Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

NYT: Law Enforcement Plans for Worst-Case Inauguration Scenarios; Impeachment Vote in House Could Take Place on Wednesday; U.S. Faces Post-Holiday Surge Averaging 3K Deaths A Day. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired January 12, 2021 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:23]

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to our viewers in the United States and all around the world. This is EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Laura Jarrett. It's Tuesday, January 20th. It's 5:00 a.m. here in New York.

And we begin this morning with the U.S. authorities on alert and growing alarms that the deadly insurrection at the Capitol could be just the beginning. Overnight, "The New York Times" reports House Democrats were briefed on specific threats to the U.S. Capitol and to lawmakers ahead of President-elect Biden's inauguration. Some of the worst case scenarios laid out are just terrifying.

Now, this again is according to "The New York Times." Just one Defense Department official but it shows you the level of urgency. It includes snipers targeting dignitaries, suicide type aircrafts entering Washington's restricted air space, remote powered drones attacking the crowd, and big concern about multiple active-shooter situations flaring up simultaneously.

ROMANS: CNN has also obtained an internal FBI bulletin that warns planning is underway for armed protests at all 50 state capitols and the U.S. Capitol in the days leading up to the inauguration. Now, this FBI bulletin warns of storming government buildings.

And the FBI says it's tracking several threats against Biden, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. With the inauguration eight days away, one of Joe Biden's top aides says law enforcement is prepared this time.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. CEDRIC RICHMOND, CO-CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL COMMITTEE: The Secret Service has been working on this for over a year. There are a bunch of partners now, the National Guard, the Homeland Security. Mayor Bowser in D.C. along with others will join forces to make sure this event is safe.

(END VIDEO CLIP) JARRETT: Even with security measures stepped up, key federal leadership is nowhere to be found.

Overnight, Chad Wolf stepped aside as acting secretary of Homeland Security, the agency in charge of safeguarding the inauguration. DHS, U.S. Capitol Police, the FBI, the Justice Department, none of them have answered questions publicly since Wednesday's riot, no briefing whatsoever. The DOJ, Defense Department among the agencies being run by acting leaders, of course, unsure what the next few weeks will bring, windows and businesses at government buildings nationwide being boarded up again.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JARED MAPLES, DIRECTOR, NJ OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY: There's a lot of chatter out there overall. Nothing specific, but there's definitely a lot of chatter out there. Something we're concerned with.

CHIEF MATTHEW ROMEI, VERMONT CAPITOL POLICE CHIEF: Last Wednesday's activity in Washington, D.C., changed the lens a little bit for us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Now, some states taking more permanent action. Michigan is imposing an open carry ban at the state capitol in Lansing. Remember, armed protestors entered that building in April legally to protest COVID restrictions at the time.

New this morning, a behind the scenes report on the president's activities during the riot that he helped set off. Multiple sources tell "The Washington Post" Trump was busy watching the violence on TV and couldn't be reached, not even by close allies in Congress calling him desperately in fear for their own lives.

Meantime, a source confirms to CNN that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told Republican lawmakers that contrary to unfounded speculation by right wing media, there is, quote, undisputedly no evidence, no evidence Antifa activists joined in storming the Capitol.

JARRETT: We could all see that ourselves while watching.

And the lack of any public briefing from security agencies creating an information vacuum at a time when misinformation is running rampant. Authorities say they've put a priority on investigating the ties between the insurrectionists and those in law enforcement and there's no shortage of video and social media to furnish leads.

Now several capitol police officers are facing discipline and more ominous revelations could be on the way.

CNN's Alex Marquardt has the latest from Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEXANDER MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Laura and Christine. Well, as the investigation deepens into the insurrection at the Capitol, there is troubling news about the possibility of law enforcement being involved. We have now learned that at least two police officers from the Capitol Hill police force have been suspended for possible roles in the riots on Wednesday. One of them was seen taking a selfie with the rioters. Another was seen with a make America great again hat and directing some of the rioters. That's according to Congressman Tim Ryan, Democrat of Ohio.

We've also learned from a House congressional aide that there are at least 17 officers on that force who are under investigation.

[05:05:00]

There are eight separate investigations into those officers in the context of this insurrection.

Now, more broadly, investigators are also looking into to what extent law enforcement and military may have been among the rioters. We are told that there are at least seven police officers across the country who are being investigated for possible roles there from five different places, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, Virginia, and Texas.

Now, the mayor of Washington D.C., Muriel Bowser, said that it is her hope that people do not turn out for the inauguration on January 20th. She also called on the Department of the Interior to not give out permits for mass gatherings -- Laura, Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Alex, thank you so much for that.

