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The Situation Room
Interview with Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY); Republican House Leader Meets with Trump in Florida; Capitol Building Security Measures; U.S. COVID Deaths Top 432,000 with 25.7 Million Cases, Latest Single Day Count Almost 4,000 Deaths; Acting U.S. Capitol Police Chief Calls for Permanent Fencing Around the Capitol, Back Up Forces Nearby; New Effort to Expel GOP Congresswoman with History of Supporting Violence Against Dems. Aired 6-7p ET
Aired January 28, 2021 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[18:00:00]
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM. We're following breaking news.
The growing threat of extremist violence right here in Washington, D.C., could lead to major security changes over at the U.S. Capitol. The acting Capitol Police chief is now calling for permanent, permanent fencing and backup forces ready to be deployed at a moment's notice, this as we learned very disturbing details about a man arrested with a gun and 20 rounds of ammunition right near the Capitol Building.
According to court documents, he had contact information about multiple representatives and senators and "Stop the Steal" paperwork, a reference to former President Trump's failed attempt to overturn the presidential election.
The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, is weighing in on the growing threats. She says the push for new security measures is being hobbled because of what she calls the enemy is within the House of Representatives, a clear swipe at some of her Republican colleagues.
Let's go straight to CNN's Brian Todd. He's got more in the breaking news, the tightening security issues going on at the U.S. Capitol.
Brian, tell us what you're learning.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, just this morning, Capitol Hill police arrested a man who they say attempted to gain access to a security checkpoint near the Capitol. Then police say he attempted to elude officers. Then he resisted arrest.
Another sign of high tension around the Capitol? A dramatic request a short time ago from the acting Capitol Hill police chief.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) TODD (voice-over): Strong signs of a Capitol on edge tonight. The acting Capitol Hill police chief says she will request that fencing around the Capitol be permanent and that backup security forces should be stationed close to the Capitol ready to deploy quickly.
The request got immediate pushback from Democratic Congressman Jake Auchincloss, who said -- quote -- "It is a mistake to turn the home of our democracy into a fortress."
Earlier today. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said she doesn't want security fencing to be a permanent fixture in Washington but said the city will have added security for the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden's address to Congress in the coming weeks.
MAYOR MURIEL BOWSER (D-WA), DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: There are still some very volatile events happening which require extra security.
TODD: Meantime, new details on a tense arrest near the foot of the Capitol, a man from West Virginia taken into custody by Capitol Hill police after parking his car in the middle of this intersection. Police say he had in his car a handgun and 20 rounds of ammunition, that he had literature with him saying "Stop the Steal," a list of lawmakers with contact information, and that he was shouting at National Guardsmen protecting the Capitol.
The man's pleaded not guilty to three weapons charges. It comes as more than 30 members of the House, worried about their safety after the January 6 assault on the Capitol, appealed to Speaker Nancy Pelosi for more flexibility in spending their allowances on protection, including security for them in their home districts.
Pelosi said she's working on it, but then made a stunning comment:
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): The enemy is within the House of Representatives, a threat that members are concerned about, in addition to what is happening outside.
TODD: Pelosi was asked what she meant by that.
PELOSI: It means that we have members of Congress who want to bring guns on the floor and have threatened violence on other members of Congress.
TODD: Pelosi didn't say who specifically she was referring to. Capitol Police did investigate an incident last week when a Republican lawmaker was stopped by a metal detector from bringing a concealed gun onto the House floor. That congressman, Andy Harris, hasn't commented on the incident. There's no indication Harris meant to harm anyone.
But experts say members of Congress face other threats in the wake of the capital attack.
JONATHAN WACKROW, FORMER SECRET SERVICE AGENT: The risk here is that lone actors will take this opportunity to further an ideology by a single violent act, whether that is engaging in some sort of physical harm, destruction of property.
TODD: This comes as investigators are still scrambling to identify who left pipe bombs outside Republican and Democratic headquarters on January 6, a top ATF official telling CNN the mysterious would-be bomber remains a serious threat.
ASHAN BENEDICT, ATF SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE: This person may not be the region. They may be from across the country and could potentially be building more bonds right now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TODD: And just a short time ago in federal court here in Washington, a pretty dramatic moment.
The chief judge of the federal court here in Washington, Judge Beryl Howell, ruled that Richard Barnett, the man who bragged about putting his feet up on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi desk during the riots, that Mr. Barnett should stay in jail as he awaits trial.
