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Erin Burnett Outfront
Biden On Gov. Cuomo: I Think He Should Resign; Investigators Conclude Gov. Cuomo Sexually Harassed 11 Women; Biden Joins House Speaker And Other Top Dems Calling On Gov. Cuomo To Resign; Interview With Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY); Biden Admin Announces New Limited Eviction Moratorium; Interview With Dr. Anthony Fauci; Fourth Police Officer Who Defended The Capitol Dies By Suicide. Aired 7-8p ET
Aired August 03, 2021 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: The number, there you see it, 800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741741.
"ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT" starts right now.
ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: OUTFRONT next, the breaking news, President Biden says New York Governor Andrew Cuomo should resign after a damning report revealing a pattern of sexual harassment. But tonight the Governor, defiant.
Plus, the President just announcing a new eviction moratorium until October and we're going to talk to the single mother of three who is about to lose her apartment and Congresswoman Cori Bush who protested by sleeping on the steps of the Capitol and has been widely credited with getting the White House to act.
And also tonight, Dr. Anthony Fauci joins me after his boss issues confusing guidance about parents wearing masks around their children. Let's go OUTFRONT.
And good evening. I'm Erin Burnett.
OUTFRONT tonight the breaking news, resign. President Biden telling Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York, a longtime friend and ally to step down after an investigation by the State Attorney General found Cuomo engaged in a widespread pattern of sexual harassment against 11 women violating state and federal law.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Back in March you said that if the investigation confirmed the allegations against Gov. Cuomo, then he should resign. So will you now call on him to resign given the investigators said the 11 women were credible.
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I stand by that statement.
COLLINS: Are you now calling on him to resign?
BIDEN: Yes.
COLLINS: And if he doesn't resign, do you believe he should be impeached and removed from office?
BIDEN: Let's take one thing at a time here. I think he should resign.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Making it clear, I think he should resign says President Biden. His call adding major pressure on Cuomo tonight. Cuomo also facing pressure growing calls today from his fellow Democrats to resign, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and virtually the entire New York congressional delegation. All of them now calling on him to step aside.
And the Attorney General's report was clear that on repeated instances, Cuomo sexually harassed women, including running the palm of his left hand across the stomach of a state trooper assigned to protect him toward her hip, which she said made her feel quote completely violated. Touching and grabbing the private parts of an executive assistant and making sexually suggestive comments to multiple women. All of that found to have occurred. Yet, tonight Gov. Cuomo defiant resisting calls to resign and slamming the investigation and its findings.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D) NEW YORK: The facts are much different than what has been portrayed. I want you to know directly from me that I never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances. Politics and bias are interwoven throughout every aspect of this situation. One would be naive to think otherwise and New Yorkers are not naive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: So Paul even went so far as to show a gallery of pictures of himself to counter a New York Times story that showed him touching and kissing a woman at a wedding to show that quote, I want to make sure you understand, I am quoting the Governor of New York here, "I do it with everyone."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CUOMO: I do it with everyone, black and white, young and old, straight and LGBTQ, powerful people, friends, strangers, people who I meet on the street. After the event, the woman told the press that she took offense at the gesture. And for that, I apologize. Another woman stated that I kissed her on the forehead at our Christmas party and that I said, "Ciao bella."
Now, I don't remember doing it, but I'm sure that I did. I do kiss people on the forehead. I do kiss people on the cheek.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: All right. Let's just be clear here. That's completely tone- deaf on one level. He's not being accused of being friendly and saying to people ciao bella when he gives them a kiss at a wedding. He's not and he knows that. OK. He's being accused of inappropriately groping and touching multiple women, including grabbing people's private parts. That's what he's being accused of not ciao bella and that's not behavior that he should 'do with everyone'.
[19:05:04]
Kaitlan Collins is OUTFRONT at the White House to begin our coverage tonight. And Kaitlan, when you asked your question of President Biden, he obviously knew that was going to come, but he was clear. It's time for Cuomo to resign.
So from your reporting, what went into the President's decision and what happens because you then went there with your question about impeachment, what happens if Cuomo doesn't do it?
COLLINS: Well, yes, Erin, we knew that President Biden had seen the coverage of this today. He was aware of the results of this investigation that came out and just several hours before he was scheduled to speak to reporters. Because actually when reporters saw him earlier in the day he said he would answer questions on this later.
So yes, he was prepared for these questions on Gov. Cuomo. He stood by the comments he made several months ago to ABC that if this investigation did confirm those accusations of those women and found them to be credible, which the investigators said it did, then he would call on him to resign, which he did today, which is striking given just the political alliance that they had formed back in 2015 and what had emanated from that.
But he did stop short of saying whether or not he believed that he should be removed from office if he doesn't resign. Of course, we saw Gov. Cuomo come out in that video and did not sound like he was resigning. And so that's I think a big question facing New Yorkers is whether or not they are going to move to try to remove him from office and so that remains to be seen.
