White House press secretary Jen Psaki asserted that both Harris and President Joe Biden had tested negative for the virus in the past 24 hours. She claimed the historic occasion on Friday contributed to Harris being unmasked.
"It was an emotional day. It was a historic day. And there were moments when she was not wearing a mask inside ... but she was wearing it 99.9% of the time,” Psaki told reporters. Psaki went on, “There are moments when she was human and didn't have a fat mask on in a photo."
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On Friday, The White House acknowledged that Harris had been masked indoors. “I will tell you that the vice president has been wearing a mask inside,” Psaki said. She was pressed on Harris being maskless at times while presiding over the Senate during the Jackson confirmation vote.
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“She was playing an important role in confirming or overseeing the confirmation of the first black woman to the Supreme Court,” Psaki said. “Is there a public health carve-out for that?” Fox News’s Peter Doocy fired back.
“In fact, the vice president wore a mask inside today when she was both with the president, with her staff, other people. She was outside at the event,” Psaki stated Friday. “She was socially distanced for 99.9% of the event today. And she had an emotional moment, which is understandable.” Jackson is the first black woman confirmed to the Supreme Court. She will assume the seat when Justice Stephen Breyer’s retirement becomes effective at the end of the court term in June. Harris is the first black woman to serve as vice president.
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Members of the White House and other elected officials have come under fire for whether they abide by the same COVID-19 protocols they demand of the public. California Gov. Gavin Newsom was memorably photographed maskless at a restaurant for a lobbyist’s birthday celebration at a time when the state had fairly strict restrictions.
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Rallies for former President Donald Trump were described as “superspreader” events. Black Lives Matter protests were deemed safe.
At the same briefing Monday, Psaki noted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would make the decision on whether the federal transit mask mandate would once again be extended. It is set to expire on April 18.
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