[18:05:02]
Judge Howell also scolded other defendants in the Capitol riots cases, saying -- quote -- "This was not a peaceful protest. Hundreds of people came to Washington, D.C., to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power."
That man, Richard Barnett, has not entered a plea. But he did speak to the court today, saying that he has simple explanations for what happened and that he's a good man -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Brian Todd reporting for us.
Brian, thank you.
Let's get some new details right now about a meeting between the former President Donald Trump and the House GOP leader, Kevin McCarthy.
Our chief national affairs correspondent, Jeff Zeleny, is joining us.
Jeff, Republicans are trying to repair some deep divides that exist within the GOP right now. How did this meeting go?
JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, just a week after Donald Trump left office in disgrace as only the second president in U.S. history to be impeached, many Republicans were eager to turn the page and reclaim their party.
But House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy made clear today it is still the party of Trump, as he asked for the former president's help winning back the House majority in 2022, in another sign of the deep disarray in the GOP.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ZELENY (voice-over): The American flag is proudly waving today at former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, but the shining sun belies the storm brewing inside the Republican Party.
Kevin McCarthy, the House GOP leader, made a pilgrimage to Florida, hoping to get back into the former president's good graces after angering Trump following the deadly attack on the Capitol.
REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY (R-CA): The president bears responsibility for Wednesday's attack on Congress by mob rioters.
ZELENY: McCarthy has been backpedaling ever since, making clear he still sees Trump as the leader of the Republican Party, a view not shared by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who hasn't spoken to Trump in more than a month.
The Mar-a-Lago meeting was focused on taking back the House in 2022, a Trump aide said in a statement, adding: "His endorsement means more than perhaps any endorsement at any time."
With his looming impeachment trial, Trump remains front and center in the Republican Party, even as it faces an identity crisis. In a private call with House Republicans this week, McCarthy admonished his members to stop the infighting, CNN has learned, bluntly saying to "cut that crap out," with "no more attacks on one another."
But he's done little to actually stop it, with Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, a loyal Trump ally, traveling to Wyoming today to try taking down Liz Cheney, the number three House Republican who voted for Trump's impeachment.
REP. MATT GAETZ (R-FL): If you want to prove that you have the power, defeat Liz Cheney in this upcoming election, and Wyoming will bring Washington to its knees!
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
ZELENY: The GOP turmoil is playing out as a series of sideshows, none louder than Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who deleted her social media posts after CNN reported she harassed victims of the Parkland school shooting and endorsed violence against Democratic lawmakers.
DAVID HOGG, AUTHOR, "NEVER AGAIN: A NEW GENERATION DRAWS THE LINE": Enough is enough. Enough is enough.
REP. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-GA): That's what happens. People will do mass shootings. You're being used by the left because you're young.
ZELENY: The congresswoman, who has promoted QAnon conspiracy theories, was given a plum seat on the House Education and Labor Committee,
Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger, one of 10 House Republicans to support Trump's impeachment, said the party is at a dangerous crossroads.
REP. ADAM KINZINGER (R-IL): Well, let's be clear. She's not a Republican. I personally don't think she should have any committees.
ZELENY: A fear of reining in fringe Republican elements has created an opening for Democrats, which Speaker Nancy Pelosi seized on today.
PELOSI: Assigning her to the Education Committee, when she has mocked the killing of little children at Sandy Hook Elementary School, when she has mocked the killing of teenagers in high school at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, what could they be thinking?
ZELENY: David Hogg, the Parkland student who was the subject of Taylor Greene's harassment, telling CNN he had a message for Leader McCarthy.
HOGG: If you say this is not your party, actually call it out and hold her accountable.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ZELENY: Now, in a statement tonight, Congresswoman Greene brushed off the criticism and defended her actions, saying: "They're coming after me because they know I represent the people, not the politicians. They're coming after me," she says, "because, like President Trump, I will always defend conservative values. They want to take me out because I represent the people and they absolutely hate it."
Now, Wolf, for all these questions inside the GOP, one thing is clear. President Trump, former President Trump, is here to stay.
BLITZER: Yes, if she did nothing wrong and she's got nothing to hide, why did she delete all those social -- those social media posts in the course of the day?
ZELENY: Right.
BLITZER: All right, Jeff Zeleny, thank you very much.
Let's get some analysis right now from our chief political correspondent, Dana Bash and former Republican Congresswoman Mia Love.
Dana, you have covered Congress extensively over the years. What does it say that the acting police chief up on Capitol Hill now thinks permanent fencing and backup military forces, law enforcement forces are absolutely necessary right now?
