Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Won't Allow Cities to Charge Mask Scoffers
Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis says he will not allow any city or county officials in his state to charge and convict citizens for refusing to wear masks and for ignoring “social distancing” rules.
DeSantis told Fox News host Laura Ingraham that punishing people for defying COVID-19 mandates is a “total overreach” of government officials.
“It’s a total overreach,” he said. “These things with health should be advisory, they should not be punitive.”
DeSantis also told business owners Mike and Jillian Carnevale that he was vacating their convictions after Broward County officials arrested them for refusing to force employees and customers to wear masks.
“I’m glad you have Mike and Jillian on, and I’m also glad to be on to be able to say that effective tomorrow morning, I’m going to sign a reprieve under my constitutional authority,” DeSantis said. “So that will delay the case for 60 days against both of them, and then when our clemency board meets in the coming weeks, we’ll issue pardons not only for Mike and Jillian, but for any Floridian that may have outstanding infractions for things like masks and social distancing.”
WATCH:
As soon as I heard that Mike and Jillian Carnevale were facing criminal penalties, like possible jail time, for not requiring masks at their gym I stepped in to shield them from this local government overreach.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 13, 2021
DeSantis was also the first governor to put an end to the stat’s coronavirus orders.
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