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The Situation Room

Soon: Biden, Harris to Speak after Meeting with Asian American Leaders in Wake of Atlanta Spa Shooting; Rep. Doris Matsui, (D) California, is Interviewed about Atlanta Spa Shooting; CDC Reduces Recommended Distancing In K-12 Schools To At Least Three Feet Of Separation With Mask Use; The New Yorker: Cuomo's First Accuser Raises New Claims Of Harassment And Retaliation; Judge Denies Defense Motions To Delay And Move Trial Of Derek Chauvin Charged In George Floyd's Death; Biden Speaking After Meeting With Asian American Leaders In Wake Of Deadly Atlanta Spa Shootings. Aired 5-6p ET

Aired March 19, 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 Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, Congresswoman Young Kim, Congresswoman Michelle Steel, and Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, that's at 9:00 a.m. and noon on Sunday.

You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter @JAKETAPPER. You can tweet the show @THELEADCNN. Our coverage on CNN continues right now. Have a great weekend.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: And welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. Wolf Blitzer is off today. I'm Pamela Brown in the Situation Room.

And we are standing by to hear from President Biden and Vice President Harris in Atlanta, where they're meeting with Asian American community leaders. And this comes in the wake of the spa shootings that left eight people dead, including six Asian American women.

And we're also following the investigation and search for the gunman's motive. The arrest warrants for the 21 year old man have just been made public showing the use a nine millimeter handgun in the shootings at three separate Atlanta area spas.

For more on the President's trip, let's bring in CNN Chief White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins and CNN Chief National Affairs Correspondent Jeff Zeleny in Atlanta.

Jeff, first to you, what do we know about this meeting that the Vice President and President are in right now?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Pamela, we know that President Biden and Vice President Harris had been reading -- have been meeting, rather, for more than an hour or so with about seven community members, including five state legislators here from Georgia, and Asian American community leaders. They're in the building behind me here on the campus of Emory University.

And the meeting was supposed to be over about 30 minutes or so ago. So it's running a bit long, but we know that President Biden is going to be delivering remarks after this meeting.

And Pamela, I am told that he is going to condemn even more forcefully the rise of violence we've seen here in Georgia and across the country directed at Asian Americans in the last year during the coronavirus pandemic. Now President Biden is also urging Congress to pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. So, the White House trying to draw a focus here.

But the question hanging over a lot of this as some of those community leaders have been telling us all week that they want the President and the White House to speak more forcefully that this was indeed a hate crime. So we will see if the President uses those words directly here. But Pamela, certainly a moment of grieving a moment of consoling.

President Biden was planning to come to Georgia for something entirely different. But this, of course happens with presidents so they follow the events that, you know, cannot necessarily be dictated, but an emotional meeting to be sure inside. Its closed door, so we'll learn more after it's over, Pamela.

BROWN: We sure well.

All right, so Kaitlan, we just heard from Jeff that Biden plans to speak more forcefully condemning the violence. But it's interesting, we haven't heard much from him on gun control. Do we know if he's going to bring that up today?

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: No, that's actually another big question. Because that is one thing that is an obvious factor here that has not been a massive focus, because of course, there have been -- there has been focus on other aspects of what would happened with this shooting and this shooting rampage with these Asian owned businesses and given the fact that six of these victims were Asian women. And so, whether or not that is something that President Biden brings up is another question during these remarks.

His remarks, we should remind viewers, this was supposed to be a political trip to Atlanta that President Biden was expected to take. Of course, that was before this shooting had actually happened, and so the White House canceled that political event and instead scheduled this sit down that Jeff was noting is still underway in Atlanta because they wanted this to be the focus of the trip. He had gone to the CDC earlier in the day to the headquarters there in Atlanta, but they wanted this to be the focus and not the political aspects of it.

And so, how they do navigate this going forward is going to be a big question, because whether or not he does call it a hate crime, that is not something that investigators have gone that far yet, they have not determined the motive. And that is something that President Biden leaned heavily on the other day in the Oval Office.

