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Maryland & Ohio First to Close Schools Statewide; NCAA Cancels March Madness, Disneyland to Close; Source: Trump Concerned about Exposure to Coronavirus; Sen. Chris coons (D-DE) is Interviewed about Coronavirus Testing Kits; Dr. Fauci: U.S. "Failing" when it Comes to Coronavirus Testing; Stock Suffer Worst Day Since 1987 Crash; Disneyland Closing Through End Of March; 40 Deaths, 1,500 Plus Confirmed Coronavirus Cases In U.S.; NCAA Cancels "March Madness" Basketball Tournaments; Two Players From NBA's Utah Jazz Test Positive; CNN Helps Uncover Russian Election Interference Network In West Africa. Aired 5-6p ET
Aired March 12, 2020 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:00:29]
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM. We're tracking fast moving developments in the coronavirus pandemic.
First to the breaking news, a dire day on Wall Street where stocks had their worst day since the stock market crash of 1987. The Dow Jones Industrial Average losing more than 2,300 points as economic fears intensifies.
And more dramatic cancelations and closures tonight, among them a March Madness basketball and Disneyland. The NCAA just announcing this year's tournament will not take place. And officials in Disneyland say the theme park will be closed through the end of the month.
Also, a very groom assessment from the top infectious disease expert here in the United States, Dr. Anthony Fauci admitting today that the federal government system for coronavirus testing, in his word, is "failing." I'll discuss today's developments with democratic Senator Chris Coons, and our correspondents and analyst will have full coverage of today's top stories.
Let's begin with CNN's Nick Watt.
Nick. We're getting new information right about major disruptions from the coronavirus pandemic. Tell us what you are learning.
NICK WATT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, as you just mentioned, Disneyland say they will close through the end of the month. And the governor of California said expect more announcements like this shortly. The governor of Ohio just closed all the schools in the state from Monday to at least April 3rd. In Maryland, they have just closed the schools for at least two weeks. And in New Rochelle just outside New York, that containment zone has now kicked in.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WATT (voice-over): Uniforms now on the streets of New Rochelle.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was shocked with the National Guard, but the containment area, I'm OK with.
WATT: Over in New York City Broadway shows will now close, so will the Met Opera and Met Museums of Art. No more gatherings of more than 500 people across the state. The governor calls the financial impact incalculable.
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): This state is not going to be able to compensate businesses for loss revenue. It would bankrupt the state.
WATT: Social distancing now key. Cleaning cruise in action at Palm Beach aircraft after a passenger landed from New York then, told officials their test just came back positive. Status, no barrier to infection.
Tom hanks and his wife Rita Wilson just caught coronavirus while he was filming in Australia. A second Utah Jazz player has now tested positive.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The majority of the NBA now -- has now come into contact with someone who has had direct contact with those Jazz players.
WATT: The NBA, Marc Madness, the NHL, Major League Soccer, as well as the Global ATP Tennis Tour all now suspending their seasons. NASCAR and PTA tour gulf go on but no fans in the stands.
State, cities, corporations increasingly taking the situation into their own hand.
GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D-CA): We do have in this executive the ability to commandeer existing private sector assets, including hotels and motels.
WATT: The recommendation now across California cancel or postponed events of 250 people or more. For the elderly or in firm, don't attend the gathering of more than 10. And prepare for Starbucks to go only. As they did in China, Starbucks might now limit in store seizing.
And remember the Grand Princess cruise ship, kept off the coast of California last week after 21 positive test on board? Vice President Pence said this on Friday.
MIKE PENCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: All passengers and crew will be tested for the coronavirus.
MATT: Only some have not been tested.
Now we're told some more have tested positive, but --
NEWSOM: All of these individuals will be tested, but not all of them have been tested. WATT: And three days after she dump (ph) in Oakland, some passengers are still stock on board. Meanwhile, the Princess Cruise line has halted global operations. All 18 ships for the next two months.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WATT: And I suppose the next question is, how much longer will all this go on? Well, Major League Baseball opening day was supposed to be two weeks from now. MLB has already pushed that back a further two weeks until the middle of April, Wolf, if that is any indication which you probably is. Thank you.
