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The Situation Room
Dem. Rep. Swalwell Sues Trump and Allies for Inciting Capitol Riot; Source: Prosecutors Examining Communications between U.S. Lawmakers and Capitol Rioters; Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is Interviewed about COVID Relief Bill, Andrew Cuomo; Still No Official Guidance For Fully Vaccinated Americans, CDC Director Says It's Coming "Soon"; Cuomo Accuser Charlotte Bennett Calls Governor A "Textbook Abuser"; Putin Testing Biden's Resolve With Gas Pipeline To Germany. Aired 5-6p ET
Aired March 05, 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: Her parents described Emmylou (ph) as perfect. We agree. We can't wait to meet her safely in person.
Join me Sunday for State of the Union. My guests include Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Republican Governor Tate Reeves, Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer. That's Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and noon. Our coverage on CNN continues right now. I'll see you Sunday morning.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer in the Situation Room.
We're following breaking news on Capitol Hill where drama is unfolding around the COVID relief bill. The 50-50 Senate is at a standstill right now as Democrats fight to win over the vote of one of their own West Virginia's Joe Manchin. His vote is key to passing an amendment extending jobless benefits through September, hurt benefits expired in just nine days. President Biden deciding the latest jobs report as proof the bill is urgently needed. The U.S. did add 379,000 new jobs last month, but it's still down nine and a half million jobs from a year ago.
And we're also following growing concern as multiple states lift COVID restrictions including mask mandates. The CDC says new evidence shows that mask wearing is directly linked to fewer COVID cases and deaths.
And New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is facing a deepening crisis tonight. New reports say his aides rewrote data to hide 1000s of nursing home coronavirus deaths. That comes as one of the women accusing him of sexual harassment is speaking up.
First, let's get straight to Capitol Hill. Our Chief Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju is joining us.
Manu, the major hold up here coming down, I take it to one Democrat Senator Joe Manchin. And what side will he choose on these unemployment benefits? MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And Wolf the Senate has been at a complete standstill for hours. The first vote was cast at 11:00 a.m. this morning. It has been open ever since as Democratic leaders have gone behind the scenes trying to lock down Joe Manchin support in a frantic and furious scramble to get him behind their proposal to extend jobless benefits to the end of September.
The fear among Democrats is that he may in fact decide to support a Republican plan. And that could undermine their view. Some of the core elements of this plan also potentially upset the delicate coalition needed to pass the overall $1.9 trillion COVID relief plan that is central to Joe Biden's agenda.
Now, at issue here are jobless benefits, they do expire for millions of Americans in a matter of days. But under a deal that was reached between what the White House and Democratic leaders it would extend jobless benefits of $300 a week until the end of September. Now, in addition to that it includes $10,200 of tax-free benefits on that first amount of money.
Now, an alternative plan proposed by Republicans is different. As $300 a week in jobless benefits that would be extended through July, it does not have money tax free benefits. Joe Manchin, I'm told has serious concerns about those tax-free benefits and is withholding his support. So, there is a -- there are tons of discussions happening behind the scenes, Wolf, because the big fear among Democrats is if Manchin does break ranks, votes with Republicans that will change the bill. It could potentially delay final action because some progressives would be concerned potentially in the House, it could force the House to have to change the bill again, and impact how quickly they can get this bill through.
And it just shows you Wolf, a 5050 Senate, Democrats have no margin for error. And now that they have one member who has some qualms here, Democrats have been in a difficult spot trying to lock this down for hours raising major concerns among their party, but whether they can get this done quickly. Wolf.
BLITZER: Yes, the drama clearly continues. All right, Manu, we'll stay in close touch with you.
Meanwhile, the White House is watching obviously all of this very, very closely. Let's go to our White House Correspondent Jeremy Diamond.
Jeremy, so what are you hearing behind the scenes? Is there some serious concern over at the White House about the future of this COVID relief bill?
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, I can tell you, Wolf, and speaking with some officials here at the White House that they are engaged in this process right now. They are speaking with Senate Democratic leadership right now to figure out what the path forward is here. But they are not freaking out here yet.
In the words of one senior official who I spoke with, they are not hitting the panic button on this situation. Part of that is the fact that this is a White House. We have a lot of folks who've been in senior positions at the White House previously. And so, they know that this legislative process can be messy.
But make no mistake, this is certainly a complicating factor. And it really is the story of this entire effort over these last several weeks is really trying to keep that narrow Democratic coalition in the Senate together on this coronavirus relief bill to keep those moderates satisfied while still not losing those progresses.
Well, meanwhile today President Biden continue to make the case for this $1.9 trillion bill as the Senate began to take it up. It also came as these new jobs report came out, showing that the economy added 379,000 jobs last month exceeding expectations. But nonetheless, President Biden insisting that despite that positive jobs report, this relief is still urgently needed. Listen.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today's jobs report shows that the American rescue plan is urgently needed in our view. Our economy still has 9.5 million fewer jobs than it had this time last year. And that rate would take two years to get us back on track.
Some of last month job growth is a result of the December relief package. But without a rescue plan, these gains are going to slow. We can't afford one step forward and two steps backwards.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAMOND: And much of that view in terms of that $1.9 trillion top line which the White House has not budged off of comes back to the fact that many of the officials here again were in the Obama White House in 2009 and later came to regret the fact that they didn't push for a bigger stimulus package that could have perhaps sped along the economic recovery.
One thing is clear, though, Wolf even amid these this debate over the unemployment insurance, that minimum wage, $15 minimum wage hike is not going to make it in this bill. There was a vote put forward by Senator Bernie Sanders, nine Senate Democrats voting against that, including Senator Chris Coons, one of the White House's top allies, which gives you a sense of where the White House stood on this issue, because again, of that Senate parliamentarian ruling that he could not be included in this budget reconciliation process. Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Jeremy, thank you very much. Jeremy Diamond reporting from the White House.
Amidst all of this, there are new developments emerging right now in the January 6 Capitol siege, including the arrest of a former Trump campaign worker and State Department appointee. Let's go to our Justice Correspondent Jessica Schneider. She's working the story for us. Jessica, he's the latest, of what, more than 300 people who have now been criminally charged in connection with the attack on the Capitol.
JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's exactly right, Wolf. And we're learning tonight that this Trump appointed State Department aide previously served in the Marine Corps. But now prosecutors are laying out this detailed timeline of how Federico Klein allegedly stormed the Capitol, assaulted police officers and then presumably went back to working at the State Department since he didn't resign from his post there until the day after inauguration.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): Tonight, a former Trump appointed State Department employee is in jail amid charges he violently pushed against a police line with a riot shield and an entrance to the Capitol January 6.
Federico Klein is the first known Trump administration political appointee to be arrested for taking part in the siege. Prosecutors point out Klein held a top-secret security clearance at the time of the Capitol attack and didn't resign from the State Department until January 21. His arrest affidavit details how investigators found several images of Klein using a police riot shield to wedge open an entrance for rioters.
Klein was spotted wearing a red Make America Great Again hat which he switched out for a Marine Corps hat during the riot according to investigators. He was identified by tipsters including a coworker at the State Department after his image was featured on a poster seeking information about unidentified rioters.
DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNTED STATES: We fight. We fight like hell.
SCHNEIDER: The Trump appointee's arrest comes just as the former president is facing a second lawsuit from a member of Congress, California Democrat and House Impeachment Manager Eric Swalwell, accusing Trump, his son Don Jr, Rudy Giuliani and Congressman Mo Brooks of inciting the violence on January 6, and alleging that their repeated false rhetoric that the election was rigged prompted rioters to storm the Capitol. It's a claim that even the now notorious QAnon shaman, Jacob Chansley seems to be backing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're sitting in a prison cell, because you did what?
JACOB CHANSLEY, ACCUSED CAPITOL RIOTER: Because I went into the Capitol building.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And why did you do that?
CHANSLEY: Because I believe that Donald Trump had our back.
SCHNEIDER: Chansley appeared in court Friday and is still being held on several charges, an accusations that he left a note on Vice President Mike Pence's desk in the Senate saying "It's only a matter of time, Justice is coming."
