Senator Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, speaks throughout a Senate Homeland Safety and Governmental Affairs Committee listening to in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020.
Toni Sandys | Bloomberg | Getty Pictures
Ron Johnson of Wisconsin is the third Republican senator to check optimistic for Covid-19 after President Donald Trump introduced early Friday that he and the primary girl had a positive diagnosis.
Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who attended the Amy Coney Barrett Supreme Court docket nomination announcement on the White Home final Saturday, have additionally examined optimistic for the virus. Each are members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is the panel that can maintain hearings on her nomination.
It’s unclear the place Johnson contracted the virus, however he was uncovered earlier this week to somebody who has since examined optimistic for the virus, based on his workplace.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., asks a query in the course of the Senate Judiciary Committee listening to titled “Police Use of Drive and Neighborhood Relations”, in Dirksen Senate Workplace Constructing in Washington, D.C., June 16, 2020.
Tom Williams | Reuters
The senators’ diagnoses may doubtlessly have an effect on the Senate’s plan to push Barrett’s affirmation by earlier than the Nov. three presidential election. The GOP has a 53-47 edge within the chamber, and two Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, have stated they oppose voting on the nomination earlier than Election Day.
Democrats are calling to delay Barrett’s affirmation listening to, although Republicans have vowed to press ahead with the vote. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., chair of the Judiciary Committee, stated on Friday that the listening to will happen on Oct. 12 as deliberate.
Majority Chief Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on Saturday stated the Senate won’t return in full till after Oct. 19 as a consequence of well being considerations, however affirmation hearings for Barrett will stay as scheduled.
“Since Could, the Judiciary Committee has operated flawlessly by a hybrid methodology that has seen some Senators seem bodily at its hearings whereas different members have participated nearly,” McConnell stated in a press release. “The Committee has utilized this format efficiently for a lot of months whereas defending the well being and security of all concerned.”
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer has criticized Republicans for shifting ahead with the listening to.
“The choice to recess the Senate for 2 weeks after no less than three Republican Senators have examined optimistic for COVID-19 makes clear that the Senate can’t proceed with enterprise as standard because the virus continues to run rampant,” Schumer stated in a press release on Saturday. “If It is too harmful to have the Senate in session it’s also too harmful for committee hearings to proceed.”
U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) asks inquiries to James Comey, Former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation earlier than the Senate Judiciary Committee throughout an oversight listening to to look at the Crossfire Hurricane Investigation in Washington DC., U.S., September 30, 2020.
Ken Cedeno | Reuters
The variety of individuals in Trump’s orbit who’ve examined optimistic for Covid-19 is rising.
A number of individuals who have been on the president’s Supreme Court docket announcement within the Rose Backyard final week have tested positive. Invoice Stepien, Trump’s marketing campaign supervisor, and former prime aide Kellyanne Conway examined optimistic on Friday.
Trump was transported to the Walter Reed Nationwide Navy Medical Heart on Friday “as a precautionary measure” following his coronavirus analysis and is predicted to stay there for a number of days.
The president has taken his first dose of Remdesivir, an experimental antiviral remedy.
