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Senate GOP Faces Questions Of Whether To Support January 6 Commission; Bodycam Footage Shows Black Man Being Tased, Kicked, And Dragged By Louisiana Troopers Before His Death; Highest Level Meeting U.S.-Russia Talks Of Biden Presidency. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired May 20, 2021 - 05:30   ET

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


[05:30:00]

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Democrats are already discussing plan B -- a select committee in the House to investigate, which would not need GOP support. Thirty-five House Republicans did join Democrats voting to create an independent panel.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. PETER MEIJER (R-MI): There's been an active effort to whitewash and rewrite the shameful events of that day to avoid accountability and turn away from difficult truths. If we avoid confronting what happened here just a few short months ago, we can be sure that intimidation, coercion, and violence will become a defining feature of our politics.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: Meanwhile, two new disturbing videos you're watching there released by the FBI -- part of an effort to track down suspects from the riot more than four months later.

And the family of Capitol Police Officer Howie Liebengood speaking out in support of an investigation. Liebengood died by suicide after serving on the front lines on January sixth.

His family now says, quote, "Every officer who worked that day, as well as their families, should have a better understanding of what happened. Uncovering the facts will help our nation heal and may lessen the lingering emotional bitterness that has divided our country."

ROMANS: All right, it's time for three questions in three minutes. Let's bring in CNN senior political analyst John Avlon.

Thirty-five, John -- the number of Republicans who voted with Democrats to pass that bill. John, listen to this reaction from Congressman Tim Ryan, a Democrat.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. TIM RYAN (D-OH): I want -- I want to thank the gentleman from New York and the other Republicans who are supporting this and thank them for their bipartisanship. To the other 90 percent of our friends on the other side of the aisle, holy cow -- incoherence. No idea what you're talking about.

Benghazi -- you guys chased the former Secretary of State all over the country and spent millions of dollars.

We have people scaling the Capitol, hitting the Capitol Police with lead pipes across the head and we can't get bipartisanship. What else has to happen in this country? Cops -- this is a slap in the face to every rank and file cop in the United States.

If we're going to take on China, if we're going to rebuild the country, if we're going to reverse climate change, we need two political parties in this country that are both living in reality, and you ain't one of them.

I yield back the balance of my time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Wow -- holy cow, he says.

And Congressman Greg Pence -- that's Mike Pence's brother, John. He opposed the commission. He opposed the commission.

JOHN AVLON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes.

ROMANS: Rioters called for his brother's execution.

There's an uphill battle here in the Senate, so what's next.

AVLON: All right, there's a lot there.

First of all, kudos to Youngstown's own Tim Ryan for calling that out because that's the kind of voice you haven't heard I think on the Democratic side of the aisle. He's defending the fact that look, this was an attack on cops, among other things. There's the hypocrisy of all of this.

With regards to the former vice president's brother now serving in Congress -- I mean, my God, how spineless do you have to be? This isn't even just party over country -- which it is -- this is party over family. And it's just a sign of how hyperpartisanship becomes this sickness that almost surgically removes a person's conscience and spine that he would roll over for this.

Finally, looking towards the Senate, this is the big question. It's fine for senators to have questions and to have concerns. But at the end of the day, though, this is a balanced bipartisan panel.

Good for 35 Dem -- Republicans for signing on to it. And if you can't find 10 Republicans who are willing to sign on to this -- because what they're being whispered is this will be bad for our reelection efforts -- where's the accountability? Where's any commitment? And also, if this is filibustered by Republicans, is there a better case for filibuster reform than the inability to form a bipartisan commission to deal with an attack on our Capitol?

JARRETT: So, John, I also want to get your thoughts on another issue. So, we've got new CNN reporting last night that the New York A.G.'s office has opened this criminal tax investigation into the Trump Organization's CFO, Allen Weisselberg. He's been Trump's money guy for what, 40 years, right?

AVLON: Yes.

ROMANS: Yes.

JARRETT: This is the guy.

We clearly have pressure building on all sides for the former president. You've got Giuliani, you've got Weisselberg. You've got the state of Georgia, which we haven't even talked about, right? He's being criminally investigated for interfering in the election and he no longer has White House immunity to protect him.

What stands out the most to you?

AVLON: I'd say follow the money. I mean, I think the Georgia case is really significant and you're absolutely right to mention it. But if you want to find the truth in politics and often in life, you follow the money. And Allen Weisselberg has been the keeper of secrets for that family for a long time.

Trump has bragged about violating laws. Laws are for the little people. Changing valuations by millions of dollars on properties basically on a whim but also, implicitly if not explicitly, according to some former aides, to benefit from tax advantages or loans from banks.

[05:35:08]

So I think there's accountability coming. He's going to cry that he's being persecuted.

JARRETT: Sure.