CHANSLEY: I was just quoting the president, justice is coming, you know, it's only a matter of time, you know. To me that was not threatening at all.
SCHNEIDER: In another sign of the deep distrust among lawmakers on Capitol Hill, Democratic Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren has posted a nearly 2000 page report documenting the social media posts of her Republican colleagues who voted to overturn the election and encouraged an inquiry into possible disciplinary action.
Lofgren cites several lawmakers including Congressman Paul Gosar, where he urged supporters to help hold the line just days before the Capitol insurrection.
[17:10:03]
REP. JOHN GARAMENDI, (D) CALIFORNIA: They tried to overtake the Democratic process and keep Trump in power. Is that sedition? I think it is.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
SCHNEIDER: And amid continued security concerns at the Capitol, the House will hold three separate security briefings about recommended security changes on Monday. Our team has previously reported the suggestions will include adding 1000 additional Capitol police officers, and also establishing a quick reaction force to be on standby at the Capitol. Wolf.
BLITZER: Very strong reporting. Jessica Schneider, thank you very, very much.
Let's get some more in all of this. CNN National Security Analyst, Juliette Kayyem is joining us as well as CNN Legal Analyst Carrie Cordero.
Carrie, the lawsuit that we just heard about accuses former President Trump and his allies of acts of terrorism and incitement to riot, very, very serious charges. How difficult will it be to make this case?
CARRIE CORDERO, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, we don't know exactly how the civil litigation will turn out with respect to Congressman Swalwell's case. But what's interesting about it is the use of a civil war era claim in this civil suit, where the allegation is that the President's actions and the other defendants prevented lawmakers from doing their job, in this case certifying the election.
And so, we're seeing these examples of, you know, we'll see on the litigation front, whether it turns out that the congressman is granted standing, whether they'll be able to do some discovery and what the ultimate outcome will be.
But in the meantime, by virtue of just filing the suit, number one, they've been able to lay out facts that are now in that charge, showing all of the President's different statements and statements of others that were inciting of the attack. And two, it really shows a little bit the failure of the constitutional process to hold the president accountable. Sometimes civil litigation is a substitute or an alternative when a primary mechanism of accountability fails.
BLITZER: And now that that Trump is a private citizen, potentially, he's a greater threat than if he were still a sitting president, obviously.
You know, Juliette, federal investigators are also sifting through data that indicate contact between lawmakers and rioters. What should they be focusing on?
JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Well, I think they should be focusing on January 6, because look, conversations happen all the time, January 2, third, fourth, fifth, maybe, but you could not you cannot make a serious argument that there is a legitimate conversation between a member of congress and a violent insurrectionist the day of -- unless there was some sort of collusion or some sort of help me out here, kind of conversation.
So, if I'm the investigator, I'm looking at the six directly, but that's not all I'm looking at. What -- there's a legal investigation going on here. But there's also a sort of, you know, counter radicalization process that we have to look at as well, which, which you're seeing in these cases, which is essentially, the members of the GOP are so closely aligned with these white supremacist groups, with the Proud Boys, with these insurrectionists. And that alignment is also being exposed through these cases.
In other words, this is ultimately not just about certifying the vote, this is about a party that has -- that has been nurturing white racism and denying African Americans, Hispanic Americans and others the vote for some time during the Trump administration. So, what I really like about this case, and then the congressman's case and the National Guard testimony, and sort of laying it on thick about January -- about January 6 is because that racism is still at the core of what animates a lot of the GOP. And you can't sweep it under the rug, that's not who we are.
BLITZER: Good point. All right, Juliette, thank you very much. Carrie, thanks to you as well.
Coming up as more states lift their mask mandates, the CDC now says there's new evidence that mass reduce COVID cases and deaths. Standby. We have new information.
Plus, the deepening crisis facing New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. We have details of new reports that a top aides tried to hide the true number of coronavirus deaths in the state's nursing home.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:18:12]
BLITZER: We're following breaking news right now up on Capitol Hill where the Senate's work on President Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill has come to a standstill. A standstill at least for now as Democrats tried to unite around that amendment extending jobless benefits through September. Current benefits expire in just nine days.
