Biden says he likely would have legal authority as president to issue national mask mandate
by Emily Larsen, Political Reporter |
| September 16, 2020 04:47 PM
Joe Biden stated that he thinks he has the legal authority to mandate mask-wearing nationwide, marking a change in tone from earlier this month, when he acknowledged that the Constitution may prevent the president from going that far.
"There's a question — I think it can be answered in the positive — a question whether I can mandate over state lines that every single state has to comply. Our legal team thinks I can do that based upon the degree to which there is a crisis in those states and how bad things are for the country," the Democratic presidential nominee said in a press briefing on the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday. "I'd make the case why it's necessary."
"I'd have the scientists array — to lay out and detail why, and I would go to every governor," Biden continued, "and I'd say, 'We have to have this national mandate.' We must do it. And at a minimum, what I would do, I wouldn't walk around saying, 'Masks don't matter.'"
Biden added that if he had the authority to do so, he would sign an executive order to mandate mask-wearing.
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