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President Biden Comments On Chauvin Murder Trial; Nation Braces For Verdict As Jury Deliberates Chauvin Case; Biden Called George Floyd's Family As Nation Awaits Verdict; CDC: More Than 25 Percent Of U.S. Fully Vaccinated, Averaging 3.1 Million Shots; Active Shooter Reported At Long Island Grocery Store. Aired 12-12:30p ET

Aired April 20, 2021 - 12:00   ET

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

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KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: And then President Biden would address the nation. But I didn't ask him about the verdict or the jury deliberations. I just asked him about his message to George Floyd's family and that was his answer Kate.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN HOST: Yes important. Great to have you in the room, Kaitlan, thank you so much. And thank you all so much for joining us. At this hour John King picks up our coverage right now.

JOHN KING, CNN HOST: Top of the hour hello, everybody and welcome to Inside Politics. I'm John King in Washington. Thank you so much for sharing this very important day with us.

The jury in the Derek Chauvin trial is deliberating for a second day. The seven women and five men weighing the evidence resumed their work three hours ago, after spending four hours last night deliberating.

The jury's verdict about the death of George Floyd is a source of national anxiety and potential violence is a coast to coast concern. 3000 Minnesota National Guard members activated now to handle unrest, potential unrest in the twin cities in Chicago.

Businesses already boarded up. Here in Washington DC the army approved the call up of 250 DC guardsmen to handle any protest. Just moments ago, the President of the United States Joe Biden will bring you the tape of this in just a few moments.

But the President of the United States said yes, he spoke to Floyd's family yesterday. And he said in his view and he said it's safe to say this now that the jury is sequestered. He believes the proper verdict would be a guilty verdict.

Again, we'll bring you that in just a moment. Other remarks these from a Democratic Congresswoman add to the nationwide worry. California's Maxine Waters traveled to Minnesota this past weekend, urging protesters to "stay on the street" and "get more confrontational".

If the jury acquits the child trial judge rebuking the congresswoman yesterday, Judge Peter Cahill refused to declare a mistrial. But he did say the argument her comments could be taken as a warning to the jury might have some merit if Chauvin is convicted and the defense then files an appeal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUDGE PETER CAHILL, HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA DISTRICT COURT: I'll give you the Congresswoman Waters may have given you something on appeal that may result in his whole trial being overturned.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: The closing arguments Monday centered on the video of George Floyd's final moments, the defense asking the jury not to be misled by a single still frame image. The prosecution though says that video tells the whole story.

And that the bystanders recorded a murder. Today George Floyd's family says there's only one outcome that to them would equal justice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHILONISE FLOYD, GEORGE FLOYDS'S BROTHER: I just feel that in America if a black man can't get justice for this, what can a black man get justice for the video effects and its proof of what happened? We just need Minnesota to make the right decision.

ANGELA HARRISON, GEORGE FLOYD'S AUNT: If this is an acquittal, we will be devastated.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Let's get straight to Minneapolis live now. CNN's Sara Sidner on the scene for us Sara any word from the jury this morning? We know they're back in the room doing their very important work. What else do we know?

SARA SIDNER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I mean, we know that they've been deliberating since eight this morning. And they deliberated yesterday from four to eight. We have heard nothing from them. There have been no questions so far.

They are doing their due diligence as is expected going through evidence. But we have not yet heard from them. And they can deliberate anywhere from the next hour to the next few days and potentially more than a week or two.

And so everyone is just in a wait and see mode. We should talk a little bit about the jury in a little bit about the security and sort of what is happening here in Minneapolis. I'll start with the jury.

You talked about the number of men and women. There's also a breakdown of between racial lines, there is six of the jurors so half of the jury is either multiracial or black.

You've got four black folks and two people who are multiracial and the rest of the jury is Caucasian. That is it's not reflective for example of the county, where everyone is pulled from it is far more diverse, but it is a bit more reflective of Minneapolis itself.

I'll give you now a look at the court. And look, this has been the scene and people should not be mistaken that this has suddenly changed somehow over the several weeks as soon as this trial and before the trial started. All of these barriers were put up.

The National Guard has been here the whole time. During the trial, we are now in 28 days, the trial ended 27 days, the closing arguments happen. And now the jury has the case and they are deliberating.

But the security is tight, especially as you might imagine around the Hennepin County court complex. But this extends out and has extended out a little bit further as the weeks have gone on.

And as we have been waiting for this very moment, the moment that the jury got it and then eventually the moment that the jury comes back with their decision, whatever that may be concrete barriers, high fences, you've got barbed wire, you've got razor wire.

And you also have on many of the street corners, you have National Guard, they are fully armed. They're in uniform. While some folks see that as a deterrent because you also see I'll give you a look at the buildings here.