[17:05:04]
BLITZER: Yes. And there'll be also cancelling Spring Training as well.
WATT: Yes.
BLITZER: Lots going on. Nick Watt, thank you very much.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Let's check in with our Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta.
Jim, you're learning more about President Trump's concern for his own health.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right Wolf. President Trump is calling for calm as fears are growing over the coronavirus. The White House, though, is brushing off concerns the President needs to be tested for the coronavirus, despite his coming into contact with a Brazilian official who came back positive for the virus.
The President told reporters today, he's not concerned, but a source close to the President tells me, Mr. Trump is, indeed, concern he may contract the coronavirus after interacting with people who have tested positive.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA (voice-over): Still struggling to deal with the reality of the coronavirus outbreak, President Trump is back to downplaying the public health emergency as it is growing rapidly.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We want it to go away with very, very few deaths. We need a little separation until such time as this goes away. It's going to go away. It's going to go away.
ACOSTA: The President is denying some key facts about the crisis, insisting Americans have essentially had no problems being tested for the coronavirus.
TRUMP: Frankly, the testing has been going very smooth. If you go to the right agency, if you go to the right area, you get the test.
ACOSTA: Even as a leading expert on the White House coronavirus task force, Dr. Anthony Fauci admitted the admission is failing.
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: So, very quickly the system does not -- is not really geared to what we need right now. What you are asking for. That is a failing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A failing? Yes.
FAUCI: That is a failing. Failing. It is a failing. Let's admit it.
ACOSTA: The White House also brushed off concerns that the President may have been exposed as a top Brazilian official tested positive for the virus after coming face-to-face with Mr. Trump at Mar-a-Lago last weekend appearing together in photos.
Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement, both the President and Vice President had almost no interactions with the individual who tested positive and do not require being tested at this time.
TRUMP: Let's put it this way, I'm not concerned.
ACOSTA: The President also defended his decision to halt travel from most European countries except for the U.K. The administration gave British officials a heads up, but did not do the same for other U.S. allies.
TRUMP: We get along very well with the European leaders, but we had to make a decision. And I didn't want to take time. And, you know, it takes a long time to make the individual calls.
ACOSTA: The travel ban did little to reassure the financial markets, which were plummeting as Mr. Trump was speaking.
TRUMP: You have to remember the stock market as an example is still much higher than when I got here.
ACOSTA: Former Trump Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert questioned the travel restrictions tweeting, "There's little value to European travel restrictions, poor use of time and energy. We have nearly as much disease here in the U.S. as the countries in Europe."
Ever a since the President address the nation from the Oval Office, White House officials have been in cleanup mode, clarifying his comments on the travel ban.
TRUMP: And these prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo but various other things as we get approval. Anything coming from Europe to the United States is what we are discussing.
ACOSTA: As it turns out, cargo from Europe won't be impacted.
Mr. Trump also apparently misspoke when he said insurers would cover coronavirus treatments, when he meant tests. TRUMO: Earlier of this week I met with the leaders of health insurance industry who have agreed to wave all co-payments for coronavirus treatments.
ACOSTA: Mr. Trump's potential Democratic rivals say it's time for the President to get serious.
JOE BIDEN, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This virus laid bare the severe shortcomings of the current administration. Public theaters are being compounded by pervasive lack of trust in this President fueled by adversary relationships with the truth.
BERNIE SANDERS, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: But we also have to face the truth and that is that the number of casualties may actually be even higher than what the armed forces experienced in World War II.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA: Now, the President is expected to sign a new disaster declaration to free up resources to deal with the outbreak. But even some of the President's fellow Republicans are cringing over Mr. Trump's performance in the Oval Office last night.
