Republican Senator Ron Johnson defends attending an Oktoberfest fundraiser at a country club while waiting for COVID-19 test results that showed he was positive
Wisconsin Sen Ron Johnson has defended his decision to attend an Oktoberfest party on Friday while waiting on his COVID-19 test results, saying he took the test as a precaution.
But Johnson revealed on Saturday that he tested positive for the virus, making him at least the third US senator to do so since President Donald Trump announced his own positive test last week.
But on Friday, Johnson, who is now quarantining, was pictured speaking at an Oktoberfest fundraiser for the Republican Party of Ozaukee County in Mequon.
Wisconsin Sen Ron Johnson (pictured on September 16) attended an Oktoberfest party on Friday while reportedly waiting on his COVID-19 test results
On Friday, Johnson, who is now quarantining, was seen speaking at an Oktoberfest fundraiser (invitation attached) for the Republican Party of Ozaukee County in Mequon
Johnson told Fox 6 that he was 'pretty surprised' about the positive test results that he received on his way home from the event.
'I feel fine. I feel completely normal,' he added.
The news station shared an image of Johnson speaking at the event, which was held at the River Club of Mequon.
Johnson also defended his actions and called the COVID-19 test a precaution.
'I am not going in there with symptoms and getting a test. I am going in there symptom-free,' Johnson said.
'I don't care where I might have got it from. I have no idea, but I think the likeliest source is my chief of staff.'
Johnson said he wore a mask at the event except for when he delivered his speech.
He also said he didn't shake hands or pose for photographs and left immediately afterward.
Johnson said he learned of his positive test on the way back from the event, which was held at the River Club of Mequon
'I let people know why,' he said. 'I'm not taking photographs, I'm not socializing, I'm not a prima donna, I need to stay healthy so I can provide a vote to confirm Amy Barrett.'
The senator's team announced his diagnosis in a statement Saturday morning, following Utah Sen Mike Lee and North Carolina Sen Thom Tillis' announcement of being positive to COVID-19.
Johnson, a second-term Republican, reported being exposed to someone with COVID-19 last month - later identified as his chief of staff - and quarantined for 14 days without developing symptoms.
He said he tested negative twice during that time.
Johnson returned to DC, on Tuesday and said he was exposed soon after that to someone else who tested positive. He said he was tested Friday after learning of the exposure and tested positive.
Johnson told The Associated Press by phone Saturday that he returned from Washington on Thursday and was quarantining at home in Oshkosh.
He said he decided to get a test after finding out that Lee caught the disease.
Asked whether his exposure may have come from other senators, Johnson said, 'Possibly. ... Nobody knows. I was around all my colleagues.'
Johnson's spokesman, Ben Voelkel, said the senator was still in Wisconsin during quarantine and did not attend last Saturday's Rose Garden event in which Trump announced Amy Coney Barrett as his Supreme Court nominee.
Several people who attended the event, including Lee, Tillis and former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, announced positive tests this week.
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