Mayor: I'm So Sorry for My 'Lapse in Judgement'

Texas Mayor Becky Ames violated her own stay-at-home order
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 26, 2020 2:25 PM CDT

Whoops: A Texas mayor was spotted this week breaking her own stay-at-home order by visiting a nail salon, NBC News reports. A photo appeared on social media of Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames wearing a mask as she got a manicure Tuesday at the Nail Bar. "I promise there was no malice intended," Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames wrote on Facebook. "I should never have entered the salon last Tuesday. I did not intend to take personal privilege while asking others to sacrifice and for that I am truly remorseful." The visit violated a statewide stay-at-home order and Ames' own order, issued March 27.

Ames' visit prompted a judge to ask the Jefferson County District Attorney's office to investigate the matter—but so far the DA has only said that "we are reviewing to determine if there was a violation," 12 News Now reports. The governor's order had indeed closed non-essential businesses, including nail salons, and a state official says the shop's license holder could face a $1,000 fine. As for Ames, she was apparently the only customer at the time and says she just ducked in for 10 minutes. She called her visit a "lapse in judgement," saying "I am honestly sorry and I pray that you will forgive me." (More social distancing stories.)

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