One Trump adviser told me frankly the President, "still doesn't know how to bring the country together." The day after that Oval Office address, the President and his team have resumed their attacks on the media and Democrats.
But one more reason, Wolf, why the President might be concern about contracting the coronavirus, a top ally, Senator Lindsey Graham, is going into self-quarantine. Wolf?
BLITZER: Lots of dramatic developments indeed. Jim Acosta at the White House, thank you.
We're joined now by Senator Chris Coons of Delaware.
Senator, thanks so much for taking a few moments to join us. Your Republican colleague, Senator Lamar Alexander says the United States, in his words "has a serious deficiency in testing for the virus." What needs to happen now, senator, to increase testing capacity all around the country?
[17:10:00]
SEN. CHRIS COONS (D-DE): Well, first, Wolf, one of the things that impressed me today was the difference between the speech we heard from President Trump last night and the remarks we heard mid-day from former Vice President Biden on this topic. Vice President Biden was clear that if he were president, he would be posting results every single day, about how many tests have happened, what the results are, where they're available. And making sure that every American has access to a free test without co-pays, without expense.
And the President even though he was reading his speech last night failed to speak directly and correctly to these issues. He announced a travel ban, blocking people coming here from Europe. But he didn't make clear how we we're going to expand the quality and number of tests around the country.
If the FDA acts more quickly and state laboratories and university health laboratories are allowed to certify their tests up to FDA standards as has been promised, I think we should be able to get the volume of tests and the accuracy of tests up and available nationally, fairly quickly. But it requires a focus and a push and transparency and accountability. We need administration effort that is respectful of science rather than driven by politics.
BLITZER: So far, senator, as you know, we keep hearing these awful stories, people all over the country, they're sick, you know, they have all the symptoms. They want to get a test but they can't get a test, which is a really sad state of affairs here in the United States of America. What about your office up on Capitol Hill, your office in Delaware, are you keeping them opened?
COONS: I just had a conference call with my staff, Wolf, to convey to them. Everybody on my staff is being provided with a laptop and the ability to telework from home. If they develop symptoms, if they've got work-life balance questions, because many are hearing, their children may be home from school or coming home from college, or, frankly, if they are concerned about their health.
Many of the public meetings that we had scheduled for this coming week have already canceled and there are real limitations being put on visitors to our Senate offices in the Capitol Complex. And, frankly, Wolf, I think we need to watch what's happening in the weeks ahead as this continues to develop as to whether or not I ask all of my staff to telework.
BLITZER: Because there's been some cases up at the U.S. Capitol, as you know, at least one Senate staffer has now tested positive for the coronavirus. Do you think it's safe for Congress, the House and the Senate for that matter to continue business as usual during these difficult days?
COONS: Well, it's important that we meet and vote on a package that responds to America's real and pressing needs. So, we will likely go back into session one or two days next week. We have a critical civil liberties and national security issue we need to resolve, reauthorizing or reforming the surveillance powers that were granted to the federal government. Under the Patriot Act they expire in the next couple of days.
And frankly, more urgently, passing a package like what Speaker Pelosi proposed today that would deal with paid sick leave, expanded unemployment insurance, guaranteeing that folks can get access to quality tests in a timely way without cost. Providing support for those child and their families who get school lunch to get those meals at home if our schools are closed for weeks or months.
I support the package that the Speaker discussed today. And I think we heard from Joe Biden in his very presidential and focused speech today, a plan for how we should go forward with meeting the needs of the American people. That's the one reason, Wolf, that I think we should go back into session briefly next week. But after that you may see the Congress on an extended recess.
Our offices should still be available for people to call or to e-mail to get information. But in the digital age, Wolf, we can answer those calls and e-mails remotely.
BLITZER: Yes. Things are moving very, very quickly. All public schools now in Ohio and Maryland are shut down. I suspect a lot more states will be doing the same thing. Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, thanks so much for joining us.
