Sanders, AOC Blast Pence as Trump Puts Him in Charge of US Coronavirus Response

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is reminding Americans how Vice President Mike Pence responded to the HIV outbreak when he was governor of Indiana.

Yesterday, the Democratic frontrunner took to Twitter sounding off on Pence’s crisis response. Sanders offered a brief overview of Trump’s plan and Pence’s past method of response amid a crisis. Sanders described the full plan as “disgusting.”

He tweeted, “Trump’s plan for the coronavirus so far: -Cut winter heating assistance for the poor -Have VP Pence, who wanted to ‘pray away’ HIV epidemic, oversee the response -Let ex-pharma lobbyist Alex Azar refuse to guarantee affordable vaccines to all Disgusting.”

Sanders spoke in reference to Pence’s track record of crisis response. According to Newsweek, Pence was accused of dropping the ball with a slow response to an HIV outbreak in Scott County, Ind., back in 2015.

As a result of that outbreak, more than 200 people were infected. When a possible solution was presented to Pence in an effort to contain the situation, the former governor said he would “go home and pray on it.”

After signing off on legislation in support of a temporary needle exchange program, Pence said, “I will tell you, I do not support needle exchange as anti-drug policy, but this is a public health emergency.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) also echoed Sanders’ remarks. She described Trump’s decision to appoint Pence in charge of the coronavirus response as “utterly irresponsible.” She, too, mentioned Pence’s past.