GOP Sen. Lee tests positive for COVID-19, recently met with SCOTUS nominee Barrett

Utah senator Lee revealed today that he’s also tested positive for the virus after a trip to the White House

As the country grapples to respond to President Trump’s coronavirus diagnosis, it has now been confirmed that Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) has also tested positive for COVID-19.

Friday, Lee explained in a statement he took a coronavirus test on Thursday after experiencing symptoms similar to those he has previously experienced due to allergies. 

“Unlike the test I took just a few days ago while visiting the White House, yesterday’s test came back positive. On advice of the Senate attending physician, I will remain isolated for the next 10 days,” read the statement. 

READ MORE: Kentucky AG Daniel Cameron responds to ‘repugnant’ critics, defends his handling of the Breonna Taylor case

Seventh U.S. Circuit Court Judge Amy Coney Barrett (L), President Donald Trump’s nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, meets with Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) as she begins a series of meetings to prepare for her confirmation hearing in the Mansfield Room at the U.S. Capitol on September 29, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Stefani Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images)

This now makes him the third senator confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19, with his announcement coming just hours after the president disclosed that he and first lady Melania Trump had both tested positive for COVID-19.

Given the timing of their disclosures, many have noted that Lee was at the White House last Saturday. Tuesday, he also met with Judge Amy Coney Barrett, President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, attended several closed-door GOP caucus lunches, and was present at Thursday’s Senate Judiciary Committee’s business meeting.

Considering how active he’s been in the Capitol this week, Lee’s COVID diagnosis highlights a need for increased safety protocols for lawmakers.

pic.twitter.com/V3kSLogoDP

— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) October 2, 2020

The Judiciary Committee, which Lee is a part of, is expected to start its hearings for Barrett’s confirmation on Oct. 12. In his statement Lee stated he still planned to be in attendance, explaining, “I have spoken with Leader McConnell and Chairman Graham and assured them I will be back to work in time to join my Judiciary Committee colleagues in advancing the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett in the committee and then to the full Senate.”

Echoing the sentiments of pushing forward even in the face of illness, On Friday, Sen. McConnell made it clear that Coney Barrett’s nomination remains a priority.

READ MORE: Alice Johnson, Rep. Kennedy Kent potentially exposed to COVID-19

“Just finished a great phone call with @POTUS. He’s in good spirits and we talked business — especially how impressed Senators are with the qualifications of Judge Barrett,” McConnell tweeted. “Full steam ahead with the fair, thorough, timely process that the nominee, the Court, & the country deserve.” 

Just finished a great phone call with @POTUS. He’s in good spirits and we talked business — especially how impressed Senators are with the qualifications of Judge Barrett. Full steam ahead with the fair, thorough, timely process that the nominee, the Court, & the country deserve.

— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) October 2, 2020

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Ciara, Vanessa Bryant, La La team up for family football game with kids

‘When I say ‘hut,’ you get that motherf—ing ball and you run!’

Ciara shared a new video on Instagram of herself, Vanessa Bryant and her 17-year-old daughter Natalia, and La La Anthony playing a fun game of football. 

“Let’s go QB,” Ciara said to Anthony in the video. “So I’m about to go ‘danger, danger,’” the TV personality, 39, explained to Natalia and the R&B singer. “When I say ‘hut,’ you get that motherf—ing ball and you run!” 

Bryant is not seen in the clip, as she may have been the one recording the excitement. Her youngest child, 15-month-old Capri, can be seen watching the game play out on a sprawling lawn. 

Read More: Ciara, Vanessa Bryant bond over breastfeeding in new photo

The clip features the song “California Love” by Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre — check it out below. The video comes a day after Ciara shared a very candid photo of herself and Bryant breastfeeding their babies. 

View this post on Instagram

Danger Danger 🤣🥰🏈 @nataliabryant @vanessabryant @lala

A post shared by Ciara (@ciara) on Oct 1, 2020 at 9:53am PDT

theGRIO previously reported, both women are draped with a blanket in the pic, as Bryant cradles her 15-month-old daughter Capri while Ciara is holding her 2-month-old son Win Harrison Wilson. The multi-platinum artist captioned the moment, “Got Milk?:)” along with the hashtag #MomLife.