COONS: Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, stay with us for more on the coronavirus news, including deem concerns, President Trump came into contact two a Brazilian official just this past weekend in Mar-a-Lago in Florida. And Senator Lindsey Graham becoming the latest member of Congress to self quarantine.
Plus, no March Madness, the NCAA just calling off this year's college basketball championship tournaments.
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[17:19:06]
BLITZER: We're following wave after wave of announcements of school closings around the country, restrictions on public gatherings and government agencies or major businesses telling employees simply work from home, all in an attempt to head off the spread of the coronavirus. Let's discuss what we're seeing with our expert.
Dr. James Phillips, you're an expert at George Washington University Hospital. How significant is it that Dr. Anthony Fauci, probably the best expert we have on infectious disease here in the United States admitted today that testing around the country if his words, is "failing"? How significant is it?
DR. JAMES PHILLIPS, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL: I think he is saying what he's felt the whole time and what we have all been seeing. Dr. Fauci is the person I listen to whenever I need information. He's the trusting voice that I know I can look at in the task force and know exactly what's going on.
BLITZER: Yes, it's a sad commentary. The President, John, and you covered the White House for us, he tried to assure the nation in his brief Oval Office address last night. But it seems to have the opposite effect. People are more concern. Take a look at the stock market today, the worst collapse since the 1987 stock market collapse.
[17:20:16]
JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: You had a resounding vote of no confidence in the President and the market reaction today. The market, in fact, dropped while he was speaking. Last night the futures market.
There are several reasons for that. One is that he made a series of errors in his speech, which he had to correct, in particular about cargo and trade whether that would be effective.
BLITZER: With Europe.
HARWOOD: That's right. But also the President didn't seem to fully embrace the gravity of the situation and call the nation together. He insisted on boasting about how well he had done earlier. How well the economy was doing under his leadership, that sort of thing. And so today you saw people like Joe Biden trying to step into the void, giving that speech, of course he's running against President Trump. Nancy Pelosi and you had Mitch McConnell canceling the Senate recess next week to try to get to the finish line with a piece of legislation being negotiated between Pelosi and (INAUDIBLE).
BLITZER: Bianna, what did you make of the Oval Office address last night?
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN SENIOR GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Well, OK, it would have been a fine speech to give maybe at the end of January when he announced that he was banning travel from China. But look, as Dr. Fauci said today, yes it is a plus to close off travel as much as you can. But at this point it's all about mitigating the spread.
What we didn't hear from the President is what's happening at our hospitals? What are we doing to make sure we don't have an onslaught of people rushing in. Something the doctor there and doctors around the world have been ringing the alarm on specifically about hospital beds, about testing. We didn't hear any of that from the President.
He was boasting about how well the country has been doing. This is not a time to boast. Especially as dr. Fauci said this is a time to admit some sort of failure. And this is a pandemic.
I'm not a doctor. But pandemic tells you that is a crisis that's happening around the world. The President closing off the country right now is the opposite way to address a pandemic.
BLITZER: You know, it's interesting Dr. Phillips to say -- you heard Jim Acosta's report that the President privately, he doesn't say public, is concerned about the contact he had with a Brazilian official, the press secretary and the visiting Brazilian president at Mar-a-Lago down in Palm Beach over the weekend. Because this individual has tested positive for coronavirus and there is picture of the President with this guy.
PHILLIPS: Well, anybody that's coming in contact with people with known disease need to be concerned and they need to be tested and they need to isolate until they're cleared. We need our leadership in place and healthy to the best that we can. And that's our leadership both at the presidential level all the way down to the local levels. We need that with our healthcare providers, we need that with our first responders.
BLITZER: As far as you know, John, has the President been tested for coronavirus?
