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Officials: Suspect In Spa Shooting Charged With Murder, Still Investigating Motive In Killings Of Mostly Asian Women; New Intel Report: "Racially Or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists" Present "the Most Lethal" Threats In The U.S.; Katherine Tai Unanimously Confirmed As U.S. Trade Rep.; Interview With Sen. Bernie Sanders (I- VT); Biden Endorses Changes To Senate Filibuster Rule For First Time; U.S. On The Brink Of 30 Million COVID-19 Cases As 14 States See Concerning Upswing In Infections; Biden: If Cuomo Investigation Confirms Allegations, The Governor Should Resign And May Be Prosecuted. Aired 5-6p ET

Aired March 17, 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: He did not think his time would come so soon. He caught the virus in late January. He was gone a week later.

He leaves behind his wife and three-year-old son. Our deepest condolences. May his memory be a blessing.

Our coverage on CNN continues right now. I'll see you tomorrow.

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 the investigation into the killing spree that targeted three Atlanta area spas where eight people were shot to death, six of them Asian-American women. Tonight, we're learning more about the 21- year-old suspect now charged with eight counts of murder. The police say may have been planning even more attacks.

We're also following a very disturbing new report by the U.S. Intelligence Community and the Department of Justice and Homeland Security. It says that racially or ethnically motivated, violent extremist promoting white supremacy are, "The most lethal threats right now here in the United States."

Let's start our coverage this hour in Atlanta. Our National Correspondent Ryan Young is joining us.

Ryan, now there's new information emerging now about the suspects in these terrible killings.

RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Have those questions, Wolf. And I want to show you something here, this growing Memorial has been building here in Atlanta, a city that's known as being too busy to hate. But right now a lot of people have questions about why the shooter open fire. (BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

YOUNG (voice-over): Shock and outrage in Atlanta, Georgia and across the nation after a shooting spree left eight people dead, six of whom were Asian women. Police say the suspected shooter 21 year old Robert Aaron Long has admitted to the attacks on three separate Atlanta area spas. But they say it's too soon to call his motives a hate crime

CAPT. JAY BAKER, CHEROKEE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: It's still early, but he does claim that it was not racially motivated.

YOUNG: According to investigators, the suspect described issues of sexual addiction and the spas as temptations that he wanted to eliminate.

SHERIFF FRANK REYNOLDS, CHEROKEE COUNTY, GEORGIA: He made indicators that he has some issues, potentially sexual addiction and may have frequent some of these places in the past.

YOUNG: A former roommate of a suspect telling CNN that Long spent time in rehab for sexual addiction last year.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hurry.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you have a description of him, ma'am?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I need to hide right now, this way, please --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is it a male or female?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They have a gun.

YOUNG: The attack started shortly before 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday at Young's Asian massage in Cherokee County, Georgia. Five people were shot with two dying on the scene and two dying at the hospital. Later around 5:47, a Gold Massage Spa in North East Atlanta, three people were shot dead. And another killed across the street at Aroma Therapy Spa.

MAYOR KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS (D), ATLANTA, GA: For as tragic as this was on yesterday in Metro Atlanta, this could have been a significantly worse.

YOUNG: Authorities say they capture Long 150 miles south of Atlanta on his way down to Florida where he allegedly may have planned to continue his rampage.

BAKER: My understanding of some type of porn industry in that state that he was wanting to go do some similar act and that location.

YOUNG: Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic attacks on Asian Americans have been on the rise. The group Stop AAPI Hate, which tracks reports of discrimination against Asian Americans says it has received nearly 3,000 complaints of violence and harassment against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders since March 19 of last year.

Today at the White House Vice President Kamala Harris grieving for the victims.

KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I do want to say to our Asian American community that we stand with you and understand how this has frightened and shocked and outraged.

YOUNG: And former President Barack Obama tweeting, "the identity of victims underscores an alarming rise in anti-Asian violence and further blaming the longer lasting epidemic of gun violence in America."