The entire bill, assuming it eventually passes, will have to go back to the House of Representatives for final approval.
Joining us now is a key member of the House Democratic leadership, New York Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York. As I said, he's chairman of the Democratic Caucus.
Congressman, thanks so much for joining us.
So, the Senate is walking this very fine line on the COVID relief bill right now, 50-50 in the Senate, they've made changes since you guys passed it in the House, including narrowing who gets stimulus checks, lowering the federal unemployment benefit. Does that risk the support of any House Democrats who need to sign off on this before it gets to President Biden's desk? Because no Republicans supported it as you know.
REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES, (D) JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: When the bill comes over, presumably at some point early next week, maybe as early as Monday, we'll have to take a look at it in its entirety. But I believe that House Democrats appreciate and understand the importance on moving something that's comprehensive, that's compassionate, and that is clearly needed in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic, that we are suffering from.
More than 500,000 Americans who have died, more than 100,000 small businesses permanently closed many others that have been suffering through this pandemic. Of course, 10s of millions of people who have been unemployed at different points in time are suffering from food insecurity, many on the brink of homelessness.
It's a once in a century pandemic, it requires a once in a century response. That is the American rescue plan that Joe Biden has provided to us.
[17:20:07]
And in whatever form it takes, as long as it's not substantially modified from the bill that we sent over to the Senate, I expect that it will have strong support in the House.
BLITZER: What's your reaction, Congressman, to seeing eight Democrats in the Senate vote against the amendment on that $15 minimum wage?
JEFFRIES: Well, I support Senator Sanders' amendment, and it was my hope that it would have passed. I don't know what the rationale is in terms of the individual members of the Senate on the Democratic side who voted against it. But Speaker Pelosi has made clear, this is a moral issue, we are committed to ensuring that we secure a $15 per hour minimum wage the United States of America. No one who goes to work, each and every day each and every month throughout the year works full time should be in a position where they're working at $7.25 an hour, working a full time job but raising their family in poverty. This is the United States of America, the wealthiest country in the history of the world.
And so, whatever happens in the Senate, we are going to move full steam ahead with respect to securing a $15 minimum wage, even if it eventually means a standalone bill, or revisiting this issue later on in the year when we have an opportunity for another reconciliation package.
BLITZER: While I have your congressman, you're someone who represents New York here in Washington. Let me get your reaction to the latest news on your governor, Governor Cuomo. One of his accusers now speaking out on camera calling him, I'm quoting her now, "A textbook abuser."
"The New York Times" now reporting Cuomo's aides rewrote a pandemic report to hide 1000s of nursing home deaths. Does he need, from your perspective, does the governor need to resign?
JEFFRIES: No, I think we need a full fare complete independent investigation, as is the case now based on the fact that the referral has been made to the Attorney General. I've known Tish James for a long time. We started out together. She's got the highest degree of intellect and independence and integrity.
And I think she's going to follow the facts, apply the law. And I look forward to the report. And then we can all make decisions about what is the best way forward.
I can say that obviously these allegations are very serious. Of course, that's why it requires a serious investigation. We should treat all those who have come forward with dignity and respect. We should hear them, which is what I expect the investigators will do. And then we'll see where things land.
BLITZER: Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, thanks so much for joining us. Good luck.
JEFFRIES: Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: Coming up, the U.S. now averaging 2 million COVID vaccinations a day. But will state lifting their masking mandates caused the country to lose the ground that we're gaining?
Plus, we're going to go to Baghdad as Pope Francis becomes the first pontiff ever to visit Iran.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:27:39]
BLITZER: Tonight, the U.S. coronavirus death toll has topped 522,000 people with more than 28.8 million confirmed cases. And while the White House is touting an increase in vaccine distribution, it's been scrambling to contain fallout from remarks by Detroit's Democratic Mayor about the newest vaccine approved for emergency use. CNN National Correspondent Nick Watt explains.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
NICK WATT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The city of Detroit just declined a shipment of Johnson and Johnson's single shot vaccine.
