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Matt Gaetz to Speak Publicly; Medical Examiner Testifies in Chauvin Trial; Pfizer Asks FDA to Expand Vaccine Authorization for 12 to 15 Year Olds; Prince Philip, Husband of Queen Elizabeth, Dead at 99; Biden Announces New Gun Restrictions Amid Multiple Mass Shootings in Recent Weeks. Aired 6-7p ET

Aired April 09, 2021 - 18:00   ET

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

[18:00:15]

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 with our coverage of the Derek Chauvin murder trial.

We heard from one of the most highly anticipated witnessed today, the medical examiner who actually conducted George Floyd's autopsy. He stood by his ruling that Floyd's death was a homicide, testifying that the force used by Chauvin and other police officers was more than Floyd's body could take.

He told jurors that heart disease and drug use were not the direct causes of Floyd's death, but he believes they did -- repeat -- did play a role. In earlier testimony, a forensic pathologist explicitly ruled out health and drug issues as causes of Floyd's death, echoing other expert witnesses, who said police actions were to blame.

Also, this hour, other important news we're following. Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz is about to make his first public appearance in days, as he faces federal sex trafficking investigations. Tonight, the House Ethics Committee is opening its own investigation of Gaetz and the allegations against him.

But, first, let's go to Minneapolis right now. CNN's Omar Jimenez is joining us. He's covering the trial for us.

Omar, court ended for the day a little while ago, after that key testimony from the medical examiner.

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Wolf.

Today was all about arguably the most important part of the trial, and that's George Floyd's cause of death. Specifically, today centered on what an autopsy shows vs. what it doesn't, what playing a role in a death means vs. what caused it.

And both prosecutors and the defense tried to fill in those crucial gaps with the much-awaited witnesses that took the stand.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIMENEZ (voice-over): In one of the most highly anticipated moments of the trial...

JERRY BLACKWELL, MINNESOTA PROSECUTOR: You conducted the autopsy on Mr. George Floyd?

DR. ANDREW BAKER, CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER, HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA: I did.

JIMENEZ: Hennepin County's chief medical examiner, Dr. Andrew Baker, took the stand.

BLACKWELL: With respect to Mr. Floyd, you didn't see any damage to the heart muscle?

BAKER: That's correct.

BLACKWELL: Did you note anything resembling either a pill or pill fragments in the stomach?

BAKER: I did not.

BLACKWELL: His autopsy report on George Floyd listed the manner of death as homicide, but specifically cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement's subdual, restraint and neck compression.

BAKER: I would still classify it as a homicide today.

JIMENEZ: No mention of asphyxia and no physical findings to support it either.

BAKER: In my opinion, the law enforcement subdual, restraint and the neck compression was just more than Mr. Floyd could take, by virtue of that -- those heart conditions.

JIMENEZ: According to testimony Friday, in June 2020, he even told investigators of George Floyd: "If he were found dead at home alone and no other apparent causes, this could be acceptable to call an O.D.," or overdose. But he added at the time, I'm not saying this killed him.

ERIC NELSON, ATTORNEY FOR DEREK CHAUVIN: Have you certified deaths as an overdose where the level of fentanyl was similar to the level of fentanyl in Mr. Floyd?

BAKER: Yes.

NELSON: Does methamphetamine further constrict the vessels and ventricles and arteries?

BAKER: As a general rule for forensic pathology, methamphetamine is not good for a damaged heart, a heart with coronary artery disease.

JIMENEZ: Earlier Friday, Dr. Lindsey Thomas, a forensic pathologist and former assistant medical examiner for Hennepin County, took the stand.

BLACKWELL: Did you rule out drug overdose as a cause of death?

DR. LINDSEY THOMAS, FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST: Yes. In this case, I believe the primary mechanism of death is asphyxia, or low oxygen. There's no evidence to suggest he would have died that night, except for the interactions with law enforcement.

JIMENEZ: Dr. Thomas even pointing to the autopsy itself, saying, ordinarily, that would be all she needed. Not this time.

THOMAS: In this case, the autopsy itself didn't tell me the cause and manner of death. And it really required getting all of this other additional information, specifically the video evidence of the terminal events, to conclude the cause of death.

JIMENEZ: A cause of death the jurors are now left to wrestle with.

