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The Situation Room

Johnson & Johnson Shipping Four Million Vaccines Across The U.S.; Senate To Take Up President Biden's Relief Bill; Trump Spreads Lies And Grievances At CPAC; N.Y. Atty. General Gets Greenlight To Launch Independent Probe Of Harassment Allegations Against Gov. Cuomo; GA House Passes Bill Restricting Mail-in Voting And Drastically Changing State's Election Laws; Multiple Minority Picks For Biden's Cabinet And Top Admin Jobs Facing Opposition On Capitol Hill; Alleged Oath Keeper Leader Pleads Not Guilty To Conspiracy Charges. Aired 5-6p ET

Aired March 01, 2021 - 17:00   ET

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

[17:00:00]

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: The Met announced that it would dedicate opening night to him. May his memory be a blessing. Our deepest sympathies to his family and friends. Our coverage on CNN continues right now.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the word. I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM. We're following major new developments in the coronavirus crisis.

Right now, millions of doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine are being shipped out across the United States and some could wind up in the arms of Americans as soon as tomorrow. It's the third vaccine to receive emergency use authorization from the FDA.

At the same time, a very serious warning from the CDC director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky. She says that loosening COVID restrictions as highly contagious variants are spreading could cost the U.S., and I'm quoting her now, "the hard-earned ground we have gained in the fight against the virus."

Also tonight, fresh fallout for the GOP after the former President Donald Trump's first speech since leaving the White House in which he repeated lies about the election being rigged and stolen. He also called out by name, an enemies list of Republicans who voted against him in his second impeachment. All that, coming up.

First, let's get some more welcomed news right now on the vaccine, coming amid growing concern though at the same time about those coronavirus variants that are more easily spread. Our national correspondent Nick Watt has the very latest for us. He's joining us from Los Angeles. Nick, demand still far outweighs supply, but starting tomorrow, there will be more vaccines available to more Americans.

NICK WATT, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): There sure will, Wolf. Listen, it was 11 weeks ago today that the first American got a dose of vaccine and here's where we are now. Nearly 100 million doses have been delivered around the country. Around 10 percent of the adult population of this country has been fully vaccinated. Double dosed. But there's a game changer. Johnson & Johnson's single-dose vaccine was just authorized.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WATT (voice-over): The first doses of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine have shipped. Three vaccines are now out there in the mix.

MARCELLA NUNEZ-SMITH, WHITE HOUSE COVID-19 EQUITY TASK FORCE CENTER: And this is all very, very good news. You know, all three vaccines are safe and highly effective at preventing what we care about most, and that's very serious illness and death.

WATT (voice-over): Plus, Johnson & Johnson is single dose and does not need deep freeze storage.

PAUL STOFFELS, JOHNSON & JOHNSON CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER: We'll have 20 million in March and 100 million by June and hopefully by the summer contributing a lot to vaccinating all of the United States.

WATT (voice-over): But issues remain.

JEFF ZIENTS, WHITE HOUSE COVID-19 RESPONSE COORDINATOR: Scheduling remains for far too many people, too frustrating, and we need to make it better.

WATT (voice-over): From today, teachers in Connecticut, Mississippi and Louisiana are eligible for vaccinations. Educators now on the list in 31 states and Washington, D.C. Not yet in Massachusetts where today roller rinks and theaters can reopen at half capacity.

TROY SIEBELS, PRESIDENT, HANOVER THEATRE: It's a good step in the right direction, that's for sure.

WATT (voice-over): But let's hold off on the high fives.

ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: It is really risky to say it's over. We're on the way out. Let's pull back. Just look historically at the late winter, early spring of 2020, of the summer of 2020 when we started to pull back prematurely, we saw the rebound.

WATT (voice-over): Average new case counts have been falling sharply for weeks but --

ROCHELLE WALENSKY, CDC DIRECTOR: The recent decline appear to be stalling. Please hear me clearly, at this level of cases with variants spreading, we stand to completely lose the hard-earned ground we have gained.

WATT (voice-over): On average, around 2,000 Americans are still dying from this disease every day.

