Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a letter Wednesday demanding the release of jailed salon owner Shelly Luther.
“Shelley Luther should immediately be released from jail. Locking her up is a misguided abuse of power, especially considering Dallas County released real criminals to ‘protect them from COVID-19,'” Paxton tweeted. “Release her now so she can return to her family.” (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: What Happens When Texas Reopens? Attorney General Ken Paxton Tells All)
Shelley Luther should immediately be released from jail. Locking her up is a misguided abuse of power, especially considering Dallas County released real criminals to “protect them from COVID-19.”
Release her now so she can return to her family. pic.twitter.com/67KrhQBEyf
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) May 6, 2020
Paxton’s letter read, in part:
I find it outrageous and out of touch that during this national pandemic, a judge, in a county that actually released hardened criminals … would jail a mother for operating her hair salon in an attempt to put food on her family’s table.
Luther was sentenced to seven days in jail for opening her salon despite orders that instructed certain businesses — hers included — to remain closed. The judge sentenced her to another seven days, to be served concurrently, when she refused to concede in open court that opening her doors had been “selfish.”
“I have to disagree with you when you say that I’m selfish because feeding my kids is not selfish,” Luther told the judge.
A Dallas hair salon owner who opened in violation of the governor’s executive order was sentenced to 7 days in jail.
She said to the judge “I have to disagree with you when you say that I’m selfish because feeding my kids is not selfish.”pic.twitter.com/53l4XjGWZT
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) May 5, 2020