NELSON: So, in your opinion, both the heart disease, as well as the history of hypertension and the drug -- the drugs that were in his system, played a role in Mr. Floyd's death?

BAKER: In my opinion, yes.

JIMENEZ: The prosecutors pressed the doctor further.

BLACKWELL: Those other contributing conditions are not conditions that you consider direct causes; is that true?

BAKER: They are not direct causes of Mr. Floyd's stuff.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JIMENEZ: And what really matters now is how the jurors interpreted that exchange on that ever-important George Floyd -- ever-important topic of George Floyd's cause of death.

[18:05:02]

Now, throughout that testimony, when we were talking about the autopsy, jurors were looking through very graphic images from the autopsy, but they flipped through them. Nonetheless, many of them taking notes. So we will see how much they refer back to them, of course, as we get into next week, which we are expected to pick back up with testimony from a medical doctor.

Last thing of note from inside the courtroom, today was the first time in over a month someone was actually seated in the seat reserved for a family representative from Derek Chauvin, a woman of East Asian descent -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, stand by, Omar. We're going to get back to you.

But I want to get some immediate reaction to today's testimony from one of the lead lawyers for George Floyd's family, Chris Stewart.

Chris, thanks, as usual for joining us.

This testimony from the medical examiner today, of course, it was highly anticipated. What do you make of his explanations?

L. CHRIS STEWART, ATTORNEY FOR FAMILY OF GEORGE FLOYD: I mean, he stuck to his guns.

And that's what medical examiners do. That's all you can ask, is, at the end of the day, he still had the same reasoning that he had in his report. He was killed because George Floyd was held down with a knee on his neck and his back.

BLITZER: At the same time, Chris, do you wish that Dr. Baker had been as clear as some of the other witnesses in saying the officer's actions and the knee on Floyd's neck, for example, that that specifically caused his death?

STEWART: That's the beauty of it. He's not an expert. He's not a paid expert. He's not hired. He's a regular person, just like all of us, doing their job.

He came in there. He told the truth. He didn't side with anybody. Nobody got a big movement out of him. He just stuck to his guns, told the truth, and supported what he found in June.

BLITZER: And, in June, he said it was a homicide.

The medical examiner said the officers' actions were more than Mr. Floyd could take. But he also said Floyd's heart disease, the hypertension, the drug use also played a role in the death.

Do you think that potentially could bolster the defense arguments?

STEWART: No, I think it hurts them.

I mean, we're sorry that they didn't kill a perfectly healthy person, because that's what it sounds like the defense's argument is: If you have a condition, they will just blame that.

I mean, think about the Gregory Towns case that we had years ago, Tasered to death 14 times while handcuffed. Their defense was, he was overweight. I mean, it's the same defense in all these cases. So, we knew it was coming. They're going to blame any kind of health issue. If you have asthma, they're going to blame that.

So, we knew it was coming. And it's a regular defense that's always used.

BLITZER: A forensic pathologist, an expert witness, testified earlier in the day -- and I'm quoting now -- saying there's no evidence to suggest he, George Floyd, would have died that night, except for the interactions with law enforcement. That's what she said.

How emotional is it to hear that? Because I know you're in constant touch with the family.

STEWART: I mean, right now, I think everybody is numb to everything that's going on. It still hurts daily. But we have heard it all. We already know the truth, that George Floyd

was murdered that day, just like the rest of the world. It's just that we have to go through the process to get justice in this. And it's like watching nonfiction when the prosecution is going and fiction when the defense is going, because they're given so many hypotheticals, so many what-ifs, so many, if this would have happened, if a cop wasn't on him.

Well, a cop was on him. So, that's what we're dealing with.

BLITZER: Let me get your sense after two weeks of testimony.

We heard George Floyd's cousin say she believes they will get a conviction. But it's not necessarily a foregone conclusion. You need a unanimous decision among all the jurors, right?

STEWART: Yes, that's the scary part. All they need is one person.

And we have faith, have faith in God, have faith in this jury. And we think the prosecution is doing a phenomenal job. They're doing everything they can. And just, hopefully, someone didn't come in there with preconceived notions or ideas, and that they will truly see justice and listen to the evidence, and not hypotheticals that are made up by defense counsel or by the many notes that Chauvin is taking.

BLITZER: Chris Stewart, thanks, as usual for joining us.

