Return to Transcripts main page
The Situation Room
Matt Gaetz Sex Trafficking Investigation Continues; Testimony Continues in Derek Chauvin Trial; Sources Say, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) Showed Nude Photos of Women He Said He Slept with to Lawmakers; Pfizer Says Vaccine Protection Lasts At Least Six Months, Experts Say It Likely Lasts Longer; Biden Holds His First In-Person Cabinet Meeting as He Launches Push for $2 Trillion Infrastructure Plan; Scathing Internal Report Finds U.S. Capitol Police Were Unprepared, Failed to Act on Alarming Intel Before Riot. Aired 6-7p ET
Aired April 01, 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]
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Jurors also heard an audio recording of Chauvin describing his arrest of Floyd soon after it happened, claiming Floyd was -- quote -- "going crazy."
Also, on the stand, paramedics who tried to save Floyd's life. They said he was unresponsive and appeared to be dead when they actually arrived at the scene. But Chauvin's knee was still firmly planted on Floyd's neck until they asked him to move, so they could treat the patient.
Floyd's girlfriend of some three years offers the most emotional testimony of the day, describing both his kindness, as well as his struggle with drug addiction.
Let's go to Minneapolis once again.
CNN's Omar Jimenez is on the story for us.
Omar, tell us, first of all, about this final round of testimony on this day four of testimony during this trial. Tell us about Chauvin's use of force on Floyd.
OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, bottom line, Derek Chauvin's supervisory sergeant at the time believes and testified that he believes excessive force was used on George Floyd.
He was the final witness called as part of a day where we -- really centered on what happened when medical help arrived on May of 2020 that day and the immediate aftermath.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIMENEZ (voice-over): The moments when paramedics arrived, and George Floyd appeared unresponsive in May 2020 are coming into clear focus.
In audio played in court, Derek Chauvin is heard on the phone describing what had just happened. DEREK CHAUVIN, DEFENDANT: Had to hold a guy down. He was going crazy.
Wouldn't (INAUDIBLE) one moment.
Wouldn't go in the back of the squad.
JIMENEZ: He was talking to the supervising police sergeant on duty at the time, David Ploeger.
STEVE SCHLEICHER, MINNESOTA PROSECUTOR: Do you have an opinion as to when the restraint of Mr. Floyd should have ended in this encounter?
SGT. DAVID PLOEGER (RET.), MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT: Yes.
SCHLEICHER: What is it?
PLOEGER: When Mr. Floyd was no longer offering up any resistance to the officers, they could have ended their restraint.
SCHLEICHER: And that was after he was handcuffed and, on the ground, and no longer resistant?
PLOEGER: Correct.
JIMENEZ: Paramedics Seth Bravinder and Derek Smith responded to the scene and arrived to an unresponsive Floyd.
Smith seen here checking Floyd for vitals.
DEREK SMITH, HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA, PARAMEDIC: Did not detect a pulse.
ERIN ELDRIDGE, MINNESOTA ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: And what did his condition appear to be to you overall?
SMITH: In lay terms, I thought he was dead.
JIMENEZ: The checking began while now former Officer Derek Chauvin still had his knee on Floyd's neck, before Bravinder stepped in.
ELDRIDGE: What were you attempting to do at that point in time?
SETH ZACHARY BRAVINDER, HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA, EMS: Just have the officer move.
ELDRIDGE: And why did you need the officer to move?
BRAVINDER: So, we could move the patient, because he was -- I guess limp would be the best description.
JIMENEZ: Bravinder testified a cardiac monitor showed Floyd's heart had flatlined.
BRAVINDER: Basically, tells us your heart isn't really doing anything at that moment.
JIMENEZ: During cross-examination, the defense asked about whether overdose patients can regain consciousness and be aggressive.
ERIC NELSON, ATTORNEY FOR DEREK CHAUVIN: Have you personally seen that happen?
BRAVINDER: Yes.
JIMENEZ: Drug use was the center of how tearful testimony began Thursday.
Courteney Ross, George Floyd's girlfriend of three years, took the stand. But while emotional throughout, her testimony centered largely on both her and George Floyd's addiction to opioids.
COURTENEY ROSS, GIRLFRIEND OF GEORGE FLOYD: The classic story of how many people get addicted to opioids.
