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Erin Burnett Outfront

Trump to Hold WH Event Tomorrow, Goes to Florida for Rally on Monday as Expert Warns State Will be "House on Fire" Soon; Hurricane Delta Hitting SW Louisiana as Strong Category 2 Storm; Second Trump- Biden Debate Officially Canceled; Suspects in Plot to Kidnap Michigan Governor Ranted Against Gov't Online; MI Gov. Calls them Domestic Terrorists; Trump Undermines Election Integrity, Says Mail-In Ballots "Second Biggest Political Scandal in History"; Hurricane Delta Hitting Louisiana As Strong Category 2 Storm. Aired 7-8p ET

Aired October 09, 2020 - 19:00   ET

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

[19:00:00]

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: She says losing him is unbearable. May they rest in peace and may their memories the blessing.

Erin Burnett OUTFRONT starts right now.

ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: OUTFRONT next breaking news, President Trump planning to hold an event with hundreds of people at the White House and an in-person rally in Florida on Monday. This as nine people who attended Trump's rally in Minnesota last month test positive for coronavirus.

And more breaking news, Hurricane Delta packing winds of more than a hundred miles an hour is expected to make landfall shortly. Right now, officials warning of a life-threatening storm surge and we are going to take you there live.

Plus, new details this hour about the alarming plot to storm the Michigan State Capitol to attack and kidnap the Governor. Let's go OUTFRONT.

And good evening. I'm Erin Burnett.

OUTFRONT tonight breaking news, the President now planning his first public event for tomorrow on the South Lawn of the White House. This despite the fact that he is likely still infected with coronavirus. Hundreds of people are expected to attend the event. It's the first in-person events since Trump tested positive a week ago.

Now, one of the first big White House events since Trump announced Amy Coney Barrett as his Supreme Court Justice nominee, remember that event in the Rose Garden? That's sort of at the core of this whole debacle. At least 10 people at that ceremony have tested positive for coronavirus.

And today, the nation's top infectious disease expert called that event at the White House run by team Trump exactly what it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: The data speaks for themselves. We had a super spreader event in the White House.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: The President will be speaking from a White House balcony. And if you're wondering what precautions are being taken, a source tells CNN attendees will be screened with a temperature check. When you walk in and a questionnaire and they'll bring a mask. They'll be instructed to wear it.

It does not appear though that team Trump has learned its lesson at all, even as the President grapples with the virus. Just look at this rally that Donald Trump Jr. Held in Panama City Beach, Florida just yesterday. That's inside, it's packed, shoulder to shoulder, very few if any masks and that was just yesterday. That's yesterday after all of this.

Look at the scene we've all unfortunately become so accustomed to. Tonight, we're learning at least nine people who attended that rally in Minnesota now have tested positive for coronavirus.

Kaitlan Collins is OUTFRONT live near the White House. And Kaitlan, the President announcing a White House event tomorrow and holding a rally in Florida on Monday.

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes. He's basically moving full steam ahead, Erin, and we still don't even know if the President has tested negative for coronavirus. He was supposed to be tested today, but the White House says it has not disclosed whether or not he was actually tested. Though they did say earlier, they would let us know when he tested negative.

So we haven't gotten that guidance yet, but they are still moving full steam ahead with this plan for this event tomorrow, which I'm told hundreds of people are invited to. And they say they're going to instruct people to wear mask when they're on the South Lawn. But, Erin, the language required is not in the guidance that we got from a source familiar with the planning, so that is still something that's to be determined.

I guess we'll know when we see these hundreds of people on the South Lawn tomorrow, but then on Monday, the President is already going back to Orlando for another rally. It's going to be the same kind of event that he was supposed to have actually, the day after he tested positive for coronavirus. Of course, it was canceled then and now the President is scheduling it just maybe 11 days after, 12 days I believe actually it is, after he has tested positive for coronavirus.

So we're seeing how the President is responding in the wake of getting coronavirus, testing positive. Of course, he left the hospital earlier. He's back at the White House, was back in the Oval Office and now he is ready to be back on the campaign trail as well, even though we've heard from outside medical experts who've said their fear is that it's too soon.

BURNETT: Right. All right. Thank you very much, Kaitlan. And, of course, not only are they not telling us when a test negative now, they never have told us when he last was tested negative when he actually got this and who we could have infected.

OUTFRONT now Dr. Jonathan Reiner, Director of the Cardiac Cath Lab at GW who advised the White House medical team under President George W. Bush, Gloria Borger, our Chief Political Analyst and Jack O'Donnell, former President and Chief Operating Officer of the Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino. Thanks to all.

So Dr. Reiner, we've not seen the President live in-person since he left Walter Reed and went up those steps on Monday and ripped off his mask. He has though done a few phone interviews and in those, we hear him coughing. He said today 'there's always that lingering thing for a couple of days'.

