A senior staffer to the vice president has tested positive for the coronavirus. And we are now learning that aide is Katie Miller. She is a press secretary for the vice president and is married to Stephen Miller, a senior advisor to Donald Trump.
This comes just a day after it was revealed that Donald Trump’s personal valet tested positive as well. Mike Pence was reported on a plane about to take off for a trip to Iowa when he was informed about the latest case.
Pence’s flight to Des Moines was delayed by roughly an hour Friday morning, although the staffer who tested positive was not expected to travel with the vice president. Some members of the vice president’s staff were seen disembarking from Air Force Two.
Pence is reportedly traveling with two senators and the Agriculture Secretary as well. CNN says the group is going to Iowa to “participate in a discussion with faith leaders on responsible religious and spiritual gatherings followed by a roundtable on securing the food supply.”
Chuck Grassley, Joni Ernst and US Ag Sec Sonny Perdue on AF2 from DC to Iowa today. pic.twitter.com/Xgb6L7OVmU
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) May 8, 2020
There are questions over why the vice president is continuing to travel when guidelines suggest he should be in self-quarantine.
According to CDC guidance, both President Trump and Vice President Pence should be in a 14 day isolation period after being exposed to people with positive coronavirus tests.
On Wednesday, a personal valet to Trump tested positive, and now a Pence staffer has tested positive.
— Travis Akers (@travisakers) May 8, 2020