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U.S. Officials Investigate Massive Cyberattack; FDA Votes to Approve Moderna Vaccine; Congressional Leaders Near Stimulus Deal as Another 885,000 File First-Time Jobless Claim; Incoming White House Senior Adviser Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA) Tests Positive for COVID; Putin Blasts CNN's Exclusive Probe of Opposition Leader's Poisoning as a "Trick" to Attack Russia. Aired 6-7p ET

Aired December 17, 2020 - 18:00   ET

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

[18:00:00]

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: A key FDA advisory panel just voted to recommend emergency use authorization for a second COVID-19 vaccine here in the United States, this one from Moderna.

The nation now being hit by the pandemic like never before, with more than 310,000 deaths and 17.1 million confirmed cases, the daily death toll here in the U.S. soaring to a new high, with nearly 4,000 lives lost in a 24-hour period. But the outgoing president is silent about the suffering, remaining checked out during a time of multiple emergencies, including a major Russian cyberattack against the United States, as well as the urgent need for economic relief to millions and millions of Americans who are suffering right now.

Tonight, we're told congressional leaders are inching closer to a stimulus deal, as another 885,000 Americans had to file for first-time jobless claims just last week. That's the highest level since early September.

Let's start off our coverage this hour with CNN's Alexandra Field with the breaking news on the FDA advisory committee's vote.

Alexandra, Moderna's vaccine is a major step closer and closer to being authorized for use here in the United States.

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: More vaccines is exactly what this country needs. It's what people are waiting for.

Yes, Wolf, this does take us closer in that direction. It takes us closer to the goal of getting enough vaccines for every American who wants one by June.

But there's a lot of pain, a lot of heartache being felt along the way and new projections now about more to come.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FIELD (voice-over): Moderna's vaccine could now be just days away from reaching Americans. Tonight, an FDA advisory panel is recommending authorization of what would be the nation's second COVID vaccine. Earlier today, the panel heard accounts from scientists, doctors and people who survived COVID.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's a lot of long-term effects of COVID. After I was at home for a few months, I developed some severe atrial arrhythmias. When they subsided, I have developed severe hypertension, which I'm still battling.

FIELD: It comes just a day after one of the darkest in our history, the pandemic at its all-time worst.

DANIEL TREVINO, SIBLING OF COVID-19 VICTIMS: One minute, they are OK, you're talking to them FaceTime. Then, all of a sudden, you have to FaceTime them again, and they talk to you and they're hooked up to like six different machines with tubes going down their bodies. And then that's the last image you're going to have of your loved one.

FIELD: Three thousand, six-hundred and fifty-six American lives reported lost to COVID on Wednesday, over 300 more than the deadliest day before. The amount of suffering is staggering, a record 113,000 COVID patients in hospital beds, and, in just a day, nearly a quarter- million new COVID cases confirmed, all records of all that's gone wrong.

DR. CARLOS DEL RIO, PROFESSOR OF GLOBAL HEALTH, EMORY UNIVERSITY: We're just not seeing people doing the implementation necessary to stem the tide of this virus right now.

FIELD: A new CDC forecast adds tens of thousands more deaths to predictions for the next few weeks, as many as 391,000 by January 9.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, these patients, when they are dying, they are alone.

FIELD: Nevada and five other states hitting a record high for deaths reported in a single day. The White House COVID Task Force says the fall surge is merging with the post-Thanksgiving surge to create a winter surge, with the most rapid increase in cases yet.

Tennessee now among states with the fastest spread of the virus.

GOV. BILL LEE (R-TN): One thing that this vaccine will not solve, one thing that it will not cure is selfishness or indifference to what's happening to our neighbors around us.

FIELD: The rollout of Pfizer's vaccine, the first to hit the market, continues across the country, with 900 more deliveries scheduled today. A shipping error forced New Mexico to throw out 75 doses that shipped at the wrong temperature.

But pharmacists also say they're finding some vials of the Pfizer vaccines have extra doses.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I had to get ready for the vaccine.