What we do know is that President Biden has not read this report yet. He just said that he knew the end result of the investigation and that's what went into his decision earlier today. And Erin, he also said he has not spoken to Gov. Cuomo today about this decision.
I mean, it seems incredibly unlikely that they would speak going forward now that he has called on him to resign. But this just came as this really cascade of a response from the White House where you were seeing White House aides like the Press Secretary Jen Psaki saying that they were listening to what those investigators were saying earlier today, and they found it to be abhorrent.
You didn't see President Biden use those words, but as you were showing that slideshow of Gov. Cuomo saying that these were other embraces he had had with people. President Biden was also featured in that. The two of them with President Biden's arms on his shoulder.
And I asked President Biden earlier today if he thinks those are at all in any way could be compared. And of course he said that he did not believe they could and he was one of the last high profile allies of Gov. Cuomo to call on him to resign.
BURNETT: All right. Certainly a long relationship and he waited until that report came out but he stood by his word. Thank you very much, Kaitlan.
So here's the question you may have as you watch this as what else did the Attorney General's investigation find. For that, Paula Reid is OUTFRONT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA REID, CNN SENIOR LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT(voice over): Tonight, the New York Attorney General's Office says Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women and violated federal and state laws.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LETITIA JAMES, NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL: The investigation found that Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually harass current and former New York State employees by engaging in unwelcome and non-consensual touching and making numerous offensive comments of a suggestive and sexual nature that created a hostile work environment for women.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
REID (voice over): Investigators concluded the Governor sexually harassed 11 women, including a New York State Trooper assigned to his protection.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNE CLARK, SDNY SPECIAL PROSECUTOR: In an elevator while standing behind the Trooper, he ran his finger from her neck down her spine and said, "Hey, you." Another time she was standing holding the door open for the governor. As he passed, he took his open hand and ran it across her stomach from her belly button to where the hip where she keeps her gun. She told us that she felt completely violated to have the Governor touch her as she put it between her chest and her privates.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
REID (voice over): Another accuser described similar inappropriate touching.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLARK: On November 16, 2020 in the executive mansion, the Governor hugged executive assistant number one and reached under her blouse to grab her breast. There were also several occasions on which the Governor grabbed her butt.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
REID (voice over): The report states we also conclude that the executive chamber's culture - one filled with fear and intimidation, while at the same time normalizing the Governor's frequent flirtations and gender-based comments contributed to the conditions that allowed the sexual harassment to occur and persist." Cuomo was quick to respond denying the allegations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CUOMO: I want you to know directly from me that I never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances. I am 63 years old. I've lived my entire adult life in public view. That is just not who I am and that's not who I have ever been.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
REID (voice over): The allegations against Cuomo ramped up earlier this year when Charlotte Bennett, a former aide, alleged that Cuomo had asked her questions about her sex life during a June 2020 conversation in the state capitol.
[19:10:06]
She also hinted at a pattern of retaliation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NORAH O'DONNELL, CBS EVENING NEWS ANCHOR: Do you believe that he was propositioning you?
CHARLOTTE BENNETT, FORMER AIDE TO GOV. CUOMO: Yes.
O'DONNELL: For what?
BENNETT: Sex.
He sexually harassed me. I am not confused. It is not confusing. I am living in reality and it's sad to see that he's not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
REID (voice over): Tonight, Bennett says Cuomo must resign. Cuomo addressed Bennett personally in his remarks today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CUOMO: I did ask her questions I don't normally ask people. I did ask her how she was doing and how she was feeling, but I was wrong. I have heard Charlotte and her lawyer and I understand what they are saying, but they read into comments that I made and draw inferences that I never meant.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
REID (on camera): Investigators spoke with nearly 200 people in the course of this investigation, many within the Governor's inner circle, including his brother, CNN Anchor Chris Cuomo. Now, the New York Attorney General says she is not referring Cuomo for criminal prosecution, but the District Attorney in Albany confirmed today he is conducting a criminal investigation into Cuomo's conduct. He says he'll be requesting materials obtained by the Attorney General and says he welcomes any victim to contact his office with additional information, Erin.
BURNETT: All right. Paula, thank you very much. One of the first to call for Cuomo his resignation with a lot (inaudible) criminal versus civil issue will be with me in just a moment. I want to go now, though, to Karen Hinton. She is one of the women who accused Gov. Cuomo of inappropriate conduct and is mentioned in the Attorney General's report which says and I quote of you, Karen.
"Karen Hinton, an associate of the Governor from the time that the Governor was Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, has spoken publicly and told us about an incident in December 2000 when the Governor embraced her in a hotel room in a way that felt overly close and intimate."
Karen, thank you very much for coming on and speaking tonight. So now we have this report, Attorney General's report, finding that Cuomo harassed 11 women, violated federal and state law. Were you surprised when you heard this? Do you feel vindicated tonight?
