Maine contender to replace Platner grilled on response to public health crisis, Dem senator opposing his run
CNN host Brianna Keilar grilled Dr. Nirav Shah on Friday, shortly after he threw his hat into the ring for a Senate seat in Maine as embattled Graham Platner withdrew, citing Democratic Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s blistering criticism of his record.
Shah finished second in Maine's Democratic gubernatorial primary, but faces stiff opposition from parts of his own party regarding his past record. Duckworth, a combat veteran herself, revived prior criticism of how he handled a deadly Legionnaires’ disease outbreak during his tenure leading Illinois’ public health department.
"Maine deserves better than someone who put his public image before the safety of our Veterans," she wrote Thursday on X. "Too many of our heroes lost their lives under Nirav Shah’s watch as Illinois Public Health Director. I called for his resignation then, and I strongly oppose his run for Senate now."
"So as soon as you threw your hat in the ring for this Senate seat, as you are well aware, Illinois senator and combat veteran Tammy Duckworth opposed your run, citing your handling of outbreaks of Legionnaires disease at an Illinois veterans home that killed 13 people starting in 2015," Keilar noted on Friday, asking him for his response to Duckworth’s X post.
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"Well, the outbreak that she‘s referring to back in 2015 was tragic," he said. "And sadly, American veterans lost their lives. And I deeply respect Sen. Duckworth and her service to this country. In this respect, I happen to disagree with her. The health department, in the setting of a legionnaires outbreak, responds to the scene of an emergency, much like the fire department does."
He added further, "In this situation, we responded after the outbreak was underway. We helped tamp it down, and we made sure that the outbreak didn‘t get any worse than it already was. This outbreak was carefully reviewed by the CDC and others. And indeed, after that outbreak, Maine‘s Democratic governor and indeed the Biden Administration both hired me for top public health positions."
Keilar proceeded to grill him, claiming that the fire department comparison is incorrect because the fire department is known for quick responses to crises.
"So I know you‘re saying they responded like the fire department would," she said. "The fire department normally responds very quickly. And I know that you have said you are proud of the response, which is certainly in line with what you‘re saying today. You said it was quick, coordinated and responsive. But aside from what we‘re hearing from the senator, Illinois’ auditor general did a pretty in-depth investigation and a report which specifically outlined how the response was none of the things that you‘re describing."
"Maine voters are known for being very independent. They want it told to them straight. How can they rely on you to be straight with them during tough times, when certainly that report is very different from how you were describing your then department‘s response to this Legionnaires' disease?" she asked. "For instance, it was, I think, about three days after it was confirmed that there were multiple cases of Legionnaires before they even went to the veterans’ home."
"Well, that latter part is not correct. The county health department was in immediate contact with the facility. And then, as the situation evolved, they then looped in the state health department. And that‘s when we became involved," Shah replied.
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"In any outbreak in crisis situation, we can always improve the coordination between state, county and federal officials," he added.
Shah went on to defend his record, particularly his service during the COVID-19 pandemic as a time he showed leadership in a time of crisis.
"I learned a lot during the legionnaire’s crisis, and I am a better leader for it," he said. "If what we demand are leaders who are unblemished, then what we will end up with are leaders who are untested. I have been a tested leader, and I am a better leader as a result."