Politics & Government
Senator Charged With ‘Willfully Exposing’ Public To COVID-19
The V.I. Department of Justice is pursuing charges against Sen. Marvin Blyden for ignoring COVID-19 quarantine rules after testing positive.
U.S VIRGIN ISLANDS — The V.I. Justice Department filed criminal charges against Sen. Marvin Blyden for “willfully exposing the public to a contagious disease” after testing positive on Sept. 15 for COVID-19, as reported by the St. Croix Source.
Blyden tested positive for COVID-19 twice in one day, but then attended a gathering of at least 70 people at Tillett Gardens on St. Thomas. Blyden apologized for attending and pointed to three at-home rapid tests that showed negative results. One of the at-home rapid tests, however, was dated for July.
The charge against him is for one count of exposure in a public place while infected with a contagious disease. It carries a fine of $200, one-year imprisonment, or both.
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“No one is above the law and willfully exposing people from within our community to this potentially deadly communicable disease is not something that should be brushed aside,” said Attorney General Denise George in a prepared statement. “We all have a duty to protect our fellow Virgin Islanders and elected leaders are not exempt by status or position from following the law.”
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