MATTHEW FRANK, MINNESOTA PROSECUTOR: Well, did he have sports injuries that he complained of?
ROSS: Yes, his neck, and down -- like, from his neck to shoulder blade and down to his lower back.
JIMENEZ: The defense for Derek Chauvin is trying to make the case it was drugs in George Floyd's system that killed him, not Chauvin's knee to the neck.
So, when it was their turn to question Ross, they asked about an emergency trip to the hospital Floyd had just two months before his death.
NELSON: You later learned that that was due to an overdose?
ROSS: Yes.
NELSON: And did you learn what that -- what caused that overdose?
ROSS: No.
NELSON: At that time frame, did you learn that Mr. Floyd was taking anything other than opioids?
ROSS: No.
NELSON: You did not know that he had taken heroin at that time?
ROSS: No.
JIMENEZ: She testified, days before he died, Floyd was using again, but never complained of shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
FRANK: Had Mr. Floyd been an active person physically?
ROSS: Yes, he was very active.
(END VIDEOTAPE) JIMENEZ: And, really, with this testimony, we're having these puzzle pieces come together, where yesterday we got a clear picture for what happened once the ambulance left and what happened before police were called on George Floyd.
Today, it was largely centered on what context around any prior George Floyd drug use, and that, shortly after medical personnel arrived, they believed, for all intents and purposes, he was dead, and then, of course, the news from that supervising sergeant that he believes Derek Chauvin used excessive force on George Floyd, based on everything that he has seen.
[18:05:20]
Court will be back tomorrow morning with a brand-new witness on what is expected to be a shortened day, day five of testimony in this trial -- Wolf.
BLITZER: We have any idea, Omar, who's going to be testifying tomorrow?
JIMENEZ: We have heard some clues from pool reports. We know that, at some point in the future. Minneapolis Police Chief -- current Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo is expected to testify.
So we're going to have to see who exactly it's going to be in the morning. Court has typically stayed pretty mum on who's coming, just based on security purposes and people trying to reach out to them beforehand.
But we do know it's expected to be a shortened day tomorrow. And we do know, at some point in the future, the current police chief is expected to testify.
BLITZER: Yes, that's really important. And it's smart to try to keep as much of this information confidential as possible.
Omar, stay with us.
I want to bring in Natalie Jackson. She's a -- she's a wrongful death attorney who is joining us right now.
So, Natalie, what jumped out at you? We did hear the Minneapolis police sergeant, the retired Minneapolis police sergeant, testify that Chauvin told him Floyd was going crazy. But Chauvin didn't mention using his knee on George Floyd's neck for those nine minutes-plus, almost 10 minutes.
So, what kind of red flags were raised to you?
NATALIE JACKSON, WRONGFUL DEATH ATTORNEY: Well, I think one of the main things that jumped out to me was the use of force policy, because, in this case, of course, officers can use force to subdue people.
However, the use of force policy, just like the national policy, says that you use force and you have to determine it based on moment by moment and the situation. So, it -- what we do know is that Derek Chauvin's knee was on George Floyd's neck while he was unconscious in handcuffs.
And I think that this is going to go to the depraved heart. I think this is also going to go to whether or not he can -- he, Chauvin, did an assault on George Floyd.
BLITZER: All right, let's bring in retired LAPD police Sergeant Cheryl Dorsey. She's the author of the book "Black and Blue," by the way.
Sergeant Dorsey, let's talk a little bit about what happened today, because it was so powerful, so dramatic. You were watching it. We were all watching it.
How does that characterization from Chauvin line up, from your perspective, with what we all saw on the video?
CHERYL DORSEY, RETIRED LAPD POLICE SERGEANT: Well, Chauvin tried to minimize when he spoke to the supervisor, but he did in terms of use of force.
But the supervisor put all of that to bed when he said, once the handcuffs goes on, which is what I have said, once the handcuffs go on, use of force stops. And it's unreasonable to expect a person who's being restrained to not continue to move to (AUDIO GAP)
That's just what you want to do if you're trying to get away. And so that (AUDIO GAP) to police work. He tried to minimize, as long as (AUDIO GAP) with his supervisor who first responded (AUDIO GAP) used a little force, I touched him with my knee, didn't mention any of that nine-, 10-minute business that went on.
BLITZER: All right, stand by for a moment.
