By: Jason Ellsman
Ian Smith, 33, and Frank Trumbetti, 51, owners of Atilis Gym, have been fined $130,000 and arrested for continuing to operate their business in defiance of Gov. Phil Murphy’s COVID-19 orders for indoor workout facilities to remain closed, however these insolent patriotic businessmen have not given up and now they found a loop hole, and will keep their gym open.
The gym owners revealed the new plans on Sunday morning’s “Fox & Friends,” announcing the gym will serve as U.S. Senate candidate Rick Mehta’s rally location.
“We took a stand for our constitutional rights and for the rights of all small business owners throughout the country,” Smith said.
“And it wasn’t intended to become political. We were trying to offer a solution to a problem where the government was failing, and it turned political. And that was because of Gov. Murphy’s actions. So now we made it political just as much as he has.”
Fox News reported:
The owners are leaning on the fact that state officials cannot interfere with a political campaign, declaring the gym a campaign rally location for candidate Mehta who is looking to unseat Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., but Trumbetti said that doesn’t mean local officials won’t try to shut their Bellmawr gym down again.
They hope that by slipping thru this loophole they can keep the gym open at least thru election time.
In late July, they were arrested for defying corona virus lockdown orders.
ABC reported:
Smith of Delanco Township and Trumbetti of Williamstown were each charged with fourth-degree contempt, obstruction, and violation of a disaster control act, according to Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer. Both were released with disorderly person summonses, Mayer said in a statement to ABC News.
“After being released, Smith issued a statement on Facebook saying, “Welcome to America 2020, where feeding your family and standing up for your Constitutional rights is illegal.”