MAYOR MIKE DUGGAN, (D) DETROIT: Moderna and Pfizer are the best. And I am going to do everything I can to make sure that residents of the city of Detroit get the best.
ANDY SLAVITT, SENIOR ADVISER, WHITE HOUSE COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM: We've been in constant dialogue with Mayor Duggan, who said in fact that was not what he said.
WATT: Well, it is what he said. Maybe he misspoke. Either way, it's wrong. All three vaccines are,
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: Extraordinarily effective in preventing severe disease and we don't compare one to the other. The only way that you can effectively do that is by having head to head comparisons in a clinical trial, which was not done.
WATT: More than 10 percent of American adults are now fully vaccinated, but still no CDC guidance on how they should behave.
DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY, CDC DIRECTOR: These are complex issues and the science is rapidly evolving. We are making sure and taking the time to get this right. And we will be releasing this guidance soon.
WATT: Meantime, vaccine optimism is fueling the rollback of restrictions. Today, Michigan upped indoor dining capacity, no more mask mandate in Mississippi.
WALENSKY: I know the idea of relaxing mask wearing and getting back to everyday activities is appealing. But we're not there yet. And we have been -- we have seen this movie before.
WATT: Today, the governor of Texas doubling down on his controversial decision to end the mask mandate and open businesses.
GOV. GREG ABBOTT, (R) TEXAS: We are in a situation where it is safe to open up 100 percent. And every Texan here and every Texan across the state, they have learned for the past year, the same strategies to use.
WATT: Also today, more data published showing mask mandates do reduce COVID-19 case counts and deaths. And when restaurants reopen in person, cases and deaths do go up.
[17:30:00]
ANDY SLAVITT, SENIOR ADVISER, WHITE HOUSE COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM: wear a mask now so we can get to a place where you don't have to.
WATT (voice-over): Case counts were heading there but plateaued about 10 days ago could be fatigue, complacency, and or those more contagious variants kicking in.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WATT: So, when do we reach the Holy Grail herd immunity in this country? Well, according to some new CNN analysis, if the vaccine rollout continues as it is throwing the Johnson & Johnson by the end of July, 70 percent of the American population could be vaccinated. Throw in those people who've already been infected, we could be talking herd immunity sometime in June. But models, projections, and hopes don't always panic. Wolf?
BLITZER: That's an important point. Thanks very much, Nick Watt reporting.
Now let's get some more on all of this. Our CNN medical analyst, Dr. Leana Wen is joining us. She's an emergency room physician, former Baltimore City Health Commissioner. Dr. Wen, thanks as usual for joining us. As you know, states are now dropping several of them their mask mandates, a new CDC study though finds that masks are in fact linked to decreases in coronavirus cases and deaths. Tell our viewers why you see mask as tools that give people more freedom, not less.
DR. LEANA WEN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: Well, Wolf, let's think about what it is that people really want. What we want is a return to normality as then we want to be able to see our family, we want to go to school, and to church in person to have our businesses come back. We now know beyond a shadow of a doubt because there have been so many studies showing this that masks allow us to do that. Masks also helped to give cover for business owners, for school administrators who want to protect their customers, their workers, the students, and having these types of mask mandates really allowed the individuals to be protected while allowing our economy to come back.
BLITZER: The CDC still hasn't released what we're expecting in the next few days formal guidance for the more than 27 million and counting Americans who are fully vaccinated already. In your new piece that you've written in "The Washington Post," you say public health officials are choosing caution over celebration. So why is that problematic?
WEN: What's problematic first of all, because with every day that the CDC lets go by without their guidance, they are making themselves less relevant in the decision making. Individuals, there are tens of millions of people who are now fully vaccinated. These individuals are already making decisions about what they're going to do.
And then you also, you talked about these governors lifting their restrictions. Imagine if the CDC came in and said, fully vaccinated people can do the following. But if you're not vaccinated, you cannot do that. For example, if you're vaccinated, you should travel and you don't need to quarantine, you don't need to be tested. But if you are not vaccinated, don't travel.
