FOLLOW US

U.S. News October 4, 2020 3 mins read

McConnell puts Senate votes on hold following COVID-19 diagnoses for three GOP Senators

U.S. News ı By Colby McCoy

0 Comments

capital-273344_1920

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) canceled all Senate votes for the next two weeks following news that three GOP Senators tested positive for COVID-19.

Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) said Friday they have tested positive for coronavirus. On Saturday, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) also announced that he had contracted the coronavirus.

The Senators tested positive for the coronavirus after attending President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nomination ceremony last weekend in the Rose Garden.

The news caused something of panic on Capitol Hill as the three lawmakers participated in hearings throughout the week, where they interacted with their colleagues on multiple occasions. Multiple lawmakers who came into contact with the aforementioned senators have placed themselves under quarantine as a precautionary measure.

“Every precaution needs to be taken because we don’t anticipate any Democratic support at all, either in committee or in the full Senate, and therefore, everybody needs to be in an all-hands-on-deck mind-set,” said McConnell during an interview with "The Hugh Hewitt Show" on Friday.

McConnell will not delay confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee

While McConnell has put any votes on district judges on hold, he has said that Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation hearing will go on as planned, beginning on Oct. 12, even if lawmakers have to attend the hearing virtually.

On top of Amy Coney's Barrett's confirmation hearing, McConnell has made it abundantly clear that the Senate may be called back into session if a deal could be reached with House Democrats on a second COVID-19 relief package. Senators will be given 24-hour notice if McConnell decides to reconvene and hold a vote on the package.

This has drawn criticism from Democrats in Congress, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) saying, "If it’s too dangerous to have the Senate in session, it’s also too dangerous for committee hearings to continue.”

While a handful of senators have opted to quarantine themselves after having contact with the infected individuals, not all senators have decided to do so, or at least it is unknown at this time. A prime example being Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), who reportedly sat in close proximity to Senator Lee earlier this week without wearing a mask. It remains unknown at this time whether Cruz has placed himself under quarantine.

McConnell's statement follows news that President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania both tested positive for COVID-19. Trump was sent to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday to undergo treatment.

----------------------------------------

Have a story you want USA Herald to cover? Submit a tip here and if we think it's newsworthy, we'll follow up on it.

Want to contribute a story? We also accept article submissions -- check out our writer's guidelines here.

Previous Article

Chris Christie diagnosed with COVID-19, hospitalized with “mild symptoms”

Read More
245 Posts

Colby McCoy

Colby is a full-time freelance writer based in Seattle, Washington. He grew up in the Southeastern U.S. and loves books, politics, and spending time with his two dogs hiking.

Discussion

No comments yet. Be the first to join the discussion!

Don’t Miss It
America October 02, 2026
SNAP Cost Shift Sends a Bigger Bill to States and Counties
By – Michallie Harrison
America October 2, 2026
Atlantic Coast Insurance Suspension Follows Growing…

The atlantic coast insurance suspension has added another layer of…

By – Rachel Moore
America October 2, 2026
Kaiser Permanente Layoffs Eliminate 147 Jobs…

A major shake-up is coming to Kaiser Permanente’s California workforce,…

By – Rachel Moore
America October 2, 2026
ICC Ends Contract With French Insurer…

The International Criminal Court has severed its health insurance relationship…

By – Rachel Moore
America October 2, 2026
Minnesota Health Insurance Rates Rise as…

Minnesota residents buying health coverage outside employer-sponsored plans are heading…

By – Rachel Moore
America October 2, 2026
Nexfibre’s $2.7B Deal Faces U.K. Competition…

The U.K. competition regulator has raised a major red flag…

By – Tyler Brooks
America October 2, 2026
NFL Concussion Claims Count as Separate…

What the Coverage Ruling Means Each former player’s claim counts…

By – Samuel Lopez
America October 2, 2026
NFL Concussion Claims Count as Separate…

What the Coverage Ruling Means Each former player’s claim counts…

By – Samuel Lopez
America October 2, 2026
Visa Mastercard Antitrust Suit Targets Card…

A San Diego pizza restaurant has taken aim at two…

By – Tyler Brooks
America October 2, 2026
Operation Epic Fury: Trump Warns Iran…

Operation Epic Fury remains central to the Trump administration’s account…

By – Jackie Allen
America October 2, 2026
Capitol Police Plaque Lawsuit Dismissal Ends…

