Dems PO’d maskless GOP’rs maybe gave them COVID

Post Reply New Topic

Three House Democrats who believe they were infected with COVID-19 after being forced to shelter with Republicans who refused to wear masks during the siege on the U.S. Capitol are lashing out at their fellow representatives' lack of consideration.

The infected lawmakers -- Reps. Pramila Jayapal, Brad Schneider and Bonnie Coleman -- are furious with their Republican colleagues for not wearing masks as hundreds of lawmakers crowded into a secure location after evacuating the House gallery when Donald Trump supporters stormed the Capitol last week.

"It's more than arrogance, it's more than contempt," said Schneider, D-Ill. "It's a desire to cause injury to others, is the only way I can describe it."

While Schneider said he has not experienced any symptoms, both Coleman and Jayapal say they are experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms.

Three House Democrats who believe they were infected with COVID-19 after being forced to shelter with Republicans who refused to wear masks during the siege on the U.S. Capitol are lashing out at their fellow representatives' lack of consideration.

The infected lawmakers -- Reps. Pramila Jayapal, Brad Schneider and Bonnie Coleman -- are furious with their Republican colleagues for not wearing masks as hundreds of lawmakers crowded into a secure location after evacuating the House gallery when Donald Trump supporters stormed the Capitol last week.

"It's more than arrogance, it's more than contempt," said Schneider, D-Ill. "It's a desire to cause injury to others, is the only way I can describe it."

While Schneider said he has not experienced any symptoms, both Coleman and Jayapal say they are experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms.

The three representatives have received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine, but not the second dose medical experts say is crucial to full protection from the coronavirus.

While there's still uncertainty about how Schneider and his Democratic colleagues contracted the coronavirus, they believe their sheltering in place for hours with maskless Republican lawmakers played a key role in their positive COVID-19 status.

"I don't know from whom I got this virus or even necessarily if I got it in that room," said Schneider. "But I know that my exposure in that room was greater than at any other time through this entire pandemic."

Several House Republicans -- including Reps. Markwayne Mullin, Andy Biggs, Scott Perry and Michael Cloud -- were seen on video refusing to accept a mask when offered as they sheltered during the insurrection in their secure location on the Capitol grounds.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, R-Ga., who was also featured standing maskless with other House Republicans, released a statement saying, "It is absolutely ridiculous and insane to blame those of us who did not have COVID or symptoms. The blame lies squarely on Nancy Pelosi and the positive COVID members bringing COVID in the Capitol! It's absurd to say they caught it during the safe room."

Democrats are said to be moving forward with plans for a mandatory mask requirement on the House floor that will impose a fine for any breaches of the requirement. The fine would be $500 for the first offense and $2,500 for the second.