AVLON: He's being prosecuted for things that are illegal if, indeed, those indictments do come down.

JARRETT: Yes. If Weisselberg flips -- I mean, I think that is one of the more devastating moves for Trump. Obviously, Giuliani is another question.

AVLON: Yes.

JARRETT: He's being investigated, too. But Weisselberg -- I mean, he knows everything.

ROMANS: Yes. AVLON: One would assume.

ROMANS: Let's talk about his need for a ceasefire, right -- the violence between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza here. President Biden spoke with the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, four times in the last eight days. The evolution of those conversations is pretty clear.

So what's happening here? Is this Biden feeling pressure from the left or is this just Biden slowly upping the ante, knowing there aren't many targets left for Israel to hit in Gaza?

AVLON: Well, I'm not sure I'd say it's because there aren't any more targets left to hit. I think this is about Biden initially trying to support an ally, saying look, there's a right to defend yourself against rocket attacks.

But this is -- as this goes on in the humanitarian crisis becomes more clear and the collateral damage affects more citizens, the United States can uniquely -- I think in the world -- play a role telling Israel the time has come for a ceasefire. Whatever defensive actions you need to take have been done.

ROMANS: Yes.

AVLON: I don't think this is about domestic politics. And while Lord knows, domestic politics are important, there's a lot going on. I think it's also really important to focus on the fact that there are the seeds of a significant violent outbreak in the Middle East that not enough Americans I think are focused on that's actually happening. The implications could be massive for our country and the world.

ROMANS: Yes.

JARRETT: John Avlon, nice to see you, my friend.

AVLON: Thanks, guys. Good to see you guys. Good morning.

JARRETT: Thank you -- appreciate it.

All right, now to this disturbing story. When Ronald Greene died two years ago, Louisiana State Police told the family that he crashed his car into a tree while being pursued by police officers. But now, body camera footage has emerged and it tells a very different story.

We want to warn you the video is disturbing. Here is Ryan Young.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RONALD GREENE, KILLED BY LOUISIANA STATE POLICE: I'm your brother. I'm scared.

RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Terrifying pleas from Ronald Greene after a high-speed chase led to a deadly confrontation with Louisiana State Police just outside the city of Monroe in May of 2019. POLICE OFFICER: Get up here.

YOUNG (voice-over): In bodycam video obtained by the Associated Press, troopers can be seen repeatedly punching Greene after dragging him out of his vehicle.

LOUISIANA STATE TROOPER: Taser! Taser! Taser!

GREENE: (Screaming).

YOUNG (voice-over): Troopers tased Greene multiple times while he's face-down on the ground as they attempt to handcuff him. Another trooper can be seen kicking Greene.

LOUISANA STATE TROOPER: I've got blood all over me. I hope this guy ain't got f-ing AIDS.

YOUNG (voice-over): The Associated Press released three segments of the original video, which it says is 46 minutes long. Only two of the video clips have audio. CNN has neither reviewed or obtained the original video and it's unclear what occurred before or in between the video clips. The videos are being seen by the public for the first time but the incident took place two years ago.

The bodycam footage is shocking considering the way the encounter was described in a Louisiana State Police initial report in 2019, which says troopers attempted to pull Greene over for an unspecified traffic violation that ended when Greene crashed his vehicle. The report also says, quote, "Greene was taken into custody after resisting arrest and a struggle with troopers." Greene died on the way to the hospital, the report said.

At no time on the video can troopers be seen trying to render any medical aid to Greene who, according to the Associated Press, was face-down and moaning for more than nine minutes.

CNN has reached out to the attorneys for the officers for comment. Lee Merritt is an attorney for the Greene family and spoke to CNN.

LEE MERRITT, GREENE FAMILY ATTORNEY: It's not only what you're seeing but the sounds that go with it. You can hear him screaming and writhing in pain as he says I'm your brother -- please stop. I'm sorry, I was just scared.

YOUNG (voice-over): The Department of Justice is investigating the incident.

And in a statement to CNN, the Louisiana State Police says, "The premature public release of investigative files and video evidence in this case is not authorized and it was not obtained through official sources.

LSP is confident in the judicial system and fair review of this incident and continues to offer our full cooperation.

Unauthorized release of evidence undermines the investigative process and compromises the fair and impartial outcome for the Greene family, LSP employees, and the community. We are unable to provide any further information at this time."

Greene's mother tells NBC she thinks the Louisiana State Police murdered her son.

MONA HARDIN, MOTHER OF RONALD GREENE: They beat him with the purpose of letting him just die.

YOUNG (voice-over): Ryan Young, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: That's an awful story there. All right, more to come on that.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot facing backlash for limiting her local media interviews to reporters of color. Lightfoot decided to grant one-on-one interviews to commemorate her two-year anniversary in office. Local reporters criticized the policy, saying elected officials shouldn't get to choose who covers them. But Lightfoot defended the restriction on Twitter insisting "Diversity and inclusion is imperative across all institutions.