NUNEZ-SMITH: Get vaccinated with the first vaccine available to you. Protect yourself, your family, and your community from COVID-19.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WATT (on camera): Now today in Los Angeles, it's also the first day that teachers are eligible to get a vaccination. But the issue of how to get more kids back into school remains. And California just announced they're basically going to throw a whole lot of money at the problem.

The governor has said there is $2 billion basically as incentives for schools to get TK through second grade back in person before the end of the month. Another $4.6 billion to what he says is to reimagine the rest of the school year. That could include some longer days or even pushing the school year into the summer to make up for what we've lost. Wolf?

[17:05:03]

BLITZER: Which is a really good idea if they can do that. So important. Nick Watt in L.A., thanks very much.

Meanwhile, the majority leader, Chuck Schumer, says the Senate will take up President Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID relief rescue plan this week but without the minimum wage hike in the House version of the bill. Let's go to our chief national affairs correspondent Jeff Zeleny. He is over at the White House for us today. Jeff, the president can't afford to lose a single Democratic vote in the Senate if his plan is going to pass.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Wolf, that's absolutely right. The math simply does not work without all 50 Democrats voting with the White House. That is why President Biden was doing a virtual meeting with nine democratic senators. He needs all of those votes on the COVID relief bill.

I am told they are still working out specific details of funding on broadband and other matters. He is listening to their concerns. He needs their votes to push this over the finish line.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZELENY (voice-over): At the White House tonight, President Biden intensifying his efforts to push his signature COVID relief bill through yet another hurdle in Congress. After returning from a weekend at his home in Delaware, the president meeting virtually with nine democratic senators, whose votes he needs along with all Senate Democrats to pass the $1.9 trillion package.

JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We reserved time in his schedule to ensure that he can be engaged, roll up his sleeves and be personally involved in making phone calls, having more Zoom meetings, potentially having people here to the Oval Office to get this across the finish line.

ZELENY (voice-over): With some benefits to Americans expiring on March 14th, the clock is ticking for Biden to make good on his pledge. There is no room for error in the closely divided Senate after the House narrowly passed the measure over the weekend with no Republican votes.

Tonight, progressives are seething over the $15 minimum wage law being stripped out of the Senate version after the parliamentarian ruled it did not meet the strict requirements to be included in a budget bill.

Twenty-three congressional Democrats sent a letter to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris urging them to override the decision and keep their campaign promise of raising the minimum wage. The White House says it's committed to doing so but not in the COVID bill.

(On camera): Progressives don't understand this. In some respect, they're like, why not fight for this? So why is the White House not more aggressively challenging that and sending the vice president to try and potentially overrule that with a vote?

PSAKI: The decision for the vice president to vote to overrule or to take a step to overrule is not a simple decision. The president and vice president both respect the history of the Senate. They are both formally served in the Senate and that's not an action we intend to take.

ZELENY (voice-over): It's the first legislative test for the White House. Maintain support for moderate Democrats like Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, who do not support the minimum wage, without alienating other Democrats who do.

Tonight, the White House also still reconciling Biden's tough talk on the campaign trail with his decision as president to stop well short of punishing the Saudi crown prince for his role in the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We were going to, in fact, make them pay the price and make them, in fact, the pariah that they are.

(On camera): How does this come anywhere close to his pledge to Americans in November of 2019 at that division (ph)?

PSAKI: The president has been clear to his team and he has been clear publicly that the relationship is not going to look like what it's looked like in the past.

ZELENY (voice-over): The White House insisted the relationship with Saudi Arabia would be recalibrated, but the move underscored how Biden's advisers see the partnership with a key Arab ally as too critical to break.

Meanwhile, as former President Donald Trump delivered a blistering assessment of the he Biden administration at his weekend speech at CPAC, the Biden White House declined to take the bait.

PSAKI: I think we're going to do spend more of our time focused on communicating about our agenda for the American people than responding to criticism from the former president.

(END VIDEOTAPE) ZELENY (on camera): But the former president does still hangover this White House in at least one way. That's immigration policy. As we speak, President Biden is holding a virtual bilateral meeting with the Mexican president right now. And of course, immigration policies were front and center in that Trump relationship.