KAREN HINTON, ACCUSED CUOMO OF INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT; SPOKE TO PROSECUTORS IN PROBE: I was surprised at the details in the report. I was certainly surprised about the State Trooper and felt really badly about that whole situation.
But I'm not shocked, because this is a man I've known for 25 years or more and this is the kind of behavior that he has shown me and other women throughout that time. And I've been in politics for 45 years or more and I've certainly seen sexual harassment in other situations, even from the time I was a teenager till now.
But Andrew Cuomo is the master of the art of this kind of behavior. And it's something that shows his pattern of behavior over time. So in a way, no, I'm not that shocked.
BURNETT: So he was defined defending his behavior and I played the sound bite moments ago when he tried to say this was all sort of like just kissing someone in the forehead at a wedding and saying ciao bella. His quote was, "I do it with everyone." And then he put pictures up and he slowed down his cadence. And he said, black and white, young and old, straight and LGBTQ, powerful people, friends and strangers. I do it with everyone. What was your reaction when you heard that defense from the Governor today?
HINTON: I think it's a typical way that men who are accused of sexual behavior often respond. They tried to blame the victim and take no responsibility for their own behavior, their own mistakes. And this is something that is very true of Andrew Cuomo in the time that I've known him. He always never takes accountability for what he's done wrong, for what he said wrong and for what he's done wrong. And so this is just one more step in that direction and it really is time for this type of behavior to stop. BURNETT: So you talk about knowing him for 25 years. Today when he was
speaking, he also said something when he was talking about complaints about his work environment, being hostile. He turned the tables and tried to make it about defending women and women who are accused. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CUOMO: Now, a number of complaints target female managers which smacks to me of a double standard. First, when have you ever seen male managers maligned and villainized for working long hours or holding people accountable or for being tough?
[19:15:07]
A strong male manager is respected and rewarded. But a strong female manager is ridiculed and stereotyped. It is a double standard, it is sexist and it must be challenged.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: So it comes out today as a champion of women managers unfairly accused of being too tough.
HINTON: Well, what I really want to say is not just for women to speak out, be tough, be a tough manager, but for men to act right. It's just not that hard to treat women with respect and that's what's lacking here. He's not treating women with respect. He's not treating them as professionals and that's all these 11 women want, is respect, to be treated like a professional and to not be allowed to be consensual sexual overtures.
And an Attorney General should not have to tell Andrew Cuomo that's wrong. He knows that's wrong. And I think it's obvious from the details of the report and what people have said, people in powerful positions have said in the last four or five hours that the book on the Cuomo era is coming to a close and he just needs to accept that and resign or you'll be impeached.
BURNETT: All right. Karen, thank you very much. I appreciate your time.
And now I want to go to Democratic Congresswoman Kathleen Rice from New York, because she called on Gov. Cuomo to resign back in March. In fact, she was the first New York Democrat in Congress to do so. And you stepped up, Congresswoman, and you did it first.
So tonight Gov. Cuomo says he's not going anywhere. How long do you think he can hold on, given now that you've got almost your entire delegation on board, Pelosi on board, President Biden has now called on him to resign, can he hold on?
REP. KATHLEEN RICE (D-NY): Well, I think if you're talking about all of us mere mortals, most people in that position would do the right thing and resign. But the Governor is living in his own world. For him to say the things that he did today and to be as defiant as he was, to victim blame, to gaslight America, to criticize people for criticizing his female managers for being tough bosses, that's not why they were being criticized.
The executive women in executive positions around him were rightly being criticized, because they aided and abetted him in creating this hostile environment that allowed this sexual harassment to go on for too long. There are two takeaways.
I think the biggest takeaways from the report and that is, number one, that the Governor of the State of New York is a serial sexual abuser, harasser. And the second takeaway is that he himself surrounded by people who helped him created such a hostile work environment that this was allowed to go on for some time. And that alone, those two things alone are enough of a reason for him to resign.
BURNETT: Well, I mean, it is amazing how long when they look at this did go on. So I want to ask you in your now capacity as a former district attorney, because this was a civil investigation, and it was not a criminal, perhaps, yet, but from what you see here, do you think Gov. Cuomo could be in criminal jeopardy?
RICE: So as the Attorney General stated there are really two tracks that this report can take by the relevant agencies that may be looking into these reports. The first is a civil right of action that I think all of the 11 victims could potentially have. And the other path is a potentially criminal one that either the Albany District Attorney could do. There was some statement today that they were looking at the report.
That's going to be for those individual agencies and those individual people to decide. But this whole thing was never about is this going to turn into a crime. In very few instances, Erin, you know this very well other than the Harvey Weinsteins or the Bill Cosbys, very rarely are sexual abusers held to account in the criminal justice system. Certainly people in positions of power like Gov. Cuomo.
[19:20:03]
And that is why it's so important for every single New Yorker to look at the report, read the report, commend every single victim who came forward in very difficult circumstances against an incredibly powerful and vindictive man and tell the truth, speak truth to power, and that's why it's important for people in my position to do the same.
