Ex-Sen. Jones rips Mo Brooks over ‘irony’ remark on Texas Democrats getting COVID-19

by Caroline Vakil - 07/18/21 8:43 PM ET

Former Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) blasted Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) on Sunday regarding a tweet Brooks wrote poking fun at several Texas Democrats who tested positive for COVID-19 after they traveled to Washington, D.C.

Brooks, an Alabama Senate candidate, shared an article regarding the three Texas Democrats who tested positive and said in a tweet on Saturday, “Someone above has a great sense of irony & humor!”

“Hypocritical #Texas legislators, ALL #Socialist #Democrats, fly to Washington DC MASKLESS (horror of horrors). Who knew!!?? Now, three test positive for COVID-19! Anyone else unable to chuckle?” he wrote.

Jones called Brooks’s comments “a low point.”

“There are thousands of folks who think Covid is a hoax or refuse to get vaccinated who get get sick or die from the virus. But no one makes fun or chuckles or ‘takes delight in the irony’ when they do. This is a low point even for someone who help instigate an insurrection,” the former senator said, quote-tweeting an article by AL.com about Brooks’s comments.

Texas Democrats had fled Texas last week to prevent a vote on a measure to impose more restrictive voting laws in the state. The politicians met with Vice President Harris, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).

On Saturday, the Texas House Democratic Caucus issued a statement saying that a member of the caucus who was fully vaccinated had tested positive for COVID-19. Two additional members who were also vaccinated tested positive on Saturday after taking a rapid test, the caucus said.

On Sunday, the caucus reported that two additionally vaccinated members had tested positive, bringing the total number of cases to five.

“All of the HDC Members who tested positive are feeling good, with no symptoms or only mild symptoms,” the caucus said in their statement on Sunday.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 68 percent of American adults ages 18 and up have had at least one dose and 59 percent have had both doses.