Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) on Monday was in attendance for Judge Amy Coney Barrett's Senate confirmation hearing ten days after announcing he had tested positive for COVID-19.
Lee, one of a number of people in President Trump's orbit who recently tested positive for the coronavirus, was seen at the Senate's first day of confirmation hearings for Barrett on Monday, NBC News reported. The senator announced his coronavirus diagnosis on Oct. 2, at the time saying he had started to experience symptoms a day earlier. He said he would "remain isolated for the next 10 days" but vowed to return in time for the Barrett hearings.
Sen Mike Lee, R-Utah, is here. (On right in photo.) He had announced a positive COVID test ten days ago. Also here, WH chief of staff Mark Meadows. pic.twitter.com/oIsVMVcKID — Lisa Desjardins (@LisaDNews) October 12, 2020
Mike Lee is in the hearing room and chatting with Graham pic.twitter.com/EKT2vnCtnv — Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) October 12, 2020
Lee, NBC News reports, said in an interview with Hugh Hewitt on Monday that he had "gotten the sign-off from the Office of the Attending Physician" and that he's "no longer contagious," but it's not clear whether he has tested negative for COVID-19. When asked if he was tested on Monday, Lee did not respond, The Daily Beast reports. Some senators are participating in Monday's hearing remotely, The Hill reports.
Lee was in attendance for the Sept. 26 Rose Garden event announcing Barrett's Supreme Court nomination, numerous attendees of which later tested positive for the coronavirus. NBC News' Kasie Hunt noted that "we don't know" whether Lee is negative for COVID-19, as "Republicans are not allowing those [coronavirus] tests to happen ahead of the hearing." Although Lee was seen wearing a mask on Monday, he did not wear one during his opening statement. Brendan Morrow
Samson_Uppercut on October 12nd, 2020 at 15:48 UTC »
Can someone explain to me why the sergeant-at-arms doesn't just cart his ass out the door?
maybenextyearCLE on October 12nd, 2020 at 14:51 UTC »
Insane that he is there, even if he was cleared. Right now, the GOP is trying to send this optic that you can just will COVID out of the world, and its falling on deaf ears, even with republicans. My republican roommate is furious that lee would show up. Also in this room is 87 year old diane feinstein
BabyYodaX on October 12nd, 2020 at 14:45 UTC »
What an asshole.