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11 Jan, 2021 23:45

Democrat congresswomen test positive for Covid after Capitol riot, point fingers at unmasked Republicans

Democrat congresswomen test positive for Covid after Capitol riot, point fingers at unmasked Republicans

Two Democrat congresswomen have tested positive for Covid-19, and are apparently blaming their infection on a group of maskless Republicans they sheltered in place with during the Capitol Hill riot.

As President Donald Trump’s supporters rampaged through the US Capitol last Wednesday, lawmakers inside were ushered to an undisclosed location to shelter in place. However, Capitol physician Dr. Brian Monahan stated on Sunday that those who sought shelter “may have been exposed to another occupant with coronavirus infection.”

Also on rt.com Lawmakers sheltering from Capitol Hill riot may have been exposed to CORONAVIRUS, physician says

It is still unclear whether Monahan was referring to a lawmaker or a member of staff in the safe room. A day after Monahan’s statement, 75-year-old Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-New Jersey) announced on Monday that she had tested positive for Covid-19, and was isolating at home with “mild, cold-like symptoms.” 

Watson Coleman packed her announcement with political punch, calling the riots “insurrectionist,” and pointing out that “a number of members within the space ignored instructions to wear masks.”

These Republican members were seen on camera declining face masks handed out by Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Delaware), and were slated by liberal commentators for doing so. However, it is unknown whether any of the mask-refusing Republicans were infected, or if any were responsible for passing the illness on to Watson Coleman.

Several hours after Watson Coleman’s announcement, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington), the Progressive Caucus chair, also revealed that she had tested positive for Covid-19. In her statement, Jaypal directly accused the maskless Republicans she was sheltering with during the riot of “creating a superspreader event” by refusing to “simply wear a damn mask in a crowded room.”

Jaypal called for the fining of "every single Member [of Congress] who refuses to wear a mask in the Capitol.”

Still, the group of GOP lawmakers were hammered by Democrats from the bottom to the top of the party. Speaking to reporters after getting his second dose of the coronavirus vaccine on television, President-elect Joe Biden said he was “appalled” to see the Republicans turn down the masks.

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