FIELD: A bit of a boost, as certain states learn they're getting less for now than what they expected. Iowa says it's working with federal partners to figure out why they're receiving as much as 30 percent less than what they planned for.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FIELD: So, Pfizer has put out a statement saying they're not experiencing any shipment delays or issues with the production process.

A spokesperson for HHS says that allocations have not been reduced, by that they could be spread out over a longer period of time now.

But, Wolf, the bottom line is that states will be learning every week how many shipments they should be getting in the following week. For example, next week, we're expecting, if the Moderna vaccine gets its authorization, that you should see nearly eight million vaccines going out.

So, in the next few weeks, we should see whether the reality is matching the expectation -- Wolf.

BLITZER: We shall we.

All right, Alexandra, thank you very much.

[18:05:00]

Now to the Trump White House and the president's refusal to focus on much of anything besides his election grievances and his grudges.

Let's go to our chief White House correspondent, Jim Acosta.

Jim, you're hearing even some Trump advisers have now finally had enough; is that right?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Some of them have had it, Wolf. That's right. Even some of the president's own advisers are growing weary of Mr. Trump's complaints about losing the election.

As one adviser told me -- quote -- "Whining is unbecoming. Life is not fair. So what?"

But the president is nursing these grievances as the pandemic is raging out of control and an old nemesis, Russia, is once again testing the U.S. As Moscow appears to have ties to a massive cyberattack against the federal government, Mr. Trump barely seems to notice.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA (voice-over): One day after the death toll from the coronavirus in the U.S. reached an all-time high, injecting more misery into the U.S. economy, President Trump is out of sight and out of touch, actually taking a victory lap on the pandemic, tweeting: "All-time stock market high. The vaccine and the vaccine rollout are getting the best of reviews. Moving along really well. Get those shots, everyone. Also, stimulus talks looking very good." Instead of crushing the virus, the Trump administration is still carrying out its assault on the election, with Vice President Mike Pence echoing his boss' bogus claims of voter fraud.

MIKE PENCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Now, I know we have all got doubts about the last election. That's why we're going to keep right on fighting.

ACOSTA: Pence was out stumping for Georgia's endangered Republican senators, who, like much of the GOP, can't admit Joe Biden beat Mr. Trump.

QUESTION: Have you that acknowledged that Biden is going to be the president?

SEN. KELLY LOEFFLER (R-GA): Look, the president has a right to every legal recourse. That's what's playing out right now. I am focused on winning this race on January 5.

QUESTION: But have you acknowledged that Biden is going to be president?

LOEFFLER: Look, my focus is on winning this race right now. It's vitally important that Georgians understand the American dream is on the ballot.

ACOSTA: Behind the scenes, sources say the president is not just fixated on the election. He's obsessed with Joe Biden's son Hunter.

Not so, Mr. Trump tweeted, insisting: "I have nothing to do with the potential prosecution of Hunter Biden or the Biden family. It is just more fake news. Actually, I find it very sad to watch."

But his own advisers are tired of hearing it. As one source close to the White House told CNN: "Mr. Trump's whining is unbecoming. Life is not fair. So what?"

The president also has yet to denounce Russia's suspected role in a recent cyberattack on U.S. federal agencies through a massive data breach. As Mr. Trump's former Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert wrote in a "New York Times" op-ed: "President Trump is on the verge of leaving behind a federal government and perhaps a large number of major industries compromised by the Russian government."

It's a reminder of the time the president sided with Vladimir Putin over U.S. intelligence agencies on Russian interference in 2016.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They said they think it's Russia. I have President Putin. He just said it's not Russia. I will say this. I don't see any reason why it would be.

ACOSTA: A show of weakness that outraged his own advisers.

JOHN BOLTON, FORMER U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: I think Putin is smart, tough. I think he sees that he's not faced with a serious adversary here. I think Putin thinks he can play him like a fiddle. I don't think he's worried about Donald Trump.

ACOSTA: In a statement, Biden warned Russia: "As president, I will not stand idly by in the face of cyber-assaults on our nation."

