Read on Twitter
Seems like an opportune time to point out @senrobportman tweeted about the coronavirus at least 4 times: 3 times in January (Jan. 24, 27, and 28) and a briefing on February 5th. What since then?
A thread...1/
A thread...1/
So, I ran a search on his tweets mentioning "coronavirus" since February 5th, where he mentioned a briefing but said nothing about the subject. The results:
Apr: 30 tweets
May: 9
June: 7
July: 2
Aug: 0
Sept: 1 so far.
2/
Apr: 30 tweets
May: 9
June: 7
July: 2
Aug: 0
Sept: 1 so far.
2/
So let's search COVID-19... nothing.
hashtag covid19 or hashtag chinavirus? nope.
before February 5th? Nada.
To recap: 3 in January and 1 in February.
hashtag covid19 or hashtag chinavirus? nope.
before February 5th? Nada.
To recap: 3 in January and 1 in February.
The February tweet is going to loom large, but we'll get back to that. Was there any reports about the coronavirus out before January 24th? I've seen stories after the fact stating there were reports as early as November. The earliest story I've seen in the news was March. /4
But Portman's Feb 5th tweet mentioned a briefing. Not what was in it; just that it happened.
Connecticut's @ChrisMurphyCT kindly filled us in: https://twitter.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/1225073987639705600?s=20
Connecticut's @ChrisMurphyCT kindly filled us in: https://twitter.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/1225073987639705600?s=20
Now, I can't find anything from Portman in March about the virus. Senator Murphy was still trying to say something, though. https://twitter.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/1240748971213164549?s=20
Clearly Portman knew, as he had attended the same briefing as Senator Murphy. And if the senators knew, it stands to reason they would convey that to the president. ADVISE and consent and all that...
Don't forget intelligence briefings. The president received them. He knew.
Don't forget intelligence briefings. The president received them. He knew.
And we had been getting word through various reports that the intelligence agencies were worried about this. So the White House knew, Congress knew, and still this is where we are: no national plan, and folks mad about a book.
Woodward got it on tape. But the reports and information was out there. Rob knew and said nothing. You know, in April, 9 tweets mentioned the coronavirus but were about something else. Out of 30. In May 4 of 9. In June 4 of 7. July: 2 tweets about the virus. August had none.
Rob didn't care to tell us what was coming. The administration didn't.
But Chris Murphy did. Media reports citing intelligence reports were out there. The WHO said so.
Not the White House. Not Ohio's junior senator who admits attending the briefing. The info was there.
But Chris Murphy did. Media reports citing intelligence reports were out there. The WHO said so.
Not the White House. Not Ohio's junior senator who admits attending the briefing. The info was there.
The sad part is that because of the indifference and inaction shown by the @GOP and this administration, 190,000 unnecessary deaths have happened. Trust has been broken on a number of fronts.
And Rob can't even claim he was late to lunch. He simply doesn't give a fuck.
And Rob can't even claim he was late to lunch. He simply doesn't give a fuck.
