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Capitol Officer Says He Accepts Apology By Rioter; Officials: New Subvariant On The Rise In Nation, But Vaccine Still Protects; Little League Teams Cancel State Championship After Gunfire Scare. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired July 13, 2022 - 07:30   ET

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

[07:30:00]

STAFF SGT. AQUILINO GONELL, U.S. CAPITOL POLICE, DEFENDED CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6: Thank you for that tribute. That's one thing I just have to say to the committee.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: And again, as you said, you had just passed your lieutenant test. You would have been promoted. Instead, you're retiring.

Who do you blame?

GONELL: I blame the -- all those enablers who knew better that the president had lost the election and they continued to went ahead and entertain the idea of instead of telling him no, you can't do this or you already ended all the -- right now, all the possibilities of the processes, they continued to entertain them and to leading to January 6. And now, most of them -- they don't have the courage to come forward and speak about what they did or what they assisted with or orchestrated or planned.

Some people praised them for the courage that they -- some of the witnesses had shown by showing up. I applaud them for it but they could have done that last year --

BERMAN: Sergeant --

GONELL: -- immediately after January 6 happened.

BERMAN: After yesterday's hearing, Stephen Ayres, who testified -- who did testify and was convicted in the riot, came up to you and a couple of your fellow officers and said something. What did he say?

GONELL: He basically apologized and he said he was sorry. I accepted his apology. I'm not a vindictive person. Somehow he still had to answer to the judge criminally and also to his maker.

But I think that apology should have been directed first at Erin Smith, the widow of Jeffrey Smith from MPD who was sitting right next to me yesterday, and he didn't bother to stop. He passed me, he passed Hodges, he passed Erin Smith, he passed Fanone. Not to say that Harry doesn't deserve the apology. But the first person he should have apologized was Erin Smith. Her husband lost his life as a result not only -- I'm not saying that because of what he did but because what he was part of.

And I'm not a vindictive person, so at the end of the day, I'm able to account for my action on January 6. I'm at peace with myself. I'm at peace with what I did on that day.

So whether he did it for -- as an op-ed, a photo op, or just looking for leniency for the judge, that's not for me to decide. I'll take it for what it is.

BERMAN: But you say you're not a vindictive person and you accept the apology.

U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, we thank you, along with the committee, apparently, for your lifetime of service. Appreciate it.

GONELL: Thanks for having me.

BERMAN: First on CNN, a Secret Service agent arrested in Israel after allegedly assaulting a woman outside of a bar. How the agency is responding this morning.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: And a new, more contagious Omicron variant is on the rise. How concerned should we be? We're going to ask Dr. Anthony Fauci next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:37:46]

BERMAN: A new COVID variant is spreading across the country. Omicron subvariant BA.5 caused an estimated 65% of new COVID infections in the U.S. last week, up from 54% the week before. That's according to CDC data.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration is working on a plan to approve a second round of booster shots for all U.S. adults.

With me now, chief medical adviser on COVID-19 to President Biden, and director of the National Institute of Allery and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci. Dr. Fauci, great to see you again.

What's the most concerning part --

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, CHIEF MEDICAL ADVISER ON COVID-19 TO PRESIDENT BIDEN, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: Thank you. Good to be with you, John.

BERMAN: What's the most concerning part about this BA.5 subvariant?

FAUCI: Well, it has what we call a transmission advantage over prior variants. As you know, we've gone through BA.1, BA.2 -- different numbers -- BA2.1 -- 2.1.

Now we have BA.5, which clearly, because of its ability to evade immune responses either from the vaccine or from people who have been previously infected -- the ability to affect an individual is enhanced over prior variants.

And that's the reason why you're seeing where a reported 140,00 or so cases a day. It's likely a gross underestimate because so many people get tested with home kits and don't report it. So we're probably seeing a multi-fold greater number than that 140,000. Deaths are still around 300. But hospitalizations, John, are ticking up.

So this is something you don't want to panic about but we really need to pay attention to it because there are things that we can do to blunt that. I mean, we still don't have as many people vaccinated as we need -- only 67% of the population. Only half of those are boosted.

We need to be using the mitigations that we have available. Masking, where appropriate. Vaccinating people who aren't vaccinating, and boosting people who are ready and eligible for their boost. We can do that but we're not doing it to the extent that we should be doing it.

BERMAN: You said this new variant increases the likelihood of reinfection for people who have had it. How quickly can you be reinfected?

[07:40:05]

FAUCI: Well, you know, it really varies, John. I mean, usually, immediately after you've been infected within a period of weeks to a month or so you're pretty much protected because of the immune response. Some people -- and they're outliers -- have been documented to be infected weeks to a month after the initial infection. But most of the time the protection lasts for a few months. But if somebody was infected several months ago, particularly if they were infected with Omicron, the protection that's given to you against BA.5 wanes and diminishes pretty rapidly over a period of several months.