Despite the Russian threat, Mr. Trump tweeted he will veto a bipartisan defense bill, arguing the legislation would -- quote -- "make China very unhappy. They love it."

SEN. ANGUS KING (I-ME): We got to get this defense bill passed because there's so much in it to help us defend ourselves. Ironically, the bill is sitting on the president's desk at the moment of this most recent attack.

ACOSTA: As for the pandemic, the president's own close advisers are now breaking from his leadership on COVID-19, all but begging Trump supporters to use masks.

CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), FORMER GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY: This message isn't for everyone. It's for all those people who refuse to wear a mask. You know, lying in isolation in an ICU for seven days, I thought about how wrong I was to remove my mask at the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA: Now, the White House says the president has now been briefed on the suspected Russian cyberattack, but, Wolf, tonight, he remains silent on the hacking. And once again, Wolf, it seems the president is suffering from Putin impotence -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Jim Acosta, stay with us.

I want to bring in senior political reporter, Nia-Malika Henderson, as well, and our senior political analyst, David Gergen.

Nia, the president, as we just heard, he's silent, even as the pandemic is spiraling out of control here in the U.S. The federal government is scrambling to try to deal with this major cyberattack. How stunning is this? This is, for all practical purposes, a complete abdication of responsibility.

NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: Listen, it's stunning, but it is not surprising.

We have all watched this president over the last four years decide he's more interested in tweeting, more interested in spreading misinformation, at this point, more interested in sort of self-pity about losing this last election.

[18:10:02]

That is where he has focused for these last many years. So, here he comes at the last month or so of his presidency. So, he's doing what he has always done.

And all Americans, unfortunately, are paying the price. We see there on the screen 310,000 total deaths from COVID, 17 million cases. All the experts predicted that this would happen. And you saw an administration that went for months and months and months saying masks, take them or leave them, depending on what you want to do, encouraging large gatherings.

And so, we see the results of this constant abdication of responsibility for this presidency. And so, with just weeks left, the irony is, he is fighting to keep a job he doesn't want to do. And he certainly is not doing right now.

BLITZER: David, I want you to listen to something that Senator Mitt Romney just said about the president's silence as far as the cyberattack is concerned. Listen to this.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

SEN. MITT ROMNEY (R-UT): Our national security is extraordinarily vulnerable. And in this setting, not to have the White House aggressively speaking out and protesting and taking punitive action is really, really quite extraordinary.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

BLITZER: David, you served multiple presidents of both parties. Have you ever seen a president so checked out during his final weeks in office? Would you say this is unprecedented?

DAVID GERGEN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: I don't think we have had anything like this in almost 90 years, Wolf.

The last time it happened was with Herbert Hoover in the midst of the Depression. He lost by a landslide to FDR. And he didn't have to -- he didn't leave office until March 4. And there was that long period of time when Hoover actually dug in his heels, refused to do anything.

The Depression got a lot worse. Only when FDR came in did the comeback begin. But it was irresponsible then. It's irresponsible now.

In this particular case, Wolf, I think it's particularly stunning on this national security front and the Russians with their cyberattacks. As you know so well, the most important meeting on the president's daily schedule is the national security briefing, along with the overnight briefing papers that the president is supposed to read.

This president has not had a national security briefing, a regular daily briefing, since October 2. We have never, ever seen a president so AWOL on questions of national security, especially when it's -- all the questions arise about what his relationship with Putin is. Really, it's almost beyond stunning.

BLITZER: It is stunning.

Jim, the president focusing almost all of his energy simply on the grievances that he has, his desperate scheme to try to stay in power, even though the Electoral College has ruled, you know what, he's the loser in this election right now. Biden was the winner. Why does he want to keep his job so badly, if he apparently has no

real interest in doing what is so necessary in the midst of this pandemic, for example, and the cyberattack?

ACOSTA: Wolf, I think it's because the sore loser-ism continues.

I talked to a Trump adviser who said, this whining is unbecoming. Life is not fair. It's time to move on. Get over it. "So what?" this adviser said.

