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The Situation Room

CDC Changes School COVID Guidelines; President Biden Delivers Address on Rise of Anti-Asian Violence; CDC Reduces Recommended Distancing in K-12 Schools to at least Three Feet of Separation with Mask Use; Trump's Mar-a-Lago Partially Closed Due to COVID Outbreak; More Pro-Trump Proud Boys Indicated in Capitol Riot. Aired 6-7p ET

Aired March 19, 2021 - 18:00   ET

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

[18:00:00]

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The CDC represent the best of this nation, brilliant minds, deep faith in science, and a strong commitment to public service. We came here to thank them for all the work they do, and especially the work they've done over the course of this pandemic. We owe them and their families our gratitude.

And we wanted to convey to them the absolute commitment to give them everything they need to do their work and get it done -- free of politics and guided by science. And because of them, we're making real progress. We just met my goal of administering 100 million shots before my first 100 days in office. We did it in about 60 days. We're not stopping now.

The American Rescue funds more vaccines, more vaccination centers, and more increases in testing. It's going to help us accelerate our nationwide effort to reopen schools safely.

Last week, I directed all states, Tribes, and territories to make all adults eligible to be vaccinated no later than May 1. But while this is a time of optimism, it's not a time for relaxation. I need all Americans to keep doing your part: wash your hands, stay socially distanced, keep masking up as recommended by the CDC, and get vaccinated when it's your turn.

None of this is political. It's all science based. But now is not the time to let down our guard down. That's science based as well.

In the last week, we've seen -- we've seen increases in the number of cases in several states. Things may get worse as new variants of the virus spread. That's why we need to vaccinate as many people as quickly as we possibly can, because it's the best thing we can do to fight back against these variants. We will do -- we have to beat this virus. We have to, and we will. But we'll do it by setting aside politics and embracing science.

On another subject, the right to vote -- that should bring us together as well, but it now divides us. This is a democracy, and the right to vote is fundamental. The fact that there was a record turnout in America in the last election, in the midst of a pandemic, should be something we celebrated, not attacked. The fact that you held a free and fair election in Georgia that stood

up to recount after recount, court case after court case, is something you should be proud of.

The fact that your poll workers, your election workers, your volunteers, your local officials, your state officials, your courts stood up to the immense pressure with character and honesty and integrity helped save our democracy. And this country will long be grateful for it.

But as this state, home to Martin Luther King and John Lewis, knows better than most: The battle for the right to vote is never, ever over. And it's not over here, in this state of Georgia.

So, we're in the fight again. It's a fight we need to win. Because if anyone ever doubted that voting matters, Georgia just proved it did. If anyone ever wondered if one vote can make a difference, Georgia just proved it 11,779 times. And if anyone ever wondered if voting can change a country, Georgia just proved it can. Because when you elected two new United States senators, you made it possible to pass the American Rescue Plan.

Landmark legislation will not only meet the emergency we're in but transform this nation -- starting with this: For those folks who either already have or will soon have $1,400 in their pockets, you can thank Senators Warnock and Ossoff. But for their votes, it would not have happened.

What does that mean? It means 85 percent of the households in America will get that money. Here in Georgia, it means 88 percent of all adults and 88 percent of the children in this state will get that $1,400 as well. Just add it up. A typical family -- two parents, two kids -- earning $100,000 a year, each will get $1,400. That's $5,600 for that family that's in distress trying to figure out how to pay their mortgage, pay their rent, keep food on the table.

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And that's not all. There's something called a child tax credit. What that basically means is you get a tax credit for every child you have. The American Rescue Plan expands that credit. It means that families of over 2 million children in Georgia will be eligible for an increase in that child tax credit of $1,600 per year -- per child. And it's going to be delivered on a regular basis.

So, starting this summer, families with young kids will get $300 a month per child. This is going to lift 177,000 children in Georgia out of poverty.

The American Rescue Plan expands coverage and reduces costs under the Affordable Care Act. So, for a family of four earning $90,000 per year, with insurance under the Affordable Care Act, they'll see about $200 a month off their monthly premiums.

And for Georgia's schools, the American Rescue Plan provides around $4 billion for Georgia's schoolchildren, grades K-12, to help them reopen safely.

