Name: Gov. Abbott slams Houston over coronavirus restrictions on national television
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Gov. Abbott slams Houston over coronavirus restrictions on national television

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott slammed local officials in Houston and Dallas on national television on Wednesday night for being too quick to threaten people with jail time during the coronavirus pandemic for not wearing masks and trying to operate their businesses — even though his own executive orders allowed incarceration for Texans who violate them.Then on Thursday morning, Abbott announced he is taking that threat of incarceration out of his own executive orders, and making it retroactive to ensure a Dallas salon owner would be released from jail.Abbott’s new order comes as Dallas hair salon owner Shelley Luther’s arrest for operating her businesses in defiance of stay-at-home orders has made national headlines. Luther, owner of Salon A La Mode, was sentenced to jail time on Tuesday after judge Eric Moyé&nbsp;said she violated statewide stay-at-home orders when she reopened her business nearly two weeks ago. Abbott has allowed salons to begin re-opening on Friday.In most of his executive orders issued during the outbreak, Abbott has included a line stating: “failure to comply with any executive order issued during the COVD-19 disaster is an offense punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days, or both fine and confinement.”RESTRICTIONS CHALLENGED:In an appearance on Hannity on Fox News, Abbott said Houston officials had threatened jail time for anyone who did not wear a mask — which is not true. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s order requiring masks included a fine up to $1,000 but did not have jail time as a possibility.“In Houston, they were issuing fines and potential jail time for anybody who refused to wear a mask,” Abbott said. “Wearing a mask is the best practice, however, no one should forfeit their liberty and be sent to jail for not wearing a mask.”No one should forfeit their liberty and be sent to jail for not wearing a mask. I’ll make further announcements about this and related issues in the morning. — Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX)Hidalgo has said she never intended to fine people. She said putting the fine in the order was meant to send a message that it was not optional to wear a face covering. She has said she did not know of anyone who had been issued a fine.But it wasn’t just Houston taking fire from Abbott. During the same interview, Abbott went after the policies of Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot.“In Dallas County, the Dallas County District Attorney announced a policy that he’s not going to prosecute any thief who steals things valued at less than $750,” Abbott told Hannity. “At the same time authorities in Dallas are talking about releasing inmates from prison or jail because of the possibility of contracting COVID-19.”TEXAS TAKE:Abbott was referencing a policy put in place more than a year ago by Creuzot. Creuzot said he was not going to prosecute thefts of personal items under $750 that are stolen out of necessity — such as food or baby formula. However, Creuzot said he would still prosecute other thefts of items under $750 in value.“Criminalizing poverty is counter-productive for our community’s health and safety. For that reason, this office will not prosecute theft of personal items less than $750 unless the evidence shows that the alleged theft was for economic gain,” the criminal justice reform plan issued by Creuzot’s office stated.OPINION:A spokeswoman for Creuzot said the program was meant to reduce overcrowding in the jail and avoid incarcerating people for months over minor thefts.Abbott has been venting about Creuzot’s program for more than a year. On Twitter last year he slammed Creuzot.“If someone is hungry they can just steal some food. If cold, steal a coat. Where does it end?” Abbott said in a Tweet.Dallas Co. District Attorney stokes crime by refusing to prosecute theft of personal items worth less than $750. If someone is hungry they can just steal some food. If cold, steal a coat. Where does it end? It's wealth redistribution by theft. — Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX)Abbott himself is a former judge and was the Texas Attorney General before winning the governor’s office in 2014.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott slammed local officials in Houston and Dallas on national television on Wednesday night for being too quick to threaten people with jail time during the coronavirus pandemic for not wearing masks and trying to operate their businesses — even though his own executive orders allowed incarceration for Texans who violate them.Then on Thursday morning, Abbott announced he is taking that threat of incarceration out of his own executive orders, and making it retroactive to ensure a Dallas salon owner would be released from jail.Abbott’s new order comes as Dallas hair salon...

Gov. Abbott slams Houston over coronavirus restrictions on national television

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