And now he's got this event tomorrow, an event coming up in Florida. Is he physically well enough for this? Would you advise anyone to go?

JONATHAN REINER, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: Well, so those are two questions.

BURNETT: Yes.

REINER: So first of all, is he physical well enough for this.

[19:05:00]

Almost certainly not and if I were one of his advisors, I would advise them not to do it. It's just bound to make him look bad. It's bound to make him look weak, because he won't be able to stand for 90 minutes and regale the crowd with his Shecky Greene imitations. He's just not going to be the same person.

When I treat a person for a heart attack or they've had bypass surgery and they're thinking about going back to work, I tell them to go back to work half days to start, because I want them to succeed. I want them to feel really good about getting back to work. If you tell them to just go back and just dive into it, then they're bound to fail and that's what I think is going to happen here with the President.

As for the crowd, it's a hot zone there. The D.C. Department of Health has recommended that everyone who works in the White House get tested and anyone who went to that super spreader event get tested because they don't trust the contact tracing that's been done. This is a really bad time to do this. It's like having an event at the rest of the monkey house after the Ebola outbreak, it just doesn't make any sense to me.

BURNETT: So Jack, will the President listen to anyone who tells him no, don't do it, this is a bad idea?

JACK O'DONNELL, FMR. PRESIDENT & CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, TRUMP PLAZA HOTEL & CASINO: Well, I mean, the simple answer, Erin, is no, but that's part of his DNA. He doesn't have the ability to listen to anybody on any subject matter that doesn't completely fit his narrative. And this obviously doesn't fit his narrative that he stays cloistered in the White House.

This is the strong man image that he needs to project and so, no, I think it's going to fall on deaf ears and it doesn't matter who it is, whether it's his doctors or his daughter or his wife. He's going to do with Donald Trump wants to do.

BURNETT: And, Gloria, look, he's on a steroid, which obviously is contributing to how he feels. But we know that he wasn't doing nearly as well as his doctor portrayed. He just wasn't and we knew it in part because of things that were leaking out, people were saying how sick he was and the breathing and the issue and last Friday, how really sick he was. Doctors didn't portray it.

Now, though, Trump actually seems to be admitting it. So in these interviews he's done, these phone interviews, here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I was in not great shape. I mean, I feel better now than I did two weeks ago. I was not in the greatest of shape. And I said, 'How bad was I?' They said you could have been very bad. You were going into a very bad phase.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: Look, it's very illuminating medically, Gloria, because that time where people take that sharp downturn that can turn into oxygen and intubation and very bad endings, they were able to turn around for him. To hear him say that is pretty surprising.

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: It is pretty surprising, but if you know Donald Trump and I know Jack O'Donnell does, he is always the hero of his own story. So he is the hero of this story. He is the superman who did what no one else could do. He did a very quick turnaround and it also gives him an opportunity, Erin, to brag about these new drugs, which he takes complete and total credit for, even though they were given to him under a compassionate use and even though they're not available to the public at large.

Don't forget, this is the man who came out of the hospital and said don't let COVID dominate your lives. So he will be example A. It did not dominate my life. I beat it and here I am. I'm the superhero here in this story.

BURNETT: So Dr. Reiner, what we have seen even though we haven't seen him, live and in-person, is some really erratic behavior, the stimulus negotiations. He ended them 2:48 pm Tuesday. "I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election." Four hours later, he treated true about a story that was about regarding the need for stimulus. And then today, so he went from no stimulus at all to needing some stimulus to this today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TRUMP: A bigger stimulus package, frankly, than either the Democrats

or the Republicans are offering.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: Mixed messages on the debate, Dr. Reiner, whether he's in or whether he's out or why on ballots, on all of his traditional issues he's giving some pretty wide swings. Could you blame his illness for any of that for that erraticism?

REINER: Well, I think he's always been erratic, but I think you can absolutely blame it for these gigantic swings. Look, the President is an older man. He's had a potentially lethal illness. He's been sick, admittedly, very sick and now he's on steroids. And steroids absolutely can affect the brain chemistry, they're famous for causing both depression and mania and layer this on whatever the President's baseline issues are and it's a very volatile mix.

Actually, it's not funny because he's the President of the United States and it is affecting his behavior.

[19:10:03]

BURNETT: Yes. So Jack, to this end you you've known him for a long time, you know that the erraticism in part is consistent but as Dr. Reiner is saying, perhaps, not all the way. In recent interviews just these past couple days, these ones where he's done on the phone, so no one's seen him. He has said some odd things. Here are a few.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I mean, they literally want to take buildings down and rebuild them with tiny little windows, OK? Little windows so you can't see out, you can't see the light and the whole thing is so crazy. You have a deep state, you have a group of people that don't want to have documents shown, which tells you bad thing, but they have to give them ultimately and we're getting them.

