House lawmakers abandon social distancing as Pelosi reads oath to new members
House lawmakers abandoned social distancing protocols on Sunday evening as Speaker Nancy Pelosi read the oath to officially swear in the new freshman members of the 117th Congress. While many of the members appear to be wearing masks, video shows hundreds of lawmakers wandering around the chamber speaking with each other in close contact and shaking hands. New York Times reporter Emily Cochrane called the scene "utter chaos" noting some lawmakers removed their masks to speak.