WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A state representative from West Palm Beach is asking for the Palm Beach County government to shut down Mar-a-Lago following a New Year's Eve party at President Trump's private club.
Pictures and video surfaced of dozens of maskless party-goers attending the event while they celebrated the new year.
My constituents are not snowbirds like @DonaldJTrumpJr & @kimguilfoyle. My constituents live here. This is their home, and they're going to have to deal w/ the consequences of a potential super-spreader party at Mar-a-Lago long after Junior & wife leave here on their private jet. pic.twitter.com/kt6SXErYG2
— Rep. Omari Hardy (@OmariJHardy) January 2, 2021
State Rep. Omari Hardy, D-West Palm Beach, sent a letter Friday to Assistant County Administrator Todd Bonlarron asking that Mar-a-Lago be fined and closed for violating the county's mask mandate.
"I recognize that the President is a powerful person and that his business, Mar-a-Lago, is a daunting target for enforcement, but the law is the law. The County's mask mandate applies to all businesses in Palm Beach County. The presidency does not confer to the President and his friends a special privilege to endanger the health and welfare of Palm Beach County’s residents," Hardy said in the letter.
Hardy said the party has the potential to be a "super-spreader" event.
"Mar-a-Lago is a club. A club is a business. Businesses must abide by Palm Beach County's mask order, or be fined or even shut down," Hardy tweeted Friday.
Mar-a-Lago is a club. A club is a business. Businesses must abide by Palm Beach County's mask order, or be fined or even shut down. We knew that Trump was hosting a New Year's party. I'll be reaching out to folks at @pbcgov to ask why we weren't ready to enforce the mandate here. https://t.co/2HtJEXiBcE
— Rep. Omari Hardy (@OmariJHardy) January 1, 2021
Hardy said he will be in touch with attorney Daniel Uhlfelder about options for ensuring Palm Beach County's mask mandate is enforced.
Below is the full letter Hardy sent to Bonlarron: