Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) filed a lawsuit against the city of Austin for maintaining a local order demanding the use of masks after Governor Greg Abbott (R) eliminated the mask mandate across the state .
The lawsuit was filed against Austin Mayor Steve Adler (D), Travis County Judge Andy Brown and Mark Escott, the selfnterim Austin Medical Director and Health Authority, CNN reported.
“I told Travis County & The City of Austin to comply with state mask law. They ignored me. So, again, I’m dragging them to court,” Paxton tweeted.
Abbott announced On March 2, he would suspend the Texas mask mandate and other restrictions on the coronavirus, although Austin officials this week signaled that they would push to maintain the mask’s mandate in the city.
The lawsuit filed Thursday states that inIndividual companies can decide whether they want customers to wear masks, but says Abbott’s executive order prohibits the local government from applying the masks.
Paxton asked the court for a temporary restraining order so Austin could not apply his mask order, according to CNN.
“The attorney general’s office filed a lawsuit against the city of Austin and Travis County. Travis County did not have to rely on the execution of its orders to hold our community accountable. While the order of the Court of Commissioners is valid, Travis County will not pursue any enforcement actions of this order in deference to the Court, “Brown’s office said in a statement to CNN.
Paxton warned Adler on Wednesday that he would sue if the mask’s mandate was not revoked.
“The decision to require masks or otherwise impose operational limits related to COVID-19 is expressly reserved for private companies in their own facilities. It is not up to jurisdictions like the city of Austin or Travis County or your local health officials,” he said. Paxton.
However, Adler said after the threat that he will react if there is a lawsuit.
“Judge Brown and I will continue to do everything we can, using all available tools to reduce the spread of the virus, to keep as many people alive as possible, to open schools safely for more face-to-face learning and more companies safely. “We will fight the attack by Governor Abbott and Attorney General Paxton against doctors and data for as long as possible,” said Adler.
Brown, in a statement to The Hill, said the Texas attorney general was “failing” to make community health a priority.
“I will continue to listen to our public health authority, medical professionals and the CDC, who have consistently stated that masks save lives. It is a pity that the attorney general is once again not making the health of our community his priority, ”said Brown.
The Hill contacted Paxton and Adler for further comments.
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