Gov. Inslee confident about mask mandate

OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee essentially dared residents and businesses to sue him over his new mask mandate during a Tuesday, July 7, press conference.

The mandate that went into effect Tuesday prohibits businesses from providing services to non-masked patrons.

When asked about the constitutionality of the order during the press conference, the governor said “the court system can answer that.”

“We have the authority to save ourselves in Washington,” he said. “There is nothing in the Constitution that says people can die of a virus.”

When pressed further, Inslee said, “Anybody can file a lawsuit.”

The governor said he is confident he’s on solid legal grounds, noting very few challenges over coronavirus-related mandates have succeeded anywhere in the U.S.