I want to bring back Sergeant -- retired Sergeant Ron Johnson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
As you know, Sergeant, two paramedics -- Captain, I should say -- Captain Ron Johnson -- two paramedics testified today that they described seeing Floyd totally unresponsive when they actually first arrived on the scene.
Have we heard this much detail on the medical response before today?
RON JOHNSON, FORMER MISSOURI HIGHWAY STATE PATROL CAPTAIN: No, we have not.
And there was some strong testimony that it was obvious when they pulled up. And, really, before they started rendering aid, they saw that.
What really was strong to me and touching is that they had to move the officer off of Mr. Floyd, that they had to remove him off of him. And so -- and you could tell that they were doing their best, but I think, like you say, given chest compressions, that's something officers are trained on.
And so those officers had the ability there to assist in saving Mr. Floyd's life.
BLITZER: And, Captain Johnson, one of those paramedics actually said there was no reason why the Minneapolis police didn't start chest compressions, which potentially could have saved his life, maybe.
He testified that any layperson could actually do that. You didn't need to be a firefighter or police officer.
Did Chauvin fail in his duty to provide that kind of potentially lifesaving care?
JOHNSON: Yes, I believe so, because you always have to assess the situation that's there.
And from the time that you're using force, you have to continue to assess what's going on. And there was no assessment there, the way they started it, and that's the way they ended. So, they never did an assessment.
So, there were plenty of opportunities to help save Mr. Floyd's life.
[18:10:02]
BLITZER: Let's talk, Sergeant Dorsey, about what happened today.
The prosecution brought George Floyd's three-year girlfriend as a witness, very emotional. She said both she and Floyd struggled with addiction after being prescribed opioids, but she also spoke about how they met, the story of their first kiss, the dates they went on.
How do the personal, humanizing details like that shape a case?
DORSEY: I think it's all very important, because, once the defense takes over, they're going to spend the entirety of their time dehumanizing Mr. Floyd.
They're going to try to make him seem like he's something other than human in many regards. And so it was important to hear from someone who knew him intimately to hear about who he was as a person, who he was as a human being, and that, yes, he had his struggles and his issues. But, at the end of the day, all of that is subterfuge, it's deflection.
And none of that has anything to do with what happened once handcuffs were put on him by those officers and he was placed in the back of that police car.
BLITZER: Let me ask Natalie what she thought of the girlfriend's testimony today, because we saw her repeatedly breaking down in tears.
JACKSON: Right.
I think that that was -- the emotional part of it was good at humanizing George Floyd. However, her testimony was important for another reason. It was important to show the influence and how drugs affect George Floyd.
George Floyd -- she also took the same drugs that George Floyd took, and she's still alive. I think that that is all -- that's one of the things that is going to disprove the defense's theory that George Floyd died of a drug overdose.
BLITZER: You know, Omar, the Floyd family, understandably, has been bracing for all of this. It's obviously very painful for them to relive all those -- especially the video that we're seeing.
They're trying to brace for the possibility, almost a certain possibility, that the defense will try to smear George Floyd's overall character. And that's certainly happening to a certain degree already, right?
JIMENEZ: Well, as tough as it is for people on the outside to watch the proceedings and watch the video, you can imagine how tough it is for a family at the center of this.
And we know the brother of George Floyd, Philonise Floyd, was in court today. And when he was asked about how he is handling all of this by our own Sara Sidner, who was the pool reporter today, he simply said, "One day at a time."
BLITZER: All right, everybody, stand by.
We're going to continue our special coverage, including a conversation I'm about to have with a lawyer for George Floyd's family. He will respond to today's testimony, including that new audio of Chauvin claiming that Floyd was -- quote -- "going crazy."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:16:34]
BLITZER: We're back now with more on the Derek Chauvin murder trial.
They have wrapped up their trial for the day. We're getting some new reaction to today's very powerful, dramatic testimony.
We're joined by the co-lead counsel for George Floyd's family, Chris Stewart.
Chris, thank you so much for joining us.
As you heard, the prosecution played that audio of the former Officer Chauvin telling his supervisor that George Floyd was -- quote -- "going crazy."
But Chauvin didn't tell the supervisor he actually used his knee on Floyd's neck for what, almost 10 minutes. How painful is that for the Floyd family to hear?
