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The Situation Room
Biden Holds Virtual Talks With Frontline Health Care Workers; Trump Bunkered In W.H. Attacking The Election And Democracy With False Claims And Firings; Biden Warns COVID-19 Response Could Be Behind "By Weeks Or Months" As Trump Blocks Transition; Interview With Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA); U.S. Nears A Quarter Of A Million COVID Deaths After Deadliest Day Of Pandemic In Six Months; NYC Public Schools To Close Tomorrow Until Further Notice. Aired 5-6p ET
Aired November 18, 2020 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[17:00:00]
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: May her memory and that of all those we have lost in this horrific pandemic be a blessing.
You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @Jaketapper. Tweet the show with @theleadcnn. Our coverage continues right now.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM.
We're following breaking news. The United States right now nearing a quarter million coronavirus death after the single deadliest day in six months with COVID-19 claiming the lives of more than 1,700 Americans in just 24 hours.
Cases are rising nationwide, including in New York City, which has just announced the nation's largest school district will close all in class learning once again starting tomorrow until further notice.
Meanwhile, President-elected Joe Biden met with frontline health care workers. And he is warning that the COVID-19 response could be behind by weeks or even months as the Trump administration continues to block the Biden team from getting critical information.
The President himself has bunkered in the White House. He's had 11 days with no public events since the election in steadies. Tweeting, he's launching new attacks on the electricity loss on American democracy and firing those who dare tell the American public the truth about his false claims.
Let's begin with the breaking news on the Biden's transition right in. Our Political Correspondent Arlette Saenz is joining us from Wilmington, Delaware.
Arlette, the President-elect is focusing in on the COVID crisis as he should, but the Trump administration is withholding critically needed information from him.
ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Wolf. and President-electric Joe Biden today was keeping up the pressure on the Trump administration to start that coordination when it comes to the coronavirus pandemic.
And he warns that without access to key information, critical components of the coronavirus pandemic response could be delayed, including vaccine distribution.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
SAENZ (voice-over): With COVID-19 cases sweeping the country, President-elect Joe Biden told frontline health care workers he has their back.
JOE BIDEN, (D) PRESIDENT-ELECT: We have to protect you. We have to pay you. And you deserve leadership that listens to and that works as hard for you as you do for the families and your communities.
SAENZ: For the fourth day in a row, Biden and his team zeroed in on the pandemic.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I myself has -- have held the hand of dying patients crying out for their family that they can't see.
I'm sorry, I'm so emotional.
BIDEN: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's just --
BIDEN: You got me emotional.
SAENZ: Pressing their case for the Trump administration to coordinate with them on the crisis, including access to plans for distributing a vaccine.
BIDEN: Launches made available soon. We're going to be behind by weeks or months.
That's the only slow down right now that we have
SAENZ: Staffers at the Department of Health and Human Services were told not to communicate with Biden's transition team if they reached out. And the HHS Secretary is standing by his decision not to work with Biden, unless he's officially ascertained as the President-elect.
ALEZ AZAR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: We've made it very clear that when GSA makes a determination, we will ensure complete, cooperative professional transitions and planning. But that's -- we follow the guidance.
SAENZ: One of Biden's advisors warned of the lack of cooperation, but also insisted they'll be prepared.
RICK BRIGHT, FORMER DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES' BARDA: We haven't had any official contact between the transition team coming in and the current administration. It is really setting us back. We will be ready on day one.
SAENZ: As COVID-19 dominates the early days of Biden's transition, the President-elect is honing in on possible picks for HHS Secretary. Sources tell CNN two female governors, Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico and Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island are in the mix, along with former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, a key advisor to Biden on the pandemic.
Biden's first Cabinet picks likely won't come until after Thanksgiving. But a team of advisers is on standby ready to steer the nominees through the confirmation battles on Capitol Hill.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you very much.
SAENZ: After President Trump fired top officials who said the election was secure. Biden's team warned of his attempts to undermine democracy.
REP. CEDRICK RICHMOND, (D) LOUISIANA: It's dangerous. The entire transition Trump's whole behavior right now should frighten the American public.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
SAENZ: And Biden plans to keep COVID-19 in the spotlight.
