69 Senators Aged 60 or Over, More May Be Considered High Risk
Protect Our Care’s Coronavirus War Room Director Zac Petkanas released the following statement regarding Vice President Mike Pence’s plan to preside over the Supreme Court confirmation vote despite recent close contact with staff infected with coronavirus:
“After coming in close contact with at least one of his five infected aides, Vice President Mike Pence is knowingly endangering senators, congressional aides, security personnel and janitors by violating CDC quarantine guidelines to preside in-person over today’s Supreme Court confirmation vote.
“This decision should be considered a direct threat to the 69 senators who are over the age of 60 and those who may be considered high risk.
“Unfortunately, Pence’s reckless decision should come as no surprise given the Trump Administration’s track record putting personal politics ahead of public health and safety during this confirmation process.
“They began it with a mask-free Rose Garden nomination event that led to the first major White House outbreak of the disease.
“And they are ending it by packing the Supreme Court with the deciding vote to overturn the Affordable Care Act in the middle of a killer pandemic that’s already claimed the lives of more than 224,000 Americans.
“Rushing through an illegitimate nominee one week before the election is not a good enough reason to endanger the lives of everyone on Capitol Hill.
“Vice President Pence must cancel his trip to the Senate chamber.”