L. CHRIS STEWART, ATTORNEY FOR FAMILY OF GEORGE FLOYD: I mean, the entire thing is painful.
But we know that a blessing is coming. If George Floyd was going crazy, allegedly, as he's saying, he's now going crazy with coming up with all of these crazy defenses that they're trying to use.
BLITZER: How powerful is it to hear that Minneapolis police sergeant say Chauvin should have stop restraining George Floyd and reassessed the situation once Floyd -- he got his handcuffs on? He was not moving at all. How powerful was that to hear that from that retired police sergeant?
STEWART: It's huge.
And now we're getting to the main course of this entire trial. Right now, the prosecution has their knee on Derek Chauvin's neck, just like he had it on George. And they're scrambling.
Some of the things that they're using to compare a gun battle, where good officer are actually risking their lives out there, to six people in a crowd, two kids, it's ridiculous.
BLITZER: We did hear, also -- and you heard it as well -- very upsetting testimony today from a paramedic who thought Floyd had already passed away when he arrived on the scene.
Yesterday, your colleague Tony Romanucci told me the Floyd family is going through what he described as torture every day watching all of this.
How do they brace for these new details day after day?
STEWART: To try not to watch it.
When I talked to Roxie today, try not to watch the whole thing, just getting updates, because it's too painful. It's too painful for the whole country. Everyone is watching this man die every single day. And they're not understanding why we have to go through this.
But now we're seeing why, because of the excuses they're giving. They're blaming the crowd. They're suddenly blaming the fire department. Now they're blaming the police department. They're going to blame everybody, except for themselves.
BLITZER: The jurors, they also heard from George Floyd's girlfriend.
It was very emotional, very powerful. She spoke about their shared struggles after being prescribed opioids. But she also spoke very warmly about how they first met, the times they enjoyed together. Why is that so important for the jury to hear those personal details?
STEWART: Because they need to know George is.
I mean, they're just going to see him dying. They're going to hear the negative things from the defense. But what she said was powerful, really powerful to me. The first thing he said to her is, "Let us pray together." George Floyd was a godly person. And, in my opinion, yes, he had his own personal demonstrations, battling with drugs, but do 20 million- plus Americans. And, in America, you don't get killed for doing drugs. That's something that you and God try and sort out.
They took away George Floyd's redemption story, and only left us with his death.
BLITZER: Millions of Americans protested in honor of George Floyd last summer. We all remember what was going on around the entire country.
[18:20:02]
What's your message to all those people who are following this trial right now? And they obviously are so moved, so effective -- affected by all of this.
STEWART: Just stay strong. It's painful to watch. It's painful to hear these excuses. It's painful to hear their own supervisors tell them they shouldn't have done it.
And justice is coming. We have got faith in this jury. We don't believe they're going to be swayed by the racial inferences they're slipping in of his size and different things of that nature. Just look at the truth. Don't let your eyes fool you. They killed that man. And there's no excuse.
BLITZER: Chris Stewart, thanks so much for joining us.
STEWART: Thank you for having me.
BLITZER: Coming up, we're also learning more right now about that controversy surrounding Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz, including nude photos, even as he's under scrutiny by the U.S. Justice Department.
We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:25:26]
BLITZER: Tonight, more allegations of wrongdoing against Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida, following reports he's being investigated for engaging in a sexual relationship with a minor.
Our senior legal affairs correspondent, Paula Reid, is working the story for us.
So, what are you learning, Paula?
PAULA REID, CNN SENIOR LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Good evening, Wolf.
Well, we have new details tonight about the scope of the criminal investigation into Representative Gaetz. CNN has learned that investigators are looking at his involvement with at least one underage girl and whether he violated federal sex trafficking or prostitution laws with other young women.
They're also looking at whether Gaetz used federal campaign funds on his alleged victims.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REID (voice-over): Tonight, new details on the sex trafficking investigation into Representative Matt Gaetz.
CNN has learned prosecutors are looking into a relationship with a woman that began when she was just 17 and whether his involvement with other young women broke sex trafficking and prostitution laws, according to two sources briefed on the matter.
Those sources say investigators are also pursuing allegations that Gaetz may have used cash and drugs in his dealings with young women. And they have also looked at whether any federal campaign money was involved in paying for travel and expenses. An attorney for Gaetz declined to comment. Gaetz has previously denied any wrongdoing.