Tomorrow he will hold a phone call, a virtual call with -- a group of Republican and Democratic governors. The coronavirus pandemic is expected to be one of the topics that they will discuss and Biden has long stressed that during this transition period he wants to hear directly from Democratic and Republican governors about their needs in the state. Wolf.
[17:05:10]
BLITZER: That's really, really important.
Arlette Saenz, standby. We're going to get back to you.
I want to go to the White House right now. Our White House Correspondent Jeremy Diamond is joining us.
Jeremy, we've heard very little from the President, except on Twitter on social media. Why is that?
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, listen, over the last two weeks President Trump has ordered the -- a substantial withdrawal of troops in Afghanistan. He's fired personnel at the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security and he's been making these baseless allegations about the 2020 election. And yet he's taking no questions from reporters over those last two weeks.
Today, Wolf marks the 11th day that the President has spent without any public events on his schedule. Instead, he spent this day like so many others on social media spreading misinformation. (BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
DIAMOND (voice-over): As he wages a brazen campaign to subvert the 2020 election, President Trump is also avoiding public scrutiny, hunkering down in the White House and dodging questions.
It's been more than two weeks since Trump took reporters' questions. A dry spell believed to be the longest of his presidency, and his top officials are also evading accountability.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tell us why you're not going to take any question.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm sorry I have a meeting to run to.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How can you not take questions?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why wouldn't anyone in this administration take questions?
DIAMOND: As Trump stays out of sight, he's still using his social media megaphone to spread lies about the 2020 election and to silence those telling the truth.
The latest firing by tweet, Chris Krebs.
CHRISTOPHER KREBS, CISA DIRECTOR: I'm here today to tell you that my confidence in the security of your vote has never been higher.
DIAMOND: A top cyber security official at the Department of Homeland Security who joined state and local election officials in calling the 2020 election "the most secure in American history." Trump calling that statement "highly inaccurate," before repeating many of the same claims Krebs has been debunking.
Several Republican lawmakers pan the firing.
SEN. MIKE ROUNDS, (R) SOUTH DAKOTA: I was very disappointed when I found out that he had been terminated.
DIAMOND: Trump is dealing with his own disappointment. Ports and key battleground states have handed him a string of losses, and most states are inching closer to certifying the election results.
Powerless to stop Georgia from completing its audit today and certifying a Biden win this week, Trump blasting the process as a joke and calling for the state's Republican governor to intervene.
In Michigan where Republicans backtracked on a partisan attempt to stop votes from being certified, in a key democratic county Trump launched a few tile protests, arguing the state cannot certify the election.
Biden's margin of victory in Michigan nearly 15 times greater than Trump's in 2016. And in Wisconsin, where Joe Biden leads by 20,000 votes, Trump's campaign requesting recounts in two democratic strongholds backing off plans for a pricey statewide recount.
Meanwhile, his top attorney Rudy Giuliani is making dubious arguments in a federal court in Pennsylvania drawing concerns from Trump allies.
MICK MULVANEY, FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: I still am a little concerned about the use of Rudy Giuliani. It strikes me that this is the most important lawsuit in the history of the country. And they don't -- they're not using the most well noted election lawyers.
DIAMOND: Even as Trump's legal options fizzle, he's still refusing to concede, leaving the head of the General Services Administration Emily Murphy to decide whether the transition can begin. So far, Murphy won't sign off and two people who've spoken to her say she feels she's in a no win situation and struggling with the weight of the decision.
Pressure is still building on Trump to grant Biden intelligence briefings, including from Senator Lindsey Graham, who has been working to contest Biden's win.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM. (R) SOUTH CAROLINA: The President is contesting the election. And I would urge him to give Intel briefings to Joe Biden.
How much further to go? I don't know.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
DIAMOND: And Wolf, as the President's refusal to concede continues to drag on, what you're seeing is the Republican Party beginning to splinter on this issue. Senator Kevin Cramer and Senator Pat Toomey both telling my colleague Manu Raju today that they believe the transition work should begin even as the President continues to pursue these legal options.
Meanwhile, others like Senator Ted Cruz say that the legal challenges should finish before any of that transition work begins. Wolf.
BLITZER: All right Jeremy Diamond at the White House. Thank you very much.
