Matt rivers is at the tokyo airport. Matt, when do evacuees plan to be back in the u. S. . Reporter well, in terms of when theyre going to take off, fredricka, im not sure yet. Officials are really remaining very tightly lipped, but what we do know and what weve seen in the past couple of minutes, the planes are over my shoulder there. Were in a parking garage adjacent to the airport. And for the first time, weve seen passengers begin to line up outside of one of two 747s that have been contracted by the u. S. State department to evacuate these americans. Theres going to be almost 400 people that are going through the process of getting on board these planes. It has been not only a twoweek or so period for them in quarantine on that japanese in the japanese port here on that cruise ship, its also been an ordeal just tonight. They started to get off that cruise ship more than 5 1 2 hours ago and theyre just now getting on board this plane. This is all part of a process that the u. S. Government says is part of an abundance of caution. Thats why when they go back to the United States, theyll be quarantined for two weeks, but fredricka, this has been a very difficult and exhausting ordeal for the people on board that ship that are now trying to get on board one of two 747s there and ultimately, hopefully for them, take off here from hanada airport in tokyo on their way back to Travis Air Force base in california. You mentioned its been difficult, exhausting. For some folks, some passengers, theyre downright angry about this evacuation plan and the quarantine. Reporter yeah, thats exactly right. I mean, what theyre saying is, look, we understand the concept of Public Health and needing to keep people safe in the United States, but up until a couple of days ago, the official line from the u. S. Government was that the japanese regulations on quarantine, which would have had them stay on the ship until february 19th and then after that they could take a commercial flight back home to the u. S. , that that was all well and good. But then it was on saturday that the u. S. State department talked to passengers on board and said actually, were going to evacuate you, and then you have to face a further twoweek quarantine in the u. S. The passengers weve spoken to, about a dozen of them, have said hold on. Where was the u. S. Government two weeks ago . Why did they change their mind on this . Theyre not angry that theyre having to go through further quarantine in the u. S. But that the u. S. Government didnt chooipg choose to make this evacuation plan about ten days ago when they could, instead of letting them sit on the ship in the yokohaha harbor, where we are not far from right now. We are less than a week away from the next stop in the 2020 president ial race. The nevada caucuses are saturday. Democratic caucusgoers are showing up in force. Early voting started yesterday. At one early voting precinct people had to wait in line three hours to cast their vote, but democrats are determined and ready to put the problems that happened in iowa in those caucuses behind them. I dont know if im ever 100 certain that its going to work out but i do feel a lot better about it being done on good old back to basics paper and pen and just putting it into a box. Its a really easy, smooth experience. We came in, waited 45 minutes, which is a good sign. A lot of people came out to vote. Once we were in there, it was easy, straightforward. All right. With enthusiasm high, candidates are spread out across the state with rallies and events, trying to drum up support with just a few days to go. Cnn is on the campaign trail in nevada. Athena jones is in carson city where senator Bernie Sanders is hold i holding a rally soon and arlette saenz. Athena, there seems to be a whole lot of excitement surrounding this race. Reporter hi, fred, thats right. Were in carson city as Bernie Sanders makes a push to get out the vote. Early voting started yesterday. It lasts until tuesday. Hes hoping that he and his campaign are hoping they can drive supporters from a rally like this straight to the early caucus sites. Bernie sanders lost the nevada caucuses to Hillary Clinton in 2016, but he did very well in the northern part of the state. He won all of the northern counties. He also won carson city, which is where we are right now, as well as washaw county, where reno is, about half an hour from here. One of the things well be watching at this rally is to see how much senator sanders tries to draw contrast between himself and his rivals. Its something were seeing him do much more in recent days. Hes going after Pete Buttigieg raising money for millionaires and billionaires. Yesterday we heard him criticize Mike Bloomberg, who happens to be a billionaire, for his past policies while he was mayor of new york citys policies that Bernie Sanders calls racist. Listen to what Bernie Sanders has to say and how Mike Bloomberg has been responding to this sort of criticism. Regardless of how much money a multibillionaire candidate is willing to spend on his election, we will not create the energy and excitement we need to defeat donald trump if that candidate pursued, advocated for and enacted racist policies like stop and frisk. Which caused communities of color in his city to live in fear. I defended it for too long, i think, because i didnt understand the unintended pain it caused to young black and brown kids and to their families. I should have acted sooner and faster to stop it and for that, i have apologized. Now that kind of criticism of bloombergs past policies, which he calls racist, that could really resonate in a place like nevada, South