(END VIDEO TAPE)

YOUNG: You can see the sign right here, Wolf, it says "we must love each other and protect each other." This family just arrived to do a silent prayer right here and they delivered flowers. You can see the outpouring from people who live in Atlanta, they are shocked by this crime.

And to show you where this crime happened. Look, three women were shot here and then that suspects ran across the street over to that other location over here. So, so many people have been showing up to put flowers in both locations because they cannot believe this happened in the city in this metro area. Wolf.

BLITZER: So, hard to believe it. It is so heartbreaking.

Ryan Young on the scene for us. Thank you very much.

Joining us now the Mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms. Mayor I know these are incredibly busy times for you. But thank you so much for spending a few moments with us.

We know this suspect has now been charged, as you just heard, as you well know with eight counts of murder. What's the latest you can tell us, Mayor, on this investigation and the possible motive behind these shootings?

[17:05:00]

BOTTOMS: Well, all we know is what this confessed killer has said, as it relates to what his motives are. We are grateful to law enforcement that they were able to apprehend him so quickly. He was on his way to Florida. He shared with him that he intended to carry out even more violence in Florida. So, this could have been so much worse if there was tremendous coordination across jurisdictions in our state.

And so, for as tragic as it is and has been for the Metropolitan Atlanta area, we're grateful that it was not any worse.

BLITZER: And what have you been told about a possible motive for this mass murder?

BOTTOMS: And again, all we know, is what he has said. He claims that it was not racially motivated, that this was based on some sex addiction. But taking that with a grain of salt, this is a man who murdered eight people in cold blood. So, it's very difficult to believe what he says. It's difficult to ignore the fact that many of the victims were Asian, all of the victims in Atlanta were Asian, in fact, and that he targeted these Asian massage parlors.

And so, you know, I'll leave it up to the prosecutors to determine what other appropriate charges may be warranted as it relates to hate crimes. But it's very difficult to ignore that the Asian community has once again been targeted, and it's happening across the country. And it it's unfortunate, and it makes no sense in it, it needs to stop.

BLITZER: Yes, it makes no sense at all. Six of the eight who were killed were Asian-American women.

And in Georgia, as you know, Mayor, hate crime law does include sex as a category. Officials today did point to what you described as what he claimed some sort of possible sexual addiction. Should this be prosecuted from your perspective as a hate crime?

BOTTOMS: Well, I think whatever the stiffest, most appropriate charges there are, this guy should face those charges. In Georgia, you can be charged with a hate crime, it covers a variety of areas. And I personally think it would be appropriate, but I will defer to the prosecutors to make that determination.

But the important thing right now is that he is off the street, he was not allowed to inflict harm on additional people and families. And again, in the same way, African-Americans across this country, asked for support. And when we asked for people to stand with us over the summer. It's important that people stand with it with our Asian brothers and sisters in the same way. They are being targeted unfairly. And in Atlanta, what we've seen, the worst has happened.

BLITZER: It's absolutely true. We got to all stand together in this country.

Let me ask you about something that Captain Jay Baker of the Cherokee County, that's a different county from Atlanta, the Cherokee County Sheriff's office today said about this shooter. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BAKER: He understood the gravity of it. And he was pretty much fed up and had been kind of at the end of his rope. And yesterday was a really bad day for him. And this is what he did.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: It does raise concern what we just heard about humanizing the perpetrator of this mass murder, rather than sympathizing with the victims. What was your reaction when you heard that?

BOTTOMS: You know, that was not the impression that I got in our pre- meeting. Before we came out for the press conference. I know that there was sympathy for the victims, there was a lot of compassionate. And listen in Cherokee County, I believe they have one murder last year, and they had a mass shooting on yesterday. So, this was a really big day for all of us, but especially big in Cherokee County. And the important thing is that they did their jobs. You know, this guy's off on the streets. So, I know, in my conversations before we went out that was not the sentiment that I felt in our conversations. I know that there was sympathy and empathy towards the victims and their families.

