#Barr to be tested for COVID-19 after contact with Texas congressman

Attorney General William Barr will be tested for the coronavirus after coming in close contact with Rep. Louie Gohmert a day before the Texas Republican tested positive for the bug, a Justice Department spokesperson confirmed.

Department spokesperson Kerri Kupec added that the AG already faces routine testing for COVID-19 at the White House.

Barr came into contact with Gohmert at Capitol Hill on Tuesday, a day before the congressman tested positive at the White House on Wednesday — forcing him to abruptly cancel his plan to travel to his home state with President Trump aboard Air Force One, a House GOP aide said.

Gohmert, 66, planned to isolate, according to the aide, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the lawmaker’s test result and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The eight-term lawmaker, who has often been seen without a mask, on Tuesday took part in the House Judiciary Committee hearing where Barr, 70, testified.

Before the hearing, Gohmert was seen approaching the meeting room a few feet behind Barr, with neither man wearing a face covering. Gohmert also voted Tuesday on the House floor.

Told of Gohmert’s test result, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) expressed his thoughts about the politicized anti-mask movement.

“I’m concerned about the irresponsible behavior of many of the Republicans, who have chosen to consistently flout well-established public health guidance, perhaps out of fealty to their boss, Donald Trump, who is the head of the anti-mask movement in America,” Jeffries, a member of Democratic leadership, told reporters at his weekly news conference.

“That’s a concern, and it’s my plea to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle … that they stop politicizing public-health guidance and do the right thing,” he added, the Washington Post reported.

With Post Wires