The Justice Department warns Americans that a card circulating is falsely claiming its holder is lawfully exempt from wearing a mask.
The US Attorney’s Office in Maine released a statement released a statement which shows the fraudulent card that has the Justice Department logo.
The same alert was issued by a U.S. attorney in North Carolina, and said that the cards are bogus and are not official Justice Department documents.
“Do not be fooled by the chicanery and misappropriation of the DOJ eagle,” .S. Attorney Matthew G.T. Martin announced.
“These cards do not carry the force of law. The ‘Freedom to Breathe Agency,’ or ‘FTBA,’ is not a government agency.”
While it is still unclear as to how many cards are in circulation, it is speculated that it was spread via a Facebook page belonging to the “Freedom to Breathe Agency” – a groups which is neither a federal nor a state agency.
The “Freedom to Breathe Agency” claims in its Facebook page that it is a “movement of proud American citizens who are dedicated to protecting their freedom and liberty.”
They also claim that “wearing a mask is an unhealthy obstruction of oxygen flow that can lead to hypoxemia and hypoxia, can permanently damage the brain, lungs, heart and about any organ.”
The fake card claims that the holder will incur mental or physical risk while wearing a mask, and that the Americans with Disabilities Act forbids raising questions about the health condition of the cardholder.
One of the cards read, “If found in violation of the ADA you could face steep penalties. Organizations and businesses can be fined up to $75,000 for your first violation and $150,000 for any subsequent violations. Denying access to your business/organization will be also reported to FTBA for further actions.”
Another version of the card claims, “businesses that violate the Americans with Disabilities Act face a fine of $92,383 for a first violation.”