[18:10:11]
DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: It says the threat is still very real and very active.
I mean, Brian Todd talked in his piece about just the fact that the -- appears to be a man who planted pipe bombs outside the RNC and the DNC is still at large and potentially dangerous. That's just one person law enforcement knows about, never mind the chatter and other things that we don't know about that's going on as we speak.
It is scary. It is dangerous. And this is the argument that you're hearing from Democrats and even some Republicans about why these lies need to be stopped and need to be called out by Republican leaders very clearly and very aggressively, because this threat is not -- wasn't just a one-day thing on 1/6. It's continuing.
BLITZER: You know, Mia, as you're a former Republican congresswoman, I want you to watch and listen to what the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi said today. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PELOSI: The enemy is within the House of Representatives, a threat that members are concerned about.
We have members of Congress who want to bring guns on the floor and have threatened violence on other members of Congress.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: How does that feel, Mia, hearing that sitting members of Congress are fearful of some of their own colleagues?
MIA LOVE, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes, that's unfortunate.
And I think here's the problem, is, Nancy Pelosi and other leaders of the Democratic Party are trying to seize on this opportunity. What we really need to do is tell people that there's new leadership, that -- Kevin had an opportunity to actually be the representative of the Republican Party, and instead of just putting it in the hands of Donald Trump.
Leaders don't go out and just watch people kill each other, disturb the peace, fight other -- fight other members. They actually lead. They don't go out and incite violence.
And so Kevin had an opportunity to go out and say, look, I am going to be the leader of the Republican Party. Donald Trump is no longer there. We need some new leadership.
BLITZER: But you know Kevin McCarthy. You worked with him. You were a member of the Republican Party in the House of Representatives. Are you saying he's no longer a leader?
LOVE: I'm saying that he has an opportunity to be a leader. He has to let go of a president who is not there any longer.
This divide is going to continue to happen. He is not going to be able to bring his own party together, let alone the country together. So, what I'm saying is that he needs to stand up -- and he's a good friend of mine.
I'm telling you he needs to stand up and be the leadership that the Republican Party needs.
BLITZER: So, Mia, should he not have gone down to Mar-a-Lago and Palm Beach today and made -- we can show our viewers a picture of what the Save America PAC -- that's the pro-Trump PAC, what they released today. Should not have gone there?
LOVE: I think that he -- I think it was a big mistake. I think he actually have stayed and done and did everything he possibly could to say that we are a party of fiscal discipline, limited government, personal responsibility.
We're not at a party that incites violence. We're not a party that separates people. Let's get back to the policies that actually make lives better.
BLITZER: You have reporting, Dana, that McCarthy was warned repeatedly: This is a major blunder on your part. Don't go down to Florida and meet with the former president.
Tell us what you have learned.
BASH: That Kevin McCarthy was told, if he goes down, that he is going to look weak.
And, obviously, the House minority leader did not heed that advice, went down anyway. The message that he wanted to get out there was that President Trump was going to help the Republicans. We didn't see and hear a message post-meeting about how he talked to the president and said you got to stop inciting violence.
We didn't see or hear a message after that meeting about, you have to stop people who in your name are challenging other Republicans, like Matt Gaetz, who is in Wyoming right now.
And I just want to take a moment. I mean, I -- you mentioned that the former congresswoman who we're on with right now, Mia Love, is good friends with Kevin McCarthy.
I mean, that was remarkable to hear you say that, Mia, because, obviously, what you're trying to do here is give tough love. And you're not alone in the Republican Party.
And you're not alone in trying to plead with the leadership, Kevin McCarthy in particular, and people underneath him, obviously Liz Cheney excluded, to say, you have got to separate yourself from this guy, and unless you do that, unless you make it so that he doesn't have the oxygen, then the party will be the party of Trump and about Trump not about the conservative principles that you, I'm sure, all joined the party in order to push and pursue.
[18:15:25]
BLITZER: Go ahead, Mia.
LOVE: That's exactly right.
Look, I am a daughter of immigrants who came here and left a dictatorship, the Duvaliers. And when they came here, they decided that they were going to affiliate with the Republican Party, because they believed that the Republican Party gave people more of a voice and it limited what Washington was doing.
And like I said, Kevin has the opportunity to bring back what the Republican Party stands for, fiscal discipline we haven't seen in the past four years, limited government we haven't seen.