But the president just can't get over this loss. And it is very Herbert Hoover-like, I think. David Gergen is exactly right. But the scope of the damage that is being done, I don't think we're going to be able to measure that for some time, Wolf.

Keep in mind, we're seeing daily death tolls that are breaking records almost every day, and the president is sequestered behind closed doors, not getting out from front of the cameras, not encouraging people to wear masks and practice social distancing and get in line to get a vaccine and so on.

That does damage. You know, when the vice president is out there in front of the cameras, as he will be tomorrow morning, to send the message that people should get their vaccination, he is essentially serving the role as -- of the president right now, the vice president is.

And getting to this Russian cyberattack, it's really stunning, Wolf, to not hear the president once again take on Vladimir Putin. This is one of the through lines of the story of the Trump administration, of the Trump presidency, Donald Trump's unwillingness to take on Vladimir Putin.

This happened during the 2016 campaign. And it's lasted this all -- this phenomenon, this strange deformity, has lasted all the way through this transition period into the Joe Biden administration. He just will not confront Vladimir Putin.

In this instance, it could be one of the most severe cyberattacks this country has ever experienced.

BLITZER: Yes, sounds like the most severe.

Nia, Joe Biden, on the other hand, he is trying to show the American public that he is laser-focusing in on these issues. He's vowing action on the cyberattack. He's keeping the coronavirus pandemic at the center of his preparations in advance of taking office.

[18:15:00]

What do you make of this contrast?

HENDERSON: Listen, this is likely why Joe Biden won the White House, why he won seven million more votes, why he was able to rebuild that blue wall. He has empathy. He is attacking these problems, the economic fallout

of COVID, the health devastation it has caused all over this country. He's attacking those problems with urgency. And I think that was what is so lacking from the current occupant of the White House and why, on January 20, he will find his presidency coming to an end.

BLITZER: David, how do you see it?

GERGEN: Yes, I can't express enough how much I think Joe Biden is different, because he loves public policy. He loves being down in the arenas trying to figure these things out.

President Trump doesn't like any of this. He likes the trappings of power. And I think that's one of the reasons why Biden is off to a promising start.

BLITZER: All right, guys, stand by.

We're following more breaking news right now in THE SITUATION ROOM on a second coronavirus vaccine getting the green light here in the U.S.

We will talk to two members of the FDA's advisory committee that just issued its recommendation a little while ago.

We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:20:30]

BLITZER: We're back with breaking news.

A key FDA panel gave the green light for a second coronavirus vaccine here in the United States, the committee recommending emergency use authorization for Moderna's vaccine.

Joining us now, two members of the FDA advisory panel that voted just a short while ago, Dr. James Hildreth and Dr. Hayley Gans.

Sanjay Gupta, our chief medical correspondent, is still with us.

Dr. Hildreth, I know you both voted to recommend the FDA grant emergency use authorization for the Moderna vaccine. I think the vote was 20-0, with one abstention. Dr. Hildreth, why did you vote yes?

DR. JAMES HILDRETH, FDA VACCINES ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Wolf, thank you for having me.

I voted yes because the data that was presented to us was very strong. The efficacy was consistent across all the age groups. They included people with chronic conditions, which is really important. They also had data in people over 65.

And I think the safety package that was put in front of us was acceptable, more than acceptable. So, given where we are in the pandemic, I felt compelled to vote yes on this on this very strong result from Moderna.

BLITZER: Very impressive.

Dr. Gans, you also voted yes. Explain your decision.

DR. HAYLEY GANS, FDA VACCINES ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Yes, thank you very much, Wolf, for having me.

I think this is a really exciting moment. I would agree with Dr. Hildreth that the data that was presented to us was striking in its efficacy and across the groups that they did get to test. This was a fairly large study, and the safety was in mostly the mild/moderate, and that really compelled us to make this positive vote.

BLITZER: You know, Dr. Gupta is with us. And he has a few questions for both of you.

Sanjay, go ahead.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, thank you.

