CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) announced Tuesday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 after being in lockdown last Wednesday with other members of Congress during an attack on the U.S. capitol.
He also announced that he will now vote to remove President Trump from office by proxy.
Rep. Schneider released a statement reading:
“Unfortunately, I received a positive COVID-19 test this morning following being tested yesterday on the advice of the House Attending Physician.
“Last Wednesday, after narrowly escaping a violent mob incited by the President of the United States to attack the Capitol and its occupants, I was forced to spend several hours in a secure but confined location with dozens of other Members of Congress. Several Republican lawmakers in the room adamantly refused to wear a mask, as demonstrated in video from Punchbowl News, even when politely asked by their colleagues," Rep. Schneider said.
The Congressman said he is now in strict isolation, "worried that I have risked my wife’s health and angry at the selfishness and arrogance of the anti-maskers who put their own contempt and disregard for decency ahead of the health and safety of their colleagues and our staff. I am at least the third Member from that room paying the price, including Rep. Pramila Jayapal and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, a 75-year-old cancer survivor.
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“Wearing a mask is not a political statement, it is public health guidance, common courtesy, and simply what should be expected of all decent people," Rep. Schneider went on to say.
“We can no longer tolerate Members coming to the floor or gathering in the halls of Congress without doing the bare minimum to protect those around them. Those that flout public health guidance should be sanctioned and immediately removed from the House floor by the Sergeant at Arms for their reckless endangerment of their colleagues."
Congressman Schneider said he is currently not experiencing any symptoms and is in the care of physicians. Since traveling home to Deerfield from Washington, he said he has remained isolated "as much as possible" from his wife in their home and has experienced other close contacts since his exposure on Wednesday.
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“This week, the House is doing critical work to protect our national security, our democracy, and our Constitution, moving to remove the President from office after he incited this angry mob of domestic terrorists. I regret that I must take these votes by proxy.”