US

‘Dictatorial’, ‘Flat Out Ridiculous’: Sheriff Speaks Out On California COVID-19 Orders, Says He Won’t Restrict ‘Civil Liberties’

YouTube screenshot/Riverside County Sheriff's Department

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Jake Dima Contributor
Font Size:

A California Sheriff criticized recent coronavirus regulations and vowed that his department would not be used as “muscle” to enforce the orders on the residents of his county in a Friday announcement.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco spoke out in a video against Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent COVID-19 mandate that restricts businesses and requires residents to stay home if intensive care unit capacity drops below 15% in certain areas. The sheriff also lambasted state authorities who threatened to withhold state funding from counties that defied virus regulations in early September.

“These closures and these stay-at-home orders are flat-out ridiculous,” Bianco said in the video. “The metrics used for closures are unbelievably faulty and are not representative of true numbers and are disastrous for Riverside County.” 

“He is expecting us to arrest anyone violating these orders, cite them and take their money, close their businesses, make them stay in their homes and take away their civil liberties or he will punish all of us,” he continued. “I believe that all jobs are essential to someone.”

“While the governor’s office and the state has threatened action against violators, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department will not be blackmailed, bullied or used as muscle against Riverside County residents in the enforcement of the governor’s orders.”

WATCH: 

The sheriff also referred to Newsom’s personal behavior during the pandemic as “extremely hypocritical.” The governor was seen in photographs appearing to dine indoors with a crowd at a luxury restaurant, despite passing a slew of restrictive COVID-19 measures. (RELATED: ‘I Want To Stay Away From Business’: LA County Sheriff Vows To Limit Enforcement Of Recent COVID-19 Restrictions)

“The dictatorial attitude toward California residents while dining in luxury, traveling, keeping his business open and sending his kids to in-person, private schools is very telling about his attitude toward California residents, his feelings about the virus, and it is extremely hypocritical,” Bianco said. 

“It appears part of the new goal is to shift attention away from his and others personal behavior with a ‘do as I say, not as I do attitude’ by turning public opinion against California sheriffs.” 

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.