A Republican senator flew home to South Dakota after he fell ill before Wednesday night’s vote on the $2 trillion economic relief bill amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Sen. John Thune, the second-ranking Senate Republican, returned home “out of an abundance of caution” on a charter flight with a member of his police detail, his spokesman said.
Thune was 1 of 4 Republican senators who did not vote on the bill because they are self-isolating. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky tested positive for the virus last week, and Sens. Mitt Romney and Mike Lee of Utah took a private plane home earlier this week after their exposure to Paul. The two wore N-95 masks on the flight and sat 6 feet apart.
“I unfortunately had to miss today’s votes — something I’ve rarely done during my time in Congress. I felt under the weather this morning and, out of an abundance of caution, thought it was the responsible decision to avoid contact with my colleagues on Capitol Hill,” Thune said in a statement.
“Rest assured, I’ve been in touch with the attending physician at the Capitol and with my doctor in Sioux Falls — both of whom advised that self-quarantine was not required,” he continued. “Again, out of an abundance of caution, and in accordance with the advice I’ve been giving South Dakotans, I decided that avoiding others was the best option.”
Despite the absent senators, the chamber passed the relief legislation, sending it along to the House.