California is going to have to ration water. You know why? Because they send millions of gallons of water out to sea, out to the Pacific, because they want to take care of certain little tiny fish that aren't doing very well without water.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: Jack, that last one I put in just because it was, I don't know, it was a little frankly disturbing when I heard it. They're sending water to the Pacific because little tiny fish need more water. The House Speaker has been trying to say he's in an altered state of mind, but you know him, you know his behavior. Does any of this sound odd to you?

O'DONNELL: Well, certainly some of those anecdotes that you played, Erin, are very odd. But that doesn't mean that he hasn't said very odd things in the past, whether it's baldness is a sign of weakness or whether if you exercise too much you're gonna die early. I mean, he has said bizarre things his entire life.

BURNETT: True.

O'DONNELL: I think I would never argue with the doctor on the side effects of the medicine that he's on. But the thing that has been interesting other than this bizarre behavior is he's been exactly who he is. He's been true form for 30 years. This very short attention span has always been there. I think it's highlighted as a result of the medicine, this angry demeanor that he's been presenting for the last couple of days, that's always been there. I just think it's heightened right now because of this.

But what you're seeing the narrative, the attacking, going after people, this is Donald Trump. I think he's actually in his element right now, even though I agree with the doctor that the medicine can't be doing him any good from a public image standpoint.

BURNETT: So Gloria, Republicans, are they scared here at all about his behavior?

BORGER: Yes. Well, look, I think Republicans, those who know him, would say in a way what Jack is saying that this is the Donald Trump we know. The worry is and that maybe it's enhanced by the dexamethasone, who knows. But their worry is that now it's affecting them and their electoral chances, because the public is seeing Trump in full here and what they're seeing they don't like, they didn't trust him on COVID and they're not likely to trust him any more when he exhibits this erratic behavior and when he starts holding rallies, Erin.

BURNETT: All right. And, obviously, we're going to see what those two rallies look like. Thank you all very much.

BORGER: Yes.

BURNETT: And next, the breaking news with Hurricane Delta just making landfall, this life threatening storm surge. The wind and rain tearing into the Gulf Coast. We're going to take you there live.

Plus, breaking news, the next presidential debate officially canceled in the past hour, so who's hurt more by that Biden or Trump?

And a retired Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice appointed by a Republican making her first political endorsement in 40 years, saying she can no longer watch the President shred the constitution. She's OUTFRONT.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:17:19]

BURNETT: Delta has just made landfall over Southwest Louisiana, a life-threatening storm surge, strong winds threatening residents there. You see these pictures. The estimated winds now near a hundred miles an hour and more concerning even than that the life-threatening storm surge, which could reach 11 feet. Ryan Young is in Gueydan, Louisiana, which is about a 90-minute drive

east of the Texas border. Ryan, obviously, I see the wind there. Tell me what you're seeing.

RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Really, what's been interesting is the rain has sort of dissipated in the last half hour or so and now this has become a wind event for where we are. We're talking about heavy gusty winds that have been sustained for more than an hour at this point. And sometimes it's gusting above 65 miles per hour.

We have a building that's blocking us that sort of cutting these winds down and as I move out, you can hear the increase in wind speed and power. One of the things they were concerned about was all the debris that was kind of left from the last storm that was this way and that they were concerned that could turn into a flying projectile. Neighbors here have been working awfully hard to make sure, but they were battening down the hatches because they've already experienced a storm just in the last six weeks.

So now, you compound this with this storm and a lot of them are hoping to get through this. Now, when you talk about the power situation, you think about the linesman who've been out there fighting the power for quite some time to get the lights back up. There's more than 115,000 people now without power and if this wasn't strange enough, as I'm struggling to walk in this wind, if you look in this direction, we see livestock that has decided to try to walk towards them look like they're just getting something to eat.

So right now, the animals are fine. Most of the structures that we've been around this evening have been fine as well. There have roof shingles that we've seen flying across the area and some downlines in the distance, so the power in the area that we're in, has been out for at least two hours at this point.

But the real concern, obviously, of course, is when you think about the thousands of people who were already left homeless after the last one. We have 8,500 people who are still in shelters. You add the pandemic involved in this, you have some people who were scared. There was also a run on gas just yesterday. We saw that as we were trying to fill up the gas of the generators that are critical lead at this point.

And, of course, as this wind continues to strengthen and push its way on the shore, people are hoping that they can make it through another night.

BURNETT: All right. Ryan, thank you very much and stick around with us because we have much more on Hurricane Delta coming up.

And more breaking news at this hour, the second debate between President Trump and Joe Biden is off. It is officially canceled.

[19:20:00]

Now, it had been turned into a virtual debate because of concerns about Trump's coronavirus diagnosis and that so many on his team have been exposed and they don't talk about testing, but Trump refused to take part. Then, the Biden campaign said, "It's shameful that Donald Trump ducked the only debate in which the voters get to ask the questions, obviously he doesn't have the guts to answer for his record to voters at the same time as Vice President Biden."