And here's one of the biggest things for Georgia: Because of the American Rescue Plan, Georgia is now eligible for about $2 billion to expand Medicaid. What does that mean? It means another 500,000 Georgians will be covered all across this state with Medicaid that don't have it now.

For your state and local governments, this is what it does: State government will get around $5 billion to make up for lost revenue. Local governments will get around $3.5 billion. That's going to make it possible to keep a lot of police officers, firefighters, teachers, and other first responders on the job.

And here's one final thing the American Rescue Plan does: For the first time in a long time, it puts the working families, the middle class -- people who built this country -- first, not last.

Sixty-six percent of the tax breaks in this plan go to folks making $90,000 or less a year. And how much for the top 1 percent -- where 83 percent of all of the tax cut -- it was the last President's tax cut? Zero. The top 1 percent get zero.

But the American Rescue Plan isn't only about putting money in the pockets -- people's pockets. It also will create and spur economic growth in America. That's why major economists -- left, right, and center -- support this plan. Even Wall Street agrees. According to Moody's, this law will help America create 7 million new jobs by the end of the year. And we'll do it by rebuilding the backbone of this nation: the working people, the middle class -- the people who built this country.

It's about giving those people a fair shot, for a change. It's about providing and proving to the American people that their government works and can deliver for them, which brings me to my last point.

The American Rescue Plan is a plan that brings America together and benefits all America. That's why so many polls show that over 70 percent of the country support it, including Democrats, Republicans, and independents. Maybe Republicans in Washington didn't vote for it, but the American Rescue Plan sure has brought the country together. And, for me, that measure of unity, that's what matters.

Let me end with this: There is so much we can do if we do it together; if we remember who we are; if we stand together against hate; once again believe and invest in science; if we stand up for the right of all Americans to vote and have access to voting; if we remember we're here to help all the people of this country, not just those few at the top; if we remember to do justice, love mercy, to walk humbly as fellow human beings and as fellow Americans; if we remember we're the United States of America and that, together, there is nothing -- not a single thing -- we cannot do if we do it together.

My heart goes out to all -- all the family members who lost someone in those horrific shootings on Tuesday.

[18:10:04] I know they feel that -- like there's a black hole in their chest they're being sucked into and things will never get better. But our prayers are with you. And I assure you the one you've lost will always be with you. Always be with you. And the day will come when their memory brings a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye, as unbelievable as that is now. It will take a while, but I promise you it will come. And when it does, that's the day you know you're going to make it.

May God bless all those families. May God protect our troops. Thank you very much.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: We have been listening to President Biden and Vice President Harris after their talks with Asian American leaders in Atlanta following the deadly spa shooting there.

I'm Pamela Brown, in for Wolf Blitzer, in THE SITUATION ROOM.

And let's bring in CNN chief national affairs correspondent Jeff Zeleny in Atlanta, CNN chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins, CNN correspondent Amara Walker in Atlanta, and CNN legal analyst Shan Wu to talk about this.

And I want to go first to you, Kaitlan.

In your view, did those remarks from President Biden meet the moment amid this wave of anti-Asian hate?

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think that's what White House officials were aiming for when they were talking about this.

I know that -- of course, that we had heard from some of those Asian American leaders and others in the community who said, yes, we do not have the police coming out and formally calling this a hate crime, we don't have them saying yet what the motivation of this shooter was, but we do think this highlights a problem that people have been talking about, something that's seen an uptick because of the highlight -- that's been highlighted by the coronavirus pandemic.

And that's been this violence against Asian Americans. And that's really something that you saw the vice president and President Biden try to focus on there, where President Biden was saying, yes, we don't know the motive, but whatever the motive is, we know what the facts are. And we know that six of these women were Asian.

He said, we know what Asian Americans have been living through for the past year. He called it a year of terror, saying that they have been harassed and scapegoated and even killed at times.

And so, I think that is what they were trying to really get out, is what has been the topic of conversation ever since these shootings happened in Atlanta on Tuesday night. And that was the moment that they were really trying to reference there. And then you saw him there at the end. He'd gone off and talked about several other topics, voting rights, his coronavirus relief bill, what it's doing for people who live in Atlanta and live in Georgia.