BURNETT: Yes. Well, it's really important because women can relate to the insidious demeaning of casual sexual harassment and perhaps I could be more eloquent in how I'm saying it. But the insidious demeaning of casual sexual harassment, that kind of that touch, that inappropriateness, that thing that makes you feel small or only valued because of being a woman. People can relate to that and it's unacceptable.
And now you have the Governor, there's an impeachment investigation. I don't know if you heard our Kaitlan Collins asked President Biden who called on Cuomo to resign that if that impeachment move forward, should he be removed, does he support that impeachment. Where do you think this goes? I mean, how important is President Biden's call to Gov. Cuomo? Because they do go way back.
RICE: They do go way back, so I think that makes it significant in and of itself. But remember that President Biden is the titular head of the Democratic Party in this country. The Governor here might be the top Democrat in this State, but President Biden is the top Democrat in the country and that carries an enormous amount of weight.
Now, I don't know what the assembly is going to do. I hope, I hope for this State's sake and for the victims sake, that the Governor will do the right thing, will have some modicum of compassion for these women and concern for every single New Yorker who is going through tough times right now of trying to come out of this pandemic and do the right thing and step down. That's what he needs to do.
But in the absence of that, I do hope that the assembly will take up the impeachment process. Where that goes, I do not know. But if Gov. Cuomo is not going to act, he needs to be held accountable and it seems to me that the assembly, his legislators in the State are the ones to do it.
BURNETT: All right. Thank you very much, Congressman Rice. I appreciate your time.
RICE: Thank you.
BURNETT: And next, a desperate mother you met here last night worried like many Americans about the looming threat of eviction.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DASHA KELLY, FAMILY FACING EVICTION: There was a TV right here on top of this stand, so I had to pawn that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Could she and millions of others be saved by a new eviction ban? Dasha Kelly is my guest.
And President Biden rips Florida and Texas for their growing COVID case rates and leaders who still oppose masks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: If you aren't going to help, at least get out of the way. People are trying to do the right thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: And Dr. Anthony Fauci is my guest.
Plus, Congressional Gold Medals today for officers who defended the Capitol on January 6th as a fourth officer who responded to the insurrection dies by suicide. A longtime partner of befallen Capitol Police Officer who also responded to the riot that day is OUTFRONT tonight.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:27:04]
BURNETT: Breaking news, the Biden administration announcing a new 60- day federal eviction moratorium in areas where there is a high or substantial spread of Coronavirus, which is a welcome and desperately needed relief for millions of Americans in fear of losing their homes after the moratorium expired. Including my next guest, a mother of three young children who lost her job after the casino she worked in shut down due to Coronavirus and then fell months behind on rent. Here's a bit of her story that we brought to you last night.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KELLY: You guys honestly freaked me out when you knocked this morning. I'm not going to lie because I'm really thinking they're coming at any moment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NICK WATT, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Key's pawned or sold nearly everything she had.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KELLY: I had a bit right here. There was a TV right here on top of this stand, so I had to pawn that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATT (voice over): This is the girls' room.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KELLY: They used to have their bed right here and they used to have a little chester (ph).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATT (voice over): Not anymore.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KELLY: I will sacrifice my couch. As you can see, it's a little beat up now just so they don't have to lie on the floor because they're still tiny.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Desperate to keep a roof over her daughter's heads and food on the table. She's even sold her plasma or sold her blood trying to keep up with her bills. The good news for Dasha Kelly and her three children though is that a GoFundMe page she created went from zero to 40,000 by the time our program ended and now sits at a stunning $89,000.
And OUTFRONT now Dasha Kelly joins me and she goes by Kelly. Kelly, look, I'm so grateful to have you with me. What an incredible day.
KELLY: Hi.
BURNETT: What an incredible day for you and those precious children. I mean, when you got the news today and there's so much to digest today, the news of the GoFundMe, the White House just announcing a moments ago that eviction moratorium in places like where you are in Las Vegas. I mean, what is your reaction when you hear this?
KELLY: I feel hopeful, that's for sure, that there's someone out there that is believing in us still. Our precious President and we are thankful that he is allowing these eviction memorials, I'm sorry, moratoriums, excuse me, I'm not sure how you say that.
BURNETT: That's OK. That's OK.
KELLY: Yes, I think it's pretty good news. I find that very exciting.
BURNETT: I'm just sitting here looking at your precious little kids. So I know yesterday, look, you are in desperate need of help. You shared with my colleague, Nick, the heartbreaking details of what you and those three little girls are enduring and it resonated with people.
People so far I've donated $89,000 and I just wanted to read a few of the messages that some of these people left for you, Kelly, and for your little girls. So one person gave $25 and said, "I understand struggle. I don't have a lot, but I have enough to help another. Bless you and the adorable girls."
And then someone else gave $20 and they wrote and I quote them, "I saw your story and it brought a tear to my eye.