And there was a question from the Mexican government earlier today if they could have some of the U.S.'s COVID-19 vaccination. The White House press secretary says the president believes they cannot. He said he's reserving that for use here in the United States. Wolf?

BLITZER: Let's see what happens out of that meeting. All right, Jeff Zeleny, thank you very much.

Let's get some more on the rollout of the latest coronavirus vaccine approved for use here in the United States. The former CDC acting director, Dr. Richard Besser, is joining us. Dr. Besser, thanks so much for joining us.

As you know, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine now becomes the third coronavirus vaccine to enter the equation here in the U.S. What are the advantages of this shot?

RICHARD BESSER, FORMER CDC ACTING DIRECTOR: You know, Wolf, before I answer that, I want your viewers to know that our foundation does have stock in J&J.

[17:10:02]

One of the things that I find exciting about having a third vaccine is the fact that it can be stored in a refrigerator and it takes only one dose to reach a high level of protection. There are going to be situations where one vaccine is preferred from a public health perspective.

But one of the challenges is going to be to get the public on board with vaccines that have different levels of effectiveness for mild and moderate disease, but are all extremely effective at preventing what we really care about, which is hospitalizations, severe illness and death.

BLITZER: How much of an impact do you think, Dr. Besser, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will make, at least in the short term?

BESSER: Well, you know, this week there's supposed to be around 4 million doses of vaccine that's out there, 20 million by the end of the month, 100 million by the end of June. A 100 million doses by the end of June, what that says to me is that, you know, every adult in America who wants to be vaccinated should have access to vaccine.

And what is going to really shift the equation to being is how do we talk to people and understand people's concerns so that we can ensure that we continue to see an increasing number of people wanting to get vaccinated and vaccines reaching people in every community in America?

BLITZER: As you know, Dr. Fauci says we have what he describes as three highly efficacious vaccines and he's warning against comparing the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for example to the Moderna or the Pfizer vaccine. He says they were not measured head-to-head. Explain what he means.

BESSER: Yes. His point is important and it's going to be a challenging one to communicate. So, these studies were done at different times. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were done in trials before we had variants around that we were very concerned about.

The J&J vaccine were done in a number of countries that had significant amounts of variants out there. And so you can't do a direct comparison. They did not do a trial where one group got the J&J vaccine, one got the Pfizer and one got the Moderna for a head-to-head comparison.

They were all compared tie placebo, so a non-vaccine, and were all shown to be very effective at hospitalizations and deaths. The Pfizer, Moderna, during the period that they were done, they were shown to be highly effective as well at preventing any symptomatic infection.

But we don't vaccinate to prevent the cold. We don't vaccinate to prevent mild flu illness. We vaccinate against diseases that can cause serious illness, hospitalization, and death. And thankfully, all of these vaccines are very good against that.

BLITZER: Yes. So important. Johnson & Johnson is now planning additional vaccine trials we're told in pregnant women, people under the age of 18, immunocompromised individuals. When can we expect data about vaccine safety and efficacy in these groups?

BESSER: Well, I think it's going to be a number of months before we see that. I don't think it's going to be in time for this school year. But it is really important, you know. If we want to get back to where we all want to be, which is back to our normal lives, we need vaccines that have been shown to be safe and effective across the population.

And so that includes children. That includes people with immunocompromised conditions. It includes pregnant women. So it's good to see that all of the companies are stepping up. And J&J I think is the first company to talk about vaccine trials in infants and young children. And that will be really helpful because we know that in order to take those masks off, we want to make sure that everyone is safe.

BLITZER: It's absolutely critical. Dr. Besser, as usual, thanks so much for joining us.

Up next, former President Trump's first post-White House speech raising a lot more questions about the future of the GOP.

Plus, there is breaking news. One of the women accusing the New York Governor Andrew Cuomo of harassment has just responded to his apology.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:15:00] BLITZER: Former President Trump stepped back on to the political stage over the weekend. His speech not only featured the same big lies about the election, he also recited an enemies list of fellow Republicans he intends to take down.

