His aides had by no means been informed Mr. Paul might need been uncovered to the virus or had been examined for it, in keeping with an individual
His aides had by no means been informed Mr. Paul might need been uncovered to the virus or had been examined for it, in keeping with an individual aware of the scenario, and a few started to worry that they may have contracted it and unfold it to their family and friends earlier than the workplace started working remotely, days after Mr. Paul attended the fund-raiser. Mr. Paul attended the fund-raiser on a Saturday and arrived in Washington the following Monday night. His workplace closed to work remotely three days later.
Senior officers in Mr. Paul’s Washington workplace informed their staffs that none of them had been in danger, the individual mentioned. However the aides remained furious that they had been knowledgeable of Mr. Paul’s publicity solely minutes earlier than their workplace publicly introduced his optimistic take a look at outcomes.
Regardless of the panic prompted by Mr. Paul’s announcement, on Monday, debate on the Senate ground proceeded largely as standard — albeit in additional fiery phrases — with lawmakers submitting into the chamber to vote and sitting of their desks subsequent to 1 one other. However the specter of the coronavirus weighed closely over the proceedings.
As Mr. Durbin concluded a speech together with his name for distant voting, Senator Jim Risch, Republican of Idaho, approached him. Each males stored their arms crossed, and Mr. Durbin slowly backed away step-by-step as they spoke, creating increasingly more distance between them.
Mr. Paul’s announcement appeared to have received over some converts for the concept of distant voting. Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, who had beforehand shrugged off the suggestion, took to Twitter to supply his help for the concept.
“We must always make this alteration earlier than the Senate leaves city,” Mr. Graham wrote.
There isn’t any indication that Home or Senate leaders are transferring towards doing so. For now, senators are sustaining their routine — albeit from a considerable distance, and underneath significantly extra stress.
“I’d prefer to counsel to my associates on either side of the aisle that we first assume the suitable distance,” Mr. Durbin mentioned on Monday as tempers flared on the Senate ground, “after which secondly, take a deep breath.”
Nicholas Fandos and Emily Cochrane contributed reporting.