[19:30:06]
When I saw the outpouring of love and support on your go fund me it brought more tears. God bless you and your beautiful family. I hope this grows so big you can buy your own American dream.
It was people that didn't have much and someone gave you nearly $2,000 and said, I'm sorry you had to fight so hard to keep your kids safe. You are an incredible mom.
These are amazing things to hear, Kelly. What -- what do you say to them and others like them who reached out to you?
KELLY: I just want to tell everybody thank you -- sorry, excuse me, I just want to tell everybody thank you so much. I'm still in denial if you can't really tell. It it's a lot to take in. It's a lot to take in. It's very -- sorry, girls. It's really overwhelming.
These are tears of joy, trust me. I don't -- I'm just so thankful. I appreciate each and every one of you and I would especially like to thank, I don't know if I can but, Kim, the one that reached out to my family. I'm so thankful. We're so thankful for you guys because I had no idea what we were going to do and just overnight, just overnight all you guys just reached out and helped us and all the support and encouraging words. It's just gave me a lot of hope.
And I just want to make sure I do the best thing I can to help the next person that is in my same situation and I just feel really blessed and thank you guys so much, honestly. Sorry.
BURNETT: Of course, Kelly, of course. Please stay with me, you and the girls because there is someone else I want to bring into this conversation -- the woman frankly that many can thank for this new eviction moratorium.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY), MAJORITY LEADER: You are great. You did this.
(CHEERS)
Congratulations, so proud and happy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're walking to the steps.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: That is, of course, the Democratic Congressman Cori Bush that spent days camping out on the Capitol steps sleeping there to bring attention to the issue.
Congresswoman Bush joins me now.
And, Congresswoman, wow to you. How does it feel to hear this? To hear this news of this moratorium tonight thanks to you?
REP. CORI BUSH (D-MO): I am so -- I'm elated and I'm overwhelmed, you know, because just the thought that so many people right now, millions of people, you know, would not be forced out on the streets. I know we still have work to do, but just to know that this is something, this type of advocacy from the whole community is what could have saved me from ending up on the street, could have saved so many others.
So, now that we have the opportunity to help because we're in position, you know, it's just -- I'm so thankful that families like Kelly's family get to stay in their homes. It shouldn't have to come to this but I'm glad that we're here.
BURNETT: So, Kelly, the congresswoman saw you last night on the show in the piece about you and your girls and she said about you and your children, I quote, you congresswoman we're working hard for you and I know what it's like to be their mommy.
Kelly, do you have anything to say to Congresswoman Bush tonight?
KELLY: Yes, absolutely. It's an honor to even speak with you. I'm just so fortunate right now this is beyond me, you don't understand.
When I -- when I put that up, I never thought anybody would have reached out, especially CNN and then hearing a congressperson reached -- my story reached you.
This is so amazing. I'm so thankful there are people like you out there. I'm so thankful for it. Thank you so much. I'm sorry.
BUSH: Kelly, you and your family just know, you and your family deserve representatives that care about you. We -- our country deserves to have representatives that represent and so this, this is the least that we can do for you is to step up and make sure that you get to stay in the safety and comfort of your home while we work on other things to help make sure that your life and the lives of your children are better.
This is our work, so you don't even have to thank us, this is our work. This is the least we can do for you.
BURNETT: Kelly, I just am watching your daughter who is reaching out to pet you, I think, when you were a little emotional there.
[19:35:02"
KELLY: They are the sweetest.
(CROSSTALK)
BURNETT: So moved by it. They are beautiful. Smart wonderful little girls. I was looking at them.
Congresswoman, can I ask you, President Biden did admit, you know, there is this wonderful news but that a new eviction plan might not hold up in court. Here is exactly what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Any call for a moratorium based on the Supreme Court recent decision is likely to face obstacles. The bulk of the constitutional scholarship says that it's not likely to pass constitutional muster, number one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: So, Congresswoman Bush, what do you do from here? Are you confident that this fix will hold?
BUSH: I'm confident that what we're going to do now which is what we're asking people, we're asking people in communities to go and volunteer to help to make sure this rental assistance, this $46.5 billion that's available with only $3 billion of it already spent, that we help get these resources out to those who need it. That is -- so that's where the work is right now. Getting these resources out.
We got 60 days, let's make sure that people are able to apply, that we make that process seamless and that we get the money out to the landlords and to those where this money is supposed to go.
And in the meantime, as Congress, we have to -- we have to move. There is so much more work to do so this is just the first step. I am confident that we are going to now shift gears into making sure this money that the states and all these localities have is actually pushed out to the people.
BURNETT: Congresswoman, thank you so much.
BUSH: Thank you.
BURNETT: Kelly, thank you so much. I'm so glad to meet you, although of usually, we are so far away and happy for this news for you and your children. They can get back to being little kids. You got them to sit so perfectly for so long. Thank you.
BUSH: Beautiful.