But despite that, he's still noted this rise in violence that we have seen against Asian Americans since the beginning of the pandemic, which the White House that they do believe in part is because of those comments from Biden's predecessor, things like calling it the China virus and other things that he and his aide set. So, whether or not Biden addresses that aspect of it and how he balances it with the fact that investigators are still working on this, is what we'll see in a few moments from him.

BROWN: OK. CNNs Kaitlan Collins, Jeff Zeleny, we'll talk to you again after President Biden speaks.

And the presidential visit to Atlanta comes as we're learning new details about the spa shootings. CNN National Correspondent Ryan Young is following the investigation. So what's the latest, Ryan?

RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Pam, we've learned about some new charges today. But I can tell you the community keeps arriving to the sites where the shooter opened fire. They keep telling us they want more focus on the victims.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

YOUNG (voice-over): Tonight, investigators are actively working to piece together the exact movements and the motive of the suspect who confess to Tuesday's attack on massage spas in Metro Atlanta. In the last few hours, CNN obtained the arrest warrants for Robert Aaron Long from Cherokee County. He faces nine felony charges, three counts of murder with malice, one count of criminal attempt to commit murder and five counts of possession of a firearm during commission of a felony.

[17:05:20]

For victims like Mario Gonzalez who lost his wife during the shooting, the charges do little to fil l the hole left in their hearts.

MARIO GONZALEZ, SHOOTING SURVIVOR (through translation): About an hour in, almost at the end, I heard the shots. I didn't see anything. Only, I started to think it was in the room where my wife was. They took the most valuable thing in my life I had because she was taken from me. He left me with only pain, the killer who killed my wife, something needs to be done.

YOUNG: The 911 calls hampered by difficulty in communication and don't reveal the true desperation of the moment.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is it a male or female?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They have a gun, but (foreign language).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They have a gun, you said?

YOUNG: The medical examiner today revealing the names of four victims who were gunned down, Soon Park, 74, Hyun Grant, 51, and Suncha Kim, 69 Yong Yue, 63. Their identities revealed days after the attack because of difficulty notifying next of kin.

Police tell us they are still working to determine the shooters motives.

DEPUTY CHIEF CHARLES HAMPTON, ATLANTA POLICE: And it's just very important to just let you know that we are not done. We're still working very diligently and to ascertain all the facts, so we can have a successful prosecution because that's what's most important now.

YOUNG: This afternoon Crabapple Baptist Church where Robert Long worship released this statement about the suspected shooter, "No blame can be placed upon the victims. These actions are the result of a sinful heart and depraved mind for which Aaron is completely responsible."

As investigators struggle to put the pieces together, there are growing calls in this community and country to protect the memories of the women involved.

MAYOR KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS, ATLANTA: Do you think it's appropriate that the prosecutors look at the most stringent and stiffest, most stiff laws that can be applied to this and I think it's difficult to see it as anything other than a HATE CRIME.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

YOUNG: And Pamela, we know investigators are going through mounds of evidence when it comes to video and text messages. They're trying to put all this together.

Of course, we're hoping that when that first court appearance happens down the road, we will hear more information about what the suspected shooter told investigators during that initial interview and hopefully getting a more glimpse into what investigators have learned so far.

BROWN: That is the hope. CNN's Ryan Young, thanks so much.

And let's get more on all of this with Democratic Congresswoman Doris Matsui of California, a member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

Congresswoman Matsui, thanks so much for coming on. President Biden has been meeting with leaders of Atlanta's Asian American community we know today, how far does it go to have the sitting president take these attacks so seriously?

REP. DORIS MATSUI (D-CA): Well, thank you, Pamela, for having me on under these circumstances. But I must say that I am very pleased that President Biden and Vice President Harris are meeting with the victims' families is so important. He is a caring person.

And he brings to the families in a sense by talking with Asian American leaders there, that we all care. We're all Americans, and we care. And he's somebody who understands what it means to be thought upon as probably somebody who's if you look at all the communities, what community is being attacked right now, and he understands and justice isn't as hard. And so that's why I'm really happy that he's there.

BROWN: And of course, we are waiting right now to hear from him directly. What would you like to hear from the President and Vice President Harris today?