Let's get some more on all of this. Our Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash is with us. Our CNN Political Correspondent, Abby Phillip is here. And CNN Political Correspondent Arlette Saenz is also back with us.
Dana, it feels like we're watching two realities as the incoming president of the United States Joe Biden, he actually tears up as we just saw, as he meets virtually with frontline health care workers today. While the outgoing president fires off angry tweets, as he can't seem to peel his attention away from the election that he clearly just lost.
So, how are the American people supposed to reconcile these conflicting realities?
[17:10:03] DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: It's not easy and, you know, I would kind of amend that to say there's one reality and that's the reality that that we're living in. That is the reality that deals with objective facts.
And that is the reality that deals with what we are seeing and what we are going to see on January 20, which is the inauguration of Joe Biden to be the 46th, President of the United States.
In his heart of hearts, the current President knows that reality too. But that is not how he has behaved since the day that CNN and other networks declared that Joe Biden will win. And for the first few hours, it was one thing, for the next few days, it was another thing. But now it's, you know, over a week, and the jig is up.
And the Republicans who we talked to, I'm sure, everybody on this panel right now talks to knows that that is the case behind the scenes, that knows the case -- knows that that is why Kamala Harris was getting fist bumps on the Senate floor yesterday. The question is how they manage the current president to getting him to that place. And whether managing has gone, you know, it's gone way too far and it is, you know, already at enabling and then some.
BLITZER: The problem, Abby, is the President is totally unfounded claims of a supposedly rigged election. They don't exist in a vacuum.
I want you look at a new poll from Monmouth University, while 60 percent of the respondents overall say Biden won fair and square.
When you break that down by party, look at this, 70 percent of Republicans say Biden, only one because of, "voter fraud." How concerned should the Biden administration be about these numbers?
ABBY PHILLIP, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I do think that this indicates that the President has a lot of sway over Republican voters in particular. And that has been the case for a long time. And we saw it in how the President demagogue mail-in voting to the point that all of a sudden Republicans who historically had no problem with mail-in voting suddenly did and voted overwhelmingly in person instead of using that avenue.
I think the Biden administration ought to be, and I think they are, many of them are clear eyed about the fact that this is a polarized country, and the President is not going to stop in his efforts to continue to divide the country, even if he is no longer president. He's still going to be a force.
And what he is doing right now is designed to weaken a Joe Biden as president, it's designed to de legitimize him. And the Biden camp, they've taken the strategy of saying, look, we are not going to justify this by spending a lot of time talking or thinking about it or sort of giving it oxygen, but at the same time, it is creating a reality for them that they will face on January 20, which is that the Republican base which is beholden to President Trump is -- they believe him, they believe that Joe Biden is largely illegitimate and it's going to make Republican lawmakers who Biden that has to work with to get legislation done, much less likely to want to do that easily, at least.
BLITZER: Yes. This is a really, really awful, a series of events that are about to unfold.
You know, Arlette, you're there in Wilmington, Delaware, you're covering the incoming administration. The President-elect, he's finding some significant ways to remain visible despite the challenges facing his transition. Now, are these on camera briefings, these meetings part of the Biden team strategy to counter the outgoing president's chorus of lies?
SARNZ: Well, Wolf, it's certainly a part of their public pressure campaign that they have been launching as they tried to push and gain some support for the fact that the Trump administration should begin working with them on critical issues, including the coronavirus pandemic.
And what you are seeing Joe Biden do is we've seen him be out there every day this week in some format at a time when you're not seeing President Trump and you're seeing Biden assembling his own teams of experts and health officials to help guide his response. The team has been trying to find these workarounds in order to find different ways to gather information than what the federal government has been able to provide to them so far.
But you've also seen Biden today putting a very personal face on the coronavirus pandemic. That is something that he did quite well during the start -- during the campaign, including at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. When he would hold these virtual meetings with frontline health care workers, that is something you saw him do today. And so that is all part of their strategy as they're trying to ramp up the pressure on this administration to start cooperating with them on issues including COVID-19.
BLITZER: Yes, he's -- those of us who've covered him over the years. We know he's a very emotional individual and that clearly came through today.