And you know, perhaps he could have said it better with the cameras there. But I think the most important part that we have to focus on is that this guy's off in the street, and that because of the work of Cherokee County and Atlanta police and Georgia State Patrol and Chris County, he was not allowed to go to another location in another state and kill even more people.

BLITZER: We're just getting this in, Mayor, and I want to get your response. We're learning that the suspect then in this spa shootings actually purchased his gun legally in a local gun store Big Woods Goods in Holly Springs, an attorney for the company confirmed to CNN.

[17:10:14]

When you hear about these mass murders with these guns that are out there available, how available are they in Atlanta right now?

BOTTOMS: Well, Wolf, you know, unfortunately, we're seeing a spike in gun violence across the country. So, we know that people have access to guns. And it's unfortunate in the midst of what we've been dealing with as a country and globally with COVID, these important conversations regarding background checks and making sure that people are stable enough to purchase guns and all of these things that are always --

BLITZER: I think we just lost the mayor. But clearly, this individual had a lot of problems, mental problems, as his family would testify. And the fact that, I don't know what kind of background check he went through to purchase this gun legally. It does raise all sorts of questions, indeed.

We'll try to reconnect with Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. But clearly, she has a lot going on right now in Atlanta.

And once again, our hearts go out to those families who are now suffering so, so severely. And of course, we stand in solidarity with the Asian-American community right now, which is also clearly suffering. And we're suffering, all of us, as a result of that as well.

Up next, we have details of a brand new intelligence report just released warning of the, "lethal" threat posed by white supremacists here in the United States.

And there's more news we're following, the embattled New York Governor Andrew Cuomo responds to President Biden saying things that -- President Biden saying that Cuomo should resign if the investigation confirms allegations of sexual harassment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [17:15:45]

BLITZER: A very disturbing new U.S. intelligence report is now warning of the threat posed to the United States by violent extremist motivated by race or ethnicity. Our Senior National Security Correspondent Alex Marquardt is working the story for us.

Alex, this is very concerning. It's just been released by three of the country's top national security agencies, the Office of Director of National Intelligence, the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice, what does it reveal?

ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: And that's notable, Wolf, because as you know, the intelligence community normally deals with foreign threats. And here, we're talking about domestic threats.

This is a short report, four pages long, straight to the point. It says that essentially, because of everything that's going on this year, there is an elevated chance of deadly violence from domestic violent extremist. These are extremists, this report says, that are normally driven by racial bias and grievances against the government. But this year in particular, they're also motivated by this incorrect perception that the election was stolen, the January 6 insurrection and conditions surrounding COVID.

And this is something that they say will almost, certainly, spur some domestic violent extremists to try to carry out violent attacks this year. And then they single out the extremists who are most likely to carry out these attacks.

This is what the report says, "Racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists and militia violent extremists present the most lethal domestic violent extremist threats, with racially motivated extremists most likely to conduct mass casualty attacks against civilians, and militia violent extremists typically targeting law enforcement and government personnel and facilities."

So, Wolf, that means racists, white supremacists, and those belonging to militias are of particular concern. They say most likely it will be lone wolves, who will be carrying out these attacks. It's harder to track them. It's harder to get a sense of when they're radicalized.

And of course, all of these groups, all of these extremists, Wolf, have easy access to guns and that is a major problem. Earlier today, the new Secretary of Homeland Security, Mayorkas, was asked what he thinks the biggest threat to the homeland is. And this is what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: At this point in time, domestic violent extremism, the lone wolf, the loose affiliation of individuals following ideologies of hate and other ideologies of extremism that are willing and able to take those ideologies and execute on them in unlawful, illegal violent ways is our greatest threat in the homeland right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUARDT: And, Wolf, this report from these national security agencies does point out that white supremacists are very concerning because they have support not just across the country, but around the world from other white supremacists and these groups inspire each other or reinforce each other.

