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Trump Voter Admits Casting Deceased Mother's Ballot; Rep. Charlie Crist (D-FL) On Florida Voting Restriction Law; GOP Lawmaker Calls Colleague "Buckwheat" On House Floor. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired May 07, 2021 - 07:30   ET

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

[07:30:00]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: On former Attorney General William Barr, basically saying that testimony that the Justice Department had given -- submissions the Justice Department had given have been misleading about this alleged memo that Barr used to craft his opinion on the Mueller investigation.

So the federal judge is calling the former attorney general disingenuous and misleading. I'm wondering what your thoughts are on that.

ALBERTO GONZALES, FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: Well, obviously, the credibility of the department before our judges is critical. There has to be complete confidence in anything that is said by the department or any information submitted by the department to our federal judges. And so it's extremely troubling, if true.

Again, I don't know the facts of this particular incident but obviously, it's something that all of us should be concerned about because it does affect the affected function of the Department of Justice.

BERMAN: Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, always a pleasure to speak to you. Thank you so much for joining us this morning.

GONZALES: Thanks, John.

BERMAN: Coming up, a Pennsylvania man admits to committing election fraud in 2020 to vote for Donald Trump.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: And brainwashed by Fox News -- the actual defense being offered by a suspect in the Capitol riot.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:35:12]

BERMAN: Dozens of judges in states both red and blue have declared there was no widespread fraud in the 2020 election, but one case has been uncovered in Pennsylvania as a Trump voter just pleaded guilty for casting a ballot for Donald Trump on behalf of his dead mother.

CNN's Jessica Schneider explains why he says he did it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): John and Brianna, a documented case of voter fraud, but this one favoring former President Trump. A Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty to casting a vote in the name of his deceased mother, all in an effort to reelect Donald Trump.

Seventy-year-old Bruce Bartman -- he has now entered a guilty plea to two counts of perjury and one count of unlawful voting, meaning he'll get five years' probation plus he loses his right to vote for four years.

And the voting records show that Bartman used Pennsylvania's online voter registration portal to register both his late mother and his deceased mother-in-law, illegally registering both of them as Republican voters. That's according to the district attorney's office. So then, Bartman filled out an absentee ballot for his mother and sent it in.

He's pleaded guilty and his attorney says it was a misguided political dissent.

But, you know, this just all goes against Donald Trump's calls of a fraudulent election in favor of Joe Biden, first of all, because there is no evidence of widespread fraud and in this one case that we're seeing out of Pennsylvania, the illegal vote was actually cast for Trump -- Brianna and John.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: All right, Jessica. Thank you so much for that report.

Florida is now joining the growing list of Republican-led states that are pushing new limits on voting, all in connection with Donald Trump's baseless claims of fraud in the 2020 election. A new law signed yesterday creates stricter voter I.D. requirements for voting by mail and it limits who can pick up and return a voter's ballot.

Governor Ron DeSantis signed the bill live on Fox. Local media were barred from witnessing the signing.

Joining me now is Florida Democratic Congressman Charlie Crist. He's the former Florida governor who is running for governor again now. Sir, thank you so much for being with us.

How do you think this voting law is going to affect voter turnout?

REP. CHARLIE CRIST (D-FL), CANDIDATE FOR FLORIDA GOVERNOR (via Cisco Webex): It's going to suppress the vote, like Georgia. I mean, it's unconscionable that Florida's doing this.

It wasn't that long ago that Floridians, including Gov. DeSantis, were praising the Florida vote last November, saying how flawless it was, how good it was -- and now they're trying to correct something that's not broken. It makes you wonder what's going on, but I don't wonder about it very

much. I think it's clearly voter suppression. It is wrong. It is anti- democracy, for crying out loud.

And so the notion that they're trying to do this and make it harder for fellow Floridians to vote in the upcoming election in 2022, it's obvious that they're scared they're going to lose if they don't suppress the Democratic and Independent voter turnout and votes by reasonable Republicans as well. It's shameful. It really is.

KEILAR: Assuming that DeSantis runs, are you concerned about this being advantageous to him personally?

CRIST: I think that's why he signed the bill. I think that's why he did it only before Fox News. I think that's why he kept all other media out.

You know, this lack of transparency by his administration is unbelievable. It's really anti-Floridian. Florida's a proud state of happening -- having open Sunshine laws and being transparent. Being forthright with the people, being honest, and this administration is exactly opposite. They're hiding the ball.

When they only "FOX & FRIENDS" come in -- a very friendly broadcaster if you will -- and have the exclusive to having this, it's like a cheerleading exhibition through voter fraud in Florida, and suppressing the vote in Florida, and doing what's wrong for Florida.

We need a Florida for all. We need a hopeful, optimistic, uplifting leader -- somebody who's honest, transparent, and tells the truth and that's what I'm trying to offer in this campaign. And we need help. If people want to help they just can go to charliecrist.com.

It's a tough race. Running against an incumbent is never easy but he makes it easier every day by doing things that just don't make sense and do not help our fellow Floridians, especially our seniors, have the opportunity to vote and vote by mail. It's a Florida tradition and they're trying to take it away and that's simply wrong, it pains me to say.

