Sen. Ron Johnson defends attendance at fundraiser after testing positive for COVID-19

Sen. Ron Johnson insists that he did not have any symptoms

Oct 5, 2020

Sen. Ron Johnson has defended attending a fundraiser despite testing positive for COVID-19.

The Wisconsin senator revealed over the weekend that he tested positive for the coronavirus and is now in isolation. However, Johnson did not feel the need to quarantine after he suspected that he may have been infected and attended a fundraiser while awaiting results.

Johnson told Fox 6 that he was asymptomatic and didn’t expect to test positive for the disease that has spread through the GOP. President Donald Trump announced last week that he and the first lady had contracted the virus. Within days, Trump’s campaign manager Bill Stepien, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, and Republican senators, Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina have also tested positive.

“I was pretty surprised,” Johnson said after speaking at a Republican Party of Ozaukee County fundraiser in Mequon. “I feel fine. I feel completely normal.”

Johnson learned he did in fact have COVID-19 on his way home and critics declared that he should have remained home rather than to risk becoming a super spreader. Masks were not worn at the event.

“I think the idea that Senator Ron Johnson was so concerned about his exposure to the pandemic that he had a test, but then went to a public event where masks were not being used, I think is just an indication of how little concern he had for the people in that room and really how little concern he has for the people of Wisconsin,” Democratic strategist Scot Ross said.

Senate Homeland Security Committee Holds Hearing On Government's Interagency Response To Coronavirus — Chairman Ron Johnson (R-WI) speaks at the start of a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on the government’s response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak on March 5, 2020 in Washington, DC. COVID-19 has taken hold in the United States and national and local governments are rushing to contain the virus and to find a cure. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Those who attended the event claimed Johnson didn’t interact much with others. Furthermore, Johnson was adamant that he did not knowingly attend the fundraiser with the disease.

“I am not going in there with symptoms and getting a test. I am going in there symptom-free,” said Johnson. “I don’t care where I might have got it from. I have no idea, but I think the likeliest source is my chief of staff.”

The coronavirus recently passed a grim milestone as more than 200,000 Americans have died from the health pandemic. A National Day of Remembrance was held over the weekend, theGrio reported.

Brian Walter was one of the attendees and urged people to take COVID-19 seriously.

“It’s very important we get the message across that this is not a hoax or a conspiracy or a fake illness,” Walter said. “Just because it hasn’t affected you personally doesn’t mean it’s not real. The events of last weekend prove that you can be isolated for a while, but if you make one wrong move, the virus could get you.”

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