MATSUI: Well, I think the President and Vice President understand that these hate crimes must stop. You know, this happened. And if there's been a build up the last year, with hateful rhetoric, just loosely calling the COVID virus, the China virus. And by that very nature, just throwing the responsibility on Asian Americans as if they're responsible, which they are not.

And this is a lesson for everybody. Racism exists. We all know that. But hateful words gives permission, especially from a leader, that it's OK to throw these words out. And if it hits the wrong person, you don't know what's going to happen.

And we know that we've seen many attacks, verbal abuse, throughout the country. And there's been energy around this because, you know, Asian Americans have been in this country for a very, very long time. They're part of the fabric of this country. And to dismiss it is just saying it's the China virus and they brought it in, that's so unfair and so unjust.

[17:10:20]

BROWN: Absolutely. I don't think anyone can dispute how unfair and unjust it is. It makes no sense.

And as we learn more about the victims of the shootings in Atlanta, six of them were Asian women, how are you reflecting on their vulnerability in this combination of sexism, and racism Asian women face?

MATSUI: First of all, I'm so sorry about what's happened to all the victims, and particularly now the focus on women of Asian descent. And we have to remember what happened to them.

Women across the board have faced some of these issues, it doesn't matter sometimes whether what kind of background we have. But to link these two is very, very difficult. And I feel for them, because they are individuals. I mean, these women in particular, provide for their families and their parents. And you know, and they have children, and they have grandparents, and these are real people. And that's what I want everyone to remember.

And as we look at this, there's complicated issues here, I understand that these are people, we have a crisis here and Asian Pacific American community, they feel very hurt. I understand that. And believe me, whether you're a first generation or fifth generation, it doesn't matter what background you have, what ethnicity. You know that this is not right. And you get a sense that they were in some way, maybe not targeted, but maybe looked at in a different way from everybody else.

BROWN: Well, right now, as we know, President Biden is calling on Congress to pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which would make it easier for Asian Americans to report these crimes. When it comes to that bill, gun control or any other possible measures, do you fear that these are dead on arrival in the Senate?

MATSUI: I don't believe so. This is the moment when we're looking at social inequities across the board. And we saw that with what's happened with the Black Lives Matter with George Floyd.

What's happened is, you know, with now with what's going on now with COVID. And now when you look at the Asian Pacific American community, many of which by the way, are frontline workers.

And so you look at this, and you realize this is a time when we realize that we have to undo some of this, we have to look ahead to say, we have to move forward. But we have to remember what has happened so we can build upon that. This nation has a capacity to really look at themselves and say, we have to correct this, we have to move forward.

And this is not just Asian American community. You know, we have the African American community, Latino community, and you see what's come out with people who have now joined us. So this is all about all of us working together. It's time now to do that.

BROWN: So, I'm just curious, though you don't think it's dead on arrival in the Senate. But what gives you hope that enough Republicans would get on board to pass legislation like this?

MATSUI: I believe that if you look at where we are as a country, you realize that there are things that are more important, perhaps, but not as important as the human being itself, and our American society and who we are as we move forward. I really believe this is possible today. This is the moment to do that. It truly is.

And there is a sense of unity around this purpose that we really have to be very intentional, as we look at the things that we can do to really affect the greatest number of people. So, all people get helped here.

BROWN: And your testimony yesterday, you shared that you were born in an internment camp. Your parents were among the Japanese American Cinta (ph) camps during World War II. Do you think this new wave of hate is a wakeup call to include Asian Americans in the conversation on racial justice?

MATSUI: Absolutely. I was born in internment camp and my family was sent to camp. And my, you know, my parents were American citizens. And so, that was a great hurt that they had. And so they had to keep proving that they were loyal Americans when they were Americans already.

The Asian American population has always been a part of this fabric. And now, because of what's happened, because of the brutality of some of these crimes, because of the scapegoating, everybody looks at this that this is what's happening right now on the Asian American community. This already happened with Latinos and Blacks, and we're all part of the same culture.

[17:15:11]

And that's why I think it's important that this is the moment. It's all of us together, all of us together. We want to move forward and pass these bills.

