Politics

Feinstein, Who Pushed For Nationwide Mask Mandate, Seen Maskless In Public

Photo by Susan Walsh-Pool/Getty Images

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Mary Margaret Olohan Social Issues Reporter
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Democratic California Sen. Dianne Feinstein chatted with her aides maskless in the corridors of a government building before entering a Tuesday hearing, video showed.

The footage showed Feinstein standing outside a doorway in a building as she spoke with two men, both of whom were wearing masks. Feinstein then walks through the doorway maskless as another masked man holds the door open for her, video from The Recount shows. (RELATED: Sen Dianne Feinstein, Who Defended Christine Blasey Ford, Calls Tara Reade’s Accusation Against Joe Biden ‘Ridiculous’)

The video sparked a backlash on social media as users pointed out that Feinstein has advocated for a nationwide mask mandate and attempted to prevent coronavirus funding going to states that would not adopt this mandate.

“Wearing masks in public should be mandatory,” she tweeted in July. “When the Senate takes up the next coronavirus economic relief bill later this month, I intend to offer an amendment to prohibit sending funds to states that haven’t adopted a statewide mask requirement.”

She explained her push for the mask mandate in a July 16 press release.

“Wearing masks in public should be mandatory,” she said in a statement. “Period. Leader McConnell said the Senate will take up the next coronavirus economic relief bill later this month. At that time, I intend to offer an amendment to prohibit sending funds to states that haven’t adopted a statewide mask requirement.”

“The situation is getting worse daily,” she continued. “Several states including California, Alabama and Montana already require masks in public. This should be universal. My hope has been that other governors would show the leadership to institute their own mask mandates, but so far that hasn’t happened. It’s time for Congress to step in. This is a matter of life or death, and partisan politics shouldn’t play a role.”

Feinstein did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation. She also was spotted maskless at Dulles International Airport in September after saying that the Federal Aviation Administration should mandate masks at airports, airplanes, and on public transportation.

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