What we see is a person who is desperately trying to stay in office and the people who are suffering, not just -- not just the Republican Party, but the American people. It's time for us to stand up and have new leadership.
And I'm asking my friend to actually do that for us.
BLITZER: Very quickly, because we got to run, Mia, but if you were still a Republican member of the House, would you have voted to impeach Trump?
LOVE: That's a great question. And I'm going to say no, because I think that we -- I think that the indifference is the best punishment we can give to this president.
I can see him sitting back right now, and every time somebody is talking about him, he's saying, look, the people are still talking about me, and it makes him relevant. I just really want it to go away. And I want us to get back to the policies that mean something.
We have got immigration policies, health care policies, the economy. People are still trying to deal with this pandemic. We have got to get back to taking care of the American people.
BLITZER: Do you think it's time for Kevin McCarthy to step down?
LOVE: Well, I'm not going to say that. I think that he needs to stand up.
BLITZER: And he's -- and you obviously believe he's not standing up right now.
All right, guys, thank you very much, Mia Love, Dana Bash.
Just ahead: The White House says it still sees a path for a bipartisan COVID relief bill, despite the stalemate right now up on Capitol Hill.
Plus: We're going to have more on the threat to U.S. lawmakers. The chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries -- there you see him -- he's standing by.
We will discuss when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:20:48]
BLITZER: Despite a congressional stalemate over coronavirus relief, the White House is expressing hope that the $1.9 trillion package should be and will be bipartisan.
Let's go to our chief White House correspondent, Kaitlan Collins,
Kaitlan, does the White House still see a way to bring Republicans on board with this massive piece of legislation?
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: So far, they have said that they do, Wolf, but this comes amid increasing Republican skepticism over this bill.
Even some centrist Democrats have voiced concerns about parts of it. And so there are still questions about where it's going. But if you heard from the Democratic leaders today, they said they want to move forward on this with or without Republican support.
So, it's raising questions if they're going to try to pass this with this little known method called reconciliation, which, of course, would eliminate the need for them to actually get 10 Republicans on board with this bill, as we have talked about so far.
And so, of course, this comes as President Biden has talked about the need to get this passed, but also to get it passed as a bipartisan package. So, we asked the White House today if he would sign something that only got Democratic support.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: So, given that Democrats have kind of indicated they will move forward with or without Republican support, would President Biden sign a bill that only Democrats voted for?
JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Well, we're not quite there. That's getting us a few steps ahead of where we are now. He continues to believe that this can be, should be and will be a bipartisan bill that received support from Democrats and Republicans.
And he's having conversations with and listening to leaders and members of both parties to assure that we get to exactly that place.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Wolf, the other natural question here is not just the support it's going to get, but the timeline here, because the White House has stressed the need for urgency.
They have basically tied this to all of their coronavirus plans that can't be done through executive action. And, of course, those jobless benefits do expire in March. So we are waiting to see if there is going to be any kind of compromise here, or if it will continue to be Democrats who are putting their support behind this bill and not Republicans.
BLITZER: Yes, we had the worst economy last year since World War II. Almost 900,000 Americans lost their jobs just last week, had to apply for first-time unemployment benefits.
As a result, at least in part, President Biden announced some major changes on health care for Americans today, mostly reversing policies from the Trump administration. Tell us about these executive orders.
COLLINS: Yes, Wolf, one of the biggest of these is opening this enrollment period for the marketplaces, of course, about the Affordable Care Act.
And President Biden said today in the Oval Office as he was signing these executive actions on health care that he believed he's undoing the damage that his predecessor did. That's how he phrased this.
And, of course, that comes because President Trump spent four years -- he failed to overturn the Affordable Care Act, but he spent four years undermining it. One of those things was this enrollment period that the president, President Trump, cut in half to only six weeks.
And what President Biden is doing by signing these executive orders is opening it for 90 days starting February 15 on healthcare.gov, where people can go. And one thing we should note is that President Trump was urged to do this as well by members of both parties, because, of course, the coronavirus pandemic really great created concerns about health care, job losses, people who have now decided they wanted to get health care, yet they kept it at that six-week period that expired in December.
And now President Biden has opened it through mid-May.
BLITZER: It will give a lot of people opportunities to get some health care.
All right, Kaitlan, thank you very, very much.
Let's discuss this and more with the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries.
Congressman, thanks so much for joining us.
