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Gubernatorial candidate Eyman leads COVID-19 order challenge

THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. — Filed in a Thurston County court, a new lawsuit organized by Tim Eyman states that Gov. Jay Inslee is using emergency powers based on an unconstitutional law.

According to the lawsuit, the state constitution limits the governor’s powers to an emergency caused by enemy attack only.

Plaintiffs say that means forcing them to wear a mask is a violation of their First Amendment right to free speech.

Lawyer Stephen Pidgeon drafted the lawsuit, “The wearing of a mask is your expression that you say publicly that I am submitting to the unconstitutional authority of the governor and that is a forced expression explicitly prohibited by the first amendment.”

“The micromanaging of our lives goes to a level that I’m just not comfortable with,” said Eyman, who is a Republican candidate for governor.

Lisa Thomas says she’s a registered nurse in Richland.

“I choose not to wear a mask. Because it is a violation of my freedom of conscience,” Thomas said.

And she doesn’t believe the common cloth masks that many wear do much to stop the virus.

“This notion of wearing this piece of cloth to protect you from a virus is just nonsense,” she said.

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Neither Eyman nor his supporters were wearing a mask or social distancing despite the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state health department

If Eyman wins his lawsuit, he could be elected governor in the middle of a pandemic without any emergency powers.

“I think the abuse of executive power is the worst thing that I’ve seen this governor do,” Eyman said. Asked how he will protect Washingtonians if elected governor, he responded that he would work with the legislature. “I don’t want to make decisions unilaterally for 7 million people.”

This week, Inslee pointed out that his COVID-19 safety orders have held up despite 41 legal challenges.