KEILAR: Well, let me ask you this because Gov. DeSantis has, as you know, kept Florida open much more than other states. A lot of constituents have liked that. At the same time, just this week, Florida has led the nation for increased coronavirus cases and has had a big increase in deaths, still relatively small for the size of the state.

How do you stack yourself up against someone whose response to the economy amid coronavirus, if at odds with science at times, has been popular in Florida?

[07:40:08]

CRIST: I don't think it is all that popular -- I really don't.

What I think is really happening in the Sunshine State is -- let's look at the facts.

Thirty-six thousand of my fellow Floridians are now dead because of the coronavirus. How many might still be alive if the governor actually had a plan when this virus hit? He still doesn't have one. It's been a hodgepodge.

He goes around the state and he has pop-ups where he will give vaccines, and these are in white, Republican, wealthy neighborhoods. And it's unconscionable that you would do that because if you're giving 3,000 to those neighborhoods -- those enclaves that are wealthy -- and they give him campaign contributions.

On the flip side, when he goes to Lakewood Ranch in Manatee County, he's not going to inner-city Bradenton. You know, people of color are being denied the opportunity to gain access the same way that his supporters are gaining access. I mean, that's unbelievably cruel, it is unfair, it is unkind, it's ungodly. It's unbelievable.

I can't imagine that a leader of the state of Florida is being that discriminatory in how he's choosing to save lives or not do so. It's hard to imagine and it's hard to witness. It breaks my heart.

It leads me to run for governor because Florida deserves better. Florida's a special place.

This guy's off running for president already, working to try to get the nomination in 2024, and he's going hard-right in order to capture that base. That's not what Florida is.

Florida is one of the most diverse states in America, Brianna. It's a beautiful place and people come here and should come here, but it's got to be safe first. Safety first is a pretty simple concept and Gov. DeSantis is not paying attention.

KEILAR: Well, Florida is going to be a very interesting state to watch, certainly in the governor's race coming up here. And we appreciate you joining us this morning, Congressman Charlie Crist.

CRIST: My pleasure. Thank you, ma'am.

KEILAR: A suspect in the Capitol insurrection is claiming that he watched too much Fox, and his lawyer has an actual name for that condition.

BERMAN: But first, 50 years after Marvin Gaye famously asked the question "What's Going On," CNN's Don Lemon gives us the behind-the- scenes story of the groundbreaking album that's becoming an anthem for a new generation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARVIN GAYE, SINGER-SONGWRITER: Singing "What's Going On."

ANNOUNCER: Marvin Gaye's groundbreaking "What's Going On."

SMOKEY ROBINSON, SINGER-SONGWRITER: It was the first time that I understood poetry.

GAYE: Singing "What's Going On."

SPIKE LEE, FILM DIRECTOR: It's one of the greatest albums ever made.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: His melody was like a voice of cry (ph).

STEVIE WONDER, SINGER-SONGWRITER: He created something that lasts.

ANNOUNCER: Fifty years later --

GAYE: Singing "What's Going On."

ANNOUNCER: -- why is it an anthem for a new generation?

ROBINSON: It's prophecy, man.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: What do you think Marvin would think about what's going on?

ANNOUNCER: A CNN special report "WHAT'S GOING ON: MARVIN GAYE'S ANTHEM FOR THE AGES," Sunday at 8:00.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:47:34]

KEILAR: A Capitol riot defendant is claiming that Fox made him do it. Attorneys arguing on his behalf that he lost his job and proceeded to watch Fox for the next six months, developing what they called "Foxitis" and "Foxmania" in the process and believing the lies spewed by the network and then-President Trump about the 2020 election.

Let's talk about this with CNN legal and national security analyst Carrie Cordero.

Carrie, this is one of the more creative defenses that we have heard -- that he was, effectively, brainwashed by watching T.V. What do you think?

CARRIE CORDERO, CNN LEGAL AND NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST, FORMER COUNSEL TO U.S. ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR NATIONAL SECURITY (via Cisco Webex): Good morning, Brianna.

So this is something that his defense attorney is certainly entitled to argue but it is not going to be a persuasive defense to the conduct that is being alleged.

I mean, let's talk about the actual investigator's affidavit that's filed in this case. What it alleges the defendant did on January sixth includes a wide range of charges -- unauthorized entry into the Capitol complex, disorderly conduct, physical violence. I'm looking at my notes because I wrote down a few of the -- a few of the charges. Physical violence on the grounds, obstructing a proceeding. And this individual, Mr. Antonio -- he was present in the vicinity when MPD Officer Fanone was being brutally beaten by the crowd. He saw it. He threw something at the officer.

So what the court eventually -- if he does not plead guilty to the charges -- is going to be looking at is the actual conduct and the video evidence and other evidence that exists in the case; not his allegations that he was brainwashed by watching T.V.

KEILAR: You know, it's almost kind of laughable I think, a defense like this. But at the same time -- and maybe this is where you can kind of put your national security hat on just talking about radicalization -- you have these somewhat dedicated silos of information. We see that with Fox viewers. This is what the defendant in this case is alleging.

Is Fox responsible for feeding these lies to folks?