BERMAN: If you haven't received a shot this year -- a booster or your second vaccine dose -- if you have not received a shot in 2022, how much has your immunity waned?

FAUCI: Considerably. I mean, when you wait -- the thing that is important to note is that immunity against infection wanes pretty quickly and it goes way, way down. What we've been fortunate is that the immunity against severe disease leading to hospitalization and unfortunately, death in some cases, tends to hold reasonably well. But it's slipping. Where it was up to 90, 80, then it goes down to 70, 75, 65, and 50, then you're really in a situation where you really do need a boost.

And we know when you get out 6-7 months or so -- we're not in July. We're in the seventh month of the year. Most people who have not received a booster this year have a diminished immunity.

BERMAN: Should people be masking indoors again given the extra- infectious nature of this new variant?

FAUCI: Well, as the CDC makes it very clear, depending upon the density of infection and the dynamics of infection in the place where you live. And you see if you look at the map where just a couple of months ago it was a lot of green and some yellow. Now we're seeing a fair amount of orange, which means you really should, in an indoor setting -- a congregate setting -- be wearing masks.

It's just the appropriate thing to do to defend -- to protect yourself and your family and those around you. Because you could get infected and inadvertently, without any symptoms, transmit it to someone perhaps in your own household who is vulnerable -- either an elderly person or someone with immune compromise. And that's the reason why you're in an area where the infection dynamic is high you should wear a mask in a congregate indoor setting.

BERMAN: What's the current timetable, do you think, for approval for Americans under 50 to get their second booster shot?

FAUCI: Well, it's being very seriously and actively considered, John. We were talking about this just literally every day for the last couple of days.

Obviously, this is something that is an FDA regulatory decision. Those are the people most qualified to look at the data and to make a decision whether or not they would extend the regulation to be able to give it to people less than 50.

But I can tell you this is something that is being actively discussed. I can't predict if and when it will happen but I believe it's going to be within a very reasonable period of time.

BERMAN: We're happy to see you because we know that you had COVID. How are you feeling now, and what have you learned from getting through it?

FAUCI: Well, first of all, thank you for asking, John. I appreciate that.

I'm actually feeling fine. And I think I'm an example of someone who because of my age falls into a high-risk category. I was vaccinated and doubly boosted, and I'm relatively certain that had I not been vaccinated and double boosted I might have had a much more severe course than I had.

I was fortunate. It was relatively mild. I've completely recovered, thank goodness. I feel back to normal. But I don't think it would have been that way had I not been vaccinated and boosted.

BERMAN: All right, Dr. Anthony Fauci. We're glad you're back to normal. Nice to see you again.

FAUCI: Thank you, John. Good to be with you.

BERMAN: So, Starbucks announcing it is closing more than a dozen locations across the country. We'll tell you why.

KEILAR: And terrifying --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAITLIN KOSZCZEPKI, MOTHER OF CHILD AT LITTLE LEAGUE SHOOTING: There's a live shooting here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: This game is interrupted by gunfire. We're joined next by the mother who captured it all on video.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:48:38]

KEILAR: Gunshots ringing out at a Little League game in North Carolina.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(Gunshots)

Players running off the field.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: You can see the players running off the field, some of them hitting the ground. And then you see some of the adults Army crawling across the field. Thankfully, no one was injured.

One mom captured the chaos from the stands.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KOSZCZEPKI: There's a live shooting here. There's a live shooter. There's a live shooter. There's a live shooter.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's going on?

KOSZCZEPKI: I don't know.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Somebody's shooting.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh my God, stop the live.

KOSZCZEPKI: No, I'm keeping it on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: No suspect has been identified in this shooting.

And joining us now is the mother who took that video, Caitlin Koszczepki. Caitlin, thank you for being with us.

I just want to be very clear with people about what you were doing. You were Facebook living this so that people could watch the game. Tell us what you were --

KOSZCZEPKI: Yes.

KEILAR: -- thinking as this happened. KOSZCZEPKI: Yes, ma'am. The tournament was six hours away so there was a lot of people back in Franklin that wanted to watch and be able to support these boys from home. And when it happened it was -- I mean, we were all in complete shock. We didn't even really understand or know what was going on a first.

KEILAR: So you kept it on because you didn't want them --

[07:50:00]

KOSZCZEPKI: Yes.

KEILAR: -- to worry if it turned off?

KOSZCZEPKI: Correct. I was -- I was afraid that if I shut it off after they heard gunshots that they would be even more worried. And I figured if I left it on it would help --

KEILAR: And your --

KOSZCZEPKI: -- and it leaves them reassured to know that as long as my live stayed on that maybe things were OK.

KEILAR: So, your son was playing in the game. How was --

KOSZCZEPKI: Yes, ma'am.