But then there at the end, he was speaking directly to those families that lost someone, those eight families that, of course, have lost someone in the shootings. And he is someone who has a history with tragedy. He knows grief well, and he was trying to speak directly to them, it appeared, there at the end.

BROWN: Yes, he is clearly very comfortable in that role as consoler in chief.

And we know, Jeff, he also met with the leaders in the Asian American community today. What are you hearing about how Biden's visit went with them?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Pamela, that meeting with Asian American community leaders here, which were a mix of state legislators, as well as three leaders from outside advocacy groups, that meeting lasted more than an hour.

And it was a very emotional meeting, a very frank meeting, where the president and vice president made remarks, I'm told, as well as all of the leaders had a chance to speak.

And I actually spoke to someone who was inside the meeting, Stephanie Cho. She's the executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice. And said that former President Donald Trump came up repeatedly throughout the meeting, about what his words, his actions have done for the last year through the pandemic to really contribute to what they believe is a rise in violence against Asian Americans in this country.

She said that President Biden agreed with her, and he pledged to roll back many of the things that former President Trump did. He also planned to speak out forcefully. And she said that these leaders asked President Biden to speak out as forcefully against hate and violence against Asian Americans as President Trump says the China virus repeatedly.

So that was an interesting element of this meeting. I'm also told that, yes, the conversation about is this a hate crime did come up, but only briefly, because people here in Atlanta, Asian Americans, of course, who have experienced this violence, they know it was a hate crime. They don't need the president to say it directly.

They know that he is -- his hands are tied a bit because of the prosecutors are going to make that determination. So, I'm told that was not a big part of contention here. But these leaders do want to hear more from the president.

And, Pamela, as we heard the speech, which happened in the building behind me here on the campus here of Emory University, President Biden was also quite political.

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He talked about the COVID relief bill. He talked about the importance of Georgia, which, of course, these two Democratic senators elected in January contributed to the Democratic majority in the Senate, which led to the passage of this bill, but he tied it all together.

And that coronavirus has caused so many issues of violence in this country, which we saw perhaps here this week in Atlanta, as well as lifting up families. So, he was trying to do a lot there with that. But this is connected.

So, he didn't have his political rally. He did have a political speech, but made no apologies for it, because, again, there's an umbrella over all of this. It's coronavirus, the hate and the hope that he says is coming.

BROWN: And, Amara, what was your reaction listening to President Biden?

AMARA WALKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Pam, this really is a moment for Asian Americans in America.

I can't overstate how much it means, I think, for the Asian American community to see the president and the vice president, who is half- Asian, to physically come to Atlanta, to listen to the concerns and to feel the pain of the Asian American community, just that acknowledgement, because we are a community that has felt invisible for so long.

And for the president to come and say, I see you, I hear you, I feel your pain, to elevate this issue. I think -- I think, a lot of us, it's a cathartic moment, because the first step is to be seen and to be heard, and the fact that you had the vice president also acknowledging the history of racism against Asians that we have faced since the day that the Chinese immigrants started immigrating to the United States.

I know that President Biden -- I know the leaders there that I spoke with wanted the president and the vice president to call on the investigators to investigate these shootings as a hate crime. They didn't get that.

But I think what they did get was a lot of comfort to know that we are being heard. There was also that mention of -- from the vice president about Asians feeling like the perpetual foreigner. That is so true, because, when you are a foreigner in your own country, you are dehumanized, you're not taken seriously.

If there is a crime committed against you or your community, even law enforcement might dismiss it as the perpetrator as just having a bad day.

So, when you have the president and the vice president elevating this issue, putting it in the spotlight and saying, I hear you, let's find a way to protect the Asian American community, you have been hurting for very long, not just this past year because of COVID-19, you guys been hurting for a long time.

And, yes, we are seeing a huge surge in anti-Asian hate, people who felt emboldened, many will tell you, because of the Trump administration's flippant use of terms like the China virus and the kung-flu, it's a huge difference and a juxtaposition between these two administrations.

And I feel like a lot of the Asian community is breathing a sigh of relief for that one simple step of being seen and being acknowledged, Pam.

BROWN: This is obviously so deeply personal for you, Amara.

Just tell us, if you would, what your personal experiences have been and why this moment for you personally is just so touching.

WALKER: Well, Pam, I have been doing a lot of soul-searching.