This is the town hall format debate. The Trump campaign saying there is no medical reason to stop the October 15th debate since the President will be healthy and ready to debate.

OUTFRONT now, the host of CNN SMERCONISH, Michael Smerconish. So look here's, I guess, what happened here, Trump needed this debate. We know this. He was the one who needed it the most. He backed out, then he tried to resuscitate it. How much does it, the fact that it is canceled, he can't get it back and hurt him.

MICHAEL SMERCONISH, CNN HOST, "SMERCONISH": There aren't too many days on the clock for him to make up the polling gap, the deficit that he apparently faces. There aren't too many opportunities for the momentum shift that I think, Erin, he desperately needs. I took note of the fact that very soon after the debate fell apart, when an invitation was extended to former Vice President Joe Biden, he immediately accepted so that his dance card was full.

And I believe that he did that because the Biden campaign was probably elated that there wasn't this debate opportunity for Donald Trump. So I think the President now is probably scrambling for other events and other opportunities where he can make up the deficit.

BURNETT: Right. And he's going to do his rallies. Earlier today, he called into Rush Limbaugh's radio show for what was essentially a rally. I mean, they're very close friends. And his whole point was, oh, I don't need debates. Here's the spin he put on it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I don't think the debates mean that much because, and I'll tell you why, I've done well with debates. I've won I guess I had 15, I think I won want every single poll. I won the poll on this one with him. But I had to be rude because he was lying. He'd get up and he'd just say a series of things that were all lies, so I'd say false and they'd say I interrupted him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: So Michael, here's the thing, for the people who are going to vote for Donald Trump for his base the debates don't matter. That's not going to change anything. But who is going to change their mind at this point based on these debates? I mean, what group is left?

SMERCONISH: I think he probably has a good point when he says that the debates probably aren't that consequential. We tend to remember The Zingers. But I'm hard pressed in the in the modern era, say, Reagan forward to identify a debate that was really a game changer.

I would say that the President's time, politically speaking, was time well spent today with Rush Limbaugh because it's Rush Limbaugh who reaches the base that the President so desperately needs to come out and to be a dominant force. It was essentially a two-hour get out the vote effort on Rush's program. So I understand why he did it.

BURNETT: Right. And I guess that's why he's done the other interviews he's done. They've all been, Fox News, Fox Business, his base, Mark Levin's radio show. Joe Biden, meantime, crisscrossing the country, going to key swing states today in Nevada after campaigning yesterday in Arizona and today trying to hit Trump up on what he now thinks is a winning issue, which is the stimulus talks issue. Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I've served with a lot of presidents never no matter good or bad you thought they were did they fail to try to bring parties together in the White House to reach a settlement. You know why? He spent so much time hiding in the bunker in the White House around the bunker of his golf course playing hundreds of rounds of golf. Donald Trump shows no urgency to deliver to hard-working Americans.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: So Michael, now he's got the bunker in the White House trying to rebut, Trump had picked on Biden in the basement for a long time. But Biden is the one out there now, crisscrossing the country. He's the one that everybody is seeing. How much does this hurt the Trump campaign?

SMERCONISH: The combination of what he's saying and the ads that I'm seeing, it's almost taking on the demeanor of a closing tour. Look, the Biden mantra right now is do no harm, very limited media availability and questioning I should say because they think that they're in a great position and they just don't want to screw it up.

BURNETT: All right. Michael, thank you very much. Of course, don't miss Michael show, tomorrow.

And next, CNN learning shocking new details about the suspects in the alleged domestic terror plot to kidnap the Michigan Governor.

Plus, the breaking news on Hurricane Delta just making landfall with winds at a hundred miles an hour. Water levels currently rising. We're going to take you back there live.

[19:24:54]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:28:49]

BURNETT: Tonight, alarming new details about the men accused in the disturbing plot to kidnap Michigan Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, including a history of anti-government views and calls for violence and bloodshed.

Sara Sidner is OUTFRONT.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIANT TITUS, BUSINESS OWNER: I hate to say I love the kid, but I'm mad right now. I'm just shocked man. You help somebody out and then they pull that stuff.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SARA SIDNER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Briant Titus says one of the suspects in the alleged domestic terrorist plot was his employee.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: The owner of his vacuum shop says Adam Fox lived here for the last couple of weeks. He says he lived behind this door and down into the basement.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER (voice-over): Down here with him his dogs, one with an emotional support collar and a don't tread on me tag attached to it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TITUS: He was in a militia and he got kicked out, so he started his own.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER (voice-over): One of many things the two discuss Titus says he only became concerned when he noticed packages arriving for Fox. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER(off camera): What was he getting from Amazon?

TITUS: Like MREs food, stuff like that.

SIDNER(off camera): So survival stuff that it's like?