I mean, this is their opportunity to insert themselves into that kind of policy making, decision making and they're letting that opportunity, I think, go to waste with every day that they're waiting. I also think that we in the public health community need to be a lot more upfront about what are the freedoms that people can have once they're vaccinated, that gives hope, that gives excitement, and I also think that vaccine hesitancy is ultimately what's going to prevent us from reaching herd immunity.
So the more that we can talk about the life changing and lifesaving impact of the vaccines, the better that's going to be.
BLITZER: The White House says, and you heard this today, that a misunderstanding led the Detroit Mayor to appear to turn down a shipment of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. You're part of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine trial. I know that. How confident are you in that shot?
WEN: Well, as a scientist, I've seen the data. And I'm very confident that all three of these vaccines, Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson, they are all safe. They're all highly effective, especially at the endpoint that we really care about, which is they're all essentially 100 percent at preventing a hospitalization and death. That's what we should really be talking about.
And I just don't understand any policymaker or individual who's turning down a vaccine because that's the equivalent of turning down a life jacket when you're drowning. Take that life jacket now even if you don't like the color of the life jacket take it, because you can always get another life jacket when another comes along. But take that, it protects you. It protects others around you, and helps us to get to the end of this pandemic a lot sooner.
BLITZER: Yes. These vaccines are going to save lives, thousands and thousands of lives. Dr. Wen thanks, as usual for joining us.
WEN: Thank you, Wolf.
[17:34:39]
BLITZER: Coming up, a deepening sense of crisis as New York Governor Andrew Cuomo faces new allegations. Also ahead, Pope Francis makes a daring trip to try to bring his message of unity and respect to war torn Iraq.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: We're following the deepening crisis facing New York's Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo. Not only are there new reports questioning his handling of the coronavirus crisis. We're also hearing more from a woman who accuses the governor of sexual harassment. CNN national correspondent Jason Carroll has the latest developments.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHARLOTTE BENNETT, FORMER AIDE TO GOV. ANDREW CUOMO: He is a textbook abuser.
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): One of the women who alleges New York Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed her is speaking out.
BENNETT: He was very sweet to me for a year in the hopes that maybe one day when he came on to me, I would think we were friends or that it was appropriate or that it was OK.
CARROLL (voice-over): Charlotte Bennett is Cuomo's former executive assistant. The 25-year-old detailed private conversations she says she had with the governor June 5th in his office.
BENNETT: He wanted a girlfriend. When he said he was lonely, I mentioned that his daughters had been around and he also rejected that. And said, yes, I love my -- I love my daughters but that's -- I want a girlfriend.
[17:40:01]
CARROLL (voice-over): Bennett says she felt the Governor was trying to groom her through his line of questioning and says she was called back into Cuomo's office the next day.
BENNETT: I was terrified. I was shaking. I thought any moment, something can happen, and I have no power here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And what happens when you're with the Governor?
BENNETT: He asked me a few questions about how to use his iPhone, and then sends me back to wait. And then finally he calls me in and he asks, if I found him a girlfriend yet.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He asked you again?
BENNETT: Yes. And I say, not yet. I said I was working on it.
CARROLL (voice-over): When asked to comment, a spokesperson for the Governor referred CNN to his Wednesday press conference.
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): I'm sorry. I'm sorry, for whatever pain I caused anyone. I never intended it. And I will be the better for this experience.
CARROLL (voice-over): All this as "The Wall Street Journal" and "The New York Times" both publishing reports alleging the Governor's aides changed a state Health Department report in June of 2020 to hide higher death toll among nursing home residents. The initial report not made public at the time, listed debts at long term care facilities in the state at nearly 10,000, a stark contrast to what the Cuomo administration was publicly saying about those deaths, putting the count at about half that number.
The administration's public count only included residents who died at long term care facilities, not residents who got sick and later died at hospitals. Special Counsel to Governor Cuomo saying the administration consistently followed federal guidelines saying the out of facility data was omitted after DOH, the Department of Health, could not confirm it had been adequately verified. This did not change the conclusion of the report. Vivian Zayas is not buying the explanation about how the numbers were reported by the administration, her mother was a resident at a nursing home, who contracted COVID-19 and later died at a hospital.