And I want a lot of people to understand why it was -- there was such a visceral reaction when Captain Jay Baker of the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department said that the suspect was just having a bad day.

And that's because, for so long, Asian Americans have felt like they have not been taken seriously, they have not been seen.

And I was thinking about, well, when did I feel this way? And I grew up in a community where we were probably the only Asian family on our street. And I remember cars driving by. We lived on a busy street. I'd hear racial slurs. I remember my father's car, our family car, getting vandalized a couple times. And, once, someone had thrown a hammer into the window of my dad's car.

And so, when you couple these incidents, you bring them together, of course, you're automatically thinking, OK, these are racially motivated people just don't want us here because we're Asian.

And I remember we called the police, filed a police report. I was translating for my parents, and just the attitude of the police officer, he didn't really seem to understand the fear that that kind of attack instilled in my family and the pain that we were reliving over and over, because it's not the first time that we have been told to go back to our country, or being called China virus.

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And so, this is our experience. This is our reality. And it's relieving. I think we're breathing a huge sigh of relief to know that people are finally listening and hearing our stories and caring about it, and even trying to put in legislation -- pushing for legislation that would stiffen penalties for hate crimes related to COVID-19.

BROWN: Absolutely.

And, Shan Wu, I want to bring you in to get your reaction to all this. I'm sure, listening to Amara talk, you can relate to some of what she is feeling and saying today.

SHAN WU, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Oh, absolutely.

I mean, as a child, myself, I was bullied on the playground. People called me a Vietcong. It's -- so much of the hatred is echoed today.

And, likewise, it meant so much to me, as an Asian American, to hear a woman of Asian descent, as the vice president of the United States and as an American, to hear our leaders, the president and the vice president, coming out and really putting on a masterful combination of compassion and politics, shoring up the importance of the politics and the voters in Georgia, but also showing them that the leaders care about what has happened here.

And I think what Jeff had mentioned, that the Asian leaders, they know that it's not really up to the president to charge whether it's a hate crime or not, but they know it is a hate crime. They already know that.

They don't need to hear that from him. What they need to hear from him is that he cares, he is not going to stand for that kind of racism. And, understandably, he had to be cautious in terming it that, because the prosecutors haven't charged that way.

And I look forward to the day when they will charge these crimes as hate crimes. I look forward to the day when we can charge hate crimes as easily as we do other crimes of violence, because this is not a time to be timid about that. This is a time to call out the hate.

We don't need...

BROWN: All right, Shan Wu, thank you.

Amara Walker, thank you so much for being vulnerable and sharing your personal experiences.

I think it is so important to do that and to show the emotion. It shows just how important this moment is.

Kaitlan Collins, Jeff Zeleny, thank you all so much.

And just ahead, hope and some skepticism, as the CDC relaxes its guidelines for social distancing in schools. We will break down the recommendations.

And the president is setting another vaccination goal, as he reaches the 100 million mark on his watch.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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BROWN: Well, new CDC guidance on social distancing in schools is raising a lot of questions tonight, as well as hopes that more children can return to the classroom.

A top teachers union is asking for any explanation -- for an explanation, rather, as to why the CDC now thinks three feet of separation between students is enough.

CNN's Alexandra Field has our pandemic report. So, Alexandra, tell us more about these new recommendations.

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sure.

Pamela, look, we have been seeing states across the nation easing restrictions, making restaurants more accessible, making other businesses more accessible. Parents want to see their kids in school. The CDC is reinforcing the fact that masks are critically important in schools.

But they are changing another major guideline. It will help put more kids in the classroom. And they say the science backs the change.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY, CDC DIRECTOR: Schools should be the last place to close and the first place to open.

FIELD (voice-over): A big shift today in the plan to put more kids back in the classroom.

WALENSKY: K-12 schools that implement strong, layered prevention strategies can operate safely.

FIELD: The CDC updating guidelines for schools to safely reopen, if everyone is masked, just three feet of space between students, down from six.

DR. ASHISH JHA, DEAN, BROWN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH: The bottom line is that there was never very good evidence for doing it at six feet, not if kids are masked up.

FIELD: It's not clear how quickly schools will implement changes, after the president of one of the largest teachers unions responded by saying they would -- quote -- "reserve judgment."

