Sens. Sinema, McSally take Rand Paul to task over reported virus behavior

PHOENIX – U.S. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Martha McSally of Arizona criticized a fellow lawmaker who reportedly used shared facilities while he waited for results of a coronavirus test, which came back positive.

Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, became the first senator known to have contracted the disease, it was announced Sunday.

Paul went to the work at the Capitol for six days after he was tested and reportedly exercised at the Senate gym and took a swim in the hours before he got the confirmed diagnosis.

Sinema, a Democrat, tore into the one-time presidential candidate on Twitter, calling Paul’s actions “irresponsible.”

I’ve never commented about a fellow Senator’s choices/actions. Never once.

This, America, is absolutely irresponsible. You cannot be near other people while waiting for coronavirus test results. It endangers others & likely increases the spread of the virus. https://t.co/651TJf8mWf

— Kyrsten Sinema (@kyrstensinema) March 22, 2020

McSally, a Republican, also chastised Paul on social media, soon after Sinema.

“No one is too important to disregard guidance to self-quarantine pending test results,” she said.

I couldn't agree more @kyrstensinema. As we ask all Americans to sacrifice their livelihoods and alter their behavior to save lives, we must ourselves model appropriate #coronavirus behavior. No one is too important to disregard guidance to self-quarantine pending test results. https://t.co/0zQx8yrJA4

— Martha McSally (@SenMcSallyAZ) March 23, 2020

Paul’s office sent a tweet, too, saying he left the Senate as soon as he learned of his diagnosis.

When U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona learned he had come in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month, he self-isolated.

“They had told us not to get too excited because we were in our ninth day and that the chances of getting this virus is highest in the 2-5 day period,” he told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on March 9.

Paul’s announcement led Utah’s two GOP senators — Mike Lee and Mitt Romney — to place themselves into quarantine, stepping away from negotiations as the Senate worked on a $1.4 trillion economic rescue package for the coronavirus crisis. At least five senators, including Paul, were in self-quarantine Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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