Dr. Hildreth, I'm curious. I guess the fundamental question you were trying to answer is, do the benefits outweigh the risks when it comes to this vaccine? And the benefits sound clear. As you're saying, it's a pretty effective vaccine.

How do you contextualize the risks? We have been hearing about these allergic reactions and a few cases of things like Bell's palsy in the clinical trials. How do you describe -- what's the significance of those things in terms of the overall risk?

HILDRETH: So, Dr. Gupta, I think that we certainly discussed those things.

And, normally, when you have a new vaccine, if there are going to be severe reactions, they normally occur within the first six weeks or so. That's why the minimum follow-up was thought to be eight -- two months, or eight weeks. And the data we had in front of us was from nine weeks.

The Bell's palsy is clearly something to be concerned about. But if you look at the frequency of Bell's palsy in the general population, the numbers that we see are not out of bounds with that. And the other thing that gives me some comfort is there's a robust follow-up system in place, so that everyone who gets the vaccine will be followed for any adverse reactions that we don't catch that weren't seen in the vaccine study.

So, there are certainly things that we can be concerned about, but I think Moderna did a great job of controlling for those things. And, again, we're going to have a really, really extensive follow-up mechanism to keep track of events in the vaccine recipients.

GUPTA: Got it.

And I imagine, Dr. Hildreth, Dr. Gans, both of you would be willing to take the vaccine.

But, Dr. Gans, I was showing Dr. Francis Collins earlier some data out of Grady Hospital in Atlanta saying about one-third of health care workers say they'd absolutely get it, a third wanted still more information, and a third say that they won't get it right now.

I'm just curious, like, what do you -- Dr. Gans, what do you make of data like that? What would you say to people right now, especially in that middle group who say they just want more information?

GANS: Yes, I would say that thank you and to the show for giving us that opportunity to give the information that I think we need to give.

I think it's really -- once people see how efficacious and safe these vaccines are, again, realizing that these are (AUDIO GAP) trials that were done to bring these to where we are now.

The side effects that we're seeing, as Dr. Hildreth had mentioned, are likely side effects people have if they were to become ill with the disease. So, these can still be preventative. They can still be less mild, and I think that most people will see that this is really the path that we need to move forward.

And so I would say to individuals that this is not a virus that you want to get infected with, but you want to gain protective immunity in this safer fashion.

[18:25:07]

BLITZER: Whatever side effect you may get from the shot, it's a lot better than actually coming down with COVID-19, which potentially could be deadly.

Dr. Hildreth, Moderna, we're now told, did have some trouble during its trial enrolling enough minorities. Did you get answers on that issue during today's lengthy meeting?

HILDRETH: So, Wolf, my concern was that the minorities that were enrolled in the trial, a large number of them were enrolled late in the trial.

I wanted to be sure that there was adequate follow-up for those minorities who were enrolled at the -- in the -- later in the study. And I think Moderna answered my questions satisfactorily, that we have adequate follow-up on the minorities.

And I would just like to say that I agree with Dr. Gans. We have to do a good job of making it clear to people that the process has not been rushed. There are a lot of reasons why we're able to do this so quickly, technology being one, infrastructure another, and the fact that parallel processes were used to get us to this point fairly quickly.

So, I think if we can demonstrate to everyone that none of the steps required to assure safety have been omitted, on top of the efficacy that we have seen and the safety profile, I think we can convince people to accept the vaccine.

BLITZER: Yes, I think you're absolutely right.

Sanjay, so, what happens next? Walk us through what this emergency use authorization means. How soon will we see the first Moderna vaccinations here in the U.S.? The Pfizer vaccinations now have been going on for several days.

GUPTA: Yes.

I think it's going to feel very familiar in terms of the rollout. We can put up the calendar here. But, obviously, this committee -- and thank you both for your service, by the way.

This committee has recommended to the FDA that this vaccine be authorized. The FDA will make a decision. Last time, Pfizer made it the next day -- I'm sorry -- the FDA made the decision on the Pfizer vaccine the next day. They may make a decision tonight or tomorrow on Moderna, and it looks very positive.

