Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt sued St. Louis County over its COVID-19 safety protocols, saying they are putting “unending control” on people’s lives.
The county’s public health regulations, including mask mandates for students and restrictions on large gatherings in houses of worship, are “unjustified burdens” on freedom and can be swapped for “less restrictive” regulations, the Tuesday filing alleged.
“From requiring a mask outdoors to subjecting citizens to government pre-approval for private events, enough is enough. The seemingly unending control over people’s lives must end. Vaccines are widely available to all adults – it’s past time for St. Louis County to lift these restrictions, and that’s why I filed suit today,” Schmitt said in a statement following the suit against St. Louis County Executive Sam Page in St. Louis County Circuit Court.
JUDGE DISMISSES MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL’S SUIT OVER AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN TAX MANDATE
Schmitt sent a letter in April to Dr. Faisal Khan, the acting director of the St. Louis County Department of Public Health, requesting scientific evidence behind the county’s coronavirus restrictions, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The St. Louis area has had lower per-capita rates of virus-related admissions in other areas of Missouri, but it has been stricter with public health protocols.
Page, along with St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, elected to loosen some of the restrictions due to the state’s expanded vaccine rollout earlier in May.
The city’s and county’s updated order kept indoor masking and outdoor social distancing but lifted outdoor masking, all curfews, and increased occupancy in gathering places.
Doug Moore, a spokesman for Page, defended the county’s regulations, adding that Schmitt’s lawsuit is politically motivated given the speculation around his potential Senate bid.
“We all know Mr. Schmitt is trying to increase his profile statewide and suing those protecting the health and safety of residents is apparently one of the ways he has chosen to do that,” Moore said. “Litigation around public health orders across the country is nothing new and St. Louis County has been successful in defending every legal challenge around public health orders. Our legal foundation is sound.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The Washington Examiner reached out to the St. Louis county executive’s office and Missouri Attorney General’s Office for comment.
