Pinal County, Arizona Sheriff Mark Lamb made waves this past April when he announced his refusal to enforce Governor Doug Ducey's expansion of stay at home orders designed to curb the virus that's killed nearly 120 thousand Americans.
Ducey insisted that he would not arrest or give citations to business owners who opened up after the expansion.
Lamb said at the time:
"I'm not trying to change [Ducey's] policy, I'm just disagreeing with it, and I won't enforce it. I don't think it's right. I don't want to make criminals out of people who are just trying to keep their business from going under."
In a stunning turn of events, Lamb recently announced that he'd tested positive for the virus just ahead of attending a Tuesday event at the White House, where he was invited by President Donald Trump. The test was carried out in cooperation with White House screening procedures mandating that all visitors be tested.
Lamb announced the development on Facebook.
Lamb stressed that he was asymptomatic at the time and that he did not meet with the President or attend the event.
While no one wished him ill, people didn't exactly pity him when considering his refusal to uphold policies designed to protect Americans from the virus.
Thoughts and prayers.
— ◽️tweet◽️ (@_tweeeet_) June 18, 2020
Whatever..should have listened to scientists who know what is happening.
— Phyllis Anne (@PAWarnhoff) June 18, 2020
Hope he does not want us to feel sorry for him. If so we do not!
— woodsonn (@woodsonn) June 18, 2020
The deniers. We knew they would start getting it. pic.twitter.com/PH7LdL0MrR
— Terri Staying TF at Home 💜🙏🌊🌊🌊 (@TeresaShank5) June 18, 2020
As much as I wanna say nananabooboo, I do hope he recovers. And takes this seriously. And also that Pinal County has the resources to contract trace those he potentially infected.
— Melissa Kay (@ItsMelKay) June 18, 2020
Lamb is one of countless Trump supporters who followed the President's lead in dismissing the threat posed by the virus. Lamb's news comes just two days before thousands are expected to attend Trump's first rally in months after a pandemic induced hiatus.
This wasn't lost on anyone.
Maybe he should skip the MAGA rally next week?
— Kristen Dyment (@krissyd82) June 18, 2020
Against the pleas of local public health officials, Trump is jamming 19,000 of his fans into a Tulsa arena. Of course they have waived their rights if they get sick at this event. The rally is tailor made to spread the virus. Insane. At least he could've done it outside!
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) June 18, 2020
Trump's MAGA rally is going tio filled with people like this who've *sadly* bought 100% into his lies.
Trump University is back in session.
But they've all signed #COVID19 waivers and can't sue.#CancelTrumpsTulsaRally pic.twitter.com/n65zffvSVn
— Grant Stern (@grantstern) June 18, 2020
Attendees have to sign a liability waiver in case they're exposed at the rally.
Ash Stanton/Facebook
Laura Sprinkle/Facebook
Akira Karasu/Facebook
Cevanna Gilbert/Facebook
Troy Adam/Facebook
@GovPressOffice/X
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social