But there's the calendar. December 18 through the 21st, states are going to be planning, preordering the Moderna vaccine, just like they did with the Pfizer vaccine. You are also going to have CDC advisory recommendations coming in basically saying the who, what, when, who should be getting this, when should they be getting it.

And, Wolf, possibly December 22, we could be seeing the shipments happening and possibly the vaccinations starting, so pretty quickly. It's a pretty quick process. They have been manufacturing the vaccine for some time, so the doses should be available.

BLITZER: Just before Christmas. Good timing, indeed.

Dr. Hildreth, thank you so much for everything you're doing. We're grateful to you.

Dr. Gans, we're also grateful to you.

Sanjay, we always love having you here in THE SITUATION ROOM. Thanks so much to all of you for joining us.

Just ahead, we're going to get the latest on negotiations for a new coronavirus relief package, the negotiations going up on Capitol Hill, as millions upon millions of Americans are suffering right now, and another government shutdown threat looms.

I will speak with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal. He's standing by live.

We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:30:00]

BLITZER: We're following breaking news on the struggle in Congress right now to try to finalize a major coronavirus relief deal as more and more Americans are out of work and they're facing severe economic distress.

We're joined now by Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, a key member of the Judiciary Committee. Senator, thank you so much for joining us.

The majority leader, Mitch McConnell, says it is highly unlikely stimulus negotiations will now have to continue into the weekend. Do you remain optimistic there will soon be a deal to get some desperately needed help to these millions of Americans who are suffering right now?

SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-CT): I'm very, very hopeful, Wolf. I think we are at the proverbial five-yard line, almost across the goal line. But, you know, this aid is way late and too little.

And I'm angry and I'm heartbroken for the 3,400 families that today lost a loved one and for the people waiting in food lines, I saw them the day before Thanksgiving in Connecticut, and testing lines, I saw them the day after. And I have been on Zoom calls with small businesspeople hanging by a thread with hospital heads lacking resources, including testing and they need money to distribute the vaccine.

The hurt and harm for our country is so pressing. To delay for even a few more days is simply reprehensible, in my view. We should have come together long before now.

BLITZER: Yes, we should have come together months ago. I know you support stimulus checks for Americans who are so desperately struggling right now, Senator, but Democrats also pushed very hard for state and local aid, money which now appears to be off the table, no significant sums of money going to the states and local governments that need it. Why was supplying local aid deemed controversial?

BLUMENTHAL: In essence, Mitch McConnell held hostage that state and local aid in order to get protection for corporate wrongdoers, essentially the broad immunity from liability for law breakers who harmed individuals.

[18:35:13]

And that was the kind of price that simply couldn't be paid for state and local aid, which is essential to my state of Connecticut, which faces severe fiscal obstacles to distribute the vaccine, to keep kids in school, to pay firefighters and police as well as teachers.

And so we remain committed to state and local aid, and what we're trying to do is meet those needs of state and local governments by taking that same amount of money, 160 million, and distributing it differently.

BLITZER: At this point, I know you're not thrilled with everything in this deal, are you prepared to vote yay in favor of the proposal? BLUMENTHAL: I am prepared to vote in favor. We can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. And what I see in these Zoom calls with my constituents in the emails I receive and the conversations I have is such hurt, I think we have an obligation to meet it immediately and then regard this package as a rescue bridge to a much more robust and effective program from the Biden administration, not in the billions of dollars but literally in the trillions.

BLITZER: Well, let's see what happens on that front.

While I have you, Senator, let me ask you about this massive cyberattack against the United States. Are you surprised that we have heard absolutely nothing from the president about it because your colleague, Senator Mitt Romney, he certainly is very angry about this silence coming from the president?

BLUTMENTHAL: The American people ought to be angry about this cyberattack, which is almost certainly one of the most destructive cyber intrusions in our nation's history. It has all the hallmarks of the not patria attack in 2017, which cost hundreds of billions of dollars.

And what's so alarming is that Vladimir Putin and his malware is likely now sitting inside those computers of some of the most sensitive and important national security and defense agencies in our government, as well as critical infrastructure. That malware is ready to potentially take down those systems, as well as take away secrets.