What we see in this report today has been echoed by the director of the FBI, Chris Wray, who called the January 6 insurrection to the Capitol by Trump supporters, domestic terrorism. And he says that domestic terrorism is metastasizing across the country and is not going away anytime soon. Wolf.

BLITZER: Yes. A huge, huge problem right now.

Alex, thank you very much.

Let's get some more in all of this. The former FBI Deputy Director CNN Senior Law Enforcement Analyst Andrew McCabe is joining us. His new book, by the way, is entitled "The Threat: How the FBI Protects America in the Age of Terror and Trump."

Thanks, Andrew, so much for joining us.

This new intelligence report says racially motivated extremist and militias present, as you heard, the most lethal, the most lethal domestic threat here in the United States. But is that view accepted within the intelligence and law enforcement community? Because clearly they underestimated that threat ahead of the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol?

ANDREW MCCABE, CNN SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, Wolf, what I think you're seeing is a kind of a reawakening in the law enforcement intelligence community to the threat posed by racially motivated and militia motivated, violent extremists. This report today is remarkable in its directness and calling out exactly where they say these threats are coming from.

[17:20:09]

And I think it's important to point out that this is not a piece of work produced by, you know, a group that subject to political motivations or that sort of thing. This is from our nation's smartest intelligence analysts and intelligence professionals who have access to the most wide reaching intelligence products we have on these issues. So, when they speak this directly through the DNI it's, it's a good idea for everyone to listen up and take it very seriously.

BLITZER: Yes, if you read this report, it is really, really worrisome what's going on in this country right now. We're not talking about foreign terrorists coming in, we're talking about Americans.

The conspiracy theories that are out there, particularly about the election, clearly, that will spur these domestic terrorists that try to engage in yet more violence this year, I suspect. What do you think?

MCCABE: Well, there's no doubt and the report says exactly that. You know, our domestic violent extremists are motivated by some of the same sorts of motivations we've always seen them carry around. That is anti-minority sentiments and things about -- concerns about government overreach.

But there have been new logs added to that fire. There's new fuel on the fire in the form of persistent rumors of election fraud, the symbolism, the powerful symbolism and motivational impact of the attack on the Capitol on January 6, and of course, the pervasiveness of these really damaging conspiracy theories that we see, you know, readily accessible on the internet. So, you've got some of that foundation of grievance is being now fueled and move forward and elevated in a dangerous way by these new, frankly, false beliefs.

BLITZER: And the report notes, as Alex said, that the concern is that these white supremacists have transnational connections with other white supremacists in other countries that are fueling this hatred and potentially more violence.

Andrew McCabe, thank you so much for joining us.

Coming up, we're going to go one on one with Senator Bernie Sanders. We'll discuss President Biden's agenda, new voting restrictions, and much, much more. Stand by for that.

Plus, why the CDC is now calling emerging COVID strange out in California. And I'm quoting now, "variants of concern." We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:26:52]

BLITZER: At the White House today, President Biden made a point of speaking cautiously as investigators tried to determine the motive for the Atlanta mass shootings. But the President left no doubt that he stands in solidarity with Asian-Americans.

Let's go to our Chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins.

So, Kaitlan, update our viewers.

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, it was just last week that President Biden was referencing the recent uptick in violence and harassment against Asian-Americans in light of the coronavirus pandemic. And today he talks about it again while being careful not to assign motive to the shooter here given investigators are still looking through everything and they haven't gotten that far along yet. He said he didn't want to go there yet.

But he said you cannot ignore that six of these victims were Asian- American women. Asian-Americans, of course, as he was talking about what's been going on. And of course, Wolf, this comes after he started his day, getting briefed by the Attorney General and the FBI director on what happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

COLLINS: President Biden briefed by top law enforcement officials after eight people were killed in Atlanta.

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Investigation is ongoing. And the question of motivation is still to be determined.

COLLINS: While Biden isn't commenting on the shooters motivation yet, he added this given six of the victims were Asian women.

BIDEN: But whatever the motivation here, I know that Asian-Americans are very, very concerned.