REP. MATT GAETZ (R-FL): It is a horrible allegation and it is a lie. That is verifiably false. People can look at my travel records and see that that is not the case.
REID: And tried to portray the investigation as connected to an extortion plot against his family.
According to documents provided to CNN, the Gaetz family says it was approached by a former Air Force intelligence officer by text message. Gaetz's his father, Don Gaetz, allegedly received a message from a man saying he had a plan to make his son's future legal and political problems go away.
In a simple unsigned document titled "Project Homecoming," it states Gaetz was currently under investigation by the FBI for various public corruption and public integrity issues, including a sexual orgy with underage prostitutes.
In return, the document asked for a $25 million loan to fund an operation to rescue Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent who went missing in Iran in 2007. Last year, the Levinson family said in a statement they received information from U.S. officials leading them to believe their father was dead.
That same day, President Trump said this.
DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's not looking great, but I won't accept that he's dead. They haven't told us that he's dead. But a lot of people are thinking that that is the case.
REID: The Levinson family attorney is David McGee.
GAETZ: His name is David McGee.
REID: The same man Congressman Gaetz named in a Fox News interview, blaming him for the extortion attempt.
GAETZ: I know that there was a demand for money in exchange for a commitment that he could make this investigation go away, along with his co-conspirators.
REID: McGee's law office responded in a statement: "The allegation by the congressman is both false and defamatory."
Then-Attorney General Bill Barr received multiple briefings while he was in office on the sex trafficking investigation into Gaetz. A source familiar with the matter tells CNN Barr did not take issue with the investigation, which began in the final months of the Trump administration.
At stake is the Florida Republican's political future. Today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi weighing in on whether Gaetz will return to his committee assignments.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): If, in fact, these allegations are true, of course, being removed from the Judiciary Committee is the least that could be done. But, again, I think, from what we have heard so far, this would be a matter for the Ethics Committee.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
REID: Gaetz previously claimed his father was asked by the government to wear a wire to catch the alleged exporters. Tonight, he demanded the government released those recordings.
But e-mails obtained by CNN between Gaetz's attorney and the Justice Department appear to confirm Gaetz's father is cooperating, but they say nothing about a wire or any tapes. The Justice Department has declined to comment -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Paula, thank you very much.
Paula Reid reporting.
Meanwhile, sources tell CNN that Congressman Gaetz actually gained a reputation inside Congress over his relationships with women and even showed some of his fellow lawmakers some nude photos of women he said he slept with.
Our congressional correspondent, Lauren Fox, is on this part of the story for us.
So, Lauren, what are you learning about these photos?
[18:30:00]
LAUREN FOX, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, we should be very clear from the time that this is a separate issue than the DOJ investigation that is ongoing right now. When Matt Gaetz was a new member of Congress, he earned a reputation very quickly of being a close ally of former President Donald Trump's. He was someone who is a conservative fire brand, someone who liked to be in the limelight of the media.
He also, according to multiple sources CNN spoke with, behind the scenes liked to show his colleagues photos and brag about sexual exploits that he had with women. Now, three sources told CNN that this was something that Gaetz did and two of these individuals had seen these images firsthand. One of these individuals said that they saw this image, Matt Gaetz shared this image with them, a nude photograph on the House floor. Someone else said that they had seen an image that Gaetz shared with them just off of the House floor, but still at the U.S. Capitol.
Now, of course, CNN reached out to Gaetz directly, as well his office, for a comment. We have not heard any response from either Gaetz nor his office. But, obviously, this is a significant development given what is going on with the DOJ investigation. But, again, I want to make it crystal clear, these are two separate issues, Wolf. This is not something that we know the DOJ is looking into, nor is there any indication that these women whose photographs were shared with other members, that they were minors, Wolf. I think that that's very important to underscore here.
BLITZER: Very important indeed to underscore. Lauren, thank you very much.
Let's discuss all of this with the former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, he's a CNN Senior Law Enforcement Analyst. Andrew, let's begin with this new very separate allegation against Congressman Gaetz that Lauren just reported on. Sources telling CNN he showed nude photos, videos of women, he said he slept with to some of his fellow lawmakers. What immediate concerns does that raise to you?