Carolina and many other states coming down the line, states that are much more diverse than the first two state s to vote, iowa and New Hampshire. Latinos make up 30 of the population here in nevada and Bernie Sanders won the latino vote last time around. Latinos made up 19 of the electorate in 2016. Well have to see if that changes. Its not a coincidence that sanders is going after bloomberg on these issues now. Mike bloomberg is not on the ballot here and is not competing in the first four states but looms large march 3rd in the super tuesday states that will be voting a couple of weeks from now. Joe biden, following two disappointing outcomes in iowa and New Hampshire. Youre with the former Vice President s campaign. What is the message hes trying to convey to voters . Reporter well, fred, nevada is the first test of joe bidens argument that he will perform in states with a more diverse demographic. To that end over the weekend he has been courting both latino and africanamerican voters, even stopping by an ame chuven as he tried to bring his message to that community. One issue he has been hammering away at is health care. Particularly that is an issue of importance to many of the unions here in the state. Biden arguing under his Health Care Plan they would be able to keep their negotiated plans unlike medicare for all. He has been placing gun control front and center. Two years ago, the largest mass shooting in u. S. History occurred here on the las vegas strip. With both of those issues, health care and gun control, biden offering an implicit contrast with the record of Bernie Sanders. And in an interview that aired this morning with meet the press, biden talked about his need to focus squarely on President Trump. I cant focus on that, chuck. Ive got to focus on the future. Ive got to focus on how do we end this era of how do we literally, i wrote about it, restore the soul of this country . Its just being eaten out. Its being eaten away. The cruelty, the viciousness, the way he pits people against one another, the way he goes after people of color and makes fun of. Theres a cruelty about it. Thats not who we are, chuck. I choose to believe its who the American People are. The Biden Campaign is hoping that nevada will offer a bit of a turn around for joe biden. And he has predicted that he will finish here in the first or second place. I asked him yesterday, do you think you have to win . He said no, but he does think that they have a shot. One other interesting note is that the former Senate Majority leader, harry reid, a major figure here in the state. He has yet to offer an endorsement. Its unlikely he will endorse before the caucuses next saturday. He did tell a group of reporters that they shouldnt count out joe biden just yet, pointing out that nevada and South Carolina are both states with diverse demographics. Thats something that the Biden Campaign is really betting on in the coming few weeks. Fred . Interesting. Arlette saenz and athena jones in nevada. Thank you so much for being with us, william mccurty. Less than a week from your states caucus. What are your impressions from the early voting turnout so far . Is it an indication of whats to come . Voters are energized to turn out, as you can see. We had a lot of people show up on the first day of voting, which i will add is historic. Our Nevada Democrats are ready and we will look forward to, you know, getting ready for caucus day as well. Okay. So, so many are hoping that there isnt so many in your state are hoping there isnt going to be a repeat of what happened in iowa. Your states party was set to use that same app that caused all the problems in iowa. After iowa, decided to drop that plan. What systems, backup, reporting plans, whats in place to reassure you and voters . Look, weve been working really hard to ensure that what happened in iowa does not happen here in nevada. Weve been working around the clock to ensure were training our volunteers and were looking forward to being successful. I will add that with the caucus calculator they can do on pen and paper. So well be ready. Weve seen an early surge in voting. Some people had to wait over three hours to cast their votes saturday. Are you anticipating a higher, you know, turnout than, you know, earlier expected . Than your earlier expectations . You know what . I am really excited that Nevada Democrats really showed up on the first day, our historic first day of early vote. Were anticipating folks to continue to engage in this process from now until the 18th, when early vote ends and were looking forward to, you know, a significant turnout on caucus day as well. All right. So, william, that very powerful nevada Culinary Union, choosing not to endorse any of the democrats in the running. It has spoken out against the medicare for all proposal, pushed by Bernie Sanders. Do you think the unions decision will impact the decisions that your voters make . Look, nevada is very different. We have the benefit much being the first early state that has a Significant Union density of about 14 . Were really excited for the fact that we have such a significant voice in this process. The Culinary Union has always done whats right for their members and i am sure that they are going to continue to provide information to their members so they can have the information they need to not only participate in early vote but also caucus day, which is extremely important. A lot is being made of the diversity of your state, especially after New Hampshire and iowa. 30 , athena was reporting latino voters. Will this outcome of the caucuses be any better of an indicator of how the