The CDC is still recommending six feet of distance between children and adults during higher-risk activities like singing and among older students in communities with high transmission, along with other precautions like open windows and empty rows on school buses.

The push to reopen the majority of schools across the country accelerating as new COVID-19 cases hold steady, the country stuck in an undeniably high average of fewer than 55,000 new cases daily.

Still, Alabama is one of the latest states moving ahead with plans to eliminate a mask mandate.

DR. SCOTT HARRIS, ALABAMA STATE HEALTH OFFICE: The actual legal consideration of making it a mandate or not is not up to me. But we believe that evidence supports their use.

FIELD: Masks are no longer mandated in Texas. Police there say a restaurant manager was stabbed several times after telling a man to put one on.

GARY RATLIFF, LEAGUE CITY, TEXAS, POLICE CHIEF: A suspect ran up behind him, tackled him and stabbed him multiple times.

FIELD: In the Northeast, New York is easing indoor dining capacity limits today.

New Jersey is expanding capacity for restaurants and a slew of other businesses. Connecticut now lifting all capacity restrictions on restaurants and many businesses. As restrictions lift, the pace of vaccinations is rising.

WALENSKY: Today, day 58...

(LAUGHTER)

WALENSKY: ... we hit our goal of 100 million vaccinations in arms.

FIELD: President Joe Biden beating by weeks his goal of 100 million shots in 100 days.

But there's a new set of challenges.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe that we're going to be shifting from a supply issue to a demand issue pretty soon.

FIELD: A new survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation and "The Washington Post" shows nearly four in 10 unvaccinated health care workers say they won't get a shot or that they're undecided.

More states are on track to expand eligibility to all adults in the next few weeks, including Nevada, Illinois, Missouri and Rhode Island.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FIELD (on camera): And, Pamela, while we are seeing these big strides toward expanding vaccine eligibility, we really are just talking about adults at this point. And Dr. Anthony Fauci says that in order to reach herd immunity, we will have to see children being vaccinated as well. We know that we don't expect to see older children vaccinated before the fall, younger children likely not before 2022. Pamela?

PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: OK, Alexandra Field, thanks for us the latest from New York. And let's get more on all of this with CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen. Dr. Wen, great to see you.

So, let's begin the conversation talking about the new guidance from the CDC, which now recommended three feet of distance between students instead of six feet in certain circumstances as long as everyone is wearing a mask. Is that guidance backed up by the data, by the science?

DR. LEANA WEN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: Well, I think, Pamela, that this guidance is the right thing to do because of how essential in-person schooling is. And I think that should be the end goal, that we know that young children especially are really hurting from not being back in school. And so, in order to do so we have to cut the six-foot distance to three feet. I also think that at this point there's nothing that is zero risk, but this is probably pretty low risk based on the studies that we have. But there's one thing I wish the CDC did, which is to say if we are cutting that distance from six feet to three feet, what additional layers of mitigation are we going to be implementing? Absolutely, mask wearing should be enforced, but what about also improved ventilation? What about also testing, because now there's going to be money for routine testing? Because I fear that otherwise school districts are going to skimp further.

There are already a lot of schools that are at three feet distancing. And I think especially with more contagious variants around, we need to do a lot more when it comes to protect our children with additional layers.

BROWN: Right. So that was one of my question, because this is based on some studies that have come out particularly in Massachusetts where it has shown that the three feet of distance has proven to be largely safe. But do we know if they took any additional steps, like install a better ventilation system or make sure the windows were open and so forth, which made the three feet of distance a success?

WEN: Right, that's the thing. And actually, the Massachusetts study, they look at school district. They compared school districts that had a policy for six feet and school districts that had a policy for three feet. So, we actually don't know if they actually did three feet versus six feet in these various schools.

There's another study that the CDC sited, that was a study done in Utah. But in that case, they had cohorting, so they kept all the kids to the same pod or the same cohort in the schools.

And so, all of this to say there is good evidence I think that three feet can be relatively safe, but I would also want to urge us to do additional things, including making sure, for example, that teachers and staff have access to vaccinations immediately.

BROWN: Help us understand why the CDC is recommending different guidelines for different age groups on this.

