David Bossie, who was named to lead Trump effort to challenge election results, tests positive for coronavirus
From left; Former U.S. Rep. John Shadegg, Citizens United President David Bossie, former Arizona Treasurer Jeff DeWitt, Arizona U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz.,speaking, Republican Party Chairwoman Kelli Ward, and U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., participate in an Arizona Republican Party news conference, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020, in Phoenix.
Matt York | AP
David Bossie, who just days ago was tapped to handle President Donald Trump‘s effort to challenge the results of the presidential election, has tested positive for the coronavirus, NBC News reported Monday.
As a result, Bossie is no longer part of the decision-making process of that challenge effort, a source told NBC News.
Bossie’s diagnosis came to light hours after news broke that Trump Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson was positive with Covid-19, and days after White House chief of staff Mark Meadows was revealed to be positive with the virus.
Two sources who spoke to NBC News said Bossie tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday.
One source said, “Because he can’t be at the campaign headquarters and he can’t be in the Oval Office [due to his diagnosis] Dave’s no longer a part of the decision-making process.”
David Bossie, president of Citizens United, speaks during the Skybridge Alternatives (SALT) conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Thursday, May 9, 2019.
Joe Buglewicz | Bloomberg | Getty Images
The other source said that Bossie is believed to be at home and feeling OK. But the same source said Bossie’s diagnosis is a problem because he is now “sidelined” now from the legal fight he was supposed to lead.
Bossie last Thursday participated in an Arizona Republican Party press conference about the Trump campaign in Phoenix.
At that event, Bossie, who was not wearing a mask, stood alongside U.S. Reps. Paul Gosar and Debbie Lesko, state party chairwoman Kelli Ward, former Trump campaign officials Jeff DeWit and Boris Epshteyn, former U.S. Rep. John Shadegg.
Trump’s campaign is mounting a multi-state effort to legally challenge ballots in the election contest, and to recount ballots in a number of states. Bossie was appointed to head that effort on Friday, three days after Election Day.
Former Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday was projected as the winner of the election by NBC News and by other major media outlets.
Trump, a Republican, has refused to concede the election.
Bossie, who was Trump’s deputy campaign manager in 2016, was put in charge of the election challenge effort by the current campaign manager, Bill Stepien, and by senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, who is also Trump’s son-in-law.
Bossie is head of the conservative advocacy group Citizens United.
The White House declined to comment, and the Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a reques for comment on Bossie when contacted by CNBC.
– Additional reporting by Kevin Breuninger and Christina Wilkie
This is breaking news. Check back for updates.