STEWART: Any time.

BLITZER: All right, thank you.

Let's bring in CNN's Omar Jimenez. He's back with us. He's covering the trial in Minneapolis, along with CNN political commentator the attorney Bakari Sellers, and CNN legal analyst Paul Callan.

Bakari, jurors heard today from this key witness, the man who actually conducted George Floyd's autopsy. But do you think they got a clear picture from this testimony?

BAKARI SELLERS, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: A clear picture? I'm not sure if the picture was clear. The testimony was necessary. The testimony was complicated and complex.

And the testimony went to what the heart of this issue in this case is, which is the cause of death. It was complicated testimony, no doubt about it. But I think, at the end of the day, what Chris Stewart said is correct, that people should be able to come from that testimony believing that the cause of death was the knee to the neck.

[18:10:05]

And you see the arguments that are being laid out by the prosecution, Dr. Thomas, the forensic pathologist, earlier in the day. Their experts have been A-plus experts, followed by the medical examiner. But, Wolf, the thing that stuck out to me the most is that the

strongest witnesses for the prosecution have been everyday Americans that go to work and work in county and state and local government, the medical examiners, the law enforcement officers, the EMTs, people that these jurors can relate to.

So that's going to be something that I think adds value and weight. And while the medical examiner's, while his testimony was somewhat complicated, I think, is going to weigh favorably in the favor of the prosecution.

BLITZER: Including those eight current and former Minneapolis Police Department police officers who testified very strongly.

Paul, the medical examiner also said that heart disease, drug use did play a role. But the prosecution doesn't need to prove that Chauvin's actions that were the only cause of death, just what they call a substantial causal factor, right?

PAUL CALLAN, CNN LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR: Yes, that's what the law is. And at the end of the case, the judge will charge the jury that, if the actions of the police officers were a substantial causal factor, then he's responsible, Chauvin is responsible.

It doesn't have to be the primary cause. And I think a lot of people are mixing this up. They're saying, well, there were other primary causes. No, as long as this was just one of the many substantial causes of his death, they win.

That is if the jurors follow the law. Now, remember, there was one big piece of evidence, I thought, that was elicited through the medical examiner today, and that had to do with fentanyl, which everybody knows is an extremely dangerous killer drug.

And the medical examiner said that he has seen deaths in cases with as little as three nanograms of fentanyl in the bloodstream. In the case of Mr. Floyd, he had point 0.11 in his bloodstream.

So, of course, that's going to be used by the defense to say it was the fentanyl that was the cause, the substantial causative factor, and not anything the police did.

BLITZER: Yes. And once the defense starts calling their witnesses, their expert witnesses, we will probably hear more of that as well.

Omar, the details of the autopsy had to be handled very, very delicately in court today. How did that go in court? How did the jurors seem to react?

JIMENEZ: Well, when they saw them, I mean, these were extremely graphic images, images that the judge actually, before he showed them, said: We're going to do this old school and not broadcast the images out.

I mean, and when you were looking at some of the descriptions of these exhibits, I mean, these were lacerations, cuts that were going long ways down an entire arm of George Floyd, as muscles were -- as muscles were literally pulled off to the side, and you saw bone underneath.

So, you can see why they didn't quite want all of these images to be put out there. But, for the jurors, they flipped through them. Remember, there was a George Floyd family representative also inside the courtroom. He lingered on the first image, as we understand from reports inside the courtroom, but then also continued to flip through them.

The Chauvin family representative also did something similar. So, even though it seemed there might have been a shock factor for how graphic these images were, it did seem everyone realize the weight of that moment and the importance of actually getting through some of these images as it relates to this case.

BLITZER: Bakari, how important is the additional context, like these photos of the autopsy, for the jurors?

SELLERS: It makes it real. I mean, you have seen the videos. And because George Floyd died so viciously, and what I believe to be a murder, many times, that is something that is decently far removed because you just see the videos.

But with those pictures in hand, they are gruesome. They bring it to reality. And you're able to somewhat contextualize and visualize things that may not have been in that -- in the video.

And let me go back to one other thing, though, Wolf, if I may. It's something that Chris Stewart said, who is a brilliant lawyer, a good friend of mine, and I think it's very important for everybody to notice.

