DIAGNOSIS: House Select committee Chair Bennie Thompson tests positive for Covid
The chair of the Jan. 6 committee, Bennie Thompson, has tested positive for covid. Vaccinated and boosted, Thompson has mild symptoms. A key member of the investigative panel, he announced his diagnosis on Twitter.
I tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, and I am experiencing mild symptoms. Gratefully, I am fully vaccinated and boosted.
I encourage each person in America to get vaccinated and continue to follow the guidelines to remain safe. pic.twitter.com/brHXGlWmfq
— Bennie G. Thompson (@BennieGThompson) July 19, 2022
Vaccinated and boosted, Rep. Thompson says he’ll quarantine for the next few days.
Bennie Thompson has been a key figure in the Jan. 6 televised public hearings, leading the hearings, while also serving as Chair of the House Homeland Security Committee. Spokesman Tim Mulvaney said in a statement:
“While Chairman Thompson is disappointed with his COVID diagnosis, he has instructed the Select Committee to proceed with Thursday’s hearing. Committee members and staff wish the Chairman a speedy recovery.”
Other leading Democrats, including Chuck Schumer and Val Demings, have recently tested positive for the virus as well.
Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) has played a pivotal role in the televised Jan. 6 hearings, responsible for the opening, and closing statements before and after public testimony. His passion and commitment to holding accountable those who contributed to the violence on the day the insurrection took place are evident.
Thursday’s testimony is reported to focus on the over three hours that elapsed from Trump’s speech at the Ellipse to his tweet telling his supporters to leave the Capitol, hours that then-President Trump did nothing to prevent his supporters from breaching the Capitol building,
Almost a year ago, in July 2021, Rep. Bennie Thompson applauded the testimony of law enforcement officials who kept their oath on Jan. 6th and defended the Capitol.
Today, the bipartisan @January6thCmte will begin its work investigating the #January6th attack on the Capitol by hearing powerful testimony from the brave law enforcement heroes who defended the Capitol that day.
Tune in @ 9:30am ET here: https://t.co/wNWkZ9xRln
— Bennie G. Thompson (@BennieGThompson) July 27, 2021
The committee has said they’ll proceed as scheduled, with the next televised hearing taking place on Thursday.
Rep. Thompson, along with the two Republicans on the panel – Rep. Adam Kinzinger and Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) – have exposed Trump’s plot to hold onto power and illegally remain in the White House.
Testimony from Trump’s inner circle and staffers in the West Wing have backed up accounts of the ex-president’s attempts to execute his coup.
We wish the congressman from Mississippi a full and speedy recovery.
Follow Ty Ross on Twitter @cooltxchick