HARWOOD: No. They've said he's not been tested. He was asked is the Oval Office today, is concerned about this contact with the Brazilian president and the press secretary who has tested positive, he said, no, I'm not concern. But the extent of the President's contacts with people to be concerned about -- incoming chief of staff in self quarantine, a couple Republican members who he is interacted with, who were at CPAC --
BLITZER: Aboard Air Force One.
HARWOOD: -- in self quarantine. And now this case at Mar-a-Lago this weekend has nothing to do with fault by the President but it just shows the extent of what Bianna's point was. It's here. It can't be stopped. The question is mitigation.
BLITZER: You know it's interesting, Bianna, because most people who come into contact with someone who does have coronavirus at a minimum they go into self-quarantine a little bit until they, themselves, can be tested and see if they're developing any symptoms. There's no indication the President is going to self-quarantine.
GOLODRYGA: Right. And he falls into that age group, right? That worrisome age group. And this is a very resilient country. Look at what we've overcome in the past.
What this country needs, though, is transparency and leadership. The reason the market was tanking is not necessarily just because of coronavirus fears, it's because there doesn't seem to be a global plan.
We did not hear the President address what's happening internationally, leading a global coalition to address this. It's something that the U.S. has always taken charge of. We're not doing that right now. And that lack of leadership and transparency is why you are seeing all those confusion and concern in the markets too.
HARWOOD: And Wolf to that point, consider what the President said when we asked why he had not notified E.U. leaders about the travel ban before. He said, well, they haven't notified us when they've raised taxes, indicating a tit-for-tat. That's not pulling everyone together.
BLITZER: All right, everybody stick around. There's a lot more news we're following.
But first a quick programing note later tonight, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Anderson Cooper will host a second CNN global town hall, Coronavirus Facts and Fears, that's later tonight 10:00 p.m. Eastern only here on CNN.
Coming up, more on the latest coronavirus closures and cancellations all across the United States.
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[17:29:51] BLITZER: We're back with new developments in the coronavirus pandemic. School closures, major even cancellations are picking up all across the United States.
Joining us now to discuss the Los Angeles mayor, Eric Garcetti. Mayor, thank you so much for joining us. I know it's crazy out there as well.
First, let me get your thoughts, first of all, not too far from L.A., Disneyland right now is closing through the end of March. There are huge changes unfolding. All public schools in Ohio now closed, all public schools in Maryland about to close, what's happening in Los Angeles?
MAYOR ERIC GARCETTI, LOS ANGELES: Well, Wolf, I think we're going to look back at these next few days and these next couple of weeks as the make or break weeks, where if we don't slow this, we will see something worse than what we imagined. But if we each take the right move, we can actually see that this was the moment we were able to turn the tide.
In Los Angeles, we've taken very aggressive stances. Today, I announced that any gatherings of over 50 people in any city facilities, parks, rec centers, libraries, et cetera, will be banned. And for folks who are 60 and or immunocompromised there too. We will look at banning altogether.
We're closing our city hall except to city workers. We're suspending some of the meetings that we would normally do, and banning all travel. These measures which we each can have a role in. We know folks are saying this isn't going to be me, I'm healthy, I'm OK. But we keep underscoring, this is about your family, this is about your friends, this is about your neighbors. And literally, the decisions you make in the next couple of days can be the difference of life or death for some of those people.
BLITZER: What about schools?
GARCETTI: Schools, we are prepared. We're, so far, have been very lucky, not one single case here in Los Angeles, but we're prepared to immediately close a school, a cluster of schools if necessary, where this community spread, and the district. But we have 1.5 million students across 80 different school districts here in Los Angeles County. So I think it is only a matter of time, most probably.
But right now, these are safe places for our children to be safer in some cases than out there in the community. We have permission to be able to feed those students outside the schools if they need to be closed because that's critical for the nutrition of many of our families. And the city is going to assist with places folks can go for childcare and other things, for a lot of working families. This has been very tough and we're already feeling that among a lot of workers from dock workers to truck drivers, of course, retail folks.
