Tucker Carlson Shows Sen. Dianne Feinstein at Airport With No Mask After She Called for Mandated Face Covers
Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson has criticized California Senator Dianne Feinstein for apparently not wearing a face covering as she arrived at a terminal, despite making a plea back in July for mandated masks in airports to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
In a segment on Monday, the Tucker Carlson Tonight host described how Feinstein had urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in June to enforce mask use for employees and passengers in airports, on planes, and when taking mass transportation.
He then described how his program had "exclusively obtained" photographs apparently showing her in a private terminal at Washington's Dulles airport.
"In the photographs, Feinstein can be seen smiling without a mask on. One might even say she's sowing confusion about whether or not masks are necessary," Carlson said. "A pilot with a mask is walking in front of her carrying a bag and a dog."
At 87, Feinstein is the Senate's oldest serving member and is in the high-risk category should she contract the novel coronavirus.
In a press statement on June 29, the senator had called on the FAA and FTA to "implement a mandatory mask policy for all airport and airline employees and passengers as cases of coronavirus continue to surge."
"I ask that you issue guidance as soon as possible so passengers can have a clear understanding of the requirements and so that we may reduce exposure for workers and travelers alike," Feinstein wrote.
In July, she called on the Senate to back an amendment for the next coronavirus relief bill that would withhold funds to those states that did not put mask mandates in place, saying in a statement: "Wearing masks in public should be mandatory. Period."
Carlson compared the images of the senator at the airport to the controversy over House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was filmed getting her hair done inside a salon in San Francisco while businesses were under coronavirus restrictions.
"We can be sure of one thing. This really isn't Dianne Feinstein's fault—just like when the hair salon framed Nancy Pelosi for not wearing a mask while getting her hair done, Dulles Airport, the diabolical FBO, probably masterminded the whole thing," he said, referring to the initialism for a Fixed Based Operator.
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam mandated that protective face coverings be worn in public spaces and that face coverings would be required for everyone at Dulles International Airport from May 29, 2020, and all airport staff have been required to wear the face coverings on duty in public areas since May 18.
Newsweek has contacted Feinstein's office for comment. A spokesperson for Dulles airport told Newsweek that "the private terminal referenced in the clip is not operated by the Airports Authority and not considered to be public space."
"The two private terminals at Dulles are operated by Signature and Jet Aviation, so it's not clear to me from the photos which one this could be," the spokesperson added. Newsweek has contacted Signature and Jet Aviation for comment.