[17:15:03]
All right, Arlette, Abby, Dana, guys thank you very, very much.
Up next, I'll speak to the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Adam Schiff, about the COVID and election chaos that President Trump is clearly trying to create. So what else might he do in the final weeks before Joe Biden is inaugurated?
Adam Schiff standing by live. We'll discuss.
Plus, more on the breaking news, the largest school district in the United States, closing once again as coronavirus cases are climbing in New York City.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:20:01] BLITZER: While President-elect Joe Biden moves ahead with the transition, President Trump remains bunkered over at the White House refusing to cooperate in tweeting false claims about the election. Let's discuss the impact of all that's going on with the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff of California.
Mr. Chairman, thanks so much for joining us.
As you know, the President claims he actually won the election. He's tweeting all about that. He congratulated Republicans in one Michigan county for initially refusing to certify the election. But a couple hours later, they did in fact certify.
And he's pursuing very flimsy arguments in various courts. Most of them already have been rejected. This may be simply a bumbling attempt, but is the sitting President of the United States trying to overturn the legitimate results of this election?
REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA): I think without a question, that's exactly what he's trying to do. I mean, he's failing. But nonetheless, it's staggering that a sitting president United States would try to overturn the results of a perfectly fair and well executed election, remarkably well executed election during a pandemic. It's just extraordinary. And it's so damaging.
He's going to fail, but in the process, he's dragging down our democracy. He's causing millions of Americans to distrust our own election system. He's making, frankly, the United States into a mockery on the world stage.
You know, we are the champions of democracy around the world, at least we used to be before this administration. What are they to think now when we have a president of United States, who is saying America is not capable of holding a fair election? It's just so damaging. And yet, Wolf, it's not at all surprising for this president.
BLITZER: Yes. If you looked at the numbers, Biden is now ahead by almost 6 million votes in the popular, the national popular vote, 98 percent of the vote has already been counted in the Electoral College. You can see 306 to 232, you need 270. He's way ahead in the Electoral College, obviously, as well.
Last night, the President abruptly fired the nation's top election security official. He fired this official by tweet, just the latest example of a series of impulsive moves by the President. What else do you fear Mr. Chairman, he might do in the next 63 days during this lame duck period, before Biden is sworn in as the next president of the United States?
SCHIFF: Sixty-three days is a long time and he seems determined to pull down the House around him on his way out. I expect there'll be further bloodletting. He will fire other good people who are willing to speak truth to power to stand up for our democracy and do the right thing. So there'll be more vengeful firings by tweet. There will be, you know, rewarding of the cronies. You know, the appointment of people like Michael Ellis, as General Counsel for NSA, something he is singularly unsuited for.
You know, that kind of rewarding of bad behavior of partisan actors, we'll see more of that. And most damaging, we will see the President trying to box in the new administration by making last minute policy changes, which he could have made earlier. But this is an effort to both, I suppose try to set himself up to possibly run again in the future, but also just to make life difficult for the Biden ministration because he feels he can.
At the end of the day, this President has only ever been about one thing, and that is doing what's right. And the very narrowest sense of what's right for him personally.
BLITZER: The President-elect is now warning that the coronavirus vaccine rollout could be delayed by weeks, maybe even months because his transition team isn't getting the vital information it needs from the outgoing administration. Will Americans die as a result of this obstruction?
SCHIFF: No, look, it's very possible. We should have a seamless transition in the best of times, we are clearly not in the best of times. Americans are dying more than 1000 a day. And those numbers are just increasing.
So, you would want the new administration to know exactly what the current administration's plan for a rollout of the vaccines is, what work they need to do to get prepared to see if they can accelerate that further. What's more, our hospitals and our clinics are just overwhelmed right now.
And we need to make sure that we don't run into the same problem we had earlier of a lack of protective gear. And if there's steps that need to be taken to evoke the Defense Production Act and the vice president, the president now -- the President-elect can signal to industry what he intends to do, they can get started on that. So yes, lives are hanging in the balance. And these delays could very well be fatal.
BLITZER: Yes. These are critical moments indeed.
Congressman Schiff, thanks so much for joining us. Good luck and stay safe.
[17:25:03]
SCHIFF: Thanks, Wolf, you too.