WEN: Yes. So there is growing evidence that younger children tend to transmit coronavirus less than older children. The older you are, certainly teenagers and above, seem to transmit coronavirus at the same rate as adults do. And so that's one reason.

I think another reason is how essential in-person schooling is for younger children. And so if we want younger children to be brought back, that's also why three feet versus six feet makes sense.

BROWN: And just to be clear, adults though are still advised to stay six feet away, teachers in the school and so forth right?

WEN: That's exactly right. And I think that's very important that the CDC has not revised their overall guidance for social distancing, so six feet remains the rule. And I think we can think of it in this case as we have to do three feet in younger grades, because otherwise we can't get kids back.

BROWN: I want to pivot to another really important topic, one that you have spoken passionately about. And that, of course, is the anti-Asian racist abuse that you've endured during the coronavirus pandemic. In light of the horrific murders in Atlanta, what needs to change in American society so that Asian-Americans can feel safe in their own country?

WEN: You know, I've been hearing in the last several days about people saying, well, words don't really matter, or politicians even saying words don't matter, the rhetoric from the former president calling Kung Flu or the China virus doesn't really matter. Well, if there's any politician that thinks words don't matter, they should just stop speaking because they are public leaders who are speaking out to the public and obviously words matter.

I'll tell you that every time I appear on CNN, I will get messages, emails, and whatever in social media calling me the Kung Flu or accusing me of bringing the virus to this country. Of course, my colleagues who are nurses and doctors have endured much worse. They have had -- I have not had this personally happen, but other people have been spat upon by their patients or have had patients say, I don't trust you to be my health care provider because you look like you're of Asian descent, you brought the virus to this country.

[18:35:08]

And so I think this is why words do matter. This is why President Biden and Vice President Harris speaking up is so important in making Asian-Americans and all people be seen and heard and understand that our lives matter too.

BROWN: But that just hearing you say that makes my blood boil, to think you and so many other Asian-Americans in this country have been on the frontlines of combating this pandemic and to think of all the hate that you have to endure any time you come on CNN to provide really critical information. It's just outrageous. Dr. Leana Wen, thank you so much.

WEN: Thank you.

BROWN: And just ahead on this Friday, we are learning about a COVID-19 outbreak at former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:40:00]

BROWN: Well, tonight there is news out of former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. CNN White House Correspondent Kate Bennett has the details.

So, Kate, you're learning about a COVID-19 outbreak there, right?

KATE BENNETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It sure sounds like it. An email was sent to club members just this afternoon about 5:00 saying that there was recently some members of club staff tested positive for COVID-19.

Now, the words recently and some are pretty vague, we don't know specifically when the outbreak occurred or how many staffers some means, but the beach club and the dining room at Mar-a-Lago are closed for the foreseeable future. The club said in the email that precautions have been taken, that there has been sanitizations at these areas, the club member's safety and health is paramount.

But, yes, it seems like there's certainly an outbreak of COVID-19 happening at the president's Mar-a-Lago club where there are hundreds of members where he spends a lot of his time and certainly it's spring break season. It's about to be Easter and Passover, lots of visitors down in Florida, a tough time for the club to lose its capacity to host people at the beach club down by the pool and also obviously in the dining room.

BROWN: And is the former president there now or the first lady?

BENNETT: Yes. our Kaitlan Collins is reporting that the president was certainly seen there yesterday. The first lady lives there as well. Tomorrow is Baron Trump's 15th birthday. So the family, as far as we know, is there. This is their home now after Washington and certainly where they live and this is where they eat. We often hear about the president and first lady coming down to dinners, receiving a standing ovation from club members. This is the place they would go.

So, clearly, dining room is closed, beach club is closed so the president, the first lady and the family and all the members are going to have to sit this out. The email did not say when the club would be reopened. They are saying it's a temporary closure, however, with some members of staff testing positive. We just don't have the answer right now as to when it will be back up and fully running.

BROWN: All right, Kate Bennett, thank you so much.

BENNETT: Thanks.

BROWN: And just ahead on this Friday, new charges in the Capitol riot investigation targeting members of the pro-Trump Proud Boys.

And the Pentagon is launching a new battle to persuade more troops to get COVID vaccines.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:47:04]

BROWN: Well, tonight, more leaders of the white supremacy group the Proud Boys are under federal indictment in connection with the Capitol insurrection.