CORDERO: Well, it'll be interesting to see sort of as these all progress. You know, there will be a different track between the criminal prosecutions that are going on right now and whether or not there are civil cases that get filed against Fox in the future for inspiring this conduct.

[07:50:02]

But you mention the national security angle and I think one of the things Brianna that's been so interesting for researchers and experts who follow terrorism of the last couple of decades is that the -- what we used to see when it was al Qaeda-inspired or ISIS-inspired online radicalization.

The government -- the Intelligence Community had different guidelines that they looked at that demonstrated a path of radicalization that an individual here in the United States was subject to that then went from being a regular person to somebody who believed the propaganda that they were consuming on line.

And some of the terrorism researchers see the same type of pattern of radicalization and believing the propaganda that they are consuming when it comes to some of this far-right extremism, as well as the lie about election fraud.

KEILAR: Yes. I mean, the case they make is convincing and the parallels here are disturbing, as you point out.

Carrie, thank you so much.

CORDERO: Thanks, Brianna.

KEILAR: So, moments from now, the April jobs report will be released and it will show -- will it show more signs of an economic rebound -- maybe a big one?

BERMAN: And a Colorado Republican sparking outrage for using a racist term during a debate at the State Capitol. We're going to speak to the lawmaker who confronted him on the floor.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:55:38]

BERMAN: A legislative session of the Colorado State House of Representatives was derailed after a state rep, Richard Holtorf, used a racist term to describe, we think, one of his colleagues in the room.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STATE REP. RICHARD HOLTORF (R-CO): In many ROE rules, you're not allowed to fire until fired upon. Because as when your safety, that is when your life is threatened.

(INAUDIBLE)

HOLTORF: I'm getting there. Don't worry, Buckwheat, I'm getting there.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm sorry --

HOLTORF: Now, what I'd like to say -- what I'd like to say -- and that's an endearing term, by the way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Wow. All right.

So right there -- that woman you see approaching the podium is Colorado State Rep. Leslie Herod, who confronted her colleague following the remarks, and she joins us now. Representative, I appreciate you being with us.

What did --

STATE REP. LESLIE HEROD (D-CO) (via Cisco Webex): Good morning.

BERMAN: What did you say to him?

HEROD: You know, I asked him to leave the well -- to get off the floor. And later, asked him to acknowledge that when someone says something that's offensive or racist that he stops, he calms down, and he apologizes.

You know, we have decorum in the House chamber and a part of that decorum is ensuring that there's no name-calling period. But to call someone such a pejorative and racially charged word on the House floor is completely unacceptable.

BERMAN: It's just -- you know, I've watched it a dozen times and every time he says that out loud you just take a step back and go wow. I wonder -- and that's me, right. I mean, I wonder for you what it was like to hear that term in the well. HEROD: Oh, it was -- it was not surprising but it was extremely offensive and insulting. And I've got to tell you, it was in the direction of me and my colleague David Ortiz. Representative Holtorf later said that it was at David Ortiz, who is a Latino veteran in a wheelchair -- our first wheelchair -- person in a wheelchair in the General Assembly.

And to, again, use such a term -- such a charged term is inappropriate, but not unexpected from this representative or other representatives from the other side of the aisle. We, at the Black Caucus -- and I am the chair -- have been dealing with racial terms, racial insensitivity on the floor this entire session, and quite frankly, it's got to end. This was the last straw.

BERMAN: Why is it happening? I mean, it's an interesting point because we've covered people talking about how great the three-fifths compromise was over the last few weeks. We've covered one state politician talking about the good in slavery.

This seems to be happening more. What's going on here?

HEROD: Oh, it is happening so much more.

And I want to just do a side note. We were talking and debating my bill, which is why I was in the well, around arts funding -- funding for the arts and cultural facilities. It had nothing to do with anything Rep. Holtorf was saying. He just wanted to go down there and see if he could incite people, right.

BERMAN: Yes.

HEROD: That's what he was trying to do -- get a rise out of maybe me or my colleagues or whatnot.

Now, do I think that he was going to use that -- planned to use that term? No. But do I think he's probably used it before? Absolutely.

So why is this happening? I believe that it is in stark contrast in response to the movement for Black lives. To the fact that in Colorado we have made such progress on addressing the issues that have come up from our communities, specifically around racial inequality and the white supremacy and racist roots of this country.

And it is happening in a bipartisan way. Black, white, brown -- we are all coming together to say that we must address this. And there is backlash and people are upset.

Now, I'm a member of leadership as well. I'm a part of the Joint Budget Committee. And I've got to tell you that very similar attacks are being lodged at the budget this year --

BERMAN: (INAUDIBLE)

HEROD: -- because we were talking about diversity inequity.

BERMAN: Representative, I want to play -- because Rep. Holtorf did make what I think he thinks was an apology, I want to play a little bit of it right here.

HEROD: Yes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOLTORF: I think that we all have to do better. I will start with me. But I think we have to respect each other, we have to respect people's time here, and listen and be good people and not try to have confrontations across this chamber. I apologize if I've offended anybody in any way. It is not my intent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Very quickly, did that cut it for you?

HEROD: Absolutely not.