[05:40:16]

JARRETT: A 107-year-old survivor of the Tulsa massacre testifying before House lawmakers about the horror that has never left her. During emotional testimony on Wednesday, Viola Fletcher recalled the violence she witnessed as a 7-year-old girl on Tulsa's Black Wall Street -- that day that left hundreds of Black people dead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VIOLA FLETCHER, SURVIVOR OF TULSA RACE MASSACRE: I still see Black men being shot. Black bodies lying in the street.

I still smell smoke and see fire. I still see Black businesses being burned. I still hear airplanes flying overhead. I hear the screams.

I have lived through the massacre every day. Our country may forget this history, but I cannot.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JARRETT: It's just incredible. Viola is one of three survivors who are lead figures in a lawsuit demanding reparations for survivors of the massacre and their families.

ROMANS: One hundred seven years old, remembering so vividly that experience.

All right. Florida police say an 11-year-old girl probably saved her life by fighting off a kidnapping attempt.

Video shows a white Dodge Journey pulling up to the girl as she waits are her bus top. The man exits the vehicle, running up to the girl and grabbing her. A struggle begins. She's able to break free. The man then can be seen running back to his car and driving off.

The girl now safe with her family.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF CHIP SIMMONS, ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FLORIDA: When we saw the video -- it was actually two videos -- the hair on the back of our neck just stood up. She's a hero. She saw him coming, she started the fight. He picked her up, grabbed her, she continues to fight.

I think there's two lessons. One is to pay attention to your surroundings, and the second one is to fight and fight and fight.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: That doorbell cam there got that video.

The victim told authorities that the same man approached her several weeks ago at the same bus stop.

Thirty-year-old Jared Stanga is being held on a $1.5 million bond on three different charges.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:46:27]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: As you know, increasingly, we're seeing those rules challenged, both by the rapid advance of technology and the disruptive actions of nations like China and Russia.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: President Biden delivering the commencement address to Coast Guard Academy graduates.

The president worried about America's adversaries disrupting the global order at sea and that served as a backdrop for the first meeting of his administration between the top diplomats of the U.S. and Russia.

Frederik Pleitgen is in Moscow for us. Fred, I know you have some amazing footage in the Arctic to show us. But first, any breakthroughs in that meeting between the Secretary of State and the Russian foreign minister?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there.

So I wouldn't necessarily say there were breakthroughs but both sides did say that it was quite a constructive meeting. There was no finalization of a possible Putin-Biden summit. Certainly, no details on when or where that summit could take place.

But both sides did acknowledge that obviously, they did have some massive differences. Apparently, the Secretary of State raised some very controversial issues also with the Russian foreign minister. But at the same time, they also said that they wanted to try and cooperate in areas of mutual interest and try to sort of bring the temperature down.

One of the things that actually happened as that meeting got underway is that the U.S. announced that it would not sanction further the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that's currently in the final stages of construction between Russia and Germany. They say it's mostly because of the relations with Germany but obviously, that is something that does also help the tone between the U.S. and Russia as well.

Now, of course, one of the big reasons why those two men are in Reykjavik in Iceland is to talk about the Arctic and especially, Russia's massive military buildup there. I did get a firsthand look at how far that military buildup has come along. Let's have a look at that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PLEITGEN (voice-over): The course due north, flying for hours to Russia's northernmost military installation. Moscow granted us a rare visit to its base on Franz Josef Land, a barren archipelago in the Arctic Ocean of which Russia believes is key to dominating the Arctic.

PLEITGEN (on camera): This entire airbase is covered in ice and yet, the Russians have managed to extend the runway to a point that they can land even their heaviest aircraft here, including strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): The effort Moscow is making to upgrade its arctic bases I massive. Inside the modern housing complex called a trefoil, the air commander confirms to me that even Russia's dangerous Tu-95 strategic bombers, a plane similar in size to the U.S.'s B-52s, can now operate out of the airfield here.

"Of course they can," he says. "Have a look. We can land all types of aircraft on this base."

A chilling prospect for the U.S. and its allies, considering Franz Josef Land is only about 160 miles east of NATO territory. That's well within range of these powerful coastal defense rockets the Russians also showed us. They're capable of hitting ships more than 200 miles off the coast -- a threat that worries the U.S.

ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: We have concerns about some of the increased military activities in the Arctic that increases the dangers of prospects of accidents and miscalculations.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): The main reason why this standoff between the U.S. and Russia is heating up in the Arctic is climate change. As polar ice melts, the region is becoming more accessible and Russia is moving fast to stake its claims. Much of that effort is led from here, the headquarters of the Northern Fleet in the closed military town of Severomorsk, which we also got access to.

