Disgraced State Rep David Byrd hospitalized for covid pneumonia [View all]
(Edited to add he's a Repiglican, for those unfamiliar)
He took time off from sexually abusing high school girls and flouting mask/social distancing guidelines to be helicoptered 100 miles to Nashville. Instead of being treated in his own district, he is taking up a scarce bed and other medical resources in a county where commonsense public health standards are in place.
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/06/tennessee-gop-representative-david-byrd-hospitalized-covid-19/3849352001/
Tennessee state Rep. David Byrd has been hospitalized for COVID-19, making him at least the second member of the House Republican Caucus to require a hospital stay after contracting the virus.
Byrd, 63, was flown by helicopter over the weekend from Wayne County Hospital to Saint Thomas in Nashville, according to a Facebook post by family member Terry Franks.
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While it's unclear when Byrd first began experiencing symptoms of the coronavirus, he was among the nearly 70 House Republicans in attendance at a caucus meeting held in the House chamber Nov. 24. Byrd could be seen at one point on the House floor not wearing a mask.
Days before that, the caucus gathered for an overnight retreat held at Pickwick Landing State Park in Byrd's district. The first night of the retreat, Byrd hosted a dinner with dozens of caucus members at a local restaurant.
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Byrd, a former teacher and principal, in 2018 was accused by three former students of sexually assaulting them in the 1980s when he coached their girls basketball team at Wayne County High School.
He never publicly denied the allegations, but said he has done nothing wrong while in office.
Lee in 2019 met with one of his accusers, Christi Rice, later saying he believed her story. The governor asked Byrd not to seek reelection, to no avail.