(Washington) Republican elected official reluctant to wear a mask in the US Congress tested positive for COVID – 19 on Wednesday as he was about to leave for Texas with President Donald Trump.
Posted on 29 July 2020 to 17 h 29
France Media Agency
Louie Gohmert announced his diagnosis the day after a parliamentary hearing with Justice Minister William Barr, whom he briefly rubbed shoulders with in the halls of the Capitol in Washington when neither wore a mask.
The news sparked outrage among Democrats and prompted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to order a mask to be worn in the chamber or face expulsion.
Claiming to be asymptomatic, the elected member of the House, 66 years, then suggested that the wearing of the mask itself, that he adopted sporadically that in recent weeks, may have contributed to his contagion, while minimizing the severity of his diagnosis.
Despite recommendations to Americans from his own health experts, Donald Trump did not want to be seen in public wearing a mask until 11 July. Since then, Republican parliamentarians who were opposed to it have started to wear it more regularly. But the subject remains a political marker between Republicans and Democrats.
“Wear a damn mask”
Louie Gohmert was to accompany Donald Trump for an official visit to Texas on Wednesday and was therefore tested in this capacity upon his arrival at the White House.
“I don't have any of the symptoms listed in relation to COVID – 17, but apparently I have the Wuhan virus He said in a video, employing a phrase that has already provoked the ire of China.
Louie Gohmert pointed out that he had worn more masks in the “last week or two than the last four months”, including Tuesday at William Barr's hearing in Congress.
But he sometimes lowered his headscarf and did not have one when the minister arrived, walking a few steps behind him, according to a video from a journalist there.
“It's interesting, when I have a mask, I move it to make it more comfortable and I can't help but wonder if it has put germs on the mask”, a- he continued. “I'm going to be very, very careful not to pass it on to someone else.”
“Wear a goddamn mask,” responded an elected Democrat, Jennifer Wexton, stressing that not doing so put “not only your colleagues in danger”, but also all employees of Capitol Hill.
Nancy Pelosi then announced that the wearing of a mask would henceforth be required in the hemicycle, except when an elected representative will have the floor, “as a sign of respect for the health, safety and well-being” of others . She stressed that she could order the expulsion of an elected official refusing this instruction.