nation may go in the democratic race, in your view . Look, nevada is very diverse. We provide ourselves, you know, on our positioning within this nominating contest. As you know, we are the first state that will be able to provide any kind of indication as to how a candidate will be able to build a broadbased coalition to not only, you know, successfully have, you know, a good successful super tuesday, but also its going to show if they can build a broadbased coalition to go and beat donald trump in november. In nevada, you know, during our early vote sites we had everything from chinatown to east las vegas, significant latin population and in my own assembly district, which has a vibrant africanamerican, you know, constituency. Our candidates will have to make sure they communicate across the board to not only do well in nevada but across the country as well. William mccurdy, all the best. Good luck this week. Thank you so much. Coming up, more than 1,000 former members of the Justice Department calling on the u. S. Attorney general william barr to resign. The new fallout and the message critics are sending to current employees. Plus special tactical teams being moved from the border to sanctuary cities. How far will local governments go . Ill talk with the mayor of atlanta. The business of hard wo. Hustle. And high fives. Modernized comfort inns and suites have been refreshed because our business is you. Get the lowest price guaranteed on all Choice Hotels when you book direct at choicehotels. Com. Man can i find an Investment Firm that has a truly longterm view . It begins by being privately owned. With more than 85 years of experience over multiple market cycles. With Portfolio Managers who are encouraged to do whats right over whats popular. Focused on helping me achieve my investors unique goals. Can i find an Investment Firm that gets long term the way i do . With capital group, i can. Talk to your advisor or consultant for investment risks and information. It wouldve saved me a lotspen of money that i spent. My family has bad teeth. When youre not able to smile you become closed off. The meaning of a smile to me is the beginning of a conversation. The best advice i can give anyone. Is dont wait. At aspen dental, were all about yes. Like yes to free exam and xrays for new patients without insurance. Yes to flexible hours and payment options. And yes, youll start smiling more too. Dont wait, book at aspendental. Com or call today. A general dentistry office. Were following breaking news now. Prosecutors and other doj officials are calling on attorney general william barr to resign. The Stunning Development is in response to barrs decision to ask for shorter prison sentence for roger stone, a longtime trump adviser. The officials who served in both republican and democratic administrations signed and released a rare statement today, demanding barr step down as the nations top Law Enforcement official. Cnn crime and justice producer and White House Reporter for the Washington Post and cnn political analyst join me now. Good to see both of you. David, let me begin with you. What more can you tell us about this statement . Hi, fred. Good afternoon. Its more than 1100 former Justice Department officials who are signing on to this bipartisan and sharply worded letter that calls attorney general william barr a grave threat to the administration of fair justice and asks for his resignation. Ill read to you a bit more from the letter. These former officials right that the president s Public Comments on Justice Department matters have gravely damaged the departments credibility but mr. Barrs actions in doing the president s personal bidding unfortunately speak louder than his words. Those actions and the damage theyve done to the Justice Departments integrity in the rule of law require mr. Barr to resign. Fred, this letter capping one of the most tumultuous weeks when attorney general barr and others engaged in this public dispute with prosecutors who recommended a stiff sentence for roger stone, who lied about witness tampering. Barr attempting to defuse the growing crisis a bit in an interview with abc news in which he said that the decision to soften the sentencing request on stone was made without consultation from the white house. It was the Justice Departments decision, barr said. He also, though, added this rare rebuke, this criticism of president donald trump, barr telling abc news that the president s tweets, his online commentary about the Justice Department make his job impossible to do. Fred, we got a bit of a response from the white house to those criticisms this morning. Take a listen to mark short, the Vice President s chief of staff, in an interview on cnn. I dont think its impossible to do his job. In fact, i think attorney general barr is doing a great job. He has a lot of confidence inside the white house. I think the president s frustration is one that a lot of americans have, which feels like the scales of justice are not balanced anymore. There has been a bias that attorney general barr is trying to correct. He has said that the president has not called him directly to say please do these things. He has acted independently to initiate these reviews and i think hes doing a fantastic job of it. There again is marc short, the Vice President s chief of staff on cnns state of the union with our dana bash. Marc short standing by the attorney general there. More than 1,100 former Justice Department officials came down in a different conclusion, calling for attorney general barrs resignation. The Justice Department spokesman declined to comment on the letter. And attorney general