CNN's Brian Todd has the latest on the investigation.

So, Brian, prosecutors are offering new evidence of planning ahead of the attack. BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They're giving some pretty specific

details of that planning, Pamela. Tonight, some of the Proud Boys most senior leaders are facing some serious conspiracy charges.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TODD (voice-over): Tonight, a federal grand jury has indicted four Proud Boys leaders for conspiracy and other charges related to their alleged roles in the January 6th assault on the Capitol. Federal prosecutors say those leaders of the far-right pro-Trump group were working together to launch a sophisticated attack.

Criminal charges have already been filed against Proud Boys leaders Ethan Nordean of Seattle and Joseph Biggs of Florida. But this latest indictment charges two other group leaders along with Nordean and Biggs, Zachary Rehl of Philadelphia and Charles Donohoe of North Carolina.

JOEY JACKSON, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: The significance is that the prosecutors are moving from with the individuals were doing that they can see on tape to actually who the event planners were, who were the masterminds of this and what were specifically they intending to do? How are they communicating with each other?

TODD: The new conspiracy indictment alleges that Rehl, Donohoe, Nordean and Biggs work together to prepare paramilitary and high-tech communication equipment to raise money and encourage other Proud Boys members to come to Washington D.C. on January 6th.

JOHN SCOTT-RAILTON, CITIZEN LAB, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO: The picture this paints is of an organized group of people that planned to, went ahead in groups, to lay siege of the Capitol, and bust open doors past cops, and break open windows, and allow others to come in.

TODD: None of these defendants have yet entered pleas. With these latest arrests, prosecutors have now brought charges against roughly 20 people affiliated with the Proud Boys.

SCOTT-RAILTON: The group is under extreme pressure and going off in different directions. Some parts of the group have already fractured. Others stated their standing with the group. Clearly, it's a bad time to be a Proud Boy.

TODD: While law enforcement rounds up more Proud Boys, the FBI continues its main hunt for many more suspects from January 6th, including 10 people who were featured in disturbing videos released yesterday by the bureau. Some shown using clubs to beat police officers, spraying police with unknown substances, using fists to attack police.

This comes as Trump confidant Roger Stone keeps popping up in court papers dealing with charges against members of the far-right antigovernment group, the Oath Keepers. In one filing on two Oath Keepers charged with conspiracy, prosecutors say Stone is apparently standing near the two in a photo. And other filing details how to other Oath Keepers texted each other about providing security to stone in Washington D.C. around January 6th.

Stone has not been charged in connection with the riot.

[18:50:00]

But legal analysts say he could still be under scrutiny by investigators looking into the planning of January 6th.

JACKSON: He can be a linchpin with regards to whether there is any connection between Trump, between Trump's campaign, between the White House, between anyone.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TODD: Roger Stone has denied any knowledge of plants to storm the Capitol. He said he had no knowledge of any role that those Oath Keepers who provided security for him allegedly played in the riot. He declined to comment on the photo of him with those two Oath Keepers from CNN when asked about that -- Pamela.

BROWN: So, it seems like he's dancing around these questions about his involvement with the Oath Keepers, right?

TODD: He really has, Pamela. You know, a few weeks ago at the CPAC conference in Florida, CNN's Donie O'Sullivan came out to Stone and ask him, you know, about the connections to the oath keepers, the security guards with you, and he basically said that that's guilty by association and he insulted Donie for asking him the question.

Since that time, though, he's admitted that the Oath Keepers did provide security to him, but he and his lawyer told us they have no knowledge of anything beyond that. It's interesting that he keeps popping up in the Justice Department prosecution court papers. They may be looking at him for any alleged role in may be planning it with members of the Trump administration.

BROWN: All right. Brian Todd, thanks for bringing us the latest.

TODD: Thanks.

BROWN: And just ahead the latest fight for U.S. military leaders working to combat fears and concerns about the COVID vaccine.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:55:51]

BROWN: Well, tonight, we are learning more about efforts of U.S. military leaders are taking to convince high numbers of skeptical service members that the COVID vaccine is safe and effective.

CNN pentagon correspondent Oren Liebermann is working the story for us.