And I want to discuss coronavirus relief. But let me get your thoughts first up on the growing security threats facing you guys up on Capitol Hill right now. You heard the acting Capitol Police chief today say that there should be permanent fencing around the Capitol Building, backup military forces, law enforcement forces nearby.
Is that a move you support?
REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): Well, I think it's premature to determine what are the appropriate steps that need to be taken to better secure the Capitol.
But, clearly, we need a comprehensive intervention. And Speaker Pelosi has appropriately asked retired Lieutenant General Honore, who's a decorated veteran, of course, experienced in taking a look at how to fix something that's broken, and putting into place recommendations for a better system.
[18:25:13]
And so he will be providing his report to the speaker and to the House, I think, in a few weeks. Once we get that report, we can take a look at the recommendations in terms of what needs to happen.
But, clearly, change is necessary. Everyone can see that as a result of the violent attack on the Capitol and the clear security breakdowns that occurred on January 6.
BLITZER: I know, Congressman, this is very personal to you and your family. I know you have received some very specific and alarming threats. How -- first of all, how are you doing? Do you feel safe now? Have you bolstered your own security?
JEFFRIES: Well, everyone is doing well. Thank you for asking, Wolf.
And I'm just appreciative, as is the case with every other member of Congress, for the work that the FBI and the Capitol Police and, in my case, the NYPD and other law enforcement authorities have been taking in the context of the growing security threats that all of us have been confronting.
This goes back to the reality that we had a former president who has radicalized millions of Americans by perpetrating the big lie that he, Donald Trump, actually won the last election. He did not.
But you have millions of people who believe that the presidency was stolen from Donald Trump and artificially given to Joe Biden. That is why people stormed the Capitol in a violent way. That is why the president will be subject to an impeachment trial for inciting a violent insurrection.
BLITZER: Yes, it's an awful, awful situation. I have been in Washington for a long time. I have never seen security around the U.S. Capitol the way it has been bolstered over these past few weeks, and will continue for the time being.
Let's talk about the COVID relief talks. Nearly, what, 850,000 Americans lost their jobs last week, had to file for first-time unemployment benefits. The U.S. economy is in bad shape right now.
Do you believe Democrats should -- can afford to wait and try to win over more Republicans on this deal? Or should they just go forward with strictly Democratic support?
JEFFRIES: Well, I think we're prepared to act decisively to meet the moment.
This is a once-in-a-century pandemic. It requires a once-in-a-century continuing, comprehensive and compassionate congressional response. You have got 425,000 Americans who have died. More than 100,000 small businesses have permanently closed; 25 million Americans have been infected by this potentially deadly disease.
And, of course, tens of millions of Americans have suffered adverse consequences from unemployment or food insecurity, potential homelessness, and things that have been incredibly disruptive, so much pain, suffering and death.
And so, in the context of this situation, which is not a Democratic problem or a Republican problem, it's an American problem, we are hopeful that Republicans will be cooperative in moving forward with the plan that President Biden has set forth in terms of the American Rescue Plan.
Now, if they decide that they want to continue to be obstructionists, which has been their pattern in the past -- that was certainly the case during the eight years of the presidency of Barack Obama -- then, as Speaker Pelosi has indicated, we are prepared to act with the fierce urgency of now to meet the moment.
And that is why steps are being taken in connection with the reconciliation process, while we still would like to move forward in a bipartisan way, if that is available to us.
BLITZER: Let's see if it is.
I want to get your thoughts on the House minority leader, Kevin McCarthy, went down to Florida today, Mar-a-Lago, to meet with the former President Donald Trump. We're showing a picture that the Trump PAC put out.
When you see that picture, what goes through your mind? What's your reaction?
JEFFRIES: It's just sad and pathetic.
Now, we're eight days into the presidency of Joe Biden. And, as Democrats, we're focused on crushing the virus by enhancing testing, tracing, treatment, and vaccinations for every single American, providing direct assistance to those Americans who are struggling by increasing direct payment survival checks to $2,000 and dealing with housing and food insecurity, unemployment, and ultimately laying the foundation to supercharge our economy.
That's what Kevin McCarthy and House Republicans should be focused on.
Instead, eight days into the Joe Biden presidency, in the midst of a deadly once-in-a-century pandemic, he's talking with the twice- impeached, xenophobic, seditious former president, in connection with taking back the House and the Senate in 2022?
[18:30:05]
You can't make this stuff up, Wolf. It is a dramatic failure of leadership, shame on Kevin McCarthy.
BLITZER: Congressman Hakeem Jeffries is the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, thanks so much for joining us.
