Culture

John Bel Edwards, Dem gov, says he did 'absolutely nothing' wrong after spotted maskless at club



Democratic Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards defended himself Wednesday after he was recently spotted chatting with others without wearing a mask at a private country club.

“There was absolutely nothing that I did that day that violated the rules that were in place in the Phase 3, which is when that actually happened, or today’s rules,” the governor said during his regularly scheduled coronavirus press conference. “If you’ll see I was outdoors at a table. I don’t know exactly — it looked to me like I was getting up to leave.”

In a photo circulating on social media, Mr. Bel Edwards is seen standing outside, not wearing a mask and leaning in to talk to someone dining at a table.

A spokeswoman for the governor’s office told WAFB that the photo was taken in the second week of November at the Baton Rouge Country Club, when a statewide mask mandate was already in place and required people to wear masks when six feet of social distance cannot be maintained.

The spokeswoman says Mr. Edwards removed his mask only after sitting down outdoors to eat and that he forgot to put it back on when he “briefly” stood up to speak to someone.

“Had that photo been taken 10 seconds later, you would have seen me with a mask on until the time I got in the car and actually until the time I got back to my residence,” the governor said at the conference. “I don’t think we ask anyone to eat at a table with a mask on.”

“He is not in violation of his own orders,” deputy communications director Shauna Sanford told WAFB. “He had his mask on the entire time that day, except for when he was eating. Someone said something to him and he responded in a very brief moment. He was not doing anything that goes against his Phase 3 order.”

Sign up for Daily Newsletters





READ NEWS SOURCE

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.