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Congress’s Doctor Attempts To Defend Mask Mandate Without Covering Up His Face

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House of Representatives Attending Physician Dr. Brian Monahan remained without a mask during a meeting with Republicans in which he defended the House’s new mask mandates.

Photos obtained exclusively by the Daily Caller show Monahan, a Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy, speaking to a room full of House Republicans on Wednesday afternoon. Monahan announced Tuesday night that representatives would be required to wear masks regardless of vaccination status. The Senate has not reinstituted a mask mandate. (RELATED: ‘Fine The Science, Not Follow The Science’: Republican Rep. Says Pelosi’s Guidance Hurts Vaccination Campaigns)

Punchbowl News’ Jake Sherman first reported that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy had announced the meeting for members of the House Republican Conference.

Monahan lifted the House’s mask mandate for fully-vaccinated members on June 11. More than 85% of representatives and staffers were vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi instituted $500 fines for members who refused to wear masks at the beginning of the congressional session. At least three Republicans, Florida’s Brian Mast, Iowa’s Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Texas’ Beth Van Duyne, have received fines.