Rep. Raúl Grijalva Tests Positive For Coronavirus

Chairman Raœl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) gives an opening statement at a House Natural Resources Committee hearing on the US Park Police's June 1 confrontation with protesters at Lafayette Square on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., July 28, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis/Pool
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 28: Chairman Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) gives an opening statement before Acting Chief of the U.S. Park Police Gregory Monahan testifies about the June 1 confrontation with protesters at Lafayett... WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 28: Chairman Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) gives an opening statement before Acting Chief of the U.S. Park Police Gregory Monahan testifies about the June 1 confrontation with protesters at Lafayette Square near the White House during a House Natural Resources Committee hearing on July 28, 2020 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The committee is investigating the circumstances under which the square was cleared so President Trump could make an appearance at St. John's Church. (Photo by Leah Millis-Pool/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) has tested positive for COVID-19, days after chairing a committee hearing attended by Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) who announced a positive test for coronavirus earlier this week. 

“While I cannot blame anyone directly for this, this week has shown that there are some Members of Congress who fail to take this crisis seriously,” he said in a statement that he posted to his Twitter account on Saturday afternoon. “Stopping the spread of a deadly virus should not be a partisan issue,” he added.

Grijalva said that he currently has no symptoms and is self-isolating at the recommendation of an attending physician.

The Arizona congressman chairs the House Natural Resources Committee which held a meeting Tuesday that Gohmert also attended. Gohmert reported a positive test for COVID-19 the following day, although it was not immediately clear whether Gohmert had infected Grijalva or others.

Gohmert has routinely refused to wear a mask also attended a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) told CNN Wednesday that while the House isn’t mandating testing for lawmakers yet, “we’re discussing that.”

Since Gohmert’s announcement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) ordered a broad mask mandate for House members that was scheduled to go into effect Thursday. It included a requirement for members and staff to wear masks in the House chamber in addition to House office buildings with few exceptions.

 

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