Rep. Dan Crenshaw said Wednesday that Americans should not be fined for going without a face mask during the pandemic and vowed to continue pushing back against such penalties in a post-COVID-19 environment.
"I am going to push back extremely hard – as I just did about an hour ago – against anybody that tries to put a fine or put someone in jail because they’re not wearing a mask, especially in an open space,” the Texas Republican said during a discussion organized by the Wilson Center, in Washington, D.C.
Shortly before the event, Crenshaw tweeted that he "will NEVER support 180 days in jail or $1,000 fine for not wearing a mask. Do not let commonsense guidelines lead to unjust tyranny."
Some cities in California and Texas are fining residents up to $1,000 if they are seen out in public without wearing masks.
Crenshaw said the government should still promote the use of marks but not adopt a requirement.
“Now, does that mean that we shouldn’t be promoting the use of clothes masks?," he asked. "Yes, of course we should. I think that’s a good part of it especially because of the possibility of asymptomatic carries but as usual some people go too far, OK? So there’s a balance there."