VIVIAN ZAYAS, MOTHER DIED OF COVID-19: We felt insulted all these months of hearing him talk about a book and going on the view and parading, you know, different events, touting his success. And here we are the families holding on to what's left of the dry grass.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: And Wolf, late today, a special counsel for the Governor released and more detailed statement about those nursing home numbers, basically saying that there were, quote, multiple public statements of existence of the data and at no point according to the special counsel, did anyone in the governor's office change or alter any numbers. Wolf?
BLITZER: All right. Jason, thanks very much, Jason Carroll reporting. Let's bring in CNN, legal analyst, former New Jersey Attorney General, Anne Milgram. Anne thanks for joining us. We've now heard from Charlotte Bennett in her own words she says the Governor is, and I'm quoting her now, a textbook abuser, that she was terrified to be in his office. How strong is the sexual harassment case against the Governor at this point?
ANNE MILGRAM, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, there's certainly a lot more evidence that seems to be coming out. And her statements are, they're important when you look at something like this, or you do an internal investigation, one of the first questions is what was said, what was done. And it's important to point out, Wolf, that there will be records that will show that she did enter the Governor's office. There will be, you know, appointments and diaries, there will be ways to sort of figure out whether her, what she's now stated can be corroborated.
And so this does pose, I think, significant issues for the Governor. I also believe that we are, you know, days away from hearing from the state, New York state attorney general who is going to appoint an outside law firm to conduct an internal investigation and that internal investigation will include interviews with the women who've come forward as well as current and former staff. And so, I think that there's a lot more information that those investigators will be looking to get about what happened.
BLITZER: I'm sure there will be. And let's see, if more women start appearing, making similar allegations, that would be hugely, hugely significant. Let's turn to the other issue, the reports that the Governor's aides change data to high deaths, thousands of deaths among nursing home residents in New York, what are the potential legal implications here?
MILGRAM: Yes. I think that's the right question. We already know, it's been publicly reported that there is an investigation that's happening in the Eastern District of New York into whether -- into what happened here. And that kind of investigation could be related to something along the lines of obstruction of justice, false statements. There could be other things that we don't know. And again, no one's been charged, that investigation has just begun.
But there's two points that are worth making about what's now been reported that there were these significant changes to the Health Department's report. The first is that, you know, in a time and place in the pandemic where we were turning to health experts and scientists to rate reports and provide information, you now have, you know, verified reporting that saying that the Governor's office which is, you know, political body and obviously the executive of the state, but that they actually took out data that was showing that the numbers were higher.
[17:45:12]
And that information would have been important to have publicly last July, Wolf, when there were policy decisions being made about how do we protect our most vulnerable residents in the state of New York. And the second and related piece, to me, which isn't as much of a legal question is that for all of us, we know that at that point in time states were not allowing family members or friends to go into these long term care facilities.
So you have a situation where there's a lack of accountability in some ways, because the information isn't being publicly reported. Family members aren't being allowed to go in to sort of verify what's happening. And you end up with a situation where the Governor feel -- it feels like the Governor was controlling a lot, a lot of what was happening and not being transparent and that that could have ultimately been really to the detriment of New Yorkers.
BLITZER: Yes, that's an important point. Anne Milgram, thank you so much for joining us.
MILGRAM: Thank you.
BLITZER: Coming up, Pope Francis making history tonight with the first ever papal visit to Iraq.
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[17:50:35]
BLITZER: Tonight, Pope Francis is in Iraq, the first Pope that ever visits the country where Christians make up about 1 percent of the majority Muslim population. CNN Vatican correspondent Delia Gallagher is traveling with the pontiff in Baghdad. She's joining us now. Delia?
DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this was the visit that nobody really thought was going to actually happen between the COVID pandemic and security concerns. But Pope Francis was determined. And earlier today, he landed at Baghdad airport and became the first pope ever to set foot in Iraq.