TITUS: Yes. He's buying more like attachments for like an AR-15 and he's buying like food. And I'm not stupid, I was in the Marine Corps so that I told him he had to go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER (voice-over): But before he left, Fox and 12 others were arrested in FBI raids.

[19:30:04]

We found several suspects ranting against the government online.

One suspect calling President Trump an enemy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Trump is not your friend, dude.

SIDNER: While another had praise for the president, tweeting: Keep up the work, chief. We the people love your work.

The FBI says the alleged plot centered around a plan to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, whose coronavirus restrictions have been railed against by armed groups at the capitol. According to the complaint, they did surveillance on her vacation home. Two suspects discussed detonating explosive devices to divert police from the area.

One suspect said in an encrypted chat, the fear will be manifested through bullets. Fox, allegedly responds, copy that, boys, loud and clear.

GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER (D-MI): These are the types of things you hear from groups like ISIS. This is not a militia. It is a domestic terror organization.

DANA NESSEL (D), MICHIGAN ATTORNEY GENERAL: What we're seeing in Michigan right now, it's not just a Michigan problem, it's an American problem. And I think there's going to be more incidences to come.

SIDNER: A problem forewarned by Frank Meeink, a former neo-Nazi himself convicted in the '90s for a politically motivated kidnapping. I spoke to him days before the alleged Michigan plot was known to the public.

(on camera): What's the scenario in this election that would create what you're calling the potential of a race war?

FRANK MEEINK, FORMER NEO-NAZI: I'm telling you, this is going to happen. States like Michigan, states like Wisconsin, the Northern states, that has wilderness area, there have been militias from other states training up there. They are waiting and hoping that something does go wrong, because they will hole up in those hills and say we don't want the government up here no more.

SIDNER (voice-over): He says President Donald Trump's rhetoric has emboldened extremists.

Whitmer agrees.

WHITMER: Of course, we know every time that this White House identifies me or takes a shot at me, we see an increase in rhetoric online, violent rhetoric. And so there's always a connection. Certainly, it's something that we've been watching. But this took it to a whole new level.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SIDNER: In a slew of tweets, Donald Trump said that he does not support any kind of extreme violence. He also then again went after Governor Whitmer, calling her and saying she's done a terrible job when it comes to the COVID response.

But to be clear, the governor has done what many other governors have done to slow the spread of this deadly virus -- Erin.

BURNETT: Absolutely. Sara, thank you.

And OUTFRONT now, Janine Geske. She's a retired Wisconsin Supreme Court justice appointed by former Republican Governor Tommy Thompson. For four decades, she's avoided political endorsements, four decades, until right now, announcing that she's supporting Joe Biden for president.

And, Justice Geske, I appreciate your time. I want to talk about your decision to endorse Joe Biden because I know this was -- it's a hugely significant thing for you to actually come out and do it. But first, I wanted to ask you these details that are coming out about this disturbing plot to kidnap the governor of Michigan and, you know, you hear that piece there, and concern that militias are training, that they're holing up in the wilderness.

Are you worried this is not an isolated incident?

JANINE GESKE, GOP-APPOINTED JUDGE ENDORSES CANDIDATE FOR THE FIRST TIEM: I'm extremely worried about it. I am not surprised that this has been going on, but when you hear the horrific details in this particular plot to attempt to kidnap and harm the governor of Michigan, it's frightening. I think that we have to take seriously the warning of Christopher Wray from the FBI saying this is our number one threat within our country, is these extremists, internal terrorist groups.

BURNETT: So, Governor Whitmer last night told me she believes President Trump's rhetoric is -- encourages, frankly, she's very direct about it, encourages this type of behavior from hate groups and from white supremacists. Do you agree with her, that President Trump does deserve blame here?

GESKE: I do. And I do on two fronts. One, the disrespect that he has shown for her and other governors, but particularly Governor Whitmer, he has this thing about going after professional women, particularly Democrats, and he's attacked her. And then the kind of language that was used in the debate about -- and denying, or at least not taking responsibility for calling out white supremacist groups I think only enhances their self-importance.

We need to have a presidential leader who calls it for what it is, terrorism that has to be stopped.

BURNETT: Right, as she said, those groups heard what he said, not as a rebuke, but as a rallying cry. And we saw it in their recruitment numbers.

So, you know, you're talking about this decision that you have made for the first time in 40 years, right, a Supreme Court justice in Wisconsin, first political endorsement that you have ever made.

[19:35:03]

And you didn't pull any punches. You came out and you owned it.

In your op-ed piece, you write, quote, I can't stand by and silently watch this president shred the Constitution and undermine the rule of law. Donald Trump has no respect for our constitutional values, and has mocked our democratic institutions. He is rude and obnoxious bully who does not disrespect anyone who disagrees with him.

I want a president our children and grandchildren can look up to, a president who is an ethical and respectful role model and leader, not a bully like President Trump.

