Schumer Tests Positive for Covid-19

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) office announced he has tested positive for Covid-19 and “has very mild symptoms.”

Punchbowl News: “Now this leads to an interesting situation. The Senate is supposed to be voting this week on the nomination of Steven Dettelbach to serve as director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. There hasn’t been a Senate-confirmed ATF director since 2015, and the White House and Democratic leaders would like to get Dettelbach in place.”

“GOP Sens. Susan Collins and Rob Portman voted with all 50 Democrats to discharge the nomination from the Senate Judiciary Committee, giving Dettelbach more than enough votes for confirmation. Schumer was going to schedule a cloture vote on Dettelbach’s nomination as early as Tuesday, with final passage to follow.”

“However, Schumer and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) are out. Leahy fell on June 29 and broke his hip. The 82-year-old Vermont Democrat underwent hip replacement surgery and is rehabbing.”

With a 50-50 Senate, Democrats can’t afford to have any senator absent for an extended period.