Two more Texas Democrats have tested positive for coronavirus after they packed onto private jets without masks and fled to Washington, D.C. to avoid voting on an election reform bill. The news comes just one day after three of their colleagues also reported that they had contracted the virus. It brings the number of Texas state lawmakers in Washington who have tested COVID-positive to five. All are fully vaccinated.
San Antonio Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer said on Sunday he was among the two new positive tests. Earlier on Sunday, Austin Rep. Celia Israel revealed she was among the initial group of three to test positive – but tried to claim that catching Covid was a noble ‘sacrifice’. She said: ‘I hope this instance highlights the sacrifice we are willing to make for the cause of democracy. I would not change anything to protect the right to vote.’
The announcements came after the pair had spent days touring Washington, giving media interviews, addressing crowds, and even meeting Vice President Kamala Harris.
During the exodus from the Lone Star State, the Democrats snapped selfies on buses and planes to taunt their Republican rivals. The images, however, revealed none were adhering to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to wear face coverings on transportation modes like buses, planes, and trains.
On Sunday Harris visited Walter Reed Medical Center for a ‘routine’ checkup. On Monday evening, 58 Democratic lawmakers packed into two private jets, chartered at a whopping $100,000, to flee from Texas to Washington, D.C. in order to sabotage Republican’s two voting rights bills.
Other Texas lawmakers joined the group in D.C. but made their own travel arrangements.
The White House confirmed two of those who tested positive for COVID-19 were in Tuesday’s indoor meeting with VP Harris but a statement claims she and her staff were not at risk of exposure.
Senator Elizabeth Warren met with the group of runaway Texas lawmakers at the Capitol on Wednesday as well.