Ciara and her NFL star hubby Russell Wilson welcomed their son on July 23. The couple are also parents to 3-year-old daughter Sienna, and the Grammy winning songstress shares 6-year-old son Future with her famous ex of the same name.

Read More: New WW ambassador Ciara says she gained over 65 pounds during pregnancy

Shortly after giving birth, Ciara explained the special meaning behind Win’s unique moniker to ET’s Nischelle Turner. 

View this post on Instagram

Got Milk?:) @vanessabryant #MomLife 🥰

A post shared by Ciara (@ciara) on Sep 30, 2020 at 12:40pm PDT

“There was a lot of love and thought put into it. Russ, we would talk about names, and Russ kind of always had this name Win in the rotation, years ago, before we knew we were having a girl,” she said. “He had all the good names and Win won. So Win is the name and he’s so cute. He’s so precious.”

On Tuesday, Bryant took to Instagram to share an adorable photo of her cuddling with Ciara’s baby boy.

“Sweet Baby, Win,” Bryant captioned the image. In the comment section, Ciara called Kobe Bryant’s widow “Auntie V,” while Wilson described the pic as “the sweetest.”

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City Girls rapper JT frustrated she can’t vote in election due to felon status

The rapper served 24 months in prison on fraudulent credit card charges before she was released last year. 

Rapper JT of the Miami-based duo City Girls has noted her frustration over not being able to vote in the upcoming presidential election because she’s a felon.

JT (born Jatavia Shakara) served 24 months in prison on fraudulent credit card charges before she was released late last year. 

She was jailed in May 2018 after turning herself into authorities. The rapper confirmed the news via Instagram Stories at the time, writing, “Did more than I thought I could imagine in this short period of time out on bond. Now it’s time for me to knock this down and come back strong forever. Hold my baby down y’all.” 

JT was out of prison in October 2019 and she celebrated by dropping a track titled “JT’s First Day Out.”

Read More: ‘Black-ish’ to tackle upcoming election in 1-hour special ahead of season 7 premiere

As a felon, she is not allowed to participate in the Nov. 3rd election.

We completely agree.

Currently, SIX MILLION Americans are unable to vote because they are incarcerated, completing probation or parole, or have a past felony conviction.

Our right to vote shouldn’t be taken away. https://t.co/lF9LtxBWBy

— ACLU (@ACLU) September 30, 2020

“As a felon I feel our votes should still count I mean I do still live here in America & pay taxes as well,” JT tweeted Sept. 29. Her post gained mixed reactions from fans. Many commented with alternative options and so-called laws that appear to give felons the green light to hit the polls — but JT wasn’t impressed. 

In a follow-up tweet she added, “You guys (I) can not vote! Thanks for all the pointers but I’m not allowed to this election. All other felons look into what option is best for you in your state! I apologize if y’all understood me wrong.”

One follower responded to the post, “I did 10 years flat from 2009 to 2019 starting when I was 19 and I wish I could vote and I wish I had the opportunity to find a job because it’s been hard for me to find employment very hard When u a felon a lot of sh*t is off the table.”

Read More: Pelosi prepping House to decide election if needed: report

Another fan suggested the hip-hop star get involved with the voting process by way of community outreach “to try and help people directly impacted” by the current civil unrest rocking the nation. 

In Florida, after you finish probation or parole and pay all your fines you can register to vote. The deadline is October 5th in FL. Each state has its own laws but more than 30 states allow formerly incarcerated to vote after some sort of condition: https://t.co/YDRUIIsaPE pic.twitter.com/wKwIR4U10M

— Kaci Jones (@KaciONTV) September 30, 2020

The ACLU even weighed in on JT’s dilemma, writing ”We completely agree. Currently, SIX MILLION Americans are unable to vote because they are incarcerated, completing probation or parole, or have a past felony conviction. Our right to vote shouldn’t be taken away.”

There are reportedly 16 states that strip felons of their voting rights only while incarcerated. In 21 states, felons can’t vote while locked up or while on parole/probation. Individuals convicted for certain crimes lose their voting rights indefinitely in 11 states. Only Maine and Vermont allow inmates to vote while incarcerated, per Ace Showbiz.

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Trump condemns white supremacist groups 48 hours after debate

President Donald Trump condemned white supremacist groups Thursday, two days after he came under fire for his comments on the issue during a debate with Democratic candidate Joe Biden.