BLITZER: All right coming up. There's breaking news as the coronavirus pandemic keeps getting worse and worse, New York City's public schools are closing as of tomorrow. And the nation as a whole is approaching a quarter of a million coronavirus deaths. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:30:15]
BLITZER: The breaking pandemic news tonight, the U.S. COVID-19 death toll now approaching a quarter of a million people as the coronavirus crisis deepens by the day. Yesterday was the deadliest day the country has seen it's six months with more than 1,700 lives lost it to the virus.
CNN's Alexandra Field has the latest from New York right now. Alexandra, the rising positivity rate in New York City where you are as officials taking some very drastic action.
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, those numbers ticking up even here in New York City. No changes right now, Wolf, to bars, restaurants, businesses, gyms, not yet at least, but a big change starting tomorrow, students are being told to stay home.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FIELD (voice-over): And about these in New York City, the largest school district in the country shutting its doors tomorrow.
MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO (D), NEW YORK: I want affirm that as much as we are unhappy today that this moment was reached, we are resolved to keep fighting. That's what New Yorkers do.
FIELD (voice-over): The city's average 3 percent positivity rate triggering the shutdown as numbers move in the wrong direction nationwide. The daily death toll on Tuesday at its highest number since May, 1,707 lives lost. Six states reporting their highest number of deaths on a single day.
DR. JONATHAN REINER, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: If you're alarmed at the 1,700 deaths today, two to three weeks from now, we're going to see 3,000 deaths a day.
FIELD (voice-over): The nation now standing on the precipice of a quarter million deaths. Demand for tests is fueling long lines from Massachusetts all the way to Illinois. Hospitals are dealing daily with record-setting numbers. Scotland County Hospital in Memphis, Missouri is so stretched by COVID cases, it's willing to accept volunteers with health care experience.
DR. JEFF DAVIS, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, SCOTLAND COUNTY HOSPITAL: We could use any kind of caregiving aid like a CNA, or we even can have nursing aides volunteer work in the hospital.
FIELD (voice-over): Amid the suffering, the promise of the vaccine is growing even stronger tonight. Pfizer's there's more data now shows its vaccine is 95 percent effective, that there are no serious safety concerns and that it's preparing to seek Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA on Friday. Moderna has also said its vaccine is 95 percent effective.
ALEX AZAR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE SECRETARY: By the end of December, we expect to have about 40 million doses of these two vaccines available for distribution, pending FDA authorization, enough to vaccinate about 20 million of our most vulnerable Americans. And production of course would continue to ramp up after that.
FIELD (voice-over): And a major step forward on the testing front. The FDA on Tuesday authorizing a 30-minute at home rapid test, developments bringing some hope as the country faces more dark days ahead. People in Michigan stocked up for the three-week pause that starts today. Oregon is implementing a two-week freeze. Ohio will have a curfew and Illinois measures fall just short of a shutdown.
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES: We need some fundamental public health measures that everyone should be adhering to, not a disjointed one state says one thing the other state says another thing.
FIELD (voice-over): Like the two Dakotas taking vastly different approaches to skyrocketing cases. In North Dakota, a governor reversing course over the weekend on masks now mandating them. In South Dakota, a governor still choosing not to take action.
GOV. KRISTI NOEM (R), SOUTH DAKOTA: Well I've consistently said that people that want to wear masks should wear masks and people who don't shouldn't be shamed because they choose not to.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FIELD: Wolf, you have seen how bad the numbers are, you've heard the warnings about how dire the situation will become. Concerns are only mounting about how we'll see an acceleration following the celebration of holidays. So tonight, the Governor of Massachusetts pleading with people to make a difficult choice to celebrate Thanksgiving in a way that they wouldn't any other year. It's just not a normal year. Wolf?
BLITZER: You want to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving next year too. Alexandra, thank you very, very much.
So let's get some more on all of these. Our Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is joining us. Sanjay, what's your reaction to the nation's largest school district -- we're talking about the New York City public schools -- shutting down in personal learning as of tomorrow until further notice, because the city passed that 3 percent testing positivity threshold? Is that the right call?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's -- these are tough calls, Wolf, no question about it. That was the benchmark that they set when they hit 3 percent. They were going to pull kids out of school again. I think the issue, Wolf, is that if you look at the positivity rate for the city, you get this this average 3 percent, for schools, there are a lot lower and it's something that we've learned over the last several months as much concern as there was about spread among students and there's still that concern.