You don't get the benefit of having in cases like this a victim that's 100 percent healthy. You see the defense continue to talk about his heart disease, et cetera. You have to take George Floyd as he came. And because he had those illnesses, whatever they may have been, including addiction and some drugs in his system, still, you get to the fact that, but for the knee in his neck, George Floyd would still be alive.

And so you don't get the benefit of having a just 100 percent healthy marathon runner. You have to deal with the victim as they are and as they come before you when you're talking about causation.

[18:15:03]

BLITZER: A final thought from you, Paul?

CALLAN: Yes, it's, this has been a trial of contradictions.

I have been watching how polite these lawyers are to each other, as both present a very compelling case, mostly the prosecution with the compelling case.

It's kind of like Minnesota nice, as opposed to the knockdown slugfests I have seen in courts around the country in murder cases. They're trying a very good case. This jury is hearing a detailed explanation of the medicine. They have video of the facts. It's going to be one of the most well-presented murder cases I think I have ever seen.

BLITZER: Two weeks down, and we will see how many more weeks to go.

Guys, thank you very, very much.

Just ahead, the House Ethics Committee is now formally opening a sexual misconduct investigation of Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida. We're getting new details about the allegations against him, a reported money trail.

And we will also take a look back at the life of Prince Philip and his legacy in the royal family after his death at the age of 99.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Less than an hour from now, Congressman Matt Gaetz speaks to a Republican group in Florida, as the House Ethics Committee is launching an investigation of sexual misconduct allegations against him.

[18:20:08]

CNN senior legal affairs correspondent Paula Reid has the latest on those allegations involving an accused sex trafficker, money and young women.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA REID, CNN SENIOR LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Tonight, Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz about to make his first public appearance in days, as new details into the scandal emerge.

The congressman set to speak at an event organized by a conservative women's group, while at the same time beefing up his legal team, adding two New York attorneys, including Marc Mukasey, who has also represented the Trump Organization.

Federal investigators are looking into Gaetz's role in connection to alleged prostitution as part of a wider probe of one of the congressman's friends. Now The Daily Beast offering new insight into the trail of money. Venmo records obtained by the site show how, in May of 2018, Gaetz reportedly paid friend and then Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg $900.

The next morning, Greenberg transferred money totaling the same amount to three young women, according to the report.

JOSE PAGLIERY, THE DAILY BEAST: When Matt Gaetz sent them to Joel Greenberg, it's a test, and hit up this girl. When Joel Greenberg paid them to these girls, it said school and tuition.

REID: CNN has not confirmed the details of allegations in this story. At this point, there is no indication the payments were related to any illegal activity. JOEL GREENBERG, FORMER TAX COLLECTOR: It really is an honor to be here

today.

REID: Gaetz's friend Greenberg has been indicted on 33 federal charges, including sex trafficking of a minor.

FRITZ SCHELLER, ATTORNEY FOR JOEL GREENBERG: He is uniquely situated.

REID: Greenberg is likely to enter a plea deal in his case, raising the possibility he could cooperate with federal investigators and put pressure on the congressman.

SCHELLER: I'm sure Matt Gaetz is not feeling very comfortable today.

REID: Gaetz has continued to deny any wrongdoing.

REP. MATT GAETZ (R-FL): It is a horrible allegation, and it is a lie.

REID: Writing on Monday: "I have never, ever paid for sex. And second, I, as an adult man, have not slept with a 17-year-old."

In a sign the Gaetz investigation may expand beyond sex trafficking, "The New York Times" is reporting prosecutors were told Gaetz discussed arranging a sham candidate in a Florida state Senate race last year with a Florida lobbyist to help his friend win the seat.

Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger the first GOP member of Congress openly calling for Gaetz to step down, tweeting late Thursday: "Matt Gaetz needs to resign."

So far, Gaetz is standing firm. even though news today Gaetz's legislative director has resigned his post, the second staffer to leave the congressional office.

And on the home front, an attack billboard went up in Gaetz's congressional district paid for by a liberal group.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

REID: Tonight, the House Ethics Committee announced it has launched an investigation into Congressman Gaetz for a laundry list of potential violations, including sexual misconduct, drug use, sharing inappropriate images on the House floor, accepting bribes and misusing campaign funds.

In a statement, Gaetz's office called the allegations blatantly false and not validated by a single human being willing to put their name behind them -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Paula Reid, excellent reporting. Thank you very, very much.