Justice, why did you feel the need to speak out like this when you have never done so before?

GESKE: You know, as having been a trial court judge and Supreme Court justice and law professor at Marquette, I have always tried to stay neutral in political campaigns. I tend to be the moderator and the commentator and kept my neutrality all these years, just trying to assist people to be able to hear all the different voices. But I decided after watching what President Trump was doing to our country to citizens, to people who don't have voices, that I could not stand silently by.

You know, it's kind of when you look at the time in Germany, when Hitler took over and people ask where were the voices, where were the people that objected? And we're not at that extreme, but I thought I need to add my voice to this.

This is not just a political dispute. This goes to the core of our country and our democracy. And I needed to do whatever I could do to shed some light that I think that Joe Biden is the only person that can come in and hopefully provide some healing and rehabilitate our country.

BURNETT: Justice Geske, I really appreciate your time. And thank you tonight.

GESKE: Thank you. Thank you, Erin.

BURNETT: And next, Trump stepping up efforts to undermine the vote in the upcoming election.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is going to be the second biggest political scandal in history.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: Plus, the breaking news. Live pictures from Louisiana as Hurricane Delta is just making landfall, people braces for a life threatening double digit storm surge. We're going to take you there live.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:41:11]

BURNETT: Tonight, President Trump stepping up efforts to spread disinformation about mail-in ballots and seeming to suggest that any ballots coming in after Election Day should not be counted.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

TRUMP: Ballots have to be in by November 3rd, Election Day. But they don't have to be counted for two weeks later. Well, that means you're never going to know who won the election, you know? It's going to be two weeks later, what -- you know, I want to see on November 3rd who won the election.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

BURNETT: Pamela Brown is OUTFRONT.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAMELA BROWN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Trump is continuing to undermine the integrity of the election.

TRUMP: They're sending out millions and millions of ballots. Are they sending them to all Democrats? This is going to be the second biggest political scandal in history.

BROWN: Trump is spreading disinformation. Vote by mail states send ballots to all active voters, and there are no signs of a looming scandal. And he went on --

TRUMP: You're never going to know who won the election, you know, it's going to be two weeks later.

BROWN: But election night results are always unofficial. The very real chance there won't be a winner on election night is something even Trump's security team warned is not a problem.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On November 3rd, we might not know the outcome of our election, and that's okay. But we're going to need your patience until official results are announced.

BROWN: The plot to kidnap Michigan's Democratic governor with Trump's disinformation and fiery rhetoric is raising fears of voter intimidation on election day as tensions rise.

NESSEL: It's not just a Michigan problem, it's an American problem. And I think there's going to be more incidents to come.

BROWN: Michigan's attorney general is working on guidance for law enforcement on how to handle guns at polling places. In 11 states and D.C., there is a ban on firearms at the polls. But many swing states, including Michigan, don't have strict rules against it.

TRUMP: Bad things happen in Philadelphia.

BROWN: Today in Philadelphia, a judge rejected the Trump campaign's lawsuit over its attempt last month to use supporters as unofficial poll watchers ahead of Election Day, something Philadelphia officials wouldn't allow because it's against the law.

TRUMP: The very safe, very nice thing. They were thrown out. They weren't allowed to watch.

BROWN: All campaigns are allowed to have registered poll watchers at official site on Election Day. But the judge held it is illegal at satellite locations being used for pre-election day voting. And now, both parties are gearing up for the possibility of a contested election, with no clear winner on November 3rd or weeks beyond.

"The Washington Post" reports Speaker Pelosi has discussed the issue in meetings. One scenario involves invoking the Electoral Count Act, an obscure, untested 19th century law which gives Congress the power to settle state level disputes. Last week, Pelosi acknowledged any congressional involvement would be messy.

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: If all that chaos takes us to a time that could be past the -- the date when the Electoral College must meet, we will be ready.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: But to clamp down on disinformation surrounding the election, Twitter today is announcing several new changes, including blocking any twitter user, including the candidates themselves from declaring victory until it's announced from state election officials or two reputable national news outlets.

Back to you, Erin.

BURNETT: All right. Pamela, thank you very much.

And in Colorado, mail-in ballots started going out today to more than 3.5 million people statewide.

OUTFRONT now, Jena Griswold, Colorado's secretary of state who is the state's top election official.

And, Secretary Griswold, it's good to have you back on the show.

So, the president is suggesting no ballots should be counted after November 3rd, which just -- I just want to be clear to people, it's absurd, because obviously you're allowed to vote through Election Day, you know, in person, you vote on election day, and in 25 states plus Washington, D.C., you can -- you know, you postmark on election day. It gets sent in, so it gets counted.

Colorado is not one of those states, but how concerning is this message to you?

JENA GRISWOLD, COLORADO SECRETARY OF STATE: Well, Erin, thank you for having me on.

