U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette announced Monday she has tested positive for COVID-19.
We hope she gets well soon, but we have questions about her timing and recent activities.
The Colorado Democrat essentially called in sick last week and gave her proxy to other House members to cast votes in her absence on Tuesday and Wednesday.
But it looks like she showed up for the Democrats’ big event on Thursday and cast her vote to pass the so-called Voting Rights Bill.
At some point, she flew to Denver where she now says she will ride out the COVID with mild symptoms.
I have tested positive for COVID-19. Thankfully, I am fully vaccinated and boosted and experiencing mild symptoms. Per CDC guidelines, I will remain self-isolated and working from my home in Denver this week.
— Rep. Diana DeGette (@RepDianaDeGette) January 17, 2022
DeGette wrote to the House clerk on Tuesday to designate her proxy to U.S. Rep. Anthony Brown of Maryland, and again on Wednesday to give her proxy to U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware.
Speaker Pelosi has allowed the constitutionally dubious proxy voting since May 2020 in order to keep control of House votes with her slim majority, and because of COVID. The Senate does not allow proxy voting.
DeGette’s letter states the typical proxy clause: “I continue to be unable to physically attend proceedings in the House Chamber due to the ongoing public health emergency …”
So she couldn’t be at work Tuesday or Wednesday because of the public health emergency.
There was no public health emergency on Thursday, just a major Democrat vote.
Then she announces she has actually caught the public health emergency.
She needs to explain that.