Let's talk about Gaetz and more, including the state of the Republican Party right now.

We're joined by CNN senior commentator the former Ohio Governor John Kasich, and CNN senior political analyst Ron Brownstein, who has written, by the way, a terrific new book. There you see the cover. It's entitled "Rock Me on the Water: 1974-The Year Los Angeles Transformed Movies, Music, Television, and Politics." It's a brand-new "New York Times" bestseller, by the way, must-read.

Ron, how do you expect Congressman Gaetz, first of all, will try to navigate this escalating scandal?

RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, you got to -- first of all, thank you, Wolf, for the kind words about the book.

Look, I think he is -- when a House ethics investigation is the least of your problems, you have got problems. And I think the way he's going to respond to it most likely is by basically playing a victim card and arguing that he's being targeted because he's a staunch conservative and Trump supporter.

I mean, he has treated Congress from the beginning as if it was a soundstage on FOX. I mean, he's viewed it more as kind of a stage for performance than for really effecting kind of legislative debate.

So, I doubt that his mode of operation will be any different under this kind of personal pressure than it's been in the way he's treated it from the beginning.

BLITZER: Governor Kasich, your fellow Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois tweeted this -- and I will put it up on the screen -- "Matt Gaetz needs to resign," not many words, but very powerful words.

Why do you think more Republicans aren't joining Kinzinger in at least speaking out?

[18:25:04]

JOHN KASICH, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, I don't know, Wolf.

For me, I have been around politics for a very long time. And I have seen so many scandals. And my approach has always been, let it play out. Have it fully investigated, let the chips come down where they may?

And that's kind of -- maybe that's what they're doing. Or maybe they're -- they just -- I can't answer that. I mean, if you ask me about it, my sense is, fully investigate. You have got the Ethics Committee. You have got the FBI. You have got all these people investigating him. And get that whole thing done.

And like I say, over many, many years, I have seen many scandals, both sides of the aisle, and always had the sense that, when I saw it, I stayed away from that person, but let it all play out, and justice will be done.

BLITZER: Yes, the investigations are continuing, as we know.

Ron, anyone who wondered if the Republican Party would cease to be the party of Trump after he left the White House doesn't need to look any further than Florida this weekend, right?

BROWNSTEIN: Yes.

BLITZER: Loyalists and donors alike, they're making their allegiance known. They're going to be at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's resort over there, big time.

BROWNSTEIN: Yes, this is the reality that Republicans face.

I mean, it's not clear that Donald Trump will personally run for president again in 2024. But there is no question that he is the dominant -- he remains the dominant figure in the party. If you look at all of the polling since the election, roughly three-quarters to 80 percent of Republicans view him as a positive force in the party.

They don't blame him for what happened on January 6. They are comfortable with the direction that he is leading Republicans. And, to me, that makes the critical question for the GOP over these next few years, what do the one-fifth to one-fourth to maybe one-third of Republicans who are uneasy about Trump's influence and Trump's direction, people who may be closer to Governor Kasich, what do they do?

Do they accept a subordinate role in a party where Trump is clearly the dominant force, where Republicans are not excluding extremists like Marjorie Taylor Greene and are welcoming them into their ranks? Are they willing to be the subordinate part of a party heading in that direction going forward? Or do they drift toward Biden and the Democrats?

BLITZER: What do you think, Governor?

KASICH: The party needs a positive vision, Wolf.

And Trump -- they lost the House, they lost the Senate, they lost the White House. I don't know what else they need to see. The fact is, that gathering seems to be the usual suspects. We see nothing different. And we don't see hope. We don't see optimism. We don't see a game plan to improve the lives of the American people. And that's a missed opportunity.

BLITZER: Governor Kasich, thanks so much for joining us.

Ron, thanks to you as well.

And be sure, once again, to read, to buy's Ron's brand-new book, "Rock Me on the Water: 1974-The Year Los Angeles Transformed Movies, Music, Television, and Politics." It's a great, great read.

Thanks, guys, very much.

BROWNSTEIN: Thanks, Wolf.