COLLINS: Tonight, another concern for the White House, the developing situation at the U.S. border. Biden's Department of Homeland Security Secretary defending their handling of the surge involving 1000s of unaccompanied children.

ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS, SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY: Congresswoman the border is secure, and the border is not open.

COLLINS: After being criticized by both sides of the political aisle for his response, Biden says his policies aren't to blame.

BIDEN: What do you do with a non-accompanied child that comes to the border? Do you repeat what Trump did? Take them from their mothers, move them away, hold them in cells, et cetera? We're not doing that.

COLLINS: But Texas' governor is pointing the finger at Biden, not Trump.

GOV. GREG ABBOTT, (R) TEXAS: These sites are a direct result of President Biden's reckless open border policies.

COLLINS: In the same sit down with ABC News, Biden offered his most direct comments yet on weakening the procedural tactic known as the filibuster.

BIDEN: So, we got to work for the filibuster.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, ABC NEWS HOST: So, you're for that reform? You're for bringing back the talking filibuster?

BIDEN: I am. That's what it was supposed to be.

COLLINS: Forcing senators to hold the floor could make it harder to sustain opposition to bills, though Republicans are responding to progressive efforts to get the filibuster with these harsh warnings.

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL, (R-KY) MINORITY LEADER: Nobody serving in this chamber can even begin, can even begin to imagine what a completely scorched earth Senate would look like.

COLLINS: Biden says he's looking for other ways to achieve his agenda, including passing possible tax hikes without Republican support.

BIDEN: Anybody who making more than $400,000 will see a small to a significant tax increase. If you make less than $400,000 you won't see it one single penny in additional federal tax.

[17:30:02]

STEPHANOPOULOS: How are you going to get a Republican vote for a tax increase?

BIDEN: I may not get it, but I'll get the Democratic votes for tax increase.

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the foreign policy front, Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay a price for meddling in U.S. elections without saying how.

BIDEN: He will pay a price. Price is going to pay. Well, you'll see shortly.

COLLINS (voice-over): Asked flatly if he considers Putin to be a killer, Biden answered quickly.

STEPHANOPOULOS: So you know Vladimir Putin, you think he's a killer?

BIDEN: I do.

COLLINS (voice-over): That answers standing in stark contrast to how his predecessor responded in 2017.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Putin's a killer.

DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Lot of killers got a lot of killers. Why do you think our country's so innocent?

COLLINS (voice-over): Biden also cautioned the U.S. may miss the approaching deadline for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan.

BIDEN: I'm in the process of making that decision now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Now, Wolf, we should note that after President Biden made those comments about the Russian President, Russia has brought back its own ambassador to the U.S. back to Russia for, quote, consultations, as they negotiate and determine the next steps forward for the U.S. Russia relationship. The White House did not directly comment on that today.

And one other development we'd like to know, Katherine Tai has now been confirmed as the next U.S. Trade Representative. She's a longtime congressional staffer, who is now going to be the top negotiator for the United States. And Wolf, we should also note, she is the first woman of color to hold that job.

BLITZER: Yes, she's a daughter of immigrants to the United States from Taiwan. Congratulations to her special Trade Representative, a very, very important position right now.

Kaitlan, I appreciate it very much.

Joining us now, the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, the Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Senator, thanks so much for joining us. We have a lot to discuss. But let me get your reaction to this mass shooting in Atlanta, it clearly has shaken the Asian American community. It's so hard to believe this is going on here in the United States, this hatred of Asian Americans. It's awful.

We're waiting to learn more, but this comes amid this awful spike in a anti-Asian attacks here in the US. How do you address this crisis?

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT): Well, it has been a spike in hate crimes in general, hate crimes against the gay community, anti-Semitism, the black community, the Latino community. And what we have got to do is to work as hard as we can to make sure that everybody understands we all one nation, and we have got to come together to address the enormous crises facing our country, and hatred and racism, whether it's anti-Asian or anti-African American or Latino, whatever it may be, is not acceptable.

