Democrat Traveled to DC to Vote for Pelosi Despite Testing Positive for COVID-19
Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) traveled from Wisconsin 6 days after coronavirus diagnosis
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A Democrat congresswoman traveled to Washington D.C. from her home state of Wisconsin to vote for Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) as House speaker, despite testing positive for COVID-19.
Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) made the journey to D.C. just six days after being diagnosed as infected with the coronavirus.
The vote helped secure another term for Pelosi, who narrowly won reelection as the Speaker of the House.
Ahead of her vote, Moore, who represents Wisconsin’s 4th Congressional District, announced that she was “medically cleared to travel and work.”
However, on December 28, Moore tweeted: “I tested positive for COVID-19.
"I am following guidance from my doctor and am isolating from others."
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"I am thankful to be feeling well," the Democrat added.
"And I do not foresee this disrupting my work for Wisconsin’s Fourth.”
I encourage every person to continue taking measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by wearing a mask, washing your hands, and practicing social distancing.
— Rep. Gwen Moore (@RepGwenMoore) December 28, 2020
"I encourage every person to continue taking measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by wearing a mask, washing your hands, and practicing social distancing," Moore added as she announced her COVID diagnosis.
She spoke to the local news station WISN 12 on December 30, confirming that she was in Wisconsin when she was diagnosed.
She told the station, “I have had great medical care, through Froedtert Hospital, and they have taken very good care of me.
"The moment that I got my diagnosis, the interventions were in place right away.”
Froedtert Hospital is located in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.
However, she announced just six days later on Sunday afternoon that she was cleared to travel, according to Breitbart.
"Thank you all for the well wishes. I am feeling good!” she tweeted.
"My quarantine is over and I am medically cleared to travel and work on behalf of Wisconsin’s Fourth Congressional District."
Thank you all for the well wishes. I am feeling good! My quarantine is over and I am medically cleared to travel and work on behalf of Wisconsin’s Fourth Congressional District.
— Rep. Gwen Moore (@RepGwenMoore) January 3, 2021
Moore's announcement did not state that she had tested negative for COVID-19, however.
It is also not clear exactly when Moore traveled to D.C. and how.
Just a few hours later, Moore was in the Capitol, interacting with other members and journalists.
Huffington Post’s Matt Fuller tweeted that Moore gave another member an “elbow bump”:
Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), who tested positive for coronavirus on Dec. 28th, just voted from the House floor and gave Jim Langevin an elbow bump.
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) January 3, 2021
Moore also interacted with journalists, including The Hill‘s Olivia Beavers, telling her that she has not received a negative COVID-19 test after she tested positive and said she had followed CDC guidelines to quarantine for two weeks:
@RepGwenMoore told me outside House floor that she hasn’t received a negative Covid test after she announced last week she had tested positive, but says she has followed CDC guidelines to quarantine for 2 weeks + she has listened to advice of her doc who said she could come today
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) January 3, 2021
Moore was seen on the House floor sitting in the front row, according to C-SPAN’s Craig Caplan:
Wisconsin Democratic Rep. Gwen Moore, who was recently in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19, was on the House floor today in the front row voting in the 117th Congress House Speaker election for Nancy Pelosi. pic.twitter.com/P9deM9OhW6
— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) January 3, 2021
USA Today‘s Christal Hayes tweeted that Moore was showing up six days after she announced a COVID diagnosis, despite the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines recommending a quarantine of at least ten days for those testing positive:
Rep. Gwen Moore announced on Dec. 28 she tested positive for COVID-19 -- SIX days ago.
— Christal Hayes (@Journo_Christal) January 3, 2021
D.C. coronavirus guidance says a person should quarantine for AT LEAST 10 days, even if you do not show symptoms https://t.co/zd40zn4mJt https://t.co/6SG6rSJVSg
A number of Republicans slammed Pelosi for allowing Moore to vote despite a COVID-19 diagnosis in order to ensure Pelosi’s election as House speaker.
Pelosi is putting the public’s health at risk to keep herself in power. https://t.co/c3tb8MZE3Q
— Congressman Ken Buck (@RepKenBuck) January 3, 2021
Republican freshman Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-GA) tweeted, “.@SpeakerPelosi changed the COVID rules because she is desperate to cling to the gavel”:
.@SpeakerPelosi changed the COVID rules because she is desperate to cling to the gavel.
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) January 3, 2021
No one can attack me about masks, when Pelosi is sending Democrats to the floor with positive COVID tests to vote for her for Speaker.#COVID19 #117thCongress https://t.co/BdFwfajMIl
She also tweeted, “Democrats shut down this country, and businesses, churches, schools, force masks, and ruin millions of Americans lives.
"But it’s ok with @SpeakerPelosi to walk #COVID19 positive members in the House so she can get her precious votes to be Speaker?”
So let me get this straight.
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) January 3, 2021
Democrats shut down this country, and
businesses,
churches,
schools,
force masks,
and ruin millions of Americans lives.
But it’s ok with @SpeakerPelosi to walk #COVID19 positive members in the House so she can get her precious votes to be Speaker? https://t.co/oBQf4T5VqZ
National Republican Senatorial Committee adviser Matthew Whitlock tweeted:
Pelosi allowing Dems who JUST tested positive for COVID days ago in to vote (because her Speakership is on the line) is a great reminder that Dems see the virus and virus safety measures as a political tool to weaponize or ignore based on their political needs of the moment.
Pelosi allowing Dems who JUST tested positive for COVID days ago in to vote (because her Speakership is on the line) is a great reminder that Dems see the virus and virus safety measures as a political tool to weaponize or ignore based on their political needs of the moment. https://t.co/ByYkBz7Atk
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) January 3, 2021
With Democrats losing 13 seats in the House in the November elections and only having a ten-seat margin over Republicans, she needed to secure as many Democrat votes as possible with no more than six defections.
In 2018, there were 15 defections.
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During Sunday’s vote, there were two defections from Reps. Jared Golden (D-ME) and Conor Lamb (D-PA).
Despite threats from progressives, Pelosi ultimately won reelection with 216 votes — less than a majority of the House.
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) received 209 votes.
Rep. Bruce Westerman tweeted, “Looks like @SpeakerPelosi‘s proxy voting and remote hearing measures are only essential when her leadership position isn’t on the line.”
Looks like @SpeakerPelosi's proxy voting and remote hearing measures are only essential when her leadership position isn't on the line. https://t.co/JRRFkIRjBL
— Rep. Bruce Westerman (@RepWesterman) January 3, 2021
Moore tweeted to Trump in October to “stay home” due to surging cases of COVID:
.@realDonaldTrump, Wisconsin had to open a new *hospital* because of the record surges in COVID-19 cases.
— Rep. Gwen Moore (@RepGwenMoore) October 16, 2020
Is that not enough for you to stay home? https://t.co/SWOi1qIPsP
She has also tweeted in November that Wisconsinites should “stay home whenever possible.”
Wisconsin: we must do everything we can to fight COVID. Please wear a mask, wash your hands, practice social distancing, and stay home whenever possible. https://t.co/AQJAOOYNCW pic.twitter.com/kAEpvkmK2v
— Rep. Gwen Moore (@RepGwenMoore) November 17, 2020
If Moore did follow CDC guidelines to isolate herself for ten days, that would mean she first experienced symptoms or was tested on or before December 23 but did not tell the public for five days — until December 28.