BLITZER: Meanwhile, coming up: a new request by Pfizer to get its COVID-19 vaccine in the arms of younger Americans.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:30:00]

BLITZER: Tonight, Pfizer is seeking expanded authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine as new infections are surging across so much of the United States. CNN's Lucy Kafanov has details in our pandemic report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LUCY KAFANOV, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Pfizer is pushing to get shots into the arms of kids, now asking the FDA to expand the emergency-use authorization for teenagers 12 to 15 years old, some of the same ages where COVID-19 cases are on the rise.

DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY, CDC DIRECTOR: Cases and emergency room visits are up. We are seeing these increases in younger adults, most of whom have not yet been vaccinated.

KAFANOV: It's all part of the race to outpace the spread of new variants.

According to the CDC, more than one in four American adults, over 66 million people, are now fully vaccinated, while 112 million have received at least one dose.

JEFF ZIENTS, WHITE HOUSE COVID-19 RESPONSE COORDINATOR: Our current seven-day average is now 3 million vaccinations per day, up from 2.9 million last week.

KAFANOV: But the virus is also showing signs of speeding up. Nearly 80,000 new cases reported yesterday, one of the highest numbers in the last two months, and 1,000 deaths.

Hospitalizations also edging past 42,000 for the first time in a month, the numbers going up in Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, among others.

GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER (D-MI): So it's Michigan and the Midwest today and tomorrow or next week it could be the northeast or the south or another part of our country.

KAFANOV: Another worry, scattered reports of COVID-19 infecting those who have been vaccinated. Diane Schmidt, a Minnesota Nurse Practitioner, who's been fully vaccinated since January, now stuck in Mexico after testing positive for COVID-19, one of 222 so-called vaccine breakthrough cases identified last week by the Minnesota Department of Health.

DIANE SCHMIDT, TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID AFTER SHE WAS FULLY VACCINATED: My case is definitely an outlier. I'm still highly recommend the vaccine.

KAFANOV: While rare break through cases, even a few deaths, have been reported in state like Michigan and Oregon, the nation's top infectious disease expert says he's not surprised. DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: That number of individuals who were breakthrough infections is not at all incompatible with a 90-plus percent vaccine efficacy.

KAFANOV: And vaccine hesitancy remains a concern. New data shows, one in five adults living in rural America say they definitely won't get the shot.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is Johnson & Johnson.

KAFANOV: Meanwhile the rollout of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is facing a couple of hurdles at once. States are bracing for an 84 percent drop in doses next week in the wake of production problems at a manufacturing plant in Baltimore.

ZIENTS: Johnson & Johnson expects a relatively low level of weekly dose delivery until it completely secures FDA authorization.

KAFANOV: Also, today, vaccine advisors to the federal government tell CNN they don't foresees AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine being used in the United States.

[18:35:06]

And even if it were offered, they personally wouldn't take it, given that other option are available. Several European countries halted it used temporarily after rare cases of blood clots were found among some who have been vaccinated.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAFANOV (on camera): The CDC says it is aware of four states that are reporting adverse reactions to the J&J vaccine. These tend to be mild, things like feeling faint or sweating. Georgia today paused J&J vaccinations at one location, Colorado did too on Wednesday, but the state has investigated the issue, Wolf, and says there's no cause for concern. Wolf?

BLITZER: Lucy Kafanov, reporting for us. Thank you very much.

Let's discuss with our Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Sanjay, what, nearly 80,000 cases of coronavirus reported yesterday, a thousand Americans were reported to have died from the virus yesterday. It's pretty sad right now what's going on. What do you see happening?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, there's a situation where obviously you have these variants that are more transmissible, that have become the dominant strain. And we can show you, as I'm describing this, what's going on in Michigan, for example, where you're getting 70 to 80 percent now of the new infections from these variants. So it's really taken over.

But look here at this full screen, Wolf, you know, the one on the left is last week in December and the one on the right is last week of March. The green in there in the middle is people aged 40 to 69. So there's a larger percentage of people who are younger that are in the hospital, whereas older population, that is the most vulnerable, shrunk because they've largely been vaccinated.

That picture tells a story, Wolf. What it tells you is that more young people are becoming infected, but also that's who really needs to be vaccinated. In places like Michigan, Minnesota and other places, that's the goal right now.