He told us on the plane that he felt it was his duty to come to this martyred land, he said. And in fact, one of his first stops was at the church of Our Lady of Salvation here in Baghdad, the site of that horrific attack in 2010 that killed 58 Christians. He's here to support the Christian community, but he's also here to meet with Muslim leadership. He'll be doing that tomorrow in Najaf when he has a private meeting with the Grand Ayatollah, Ali al-Sistani, a leading authoritative figure for Shia Muslims. Wolf?
BLITZER: All right, Delia Gallagher reporting from Baghdad. Thank you very much.
President Biden, meanwhile, is facing an early test from his counterpart, Vladimir Putin, as Russia nears completion of a direct gas pipeline to Germany. CNN International diplomatic editor, Nic Robertson, has details.
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NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR (voice-over): As recently as last month, a Russian pipelaying ship has been breaking U.S. sanctions, banning construction of Russia's direct to Germany undersea Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Vladimir Putin wants President Joe Biden to back down on sanctions.
ANDREY KORTUNOV, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, RUSSIAN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL: They are testing the new administration.
ROBERTSON (voice-over): The nearly completed 770-mile Russian German gas pipeline that bypasses U.S. ally Ukraine, if finished not only boosts Russia's gas sales to Europe but scores a strategic victory for Putin.
KORTUNOV: It is definitely going to be perceived not just as successful completion of a commercial project but also as a political victory for the Russian Federation.
NEIL MELVIN, DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES, RUSI: Ukraine is really the prize both for the Europeans and for the Russians. And so, the gas issue will undoubtedly shift that balance back towards Moscow.
ROBERTSON (voice-over): President Joe Biden stake his park commercial. The U.S. would like to sell it shale gas to Europe. But mostly it's strategic.
JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: President Biden has made clear that Nord Stream 2 is a bad deal. It's a bad deal because it divides Europe. It exposes Ukraine and Central Europe to Russia and Russian manipulation.
ROBERTSON (voice-over): More than that. It could block a key Biden foreign policy plan, a strong transatlantic alliance.
MELVIN: Nord Stream 2 is really becoming the litmus test of whether the Biden administration can rebuild an effective transatlantic relationship.
ROBERTSON (voice-over): German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is key to the success of strong U.S.-Europe relations, opposes the Nord Stream 2 sanctions and wants the pipeline completed.
MELVIN: They're trying to explore a deal that would allow the pipeline to go ahead, but in a way kick the problem down the road. So politically, they'll put in place a mechanism that will allow say snap backs of sanctions on Russia if it behaves badly.
ROBERTSON (voice-over): But Biden is under pressure from Republicans not to compromise. And in a bipartisan letter and other documents, members of Congress are pressing the State Department to stay strong on sanctions and explain any conversation with Germany about Nord Stream 2. The Russians are hoping Merkel, who had a stormy relationship with former President Trump who initiated the sanctions will get her way with Biden.
KORTUNOV: The expectation in Moscow is that Biden might be forced to make a couple of concessions not to Putin, not to the Kremlin, but rather to Angela Merkel.
ROBERTSON (voice-over): Biden is being tested at home and by Putin. The stakes are huge. Russia succeeds gains leverage over Ukraine divides Europe, weakens the transatlantic alliance. Everyone's options limited.
MELVIN: This is an area in which Germany is really alone. Its European neighbors are against it. The E.U. is against it. And the U.S. is against it. So, it's not just for the Biden administration to find a way out but also for Merkel and her allies to find a way forward.
[17:55:10]
ROBERTSON (voice-over): With more than 90 percent of the pipeline completed, and Russia actively laying pipe, time for a solution is dwindling.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON: Now Putin knows that even if he gets his pipeline to go through on his terms, then that could mean another raft of sanctions likely hitting Gazprom, his oil and gas giant. European allies of the United States just want to see from President Biden a consistent strategic approach, something that was lacking under President Trump. Wolf?
BLITZER: Nic Robertson reporting for us. Thank you.
There's more breaking news we're following. We'll go live to Capitol Hill where debate on the COVID relief bill has now stalled as Democrats try to win over the critical vote of one of their own.
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