State and Local governments, be warned: if you use the COVID-19 coronavirus to overreach and infringe on citizens’ rights, Trey Gowdy will expose you.
On “Hannity”, the former Congressman and federal prosecutor weighed in on the panicked draconian measures taken by some authorities.
First, host Mike Huckabee, former Governor of Arkansas, listed off some of the more egregious abuses:
- HOUSTON: The fine for not wearing a mask in public is $1000.
- MICHIGAN: There are bans on visiting family members.
- WASHINGTON: The state came within one Supreme Court vote of releasing violent criminals.
Gowdy: “Where Does It Stop?”
And while Gowdy acknowledges that State and Local officials have a responsibility to act, they do not have unlimited power.
“…there has to be a rationality. Any time a Governor asks the citizenry to do something, there has to be a rational basis for it. And the greater the freedom you infringe, the more compelling the reason has to be,” he said.
But the current Fox News contributor also cautioned that such emergency power creates a slippery slope. Gowdy continued:
“If I’m going to imprison you or fine you for not wearing a mask, why can I hold you down and vaccinate you against the flu this fall? I mean, you don’t want the flu and COVID-19, so can I involuntarily vaccinate you?”
“ Can I show up at your house and make sure you are doing your burpees and planks and your jumping jacks because obesity and COVID-19 don’t go well together?”
“Where does it stop?”
Gowdy Praises the Attorney General
Gowdy then went on to explain that officials who go too far risk involving the Federal Government:
“…I think we’re lucky. We have a real lawyer as the A.G. I mean, he is a real lawyer. So he understands that for government to be able to…infringe on a freedom, there has to be a rational basis. And sometimes, a compelling reason.”
“If I tell you that you have to wear something in public, there has to be a rational basis for that. So, Barr is smart enough to know that and he’ll put the power of the federal government and grants for those states and municipalities who don’t want to go along, the power of the purse and the power to go to court.”
In other words, those who go too far open themselves up to lawsuits and the potential loss of Federal money.
Gowdy also recognized the Power of the People, of everyday citizens:
“But it’s not too much to ask, why are you making me do that? And is it rooted in some rationality that is connected with what we’re trying to prevent? And if it’s not, then we have this thing called civil disobedience and people can engage in it.”
The Power of the People works. Just hours after the Houston face mask order went into effect, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo rescinded the order. There is no longer a fine.