The Washington state senator who asked his GOP colleagues to send him treatments for COVID-19 while he was in El Salvadoran has not appeared in weeks, raising questions about his condition and location.
The Seattle Times reported in November that a GOP state senator had tested positive for the disease while in El Salvador. It wasn't clear why he traveled to El Salvador, but it was his second time there.
He said he was dealing with a bad bout of the disease.
The Associated Press previously reported that he missed many votes in the state Senate when he was there.
In an email sent to his GOP colleagues in the Seattle House and Senate on December, Ericksen said he had a doctor in the country who was willing to give him the treatment but that it was not available there. They were asked to send the treatment to him.
The email was obtained by the Seattle Times and states that he tested positive for cocaine after he arrived in El Salvadoran. I feel it would be beneficial for me to receive an iv of seron because I can't get back home. The product is not available here, but I have a doctor who can give it to me.
Insider has tried to reach Ericksen and his representatives multiple times, but has not received a response.
There has been no update on the condition of Ericksen for three weeks. Legislative staff members told the outlet they were unable to give an update on his condition.
I don't have anything. Sandy Ruff told the outlet that it's all going through the family now.
The secretary of the state senate told the Herald that he had not had contact with the man since the "ordeal" began.
Luanne Van Werven told the outlet she wasn't able to give an update on his condition after she said on November 19 that he was in stable condition at a Florida hospital.
According to the Associated Press, parts of the district have been hit with flooding, damaging 1,900 homes, businesses and other buildings. The report said that Ericsken has not been involved in the recovery efforts.
The legislator opposed vaccine mandates.
"Nowhere is the coercive power of government more intrusive than on this issue," said Ericksen last year when he announced legislation targeting vaccine requirements.
We don't need flu shots and we don't need conclusive shots. The rights of the individual are put first in our constitution. He said that we shouldn't rush to vaccine.
It's not clear if he had been vaccined for COVID-19 before he got sick.