JEFFRIES: Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: Just ahead, a very disturbing new coronavirus variant from South Africa has just been detected right here in the United States. Will the vaccines still work? I'll ask the top adviser to the White House response team, Andy Slavitt, there you see him, when we come back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: The breaking news we're following, the coronavirus has now claimed more than 432,000 lives in the United States with 25.7 million confirmed cases.
[18:35:09]
Now, we have just learned a very disturbing variant from South Africa has been detected in the U.S.
CNN's nick watt is joining us right now. Nick, update our viewers. What can you tell us?
NICK WATT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, two cases, both adults, both doing okay, but that is the only good news here. The two cases in different parts of the state neither had any travel history, just confirmed that the actual infections took place a few weeks ago. And all of this suggests that this more contagious variant first found in South Africa is now spreading here in the United States.
Now, the FDA has set that the various variants might be having an impact on the efficacy of the tests right now, and also the big deal, of course, is the vaccines.
Now, the vaccines we have right now do work against these South African variants, but lab tests suggests that they don't work quite as well. So officials and manufacturers are keeping a close eye on that, but as President Biden's pick for surgeon general told The Washington Post, we are now in a race against the variants. Wolf?
BLITZER: Very important information. Nick Watt reporting for us, thank you very much.
We're joined now by a senior adviser on the White House COVID response team, Andy Slavitt. Andy, thank you so much for joining us.
Does the presence of these more transmissible coronavirus variants here in the United States make it even more critical that these vaccines are produced, distributed and actually administered and done so quickly?
ANDY SLAVITT, WHITE HOUSE SENIOR ADVISER FOR COVID RESPONSE: Well, thanks, Wolf. Yes, the reporting is exactly right. These variants are, from what we know about the more transmissible and maybe slightly more lethal, what does that mean to the average American? First of all, it means that all the things we need to do, wearing a well-fitting mask, are even more important. Because even though cases are dropping now, we've seen what happens when they start to rise again, and these types of cases can rise quickly. And then these rise exponentially.
So even while we're getting vaccines out, and we need to get vaccines out as quickly as humanly possible, vaccines go out linearly, they don't go out exponentially. So the public is going to have to continue to be guided by good sense while this goes out.
Nothing about this news says we can't defeat this thing. It just means we need to more tools and we need to be more united in doing it.
BLITZER: Because we also know, Andy, that the more rapidly this virus spreads, the more opportunity it has to mutate, potentially become more dangerous. We've heard that from Dr. Fauci, among others. Is that fact fueling the urgency we're seeing right now?
SLAVITT: No question about it. Look, I don't think that we would have needed additional heat for this urgency. It is absolutely there. I think what also is going to need to happen is science is going to need to create an adaptive approach, meaning we're going to have to stay one step ahead of these mutations, we're going to need processes to keep developing tests, therapies and vaccines to make sure that if-- as if the virus mutates a little bit, like the flu does, we're able to stay ahead of it.
In the near term, what this means is we are fully stocked up as a country on vaccines. We made purchase of additional $200 million vaccines. We need to be able to administer those vaccines quickly, which means that the American rescue plan needs to be passed so that we can get the resources to states so they can work quickly to administer the vaccines we're sending out right now. They're not able to process them as quickly as we're able to manufacture them.
And so all of those things need to happen. It's got to be a bit of an orchestra if you want to defeat something like this.
BLITZER: And you briefed the nation yesterday. I mean, you said there are two constraining factors on distribution, vaccine supply and the ability to actually administer the shots, get the shots in people's arms. The Biden administration is now expanding who can actually give a COVID-19 vaccine. How much of a difference will that make? Explain what's going on.
SLAVITT: Sure. So we've about 47 million vaccines as of yesterday that were ordered by states and delivered. We ship out everything that gets ordered. We keep about a two-day inventory and we've made a commitment to states that we're going to be committing at least 10 million per week for the next three weeks, and I think we'll be able to exceed that. Plus, we're sending vaccines into these community vaccination centers that we're setting up. We're setting up 100 of them this month.
And so all of that is to stay that we have to do everything possible to close the gap. One of the gaps between this 47 million and the 24 million or so that have actually been -- people that have been vaccinated, is we need to have enough vaccinators.
[18:40:01]
We need doctors to know that they can safely go ahead and administer the doses that had been sent as first doses, not holding back a second dose, because they will get reliable shipments.