Sometimes a legal fight isn’t about the money or the…

By – Tyler Brooks
America October 2, 2026
G7’s Release of 100M Barrels of…

What Truckers and Consumers Need to Know The G7’s 100-million-barrel…

By – Samuel Lopez
America October 2, 2026
Halle Berry Hit with Temporary Restraining…

What the Court Order Signals A Los Angeles judge granted…

By – Samuel Lopez
America October 2, 2026
Killed by in-laws: New York Times…

Jonathan McKinsey, 40, was killed by his elderly in-laws. They…

By – Jackie Allen
America October 1, 2026
Government Spending: Trump Administration Moves to…

 The Trump administration is moving to cancel nearly $1 billion…

By – Jackie Allen
America October 1, 2026
JPMorgan Executive Renews Countersuit After Ex-Banker’s…

The “sex slave” allegations involving JPMorgan Chase executive Lorna Hajdini…

By – Jackie Allen
America October 1, 2026
Diesel Crisis: Louisiana Relief Meets New…

Louisiana’s diesel crisis has entered October with emergency relief still…

By – Michallie Harrison
America September 30, 2026
Chad Lowe’s Daughter Fiona Dies at…

Actor Chad Lowe and his wife, producer Kim Painter, are mourning the…

By – Jackie Allen
America September 29, 2026
Clone Saga could replace Spider-Noir as…

The Clone Saga could be coming to television as Sony…

By – Jackie Allen
America September 30, 2026
Former NASCAR Driver Jennifer Jo Cobb…

What This Verdict Means A North Carolina jury found former…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 30, 2026
Arnold Schwarzenegger Heads to Jury Trial…

What the Jury Will Decide Schwarzenegger has conceded negligence in…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 30, 2026
Oklahoma Judge Strips Secrecy From 11…

Inside the Hursh Courtroom Showdown A judge removed the confidential…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 30, 2026
AI Is Creating New Losses Faster…

What Policyholders Need to Know Deepfakes and misinformation dominate reported…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 30, 2026
California ‘Kelvin Wave’ Phenomena Could Supercharge…

What Coastal Homeowners Need to Know A massive El Niño-linked…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 30, 2026
Queen and David Bowie’s Copyright Dispute…

What the Copyright Record Actually Shows Queen and David Bowie…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 29, 2026
Trump Launches America.gov AI Portal That…

What Americans Need to Know gov is now an AI-powered…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 28, 2026
Pope Leo XIV Condemns France’s New…

What Readers Should Know Pope Leo XIV used his visit…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 27, 2026
Strangers Collected $30 Million In ‘Illegal…

What You Need to Know 1. George A. Neukom Jr.’s estate…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 26, 2026
Princess Diaries Star Heather Matarazzo Says…

WHY THIS MATTERS Heather Matarazzo just admitted something most working…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 24, 2026
California’s $11 Billion Undocumented Immigrant Benefits…

By Samuel López | USA Herald SACRAMENTO – California is…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 22, 2026
Hayden Panettiere’s Cause of Death Confirms…

What the Toxicology Findings Tell Us Hayden Panettiere’s death has…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 28, 2026
JJ McCarthy Trade Sends Former First-Rounder…

Two years ago, a franchise spent a top-10 pick on…

By – Tyler Brooks
America September 26, 2026
New York Sues Polymarket Claiming Prediction…

What This Fight Is Really About New York says Polymarket…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 24, 2026
New York Sues Polymarket Over Alleged…

What’s Riding on the Bet New York says Polymarket’s sports…

By – Samuel Lopez
America September 23, 2026
Roblox widow alleges $6 million scam,…

The Roblox widow says a former companion took $6 million…

By – Jackie Allen
America September 22, 2026
Network Traffic Challenges May be Reshaped…

Network traffic has traditionally moved in one dominant direction: from…

By – Jackie Allen
America September 21, 2026
Gilbert Goons Defendant Arrested Again for…

A Gilbert Goons defendant awaiting trial in the 2023 death…

By – Jackie Allen

No posts found.

No posts found.

Signup for the USA Herald
exclusive Newsletter