[05:50:12]

Russia has been upgrading its fleet up here for years. Its flagship is the Peter the Great nuclear battlecruiser, outfitted with an array of weapons to hit targets on sea and land and fight off planes and submarines.

PLEITGEN (on camera): Russia has a clear strategy up here in the Arctic. It essentially revolves around three different things. On the one hand, a very strong military. Then, dominating the Northern Sea route and also tapping and exploiting natural resources.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): And Russia is warning the U.S. and its allies not to mess with that plan.

SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): It has been absolutely clear for everyone for a long time that this is our territory. This is our land and we are responsible for our Arctic post to be safe. Everything that our country does there is absolutely legitimate.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): Rhetoric that increasingly has the U.S. and Russia on a collision course in the high north with Moscow, so far, in a stronger position.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PLEITGEN: And just to give an indication as to how big that military buildup already is, the Russians are saying that they've construction almost 500 new military installations in their high north over the past couple of years. Obviously, the U.S. very concerned about that. The Russians saying they're not backing down.

And yet, another indication of how global warming is increasingly leading to international tensions, Christine.

ROMANS: All right, Fred. Thanks for bringing that to us. Nice to see you. Thanks, Fred -- Laura.

JARRETT: All right, a sign of the times. Freshmen and upperclassmen will soon be a part of the past at Penn State. The university's faculty giving final approval to a proposition to remove gendered and binary terms from all course and program descriptions. Changes include replacing upperclassmen with upper-division and freshmen with first- year. Not clear when these changes will go into effect, though.

ROMANS: All right. They sound like something straight of science fiction but zombie fires are real and like their undead namesakes they are hard to kill. Scientists say the fires can survive winter, smoldering underground in places like the Arctic. According to a new study, as temperatures rise, zombie fires could become more common and a real force for firefighters to reckon with.

JARRETT: From fires to icebergs. The world's largest iceberg just broke off from Antarctica, creating a giant piece of floating ice nearly 80 times the size of Manhattan. It's 105 miles long and 15 1/2 miles wide. Iceberg calving is a natural phenomenon with huge chunks of ice breaking off the ice shelf at regular intervals. Scientists are not attributing this breakoff to climate change, though.

All right, now to this dramatic rescue in Virginia where a sheriff's deputy frees a woman trapped beneath an overturned vehicle. The deputy jumped into action when he saw a panicked young boy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She can't breathe. Please, help.

DEPUTY J. HOLT, GLOUCESTER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: She's trapped under the vehicle and I can't get it off.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mommy!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JARRETT: The deputy, J. Holt, managed to lift the vehicle just enough so the woman was able to maneuver her head out to safety. Just incredible -- quick thinking.

ROMANS: That is -- oh, good for him.

All right. Looking at markets around the world right now, let's take a look at Asian shares. They have closed for Thursday trading and they closed barely mixed. Europe has opened, also mixed. Paris up a little bit.

In the U.S. on Wall Street, stock index futures leaning lower here. A bumpy day on Wall Street. You know, the Dow tumbled almost 600 points and finally closed down about 163.

Fed minutes were the highlight here. The Fed optimistic about the American economy -- so optimistic it hinted that it will start talking eventually about easing back on its emergency stimulus. That should not have been a surprise to anyone but somehow it was.

On those persistent inflation concerns, Fed officials say they expect prices will rise this summer, though supply bottlenecks will take some time to work themselves out.

Cryptocurrencies also fell after a crackdown on digital currencies in China led to a steep sell-off there.

Today, investors will get earnings from Kohl's, BJ's, Ralph Lauren, and Hormel Foods.

And weekly jobless claims -- that comes out in just a few hours. The forecast is 450,000 claims for unemployment benefits. That would be a new pandemic low.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FORD COMMERCIAL: Torque -- it's targeted to go from zero to 60 in the mid-four-second range.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: All right, America's most popular pickup truck is finally going electric. Ford revealed a fully electric F-150 Lightning Wednesday in a moment that could herald the point of electric going mainstream. It's an opportunity for Ford to take on competitors like Tesla and make a truck geared toward everyday Americans.

More people are becoming vaccinated, the masks are coming off, and the social calendar is filling back up, and all this means more makeup. Lipstick sales are up more than 80 percent from last year. Estee Lauder says it expects to see a renaissance in makeup in the second half of the year and a comeback of bold, bright colors.

[05:55:00]

JARRETT: People are ready to go out this summer. They are ready to have fun.

ROMANS: As an economic indicator, lipstick tells us the economy is booming.

Thanks for joining us. I'm Christine Romans.

JARRETT: I'm Laura Jarrett. "NEW DAY" is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Brianna Keilar alongside John Berman on this new day.

They demanded investigations on everything from Benghazi to Hunter Biden, but when it comes to the historic attack on the U.S. Capitol most House Republicans say no.