[17:35:08]
Positivity rate in New York City public schools, according to some of these models, or some of this testing is 0.17 percent. So below 0.2 percent. Whereas, Wolf, we know the types of places where the virus tends to spread a lot more. I mean, there's five places, according to this article that came out in nature that are going to be the places of largest concern.
They are restaurants, they are bars, they are cafes, they're hotels, and they are places of worship. And, you know, so these are the types of areas that if you could limit capacity there, you could have a much -- you'd have much greater impact that controlling the spread.
BLITZER: Across much of the country as, you know, Sanjay, the pandemic is far worse than the situation in New York City --
GUPTA: Yes.
BLITZER: -- right now. And we're nearing, take a look at this, a quarter of a million deaths since the start of the pandemic in January, 249,935, just 65 deaths short of a quarter of a million. If you take a look at the average testing positivity rate in some of the worst effective states, it's what, 30, 40. Look at these numbers, in South Dakota, it's 56 percent positivity rate, these other states 40, 45, 51. It's really awful.
GUPTA: Yes. And, Wolf, this gives you a real clear idea of just how desperate the response is around the country. So, we're talking about New York closing schools because of 3 percent positivity rate. South Dakota, 56 percent positivity rate. It's like this two different places entirely in terms of how people are responding to this.
You know, we would always -- Wolf, you and I would always compare the United States to South Korea because the pandemic began in South Korea and the United States the same day, patients were diagnosed the same day, in both places. And everyone always said, well, South Korea is at a really good example, because they're only 50 million people.
Wolf, let me show you South Korea compared to North and South Dakota, since we're talking about these places in particular. South Korea, when you talk about total confirmed deaths throughout this pandemic, South Korea is actually less now than South Dakota or North Dakota, when it comes to total confirmed deaths.
Can you believe that? That one country is lower than these two states which, you know, have population close to a million. So, it's not even close how bad, even isolated states have become compared to the rest of the world.
BLITZER: Yes. When South Korea, as you correctly pointed out, a country of 50 billion people where they had maybe 20 or 30 deaths, the U.S. maybe had five or 10. And now we have almost a quarter of a million deaths. And they have maybe 500 deaths all these months. They knew what they were doing, how to control, the contact tracing, and all of that. And, unfortunately, we didn't even have a national plan to deal with this, and we're paying that huge price.
Sanjay, thank you very, very much. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, helping us appreciate what's going on. Let's bring in the New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy right now. Governor Murphy, I know you got a lot going on. Thanks for taking a few moments to update our viewers here in the U.S. and around the world.
Let me get your reaction to the news that your next door neighbor in New York in New York City, they're shutting down classrooms because of a spike in the coronavirus cases. New Jersey is also experiencing a worsening spike in new cases. At what point governor would you consider a complete shutdown on in-person learning?
GOV. PHIL MURPHY (D-NJ): Good to be with you first of all, and we are experiencing a spike, we're up over 4,000 cases a day regularly over 2,000 in our hospitals. It's not without risk, it's not without cases, but our school experience so far has been much better than any of us could have anticipated. 50 something in school transmissions that doesn't count what may come in from the outside but impacting, say, a couple of hundred people. That's cumulatively over now two and a half months.
We oversee by comparison 3,000 -- over 3,000 buildings. So you've got 50 something out of over 3,000. So far, so good. We also have different models, Wolf, we've got hundreds of school districts. So we've got some in-person, some hybrid, some remote. And that combination is something I think we'll be with for a while.
BLITZER: As you know, Governor, a lot of public health experts believe schools should actually be the last public places to close, the first to reopen. If bars and restaurants and shops are still open, why are schools in danger of closing?
MURPHY: Well, at least in New Jersey, and I -- that's what I could speak to obviously, most specifically to -- we work with each of our school districts one off, and frankly, that's not the case in New Jersey. So, I, honestly, can't see a scenario where we transpose that at the moment, again, at the moment. This virus is -- this virus dictates the terms.