BROWN: All right, Congresswoman Doris Matsui, thank you so much for joining us.

MATSUI: Thank you.

BROWN: And coming up on this Friday, we are standing by to hear from President Biden in Atlanta. New CDC guidance on getting students back in school, we're going to look at why it's reducing the recommended amount of distancing.

Plus, details of a new report that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's first accuser is raising new claims of harassment and retaliation.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: And we are following both President Biden's visit to Atlanta to meet with Asian American leaders as well as new developments in the investigation of the spa shootings that left eight people dead, including six women of Asian descent.

With us now, our former Federal Prosecutor Shan Wu and former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, great to see you both gentlemen.

[17:20:00]

I'm going to start with you Shan. Even though this wasn't -- this has been deemed a hate crime, many of the victims were Asian women. As I just said what conversations are likely happening behind the scenes right now to determine any additional charges? And what kind of investigation this should be?

SHAN WU, FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: I think they're probably, of course, looking at computer records, social media, and the like.

And I actually, you know, have to say that I really disagree that there's not enough evidence right now to charge a hate crime because the Georgia statute, which I think the prosecutors need to take a look at, say that it's either going to be based on the count of sex or on race, and eight of the murder victims are women, and six of them are Asian. So, I think you've got that probable cause there right now, and more evidence is great of lots of things, including more motive.

But it's really strategically helpful to charge the hate crime because to show that motive, as the chief knows, there's a lot of evidence that might otherwise not be admissible that you can bring in to show that motive.

BROWN: And what do you think about that, Charles? I mean, this shooting, as we know, is just the latest in a string of anti-Asian attacks over this past year. Do you think the handling of this case sets the tone nationally for addressing that type of hate?

CHARLES RAMSEY, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, first of all, I mean, there has been a significant rise in hate crimes directed toward Asian Americans and others of Asian descent. I mean, this is absolutely terrible to see these kinds of things taking place in our country.

This particular case, I'm sure that right now, they're combing through all of his computer records, interviewing witnesses, doing everything they can to produce enough evidence to convince a prosecutor to place charges. I'm not an attorney, I don't have a file with me. I don't know what they have right now, clearly, from the outside looking in, it certainly looks that way. I would be leaning in that direction. But it's not over yet.

I mean, just because they haven't done it yet doesn't mean that they ultimately won't do it. I think that if there's a possibility, if the evidence is there, then they will present that to a prosecutor for the appropriate charges.

BROWN: So Shan Wu, last night of the FBI Director weighed in. Let's listen to what he had to say about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTOPHER WRAY, FBI DIRECTOR: And while the motive remains still under investigation at the moment, it does not appear that the motive was racially motivated. But I really would defer to the state and local investigation on that for now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: What would it take to determine that the motivation was racially motivated? What is the threshold there? And how crucial is it in your view to determine that motivation here?

WU: Yes, the problem, Pam, is that the threshold is no different than for any other charges, it's just probable cause. They have probable cause to arrest him for the murders, they would have probable cause to indict him in the grand jury for those.

And the plain evidence in front of us is he's selected women, and he's selected Asians. So, I respectfully disagree with the FBI director. He is, of course, referring to the state.

But that's one of the problems, Pam, is that prosecutors have been reluctant to utilize the hate crimes that are on the statute. And if you don't use a law that's there, you really end up erasing that law. And that's the same problem.

BROWN: But why are they reluctant? Why is that you think?

WU: Well, I think that's a complicated answer. First of all, there's a conservative aspect of being afraid to try something new when you're trying to prove beyond reasonable doubt in the courtroom. So, they're a little bit risk averse that way.

And also, you know, I hate to say this, but there's implicit racism that permeates the culture. So, looking at, for example, those terrible remarks by that spokesperson, he was really sounding like he was almost sympathizing with the defendant. And there's already kind of a stereotype of Asian women perhaps being sex trade workers, as though sex workers deserve less protection. But there's a lot of stereotyping going on that devalues the lives of people of color.

BROWN: All right, Shan Wu, Charles Ramsey, thank you so much.

WU: Thank you.

RAMSEY: Thank you.