For the president to be totally silent and preoccupied with trying to overturn the lawful results of this election is absolutely incomprehensible. In fact, more than his silence is his tweeting about vetoing the National Defense Authorization Act passed overwhelmingly on a bipartisan basis by both Houses of Congress and it has critical cyber tools and authorities that are necessary to defend more effectively against this cyberattack and also disrupt and deter this absolutely frightening Russian attack.

Unfortunately, I can't tell you everything I've received in these two classified briefings I've received. The American people deserve and need to know -- we need a commission to investigate why we continue to be so vulnerable and why the president seems to be in Vladimir Putin's pocket.

BLITZER: This clearly needs to be addressed because the threats and the damage right now, the stakes are so enormous. Senator Blumenthal, thanks so much for joining us.

BLUMENTHAL: Thank you.

BLITZER: Just ahead, an incoming member of the Biden administration just tested positive for COVID-19. Stand by. We have the details.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:40:00] BLITZER: We're following breaking news in the Biden transition. An incoming member of the Biden administration has just announced a positive test for COVID-19.

CNN's Jeff Zeleny is following all of this from Wilmington, Delaware for us. Jeff, so tell us what you're learning.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, we are learning that Louisiana Congressman Cedric Richmond, who will be an incoming senior adviser to the White House, has tested positive for coronavirus. The transition released this just a few moments ago.

And we do know that the congressman was traveling to Atlanta on Tuesday where Mr. Biden was also campaigning for those critical Senate runoff races. But we are told that they were not -- they did not have extended close contact. They were outside. So, they're saying that Mr. Biden was in no danger here. So he will be quarantining.

All this is coming as the cabinet still remains to be fully filled here. One big question mark is attorney general.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE BIDEN, U.S. PRESIDENT-ELECT: It's cabinet that's battle tested, qualified, experienced, creative, innovative and forward-looking.

ZELENY (voice-over): It's also a cabinet with key vacancies that President-elect Joe Biden is still scrambling to fill none bigger than attorney general. And deliberations over who Biden will nominate have emerged to some of the most complicated of the transition. CNN has learned the top contenders are Judge Merrick Garland and Alabama Senator Doug Jones.

Garland, whose nomination to the Supreme Court by President Obama was blocked by Senate Republicans, he's seen by allies as politically independent and unassailable at a time when rebuilding trust in the Justice Department will be critical.

Jones has a strong civil rights record from his prosecution of the Klan in Alabama, and he's a long-time loyal friend to Biden.

[18:45:06]

Those are the competing questions. A top Biden ally tells CNN. Someone perceived as above reproach or someone closer to Biden.

The attorney general's role is complicated by any fallout from the post-Trump era and by the federal investigation of Hunter Biden's business dealings.

The president-elect as defended his son again this week.

QUESTION: Are you confident your son Hunter did nothing wrong?

BIDEN: I'm confident. ZELENY: But even saying those two words could create a problem for a

new president who has pledged to stay out of Justice Department decisions. All this as Biden appearing in his first campaign ad as president-elect.

BIDEN: Georgia, I know things are tough right now, but I want you to know help is on the way.

ZELENY: Trying to help Democrats win two runoff races that will determine control of the Senate.

Meanwhile, CNN has learned Biden will nominate New Mexico Congresswoman Deb Haaland as interior secretary. If confirmed, she would be the first Native American cabinet secretary. He's also selected Michael Regan who runs the North Carolina Department of Environmental quality to lead the EPA.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZELENY (on camera): Now, those are the two newest members of the Biden climate team that will be announced here in Wilmington on Saturday. As well as former Michigan Governor Gretchen -- sorry, Jennifer Granholm, and as well the White House climate coordinator Gina McCarthy. So, that is coming on Saturday.

But, Wolf, what this decision has done for Interior Secretary has taken the House Democratic majority down to three seats. We are told that Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave her blessing for the Biden transition to select a congresswoman.

Wolf, that is a very narrow margin here in the New Year -- Wolf.

