Texas AG Paxton on 'outrageous' case of jailed salon owner: 'We're in America, not China'
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Thursday reacted to the "outrageous" decision by a judge to order jail time for a Dallas salon owner who refused to close her business, in defiance of social distance guidelines.
“This was not pushed from the state level, this came from the city and, really, this was the judge that made the decision to put [Shelley Luther] in jail,” Paxton told “America’s Newsroom.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}BOYFRIEND OF JAILED DALLAS SALON OWNER SAYS SHE'S BEING HELD IN ISOLATION DUE TO COVID-19 OUTBREAK
Paxton highlighted the irony of Luther being sent to jail for disobeying social distance guidelines while residing in a county that tried to release inmates to prevent coronavirus spread in prisons.
“It’s one thing to fine somebody for violating this lockdown but, think about this, we’re America, we’re not in China. We’re in America and this woman is in jail for cutting hair in [Dallas county] where they sought to release convicted felons and where they don’t even prosecute you if you shoplift," he pointed out.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“So, if she went and shoplifted, she would not be prosecuted. But, in this case, she ends up in jail for doing her job.”
Luther was given a choice: She could offer an apology for selfishness, pay a fine and shut down until Friday, or serve jail time.
"I have to disagree with you, sir, when you say that I'm selfish because feeding my kids is not selfish," she told the judge. "I have hairstylists that are going hungry because they would rather feed their kids. So sir, if you think the law is more important than kids getting fed, then please go ahead with your decision. But I am not going to shut the salon."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}After her refusal to show contrition, bailiffs led her away to be booked. She was sentenced to seven days, symbolizing the days she stayed open, despite county regulations.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS MAP
The state’s lieutenant governor on Wednesday night called the judge's ruling "vindictive" and said he showed “no mercy and no compassion.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick shared his views during an appearance on “Fox News @ Night” with Shannon Bream.
Earlier Wednesday, Patrick tweeted he was willing to pay Luther’s $7,000 fine and be placed under house arrest to serve her sentence “so she can go to work and feed her kids.”
Paxton said that the case seemed to be “personal” for the judge, Eric Moye, and that Moye did not “exercise good judgment" with his decision to send a mother of two children to jail.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
“This is not the way it is supposed to work in Texas or anywhere in this country,” Paxton said.
Fox News' Dom Calicchio contributed to this report.