BROWN: And right now at this moment, we are standing by to hear from President Biden following his meeting with Asian American community leaders in Atlanta.

Also, the CDC now says that students can safely return to school with only three feet of distancing, instead of six with masks.

Plus, it was once his ultimate status symbol. So, why is former President Trump's giant private jet now sitting idle, abandoned and in disrepair?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:29:15]

BROWN: And we are standing by to hear from President Biden following his meeting with Asian American community leaders in Atlanta where eight people were shot and killed including six Asian American women at three different spots.

And we're also following the coronavirus crisis. Tonight, the U.S. death toll has topped 540,000 people and the country is on the brink of 30 million confirmed cases. CNN National Correspondent Nick Watt is in Los Angeles with more.

So, Nick, California is marking a sobering milestone there.

NICK WATT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is, Pamela. Exactly one year to the day nearly to the hour, California declared the first statewide stay at home in this country. Now, a year later, more than 3.5 million cases, more than 50,000 deaths later, just here in California.

[17:30:00]

This state and the countries still trying to finesse the exit strategy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WATT (voice-over): Reopening America's schools just got a bit easier. The CDC now says desks need only be 3 feet not 6 apart. DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY, CDC DIRECTOR: In classrooms with universal mask wearing.

WATT (voice-over): The CDC now also says one kid per row on the bus, staff should still keep 6 feet away from kids and each other and everyone should still keep 6 feet of distance in the hallways when eating, singing, exercising. Physical barriers between students no longer advised but divide them into groups. According to the CDC, the science says ...

WALENSKY: They cater to all schools that implement strong, layered prevention strategies can operate safely.

WATT (voice-over): Well, good news, the President promised 100 million vaccine shots in 100 days done.

JEFF ZIENTS, WHITE HOUSE COVID-19 RESPONSE COORDINATOR: UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In just 58 days, weeks ahead of schedule.

WATT (voice-over): But there's a massive mountain still to climb, about 12 percent of the population is now fully vaccinated, herd immunity best estimate 70 percent to 85 percent.

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, CHIEF MEDICAL ADVISER TO PRESIDENT BIDEN: If it is that, we would probably have to get more children and I believe as we get high school students vaccinated in the fall, we'll be able to reach that.

WATT (voice-over): Normality creeping closer. Starting today, New York City restaurants can be half full inside. Nationwide, 98 percent of AMC's theaters are open again with restrictions but open. While officials fear that more contagious variant first found in the U.K.

FAUCI: And likely accounts now for about 20 percent to 30 percent of the infections in this country and that number is growing.

WATT (voice-over): Average new case counts arising in 10 states, Michigan up 45 percent in a week,

DR. JONEIGH KHALDUN, CHIEF MEDICAL EXECUTIVE, MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: We are going in the wrong direction with the key metrics that we are tracking for COVID-19.

WATT (voice-over): Case counts falling in 11 states holding steady for now in the majority, including Texas. There's a jack in the box manager in League City, Texas showing a customer their rules to help slow the spread.

CHIEF GARY RATLIFF, LEAGUE CITY, TEXAS POLICEWhen officers arrived at the scene, they found the shift manager leaning against the counter with multiple stab wounds.

WATT (voice-over): Stabbed police say, for asking that customer to wear a mask.

(END VIDEOTAPE) WATT: Now that manager is going to be OK. Meanwhile, do you remember, a bunch of European countries stopped using the AstraZeneca vaccine? Well, they are starting to use it again after European officials said it is safe and effective. And the WHO said there is no evidence it causes blood clots. In fact, today, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson got a dose of the AstraZeneca to keep himself safe and also to reassure his people. Pamela?

PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: OK. CNN's Nick Watt. I still can't get over that store manager being stabbed. Wow. Thanks so much, Nick.

And let's dig deeper now with our CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Sanjay, good to see you as always. Let's talk about the new CDC guidance, that is a real talker. Because it now says that schools can place students 3 feet apart instead of 6 feet, as long as everyone is wearing a mask and other safety measures are being enforced. What does the science and the data tell us about this decision?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, there's been sort of this drumbeat of science that's been emerging. I think one of the first pieces of data really came out of Massachusetts a couple of weeks ago, where there were school districts over there that had been doing essentially 3 feet of distancing.