I've been telling people, shop locally. But wherever possible, if you're going to go out to dinner, do not patronize that place, just order out, pick it up, have dinner at home. Make sure we can keep these places going. And here in Los Angeles and across this nation, in moments of crisis, I believe in this country, I believe in Los Angeles, we come together or be good to each other.
BLITZER: Very important quickly --
GARCETTI: That's the most important thing.
BLITZER: A lot of problems all over the country, we're hearing anecdotally about testing. If anyone needs a test in Los Angeles, can they get a test right away?
GARCETTI: We don't have enough places for testing. We have a more robust capacity here than many other places. But we have been very loud and clear with the federal government. We need more tests. And while -- you know, I run the fourth busiest airport in the world at LAX -- while there is screening, there is not testing of course at the airport level, just screening for symptoms and then moving people.
The quicker we can get tests done, the more tests we can do, the quicker we can stop the spread because we know there are many people right now who are carriers who have simply not been --
BLITZER: So is it safe -- is it safe to show up in LAX?
GARCETTI: We have great screeners that are there but anybody who cannot travel, it is our recommendation right now domestically and internationally don't.
BLITZER: Yes, it's good advice indeed. Mayor Eric Garcetti, thanks so much for joining us. Good luck.
GARCETTI: Thank you, Wolf. Appreciate it very much.
BLITZER: All right, thank you.
Coming up on no March Madness. The NCAA calling off its national championship basketball tournaments all across the country, professional sports leagues, suspending their seasons all due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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[17:35:14]
WOLF: Fears of spreading the coronavirus are causing unprecedented upheaval in the sports world. The NCAA just announcing its calling off the March Madness basketball tournaments all across the country. The professional basketball, hockey, soccer, Major League Baseball seasons have all been suspended or delayed.
CNN Sports Analyst USA Today Columnist Christine Brennan is here with us. It's not just the athletes, it's -- it has a domino effect. All those workers at stadiums across the country hourly wages, what are they going to do?
CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYST: Mark Cuban among others has been talking about that, Wolf, and say we've got to set up a fund, we've got to do something, because the ramifications here are extraordinary. Think of all of these venues, all the venues for the men's basketball tournament, the women's basketball tournament. So it's not just the professional arenas where hockey and basketball are played, of course, Major League Baseball stadiums, now MLB is going to delay the start of spring training for two weeks.
BLITZER: Two weeks, yes. Spring training is gone --
BRENNAN: It's gone.
BLITZER: -- but the opening game has been delayed at least for two weeks.
BRENNAN: Exactly. And think about that Florida and Arizona, the livelihood of so many people just for those few weeks of spring training.
BLITZER: Yes.
BRENNAN: And now that's over. They had a few weeks, but they won't have the full schedule and then losing that. So it is enormous. I'm sure we're talking about tens of millions, hundreds of millions of dollars, just on that piece of it alone.
BLITZER: And now two NBA players have actually tested positive for coronavirus and I'm sure a lot of other NBA players are nervous because, you know, basketball, the guys are sweating, they're all touching the ball, who knows what's going on.
BRENNAN: Well, exactly. And all the arenas they were in and all the fans who were nearby because the NBA, as you well know, you are so close to the fans. One of the great appeals of going to an NBA game is you can sit right there on the court, or right near the court. I'm not saying that any of these -- any of those people weren't affected but we don't know.
[17:40:03]
And I think that's one of the reasons why we saw the NBA, Wolf, come out early. I think that was that bellwether moment when the NBA, when we saw that news last evening, I think that's what shocked the nation maybe more than any thing else.
BLITZER: When I heard that they announced that they were suspending the NBA game, so the rest of the season I said, whoa. What about the historic perspective? How unprecedented is this as far as sports is concerned?
BRENNAN: This is the first. We've never seen anything like this. Obviously, first and foremost, it's always, Wolf, we're concerned about those who have the coronavirus, those who might be infected and their families and, you know, those who are sick or sadly have passed away. So sports seems insignificant.