KEILAR: Where was he, and how is he feeling now?

KOSZCZEPKI: He was in the dugout at the time because they were switching innings and we were fixing to go up to bat. And he's actually handling it fairly well. I've been extremely proud of him and the way that he's been handling this situation as an 8-year-old.

KEILAR: But how did you feel, Caitlin, unable to get to him?

KOSZCZEPKI: Terrified because they make it to where parents don't -- can't interfere or mess with the boys during the game. And so when something like this happens you can't get to your kid, and that's the worst feeling in the world.

KEILAR: So the teams actually -- this is the state championship. I mean, this is high-level competition and they pulled out because they don't feel safe.

KOSZCZEPKI: Correct. Every single team pulled out and went home from the state tournament.

KEILAR: So what's going on here? Have police figured this out?

KOSZCZEPKI: I -- no. We have not had any communication or confirmation on anything.

KEILAR: Does this change anything for you, Caitlin, going forward? I mean, about how you worry about things when you're in the stands or about safety precautions that you or the other folks -- part of this team take?

KOSZCZEPKI: I mean, absolutely. I mean, I'll never be at a baseball game anywhere without my -- you know, my guard on. And you think you're ready until it happens and then you realize you're really not. So, yes -- I mean, I'll definitely have my guard on a lot more than before.

KEILAR: Well, Caitlin Koszczepki, thank you for being with us --

KOSZCZEPKI: Absolutely.

KEILAR: -- and your quick thinking of keeping it on so that the other parents could see the conclusion of this. We -- pretty amazing. Thanks for being with us.

KOSZCZEPKI: Absolutely. Thank you.

KEILAR: Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine is raging on and so is his war on the truth. Your reality check, next.

BERMAN: And newly-released audio of Steve Bannon days before the election, laying out a plan to declare victory whether Trump won or not.

And the former spokesman for the Oath Keepers who testified at the hearing will join us live.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:56:41]

BERMAN: The Russian push in Eastern Ukraine taking new, violent turns -- even as Vladimir Putin increases his propaganda campaign.

John Avlon with a reality check.

JOHN AVLON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Vladimir Putin's bloody invasion of Ukraine is now in its fifth month and he's betting that sooner or later you'll stop paying attention. Yes, I know -- there's a lot going on, from inflation to mass shootings, to the overturning of Roe, to an escalating investigation into an ex-president's attempted coup, but we cannot look away from mass murder in our time.

In the last few weeks, we've seen Russian increase its targeting of civilians, firing rockets at a mall and more apartment blocks, all while trying to seal off the city of Melitopol in southeastern Ukraine. At the same time, Ukrainian forces are putting up a David versus Goliath fight, killing at least 10 Russian generals as of May.

But beyond the battlefield and its fundamental challenge to human rights and the rule of law, the downstream effects of this invasion are creating food shortages around the world, pressuring fuel prices, and even raising the specter of nuclear war.

Now, the facts are there for all to see but not inside Russia because, of course, authoritarians always declare war on the truth as well. They wield disinformation as a weapon -- a cynical strategy sometimes called the fire hose of falsehood designed not to convince but to confuse.

Now, one tactic is to flip the script using denial, deflection, and projection to blatantly lie and accuse your opponents of what you have been credibly accused of. Like when Vladimir Putin gave a recent speech at an international law conference -- and no, that's not the punchline. And he said -- get this -- "There can be no other definition for the Kyiv regime's actions than a crime against humanity."

Now, of course, it's Russia that's being actively investigated for war crimes in Ukraine, but the goal is to blur distinctions. Apparatchiks will echo it for careerist reasons and some blind followers will even actually believe it.

That's not the only tributary of this firehose of falsehood strategy. Here's another technique which might seem familiar. It's the 'I'm offended' defense.

Now, this was on display when the Kremlin indignantly demanded to see the U.K. ambassador to scold her for offensive rhetoric about Putin that was not fit for polite society, they said, including what they called deliberately false information, in particular, about alleged Russian threats to use nuclear weapons. Now, there's nothing alleged about these nuclear threats. They've been leveled repeatedly by the Kremlin during its invasion.

But, of course, this is classic bully playing the victim stuff, pretending that telling the truth is offensive in an attempt to quiet criticism. Talk about putting feelings over facts. It's worth remembering there is no right not to be offended and if the truth hurts -- well, so be it.

Look, compared to the bloody human cost these may seem like small sins, but Putin's war on truth is the background music to his actual war on the people of Ukraine. Because authoritarians want to numb people. They want apathy to aid their power grabs.

And brazen lies are a core part of the authoritarian playbook. That's exactly why we need to confront disinformation directly so that it doesn't become normalized and so we can recognize its echoes wherever they appear.

And that's your reality check.

BERMAN: Important reminders, John. Thank you so much.

And NEW DAY continues right now.