BLITZER: You have a truly fascinating new documentary that will air here on CNN, here, tomorrow night entitled The Truth about Vaccines. Let's watch a little clip.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. PETER HOTEZ, TROPICAL MEDICINE, BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE: When the anti-vaccine movement started as a fringe element, it was a strategic decision by the federal agencies and the scientific societies not to talk about it. The thinking was it will just give it oxygen.

GUPTA: But then, what was once fringe went mainstream. The internet and social media put the anti-vaccine movement on steroids.

HOTEZ: The federal agencies, the scientific societies, the academic societies all kind of stuck to their guns on the old strategy, don't give it oxygen. And that had a disastrous effect because it left a vacuum that allowed this anti-vaccine lobby to really flourish.

GUPTA: A lobby, Hotez says, that has become well-constructed, well- planned and highly effective.

HOTEZ: They'll target specific ethnic groups where they think they can make headway.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tonight, there's alarming news about the worst outbreak of measles in Minnesota.

HOTEZ: So they did this with the Somali immigrant community in Minneapolis in 2017. They held town hall meetings, teleconferences et cetera, convinced the Somali immigrant community that vaccines cause autism. They responded by not vaccinating their kids.

GUPTA: The result, a measles epidemic. 21 kids ended up in the hospital.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Tell us what we're going to learn in this new documentary tomorrow night, Sanjay.

GUPTA: I think the most illuminating thing for me, Wolf, is just where does this -- where is the anti-vaccine movement? Where did it originate? Where does it getting fuel still? I mean, it's a very well- organized movement, as you heard from Peter Hotez there. But also, you know, Wolf, we started filming this before this pandemic because of concerns about vaccine hesitancy that obviously predate this pandemic. Why did a group of orthodox Jews in Brooklyn, why did they become more susceptible to measles, a Somali community in Minnesota? All these things it's a fascinating sort of look at how this has happened. And I think most importantly what it means going forward.

BLITZER: Really looking forward to seeing it tomorrow night. Sanjay, thank you very much. Thanks for everything you do.

And to our viewers, be sure to join Sanjay for his brand new special report The Truth about Vaccines. It airs right here on CNN tomorrow night 9:00 P.M. Eastern.

Just ahead, Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth's husband of more than 70 years, died today at the age of 99. We will have a live report from Windsor as the U.K. and the world remember his life and legacy.

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[18:40:00]

BLITZER: Tonight, President Biden is remembering Prince Philip as a heck of a guy who never slowed down, the husband of Queen Elizabeth died this morning at the age of 99. CNN Royal Correspondent Max Foster reports on Prince Philip's life and royal legacy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was with great sadness that a short time ago, I received word from Buckingham Palace that his royal highness, the Duke of Edinburgh, has passed away at the age of 99. Prince Philip earned the affection of generations here in the United Kingdom, across the commonwealth and around the world.

[18:45:00]

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was the announcement that many had dreaded and hoped would never come. Tributes pouring in from all over the globe for the duke of Edinburgh, the longest serving consort in U.K.

Dutifully by the queen's side for more than 70 years, his steadfast loyalty and strength credited for helping steer the monarchy into a lasting institution of prominence in U.K. society. A descendant of Queen Victoria, Philip was born into Greek and Danish royalty, but he renounced those titles in 1947 when he married then Princess Elizabeth and took British citizenship, by then, already a decorated naval World War II veteran.

KATE WILLIAMS, CNN ROYAL COMMENTATOR: He fought so bravely on the Allied side and saved many, many men from German bombs on the ships. He was a brave and determined and devoted man in the Navy. And I think that was where he completely excelled. And it was difficult for him to give that up. FOSTER: Philip solidifying a royal love story for the ages, taking a back seat publicly, at least, to his wife, the queen.

ROBERT HARDMAN, ROYAL BIOGRAPHER: His number one job from the word go has been to, quote, support the Queen. Everything he does is in support of the Queen.

It's just been one of the great royal romances, I think, of history.

FOSTER: His devotion and duty on display, whilst in private, a commanding presence as patriarch of the royal family.

And whilst always at the queen's site, finding his own stride, a renowned environmentalist long before it was public unfashionable. He served as head of the WWF and was president of some 800 other charities, attending some 22,000 events on his own before his official retirement in 2017 at the age of 96.

With news of his passing on Friday, mourners arrived at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle to pay their respects to the beloved royal consort.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think he embodied everything about the country, right?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This morning, I was in tears.

