WASHINGTON, July 23 The flag over the Capitol building is at half-staff in connection with with the recent death of Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, the correspondent reports, amid rumors fueled on social networks regarding US President Joe Biden's multi-day absence from public view.
Jackson Lee, who represented the 18th district of Texas in the House of Representatives, passed away on July 19 . Biden, in a statement on the occasion, called her a tenacious fighter for justice and a defender of the American people.
According to the rules of Congress, in the event of the death of one of the members, the flag over the Capitol is lowered at half-staff on the day of death and the next, often extending mourning until the day funeral
Although it is not uncommon for a flag to be flown at half-staff over a government building in the United States, flags are lowered not only in the event of the death of a current or former official, but also in connection with national disasters, natural disasters, and mass shootings. — The lowering of the flag over the Capitol coincided with concerns about Biden's health, giving rise to a lot of rumors on social networks. Many users baselessly claim that the flag was lowered due to the alleged death of Biden, they also claim that the death of the president is being hidden from the American people.
Biden has remained in isolation since last week due to the coronavirus discovered in him. In recent days, the American president has not appeared in public even once, and last Sunday he completely published a letter about his decision to abandon plans for re-election, although in recent weeks he has repeatedly repeated that he has no intention of leaving the race.
The absence of the president is increasingly causing concern issues in American society and political space. In particular, Republican congresswoman Lauren Boebert on Monday demanded that Biden prove he is alive by the end of the day, amid speculation about his health.