This is commonplace now. Everybody around in and around downtown just about has put up some kind of boards fencing so that people cannot get to the buildings that is the star tribune, a very good paper that exists here building. But almost every building is in and around downtown has put up some sort of boards in the last couple of weeks.

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But while security is tight, there is a feeling here that is tense. And people are wondering what is going to happen with this jury. We've had protests already. They have been in the last couple of days when it comes to the George Floyd trial or the trial of Derik Chauvin and the killing of George Floyd.

It's - they've been peaceful. We were down in the square, this weekend, George fleet square where he took his last breath and there were dozens of people, they're all sort of coming together in prayer.

But everyone knows that depending on what the jury decides and when that comes down there could be a very different scene here in the days to come, John.

KING: Sara Sidner on the scene for us. And we are lucky to have you here there at this decisive moment. We'll keep in touch throughout these days ahead, Sara, thank you so much.

As I mentioned at the top of the program, President Biden in the Oval Office just moments ago commenting not only in his phone call with the Floyd family yesterday, but offering and he says he's safe to do this now, because the jury is sequestered. His take on the verdict, let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I can only imagine the pressure and anxiety they're feeling. And so I waited till the jury was sequestered. And I call their good family. And they're called for peace and tranquility, no matter what that verdict is. I'm praying the verdict is the right verdict. I think it's overwhelming in my view. I wouldn't say that. The jury was sequestered now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: With us now to share the reporting and their insights on this big challenge for the Biden White House and the country Toluse Olorunnipa, Political Investigations Reporter for the Washington Post, Rachael Bade, the author, POLITICO playbook, Co-Author.

Toluse very interesting, the President of the United States saying now that the jury is sequestered. He feels free to give his opinion and he made pretty clear there he believes the right verdict, is that officer Chauvin be found guilty?

TOLUSE OLORUNNIPA, NATIONAL POLITICS REPORTER, THE WASHINGTON POST: Yes, it is very rare for us to hear from a president in an ongoing case before the jury actually comes back with a verdict. But President Biden felt the need to weigh in. He has to talk to the family members of George Floyd including Floyd's brother Philonise.

And he has expressed his not only his condolences for the death of their loved one, but also his hope that the jury comes back essentially with a guilty verdict. Because while on one hand, he clearly believes that the evidence is weighing in favor of a guilty verdict.

But also as president, he has to think about what's going to happen to the country if it's not a guilty verdict. We have seen what happened in the past after some of the police officers that were charged were not found guilty. Places like Baltimore, places like Ferguson, Missouri erupted into violence and chaos.

And President Biden with all the other things on his plate does not want to have to oversee a nation marred by unrest this early in his presidency. So for a number of reasons, he does want the verdict to come back as guilty.

But it's very rare for us to hear from a president in such clear terms that this is what he feels about an ongoing criminal trial.

KING: It is where and Rachel it comes just at a critical time where day 90 of the Biden presidency approaching the 100 day mark. You heard the president talk there about his conversation with the Floyd family yesterday. Let's listen to George Floyd's brother describe his side being on the phone - putting on the end of the phone call with the President of the United States.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

P. FLOYD: He was just calling. He knows how it is the loser family member. And he knows the process of what we go into. So he will just let them know - letting us know that he was praying for us and hoping that everything will come out to be OK.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: The empathy and support for the family quite evident from the president, the challenge is going to be Rachel to lose point, no matter how this verdict turns out. The president will have to address the American people at a moment that could be one of high anxiety.

RACHAEL BADE, POLITICO PLAYBOOK CO-AUTHOR: That's right, John. I mean this is going to be a really big first test for President Biden on the campaign trail. He talked about how he wanted to address sort of racism in policing. He wanted to ensure that you know, the country could find a way to sort of limit any brutality included policing as well.

He also think about the voters who sent him to the White House, black voters in particular, these are the people who really tipped the scale for him in the primaries. And these folks, this is an issue that very much is dear to their heart.

And so he's going to have to show those voters, those people who put him in a White House that he's not just listening and there to consultant, but that he's acting. And I think that's going to be a challenge, right?

Because on Capitol Hill, criminal justice reform has been stalled for a very long time policing reform obviously, it passed in the democratic house hasn't gone anywhere here due to the 60 vote threshold. But he's going to have to come up with a way to both you know, calm people down if this verdict comes back and this man is acquitted.

And so whether it's you know, using the justice department to try to send out facilitators to get conversation and dialogue going whether they can do their own policies from the justice department perspective or whether he puts real political capital behind you know, policing reform here on Capitol Hill. It's yet to be determined.

[12:10:00]

But, I think you know - he's really going to have to show that this is an issue he's going to tackle head on.

