Kemp Sues Atlanta Mayor, City Council Members Over Mask Mandate

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has sued Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and members of the City Council for mandating masks and enforcing social distancing measures in an effort to slow the spike of COVID-19 cases, saying their actions are "more restrictive than his" and claiming Bottoms has "exceeded her authority."

The Republican governor's action Thursday night came after his executive order forbidding cities and counties from enacting mask rules, and he tweeted the lawsuit is "on the behalf of the Atlanta business owners and their employees who are struggling to survive," reports CBS News.

"These men and women are doing their very best to put food on the table for their families while local elected officials shutter businesses and undermine economic growth," Kemp tweeted. "We will fight to stop these reckless actions and put people over pandemic politics."

Kemp says in his lawsuit that the Democrat mayor's recent orders have created "ambiguity and uncertainty" for Atlanta's citizens and businesses and claims restaurants have closed to avoid the city's enforcement actions. 

Kemp's executive order, signed Wednesday, blocked mask mandates, but he is still encouraging people to voluntarily wear face coverings. 

Bottoms' mandate requires all people in the jurisdiction of Atlanta and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, except for children younger than 10 and people who are explicitly excused, to wear masks. It also prohibits gatherings of 10 or more people on Atlanta property but doesn't include private businesses. 

Bottoms, who recently tested positive for the virus herself, tweeted Thursday that rather than Kemp sue her, "a better use of taxpayer money would be to expand testing and contact tracing." She also insisted she's following the recommended guidelines as part of the city's Phase One plans for reopening. 

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