Pennsylvania Lt. Governor candidate Teddy Daniels on Friday said he would arrest government officials who enforce unconstitutional mask mandates during a January 28 debate in Butler County. “Yes or no, would you arrest government officials for mandating the vaccine or masks?” the candidates were asked after all had agreed that such mandates were unconstitutional.
On Friday, Pennsylvania Republican Lt. Governor candidate Teddy Daniels said he would arrest government officials who mandate COVID-19 vaccines and masks during a debate in Butler County.
Following up on a question regarding the Republican candidate’s opinion that mask and vaccine mandates are unconstitutional, the debate moderator asked if he would have government officials who mandate masks and injections arrested for violating the “supreme law of the land.”
“That’s an absolute yes,” Daniels replied. “I fought and bled on foreign soil, with an American flag on my uniform, to come home and have people force a mask on my son. It’s not gonna happen, not on my watch. Not today, not tomorrow, and next week doesn’t look good either.”
The response was met with loud cheers from the crowd of Butler County citizens.
Government officials who unconstitutionally mandate masks and vaccines will be arrested when I'm PA Lt. Gov. pic.twitter.com/NrG52iXzCJ
— Teddy Daniels PA (@TeddyForPA) February 2, 2022
In May, Pennsylvania became the first state in the nation to curb their governor’s pandemic emergency powers. Voters approved a measure that would allow the General Assembly the authority to end or extend declared emergencies without the governor’s involvement. A second approved measure automatically ends an emergency order after 21 days, unless renewed by the General Assembly. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, a Democrat, extended the emergency declaration four times.
A federal judge ruled that Wolf’s stay at home orders and limits on large gatherings were unconstitutional in September of 2020. Multiple counties, four Republican members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and several business owners sued state officials in May of 2020, arguing that Wolf’s policies were in violation of their civil rights. “The Constitution sets certain lines that may not be crossed, even in an emergency. Actions taken by Defendants crossed those lines,” wrote U.S. District Judge William Stickman IV. The Wolf administration tried to appeal the ruling, but a stay was denied.
Daniels doubled down on his intent to arrest government officials who enforce unconstitutional orders in a tweet on Wednesday. “Government officials who unconstitutionally mandate masks and vaccines will be arrested when I’m PA Lt. Gov.” Daniels said. To date, no governor or state legislature has taken these steps.