So they took that opportunity to say, well, let's compare those school districts to school districts that have been doing 6 feet. And they didn't find a difference really, in terms of how much virus was transmitting, what the county hospitalization rates were in those areas. So that was a clue.

And then today, as part of the announcement, they released more data from Utah, Florida, Missouri, which kind of reinforced the same thing. So it's not that surprising, Pamela, to be honest, because the World Health Organization has said for some time, that they accept 1 meter of physical distancing, sort of as part of their guidelines. So this is, you know, hopefully going to make it easier with the caveats you mentioned.

You can put more people in the room. You got to make sure you have good ventilation. You have to make sure you have the masks, all those things that we've been talking about.

BROWN: That is crucial. So why is the CDC recommending different guidelines for different age groups? They were very particular and saying, here's the situation for elementary school kids and here's the situation for middle school and high school kids.

GUPTA: Yes, I mean, this is interesting again, and you know, we are all learning together but the bottom line I think is that the closer you are an age to an adult, the more likely you are in terms of the virus transmission going to behave like an adult.

[17:35:08]

So they're saying high school students, for example, a little bit more cautious. They may be more -- they may be better transmitters of the virus versus little kids, which is very different than what you typically think. I know you have little kids, I've gone through this, you typically think of little kids as being the big spreaders, not so much here. So the basic gist is for elementary school students, it's 3 feet across the board regardless of what's happening in your community.

But if you're a high schooler, for example, and you're living in a community where there's a lot of viral spread, and we can show the map of places in the country that are red, and there's a lot of places still, that in those cases, you need to still be doing the 6 feet of distancing unless you can sort of cohort, meaning, stay with the same group of students, stay with the same group of staff all day long. So this is evolving. It's a lot to absorb, I think, as people are starting to put this together. But it's a move in a direction that should make it easier to reopen schools.

BROWN: It's just stunning to see how much red is still in the country right now. Can we apply any of this guidance outside of the school setting or to adults?

GUPTA: Not yet, is the answer. I mean, you know, for the same reasons that we just mentioned, we still are thinking that little kids are probably the least concern in terms of viral spread. They're not saying the same thing about adults yet, like in work settings. And even within schools, they're saying adults and students still need to maintain the 6 feet distance.

So -- but we will see. As I mentioned, you know, many parts of the world, to follow the World Health Organization guidelines, which says 1 meter. So we may get to that point here as well.

BROWN: All right, CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Thanks so much, Sanjay. Have a great weekend.

GUPTA: You too, Pamela. Thank you.

BROWN: And be sure to stay with us. We were standing by for President Biden's comments in Atlanta. And also coming up on this Friday, a formal aide to Governor Andrew Cuomo levels new allegations of harassment and retaliation. We'll be back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:41:13]

BROWN: We are standing by to hear from President Biden following his meeting with Asian American community leaders in Atlanta. And also in the news tonight, a scathing article in The New Yorker magazine is sure to raise more troubling questions about New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's behavior toward women as well as the kind of workplace culture the Governor tolerates.

CNN's Ryan Nobles is an Albany for us. So tell us more, Ryan?

RYAN NOBLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right, Pam. This is the account of Lindsey Boylan, who was one of the first people to come forward and talk about the sexual harassment she felt that she received from Governor Andrew Cuomo. And she told her story before but this was the first time she sat down for a lengthy interview and she did it with the New Yorker magazine.

And listen to one of the situations that she describes in an interaction with the Governor. She says, quote -- she was talking about an interaction with the Governor's dog, and she said, when the dog jumped up and down near her, Boylan said that when she reached down to call him, and then backed away, Cuomo said that she joked that if he were a dog, he would try to quote, mount her as well. Boylan said that when she did not reply, she said that she just remember being grossed out but also, like, what a dumb third-grade thing to say. She added that she just shrugged it off.