Let's go to our chief domestic correspondent Jim Acosta. He was in Orlando, Florida for Trump's speech. He's back in D.C. right now. Jim, how devoted -- how devoted does the GOP seem to be towards Trump right now?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Wolf, there is no question, this is still the party of Trump. We saw that on display at CPAC. He gave a dangerous speech to close out the CPAC down in Orlando. You know, he was using some of the same rhetoric that sent his supporters off to storm the capitol on January 6th.

He repeated the big lie, as you said, saying that he won the election. At one point, he sounded like an ousted authoritarian autocrat ripping into the Supreme Court for not having the courage as he put it, to overturn the election results even though he put, as you know, three justices on the high court.

And then came I think perhaps the most disturbing part of the speech, and that is when he ticked off his enemies list. In a pure Nixonian fashion, he ticked off the Republican lawmakers in the House and the Senate who voted to impeach him and convict him at that impeachment trial earlier this year. Here's more of what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: The Democrats don't have grandstanders like Mitt Romney, little Ben Sasse, Richard Burr, Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Pat Toomey.

And in the House, Tom Rice, South Carolina, Adam Kinzinger, and of course, the war monger, a person that loves seeing our troops fighting, Liz Cheney. How about that? Hopefully, they'll get rid of her with the next election. Get rid of them all. We're not starting new parties.

[17:20:00]

You know, they kept saying, he's going to start a brand new party. We have the Republican Party. It's going to unite and be stronger than ever before. I am not starting a new party.

We will take back the House. We will win the Senate. And then a Republican president will make a triumphant return to the White House. And I wonder who that will be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA (on camera): Now, if all of that red meat sounded familiar, it's in part because Donald Trump's former White House speech writing team returned to duty, people like his former domestic policy adviser, Stephen Miller. They were working on this speech before Donald Trump delivered this address down at CPAC.

One other final thing we should point out, Wolf, we learned earlier this afternoon that former President Trump, I guess, then President Trump at the time and former First Lady Melania Trump both received the coronavirus vaccine, get this Wolf, back in January at the White House.

This was something that was not disclosed to reporters when Donald Trump was still president of the United States. An adviser confirmed that to CNN earlier today. Wolf, keep in mind, I mean, a month or so has passed since Donald Trump left the White House.

Imagine how much good it would have done had the White House told us back in January that Donald Trump had been vaccinated for COVID-19 with so many Republicans who are suspicious of the COVID-19 vaccine, it would have done a lot of good to hear about it back then, Wolf.

BLITZER: It certainly would have been. There should have been a photo opportunity. People should have gotten a picture of the then president, then first lady getting the vaccine. It would have encouraged a lot of those of his supporters who were reluctant to do so, to go out there and do the right thing.

ACOSTA: Right.

BLITZER: All right, Jim Acosta, thanks very much. Let's bring in our chief national correspondent, the anchor of "Inside Politics," John King, along with the former Ohio governor, Republican John Kasich.

You know, John King, the former president listed his grievances, listed his enemies. You heard the enemies list. But is he offering anything at all for the Republican Party or, for that matter, for the American people?

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: He offered a lot of the same old lies, Wolf. And that's the choice the Republican Party has to make. Maybe you agree with President Trump, former President Trump's policy on taxes. Maybe you agree it's more controversial with his policies on immigration.

But first you have to decide, is he the guy you want leading your house? And it's hard to lead a house, lead a movement, lead a party when it is based on a big lie. And that's what the former president brought back into the public sphere.

This was his first speech. He was in a friendly audience. Although he didn't do as well in the CPAC straw poll as you might have expected. But what did he do? You're right. He aired his grievances. He promised to have retribution and retaliation against Republicans who crossed him and said he won the election and that Joe Biden was an illegitimate president. Not true. Simply not true. A big lie. That's what he offers.

BLITZER: Not just a big lie but very, very dangerous because a lot of his supporters actually believe those lies. You know, Governor Kasich, it was a rambling speech. I think he spoke for more than an hour and a half. He repeated all the same lines we have heard so many times, sometimes even going further. Is that still inspiring your Republican Party?