So it wasn't doing anybody any good to not know that vaccines were coming. And now that they know, hopefully, some of these vaccines in refrigerators and with the new supply of labor that we've put forward will indeed help make that happen.
BLITZER: And we're showing our viewers right now, Andy, what, more than 48 million vaccines have been distributed around the country, 26 million have actually been administered.
Does the addition of these vaccinators, as you call them, change your prediction that it will be months before everyone who wants a vaccine will be able to get one?
SLAVITT: Well, look, we just lived through an administration that was full of making a lot of promises based on facts that weren't yet in evidence. So I could talk to you by the Johnson & Johnson vaccine being approved. I can talk to you about lots of things that could push that timeframe up, but things that haven't happened yet haven't happened yet.
And so we want to make sure we, A, level with the public on what's really going on, what the facts are, not what we hope they are, B, that we let the scientists speak for themselves. And as sits right now, if you do the math, we will not have enough vaccines for the public at the current set of facts until over the summer.
So we're hopeful we can do everything to advance that and that we can continue to get people in as we move on month-by-month, we'll accelerate and get more and more people in. I know people are impatient. I know people are anxious. I know people are tired of this virus, and so that's why we're working around the clock.
BLITZER: Well, what do you think about that Johnson & Johnson vaccine? That's only one dose required. Everybody seems to think it's going to be approve for emergency fairly soon. Is it?
SLAVITT: Well, again, this is a White House that's going to let the FDA do its job, that's going to let the FDA speak for itself, and so I'm not going to get ahead of our skis here. And I'm obviously hopeful that that's the case. But it takes a week longer or two weeks longer or a month longer for the FDA to make sure it's safe and effective.
I think the public wants to know that we're letting the scientists do their job and then that's going to happen. So they will take whatever time it takes. Obviously, we're all impatient. But once that happens, then we will be able to adjust our plans and hopefully that will accelerate things further. So I can't predict either way, but I'm hopeful, like everybody else in the countr.
BLITZER: Yes, I'm hopeful too that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the AstraZeneca vaccine joined with Pfizer and Moderna, that would be a potential game changer. Millions and millions of Americans could start getting the vaccine even more quickly.
As you probably know, the White House coronavirus coordinator, your friend, Jeff Zients, says, everything is on the table, as your team works to address the crisis. What else, Andy, are you considering to help get shots into the arms of the American public more quickly?
SLAVITT: Well, that's a great question. And, in fact, I think the core thing I would communicate is if you treat this like an emergency or like a war or whatever metaphor you want to throw at this, then you literally will do everything you can and you won't single-thread anything. We will have multiply ways to get there.
So we're standing up these community vaccination centers. We are changing laws to allow more people to vaccinate. We're sending shipments directly to pharmacies. We are invoking the Defense Production Act and have done so to get more syringes and more other gear available to people. We are working with states hand in glove every day to find more vaccines.
So there's not an idea that we won't consider. We will obviously do what's best for the public. We'll be very straight about the decisions. I don't think this will be a straight line. I think we will make a lot of progress and there will probably be days when we have setbacks, and we'll be very honest about that, because I think the public trust in both these vaccines and how they're being administered is something we take very seriously. And we're talking to experts all day long trying to find more and more solutions.
BLITZER: Well, let's hope for the best. Andy Slavitt, thanks so much for joining us, and we'll have you back soon. Obviously, this crisis is not going away anytime soon. I appreciate it very much.
SLAVITT: Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: Just ahead, the former FBI deputy director, Andrew McCabe, he is standing by live. We're going to discuss the new threats of domestic extremism, even terrorism, new calls for heightened security measures at the U.S. capitol.
Plus, there is growing backlash to a Republican congresswoman's violent comments and controversial behavior and effort is now under way to expel her from Congress.
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[18:49:23]
BLITZER: The breaking news, amid growing concern over security measures up on Capitol Hill, the acting capitol police chief now says permanent fencing is absolutely necessary, as well as backup military forces, law enforcement forces ready for deployment.
Let's discuss with CNN senior law enforcement analyst, the former FBI deputy director, Andrew McCabe.
Andrew, the capitol clearly is under threat right now. Fencing and backup forces, do you really believe they are necessary on a permanent basis?
ANDREW MCCABE, CNN SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, Wolf, I think they're definitely necessary right now. We're in a particular sensitive period in the wake of the capitol attack, and, of course, coming up on the impeachment trial of former President Trump. So I think it's good protection to keep in place until we get past
this rough patch, but the decision to keep those barricades and those fences with the concertina wire on top of them in place permanently is a very, very challenging one, and one that I'm surprised that the acting police chief or capitol police is recommending.
