House leaders paid tribute to Luke Letlow, the 41-year-old Louisiana congressman who died Tuesday after being hospitalized for complications from Covid-19. He was supposed to take office next week.
Andrew Bautsch, a spokesman, confirmed to the Associated Press that Letlow died at the Ochsner-LSU Health Shreveport.
“Our hearts break tonight as we process the news of the death of Congressman-Elect Luke Letlow,” wrote Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), minority chairman. “I spoke to his wife Julia. Judy and I are praying for her and her two young children at this terrible time. “
House spokeswoman Nancy Pelosi said in a statement: “Congressman-elect Letlow was a ninth generation Louisian who fought passionately and dedicated his life to public service. As the House mourns the death of Congressman-elect Letlow, our grief is compounded by the grief of so many other families who have also suffered lives shortened by this terrible virus. May it be consolation for Luke’s wife Julia and their children Jeremiah and Jacqueline that so many mourn their loss and pray for them during this sad time. “
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Letlow, a Republican, is the first person elected to Congress to die from complications from Covid-19.
On December 21, when he was hospitalized, he urged donations of convalescent plasma. “For those who have already had Covid, your plasma is especially needed by those who are suffering. I cannot stress this enough. Please remember to save lives by going out and donating at your local blood bank, ”he wrote.
On December 21, he also published a story on Twitter about the rare “Christmas star” – an astrological phenomenon from the rare alignment of Jupiter and Saturn with the message: “A beautiful reminder that Christ has come to give us all hope ! ”
A doctor at the hospital told The Advocate that Letlow had no underlying medical conditions. The doctor said on December 23 that he had been treated with remdesivir and steroids.
Letlow is survived by his wife Julia and two children.
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