JOHN KASICH, FORMER OHIO GOVERNOR: Wolf, I watched it. I heard all the cheers here as I'm listening to Acosta's report, but I thought the speech was a dud myself. I mean, what Trump reminded me of was a boxer. He might be able to still land a couple of punches, but there's no sting in the punch. You couldn't knock anybody down or knock anybody out with it.

And it was not impressive to me. And remember, there are like 1,400 people in a ballroom. I mean, this is -- if this is not the crowd that's going to tear down the rafters, I don't know where they are. I've been saying now for a couple of weeks to you, and I know John has heard, that I think he's fading. I really do.

And yesterday was just not impressive to me. I didn't watch that much of it, but I watched enough of it to kind of get the sense. And to me, I just didn't think it really inspired anybody. In fact, somebody -- my wife told me that somebody there in the audience said that they were bored because he kept mentioning the same thing over and over and over again.

Look, he's just a former president and he doesn't have the news there every day. This is fading. And now, with some people, are they fired up? Yes. But the party is shrinking and I think you're going to continue to see him lose influence. And he's like that old fighter that's in the corner. He wants to come out one more time but I don't think he's got it.

BLITZER: You know, John King, the former president, as we heard, he name checked a whole bunch of Republicans who voted to impeach him or to convict him in the Senate. But beyond this intimidation, does he really have any real strategy to take them on once they're coming up let's say for re-election?

KING: I think Governor Kasich raises an important point and the test we should have looking forward. Does the former president have the discipline? Can he build a team around him to carry out what he wants to do?

[17:24:57]

A lot of Republicans disagree with it and think it's dangerous. But he wants to do his retaliate and to have recriminations. Among the primary campaigns, he says he will support against Congressman Gonzalez in Governor Kasich's state of Ohio. Congressman Gonzalez voted to impeach.

He named over 49 seconds 17 names, all the Hose Republicans who voted to impeach, all the Senate Republicans who voted to convict. The president said he wants recriminations. So he laid that out there as the standard, Wolf. Can he raise the money to beat them in primaries? Can he raise the money to push them in the Republican Party?

So, he has laid down the standard for himself. Let's set 2024 aside. Let's see what happens between now and 2022 first. Donald Trump is many things. One thing he has not proven himself to be is disciplined when it comes to the nuts and bolts of what it takes to actually do the politics.

He was successful in his campaigns. I'm not taking that away. In parts of the country, he's incredibly popular. He did get 75 million votes, but in terms of organizing disciplined, day-to-day messaging, will he take out those Republicans? Will he make a statement? That's what the next two years is about.

BLITZER: What did you think, Governor Kasich, of the enemies list that he uttered, reading the names of those Republicans who voted against him, among them Adam Kinzinger who is going to be joining me later today here in THE SITUATION ROOM?

KASICH: I don't think, Wolf, they're shuddering. And just one thing about being leader. When you're a leader, you hold your head high, you pitch your shoulders back. You tell people what you're all about, what you're for. And that is very, very strong antidote to people who just want to attack you and criticize you and name call you.

Look, unless they are able to redistrict some of these people out, I predict that most of them will win re-election, including Kinzinger and I think Anthony Gonzalez. I think they'll overcome this because again, I just don't think he's going to have the influence. And I thought John King, there's not much I can add. John is a brilliant guy, brilliant analyst, and everything he said, take it to the bank.

BLITZER: I echo that myself. All right, guys, thank you very, very much.

Coming up, will New York's governor, Andrew Cuomo's latest apology calm the political storm raised by two of his former aides' allegations of sexual harassment. Cuomo second accuser just responded to his latest apology. We'll have much more on that coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:31:33]

BLITZER: We have breaking news coming into THE SITUATION ROOM right now. The New York State Attorney General has just been cleared to launch an independent investigation into allegations against Governor Andrew Cuomo, allegations involving sexual harassment. Our National Correspondent is in Albany, New York for us right now. Jason, Governor Cuomo did issue an apology but one of his accusers just responded and said it's simply not enough.

