7 attendees of SCOTUS nomination at Rose Garden test positive for COVID-19

Less than a week ago, several top White House officials mingled with guests in the Rose Garden as President Donald Trump officially nominated Amy Coney Barrett to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court.

Many of those guests were seen not wearing masks, fist bumping and greeting one another in close proximity, and their seats didn’t appear to be 6 feet apart.

On Thursday night, Hope Hicks, one of Trump’s closest advisers, tested positive for coronavirus, then the president and first lady Melania Trump also tested positive. The president and his wife were present at the event, but Hicks was not.

First lady Melania Trump sits next to Seventh Circuit Court Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s family, including husband Jesse Barrett and their seven children, as President Donald Trump announces Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court in the Rose Garden at the White House, Sept. 26, 2020, in Washington, D.C.

First lady Melania Trump sits next to Seventh Circuit Court Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s family, including husband Jesse Barrett and their seven children, as President Donald Trump announces Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court in the Rose Garden at the White House, Sept. 26, 2020, in Washington, D.C.

On Friday, Utah Sen. Mike Lee, also at the Rose Garden, announced he had tested positive for COVID-19 after experiencing “symptoms consistent with longtime allergies.”

Lee said he took a test only a few days ago “while visiting the White House,” which came back negative. He said he will “remain isolated for the next 10 days” and “will be back to work in time” to pursue Barrett’s nomination.

Prior to her judgeship, Barrett made a name for herself at Notre Dame Law School, also her alma mater. During her 2017 confirmation process, her Notre Dame Law colleagues penned a glowing – and unanimous – endorsement letter.

University of Notre Dame President Rev. John Jenkins was also at the Rose Garden event and also announced Friday he had tested positive for the virus.

President Donald Trump, center, stands with Judge Amy Coney Barrett as they arrive for a news conference to announce Barrett as his nominee to the Supreme Court, in the Rose Garden at the White House, Sept. 26, 2020, in Washington.

President Donald Trump, center, stands with Judge Amy Coney Barrett as they arrive for a news conference to announce Barrett as his nominee to the Supreme Court, in the Rose Garden at the White House, Sept. 26, 2020, in Washington.

In a statement from the university’s vice president, Paul J, Browne, he said Jenkins “learned that a colleague with whom he has been in regular contact tested positive for COVID-19. … As a result, he is entering an extended period of isolation as indicated by University medical personnel and county health officials.”

“My symptoms are mild and I will continue work from home,” Jenkins said in the statement. “The positive test is a good reminder for me and perhaps for all of how vigilant we need to be.”

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, who also was at the Rose Garden, announced Friday night that he, too, had tested positive for COVID-19. In a statement, he said he had tested negative on Saturday, “but tonight my rapid antigen test came back positive.”

“Thankfully, I have no symptoms and I feel well,” said Tillis, who added that he plans to self-isolate at home for 10 days and notify close contacts.

Guests watch as President Donald Trump introduces 7th U.S. Circuit Court Judge Amy Coney Barrett as his nominee to the Supreme Court in the Rose Garden at the White House Sept. 26, 2020 in Washington, D.C.

Guests watch as President Donald Trump introduces 7th U.S. Circuit Court Judge Amy Coney Barrett as his nominee to the Supreme Court in the Rose Garden at the White House Sept. 26, 2020 in Washington, D.C.

A member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Tillis said he met with Barrett after the announcement on Saturday and again on Wednesday. He was seen meeting with Barrett on Wednesday while neither wore a mask.

Tillis also took part in a debate with the Democratic challenger for his Senate seat, Cal Cunningham, on Thursday night. The two greeted each other before the debate, but were wearing masks and only bumped elbows. Cunningham said Friday night he would get tested.

On Friday night, Kellyanne Conway, who served as counselor to the president until earlier this year, and who was a regular spokesperson for the White House, announced on Twitter she had tested positive. Conway, 53, said she is experiencing mild symptoms.

“Tonight I tested positive for COVID-19. My symptoms are mild (light cough) and I’m feeling fine,” she wrote. “I have begun a quarantine process in consultation with physicians.”

Conway was sitting in the front row at the Rose Garden announcement and was seen mingling with guests and other White House officials while not wearing a mask.

Attorney General William Barr also was at the event and seen without a mask, chatting in close proximity to Conway, but a Department of Justice spokesperson said he tested negative on Friday.

Former counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway, center, and Attorney General William Barr, right, talk with guests in the Rose Garden after President Donald Trump introduced Amy Coney Barrett as his nominee to the Supreme Court at the White House, Sept. 26, 2020.

Former counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway, center, and Attorney General William Barr, right, talk with guests in the Rose Garden after President Donald Trump introduced Amy Coney Barrett as his nominee to the Supreme Court at the White House, Sept. 26, 2020.

A seventh person at the event, an unnamed journalist, was also confirmed to have tested positive, according to the White House Correspondents’ Association.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story said Hope Hicks was at the Rose Garden event. She was not.