KING: And a subplot to this politics if you will, brought into the trial. The judge himself rebuking congresswoman Waters yesterday from the bench, she went out to Minneapolis.

She says she's a non violent person. She says she was not trying in any way to encourage violence about her critics have said when she talks about more confrontation, that that's at least how many would interpret it.

We heard the judge say this could be an issue on appeal. I want you to both listen, these are Republican and Democratic leaders in the congress this morning talking about this.

The Republicans want to censure her we can get to their standing on that question if you will, in a moment, but let's listen to some of the rhetoric this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. STEVE SCALISE (R-LA): This is the first time she's made those kinds of inflammatory comments. So you're going to see leader McCarthy bring a central resolution to the floor. I'd like to see Maxine Waters apologize.

REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): When you've got a situation where Lauren Bobert is a mess. Matt Gaetz is a mess. Marjorie Taylor Greene is a mess. Clean up your mess Kevin, sit this one out. You've got no credibility here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Rachel, I'll start with you on this one. The Democrats saying the Republicans many of whom still support the big election lie, many of whom they believe voted for the president's objections to the election after the insurrection and the capitol have no standing.

Just have no standing to question the conduct of anybody here. How much of an issue is this up on Capitol Hill?

BADE: Yes I mean, Democrats are very clearly frustrated pointing out what they view as hypocrisy by the GOP a lot of these house Republicans who are calling out Waters were unwilling to call out President Trump on January 6, when his supporters were on the Capitol.

You know not only that, but they've got a lot of issues in their own conference right now as you just heard Hakeem Jeffries talking about whether it's Marjorie Taylor Greene sort of circulating these documents calling for something about like a white caucus at or, you know, matt Gaetz, and these allegations against him.

I think Democrats are very frustrated that you know, the Republicans are coming after one of their own without dealing with their own internal drama. As for Republicans you know, the Republicans I've talked to are sort of salivating over this almost.

I mean, they have been sick of the questions about divisions in their own party. Obviously what does Trump mean, what is the future of their party that they see this as an issue where they can sort of latch on and change you know, the direction of the conversation.

And sort of unite and go after a Democrat, they also see it as a way to potentially help and swing districts. So politically speaking, they are overjoyed on this.

KING: But Toluse it is a reminder that for everybody, including us in the news media at a moment like this at a moment when a big decision is being made that has national implications, even though it's a jury trial in Minneapolis. Sometimes it is best for people to say little or nothing. Or sometimes also as a President of the United States, - try to focus on the big picture and the empathetic tone as opposed to stirring up politics. But that advice not always followed.

OLORUNNIPA: Yes and we see the ramifications. We see the judge in almost an unprecedented comment, essentially say that this action could lead to a mistrial of being declared on appeal which is sort of a hint to if Mr. Chauvin is found guilty.

It sort of gives an opening for an appeal process and for the judge to say that in the middle of the trial, even before the jury comes back with this verdict shows that these comments from Representative Waters definitely did not have the intended effect at least when it came to the courtroom.

And I think a number of members of congress are going to be watching what they say at least in the early moments before we find out what the jury does and then we'll probably hear much more from congress.

But this is definitely you know sort of a political football that no one wants to - wants to be in possession of at this moment. Because both sides of the aisle both parties are trying to point the finger at the other saying that you are the ones that are inspiring insurrection, inspiring violence, inspiring people to go and take to the streets and neither side wants to be found guilty of that.

KING: Toluse, Rachel grateful for the reporting and insights at this important moment. We'll obviously keep track of the jury deliberations and return to the trial a bit later in the program. But up next for us drug mega Johnson & Johnson says it is confident its COVID vaccine will be back on the U.S. market in days.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:15:00]

KING: Latest on Coronavirus. Now all adults in the United States are eligible for Coronavirus vaccine the challenge now making sure Americans actually get their shots. The push for vaccinations and vigilance more important than ever.

New polling suggesting Americans are increasingly disregarding some pandemic safety rules. Let's take a look at the latest numbers and walk through this. The state by state trend map you see 12 states in orange and red that means more new COVID infections right now than the data a week ago.

12 states trending in the wrong direction. You see a lot of them down here in the southeast. 24 states in Beige that means holding steady about the same case count now as a week ago, 14 states heading down those are the green states with the case count going down.

Let's look at the case timeline this way. The seven day moving average the seven day average of new infections is still above 67,000. That's the number the public health experts say must be pushed down. You see 67,933 new infections reported yesterday yes, way down from

the horrific summer, winter peak, excuse me, but still way too high. When the public health experts want to shut that one down even more. The vaccine timeline is key to that or at least a piece of that.