ANDREW MCCABE, CNN SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, I mean, of course, Wolf, it raises a lot of concerns. It's another bizarre chapter in this increasingly bizarre story. I think it certainly a matter of -- would seem to be a matter for the Ethics Committee to look into.
But in terms of the investigation of the congressman's potential involvement in sex trafficking and prostitution, those sorts of things, there's no question that for the investigators this is going to provide a host of new leads.
Part of the danger of being the subject of an investigation like this is the initial predication, which sounds like here was the allegation of human trafficking or sex trafficking, opens the door to all sorts of other investigative inquiries.
So I can't imagine that the investigators involved here won't be interested to try to identify and locate and determine the ages of any women who Mr. -- Congressman Gaetz has been sharing their photographs with others.
BLITZER: And as we say, separately, of course, federal prosecutors are looking into whether Gaetz actually broke sex trafficking and prostitution laws. Just how serious do you think, Andrew McCabe, this case really is? MCCABE: You know, it's quite serious, Wolf. These are federal felonies that, if proved and if convicted of these felonies, he could be looking at significant jail time and potentially registration as a sexual offender. So these are not charges to dismiss in any way. Any time an investigation involves the potential victimization of a minor, these are matters that the FBI and the department pursue with great vigor.
BLITZER: As you know, there's a very important distinction, Andrew, between the sex trafficking case and the investigation of alleged extortion, right? Gaetz is doubling down on claims of extortion. Have you seen evidence to support any of those assertions?
BLITZER: No, I have not. You know, it is really important to emphasize that distinction. The sex trafficking case apparently was originated as -- long ago as the end of last summer, beginning of the fall. It was briefed to the attorney general several times. It's obviously gotten the green light from the Department of Justice. The allegations of extortion are something Congressman Gaetz indicates only came up within the last month.
I think it's important for your viewers to know, Wolf, that an extortion requires both a demand and a threat. And it's not clear to me from any of the documents that have been released so far that even this interaction with the individuals that were apparently focused on the return of Bob Levenson included some sort of legitimate threat. If it was merely a plan to try to cleanse the congressman's reputation by involving him in a rescue effort, that would fall far short of reaching the bar for extortion.
[18:35:01]
BLITZER: And as you correctly point out, the investigation began during the Trump administration when Bill Barr was the attorney general over at the Justice Department. Andrew McCabe, thanks so much for joining us.
MCCABE: Thanks, Wolf.
BLITZER: All right just ahead, we're going to get a reality check on Pfizer's new timeline for its vaccine to remain effective.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Tonight, as more Americans are getting their COVID-19 vaccinations, we're getting new information about how long the protection will last. Pfizer saying at least six months, other experts say it could be more.
[18:40:00]
Let's get the latest from CNN National Correspondent Nick Watt.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK WATT, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Pfizer's vaccine is highly effective for at least six months, and the study is ongoing.
DR. ADRIAN BURROWES, FAMILY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN: It could be a will the longer than that, but at least for six months and that's great news.
WATT: Bad news, human error ruined a batch of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine during a test run at a plant not yet FDA-authorized. So no issue with doses already out there, but --
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: It's really quite unfortunate that about 15 million doses now are not going to be able to be used.
WATT: Apparently, J&J's delivery schedule remains on track.
JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We have been assured that we -- that they expect to meet those deadlines.
WATT: And the White House goal of all adults eligible by May 1 remains. Nearly 1 in 3 Americans have already had at least one dose. And if supply here in Los Angeles County meets projections --
BARBARA FERRER, DIRECTOR, LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH: We can expect to reach 80 percent vaccine coverage for people 16 and older in just 12 more weeks.
WATT: So could be herd immunity in L.A. by July 1st, but many states are relaxing restrictions already. There will be some fans in the stands for opening day, today.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Opening day is always special. This is a little more special.
WATT: Expect some bumps, Mets Nationals just postponed due to COVID cases. Meantime, March just confirmed as the busiest month of air travel since the pandemic began.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We needed to get our daughter out of the house. She's been stuck at home for so long.
WATT: But the COVID-19 death toll isn't falling much anymore. Hospitalizations are creeping up. In Michigan, average new case counts up over 50 percent in just a week.
GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER (D-MI): Number one, we've got a high proportion of variants. So that means coronavirus spreads faster.
WATT: The national average daily case count up over 60,000 again.
FAUCI: Which puts you at considerable risk of rebounding up, essentially what they're seeing in Europe.
