Imprisoned former Rep. Stockman contracts COVID
Former U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman, who asked President Donald Trump for compassionate release from his federal prison sentence during the pandemic, has contracted COVID-19, according to a spokesperson for the family.
Stockman, 63, confirmed with laboratory test results that he has the virus on Friday, the spokesperson said.
“Immediate prayer request!” reads a tweet from Stockman’s Twitter account that tagged Trump. “Steve Stockman learned yesterday positive for COVID, moved to isolation with others infected BUT GIVING NO medication. Steve had a hard time breathing last night. I’m VERY concerned. PRAY!!”
The novel coronavirus has spread through Texas prisons for months. Activists and local leaders have called for the compassionate release of elderly or at-risk people from prisons and jails in the state to curb the spread of the virus.
The former Republican congressman was convicted of an intricate corruption scheme in April 2018.
He was sentenced to spend 10 years at the Federal Correctional
Institution, a low-security facility in Beaumont.
In April, his wife, Patti Stockman — along with evangelical leaders, conservative officials and former members of the Cabinet and Congress — made pleas for the man’s release.
They said he was especially at risk because he is overweight and has diabetes, lung scarring from asthma and high blood pressure.
Calls for release from Stockman’s
camp went unanswered by the Trump administration. He is still being held at the Beaumont prison.
Stockman was convicted of a scheme that included spying on a GOP rival and misspending charitable contributions on shopping trips, dolphin boat tours, hot air balloon rides and 500 copies of his brother’s custom-made popup Advent books.