DeSantis Will Pardon Floridians Hit With COVID Violations

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appeared on Fox News Wednesday to announce his intent to pardon Floridians who defied COVID safety protocols. He broke the decision live on air while Fox News featured a Florida couple facing jail time for violating coronavirus safety recommendations.

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Gym Couple Arrested For Protesting Mask Mandate At Gym

Fox News’ “Ingraham Angle” hosted by Ingraham featured Mike and Jillian Carnavale, the couple who kept their gym open during the pandemic.

Mike Carnavale recounted that two months after South Florida reopened gyms, Broward County issued a new mandate. The county required gym-goers to wear face masks over their mouths during exercise sessions. When the couple filed a lawsuit, Broward County officials arrested them within 24 hours. 

Consequently, Broward County charged Carnavale with two second-degree misdemeanors for a total of 120 days in jail. Meanwhile, Strolla faces a second-degree misdemeanor as well which carries 60 days incarceration.

The charges stem from the couple’s insistence that people should not wear masks while exercising. Speaking to Ingraham, the couple’s attorney Cory Strolla added that they wanted to ask the Governor to intervene in their case. 

DeSantis Appears Live

DeSantis decided to show up on air to assure a couple of his support. He announced live that he would make sure they receive a pardon.

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,” the governor said as the couple and their attorney listened with wide smiles. Then, he added that he will pardon Floridians “that may have outstanding infractions for things like masks and social distancing.”

Referring to the Carnavales, DeSantis decried Broward County’s approach.“The fact is, it’s not even right to be wearing masks when you’re exercising,” he continued. “The World Health Organization advises against it. It’s not healthy for people to be doing that in the first place. So it was a bad restriction. But these things with health should be advisory; they should not be punitive. And so we’re happy to use our constitutional authority. I think they’ve been treated poorly and fortunately, they’ve got a governor that cares.”

Advisory Not Punitive

“It’s a total overreach,” DeSantis told host Laura Ingraham. “These things with health should be advisory, they should not be punitive,” he said.

As far back as last September, the governor already wanted all fines and penalties related to COVID protocols suspended. “I think we need to get away from trying to penalize people for social distancing and just work with people constructively,” he said.

Watch the Fox News video reporting that Florida governor Ron DeSantis grants clemency to ‘Ingraham Angle' guests on live TV:

Do you agree with Governor DeSantis’ plan to pardon Floridians who defied COVID-19 recommendations? Do you agree with his thinking that officials should approach health matters constructively and not punitively?

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