Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Republican congressman Louie Gohmert, who refused to wear mask, tests positive for coronavirus

Lawmaker was pre-screened before planned Texas trip with US President Donald Trump. Footage shows Gohmert in close contact with Attorney General William Barr on Tuesday, before House panel’s hearing

US congressman Louie Gohmert – a Texas Republican who has been walking around the Capitol without a mask – has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to multiple sources.

Gohmert was expected to fly to Texas on Wednesday morning with President Donald Trump and tested positive in a pre-screen at the White House. The eighth-term Republican told CNN last month that he was not wearing a mask because he was being tested regularly for the coronavirus.

"[I]f I get it,” he told CNN in June, “you'll never see me without a mask.”

Congressmen Mario Diaz Balart, Neal Dunn, Morgan Griffith, Mike Kelly, Ben McAdams and Tom Rice have tested positive for the virus, along with Senator Rand Paul.

In May, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell turned down the administration's offer of rapid testing for the Capitol. Some lawmakers – mostly Republicans – decline to use face coverings while in the building.

Gohmert attended Tuesday's blockbuster House Judiciary Committee hearing with Attorney General William Barr in person, where lawmakers were seated at some distance from one another.

But footage from before the hearing shows Gohmert and Barr walking together in close contact, with neither wearing a mask. Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said Barr will be tested for coronavirus on Wednesday.

At one point in Tuesday's hearing, Chairman Jerry Nadler chastised several Republicans for taking off their masks, though Gohmert was not among those he scolded.

“I would remind Mr Jordan, Mr Biggs and Mr Johnson to stop violating the rules of the committee,” Nadler said, referring to Ohio congressman Jim Jordan, Arizona congressman Andy Biggs and Louisiana congressman Mike Johnson, three Republican lawmakers.

“To stop violating the safety of the members of the committee. To stop holding themselves out as not caring by refusing to wear their masks.”

“Is it permissible to drink a sip of coffee?” one of the members asked.

“It is not permissible,” replied Nadler.

In a tweet, Nadler wrote, “I want to wish ⁦@replouiegohmert⁩ a full & speedy recovery. When individuals refuse to take the necessary precautions it puts everyone at risk. I’ve regularly instructed all Members to wear their masks and hope this is a lesson by all my colleagues.”

Connie Hair, Gohmert's chief of staff, declined to comment. But after this article was published, Gohmert told his aides in person that he had been infected.

Comments

General Butler 5 year ago
So what? Is this supposed to terrify me into wearing a mask? Do you not understand that everyone EVERYONE is going to be infected and hardly anyone will die as a result? Do you honestly not understand how viral infections and the human immune system work? Stop buying into this scamdemic to destroy the world for UN Agenda 21 and get with the program of humanity for humans. Can you people publish ANYTHING but MSM fear porn over this fake plandemic? You say you're not supported by anyone and hold no political persuasions but I'm calling bullshit on that big fat lie. You are obviously a cut out from some organization like an NGO or intelligence agency whose agenda is to support the psychological operation of terrifying everyone into believing an injection of unknown substances on an annual basis is going to be necessary for life going forward. Tell me I'm wrong.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
Head of Gaza Aid Group Resigns Amid Humanitarian Concerns
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Denmark Increases Retirement Age to 70, Setting a European Precedent
Iranian Director Jafar Panahi Wins Palme d'Or at Cannes
Israeli Airstrike Kills Nine Children of Gaza Doctor
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki Erupts Again, Spewing Ash Cloud over Flores Island
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
Apple's $95 Million Siri Settlement: Eligible Users Have Until July 2 to File Claims
US and UAE Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nvidia AI Chip Imports
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
Michael Jordan to Serve as Analyst for NBA Games
Senate Democrats Move to Censure Trump Over Qatar Jet Gift
Hamas Releases Last Living US Hostage from Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict
×