with what the vice president put forth last night. I'm eagerly awaiting some of the
particulars of the vaccine proposal that will come out this afternoon because this is a matter of complete urgency.
[11:50:00]
PELOSI: As the vice president said last night, this administration, the Trump Administration handled the distribution of the vaccine in a very
disappointing way. And he used stronger language. But now we have to move on and do it in the right way. That will require resources which will
require legislation.
How it will be done effectively we'll know more about. I have some idea about it, because we have made suggestions in that regard, but I think that
the message of last night, and later today from the vice president will be a message of hope to encourage people to again when they are, and it is
appropriate for them to receive the vaccine to do so.
But as was said, as will be said, it is not just about the vaccine, but it is about testing and distancing, and all of the rest as we go forward so
that we can crush the virus which is what we must do, crush the virus to open our schools and our businesses, honor our heroes who are on the front
line of this our health care workers and our police and fire first responders.
The transportation, sanitation, food workers, our teachers, and the teachers and the teachers and put money in the pockets of the American
people. So that the lives and the livelihood of American people are addressed so we're hoping that we can work in a bipartisan way as we go
forward.
In terms of the timing of what as I mentioned - one week ago on January 6th, there was an active insurrection perpetrated on the Capitol of the
United States incentivized by the President of the United States. One week later, Wednesday to Wednesday, that president was impeached in a bi-
partisan way by the House of Representatives.
So urgent was the matter that now we are working on the taking this to trial, and you will be the first to know when we announce that we are going
over there. Yes, ma'am?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Madam Speaker, a number of the House Democrats are talking about an investigation that are going on, and number of the House
Democrats have signed a letter to the Sergeant-of-Arms at the Capitol police asking about - asking him to look into GOP members - tours through
the Capitol on January 5th.
What would you like to see done in that investigation and is there a time line or any action that may be taken towards members who did bring - in the
Capitol before January 6th?
PELOSI: When we are talking about security we have to talk about truth and trust. In order to serve here with each other we must trust that people
have respect for their oath of office. Respect for this institution. We must trust each other respecting the people who sent us here.
We must also have the truth and when and that will be looked into the - if in fact it is found that members of congress were accomplices to this
insurrection, if they aided and abetted the crime, there may have to be actions taken beyond the congress in terms of prosecution for that. Yes,
sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are seeing extraordinary security measures around the Capitol and around the district, and I am just wondering about your level
of comfort around the district?
PELOSI: Let me just say and thank you for the question. As a member of the committee that prepares for inauguration, for a long time now, weeks, it
has been determined that we would have a very small inauguration because of COVID.
That in order to have the distancing, and the rest, on the platform and then some people down below, it would be necessary to limited, and I don't
know if they have publicly released the numbers, so I won't, but a very small number of people, and tiny percentage of the people participated
before.
Most disappointing, because obviously, we are excited about nominating a new President of the United States, but not at the risk of people's health
and well-being and indeed their lives, so this is always going to be small. Now with the insurrection of last week, it is necessitated by having more
security, but it has not changed the nature of the swearing in.
[11:55:00]
PELOSI: I think it is important for people to know that this is not a concession to the terrorists. It is recognition of the danger of COVID. So,
again, I am in close touch, and I will be again for like the third time in two days with the Secretary of the Army, and I spoke with the head of the
secret service last night, and we all want to be sure that the requests that are made by the Capitol police are being honored by those who are in a
position to meet the needs.
They, again, it is depends on the intelligence and we have to have more, more security than the intelligence might warrant I think in this case,
redundancy maybe necessary. Not too much but enough.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Madam Speaker--
PELOSI: Yes, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: First of all, the Republicans are saying that as far as the metal detectors are concerned, the danger on January 6th came from
the outside and not the inside, and secondly, as far as the speaker's lobby is concerned, totally different issue, when can we expect that to be open
for us, and will it be when the pandemic ends, and when do you see that happening?
PELOSI: It won't be one minute before it is safe to do so from a COVID and a security standpoint or one minute later than that. Yes, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Madam Speaker, representative's subcommittee will be--
PELOSI: I am sorry?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Will Representative Ryan's Subcommittee will be investigating the Capitol police?
PELOSI: Ryan, can Ryan? The legislative branch of the appropriation committee, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At the very minimum, what would you like to see in reforms of the U.S. Capitol police especially in light of the allegations
of the members of the caucus of the institutional racism within the police force and more so maybe even collusion in the insurrection and what reforms
would you like to see?
PELOSI: Well, the investigation is essential. That has to come first, but there will be in addition to Mr. Chairman Ryan's branch committee, we have
Homeland Security Committee, we have issues that relate to intelligence from judiciary and intelligence committee and we have the Armed Services
Committee, and so there'll be a full, and the committees will be doing their oversight in many different ways and of course the appropriations
committee and the oversight committee have overarching responsibility.
Again, the investigation will tell us what we need to know to have truth that we can trust the system that we have here, and it is - it is so sad.
Imagine that like ten days ago as I said, we really lost our innocence in this, because we always prepare to protect and defend from all enemies
foreign, but the constitution also says is and domestic and now we have to protect ourselves from enemies domestic. How close within, the
investigation will let us know.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: --and are you considering withholding the article indefinitely?
JOHN KING, CNN HOST: I'm John King in Washington, and welcome from our viewers in United States and around the world. And you are watching the
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi leaving the room, a news conference room - several headlines out of it many related to last week's insurrection at
the United States Capitol connected to concerns and heightened security for next week's inauguration of Joe Biden as the next President of the United
States.
The Speaker also taking questions about the next stage of the impeachment drama here in Washington and the House of course has impeached Donald Trump
for the second time. President Trump for the second time, the Speaker said she had no update on when the House Mangers would carry the article of
impeachment over to the Senate and push for a trial?
She said that was still TBD. As we head now gain in this remarkable period of time, five days and so Joe Biden takes the oath of office, Donald Trump
in his final days a city, capitol city here in Washington fortified.
Now let's begin our conversation with CNN's Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash. Remarkable to hear the Speaker, number one, she said they are
asking Retired Army Lieutenant General Russel Honore, many Americans might remember him just after the Katrina. He had a large role in New Orleans,
getting security the apparatus back up in New Orleans post Katrina.
He worked on the Joint Chiefs of Staff that he will lead an investigation what went wrong? How did those rioters so easily get into the United States
Capitol? And she also said it is a legitimate question for her, and she wants answers, and some of her democratic members have raised concerns that
Republican members of congress actually gave torus to some of the insurrectionist the day before.
END