[17:40:03]
But right now, you know, for instance recently we cut off indoor dining at 10:00 p.m. at night because people started to get sloppy. We cut out bar seating at 10 -- and, in fact, at all hours to pick two examples. We've lowered our indoor capacity limits now down to 10 people. Were very concerned about Thanksgiving, but schools consistently with strong PPE, barriers, very well disciplined parameters have been a bright spot, and I hope they'll continue to.
BLITZER: And if the teachers and the kids all wear masks, that's really, really significant, really critical as well.
Let's talk, Governor, about vaccine distribution. Your state New Jersey has drafted a plan for distributing a vaccine once it's approved, but some members of President-elect Joe Biden's transition team have raised concerns that stonewalling from the Trump administration during this transition process will make that eventual process more difficult. Are you worried about this? MURPHY: Yes, I think they're worry is well-placed. First of all, we've got -- this is kind of a crazy situation. If you think of a triangle, we have ongoing daily interactions with the Trump administration, Tony Fauci, General Gus Perna, the whole team there, and that's a wide open channel.
We likewise have a wide-open channel with President-elect Biden's people, Vivek Murthy, Ron Klain and others. The fail in the system is those two camps aren't speaking. And that's a big problem that is a major problem that could put both the distribution of the vaccine at risk, and more broadly lives at risk. And that's got to get solved sooner than later.
BLITZER: Yes, I keep saying all hands on deck, we need everyone working together. This isn't a political issue, this is a life and death issue. And we got to get ready because sadly, thousands and thousands of Americans are going to be dying in the coming weeks and months unless this country gets its act together.
Governor Murphy, good luck to you. Good luck to everyone in New Jersey. Thanks so much for joining us.
MURPHY: Thanks for having me, Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, coming up, President Trump launching new attacks against the election and against the American democracy itself. Is his refusal to accept his loss putting lives on the line?
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[17:46:53]
BLITZER: We'll get back to the breaking news on the coronavirus pandemic on that transition here in Washington in just a few moments. But there's another amazing story unfolding right now in Nigeria, where thousands of young people have been protesting against police brutality as part of a largely peaceful movement called EndSARS. But on October 20th, these protests turned deadly as the army and police moved in on the unarmed civilians. The Nigerian Army has called allegations that it fired into the crowd fake news told the Judicial Panel of Inquiry that it did not shoot any civilian. But a new CNN investigation can reveal this is not true.
Our Senior International Correspondent Nima Elbagir is joining us live from London right now with an exclusive report. Nima, we want to warn our viewers some of the images they're about to see may be very disturbing.
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Wolf. Our team went through dozens of hours of footage and spoke to over 100 witnesses and what we found makes for very difficult but very important viewing. Take a look at this.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They've killed him. They've killed him. ELBAGIR (voice-over): The Nigerian government denies this happened.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are killing my people.
ELBAGIR (voice-over): Peaceful protest turned deadly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They came, and start shooting at us.
ELBAGIR (voice-over): CNN investigated the events at Lekki toll gate, night of October 20th in Lagos, Nigeria. After analyzing hours of footage, we are going to tell a story that is radically different than the one the authorities are telling.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That peaceful protest (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKERS (in unison): Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, make everybody this (INAUDIBLE). Now, where are the flag?
ELBAGIR (voice-over): People gathered at Lekki toll gate processing against what they called systemic police brutality and corruption. What they don't know is that the army is already on its way.
This is Bonny Camp, a military garrison on the south side of Lagos. We know through analyzing footage they left at 6:29 p.m. heading towards Lekki toll gate. We can see here the Nigerian government forces approaching. The protesters are gathered on the other side of the gate.
As Nigerian forces get closer, you can see shots. At 6:43 p.m., we start hearing gunfire. We know this from the timestamp and data on this video. Here's another angle.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are releasing fire
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They shoot, they shoot.
ELBAGIR (voice-over): Nigerian authorities say they fire blanks into the air and not at protesters. But CNN obtained video that appears to show the army shooting toward the crowd. Here, and at the top of your screen here.
In the midst of the chaotic scenes is DJ Switch.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That police is on fire.