Now in response to this anecdote told by Boylan to the New Yorker, a spokesperson for the Governor detailed the comment specifically on the claims. He declined to comment on that specific story but reiterated that Cuomo's denial that he behaved -- never behaved inappropriate with Boylan, I should say. And also within the story in the New Yorker, they talk about the Cuomo administration's efforts to talk about Lindsey Boylan to reporters. They shared her personnel file with several reporters of Boylan saying that that was something that disturbed her that the Cuomo administration would do that.

Cuomo's office responding to that as well saying, "Within certain limited exceptions, as a general matter, it is within a government entity's discretion to share redacted employment records, including an instances when members of the media asked for such public information and when it is for the purpose of correcting inaccurate or misleading statements. Given the ongoing review by the State Attorney General, we cannot comment further at this time". And that was from Beth Garvey, the Acting Counsel to the Governor.

But, of course, Pam, there have been many people criticizing the way the Cuomo administration has handled their response to some of these accusations, particularly these accusers that have come forward in the way that they've tried to run disinformation campaigns or just counter information claims by some of these accusers. Pam?

BROWN: All right, Ryan Nobles live for us in Albany. Thanks so much, Ryan.

And in Minneapolis, lawyers need to pick only one more juror for the trial of Derek Chauvin, a former policeman charged with murdering George Floyd. Let's go to Omar Jimenez. What is the latest, Omar?

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Pamela. So we just got one juror over the course of today to get to 13 out of the 14, the court had said was necessary for this trial. Though, just as the hearing wrapped up, the judge said he wanted now two more jurors. So we're working to get clarity on if he just misspoke or if he does want that extra insurance to make sure they have 14 seated by opening statements on March 29th. It would be 12 serving at a time and to serving as alternates. The judge also made a series of impactful rulings today, most notably not delaying this trial or changing the venue as the defense attorneys for Derek Chauvin wanted arguing that pretrial publicity tainted jurors abilities to be impartial over the course of this trial, specifically pointing to that record civil settlement with the City of Minneapolis and George Floyd's family from last week.

The judge basically put it like this saying, no matter when we have this trial, pretrial publicity is going to be a factor and no matter where we have it in the state of Minnesota, there's not going to be anyone that hasn't either been influenced or seen this story.

[17:45:11]

Separate but also part of that series of rulings, the judge admitted limited evidence from a previous George Floyd 2019 arrests, specifically a portion of body camera video from that day, a photo of pills and the crack of a car, and testimony from a paramedic who can explain why she recommended Floyd go to the hospital that day. The judge basically said that, look, this shows a medical example and a medical parallel when Floyd is put in a similar situation to May of 2020, confronted by a police officer in a stressful situation, and ingesting potentially drugs.

And then finally, of course, when we look at that juror makeup, we've got 13. And if the demographics are being paid very close attention to right now, we've got five white women in their 40s and 50s, at least one black woman in their 60s. A wide array ahead of jury selection set to continue on Monday, Pamela.

BROWN: All right, Omar, thank you for bringing us the latest from there.

And any minute now, we'll be hearing from President Biden who has been meeting with Asian American community leaders in Atlanta in the wake of the deadly spa shootings.

Last, what happened to former President Trump's giant private jet? It was one of the most extravagant planes of the sky and now it looks abandoned and in disrepair.

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[17:50:45]

KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: -- we face are many, that the foes we face are many. As the President and I discussed with our AAPI community in a meeting earlier today, whatever the killer's motive, these facts are clear.

Six out of the eight people killed on Tuesday night were of Asian descent. Seven were women. The shootings took place in businesses owned by Asian Americans. The shootings took place as violent, hate crimes and discrimination against Asian Americans has risen dramatically over the last year and more. In fact, over the past year, 3,800 such incidents have been reported. Two of three by women. Everything from physical assaults, to verbal accusations. And it's all harmful. And sadly, it's not new.

Racism is real in America. And it has always been. Xenophobia is real in America, and always has been. Sexism too. In the 1860s, as Chinese workers built the Transcontinental Railroad, there were laws on the books in America, forbidding them from owning property. In the 1940s, as Japanese American soldiers defended our nation, more than 120,000 Japanese Americans were forced to live in internment camps, an obvious and absolute abuse of their civil and human rights.