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Not nearly enough, Wolf. And this comes from late this afternoon, Cuomo's second accuser, Charlotte Bennett came out with a statement very critical of the Governor's response saying in part, "It took the Governor 24 hours and significant backlash to allow for a truly independent investigation. These are not the actions of someone who simply feels misunderstood, they're the actions of an individual who wields his power to avoid justice". Meanwhile, a number of those who support the Governor are concerned that this could just be the beginning for problems for him going forward.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D), NEW YORK: Welcome all --

CARROLL (voice-over): New York Governor Andrew Cuomo facing new scrutiny tonight after a second former staffer has come forward alleging sexual harassment. Charlotte Bennett, a former executive assistant and health policy adviser, telling the New York Times over the weekend that the Governor asked her numerous questions about her personal life, including whether she thought age made a difference in romantic relationships.

She alleges Cuomo said he was open to relationships with women in their 20s. Bennett, who was 25 years old told the Times, "I understood that the Governor wanted to sleep with me, and I felt horribly uncomfortable and scared". Late yesterday, nearly 24 hours after the Times first reported Bennett story, Governor Cuomo issued a statement acknowledging his past comments may have been inappropriate, saying, "I now understand that my interactions may have been insensitive or too personal, and that some of my comments given my position made others feel in ways I never intended.

I acknowledge some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flotation to the extent anyone felt that way. I am truly sorry about that".

Some lawmakers within Cuomo's own party saying his statement is not enough.

MICHAEL GIANARIS (D), NEW YORK STATE SENATE: That statement was unfortunate in my opinion. There's a very big difference between saying someone I'm sorry if you're offended by what I did and saying I'm sorry for what I did.

CARROLL (voice-over): Cuomo also saying in a statement that he never inappropriately touched or propositioned anyone denying the allegation of another former aide Lindsey Boylan, who wrote in a medium post that Cuomo had kissed her on the lips after a one-on-one briefing. Boylan and Bennett have not discussed their claims with CNN.

Cuomo, a third term Democrat suggested Sunday night that New York's Attorney General Letitia James and New York's Chief Judge select an independent attorney to investigate claims against him. James rejected that proposal saying she needed subpoena power. The governor's office relented saying they would turn over a referral allowing it. James's office confirmed they received the referral Monday afternoon.

Lawmakers on both sides critical of the investigative process. Today, a democratic state Senator Todd Kaminsky introduced a bill to change the law so that the Governor does not have to refer an investigation in order for the Attorney General to start one.

[17:35:01]

TODD KAMINSKY (D-NY), SENATE: When you think about it, when the governor is the person being investigated, asking the governor for a referral is, you know, doesn't make sense at all. And I think what shocked members of the public that that's the system we have.

CARROLL (voice-over): Senator Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi released statements on the importance of an independent investigation. Pelosi calling the allegations serious and credible. All this as Cuomo still faces allegations of mishandling the COVID-19 crisis in New York's long-term care facilities, currently under scrutiny by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CARROLL: And Wolf, as to the investigations, the governor defended his administration's handling of the issues and says that going forward, he will continue to cooperate with investigators. Wolf?

BLITZER: All right, Jason Carroll in Albany for us. Jason, thank you.

Let's get some more in all of these. Joining us now, CNN Legal Analyst Anne Milgram, she's a former New Jersey Attorney General, also a professor at NYU Law School. Thanks so much, Anne, for joining us. You're -- as I said, you're a former state attorney general, you have experienced conducting these kinds of sexual harassment investigations. What should we expect, as the New York Attorney General's investigation into Governor Cuomo now begins to unfold?

ANNE MILGRAM, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, there's a lot that's going to be forthcoming, Wolf, because what we'll see is that the New York Attorney General is going to select a law firm, she's not going to handle it in her own office, she's going to hire outside counsel to lead this investigation.

And one of the things that's important to recognize about this that's different from some of the internal investigations that companies often do is that that law firm will be given subpoena power, and that means that they're going to have the ability to compel witnesses to gather documents, and to do an exhaustive investigation to get to the bottom of this, and also to issue a report.

BLITZER: Yes. As you heard, Governor Cuomo has apologized for some of his comments, but he maintains that he never inappropriately touched their proposition, anyone. What does that tell you about the Governor's plans to fight these allegations?