BURNETT: We should just let you know, Kelly, the go fund me just went up to 97,000 while we were speaking. So thank you.
KELLY: I'm sorry?
BURNETT: I was just saying that your go fund me is now at 97,000.
KELLY: The one that was at 89 a minute ago?
(LAUGHTER)
BURNETT: Yes.
KELLY: Is she --
BURNETT: Yes, $97,000.
KLELY: This is crazy. I'm sorry. This is crazy. Oh my god. She said just it's at $97,000 now. This is crazy.
Thank you guys so much. Oh my God.
BUSH: You and your family are worth it. You and your family are worth it. You're worth it. You are worth having your needs met.
KELLY: Just know just yet not having a clue just yesterday, this is crazy to me. This is crazy.
BUSH: Community. Community. Community.
KELLY: Oh my God. Oh my God. There is so much support. This is crazy, you guys. Thank you guys so much.
BURNETT: Thank you, Kelly.
KELLY: I'm sorry. I'm okay, girls. I'm okay.
BURNETT: What a difference. What a difference you can make as individual people, someone in Congress for all of us to play such a small role in making a difference for one family. Thank you, Kelly.
KELLY: I just feel bad because I know they want to see me happy and I just keep crying. I don't know -- I have so many emotions right now. I don't know how I feel. I'm like in denial. I'm confused. I'm happy. I'm excited. I'm ecstatic. I'm confused.
This is -- I'm sorry. This is crazy. I don't even know how to describe it. This is just crazy.
BUSH: Rest.
BURNETT: Okay.
BUSH: Rest.
KELLY: Thank you.
BURNETT: All right. Thank you both. Congresswoman Bush, thank you very much.
BUSH: Thank you.
BURNETT: So much for being with us, and obviously for that difference you made.
Well, next, Dr. Anthony Fauci is going to join me. The director of the National Institutes of Health walking back these comments what spread alarm among parents today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. FRANCIS COLLINS, DIRECTOR, NIH: Parents of unvaccinated kids should be thoughtful about this and the recommendation is to wear masks there, as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: So, what should parents do? Dr. Anthony Fauci is OUTFRONT next.
And we are learning more tonight about a fourth officer who defended the Capitol on January 6th and has now died but suicide. A long-time partner of fallen Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, she is here with a powerful message to the insurrection deniers tonight.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:42:00]
BURNETT: Tonight, President Biden criticizing the Republican governors of both Texas and Florida for imposing anti-masking orders amid a surge of coronavirus cases in their states and across the country.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: I say these governors please help, but you're not going to help at least get out of the way of the people trying to do the right thing. Use your power to save lives.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Biden also calling on state and local governments to follow New York City's lead by mandating vaccinations for employees and patrons at restaurants, at gyms and entertainment venues.
OUTFRONT now, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
And, Doctor, I appreciate so much speaking with you again.
And I'll start of course with the cases that have been surging across the country. The president delivering that very tough message to Republican governors who have imposed anti mask mandates.
So I wanted you to just give us context if you could. You said today the surge would get worse before it gets better.
How much worse, Dr. Fauci, in terms of death?
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: Well, when you look at the modeling that people, there is always a worst case scenario and a best case scenario, and it usually winds up in the middle. You know, we're approaching 70,000 cases per day. It almost certainly is going to go over 100,000. I hope it doesn't go much higher than around 100,000, but we want it to turn around quickly and come down.
There is two ways to do that. You can do it immediately by mitigating things like wearing masks in appropriate places, particularly indoor settings and as you know, the recent CDC guidelines about doing that even if you are vaccinated.
The other is to really accelerate the vaccination program. We're doing very well. I mean, when you look at the country as a whole, we've done very well. We have 60 percent of the country is fully vaccinated. We have 70 percent have received at least one dose of adults, and the elderly are generally well protected about 80 plus percent have been vaccinated.
The only trouble is, Erin, is that we have 93 million people in this country who are eligible for vaccination who have not gotten vaccinated and we've got to get to that group by whatever means possible, be it trusted messengers or even some pressure like we're seeing where you have local and enterprises doing some mandating the way New York is doing for example with restaurants and others.
We leave it up to the local individuals and local leaders to do things to mitigate against this infection, which is a very formidable challenge we're having with this delta variant.
BURNETT: I mean, it is pretty incredible. The mandates will hopefully make a difference in terms of people returning to work and being forced to get vaccinated or else they can't go. [19:45:01]
I do want to ask you, Dr. Fauci, about some breaking news that is literally crossing since you and I began our conversation. "The New York Times" just crossed a headline reporting the FDA is looking to speed up the timetable of full approval of the Pfizer vaccine. And they say the new goal is to complete the process by the start of next month.
What more can you tell us about that? Just to be clear, this would mean no emergency authorization, full approval, enable a lot more states to go ahead with mandates, maybe even the federal government, right? The impact could be very significant.
Is the timetable here then for full approval in weeks?
