I want to strongly urge you to sign up for Todd’s free newsletter. It’s your only lifeline to conservative news and commentary. We can no longer rely on social media. Click here to subscribe.
The Michigan attorney general wanted to arrest the owner of a defiant restaurant owner in an attempt to stop the owner from appearing on Fox News Channel.
Attorney General Dana Nessel was furious because the owner of Marlena’s Bistro and Pizzeria had refused to comply with China Virus orders to shut down the restaurant.
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy obtained emails between Nessel and her staff after filing a Freedom of Information Act request. Their findings were first reported by Michigan Capitol Confidential.
“Do we know here whereabouts,” Nessel asked when she was told Pavlos-Hackney would be appearing on Fox News Channel. “We should just have her picked up before she goes on. This is outrageous.”
In another email the attorney general was adamant about targeting the Polish restaurant owner who had escaped Communism in Poland and immigrated to the United States.
“I hope she gets the full 93 days for this,” Nessel wrote. “Is that the max for civil contempt or just criminal contempt?”
Assistant Attorney General Eileen Whipple replied that the restaurant owner could be incarcerated “until she complies or it becomes impossible for her to comply.”
Ms. Pavlos-Hackney appeared on Tucker Carlson’s television program on March 17. She was arrested by Michigan State Police on March 19th.
Her arrest sparked widespread protests across the state.
“Nessel is eager to spend taxpayer-funded resources going after small business owners trying to stave off bankruptcy but refuses to investigate the deaths of thousands of nursing home residents potentially caused by policies implemented by her political-ally Gretchen Whitmer,” Michigan GOP spokesman Ted Goodman said in a statement.
A spokesperson for the attorney general’s office defended their handling of the incident and the release of the emails.
“Ms.Pavlos-Hackney willfully violated the state’s food laws, public health orders and orders of the court – a dangerous act that may have exposed dozens of diners and employees to the virus following the discovery that one of Marlena’s customers tested positive for the virus within two days of eating there,” spokesperson Kelly Rossman-McKinney said.
The attorney general’s office said that the owner’s decision to go on national television “compromised the state’s ability to protect public safety during a global pandemic and likely emboldened others to break the law,” the statement read.
Michiganders were furious about the contents of the emails.
“Disgusting tyrannical fascists,” wrote one disgusted citizen. “This has to do with power, control and money.”
“All of (Governor) Whitmer’s cronies are cimrinals and need to be held accountable for crimes against the great state of Michigan,” wrote another.
Perhaps the Michigan State Police should arrest the attorney general and her staff for flaunting the U.S. Constitution and violating the civil rights of Ms. Pavlos-Hackney.
Honestly, the restaurant owner would have been better off staying in Communist Poland.
Some honks from passing cars in support of restaurant owner Marlena Pavlos-Hackney, who was taken into Michigan State Police custody yesterday morning for defying COVID-19 emergency orders operating her bistro #Holland #AntiLockdown #Michigan pic.twitter.com/q7ti7MXqbN
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) March 20, 2021
WATCH: Marlena Pavlos-Hackney kept her restaurant open during COVID-19 shutdowns in Michigan. She was told she had until yesterday to turn herself in to police. She appeared on Tucker Carlson to tell her story. pic.twitter.com/dODquyoZzx
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) March 19, 2021