Investigative Committee’s Report: Massive Violation of Rights by JBE

Louisiana’s House Select Committee on Homeland Security has issued a blistering report on Gov. John Bel Edwards’ handing of COVID-19, alleging the governor exaggerated the threat of the virus, used the event to “undermine civil liberties,” attacked and intimidated small business, and used unethical tactics to push vaccination.

The report was signed by committee chairman Rep. Jay Galle of Mandeville and vice chairman Rep. Chuck Owen of Leesville.

Despite the far-reaching findings in the report, the mainstream media have failed to examine its contents.

Some of the findings were:

•From the beginning, Gov. John Bel Edwards created an adversarial  atmosphere, framing the public response as a battle between compliance and defiance.

•He demonized those who disagreed with his authoritarian decrees as enemies of the common good.

•He falsely stated that rights under the Constitution are not an absolute when many of them are.

•While the Louisiana Constitution says the rights in the Declaration of Rights are inalienable by the state, he told the public to “stop worrying about their rights.”

•He attempted to manipulate public perception of the problem, exaggerating the threat of SAR-CoV-2 to justify sweeping business closures, enforce mask mandates, and push vaccines.

•Contrary to the right to privacy provision of the Louisiana Constitution, Edwards used cellular data to monitor the movement of Louisiana residents.

•Edwards weaponized the State Fire Marshal’s office against small business owners who refused to comply with his edicts and threatened them with the loss of their licenses, when they had violated no law.

•The governor used unethical tactics to push vaccination including a $1 million vaccine lottery targeting minors.

•Edwards’ administration consistently denied the reality of vaccine injuries and deaths.

•Even though the vaccines were experimental, Gov. Edwards dismissed concerns that they were experimental.

•While Covid deaths were highly publicized, the Governor deliberately withheld data showing the vaccines were not performing as promised. Key statistics were apparently removed from the Dept. of Health’s dashboard, possibly concealing evidence of harm associated with the vaccine.

•When the Louisiana House used the option afforded to it by law to end an emergency, the governor simply ignored their action and continued his orders.

•During Covid, the governor’s power remained unchecked and unchallenged.

The report concluded by saying in the future constitutional protections must not be suspended, and all executive orders must be “measured and constrained.”