I understand there's probably a very strong desire on her part to do everything possible to prevent another attack like the one on January 6th. But ramping up the capitol and turning it into a permanent armed encampment is a pretty drastic step that will be hard to back down from in the future. So, that's one they need to spend a little time to think about.
BLITZER: Yeah. Because she said in her statement today that she wants to include permanent fencing and the availability of ready backup forces in close proximity to the capitol.
Yesterday afternoon, and this is very disturbing as you probably know, capitol police actually arrested an armed man shouting about election fraud with a weapon, 20 rounds of ammunition, a list of representatives and senators. What does that say to you about the scope of this potential threat?
MCCABE: Wolf, this is a great example of the face of this threat today. The domestic violent extremist organizations used to be very different niche groups that were focused on different things like white supremacy or anti-government actions, anti-Semitic activity. They have now all come together under the banner of support for former President Trump and they are all fueled by these lies of a stolen election.
So it's not enough just to look for the heavily armed militaristic Oath Keepers and the 3 percenters. You have to be worried about people like a 71-year-old man from West Virginia and rides here presumably from his residence with the intent to possibly do some damage to politically elected leaders.
It is a perverse threat. It is one that hides in plain sight and one that is not going to go away any time soon.
BLITZER: And as you know, yesterday, the Department of Homeland Security, the national terrorism advisory insisted on, and I'm reading once again, they warned that these individuals were so inspired, one to target election officials and government facilities. Instead of or in addition to bringing, beefing up security at the capitol, what could law enforcement and intelligence officials for that matter do to get to the root of this problem, stop this radicalization, this hatred that's out there? It's really intense around the country, as you know.
MCCABE: Well, that's absolutely right. You know, you can arrest people who commit crimes and are engaged in all sorts of malfeasance. You can identify the people who attacked our capitol, attacked our democracy, and put those folks in jail, appropriately charged. It's much harder to eliminate an ideology, and that is what has been unleashed on this population principally by the former president and now his supporters on the Hill. So it's a very tough situation for the law enforcement. They need to stay ahead of the curve with intelligence and sharing intelligence among partners to try to make sure these terrible events don't happen.
BLITZER: This is a domestic terror threat that's out there, and it's really, really worrisome.
Andrew McCabe, thanks so much for joining us.
MCCABE: Thanks, Wolf.
BLITZER: All right. Let's get an update right now. The new backlash against a Republican congresswoman with a history of apparent support for violence against Democrats.
Our congressional correspondent Ryan Nobles is joining us right now.
So, first of all, Ryan, what are you learning about this latest operation to try to expel this Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene from Congress?
RYAN NOBLES, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, there's no doubt there is a lot of angst on Capitol Hill, particularly from House Democrats about Marjorie Taylor Greene and the rhetoric she posted online and her activism prior to becoming a member of Congress. Of course, there is the CNN KFILE report that uncovered many of these social media posts where she even went so far as to suggest that members of Congress should be executed, including the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
But she also was someone that was very confrontational with activists on all levels, including the victims of the Parkland massacre. Take a listen to this moment where she went after David Hogg who was on Capitol Hill advocating for stricter gun control.
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REP. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-GA): What happened to (INAUDIBLE) citizen? I'm a gun owner. I have a concealed carry permit. I carry a gun for protection for myself, and you are using your lobby and the money behind it and the kids to try to take away my Second Amendment rights.
You don't have anything to say for yourself? You can't defend your stance?
[18:55:01]
If school zones are protected by -- with security guards with guns, there would be no mass shootings at schools. Do you know that? That's the way to stop a bad guy with a gun with a good guy with a gun. You're attacking our Second Amendment, and you have nothing to say?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NOBLES: Now, this is part of what has led Democrats to call for Greene to be expelled from her position as a member of Congress. Now, that requires a two-thirds vote of the House of Representatives. That is unlikely to happen, but there is a more concerted push to have her removed from the House Education Committee, particularly for how she's handled the situation with the Parkland massacre. She suggested online that it was a "false flag" operation and then, of course, her confrontational actions towards these Parkland victims.
Wolf, at this point Greene says that she's not worried about what Democrats are attempting to do to remove her from her positions here on Capitol Hill.
BLITZER: What she did to that young man was totally disgusting.
Ryan Nobles, thank you very much.
More news right after this.
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