But then when you look at it from the sports, it's kind of this fabric of our nation, it's part of our culture --
BLITZER: Yes.
BRENNAN: -- civic pride. It's extraordinary. I never seen anything like it. September 11th is the -- from 2001 is what we're all kind of saying this seems close, but nothing like that especially because very different of course both tragedies, but very different. But the cascading impact of this and what we saw Monday versus what we see today, it seems like a lifetime.
BLITZER: Yes. I suspect this only going to get worse. Christine Brennan, thanks so much for joining us.
BRENNAN: Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, coming up, an important new CNN investigation on Russia's continued interference in American elections. Stick around, we have an exclusive report.
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[17:46:18]
BLITZER: Well have much more on the coronavirus pandemic unfolding right now in just a little while including the decision by multiple states to close all schools decisions affecting millions of students. But first, an exclusive CNN report. Our Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward is joining us now with a very important update on Russia's continued interference in U.S. elections. Clarissa, what are you learning?
CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, that's right. We worked with a team of researchers at Clemson University. We actually managed to find an active Russian troll operation, and it's not where you might expect it to be, Wolf. We worked with Facebook and Twitter who had already been investigating some of the accounts that we provided. And we can now give you an unprecedented view of the anatomy of a troll factory. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WARD (voice-over): Thousands of miles from the frosty streets of St. Petersburg, this is a new hub for Russia's infamous trolls. A CNN investigation has found that Accra, Ghana was the launch pad for an online operation to stoke racial tensions and stir up social unrest in the U.S. ahead of the 2020 election. On Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, hundreds of accounts churned out posts about issues such as racism and police brutality in the U.S.
(on-camera): For months now, we've been investigating this network of trolls targeting African-Americans and now we've actually come here to Ghana to try to get the full story.
(voice-over): In the run up to our journey, we had discovered that all of the accounts were connected to an NGO called eliminating barriers for the liberation of Africa, known as EBLA, or EBLA. Looking at the website, it was clear something was off. Parts of it still had dummy text. It was impossible to make an actual donation. And most mysteriously, one of the photographs had a Russian file name.
Though the group claimed to be focused on issues like poverty in Ghana, its employees posted almost exclusively about the U.S. Some used incendiary language. America's descent into a fascist police state continues. Someone needs to take that Senator out.
Often, they posted on real U.S. groups, an attempt to gain legitimacy and build an audience. Many even implied they were in America. "We all are sick and tired of the violence that's taking place in our communities".
In reality, they were here in a nondescript house on the outskirts of Ghana's capital.
(on-camera): This is the compound where the operation has been based. There's no sign for an NGO, we're about an hour outside of the city. And you can see this is a very secluded residential area. And people here have been telling us that about three weeks ago, Ghana security services showed up here, raided the building, and no one's been back since.
(voice-over): Sources in Ghana's national security tell CNN that all of EBLA's funding came from Russia. After the raid, the accounts went quiet for a few days. Then on Instagram, the group changed their handle names and started posting again.
(on-camera): We're heading out now to meet one of the EBLA employees. They don't actually know the CNN is coming to this meeting, but we're desperate hoping they might be able to give us some more information about how the NGO works and who might be behind it.
[17:50:08]
(voice-over): After some discussion about their safety, the employee agrees to talk to us, provided we keep her identity hidden. We sit down in a secure location, she tells us she was hired in September of 2019 and had no idea she will be working as a Russian troll.
(on-camera): Tell me more about your training.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So we were trained to use relevant hashtags. So, if I'm posting about Black Lives Matter, I shouldn't add a hashtag about probably Beyonce.
WARD (voice-over): The 16 employees were each given different areas to focus on. Racism, police brutality, feminism.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Initially, your success is measured by number of people you reach. But most importantly, you have to get followers alright.