FAUCI: Well, that's what I'm hoping it is, Erin. I do hope it's going to be within the next couple of weeks. They said hopefully by the end of the month. I hope it's even sooner than that.
There are many good reasons to get this done. They're doing their job. They're an independent agency doing their job and do a good job. But when it does get full approval, there are a couple of things that are going to happen.
I think there are certain proportion of people who are just waiting for that full approval, even though the data overwhelming right now that these vaccines are highly effective and are safe. But some still want to wait for that final imprimatur on the particular products in question. So, they're going to get vaccinated.
The other thing is going to allow independent local enterprises, universities, colleges, businesses who will feel comfortable when they say I'll mandate if you want to come to this school, if you want to work in this place, you've got to be vaccinated. I think we'll see much more of that when you have the backup of the full approval of this vaccine that we have. That's what I think is going to happen.
BURNETT: So, I mean, pretty significant headline as you're saying hopefully within a couple weeks. I mean, I hope that really sinks into people. It's a big change from the timeline sort of everyone had been led to think it could be months away.
So I wanted to ask you about one other thing Dr. Fauci, because this also happened today. The director of the NIH was doing an interview with my colleague John Berman. And he said to John Berman, Dr. Collins did, that parents should consider wearing masks at home to keep their kids under 12 who, of course, are not vaccinated safe.
I just wanted to play what Dr. Collins specifically said first.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Parents of unvaccinated kids should be thoughtful about this and the recommendation is to wear masks there as well. I know that's uncomfortable. I know it seems weird but it is the best way to protect your kids.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: So, Dr. Collins came out later and tweeted that he meant to say vaccinated parents and high risk communities should mask up in public indoor settings but not at home. This caused a lot of panic and confusion among parents, of course, Dr. Fauci.
Could you clear this up once and for all? Because obviously what the director said this morning was pretty unequivocal, right, and then it changed. So tell us the bottom line.
FAUCI: It's very simple, Erin. He misspoke. He's a personal of high integrity and he came out with a tweet and said, I apologize. I misspoke. I got it wrong.
Parents do not need to wear masks in their own home. That is the right answer. Dr. Collins said he misspoke and I give him great credit for admitting it very, very quickly of saying that he misspoke.
So parents should not be confused. You don't need to wear masks in your own home.
BURNETT: And one thing on that note quickly before we go because parents under 12 do have a lot of concerns. I have three in that category.
We have been told sort of by the winter you would maybe get the EUA, emergency authorization for under 12. If the full approval for the vaccine for over 12 is accelerated to a couple weeks from now, do you think that time frame changes for under 12 for EUA?
FAUCI: Well, it might. I mean, when you have an EUA for the vaccine than then goes to full approval, that might have an influence on what goes on. It's going to be a regulatory decision, Erin. We're collecting the data right now for what we need to make that determination and it would be a regulatory decision.
BURNETT: All right. I understand. I appreciate your time as always, Dr. Fauci. Thank you.
FAUCI: Good to be with you. Thank you for having me.
BURNETT: All right. You, too.
And also tonight, the Senate unanimously rewarding the congressional gold medal today to the officers that defended the Capitol against an angry mob of Trump supporters on January 6th.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN): Those medals, when little kids walk by and see them at the Smithsonian, their parents will be able to tell them this happened. This attack happened.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BURNETT: And that's important because former President Trump and his followers and Congress continue to try to say that this didn't happen, that we didn't all see with our own eyes the violent mob attack on the Capitol that injured 140 officers, that it was just a bunch of tourists.
[19:50:07]
Tonight, we're learning of another tragedy linked to that day. A fourth police officer who responded to the Capitol on January 6th has now died of suicide. Metropolitan Police Officer Kyle deFreytag have been with the department since November 2016.
And this news of another suicide coming shortly after we learned about the suicide of Officer Gunther Hashida, who joined the Metropolitan Police Department in 2003. Also D.C. Police Officer Jeffrey Smith who was a 12-year veteran of the force, and U.S. Capitol Police Officer Howard Liebengood who was a 16-year capitol police veteran all now have died from suicide.
OUTFRONT now, Sandra Garza, she's the long time partner of partner of fallen Capitol Hill Police Officer Brian Sicknick who you know was attacked by protesters outside the Capitol on January 6th and later died.
So, Sandra, there are four officers now who have died by suicide. Four. I struggle to under -- to comprehend this. It is so awful. And I know you have been in contact with the wife of one of these officers that we have found out about.
How can you explain what has happened?
SANDRA GARZA, LONGTIME PARTNER OF FALLEN CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER BRIAN SICKNICK: Well, first, I want to say my heart goes out to the pentagon police officers' family. It's a tragedy what happened today.
And, yes, Erin, you're right. This is horrible. Clearly, we are facing an epidemic here. This is something that the majority of Republicans can no longer deny.