I think this is a really important topic, not only because of the issues you're raising, but actually overseas and military voters can have their ballots be sent in up to eight days after election day.

So there's a lot of activity that happens after Election Day, including the further processing of ballots, audits if there is a mail ballot state fixing signatures, if there's a signature discrepancy, and in Colorado, our elections will run just like normal and will follow the law as stated.

BURNETT: Right, and, you know, we should point out to people, right, all states have all different sorts of rules, has to be postmarked by election day, but then they also put receipts, right, that it can't be hanging out there forever, and get lost, right? There's only a certain number of days it can be received, it depends on the state.

So the president today calling mail-in ballot the single biggest risk in this election, that's the quote, Secretary Griswold, and the second biggest political scandal in history. So let me ask you, because you talk about the rules in Colorado, you've been sending ballots by mail to all active registered voters, this will be the seventh year.

So, what do you say to him when he tells you it's the single biggest risk in this election?

GRISWOLD: Well, I would say the president also encouraged Coloradoans to vote their mail ballots today, which I completely agree with. County clerks started sending out ballots today, and I encourage all Americans to vote them, and to vote early. You know, mail ballots are the safest way to vote during a pandemic.

But Colorado is also proof of how safe, secure, and accessible mail ballot elections are. And not only do we send the ballot to every registered voter. We have early voting, same-day voter registration, online voter registration, and we are considered the safest state in which to cast a ballot.

So our mail ballot system works, and I hope as we get past this election, we continue the conversation about national standards about how elections should run.

BURNETT: So -- so, let me ask you, the president tweets about Colorado, because you just said your ballots went out today. So he says, Colorado, he yells it because it's in caps, your mail ballots are being sent out today. Fill them out and vote Trump/Pence.

Now, he sends that tweet, but six minutes before he sent that, he sent one alleging mail-in ballot fraud in the state of Ohio.

So what do you make of these mixed messages?

GRISWOLD: Well, number one, the all caps screaming of excitement about mail ballots in Colorado, I share that excitement. So I think we're going to have a great election in Colorado. When it comes to Ohio, I think it was from what it seems to be, just a

mistake that they're working to fix. I'm very confident about secretaries of state and election official's ability to administer great elections.

But I also think it highlights the role of misinformation or just bad information on elections. It's not only coming from elected officials. It's also coming but foreign adversaries.

So we are launching a program in Colorado to combat this information and it starts with making sure that voters are aware to ignore the noise. Think twice about what you are consuming and believing on social media, and make sure that you have a trusted source of election information.

BURNETT: All right. Well, I appreciate your time, Secretary Griswold. Good to talk to you again.

GRISWOLD: Nice to talk with you.

BURNETT: Next, breaking news: winds of nearly 100 miles per hour are tearing across the coast of Louisiana. You can see these live pictures. Some areas expecting a double digit storm surge, life threatening, and we'll take you there live right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:51:42]

BURNETT: Breaking news, Hurricane Delta made landfall. The storm is pounding the U.S. from Louisiana to Texas. The same area hit hard by Hurricane Laura which was category 4, and that was just a few weeks ago.

At this hour, estimated winds just shy of 100 miles an hour in Lake Arthur, Louisiana. More than 200,000 customers are without power and that life-threatening storm surge we are expecting 11 feet or greater in some areas. It is the tenth named storm to hit the United States, the most ever in a single year. Louisiana hit by four of those.

And Martin Savidge is there. He's in Lake Charles right now.

So, Marty, where you stand is obviously strong winds and rain. I can see. How are conditions deteriorating?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the wind gusts picking up and the rain has just been non-stop. The real concern here had not been storm surge. The real concern had been the issue of wind. They're getting blasted by wind.

Amazingly, they're actually on the easier side of this storm. The concern for this community as you pointed out, six weeks ago, they were hit by a category 4 hurricane.

The damage had not been fixed in any way. In fact, watching on the streets are lined with huge piles of debris. And winds like this, it all becomes this (INAUDIBLE).

Reports that we're getting from inside the city that the blue tarps, thousands of them, which were on the homes trying to protect them are now failing and giving way and blowing through the city itself. It's clear that there will be additional devastation and destruction as a result of the previous debris (INAUDIBLE) through the community.

They were many people that decided to stay. You can only imagine they're thinking that was not such a good idea now. The power is already out, in a number of areas, and they only had the power restored just about last week.

So, for so many people here, it's not just heartbreaking. It is the agony of another storm on top of another one that they can't seem to catch a break.

BURNETT: Yeah, four named storms striking that coast where you are. How are people handling it?

SAVIDGE: Well, you know the mayor pointed out after Laura, 95 percent of the buildings in Lake Charles, homes and businesses suffered damage, 95 percent. There were still thousands of people fled Laura had not been able to make it back and now this other storm.