New overnight two more members of Congress testing positive for coronavirus. Democratic Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Bonnie Watson Coleman. Both are blaming the Republican members who refused to put masks on while they were shut in a room together.

Now, CNN has reported six House Republicans, including members of leadership were captured on video refusing to wear masks, refusing masked offered by a colleague during the insurrection.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

REP. BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN (D-NJ): It may be inconvenient, but it is not a political tool and it is something that you do when you think about someone else's well-being. So, I want my colleagues from the Republican side that refused to wear their masks and who were defiant and arrogant with it to give some concern to somebody else.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

MADDOW: The Capitol attending physician has warned lawmakers and staffers of potential COVID exposure following the riot. Eight have now tested positive since being sworn in early last week. JARRETT: So, on top of coronavirus, President-elect Biden is trying

to navigate another crisis that could shape his first 100 days in office, the impeachment of his predecessor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT: The question is whether or not, for example, if the House moves forward, which they obviously are, with the impeachment and send it over to the Senate. You can go half day on dealing with the impeachment and half day getting my people nominated and confirmed in the Senate, as well as moving on. So that's my hope and expectation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JARRETT: At least one Senate Democrat though isn't on board. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, the influential moderate says impeachment would be, quote, ill-advised.

For today, the focus remains on the House where lawmakers are posed to impeach the president again.

Ryan Nobles is on Capitol Hill for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN NOBLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine and Laura, Tuesday is going to be a busy day here on Capitol Hill as the House reconvenes to begin the process of impeaching President Trump. They'll start with the initial resolution that puts Vice President Pence on the clock for 24 hours to begin the process of invoking the 25th Amendment. If he doesn't do that, and it's not expected that he will, they will then begin the formal process of filing those articles of impeachment on Wednesday.

And it's expected they could get the entire vote done on Wednesday which would then hand the ball over to the Senate to decide whether or not they're going to begin their trial to convict President Trump.

Now, there have been a few House Republicans that have offered up an alternative suggesting perhaps it might be better for the country and easier and provide a more bipartisan support from doing something along the lines of censuring President Trump not going through the formal impeachment proceeding but that was quickly turned back by Congress. It is clear that the conference strongly supports the idea of impeachment, and it looks as though that is going to get through the Democratic House without much of a problem.

There are still a lot of questions about what happens when it gets to the Senate. Now, the Senate minority leader, soon to be Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, says he anticipates the Senate will take up the trial right away, that they're going to wait for the first 100 days of the Biden administration to do so. He said it is incumbent upon the Senate to deal with these important things that need to be done in the early stages of the Biden administration like confirming some of his cabinet picks while at the same time dealing with the trial and perhaps conviction of President Trump.

So impeachment looks like it is going to happen. It will obviously be historic and it all begins here Tuesday on Capitol Hill -- Christine and Laura.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: And Ryan will be there for us. Thank you so much, Ryan Nobles.

All right. States hoping to speed up the pace of COVID vaccinations. They're starting to abandon guidelines for who goes first.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:13:55]

JARRETT: This morning, post-holiday surge in coronavirus cases has come into full view. For the first time, the U.S. now averaging 3,000 deaths a day. And in another first, the nation has reported more than 200,000 new cases every single day for a week. Vaccinations meantime have jumped up a bit, now at 9 million. But that's less than 3 percent of the U.S. population and officials say it would take 70 to 80 percent to get back to normal.

States have been left on their own for much of this pandemic, and now, they're increasingly abandoning guidelines from the Centers with Disease Control and taking their own approaches to giving people the vaccine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. PAUL OFFIT, DIRECTOR, VACCINE EDUCATION CENTER, CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA: I think where people are right now, they have vaccine and they just want to get it out there so instead of doing what they're being asked to do, which goes to 1A tier, 1B tier, 1C tier, they're trying to get it out there. We don't have a public health infrastructure for mass vaccination. And what you're seeing I think is we're learning to do that. Some states are learning to do it more quickly than others.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Now, there is some promising news from the CDC. The agency has indicated Americans should not worry about waiting longer than the recommended time for a second dose of the vaccine.

[05:15:04]

That lends credibility to the Biden team's plan to release nearly all available vaccine doses when he takes office. Biden has laid out a timeline for 100 million shots in the first 100 days. Still CNN has learned that some major details of how they will ramp up vaccine distribution are still being worked out.

Los Angeles County officials are so concerned about COVID spreading, they're advising essential workers to wear masks at home. And now, another major sporting facility in L.A. is being repurposed for mass vaccinations.

CNN has the pandemic covered from coast to coast.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK WATT, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Nick Watt in Los Angeles where this week, we will see a major symbolic shift in the fight against this pandemic.

