HOUSTON — Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas gave a Dallas salon proprietor who was jailed for reopening her enterprise and violating lockdown orders the eq
HOUSTON — Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas gave a Dallas salon proprietor who was jailed for reopening her enterprise and violating lockdown orders the equal of a “get-out-of-jail-free” card on Thursday — modifying his govt orders on the matter to take away confinement as a punishment. Quickly after, the Texas Supreme Court docket ordered her launch.
A judge sentenced Ms. Luther on Tuesday to a week in jail and a fine of at least $3,500, and she quickly became a symbol of conservative outrage over state lockdowns and stay-at-home orders. Armed protesters rallied outside the salon, and former Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska paid a visit to show her support.
Mr. Abbott, who is scheduled to meet with the president at the White House on Thursday, said in a statement that he was eliminating confinement as a punishment for violating the executive orders, and doing so retroactively so the shift would apply to Ms. Luther’s sentencing.
“Throwing Texans in jail who have had their businesses shut down through no fault of their own is nonsensical, and I will not allow it to happen,” the governor said in a statement.
The state’s top Republicans have found themselves in a jumble of mixed messages in their responses to Ms. Luther’s case. Mr. Abbott rushed to the defense of a woman who flagrantly violated his own orders. The Texas attorney general’s office had rebuked a local official who had called the governor’s orders vague and had encouraged salon owners to reopen, but then called the jailing of Ms. Luther excessive and a political stunt.
Texas’ Republican leaders have been battling on many fronts with the Democrats who run Dallas County. Ms. Luther was seen as a conservative hero defying overzealous Democratic-leaning officials. The lieutenant governor of Texas, Dan Patrick, went so far as to offer to submit himself to house arrest to help free her.
If the judge “wants to substitute me for her, and sentence me to seven days of house arrest so she can go back to work, that’s fine,” Mr. Patrick told reporters on Wednesday. “I’m fine to take her place in house arrest. I just don’t think she should be going to jail.”
Mr. Abbott’s action on Thursday was also prompted by two other cases in the border city of Laredo.
Two women, Ana Isabel Castro-Garcia and Brenda Stephanie Mata, were arrested by Laredo police officers after they offered nail and eyelash services from their residences, in violation of the local emergency management plan. They each faced misdemeanor charges of up to 180 days in jail, a fine or both.
The governor said in his statement that he wanted to ensure that Ms. Castro-Garcia and Ms. Mata were not subject to jail time.
“As some county judges advocate for releasing hardened criminals from jail to prevent the spread of Covid-19, it is absurd to have these business owners take their place,” Mr. Abbott said.
Manny Fernandez reported from Houston, and David Montgomery from Austin.