GOP Congressman Defends Newsom’s Decision To Violate ‘Idiotic COVID Edicts’ and Attend Dinner Party

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is receiving unlikely support from a Republican congressman for attending a dinner party despite advising residents against holding such gatherings.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports Newsom and his wife attended the event on Nov. 6 and that there were at least 12 people there. Additionally, photos that surfaced from the event showed that Newsom and other attendees were not wearing face masks or social distancing.

He has since said he made a “bad mistake” by attending the party.

In a speech on the House floor on Thursday, Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) defended Newsom’s decision to the dinner party despite urging residents to avoid such gatherings.

“I rise this morning in defense for Governor 👤Gavin Newsom, who recently defied his own idiotic COVID edicts as he partied at one of the few restaurants that’s not yet been forced out of business,” he said.

He continued, “I defend him because he was doing what we all once did in our free society: make our own decisions over what risks we’re willing to run and what precautions we’re willing to take according to our own circumstances to protect our own health.”