WARD (voice-over): The tactics are strikingly similar to those used by Russia's internet research agency known as the IRA, ahead of the U.S. presidential election in 2016. The aim, to pit Americans against each other and create mistrust of the political system.
Run by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close associated of President Putin, the IRA was later sanctioned by the U.S. This time the Russians appear to be outsourcing some of their troll networks, offering plausible deniability. The employee tells us her boss was a South African who called himself Mr. Amara.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He said he was a passionate person about helping people.
WARD (on-camera): Did you know if Mr. Amara spoke any languages other than English?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: According to what I heard, he spoke Russian, too.
WARD (voice-over): But Mr. Amara is not South African. In fact, he is not Mr. Amara at all. CNN has learned his real name is Seth Wiredu and he is Ghanaian. Wiredu has worked and studied in Russia for many years.
Months after starting the Ghana operation, he opened a second branch in Nigeria. In January of this year, EBLA even posted a job on LinkedIn in Charleston, South Carolina. The raid by Ghana security services did not stop Wiredu.
On our last day in Accra, we find out that he has organized a secret meeting of employees on a university campus. He tells them to create more accounts and promises they will get paid soon. As the meeting finishes, we approach him wearing a hidden camera and greet him in Russian.
WARD (through translation) (on-camera): Excuse me, wait a moment please. Hello.
Seth. Hi, my name is Clarissa Ward, I work for CNN. Hi.
SETH WIREDU, HEAD OF EBLA: OK.
WARD (on-camera): How are you?
WIREDU: I'm fine.
WARD (on-camera): I just had a couple of questions for you about EBLA.
WIREDU: OK.
WARD (on-camera): And why you posted this job in the U.S. and Charleston, South Carolina?
WIREDU: Well it's actually so strange for someone to come and ask me about EBLA right now, so I don't know how much I can be of help to you.
WARD (on-camera): You're aware that there's a presidential election in November?
WIREDU: No.
WARD (on-camera): You're not aware of that?
WIREDU: I know there's one in Ghana.
WARD (on-camera): How long have you been working for the IRA, for the troll factory?
WIREDU: What troll factory?
WARD (on-camera): In St. Petersburg, Russia. So --
WIREDU: We'll I don't know what IRA is so I can't tell you that I'm working for IRA.
WARD (on-camera): So why do you call yourself Mr. Amara and say that you're South African?
WIREDU: I just think it's my own personal something. Everyone can call themselves anything that they want. Anyone can transform into whatever they want.
WARD (on-camera): Yes.
WIREDU: And be protected by God.
WARD (on-camera): OK.
WIREDU: I'm doing this for him. I'm doing this for my own people. So --
WARD (on-camera): But you're actually doing it for Russia though, so you might want to explain to God that there was a mix up.
(voice-over): He repeatedly denies running a Russian troll factory. And with that, our conversation ends.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here we comes.
WARD (voice-over): Moments later, we see Wiredu drive off in a red Mercedes. Wherever his money comes from, he seems to be doing well.
The room where EBLA's trolls once sat now stands empty. But similar operations out there may be ramping up as efforts to influence the 2020 election continue.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Clarissa, amazing, amazing reporting. Thank you so much. What was the scale of this overall operation?
WARD: So, Wolf, what we know is that Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have taken down 274 accounts as a result of this investigation. Those accounts reaching roughly a quarter of a million people, most of them are Americans. But what's interesting is that for the social media companies, they consider this something of a victory. They got the accounts at a relatively early stage in the operation.
[17:55:10]
The concern of course though, Wolf, going forward is you can be sure there are other Amara-type figures out there. There are other troll factories in the making, potentially in other African countries as well, Wolf.
BLITZER: One of the Russian effort. So political dissent here in the United States. Clarissa Ward, once again, thank you so much for that report.
Coming up, we'll have more on the coronavirus pandemic. The closing of Ohio -- the state of Ohio, I should say is closing all schools until next month. I'll speak with the Governor Mike DeWine about his dramatic and critically important decision.
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