MILGRAM: Well, I think we're at a position now where we have two women who've come forward and basically said that they were subjected to unwanted offensive conduct and comments by the Governor. And so, now we're going into this investigation. And there are a lot of questions that I think will need to be answered including, is it just these two women?

Are there any other women who may come forward? What's really the scope of this? And also, what is the Governor's, you know, what -- he's made one public statement, but it's not the same as sitting down and interviewing him or looking at whether or not he's received sexual harassment training and so on.

And so, I think, you know, this is what you and I are seeing now is really just the tip of the iceberg, this sort of public piece of it, but that's the importance of an independent investigation. It will go far deeper and then ultimately, the public will be able to know what happened and what the Governor has said and done about it.

BLITZER: And we'll see if any other women step forward because that could be huge. That could be really significant. Anne Milgram, thanks very much for joining us.

Coming up, is it only coincidence that minorities and women are at the center of confirmation fights right now for President Biden's Cabinet. We're going to ask the head of the NAACP, Derrick Johnson, standing by live. Plus, we also have new details about the expanding dragnet for suspects in the wake of the Capitol riot.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:42:30]

BLITZER: We're following more breaking news, efforts in multiple states where Republican state lawmakers are rewriting election laws to make it harder for people to vote. Today in Georgia, for example, the State House of Representatives passed a bill aimed at restricting access to mail-in voting as well as drastically changing the state's election laws. The bill now goes to the state Senate.

Let's talk about this and more with the President and CEO of the NAACP Derrick Johnson. Derrick, thanks so much for joining us. This bill in Georgia would limit, as I said early voting, limit drop boxes, require voter ID for absentee ballots. Republicans are following apparently the same playbook and other states as well. What does this tell you about the GOP strategy to try to regain power?

DERRICK JOHNSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO, NAACP: Well, unfortunately, they are unwilling to expand their platform, their agenda to attract more voters in, they prefer to restrict access to voting feels like we live in a 1950 as opposed to 2021. We must, as a nation, ensure that every eligible voter can cast a ballot free of interruption, free of vote suppression and free of laws that seek to subvert and suppress our democracy

BLITZER: Can't make it harder to vote. People need to go out there and vote. President Trump used the stage yesterday to say, in his words, Republicans should be the party of honest elections. How concerning, Derrick, is it to you to see Republicans, including the former President use the big lie to make it harder for American citizens to go out there and vote?

JOHNSON: You know, he's a has been, he's no longer in office. He's facing what, by 12 lawsuits about personal and why he was in office. We should move forward as a nation and begin to restore our democracy and then not allow individuals like the former President who was seeking to overturn this government to have the state, in that matter, take up airtime even on the show.

BLITZER: Let me get your thoughts on another sensitive issue. Right now, a handful of Biden Cabinet nominees are facing intense criticism from Republicans in the Senate. These nominees are all people of color or some are civil rights leaders. Biden's made some historic strides in terms of Cabinet diversity. But are these nominees from your perspective being held to a different standard, and we put five of them up on the screen right now?

JOHNSON: Absolutely. We have a dual track and then we should dual track.

[17:45:01]

George Carlin (ph) was voted out of Senate Judiciary, 15 to seven bipartisan. That's the same standard that all of our nominees should be confronted with and opportunity to show, are they fit to serve? Do they respect and uphold the Constitution? Christian Clark, Anita Gupta (ph) are well qualified. They should be moved through the process in the same manner in which a George Carlin (ph) has been moved through the process. That should not be a dual standard.

BLITZER: Yes, Merrick Garland the -- was confirmed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, it will not go before the full Senate. He's expected to be pretty overwhelmingly confirmed when all is said and done. Some of the nominees have been painted by their critics as radical, it's crazy, even dangerous. How much weight do those words carry when they're used specifically against people of color?

JOHNSON: It's fear-mongering. We've seen, unfortunately, the Republican Party using fear to try -- to throw out progress. We must move on as a nation. We should be in the midst of battles of ideals, not using the tool of fear, tool of race and division to define one's political party. How do we move forward if we continue to anchor ourselves with past failed approaches such as racism and fear mongering.