Dodgers Stadium which has been a testing site for the past eight months or so will transition. It will become a mass vaccination site. The governor in California set itself a target, 1 million vaccines in arms in 10 days. We'll find out soon if he makes it.

ADRIENNE BROADDUS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Adrianne Broaddus in Chicago.

And on Monday, a group of students returned to the classroom for the first time in 10 months. Chicago's mayor, Lori Lightfoot, said about 77,000 families have chosen an in person option. Meanwhile, the district, it is working with Chicago teacher's union to address concerns from parents, student and other staff who are worried about returning to the classroom with the number of COVID cases on the rise.

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Rosa Flores in Miami.

The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine continues to be rocky in some states. CNN affiliate WJXT reporting long lines of seniors bundled up before dawn to get a shot in Jacksonville. These are people 65 and older and front line health care workers who showed up not with an appointment based on birth month.

Now to Texas where hundreds received a vaccine at the Alamodome in San Antonio. According to affiliate KABB/WOAI, the process was mostly smooth, except for a few people who said that they registered and were turned away.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JARRETT: Thanks to all of our correspondents for those updates.

The list of companies pulling back on political contributions is expanding rapidly. We're going to break down how it could hurt GOP fundraising for the next two years.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: A growing revolt from corporate America. They won't donate money to those lawmakers who objected to the Electoral College votes, the lists growing very quickly here. American Express, AT&T, UPS joining Marriott, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Commerce Bank and so many others. And many are the same companies that signed a letter urging the peaceful transfer of power before the riots. Still, more companies are reviewing their contribution. Look, money

talks in politics. What these companies are saying is they will not have their money in the pockets of Republican lawmakers they view as complicit in President Trump's efforts to overturn this election.

Data shows business PACs accounted for more than $350 million during the 2020 cycle. That's more than half of that flowing to GOP candidates. One public relations firm put it this way, capitalism is trying to ride to the rescue of a political system that doesn't have an answer for Trump's conduct.

Rick Scott, one of the senators who objected to Electoral College's results, he's head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. So, his job raising money has become a lot harder about now, Laura.

JARRETT: Amazing it took a deadly insurrection for us to reach this point. Everything apparently before that wasn't quite enough for them to pull back but that's where we are.

Well, some Democrats say a big reason for impeaching President Trump a second time is to prevent him from running again in four years. One problem though, Senate Republicans would have to get on board with this in a big way.

CNN's Daniel Dale separates fact from fiction.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANIEL DALE, CNN REPORTER: There is a whole lot of bad information going around about what a second impeachment would mean for President Donald Trump's post-presidency life.

Now, I fact checked one tweet that had more than 181,000 retweets even though the man who tweeted it told me he's just some guy in Texas who had no idea if his information was correct. Now, he made four claims in that tweet, unfortunately each and everyone of them was in some way.

One of the claims he made in the tweet was a second impeachment would mean Trump would be disqualified from running for president again in 2024. Again, that is not at all true. A House impeachment would not disqualify him. Even a Senate vote to convict and remove him that would require 2/3 of the Senate would not disqualify him.

Rather, the Senate would have to hold an additional vote, anther vote, specifically on the question of disqualification. Now, that additional would require a simple majority of senators present but, again, it would have to follow the 2/3 vote to convict and remove him.

The viral tweet also claimed that a second impeachment would mean Trump would lose lifetime Secret Service protection. I looked into this. I had two legal experts look into this. We're all entirely unsure if that is the case. This is very murky, very much up in the air. We cannot be definitive as the tweet was on this subject.

The tweet also claimed that Trump would lose his pension which is valued at more than 200,000 per year if he was impeached again. Now, he would lose his pension if he were removed by the Senate. But again, a House impeachment alone wouldn't do it.

Finally, the tweet claimed Trump would lose a $1 million annual travel allowance if he were impeached again.

[05:25:02]

In short, Trump was never going to get that anyway under the law. Modern presidents who accept lifetime Secret Service protection simply do not get that $1 million allowance.

In summary again, this is all wrong and again everyone needs to take a breath. There's a lot of emotion, a lot of emotion right now, a lot of tension and there's a lot of bad information being clicked, retweeted, shared, amplified. Calm down, take a breath and make sure you have the right information before sharing it with others -- Christine and Laura.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JARRETT: Daniel Dale, thank you so much for breaking all of that down. So important that you check your and make sure that what you are retweeting comes from verifiable sources.

Well, a startling report overnight lays out scary scenarios for the upcoming inauguration. We'll tell you what they are and what the president-elect has to say, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JARRETT: Good morning. Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Laura Jarrett.

ROMANS: Good morning. I'm Christine Romans.