According to a Fox News report, Vice President Kamala Harris is requiring negative COVID-19 tests from Senators and their guests if they would like to be a part of a swearing-in ceremony photo-op; one Senator is refusing.
“We look forward to welcoming your Senator on January 3, 2023, to the ceremonial reenactment for incoming and newly re-elected Senators in the Old Senate Chamber,” Grisella Martinez, Harris’ director of legislative affairs, wrote in an email to Senate offices.
“As you are aware, White House COVID-19 protocols require that anyone over two-years of age who will interact with the Vice President take a medically-administered antigen test within 24 hours prior to interaction, and receive a negative result,” she continued. “This policy applies regardless of vaccination status.”
Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin is refusing and will not attend the photo op with his family.
From Fox News:
Mullin said that “COVID just exists for those who are in the bubble” and that his family has things to do back in Oklahoma, such as going to school and a wrestling tournament. The senator said he didn’t want a false positive on a COVID test to unnecessarily complicate things when going back to Oklahoma.
“I don’t really care about a picture with Kamala Harris,” Mullin added.
More over at Fox News:
Kamala Harris requires negative COVID-19 test from senators, guests for swearing-in photos https://t.co/RcDYXI5hCN
— Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) January 3, 2023