In a move that will shock absolutely no one, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis shared that he would pardon any Floridian facing fines over violating COVID-19 restrictions.
The governor announced his position from his favorite pulpit to share policy updates, primetime hours on Fox News. On an episode of the Ingraham Angle, where he shared the screen with several people who had violated lockdown regulations, DeSantis told Floridians there would be no consequences for their reckless behavior.
“We’ll issue pardons…for any Floridian that may have outstanding infractions for things like masks and social distancing,” he said. “These things, with health, should be advisory. They should not be punitive.”
The interview is of a piece with DeSantis’ recent moves on COVID-19 regulations. Ahead of a bill that would strip Florida municipalities of home rule when it comes to emergency orders, DeSantis passed an executive order that nullified all local coronavirus mandates from local governments in the state.
–
Stay on top of Central Florida news and views with our weekly newsletters, and consider supporting this free publication. Our small but mighty team is working tirelessly to bring you Central Florida news, and every little bit helps.
Related Stories
This article appears in May 12-18, 2021.