FACT CHECK: No, Viral Video Of Trump Crying And Talking About Classified Material Is Not Recent
The video predates Trump's classified documents case
181 'disease detectives' tested positive for COVID after attending large CDC conference
The tally of attendees at a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conference who tested positive for COVID after the event has risen to 181, the CDC said in a statement Friday.
"This outbreak dramatically illustrates that if the circumstances are right, this virus can really spread to a lot of people," infectious disease doctor William Schaffner told the Washington Post.
Schaffner added that a colleague of his, like many others, had a "mild illness" but was "quite discomforted for several days."
The conference, held in April at a hotel in Atlanta, was for Epidemic Intelligence Service officers and alumni, according to the Washington Post. EIS personnel are sometimes called "disease detectives" and are charged with identifying and fighting outbreaks.
A rapid assessment team conducted a survey of 1,443 conference attendees from May 5-10. Among those who responded to the survey, 70% were not wearing masks; nearly all had received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine, and none were hospitalized.
Among those who tested positive, 52% reported no known prior COVID infection, and 27% received antiviral medications.
The conference was held during a period of low COVID community levels, and masking was not recommended at the time, according to the CDC's own guidance.
The study results showed the longer participants were at the conference and the larger the number of events in which attendees participated, the greater the likelihood they would test positive.
The CDC says several attendees notified conference organizers on the last day of the event that they had tested positive for the virus. EIS leaders reportedly made an announcement about the potential cases "and took action to reduce further spread connected with the conference and related events."
The CDC worked with the Georgia Department of Health to "learn more about transmission that occurred and add to our understanding as we transition to the next phase of COVID-19 surveillance and response."
The CDC says the results of its survey demonstrate the effectiveness of immunity from previous infection, antiviral treatments, and vaccines.
Another CDC global health meeting of 300-400 people is scheduled for the same Atlanta venue in June, the Washington Post reported, citing a CDC employee who spoke on condition of anonymity.
June conference attendees were advised to wear high-quality masks and carry COVID rapid tests with them, according to a "Know Before You Go" document acquired by the outlet.
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Trump attacks Chip Roy after Texan confirms run against Elise Stefanik for GOP conference chair
President Donald Trump did not mince words in response to Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) confirming that he would challenge Trump-endorsed Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) in a run for House GOP leadership.
Stefanik is considered the overwhelming favorite to replace Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) for Republican conference chair.
What are the details?
Roy told CNN on Thursday that he would throw his hat in the ring to challenge Stefanik, confirming The Daily Caller's report from a day before saying he was considering the move. A closed-door vote is set for Friday morning.
Trump then issued a statement bashing Roy, writing:
"Can't imagine Republican House Members would go with Chip Roy—he has not done a great job, and will probably be successfully primaried in his own district. I support Elise, by far, over Chip!"
The numbers on tomorrow's vote will be very interesting. https://t.co/TY5nXXo9S5
— Declan Garvey (@declanpgarvey) 1620941839.0
Stefanik has been considered the shoo-in replacement for Cheney, since several GOP members — including some from the conservative House Freedom Caucus — expressed their support for the New Yorker. Former President Trump also endorsed Stefanik, who is fiercely loyal to the former president but is one of the most liberal Republicans in Congress when it comes to policy.
Roy, who is also a Freedom Caucus member, wrote a letter to his fellow GOP colleagues earlier this week urging them to pick someone other than Stefanik as the No. 3 in leadership, citing her liberal voting record.
As TheBlaze previously reported, Roy has voted 90% of the time in favor of Trump's positions, compared to Cheney's 65% and Stefanik's 35%.
Unlike Cheney, Roy voted against impeaching Trump, but he did condemn the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and urged his fellow members from the House floor not to give in to demands to throw out Electoral College votes from some states as Trump wanted.
"That vote may sign my political death warrant, but so be it," Roy said, according to Texas Monthly. "I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and I will not bend its words into contortions for personal political expediency."
The Hill reported that conservative groups Club for Growth and FreedomWorks both endorsed Roy, but several GOP members are expected to skip Friday's vote on who will replace Cheney, saying the decision has been made.
"The cake is baked," GOP Rep. Troy Nehls (Texas) told the outlet.
"If anybody doesn't know who they're voting for by now, [they should] go to the candidate forum," Congressman Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) said.
"I think she's already got enough commitments. And if two-thirds of 'em stick, she'll be fine," saying it's "too little, too late" for Roy, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) added.
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