ELBAGIR (voice-over): A Nigerian celebrity and activist, she is broadcasting live on Instagram.
DJ SWITCH, NIGERIAN ACTIVIST: And I wanted people to see what was happening. I didn't want anybody to come and twist the story.
ELBAGIR (voice-over): Witnesses tell CNN ambulances was stopped from entering by Nigerian authorities. You can see here people at the scene trying to conduct CPR. [17:50:11]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody look at this. These are the bullets that were falling.
ELBAGIR (voice-over): CNN has verified that these bullet casings are from live ammunition. They are of mixed origin, some are Serbian, this one from 2005.
(on-camera): Nigerian military sources verified to us that these ammunitions that are currently in use by Nigeria's army. And in collaboration with the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, we were also able to procure Serbian export documents proving that Nigeria purchased weaponry from Serbia for almost every year between 2005 and 2016.
(voice-over): The shooting continued past midnight. Eye witnesses tell us it wasn't just the army. At this point, they say police arrived an open fire. So, why were live rounds used at a peaceful protest? Many family members of those still missing are asking that question as they hunt for answers of the bodies of their loved ones.
Elisha's brother Victor was at the protest that night.
ELISHA SUNDAY, BROTHER OF DECEASED RELATIVE: Someone picked up my brother's phone and called me, and said that my brother Victor Sunday is amongst those who died, who were shot at Lekki toll gate. And I entered into the hospital and searched. I could not see him.
ELBAGIR (voice-over): What we're about to show you is incredibly graphic, but it's also incredibly important.
This is Elisha's brother Victor. The data in this footage shows it was filmed at 1:04 a.m. at Lekki tollgate. Elisha said he received a call about his brother's death around this time. This place is Victor exactly at the location of the protest on the night witnesses say they were shot at. This is important because Nigerian authorities deny anyone was killed at the scene.
Since this incident, CNN has contacted over 100 protesters and family members.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And they're pointed they are going to (INAUDIBLE) and they started shooting.
ELBAGIR (voice-over): We asked what they had.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where we had gunshots from behind it all.
ELBAGIR (voice-over): And felt.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is where I was shot, and as shot and the bullet went through my back.
ELBAGIR (voice-over): Many are in hiding. Some have fled the country. CNN tried to share these findings with the Nigerian Army but received no response. Lagos state authorities would not comment on our reporting until they said a Judicial Panel of Inquiry presents its findings. All this is incredibly worrying to the United States.
The Nigerian Army is a key counterterror partner. But U.S. lawmakers warn continuing abuses could damage that partnership. They're calling for answers. But weeks later, still none have been given.
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ELBAGIR: The Nigerian Army has called the allegations fake news on Twitter. CNN has repeatedly reached out to them for comment, but we have not heard back. However, while before a judicial tribunal, a Nigerian Army General testified, quote, there's no way officers and men will kill their brothers and sisters, end quote.
And, Wolf, tomorrow the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is due to hear evidence on this. And separately, the Nigerian authorities have now decided that they will be holding a press conference solely to respond to our reporting. So we'll keep you posted, Wolf.
BLITZER: Amazing reporting, and we're grateful to you and your team. Nima Elbagir reporting for us from London. Thank you, thank you, thank you very, very much.
There's more breaking news we're following here in THE SITUATION ROOM. Awful news, the United States has just surpassed a quarter million COVID-19 deaths as the pandemic rages out of control across so much of the United States. We'll have much more on the deepening crisis when we come back.
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[17:59:06]
BLITZER: Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM with major breaking news we're following. Just moments ago, the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 surpassed 250,000. A quarter of a million Americans have died from COVID-19. It's an astounding measure the pandemics toll here in the United States of America.
As the virus surges and the crisis grows, President-elect Biden is putting the pandemic front and center. Right now, he's been meeting with health care workers and warning that the Trump administration's refusal to cooperate with the transition team could put the nation's COVID response behind by weeks, or even months.
But President Trump isn't budging at all. He remains bunker at the White House, attacking the election and democracy, spewing false claims about the vote, and firing a top official who disputed his baseless allegations of fraud.
Let's go right to our Senior Washington Correspondent Jeff Zeleny.