Asian Americans have been attacked and scapegoated. People who are perceived as Muslim, know what it was like to live in our country after 911. For the last year, we've had people in positions of incredible power scapegoating Asian Americans. People with the biggest puppets (ph) spreading this kind of hate. Ultimately, this is about who we are as a nation. This is about how we treat people with dignity, and respect.

Everyone has the right to go to work, to go to school, to walk down the street, and be safe, and also the right to be recognized as an American. Not as the other, not as them, but as us. A harm against any one of us, is a harm against all of us. The President and I will not be silent. We will not stand by. We will always speak out against violence, hate crimes and discrimination wherever and whenever it occurs.

And it is now my great honor to introduce the President of the United States, Joe Biden.

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you. Good afternoon. Sorry, a little late, but we had an opportunity to meet with leaders of the AAPI community downstairs and it was heart-wrenching to listen to.

As many of you know, we originally planned to hold a car rally and thank our supporters. But given the recent day's -- events in recent days, we didn't feel as appropriate. So we canceled that rally.

[17:55:01]

Boy, one our supporters to know we'll come back and hold that rally another trip. But today, we want to speak about something else. I said from the beginning of my campaign for president, that we needed to come together, that we needed to unite as one people, one nation, one America.

I said, in my kickoff speech in Philadelphia, I said that very same thing when I spoke at Gettysburg, I said that in my inaugural address. And I believe with every fiber on my beam, there are simply some core values and beliefs that should bring us together as Americans. One of them is standing together against hate, against racism, the ugly poison that has long haunted and plagued our nation.

The Vice President and I, as I said, met a little bit earlier just before this, with leaders from the Asian American community here in Georgia. We talked about Tuesday's mass shooting, about another example of public health crisis of gun violence in this country. Eight people killed, seven women, six are of Asian descent. All fellow Americans, each one of them we mourn.

Their families are left with broken hearts and unanswered questions. And the investigation is ongoing. And the Vice President I have been regularly updated by the Attorney General and the director of the FBI, working closely with Governor Kemp and Mayor Bottoms and local officials. But whatever the motivation, we know this. Too many Asian Americans have been walking up and down the streets and worrying, waking up each morning.

The past year failing, their safety and the safety of their loved ones are at stake. They've been attacked, blamed, scapegoat and harassed. They've been verbally assaulted, physically assaulted, killed.

Documented incidents against of hate against Asian Americans have seen a skyrocketing spike over the last year, let alone the ones that happened and never get reported. It's been a year of living in fear for their lives, just to walk down the street. Grandparents who leave -- afraid to leave their homes. Small business owners targeted and gunned down. Attacks on some of the most vulnerable people in our nation, the elderly, low wage workers and women.

In fact, Asian American women suffered twice as many incidents of harassment and violence as Asian American men. We're learning again, we've always known, words have consequences. It's the coronavirus, full stop. The conversation we had today with the AAPI leaders.

And that we're hearing all across the countries that hate and violence often hide in plain sight, and it's often met with silence. That's been true throughout our history. But that has to change, because our silence is complicity. We cannot be complicit. We have to speak out. We have to act.

In my first week in office, I signed an executive order directing federal agencies to combat this resurgence of xenophobia. The Department of Justice has strengthened its partnership with the AAPI community to prevent these crimes, in addition to its other work to take on violent extremists and domestic terrorism.

I'm calling on Congress to pass and get my -- get to my desk the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. And the House just passed through the authorization with the Violence Against Women Act, a law I authored more than 25 years ago, as one of my proudest legislative achievements. I call on the Senate to swiftly pass it and get it to my desk.

But for all the good the laws can do, we have to change our hearts. Hate can have no safe harbor in America. It must stop and it's on all of us, all of us together to make it stop.

Something else should bring us together. Not as a belief in science. Science is something that should divide us. There's nothing political about it. There's nothing partisan about it. One of America's best examples of commitment to science is headquartered right here in Atlanta, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC represents the best of this nation, brilliant minds, deep faith in science and a strong commitment to public service.