BLITZER: Derrick Johnson, thanks so much for joining us. We'll continue this conversation down the road. We'll see what happens with these Cabinet nominees.

Coming up, we're getting some new details right now into the investigation into the January 6th Capitol siege. More than 300 people have now been criminally charged. And millions of doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine are being shipped right now around the United States. Some Americans could actually start getting a shot as soon as tomorrow.

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[17:51:14]

BLITZER: We're following all the late breaking developments in the investigation into the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol as key writers now are appearing big time in courts. CNN's Brian Todd is working the story for us. Brian, I know you're getting new information, what are you learning?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right, Wolf. Tonight, we have news about Thomas Caldwell, a big fish in this investigation. Caldwell, an alleged leader of the far-right paramilitary group, the Oath Keepers, just a short time ago called well pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy. This comes as the overall investigation into the January 6th attack is picking up serious momentum (ph).

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TODD (voice-over): Tonight, the dragnet is widening and suspects in the January 6th attack on the Capitol are under more pressure than ever, with over 300 people charged, more than 280 arrested and law enforcement tracking many more.

JOHN CARLIN, ACTING DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: The investigation into those responsible is moving at a speed and scale that's unprecedented, and rightly so. Those responsible must be held to account and they will be.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do it again and it's pretty bad.

TODD (voice-over): Today, Thomas Caldwell, an alleged leader of the far right anti-government paramilitary group the Oath Keepers pleaded not guilty. Caldwell is one of nine alleged associates of the Oath Keepers charged with conspiracy. Prosecutors say he discussed bringing weapons across the Potomac River into Washington by boat on or before January 6th.

And Dominic Pezzola, an alleged associate of the extremist group the Proud Boys, seen here breaking a window at the Capitol with a police shield appeared before a federal judge as well. Prosecutors told the judge today they've gathered new evidence that the Proud Boys were communicating by radio on January 6th, that Pezzola ordered a radio ahead of that date and was trying to make sure it worked around that time. Pezzola's lawyer said it doesn't mean he was taking or giving orders during the riot.

Pezzola has pleaded not guilty and is now trying to distance himself from the Proud Boys. His lawyer saying Pezzola's association with the group was minimal. According to court records, prosecutors have used witnesses in his case to gain information about the Proud Boys and about Pezzola.

JENNIFEFR RODGERS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: People are going to start to crack and we are going to get more information. When things start to go down and people start to get charged, they all think about what's best for them.

TODD (voice-over): Meanwhile, an independent review of security around the Capitol conducted by Retired Lieutenant General Russel Honore could be released in the coming days. Sources with knowledge of the findings telling CNN, a draft of a proposal recommends building an integrated system of walls and fences around the Capitol, and adding more than 1000 more officers to the U.S. Capitol Police Force, as well as establishing a quick reaction force to avoid bureaucratic delays in deploying police in an emergency like we saw on January 6th.

Sources say the review found that more officers are needed to protect members of Congress when they're in their home districts.

CHARLES RAMSEY, FORMER PHILADELPHIA POLICE COMMISSIONER: But there is a need to have coverage outside of Washington, D.C., that's when the representatives are most vulnerable is when they're outside of Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TODD: And law enforcement officials have told CNN the FBI has now identified a suspect it's focusing on in the death of Capitol Hill Police Officer Brian Sicknick. The FBI is not publicly naming that suspect as of now. CNN has previously reported law enforcement officials are working on the theory that Sicknick became ill from bear spray that the mob used to attack the Capitol that day. Wolf.

BLITZER: And as you say, more than 300 have already been charged as a huge investigation. We anticipate many, many more will be charged.

Brian Todd reporting for us, thank you very much.

Coming up, a third coronavirus vaccine being shipped to vaccination sites across the United States right now with the first Johnson & Johnson one-dose shots going into people's arms as soon as tomorrow.

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[17:59:39]

BLITZER: Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM at another critical moment in the coronavirus crisis. Right now, a third vaccine is on the way to Americans struggling to get their shots. Johnson & Johnson is shipping an initial supply of nearly 4 million doses after getting authorization this weekend. The first single-dose vaccine could be in arms as soon as tomorrow.