Grassley quarantining after exposure to coronavirus

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said on Tuesday that he would self-quarantine after exposure to the coronavirus.

“I learned today that I’ve been exposed to the coronavirus. I will follow my doctors’ orders and immediately quarantine as I await my test results,” Grassley said in a statement.

Grassley added that he was “feeling well” and asymptomatic but that “it’s important we all follow public health guidelines to keep each other healthy.”

Grassley, 87, is the latest GOP senator to announce they would quarantine after exposure to an individual with the coronavirus. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) announced over the weekend that he was going to quarantine due to the coronavirus; Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) was also in quarantine but is returning to the Capitol on Tuesday. 

Grassley’s absence is the latest curveball to the GOP effort to confirm Judy Shelton to the Federal Reserve board. 

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) announced on Monday that he opposed her, becoming the third GOP senator to come out against Shelton’s nomination. But Alexander is not in D.C. this week due to family obligations. 

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), the vice president-elect, has also not been routinely voting in the Senate. Eleven senators, including Harris, were absent from Monday night’s vote, including four Republican senators, six Democratic senators and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). 

The Senate is set to hold a procedural vote on Shelton’s nomination on Tuesday afternoon. 

If Harris returned to vote, but every other senator not currently quarantining votes, Shelton’s nomination would come up short at 48-49.

If Harris does not return, Shelton would have a 48-48 tie, letting Vice President Pence break a tie to advance her nomination.