BLITZER: Why is this ...

SANDERS: And I'm ...

BLITZER: Why is this hatred intensified so much over the past recent months, let's say?

SANDERS: Well, I think it has a lot to do. I don't want to spend a whole lot of time on this, but I think it has a lot to do with the anti-Asian mentality and rhetoric coming from the Trump administration. You know, when you call the COVID pandemic, the Chinese pandemic, et cetera, et cetera, it has its impact.

BLITZER: Certainly does. Let's talk a little bit about President Biden's agenda right now. As you know, he's out promoting his COVID relief legislation, which passed nearly $2 trillion in assistance for the American people. But you've -- you're already pushing to move beyond that the next big ticket item infrastructure development, which is so necessary in our country right now. But you're saying, if necessary, that should be passed without Republican support, is that right?

SANDERS: Look, what I am saying is that we have come a long way to the American rescue plan in addressing the immediate crises that we face, dealing with the pandemic, making sure that people got a $1,400 check, making sure that we expand that healthcare that we cut childhood poverty in half, et cetera, et cetera.

That is what we had to do and I'm proud that we were able to do it. But right now, we have to take a look at some of the long-term structural problems facing this country. Most importantly, we need to create many millions of good paying jobs. And the way you do that is to address the long-term problem of a crumbling infrastructure, our roads, our bridges, our water systems, wastewater plants. And when I talk about infrastructure, Wolf, I talk about affordable housing, got to half a million people today who are homeless. You got 18 million people spending 50 percent of their limited incomes on housing. We need to build millions of units to low income and affordable housing.

When I talk about infrastructure, we are talking about combating the existential threat of climate change, and the need to transform our energy system away from fossil fuel to energy efficiency and sustainable energy, making our homes and our buildings more energy efficient, investing in solar wind and other sustainable technologies.

[17:35:06]

When we do those things, we can create millions of good paying jobs, make our country more efficient and safer, and lead the world in combating climate change. That is where I think we have to go.

BLITZER: In the 50-50 Senate though, can you do that strictly with Democrats as the COVID relief plan was just passed with just Democrats? Can you do it with strictly Democrats an infrastructure piece of legislation?

SANDERS: Well, the answer is you can. But the goal is, you know, is to reach out to Republicans. And if they are serious, they talk a lot about infrastructure. If they are serious about coming up with a comprehensive plan, not something minimal or superficial, but a real plan, which begins to address the climate crisis we face, the infrastructure crisis that we face, help us create millions of good paying jobs, let's work together. But if they are not, we're not going to sit around month after month, year after year talking about it.

The American people, frankly, Wolf, you know, don't sit around when they get their $1,400 check. They're not saying, oh, this came through reconciliation. Nobody knows. Nobody has. The American people want action. They want to create jobs, they want to deal with roads and bridges and climate change. So my hope is Republicans will join us. If they don't, yes, we're going to do it alone.

BLITZER: President Biden also suggested one slight reform to the Senate filibuster requiring a senator like you or any other senator to actually talk and hold the floor if he or she is calling for a filibuster. How far would that go, do you believe Senator Sanders, in addressing the dysfunction in the Senate process?

SANDERS: Well, when you mentioned, and I'm thinking back that some music always on the floor for eight and a half hours talking about a tax bill, so I've done -- I've been there and done that. But I don't know, I don't know. I happen to think that at the end of the day, we have to end the filibuster. I think that the crises facing the American people are of such magnitude that we need to act.

And it is unacceptable that when the American people want to do something like raising the minimum wage or dealing with health care, or dealing with education, et cetera, or demanding that the wealthy stop paying their fair share of taxes, it is just unfair and undemocratic for a minority of the Senate to prevent what the majority of people want in this country, in the House and in the Senate. So that's my view.

BLITZER: But very quickly, because we're out of time. But if you eliminate the filibuster completely, and the Democrats become the minority, let's say in a new Senate, wouldn't you be worried that the Republicans would pass all sorts of things that you might wind up hating?