"I condemn the KKK. I condemn all white supremacists. I condemn the Proud Boys. I don't know much about the Proud Boys, almost nothing, but I condemn that," Trump said in a phone interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity. "But [Biden] should condemn also Antifa. Antifa is a horrible group of people."

During the first presidential debate Tuesday night, moderator Chris Wallace asked Trump if he would denounce white supremacist groups. Trump responded, "sure." When Wallace followed up and invited Trump to voice his condemnation, the president told the far-right group Proud Boys to "stand down and stand by."

The fallout of the debate comments was swift. Members of his own party urged him to explicitly denounce white supremacy immediately. Reporters peppered White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany with questions about the comment earlier Thursday.

McEnany dismissed criticisms, saying Trump had settled the matter.

"The President was asked this; he said “sure” three times. Yesterday, he was point-blank asked, “Do you denounce white supremacy?” And he said, “I've always denounced any form of that',” McEnany told reporters earlier Thursday.

The leader of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, took Trump’s denunciation in stride.

“We are now to be called... The CondemnedBoys!!!” he told POLITICO by text message Thursday.

Marc Caputo contributed reporting.

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Connecticut reporter fired for calling Tim Scott a ‘Uncle Tom’

Fred Gerteiny, who is white, was out of a job hours after posting the racially insensitive tweet.

A veteran television sports reporter was fired by News 12 Connecticut this week after referring to Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) as “Uncle Tom” over his support of Donald Trump.

Scott, the only Black GOP senator, defended Trump’s refusal to disavow white supremacist groups during Tuesday’s presidential debate, theGRIO previously reported. 

“I think he misspoke in response to Chris Wallace’s comment. He was asking Chris what he wanted to say. I think he misspoke. I think he should correct it. If he doesn’t correct it, I guess he didn’t misspeak,” Scott said Wednesday.

Reporter Fred Gerteiny, who is white, reacted to Scott’s remarks in a since-deleted tweet, writing  “Thanks Uncle Tom.”

Read More: Tim Scott defends Trump’s ‘stand by’ comments: ‘He misspoke’

And with that… Gerteiny was out of a job hours after posting the racially insensitive tweet, The Hill reports. 

I am glad the government will remain open until December 11!

Read more here: https://t.co/RX4fDyxFAf pic.twitter.com/ExrGUhf3dW

— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) October 1, 2020

“After reviewing the incident, the network released sports reporter, Fred Gerteiny, as a result of a racially insensitive comment,” News 12 Connecticut said in a Wednesday statement. “News 12 Networks has a zero tolerance policy for racism or improper conduct based on race, and prides itself on being an objective and unbiased multi-platform news company.”

Amid the backlash over his commnet, Gerteiny returned to Twitter to issue an apology. 

“Earlier today, I tweeted a racially insensitive comment, when I referred to @SenatorTimScott as an ‘Uncle Tom,'” Gerteiny tweeted on Wednesday. “I apologize to the Senator, my colleagues @News12CT, and anyone else I may have offended with this deeply offensive tweet.”

Read More: Proud Boys take Trump’s ‘stand back and stand by’ callout as marching orders

Gerteiny has since deleted his Twitter account.

It was great to meet with Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett earlier today. I am certain that she is devoted to our core American principles and will serve as a fantastic addition to the Supreme Court. I look forward to supporting her nomination. pic.twitter.com/WSKqlQknPi

— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) September 30, 2020

During the first Trump-Biden debate on Tuesday, moderator Chris Wallace asked Trump if he was willing to condemn white supremacists and say that they need to stand down amid ongoing protests against police violence in the country. Wallace specifically pointed to Kenosha and Portland, where people have been killed during protests.

“Sure, I’m willing to (tell them to stand down), but I would say almost everything I see is from the left-wing, not from the right-wing. I’m willing to do anything. I want to see peace,” Trump said.

“Proud Boys, stand back and stand by,” Trump added. “But I’ll tell you what. I’ll tell you what. Somebody’s got to do something about Antifa and the left because this is not a right-wing problem.”

Senator Lindsey Graham said the president should “make it clear Proud Boys is a racist organization antithetical to American ideals.”

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