‘An Embarrassing Moment’: Dem DC Mayor Slapped With 4 ‘Pinocchios’ by the WaPo

The Washington Post is giving Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) four “Pinocchios” for comments she made to defend an apparent violation of the city’s new mask mandate.

The Post’s fact-checker Glenn Kessler noted in an article published on Wednesday that Bowser is receiving criticism after a photo surfaced of her maskless at an indoor wedding reception over the weekend.

On Tuesday, Bowser told reporters, “We all know what the rules says about sitting at a dining table and dining. Don’t be ridiculous. … They took a picture of me where dinner and drinks were served.”

Kessler noted that Tiana Lowe, a commentary writer for The Washington Examiner, received a tip that Bowser would be attending a wedding and “decided to check out how the new mandate would be enforced.”

He wrote, “The wedding was held outside, on the rooftop, while the reception was held on the mezzanine inside the hotel. Lowe arrived during the reception, approximately 9:30 p.m. She told The Fact Checker she stayed for about a half-hour, observing the mayor sitting at one of the dining tables. During that entire period, she said, Bowser never put on her mask even though it appeared the meal was over. She saw servers clearing away plates. She said toasts were being made but Bowser was not drinking.”

Additionally, the fact-checker noted that Lowe said Bowser put her mask on when she left the reception.

He went on to cite a statement from the mayor’s office, which was released after Lowe published a story including the picture of Bowser not wearing a mask, that acknowledged she “officiated an outdoor, rooftop wedding ceremony, followed by an indoor dinner.”

“The Mayor wore a mask indoors in compliance with the mandate, and the organizers and venue staff worked to create a safe environment for the staff and guests,” the statement added.