27 percent of the American population is now fully vaccinated. 40 percent of the population has had at least one dose of the vaccine among adults 18 and over half of the population 51 percent at least one dose.

This is a good number here encouraging although the officials want to push it up even more among those 65 and over 65 percent have been fully vaccinated. So two thirds of those 65 and over fully vaccinated. You look here you see 10 states that are highlighted.

Those are the 10 states that now have at least 30 percent of their population fully vaccinated again, critical to the overall fight that more states fill in there. But 10 states you see Alaska, New Mexico, the Dakotas out here.

Then you come up to the New England states in New Jersey as well. 30 percent of the population vaccinated. Here's the trend line right now.

[12:20:00]

KING: 3.1 million vaccines a day on average being put shots in arms across the United States. The Biden administration trying to accelerate that numbers among vaccine makers if you are fully vaccinated.

42 million Americans with the Pfizer vaccine, 35 million with a Moderna vaccine you see just shy of 8 million with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. This vaccine off the market in the United States right now. The committee reviewing the safety concerns meets again on Friday.

AXIOS says a new poll out this morning with IPSOS 88 percent of Americans think that was the right call, even though very rare blood clots, very low number of cases. 88 percent of Americans I think was the right call to pause just to look into those safety concerns.

Let's bring into the conversation now our Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen. Elizabeth Johnson & Johnson says its vaccine is safe and it hopes its vaccine is back on the market pretty quickly. What's the very latest?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: We do expect that that pause will end soon maybe they'll put a warning on this vaccine, maybe they'll tell young women not to take it because that seems to be the group that's most likely to get one of these extremely unlikely blood clots that we've seen with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

And there's been discussion, John about whether putting it on pause was the right thing to do. And so let's take a deeper look into this Axios poll. So as you said 88 percent of the respondents said that they were responsible decision to put it on pause and party lines didn't seem to matter.

Republicans almost as likely to support that pauses Democrats now 30 percent, who were polled said that they were unlikely to get a vaccine any vaccine as soon as possible. That's not great. That's better than it was before. But still that is not a great number.

So I think sort of what we can take home from this is that this pause, which many people have been so worried about maybe not so worrisome, Americans really do seem to think safety first. That's why the name Operation Warp Speed.

Last year under the Trump administration was so heavily criticized people don't want warp speed. They want thoughtfulness and it feels like from these numbers, a pause is OK. Now Johnson & Johnson, their CFO was on CNBC this morning. And he talked a bit about the benefits and the risks. Let's take a listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSEPH WOLK, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, JOHNSON & JOHNSON: If you think about just here in the U.S, there are a number of underserved populations that need a one shot vaccine. And we also think that's also more prolific perhaps outside the U.S.. We remain very confident and we're hopeful that the benefit risk profile will play out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COHEN: So what he's referring to is that there's a benefit to having one of the vaccines on the market right now be a one shot vaccine much easier to get to. For example, people who are homeless or people who are having trouble getting a vaccine much easier to do a one shot vaccine, John.

KING: Hopefully we'll have a resolution to that by the end of the week, perhaps one way or the other. Elizabeth Cohen grateful for the important reporting and insights there. We'll be right back.

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[12:25:00]

KING: Some breaking news to send to CNN authority say there's an active shooting report at a long island grocery store. You're looking right there at live pictures of that scene right now. Police are canvassing the area detectives in route to the scene again authorities describing it as an active investigation.

Let's bring in CNN's Brynn Gingras for what little we know right now as authorities respond. Brynn, what do we know?

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, John, you could see the heavy police presence that is happening right there in the parking lot of the stop and shop grocery store in West Hempstead, New York which is in Nassau County, which is a suburb of New York City.

What we know is that there are reports of shots fired at that grocery store and that the suspect who fired those shots apparently has fled that area. So the heavy police presence is not only there for the actual shooting on the property, but also trying to find this person that is allegedly responsible for doing this.

And we know that as you said detectives have arrived at the area they're canvassing that area likely going into that grocery store to see what happened inside if there are any witnesses that they could speak to.

We also know that the Nassau County police they put out a statement about this active shooter incident saying this. There has been an active shooter situation at the West Hempstead stop and shop which again is a grocery store.

The Nassau County PD is canvassing the area and nearby schools has been notified to lock down and secure their buildings. The subject has not been apprehended yet. And we ask that area residents remain indoors.

Again, the urgency there the fact that that suspect is not in custody. Of course we're going to stay on this as this is a very new situation. It's still developing and we'll give you updates as soon as we got them John.

KING: Brynn Gingras, appreciate the hustle on this breaking news story. And we will stay on top of it come back when we learn anything else. Up next for us as well we go inside the Derek Chauvin jury deliberations, five men, seven women and two choices, guilty or not guilty.

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