So, Oren, what are you learning? OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Pamela, the drive to get

soldiers and troops to take the vaccine is one of the major pushes of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and many other officials here at the Pentagon. But officials say there are encountering hesitancy, especially among younger troops. That's a major problem with some 80 percent of your force is younger than 35.

The military says that only about one 3rd of troops are opting out but the numbers shared with CNN suggest the refusal rate may be higher.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LIEBERMANN (on camera): On the military's newest battlefield --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can roll up your sleeve for me, sir?

LIEBERMANN: Success is measured in doses.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One, 2, 3.

LIEBERMANN: Each needle --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ready, set --

LIEBERMANN: A precision weapon from pharmaceutical companies instead of defense contractors.

LT. COM. JULIA CHERINGAL, NAVAL MEDICAL CENTER PORTSMOUTH: We have a vaccine. We have a tool. We have a manner in which we can help stop this pandemic in its tracks. But not everybody feels comfortable receiving the vaccination.

LIEBERMANN: Specialists Carol Gotte of the Maryland National Guard, health care worker herself, wasn't sure she would get the vaccine.

SPC. CAROL GOTTE, MARYLAND NATIONAL GUARD: Soon at first mainly because of how quickly to put the vaccine out. There were really no studies on the long-term effects of the vaccine so that had me concerned.

LIEBERMANN: It was concerned for her family that brought her around. But that hesitation is not uncommon.

SGT. CHAZZ KIBLER, MARYLAND NATIONAL GUARD: There were times when the thoughts crept in that I could possibly die from getting this vaccine or maybe I shouldn't get it, and just talking to medical experts in the organization, people who are reputable, they put me at ease. They ultimately helped me turnaround my decision.

LIEBERMANN: Other service members still have their fears and concerns over the COVID-19 vaccine.

One soldier who spoke with CNN on condition of anonymity said my fear is reacting poorly to the effects of having dangerous reaction to put me out of commission, messes with my body too much. I understand the virus can do the exact same thing. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That is it, easy day.

LIEBERMANN: The military estimates to 2/3 of service members eligible for the vaccine have accepted it, but the number maybe even lower.

At Fort Bragg, an Army base with about 57,000 military personnel, the acceptance rate is just below 60 percent, an army official said.

In the Washington National Guard, it's 39 percent. In the Nebraska National Guard, it's down to 30 percent.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right.

LIEBERMANN: Two military health care sources that spoke with CNN said they're seeing an uptick in a rate of closer to 50 percent in the region's a cover. The domestic military base and overseas command. And as you go down the tiers from first responders to the general military population, the sources say the acceptance rate goes down.

LLOYD AUSTIN, DEFENSE SECRETARY: I want to speak to you today about the coronavirus --

LIEBERMANN: Military leaders have had virtual town halls to answer questions, promote vaccination safety and availability.

LT. GEN. RONALD PLACE, DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY: Speaking as a physician, the safety and effectiveness of the approved a vaccine is exceptional. Every passing week the evidence only grows stronger.

LIEBERMANN: But on social media, these posts have become havens for misinformation and conspiracy theories.

CAPT. KARL KRONMANN, NAVAL MEDICAL CENTER PORTSMOUTH: I think that is a huge battle. It's almost harder to fight some of these misinformation's that come from out of the blue.

LIEBERMANN: At the moment, demand is far outpacing supply.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everyone is coming in. It's something they want to get.

LIEBERMANN: And defense officials say they expect the acceptance rate to go up, but it will take time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIEBERMANN (on camera): There are two opposing trends here, one which one of the military health care sources talked about. As you go down in the tiers from tier one A to health care workers, emergency responders, down to the general population, the refusal rate goes up. On the flip side, as the vaccine is out there longer, as it becomes more widespread, troops see their peers get it, as well as fears over long term effects subsiding, the acceptance rate is expected to rise in the long run.

But, Pamela, this is not just and in the long run issue. It is a right now issue.

BROWN: All right. Oren Liebermann, thank you very much.

And this programming note for you. Tomorrow night join CNN's Miguel Marquez for a look at the stories of loss and survival experience during the pandemic. CNN special report, "The Human Cost of COVID," airs tomorrow at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

I'm Pamela Brown. Thanks very much for watching.

"ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT" starts right now.