Bennie Thompson, Chair of the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack Tests Positive For COVID-19
Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson, chair of the House Jan. 6 committee, has tested positive for COVID-19, just days before the panel is set to convene its final scheduled summer hearing.
In a statement, Thompson said he tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday and that his symptoms are mild.
"Gratefully, I am fully vaccinated and boosted," Thompson said in the statement. "I am continuing to follow (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines and will be isolating for the next several days."
Thompson will not preside over Thursday's primetime hearing, which is expected to focus on former President Donald Trump's response to the attack on the Capitol as lawmakers certified the vote count from the 2020 presidential election confirming Joe Biden as president.
A statement from the committee promises the hearings will continue despite Thompson's absence. "While Chairman Thompson is disappointed with his COVID diagnosis, he has instructed the Select Committee to proceed with Thursday evening's hearing."
The hearing will examine Trump's actions during the 187 minutes between his speech at the Ellipse near the White House and his statement later in the day when he told the rioters that he knew to be armed and dangerous to go home.