SANDERS: Absolutely, I mean, that's what it's about. But I think that, you know, essentially, what we have got to allow is for democracy and majority rule to prevail. The American people are hurting today, Wolf. They want action, and it's not acceptable for a minority to stop doing what the American people want in need.

BLITZER: Senator Sanders, thanks so much for joining us.

SANDERS: Thank you.

BLITZER: Coming up, troubling new coronavirus variants now surfacing out in California. Standby for details.

And President Biden says New York Governor Andrew Cuomo should resign if, if investigations conclude he sexually harassed the women. The Governor's reaction is coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:42:43]

BLITZER: Tonight, United States is on the brink of surpassing 30 million confirmed coronavirus cases. And right now, 14 states are actually seeing new cases on the rise. Our National Correspondent Nick Watt has the very latest from Los Angeles.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) all day long.

NICK WATT, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Tough to tipple with a mascot. Despite mitigation measures, celebrating St. Patrick could spread this virus and two more variants are now officially of concern to the CDC, both first found in the United States here in California.

DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY, CDC DIRECTOR: We are in a race to stop transmission. And the emergence of variants that spread more easily has made that even more challenging.

WATT (voice-over): This past week in all these states, average new case counts climbed by more than 10 percent in Michigan, up over 50 percent.

WILLIAM HASELTINE, PRESIDENT, ACCESS HEALTH INTERNATIONAL: I think we see a new wave. It's starting in the north.

WATT (voice-over): The countries still averaging well over 50,000 new cases every day.

DR. CELINE GOUNDER, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: When we see a plateau like that, whether that's been here previously or in those European countries, that predicts another surge.

WATT (voice-over): Many European countries have temporarily suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine over seemingly baseless fears over blood clotting.

DR. FRANCIS COLLINS, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH: Everything that I have heard so far, but we're waiting for the European Medicines Agency report tomorrow would indicate that this is one of those things where clotting is a fairly common medical problem. When you have 17 million people getting a vaccine, some of them are going to have various medical problems just because that was going to happen to them anyway.

WATT (voice-over): Here's some bright side. Vaccines are apparently not only safe for pregnant women, but an unpublished Israeli study suggests mothers will pass protective antibodies on to their babies. More bright side.

DR. PAUL OFFIT, MEMBER, FDA VACCINES ADVISORY COMMITTEE: There are two things that are working against this virus right now. One is the weather. I mean, as it gets warmer and more humid, it is more difficult for this virus to be transmitted and more and more people are getting vaccinated.

WATT (voice-over): Every single state has now fully vaccinated at least 10 percent of their adult population.

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, CHIEF MEDICAL ADVISER TO PRESIDENT BIDEN: My concern is that we prematurely pull back and don't give the vaccines time to continue to protect the country.

WATT (voice-over): Two weeks ago, Mississippi's Governor signed an order that --

[17:45:01]

GOV. TATE REEVES (R), MISSISSIPPI: Removes all of our county mass mandates and allows businesses to operate at full capacity.

WATT (voice-over): Average case counts in the state had been falling but rose nearly 20 percent this past week.

OFFIT: Opening businesses makes sense, but doing that at the same time that you released mass mandates just doesn't make any sense.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WATT: Now, some good news for schools, the federal government is going to pour $10 billion into testing for kids K through 12. That should help more schools open and stay open. And a ray of hope from here in California Disneyland, after more than a year is going to reopen end of April masks, distancing limited numbers and I'm afraid to say to begin with also only open to California residents. Wolf?

BLITZER: Interesting. All right, Nick, thanks very much. Nick Watt reporting.

Joining us now, the former CDC Acting Director, Dr. Richard Besser. Dr. Besser, thanks for joining us. The CDC has just labeled these two new COVID variants first identified in California. They've labeled them as variants of concern. What makes these particular strains troubling, so troubling.

