Audio By Carbonatix
The Nevada company that hosted an indoor campaign rally for President Donald Trump attended by thousands of people will face a fine of $3,000 for violating state coronavirus guidelines banning large gatherings.
Sunday's rally in Henderson, Nevada -- which was held inside a facility owned by Xtreme Manufacturing -- was expected to violate the state's restriction on gatherings of 50 people or more.
Attendees at the rally were not required to wear masks, and there was little social distancing. The city of Henderson had warned Xtreme Manufacturing that it would be violating the regulations if the rally proceeded.
"During the event, a compliance officer observed six violations of the directives and the City's Business Operations Division has issued a Business License Notice of Violation to Xtreme Manufacturing and assessed a penalty of $3,000," Kathleen Richards, senior public information officer for the city of Henderson, told CNN in a statement Monday.
Richards added that the company "has 30 calendar days to respond to the notice and pay the penalty or dispute the notice of violation.
"The indoor event came as Covid deaths approached 200,000 nationwide and after a similar indoor Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in June was followed by a surge in the city's coronavirus cases as well as a slew of diagnoses among Trump campaign staffers and Secret Service agents.
When asked generally about the Nevada rallies and whether it would limit the number of attendees, the Trump campaign on Saturday had offered only vague explanations of the protocols it would follow.
"Every attendee will get a temperature check prior to admission, be provided a mask they're encouraged to wear, and have access to plenty of hand sanitizers," a campaign official told CNN.
Xtreme Manufacturing owner Don Ahern declined to say Monday whether he intended to dispute the citation.
"My goal was to continue the great American tradition of the right to assemble and to free speech," he said Monday afternoon during a brief news conference.
Ahern, who owns an equipment rental business and a Las Vegas hotel in addition to Xtreme, said that he considered the rally to be "no different than the thousands that are allowed to assemble at gaming tables, maskless pool parties and protests across the street." He also noted that he was not upset with city workers.
"You know, they've got a job to do," Ahern said. "They may be being directed. So we respect everybody's position in this situation.
"Ahern's Las Vegas hotel was fined after it hosted an August "Evangelicals for Trump" campaign event that exceeded the state limit and also violated some city health restrictions.
Latest Stories
-
The Ghanaian prophet and the mysterious death of his scottish wife Charmain Speirs
44 minutes -
Nearly 400 sentenced in Nigeria for links to militant Islamists
1 hour -
Ghana’s recovery supported by gold strength despite global oil price pressures – Standard Bank Research
1 hour -
‘Excellence is our inheritance’ – Nana Sam Brew-Butler hails Mfantsipim’s 150-year reign in leadership
2 hours -
Kwaku Azar writes: A-G vs OSP
2 hours -
Mfantsipim–Adisadel rivalry built excellence, not division – Sam Jonah
2 hours -
Vice President launches Mfantsipim’s 150 years of shaping Ghana’s greatest mind
2 hours -
I assure Otumfuo, Mahama will join him to commission KNUST Teaching Hospital by end of this year – Haruna Iddrisu
3 hours -
Barcelona dominate derby to extend La Liga lead
3 hours -
Gov’t to roll out free special education for persons with disabilities from July 1 – Education Minister
4 hours -
Importers and Exporters Association declares full support for Publican AI port system
4 hours -
“We used it to test our officiating officials’ readiness” – Bawah Fuseini after CAA Athletics event
4 hours -
Volleyball emerges as Ghana’s fastest rising sport
4 hours -
National Sports Fund needs strong leadership from the top – Administrator David Wuaku
4 hours -
JoySports Exclusive: Steve McLaren in talks with GFA after expressing interest in Black Stars job
4 hours