Unvaccinated Rep. Thomas Massie of Ky. tests positive for COVID-19
Kentucky GOP Rep. and frequent critic of COVID-19 mitigation efforts Thomas Massie has tested positive for COVID-19.
Massie announced his positive test on Twitter this Thursday, saying he had “cold/allergy symptoms” for a day but seems to be “over it” now. Massie shared that he has not been vaccinated against the virus at all, but guessed that his symptoms were mild due to a previous infection two years ago.
“I will not be voting, meeting in person, or making public appearances until next week,” Massie wrote. “I am not vaccinated or boosted. If trolls or media have other questions about my health status, the answer is most likely, ‘NUNYA.’”
The former Lewis County Judge-Executive who’s served as Northern Kentucky’s U.S. Congressional Representative for nearly a decade, has continually played the foil against measures to respond to the spread of COVID-19 including mandates – not always drawing positive attention for doing so.
As the first wave of the pandemic hit America in March of 2020, Massie launched an unsuccessful attempt to get Congress to take a recorded vote to pass $2 trillion in pandemic aid. Members on both sides of the aisle chafed as Massie’s effort forced several to travel to Washington as the pandemic was raging.
Former Republican president Donald Trump called him a “third rate Grandstander” because of the issue.
At the time, Politico said Massie “might be the least popular man in Washington” because of the escapade.
Last week, Massie publicly vowed that his office will not to order food from Washington D.C. restaurants that comply with city rules requiring vaccination for anyone 12 or older to enter any restaurant, bar, nightclub, sports arena or gym.
“The DC vaccine mandate kicks in this weekend,” Massie tweeted. “My office will not comply. We will not show papers… Shame has befallen our nation’s capital.”
Massie has previously likened forcing people to get vaccinated to “violence.”
Last summer, Massie also caught flack for comparing vaccine mandates to the Holocaust. He has since deleted the tweet that made the comparison.
Vaccines have been proven to effectively reduce the spread of the virus and significantly improve outcomes if one contracts COVID-19.
This story was originally published January 20, 2022 at 10:50 AM.
