LOS ANGELES (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom is dealing with new grievance for dropping his face masks, rekindling a politically delicate factor that has shadowed the Democratic governor since he was once stuck with no face overlaying at a non-public 2020 birthday party that rejected his personal pandemic protection orders.
The most recent scrutiny got here after basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson tweeted a photograph of himself with the governor at NFC championship sport Sunday at SoFi Stadium close to Los Angeles — each beaming smiles with out mask.
Previous this month, California well being officers prolonged the state’s indoor masks mandate via Feb. 15, as omicron circumstances surged. Stadium rules permit folks to take away mask simplest when they’re consuming and consuming.
Newsom instructed journalists Monday in Los Angeles that he got rid of his masks simplest in short for the picture with Johnson and was once another way “very considered” about retaining it in position. He indicated he additionally got rid of it infrequently to sip water.
“The remainder of the time, I wore it as all of us will have to,” he stated. “I urge everyone else to take action.”
Republicans noticed the {photograph} as some other instance of hypocrisy, recalling the months of public shaming Newsom persisted after he was once stuck mask-free on the 2020 party at a luxurious eating place in Northern California. The development helped spur a recall effort that he defeated in September.
The most recent symbol of Newsom with no masks at a public position was once criticized by means of Republican Nationwide Committee spokeswoman Hallie Balch, who stated “the utter loss of recognize that Democrats have for California electorate is appalling.”
She added: “California Democrats are hypocrites. In relation to their very own enjoyment, they violate state mandates in addition to stadium mandates, which displays that they firmly consider their very own laws don’t follow to them.”
