Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey says she has tested positive for COVID-19 and believes she was exposed during protective isolation in the U.S. Capitol building as a result of Wednesday’s rioting.

She was among dozens of lawmakers whisked to a secure location when pro-Donald Trump insurrectionists stormed the Capitol. A press release from her office on Monday notes that “a number of members within the space ignored instructions to wear masks.”

Watson Coleman is isolating at home and awaiting the results of another test. She says, “While I am experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms, I remain in good spirits and will continue to work on behalf of my constituents.”

Watson Coleman had received the first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID19 vaccine, which has been made available to members of Congress.

Some members of Congress huddled for hours in the large room, while others were there for a shorter period.

Share:
More In Politics
Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey on His Medical Marijuana Usage
The legislator has been vocal about getting his medical marijuana card in hopes of getting rid of the stigma around the drug, he told Cheddar. Fritchey is also pushing to legalize recreational use of the cannabis in Illinois and says it should be uses as a tool to fight the opioid crisis.
Opioid Crisis Is Too Familiar for Colorado Lawmaker
Colorado Rep. Brittany Pettersen is pushing to expand the state's Medicaid plan to include drug-abuse treatment programs, having witnessed her mother deal with opioid addiction for three decades. "There's really no options for people out there," Pettersen said Monday in an interview with Cheddar.
Eat Like the Obamas
Sam Kass, who served as White House Chef during the Obama administration, is out with a new book on healthy eating. He says it encapsulates many of the concepts he and former first lady Michelle Obama espoused.
Who Is Responsible for the Southwest Accident?
The investigation into this week's deadly emergency landing of a Southwest Airlines flight is going strong, but how will regulators determine who's at fault? The Points Guy's Emily McNutt weighs in.
Bill Weld: "Dominoes Are Falling" to Legalize Weed
The former Massachusetts governor, who joined the board of cannabis producer Acreage Holdings last week along with former House Speaker John Boehner, told Cheddar that once you can do research on cannabis, "the arguments against it are going to be increasingly slim."
Load More