Georgia’s new QAnon-supporting congressman Marjorie Taylor Greene caused a stir at the inauguration of the new congress on Sunday when she refused to wear a mask despite requests from House floor staff. according to Politico’s Jake Sherman. “Two new Republicans – including. @ Mtgreenee – are told by house staff to put on their masks. from now on they seem to be telling the floor crew they won’t put it on. Taylor Greene leaves the floor with the other R, who was trying to identify, ”Sherman tweeted. He noted that Trump ally Louie Gohmert (R-TX) – who has pushed for the presidential election results to be reversed – also stood on the floor of the House maskless. After Greene’s refusal to mask himself, Republican and Democratic floor workers got into “a screaming match on the floor.” So this conference is already going great, ” Sherman tweeted.
The ceremony takes place amid a dramatic surge in the number of COVID-19 cases across the country. According to Capitol Hill physician Brian Monahan, several members of the House have been quarantined for COVID exposure and participated in the swearing-in and vote for Speaker from “secure” plexiglass enclosures.
Greene later lashed out on Twitter, directing her anger at Democratic Congressman Gwen Moore, who announced on December 28 that she had tested positive for COVID. Moore a reporter told Sunday that she had been in quarantine for 2 weeks (with questions about the date of her diagnosis) and that her doctor advised her that it was safe to attend the swearing-in. Still Moore didn’t use Plexiglas to vote, reportedly enraged Republicans. Greene complained, “@SpeakerPelosi has changed the COVID rules because she desperately wants to hold on to the gavel. No one can attack me over masks, when Pelosi sends Democrats to the floor with positive COVID tests to vote for her on Speaker. “
Meanwhile, a new member of Congress never made it to the ceremony: Luke Letlow, a 41-year-old Republican, died of the virus just before the New Year.
With additional reporting by Arya Hodjat