WATT: Another wave there fuelled by the variants front, just reintroduced at least a month-long limited lockdown.
(END VIDEOTAPE) WATT (on camera): Now, in that ongoing study, Pfizer says its vaccine also appears fully effective against that worrying variant first found in South Africa. And Dr. Fauci says, listen, if Moderna or Johnson & Johnson did the same study, they would probably find similar results. It works against that variant.
The message, Wolf, as always, get whichever vaccine you can get, get it in your arm as soon as you can. Wolf?
BLITZER: Good advice. Nick Watt in L.A. for us, thank you.
Coming up, we're going to tell you how President Biden is using his cabinet now to promote his $2 trillion infrastructure plan.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:47:27]
BLITZER: President Biden held his first cabinet meeting today, using it to push for his $2 trillion infrastructure and jobs plan.
Let's go to our senior White House correspondent Phil Mattingly.
Tell us more about today's meeting, Phil.
PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf, the president knows that at $2.25 trillion infrastructure and jobs package is going to be no easy lift when it comes to Capitol Hill. And so, he's bringing in reinforcements, the very people sitting next to him today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOSEPH R. BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We have a lot to discuss. While the press is here, I want to make one announcement.
MATTINGLY (voice-over): Tonight, President Joe Biden assigning five cabinet officials to run point on his next major legislative push.
BIDEN: These cabinet members will represent dealing with Congress, engage the public in selling the plan and help work out the details as we refine it and move forward.
MATTINGLY: Critical roles in the heavy lift ahead for Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. Biden seated at the center of his first cabinet meeting doling out assignments and quickly dismissing the press.
BIDEN: I thank the press for being here, but talk to y'all later. Thank you.
MATTINGLY: A far cry from his predecessor, where scenes like this dominated the day and the entire administration. MIKE PENCE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT: Greatest privilege of my life to
serve as vice president to a president who's keeping his word to the American people and assembling a team that's bringing real change, real prosperity, real strength back to our nation.
RICK PERRY, FORMER ENERGY SECRETARY: My hat's off to you for taking that stand and presenting a clear message around the world that America's going to continue to lead.
TOM PRICE, FORMER HHS SECRETARY: I can't thank you enough for the privilege that you've given me and leadership you've shown.
REINCE PRIEBUS, FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: On behalf of the entire senior staff, Mr. President, we thank you for the opportunity and the blessing you've given us to serve your agenda and the American people.
MATTINGLY: Instead, Biden zeroing in on his transformational economic proposal.
BIDEN: Yesterday in Pittsburgh, I laid out my vision for rebuilding America and America -- with America's jobs program.
MATTINGLY: The meeting coming one day after the unveiling of the first part of a sweeping proposal that will total more than $4 trillion according to officials, that first prong with $2.5 trillion worth of spending lays out a set of sweeping administration priorities under the umbrella of infrastructure.
Roads, bridges and waterways, yes, but also interspersed with climate and clean energy initiatives and clear direction to target investment towards disadvantaged communities.
[18:50:01]
Its scale in the corporate and the corporate tax increase it's designed to finance it, already drawing sharp opposition from Republicans.
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), MINORITY LEADER: This is a bold, left- wing administration. I don't think they have a mandate to do what they're doing.
MATTINGLY: Underscoring the likely need to once again move forward on a partisan basis, something already complicated by Democrats raising a myriad of concerns.
RON KLAIN, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: There are definitely some in our party who think it's the small. There some in the party who think maybe it's too big. We think it's just right.
MATTINGLY: Concerns the White House says it's aware of and more than ready to start to address.
KLAIN: But we're happy to have a conversation with people less about the price tag, more about what are the elements that should be in the plan that people think are missing?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MATTINGLY (on camera): And, Wolf, today is opening day. And while the Biden administration has been clear about their opposition to the new Georgia voting law, the president is wearing in about the all-star game scheduled to be played in Atlanta. He said he's okay with the conversation about moving the game because of that law. The Georgia Governor Brian Kemp calling that, Wolf, ridiculous.
BLITZER: Phil Mattingly at the White House, thanks very much.
Just ahead, a truly damning internal report finds the Capitol police were woefully unprepared for the January 6 riot and failed to act on intelligence suggesting the protest would turn violent.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:55:25]
BLITZER: The government watchdog for the U.S. Capitol police now out with a scathing review of the agency's failures during the January 6 insurrection.