So, we're not talking about hurricane routine. We're talking about disaster routine. For many people, their homes are going to be in worst shape and the community is going to have the struggle once again.

BURNETT: You see that up blowing through there.

All right. Martin, thank you so much.

As Marty is there on the ground, I want to go to Tom Sater in our weather center.

So, Tom, you know, you see landfall and you see what's happening to Marty Savidge right there, you know, sort of blown over and hard to see him. What's the biggest threat going to be the next couple of hours here?

TOM SATER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, now that we have landfall, Erin, that means the center of the eye have crossed over into land. That's where we have now, the strongest winds inland and where all the waters have been up welling underneath it.

[19:55:04]

That surge is making its way through. It is going to stay that way the next three hours or so.

The National Hurricane Center's forecast for this for days has been spot on. We knew it was going toe make landfall southwest of Louisiana. They said it would go from a category three down to a category two. It did, roughly landfall around 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. And it did that at 6:00 p.m. But if you look at our landfall where this is occurring, Houston is

staying out of the rain of some tropical storm gust, but 100 miles per hour winds, we already seen wind gusts at Lake Arthur at 96 miles per hour, where we have Martin. He's at wind gusts right now of 75.

So, the center is now inland, Houston has breezy conditions, Alexandra, you will get into the strong winds. We have tropical storm force winds in New Orleans.

But if you look at the Lake Charles, he said there on the weaker end of this, and he's absolutely right. With the center here, they are on the western edge. But Lafayette, home to 130, 000, get ready for your winds to kick up.

Already now, we are seeing 200,000 without power. That is additional losses from just a few weeks ago. Cameron is where we had landfall for Laura, and what we have here. Let me just leave it there, just 10 or 13 miles away, where we had landfall with Delta.

As you mentioned, the 4th named, storm never happened before, and our records go back to 1851, 200,000 without power, care any from Lake Charles, all the way upwards, and these wind gusts, with a broad pattern here, will slide all the way from Lake Charles, Alexandria 55, Baton Rouge at 41.

Power outages continue for some time, throughout the night, tornadoes possible from southwest Louisiana, all the way to the panhandle of Florida, into Georgia, for tomorrow. This is not over with just yet.

BURNETT: All right. Thank you very much, Tom.

As we watch that, I want to go to the mayor of Port Arthur, Mayor Thurman Bill Bartie.

Thank you so much. I really appreciate your time, Mayor Bartie.

So, you know, we just saw where you are, and our Martin Savidge, literally, almost being blown over. Winds, coming inside, rain, coming in sideways. Port Arthur, you are at the exact center of this. What are you expecting now? What is your biggest fear?

MAYOR THURMAN BILL BARTIE, PORT ATHUR, TX: They say we are on the good side. We are experiencing some turbulence, probably wind gusting up to 70 miles per hour. We've had some sustained winds from 56, to over 60 miles per hour.

We have no power here. You can hear -- I'm in city hall right now, and I'm generating in right now. So, we are experiencing some discomfort. And on the good side, we have had consistent precipitation (ph) since about maybe 9:00 or 10:00 this morning. We've had, you know, wind gust, and all of these other things.

So, we are experiencing some havoc even on the western side of the delta.

BURNETT: So, you know, I know you issued an evacuation order, Mayor. Are people complying?

BARTIE: Well, they did comply. It's our low lying areas (INAUDIBLE), I had to report, we did have some flooding there that have been and actually have begun about, maybe two or three hours ago. (INAUDIBLE) the Army (INAUDIBLE) that part of Port Arthur, and in that area, at about 4:00, we had flooding, where the water was coming over, out of the channel, on to the roads, and into the little parts of some of the corporate areas out there.

In Pleasure Island, which was right across from my office sits now, I can see the waves chopping as if we were in Galveston at the beach. So, it's making its presence known, even on this side, on the western side, which is supposed to be the good side.

BURNETT: Better side.

So, tell me what -- how are you dealing with the bigger picture here, right? Four named storms off the Gulf Coast, a storm just a few weeks ago, it is blow, after blow. What is it going to do to your community?

BARTIE: Yeah. Well, I'll tell you what, personally, I'm sort of like (INAUDIBLE).

At this point, I'm all hurricane out (ph), I know all my citizens have, we're thankful to God that he spared us the brunt of a lot of these storms all this season ever, if we have experience shingles, up, down, power lines, lost groceries, those things. We have gone through every facet that you can go through of being displaced because evacuation even during Laura, like that mandatory.

Now, we were blessed this time, but people are waiting to see. We are able to see the sound and wind and all of this. The best thing is because it is daylight, it is not as bad.

BURNETT: All right. Well, Mayor Bartie, I appreciate your time, I hope that tonight, everyone is okay, and it's not so destructive for you. Thank you again, sir.

And thanks so much to all of you for joining us. We continue to follow this story and others.

Let's hand it over to "AC360."