Xtreme Manufacturing, the host of Donald Trump’s Nevada rally on Sunday, was fined $3,000 for violating a total of six state guidelines regarding restrictions aimed at preventing outbreaks of COVID-19.
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak‘s COVID-19 emergency directives, gatherings of over 50 people must require that they socially distance and remain five feet away from each other at all times. The mandates also require further that wearing of masks and face coverings.
According to Henderson city spokeswoman, Donald Ahern, owner of Xtreme Manufacturing, was issued a Business License Notice of Violation that outlined such penalties would be worth $3,000, with all six violations being $500 each. While the Las Vegas rally’s officials checked the temperatures of everyone in attendance, provided hand sanitizer and made sure to hand out face masks, there was no requirement for the crowd to wear them. The other offenses that were cited included seating arrangements that violated social distancing mandates, more than 50 people present, areas allowed open that encouraged people to congregate, no posted notices about health guidelines and a live event held with spectators without the approval of the Department of Business and Industry, Division of Industrial Relations.
Ahern’s attorney, Michael Van, responded in a statement: “It’s interesting that if it’s a demonstration, it’s ok. If it’s a rally, it’s not ok. There’s just inconsistent application of that declaration.”
Ahern himself told the Independent that it was his “patriotic duty to do what is right for our country, and what is right is supporting President Donald J. Trump.”
Tim Murtaugh, a Trump campaign spokesman, responded to the fines in a statement. “If you can join tens of thousands of people protesting in the streets, gamble in a casino, or burn down small businesses in riots, you can gather peacefully under the First Amendment to hear from the President of the United States,” Murtaugh said.
Trump had lashed out against Sisolak in a tweet, “We had great rallies this past weekend, after the Governor of Nevada worked very hard to cancel all of our venues. Despite the fact that he controls the state, he failed, but would have rather done rally outside. Can you imagine this man is in charge…”
Ahern is already facing a similar lawsuit that is pending against the state’s governor over a $10,000 fine he received for hosting an “Evangelicals for Trump” rally and an unrelated beauty pageant last month at his newly renovated convention hall.
