LOS ANGELES (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom is going through new criticism for shedding his face masks, rekindling a politically delicate challenge that has shadowed the Democratic governor since he was caught with no face masking at a non-public 2020 occasion that defied his personal pandemic security orders.
The newest scrutiny got here after basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson tweeted a photograph of himself with the governor at NFC championship recreation Sunday at SoFi Stadium close to Los Angeles — each beaming smiles with out masks.
Earlier this month, California well being officers prolonged the state’s indoor masks mandate by means of Feb. 15, as omicron circumstances surged. Stadium rules permit individuals to take away masks solely when they’re consuming and ingesting.
Newsom advised reporters Monday in Los Angeles that he eliminated his masks solely briefly for the picture with Johnson and was in any other case “very even handed” about preserving it in place. He indicated he additionally eliminated it sometimes to sip water.
“The remainder of the time, I wore it as all of us ought to,” he stated. “I encourage all people else to take action.”
Republicans noticed the {photograph} as one other instance of hypocrisy, recalling the months of public shaming Newsom endured after he was caught mask-free on the 2020 party at a luxurious restaurant in Northern California. The occasion helped spur a recall effort that he defeated in September.
The newest picture of Newsom with no masks at a public place was criticized by Republican Nationwide Committee spokeswoman Hallie Balch, who stated “the utter lack of respect that Democrats have for California residents is appalling.”
She added: “California Democrats are hypocrites. Relating to their very own enjoyment, they violate state mandates in addition to stadium mandates, which exhibits that they firmly consider their very own guidelines don’t apply to them.”
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