A group of 10 Republican senators have asked President Trump to withhold covid funding from states that are preventing churches from having in-person gatherings, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.

• The group was spearheaded by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) with the goal of protecting religious freedom, arguing, “There is no ‘pandemic’ exception to constitutionally protected rights.”
• The letter states:

“We ask you to support proposals in Congress to place restrictions on any forthcoming COVID-19 relief funding to states and localities that prevent churches, houses of worship, and religious schools and institutions from reopening. Such executive action would send the nation and government leaders a clear and unequivocal message that religious liberty matters, and that no state or locality can unilaterally strip away protected constitutional rights.”

• The letter also alleges a “double standard” in which protesters are allowed to gather in large crowds while churches still remain closed.
• Lee also notes that Trump called on mayors to churches to open immediately back in May: “However, this call for action appears to have fallen on deaf ears in many of our cities and states.”

Read the full report.