The insurrection was brutal. It was callous. It was demoralizing. And every day that they continue to minimize or outright deny that anything happened, sadly, you know, morale is going to go further and further in the toilet, and these officers are clearly hurting and suffering to feel such desperation to take their lives. It's just horrible.
BURNETT: So, the clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College, Dr. Ziv Cohen, talked with us earlier today and he said something, Sandra, that I thought was really important and I quote him.
He said: For every officer who commits suicide, there are likely dozens who have symptoms and are suffering. Thus, the officers who committed suicide are the canary in the coal mine. Obviously, you have a deep personal connection to this story with your
great personal loss. But you are also a licensed clinical social worker.
GARZA: Yes.
BURNETT: You have spoken to so many people who have suffered like you have since this tragedy. So, tell me how you see it and how worried you are.
GARZA: Well, I'm very worried. I think they need to really do something. I don't know how metropolitan, D.C. metropolitan police, their mental health services work, but clearly whatever they have now in place is not enough. I mean, you have three of them that have committed suicide. This is just absolutely terrible.
And I would say to any officer or any family member out there who is struggling with any kind of suicidal thoughts or wanting to engage in self-harm in any way, please reach out to the national suicide hotline. You can also text the crisis line at 741741 and ask for help.
The thing is, is in this culture, in the law enforcement culture, it's just like the military culture, I was in the military as well, and I'm familiar with this suck it up kind of mentality. They are not allowed to be vulnerable and show emotions.
On top of that, you have half of the nation's leaders basically invalidating this terrible experience that they suffered on January 6th. It's got to stop. It's got to stop.
BURNETT: All right. Sandra, I appreciate you. Thank you.
GARZA: Thank you, Erin.
BURNETT: And next, Ohio, the polls have just closed there. It is a significant night for politics. Is Donald Trump taking a huge political risk with the candidate he endorsed? We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:56:29]
BURNETT: Breaking news. Polls closing moments ago in two closely watched primaries in Ohio. One testing Trump's power and influence and another threatening to tear the Democratic Party apart, tonight on both sides.
OUTFRONT now, Van Jones, our political commentator, of course.
So, I mean, Van, this amazing. It's a fascinating race in every way. It's Ohio's 11th district on the Democratic side pitting establishment Democrat Shontel Brown against Bernie Sanders and other top progressives who back Nina Turner.
I should point out, you did contribute to Turner's campaign. But let me just play, so everyone understands, what's going on in this race. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NINA TURNER (D), OHIO CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE: Being a partner is one thing, but being a puppet is another.
SHONTEL BROWN (D), OHIO CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE: I would consider a puppet someone that's been on the national stage delivering catch catchphrases like, "Hello, somebody." I am a partner who knows what it takes to sit at the negotiating table to get things done.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: I mean, Van, this is incredibly vitriolic and vicious on the Democratic side. They already have control of the White House and both chambers of Congress, and yet you have this intense clash going on. How come?
VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, because, you know, we have two wings of the party, and we actually have two very strong candidates representing those two wings very well.
I do know Nina Turner very well. She is a progressive. She is quite pragmatic. She has a voting record that I think most people on both sides of the party would appreciate.
But the heart and soul of the Democratic Party, is it more Biden, more moderation, more, you know, trying to find the common ground or is it that passion and trying to putting the working class first? This is a rare moment where the country can look at one race where two strong candidates from both wings of the party are going head-to-head.
BURNETT: So that's the Democratic side. Now give us context on the Republican. Former President Trump facing a test of his influence with suburban voters in this race. He has endorsed Mike Carey, a coal lobbyist, among key Republicans looking to replace Steve Stivers.
How bad would a loss be in Ohio for Trump?
JONES: I think -- I think it would be pretty bad from the optics point of view. Look, the reality is usually Trump wins. That's just reality. You got, you know, 100 cases where the Trump endorsement person wins.
But he just lost one recently. He loses another one, maybe people are saying, hey, maybe this guy is not invincible. The math would say a couple hundred to two, but the realty is politically the momentum would be shifting away.
BURNETT: So what do we read into it? Turnout could be low. Sometimes you reading is into something that isn't really true because so few people are participating. What does it mean?
JONES: It's just -- it gives bragging rights. If Trump's people pull it out, it gives them bragging rights. If Trump gets a setback, it gives the people who want the party going the other way bragging rights. Same in our party, if Nina Turner wins she is well known and was a
great lawmaker at the time. If she loses, it's going to be because a bunch of Democrats that everybody jumped in to stop Nina Turner.
So, it will give people bragging rights. It says nothing about what's going to happen in a year. But it does give a sense of which side this summer is stronger.
BURNETT: All right. Well, bragging rights, you know, for individuals matter a whole lot.
Hey, Van, appreciate you always. Thank you so much.
JONES: Thank you.
BURNETT: All right. And thanks to all of you for joining us tonight. Don't forget you can watch OUTFRONT anytime, anywhere. You just have to go to CNN Go.
In the meantime, "AC360" starts right now.
