Gohmert was scheduled to fly aboard Air Force One on Wednesday with President Donald Trump to Midland, Texas, where the president is raising funds and touring an oil rig. He tested positive for a coronavirus Wednesday morning during a pre-flight exam at the White House, a person familiar with the situation told CNN. Due to the positive test, Gohmert does not travel with the President.
A senior Republican aide told CNN that the test results have caused trouble in Hill, where “many employees” were ordered to take the tests before they could go to meetings and resume activity. Some are kidnapping in their offices until they can be tested. Gohmert’s office notified Republican leaders, who notified House medical personnel, and the protocol was activated to receive more notifications, the Republican Party aide said.
Gohmert told CNN last month that he was not wearing a mask because he had been tested and did not yet have the virus. “But if I understand, you will never see me without a mask,” he said.
He is just one of several conservative Republicans who have rejected the use of masks, which sometimes causes tension during committee meetings.
During Tuesday’s hearing with Attorney General Bill Barr, House of Representatives Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler urged a handful of Republican members to keep their masks on.
“I would remind Mr. Jordan, Mr. Biggs, and Mr. Johnson to stop violating committee rules, to stop violating the safety of committee members, to stop showing themselves how they don’t care by refusing to use their masks. “said the New York Democrat, referring to Republican representatives. Jim Jordan from Ohio, Andy Biggs from Arizona and Mike Johnson from Louisiana.
“Is it allowed to take a sip of coffee?” Johnson replied.
Gohmert was also present at the hearing. He was seen without a mask outside the room near Barr at one point. The Justice Department told CNN Wednesday that Barr will be examined.
At another hearing Wednesday, Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California intervened to remind members who are physically present that they should wear a mask.
“He was a member who was not willing to wear a mask constantly,” Lofgren said of Gohmert. “It is a reminder that this is very serious and if you are not willing to wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth, please leave the room and we will arrange for you to participate remotely.”
Speaker of the House of Democratic Representatives Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, also responded to the news.
“I am concerned about the irresponsible behavior of many of the Republicans who have chosen to constantly ignore the well-established public health orientation, perhaps out of loyalty to their boss, Donald Trump, who is the head of the anti-mask movement in the United States,” he said. Jeffries at a press conference. “That is a concern.”
Several lawmakers tested positive for the virus in the early days of the pandemic, while others had to be quarantined after being exposed to the virus.
The House of Representatives has taken precautions to limit the spread of the virus, including establishing a form of remote voting for members who do not want or cannot travel. Members who are physically present now vote in alphabetical groups to limit how many people are on the floor of the House at one time. Members have also adopted virtual meeting technology for many House audiences.
In May, Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell jointly rejected an offer from the White House to send quick-test resources to the Capitol complex.
They said they wanted “to continue to direct resources to front-line facilities” to combat the virus, and that lawmakers and staff would use “current testing protocols that the Office of the Physician Assistant has implemented until these faster technologies become more widely available. “
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