Brian Todd is working the story for us.
So, Brian, this is a damning report from inspector general.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It really is critical, Wolf. The U.S. Capitol police issued a statement saying that short of the excessive use of deadly force, nothing within its arsenal could have stopped the insurrectionists that day. But the inspector general still blisters the department especially over its handling of intelligence.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TODD (voice-over): A U.S. Capitol police force overwhelmed, and its own inspector general now says woefully unprepared for the January 6 violence. A source familiar with the report from the department's inspector general tells CNN the report says the Capitol police had intelligence as early as December 30th suggesting the protestors may have been inclined to become violent. But that the department did not prepare a comprehensive department wide plan for demonstrations planned for January 6.
CHARLES RAMSEY, FORMER WASHINGTON DC POLICE CHIEF: You would like to think that with adequate planning and preparation, you could have done a much better job to keep them from at least getting inside the Capitol.
TODD: The inspector general also criticized the Capitol police for not passing around information from outside agencies. Like a memo from the FBI's Norfolk field office that was disseminated the day before the riot, warning of a war at the Capitol.
The new report says a Capitol police intelligence officer sent that FBI memo around internally. But the current and former Capitol police chiefs have said it never got to their level. And they were never warned about the potential scale of the attack.
ACTING CHIEF YOGANANDA PITTMAN, U.S. CAPITOL POLICE: No credible threat indicated that tens of thousands would attack the U.S. Capitol. Nor did the intelligence received from the FBI or any other law enforcement partner indicate such a threat.
RAMSEY: They've got to look internally at their intelligence capabilities, communications, of their preparation, certainly there's already been talk about a rapid deployment force and so forth.
TODD: Meantime, the attorney for two U.S. Capitol police officers, who are suing former President Donald Trump, have spoken to CNN.
Officer Sidney Hemby says he was crushed against doors, sprayed with chemicals. Officer James Blassingame says he was slammed against the stone column. The officers say they suffered injuries because Trump allegedly inflamed, encouraged, incited, and directed the mob.
PATRICK MALONE, ATTORNEY REPRESENTING INJURED CAPITOL POLICE OFFICERS: They were attacked over and over and over by people who told them hey, we came from the president. And you should join us.
TODD: The former president has denied inciting the riot. This comes as prosecutors have charged rioter Daniel Rodriguez with eight counts, including assaulting an officer for the attack on D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone.
OFFICER MICHAEL FANONE, WASHINGTON D.C. METROPOLITAN POLICE: It was brutal.
TODD: In court documents, prosecutors say Rodriguez tased Officer Fanone, beat him with a flagpole. Fanone was dragged down the steps of the Capitol and says rioters screamed to kill him with his own gun. Fanone did tell CNN some rioters surrounding him tried to help him, but --
FANONE: I think the conclusion I've come to is thank you, but (EXPLETIVE DELETED) you for being you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TODD (on camera): Officer Fanone says he suffered a heart attack from the tasing, in addition to a concussion, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. The man who allegedly tased him, Daniel Rodriguez, has not yet entered a plea -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right. Brian Todd reporting from here in Washington. Brian, thank you very, very much.
Finally, tonight, we remember one of CNN's original anchors, Don Farmer. He died yesterday at the age of 82. Don and his wife, Chris Curle, were hired by Ted Turner to help launch the network back in 1980. They covered many, many breaking stories. They interviewed many news makers during their seven years here at CNN. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DON FARMER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to this Thursday edition of "TAKE TWO". We're glad you could join us today. I'm don farmer.
CHRIS CURLE, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Chris Curle. And here's what we had planned for you today on "TAKE TWO".
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: I remember those days. Don spent a lifetime pursuing his passion for journalism, as an anchor, a war correspondent, a newspaper man, and an author.
All of us here at CNN are truly grateful for his role in helping to build our network. And we send our deepest, deepest condolences to his beloved Chris, his daughter Laurie, his son Justin and all the grandchildren. May Don Farmer rest in peace and may his memory be a blessing.
Thanks very much for watching. I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM. You can always follow me on Twitter and Instagram @WolfBlitzer. You can always tweet the show @CNNSitRoom.
"ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT" starts right now.