BLITZER: That's because, 10 or 12 incumbent Democrats lost to Republicans in the House of Representatives.

ZELENY: Lost their seats.

BLITZER: Yeah, 13. That's a significant number. So, the Democrats barely now --

ZELENY: Indeed.

BLITZER: -- have a tiny majority in the House of Representatives.

All right. Thanks very much, Jeff Zeleny, for that.

Just ahead, we're going to have a live report from Moscow as Vladimir Putin finally responds to Clarissa Ward's exclusive investigation into the poisoning of one of his fiercest critics.

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[18:51:50]

BLITZER: Russian President Vladimir Putin is responding to Bellingcat and CNN's exclusive investigation which uncovered evidence that Russian operatives specializing in nerve agents followed the opposition leader Alexei Navalny for years prior to the -- to his fatal -- nearly fatal poisoning.

Our chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward is in Moscow, joining us live right now.

Clarissa, how did Putin respond to your truly extraordinary reporting?

CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, it's fair to say he responded in a way that we could not have anticipated. He did not appear to attack the reporting or attack the reporter. He didn't seem to really refute any of the facts. His attitude was like, well, you know what, Alexei Navalny, the opposition leader, is working with the CIA, with American intelligence officials, therefore, it's natural that FSB, Russian security forces, would be following him around.

What he didn't offer any explanation for, though, Wolf, is why those operatives would be FSB specialists in chemical experts, why they would be medical doctors, why they would be regularly having conversations with the Signal Institute, a laboratory here in Moscow, that Bellingcat and CNN have found to be researching and developing Novichok. Those allegations he left completely out of the picture, Wolf.

BLITZER: You know, it's interesting because, Clarissa, Putin saying that if Russian agents had wanted to finish the job and kill Navalny, they would have. It's hard to overstate the enormity of those comments by Putin.

WARD: Yeah, they're pretty chilling comments, Wolf, certainly, but they're also patently true, because every toxicologist that we have spoken to has said the same thing, which is that the intention clearly was to kill Alexei Navalny, and the only reason, Wolf, that Alexei Navalny is still alive today is because a very brave pilot made the decision to detour the plane and land in the city of Omsk. He was supposed to be flying for another three hours. And it was the medics who arrived on the scene who gave him atropine. That was what saved his life.

The other thing I found really chilling, Wolf, was that President Putin never uttered Alexei Navalny's name. He referred to him as the Berlin patient because he had been air lifted to a hospital in Berlin. Elsewhere he called him the blogger.

But he will not say his name. He is intent on dehumanizing this man. I would say that looks pretty much like he views him as a pretty serious threat -- Wolf.

BLITZER: How is this playing in Moscow where you are, Clarissa?

WARD: Well, the extraordinary thing is that people aren't really talking about it. Privately they are, some independent media are, but the mainstream media, they're trying to ignore it.

And this is what we saw Putin do today as well in his press conference. It's a four-hour, 40 minute press conference. He only even got asked about this investigation about two hours in.

And while he did acknowledge the question and answer it, he seemed to be doing it in a way of almost dismissing it. Like what's the big deal? Of course, he's being followed. That doesn't mean we poisoned him. If we wanted to kill him, we'd kill him.

So, he's trying to essentially stop people from paying too much attention, hoping that the narrative will just move on, Wolf.

BLITZER: Once again, great reporting, Clarissa, you and your team -- thank you, thank you so much.

[18:55:03]

And we'll have more news just ahead.

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BLITZER: Finally, tonight, we share more stories of people who died from the coronavirus.

Dr. Neil Blatt of New York was 74 years old. A podiatrist for nearly 50 years, his daughter Stephanie and Jessica describe him as the ultimate care giver who had a lot of heart and was beloved by his patients as well as his family.

Freda Koff of Florida was 100 years old. Her daughter Susan says she was known for the beautiful afghans she crocheted for each member of her large family and the delicious bread she baked every week.

May they rest in peace and may their memories be a blessing.

Thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM.

"ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT" starts right now.