DR. RICHARD BESSER, FORMER ACTING DIRECTOR, CDC: Well, what that means is when they look at antibodies, people who have had COVID infection, and they look to see do those antibodies destroy this strain of virus, they find that they don't do it quite so well. The reason the alarm is raised to a higher level is that they -- there's no data yet to show that that these strains are not protected -- people aren't protected if they get the vaccine for these strains. That would be the next level of concern.

But, Wolf, what it says to me is we are really in a race here where, were in a race to get the population vaccinated. At the same time, we're fighting people's exhaustion with the restrictions that public health has put in place. And we're fighting the move by so many governors to remove the restrictions that are keeping us all safe. You know, these factors are really concerning. And as Dr. Walensky said, the fact that things are plateaued in many places is not a cause for celebration, that's a cause for concern.

BLITZER: It certainly is. As you heard in Nick's report, this new study out of Israel shows protective antibodies from vaccinated pregnant women are transferred to their babies during pregnancy. Based on that research and what we know about the safety of the vaccine in pregnant women, would you recommend the vaccine during pregnancy?

BESSER: Well, you know, the -- it's not surprising to see this data. It's one of the absolutely wonderful things about vaccinations in pregnancy is it provides some protection to newborns. And as a pediatrician, that's something that I've always counted on and that's why I've pushed to make sure that pregnant women get all the vaccines that are recommended.

In terms of this vaccine for pregnant women, it's a conversation between a pregnant person and their doctor. And the reason for that is that you need to look at exposure risk. Is it an individual who's at high risk of exposure to COVID or is it someone who's at very low risk? And then what is that individual's risk tolerance? You know, I expect that these are going to show -- to be shown to be very safe, but those studies are still underway.

BLITZER: That's good advice as usual. Dr. Besser, thanks so much for joining us.

Coming up, President Biden says the New York Governor Andrew Cuomo should resign if, if an investigation includes he sexually harassed women. Standby for the Governor's reaction.

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[17:52:59]

BLITZER: President Biden finally is weighing in on the sexual harassment investigation facing the New York Governor Andrew Cuomo saying if, if the allegations prove true, Cuomo should resign and may even be prosecuted. Let's go to CNN's Ryan Nobles, he's joining us from Albany right now. So, Ryan, how's the Governor reacting?

RYAN NOBLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, first of all, let's talk about what President Biden had to say. He is still stopping short of calling on Governor Cuomo to resign. But he did raise a number of eyebrows when he suggested that if the allegations against the Governor turned out to be true that he could face criminal prosecution. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHANOPOULOS: I know you've said you want the investigation to continue. If the investigation confirms the claims of the women, should he resign?

BIDEN: Yes, I think he probably end up being prosecuted to.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NOBLES: Now the Governor was asked about the President's comments and he points out that the President believes that the investigation should play itself out before Cuomo takes any action regarding his future. Listen to the Governor's response.

GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D), NEW YORK: If you committed a crime, you can be prosecuted. That's true. But what President Biden said was, we should do an investigation. The question to President Biden starts with, do you think the Governor should resign or do you think there should be a review first, and the President said there should be a review. I agree with him on that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NOBLES: And about that investigation, it is continuing. In fact, the Attorney General's investigation which is being handled by an outside firm has now interviewed two of the alleged accusers of Governor Cuomo. And then today, the Speaker of Carl Heastie of the New York State Assembly announced which outside firm would begin his investigation.

Now, there have been some criticisms of the Speaker's investigation which would be the first step before impeachment proceedings. Lindsey Boylan, one of the accusers of Governor Cuomo saying that she will not participate in the Assembly Speaker's investigation because she believes that it's just allowing this process to continue to stall and play out. So still a lot of controversy surrounding the Governor of the state of New York here in Albany. Wolf?

[17:55:17] BLITZER: All right, Ryan, thank you very much. Ryan Nobles in Albany for us.

Coming up, we're getting new details on the 21-year-old suspect now charged with murder, after a shooting spree left eight people dead.

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BLITZER: Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM. We're following the deadly shootings at spas in the Atlanta area.