CNN "Newsroom" - Transcript: Interview with Ned Lamont

Interview

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HARLOW: Well, this morning, a major development. Chokeholds and other tactics that restrict breathing are officially banned from use by state police in Connecticut. This is after Governor Ned Lamont's signing of a new sweeping executive order on Monday. He joins me now.

Governor, thank you very much for being here.

GOV. NED LAMONT (D-CT): Good morning, Poppy.

HARLOW: What will this mean in terms of actual on-the-ground implementation for all the officers in your state? Meaning will all Connecticut law enforcement officers be required to undergo new statewide training to make sure they know exactly what is prohibited?

LAMONT: Right now, it's just for our state police, our legislature's going to come forward with a bill that follows that on for all of our local police as well. But, really, policing is about trust. And trust means involving the community. So, obviously, a chokehold sent a signal that this is not about trust in the community.

But we found out with the protests, following George Floyd's murder, our police leaders were working very closely with the protest leaders, sometimes taking a knee together, we're able to avoid violence and also able to stand up for a cause bigger than ourselves.

HARLOW: Look, it has been, next month, it will be six years since the world watched as Eric Garner in Staten Island, your neighboring state, suffered from a chokehold and begged to breathe. And I wonder what you say to those who might ask, Governor, why just now? Because you said this week, I don't want to wait another minute. Why did it take until now and not sooner?

LAMONT: I think for myself, I can do something about it. Eric Garner, we were outraged, I can't breathe. And I was so -- you know, one of the things about COVID is, the motto was, we're all in this together. And then it became, I can't breathe. And what was separating us.

So as governor, I have an opportunity to make a difference here, we're going to lead by example, that's what we did with our criminal justice reform, that's what we're doing with police accountability. We're going to -- following that up in terms of judges and state police and the diversity of this amazing state, reflected in those governing groups.

HARLOW: I'm sure you saw the response from the American Civil Liberties Union in your state. They said, quote, "The people of Connecticut deserve much better than Lamont's order, which amounts to lukewarm heat and no light. The Connecticut General Assembly must come back into session and accomplish things that Lamont has refused to do, including reducing the role and size of policing in our state, creating an equitable COVID-19 response plans, and decarcerating prisons and jails."

Is there more to be done here?

LAMONT: There's always more to be done. We have 15 percent fewer people incarcerated today than we had pre-COVID, just four months ago. You're right, when it comes to testing, we're taking the testing and mobile vans, right into those communities that are most at risk, black and brown communities where people are living often close together, that's where the infections are most severe.

So we're doing everything we can to make a difference for these folks, and that makes a difference for us all.

HARLOW: You have, I should note, endorsed Joe Biden for president. And I wonder what your response is on this topic of policing in America. More than 50 progressive groups wrote a letter to him this week. And they say, look, even what he has proposed, it needs to go further. They write this, in terms of the proposal that he's made to invest $300 million in community policing, Governor.

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"We're here to tell you unequivocally, this is not the answer. The COPS program has directly contributed to the increased size and scope of policing in cities across the country, and the subsequent stream of violence and killings perpetrated by law enforcement on black people in particular."

They want more of a conversation on reparations, on defunding police, what that might look like. Do you think that there is more to be done by the Biden camp here?

LAMONT: I think there's more to be done by all of us. But I'll tell you, when it comes to the state police, sometimes I do think -- and our municipal police, we're asking them to do too much. You go into a home, maybe there's -- it's a mental health issue, it's a drug addiction issue, domestic abuse. A whole variety of things.

So I think we've got to get our social service groups more involved as well, so we have the right answer to each of these issues. But the police are there because there's often a public safety issue as well.

HARLOW: Yes, no, I mean, look, it's getting a lot of attention now, there are some things that maybe shouldn't be policed, you are saying, they should be left to experts in other fields.

Let's talk about COVID-19, coronavirus, because your state is one of 22 where there is a downward trend in cases, that's a good thing. But today's a big day for you guys, this is phase two of reopenings. That means a number of things, including gatherings of people outside, I think of up to 100 people. What are you expecting to see? And if the numbers tick up, are you willing to reinstate some of the restrictions? TEXT: Connecticut Reopening Phase Two: Amusement parks, museums and

zoos; Hotels; Libraries; Indoor dining; Sports and fitness facilities

LAMONT: So it was exactly a month ago that we allowed outdoor dining, we opened up all of our stores. And in that month, our hospitalizations are down 50 percent and our rate of infection is down dramatically. So that meant that we didn't reopen too soon, we've done it carefully, people are still wearing the masks, which is so important.

So as you point out, yes, today is indoor dining, today is hotels, today is nail salons. So approximately 95 percent of the Connecticut economy is now up and operating. That doesn't mean that customers feel totally safe, going into indoor dining yet, so it's going to take a little bit of time, but we're making progress.

HARLOW: OK, finally, quickly, the vice president, who leads the Coronavirus Task Force, says any talk about a quote-unquote "second wave" is, quote, "overblown." Is it?

LAMONT: No. I mean, you've got to be conscious of this. Look what's going on In Arizona and Texas and Florida, look what's going on in Wuhan, China. We thought that was behind them, they've had a flare-up as well. So this is no time to, you know, take down your guard and happy talk won't make it go away. Be careful, be cautious like we've done here in Connecticut, opening up safely, I think that's the best answer.

HARLOW: Happy talk won't make it go away. The facts are the facts. Governor Ned Lamont, thank you and we wish you luck today, for everyone who lives there, as you go through phase two reopening.

LAMONT: Nice to see you, Poppy, thank you.

HARLOW: All right.

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