FOSTER: And whilst the pandemic will prevent a large-scale public ceremony to remember Prince Philip in the days to come, the legacy he leads is everlasting.

BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Her majesty said that our country owed her husband a greater debt than he would ever claim or we should ever know.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER (on camera): We're expecting details tomorrow, Wolf, on the funeral. The queen has to sign off, whatever happens. Prince Philip didn't we didn't want a lot of us. He's not going to get a lot of us simply because of all the restrictions around the pandemic. But it could happen in the next or so.

BLITZER: All right, Max, thank you very, very much. May he rest in peace and may his memory be a blessing.

Coming up, investigators are searching for answers after a former NFL player kills 5 at the home of a rural South Carolina doctor.

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[18:52:34]

BLITZER: Tonight, as President Biden announces new gun restrictions in the wake of multiple mass shootings here in the United States in recent weeks, we're getting some new details right now about those deadly shootings in both South Carolina and Texas.

CNN's Brian Todd is tracking all of this for us.

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DISPATCHER: How many shots did you hear?

CALLER: About 20.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From 911 calls in and police account, descriptions of outright horror at the rural South Carolina home of Dr. Robert Lesslie.

Police say the suspect, former NFL player Philip Adams, brought to guns to Dr. Lesslie's home on Wednesday afternoon, shot to air conditioning technicians working outside the home, killing one of them, then forced his way into the house and killed Dr. Lesslie, his wife, Barbara, and 2 of their grandchildren, ages 5 and 9.

DISPATCHER: Be advised, we've got four down, four down inside the house.

TODD: Something Adams left out the Lesslie home led investigators to believe he was the gunman. They tracked Adams to his parents' house about a quarter mile away on this a road where, he was barricaded. After a standoff lasting hours, police entered to find out it was dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. What police don't have or aren't discussing tonight is a motive.

SHERIFF KEVIN TOLSON, YORK COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA: There's nothing about this right now that makes sense to any of us.

TODD: When asked if Adams had been a patient of Dr. Lesslie's, the sheriff said he could not verify that. Adams's father had been a patient of Lesslie's and spoke about his son's demise to a local TV station.

ALONZO ADAMS, FATHER OF SOUTH CAROLINA SHOOTING SUSPECT: He'd been a good kid, and he I think that football messed him up.

TODD: Police in Brian, Texas, also don't have a motive for a mass shooting at a cabinet company there.

CALLER: EMS 1, active shooter, Kent Moore Cabinets manufacturing plant.

TODD: But they do say the suspect yesterday's shooting, identified as 27-year-old Larry Bollin was an employee of the country.

CALLER: So far, we have one shot in the arm, one shot in the back.

TODD: Police say Bollin killed one person and wounded at least 5 others at the plant, and then took off before police arrived. He was later taken into custody. A state trooper was also shot and wounded while pursuing him. From March of last year to March of this year, there was only one

public mass shooting in the U.S., according to a database compiled by Northeastern University, "The A.P.", and "USA Today". Then, in the span of six days, two public mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, Colorado.

Is the winding down of the coronavirus pandemic a factor?

PROF. JEFFREY IAN ROSS, CRIMINOLOGIST, UNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE: People are coming out in a little bit more frequently. There's an opportunity for people to interact more and people to express their grievances.

[18:55:03]

TODD: The Texas shooting came just hours after President Biden announced several executive actions on gun control, including a measure to limit so called ghost guns, kits that people can buy two legally build untraceable guns at home.

JOSEPH R. BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Anyone from a criminal to a terrorist can buy this kit.

TODD: But Biden's executive actions have limited impact, and analysts say he's got an uphill climb to get as tough on guns as he wants to.

ROSS: I think it's going to get very difficult to put forward a major assault weapons ban in the United States with the current political climate.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TODD (on camera): President Biden also wants to ban high-capacity magazines and establish more strict background checks for gun purchases, but despite all the mass shootings, just since he's been in office, there is little appetite among Republicans or even some Democrats in Congress to enact stricter gun laws -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Brian, thank you.

We'll have more news right after this.

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BLITZER: I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM. You can always follow me on Twitter and Instagram @WolfBlitzer. You can tweet the show @CNNSitRoom.

Thanks very much for watching.

"ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT" starts right now.