Louie Gohmert did not go to gym after coronavirus test, Democrat clarifies

Texas Republican Congressman Louie Gohmert did not use the House gym at the US Capitol complex after testing positive for Covid-19, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer clarified to reporters on Wednesday.

"What I said was Gohmert was in the Judiciary Committee yesterday, walked in without a mask, put his mask on when he sat down," Mr Hoyer said, indicating he had been trying to liken Mr Gohmert's reckless mask etiquette at a Judiciary Committee hearing with Attorney General William Barr on Tuesday to the behaviour of US Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky.

Several reporters and publications, including The Independent, previously reported Mr Hoyer's comments about Mr Gohmert using the House gym, which was an apparent misstatement.

"Louie Gohmert, like Rand Paul, went to the gymnasium after he was found to be infected," Mr Hoyer, the Democrats' No 2 behind Speaker Nancy Pelosi, told reporters on Wednesday, before later explaining he had misspoken.

In March, Mr Paul took a test to see whether he had Covid-19 after he discovered he had been exposed to someone who had it. He subsequently used the Senate gym, before later finding out his test had come back positive.

Mr Hoyer still had strong words for Mr Gohmert's cavalier behaviour with regard to the coronavirus. The Texas congressman, who has often refused to wear a mask during the pandemic while walking through the halls of Congress and attending high-profile congressional hearings with administration officials, informed his staff in person that he had tested positive, according to reports.

"Republicans have continued to act extraordinarily irresponsibly, including Louie Gohmert. Louie Gohmert ought to quarantine himself right now," Mr Hoyer said.

This article originally quoted Mr Hoyer claiming that Mr Gohmert had gone to the gym after testing positive. The article was updated as soon as Mr Hoyer clarified his comments.