“I will not comply with this unconstitutional order” Knox Co. Sheriff writes to President Biden

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Knox Co. Sheriff Tom Spangler wrote a letter to President Joe Biden, stating that he will not comply with the President’s executive order that all businesses with 100 or more employees have to require the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment or have unvaccinated employees take COVID-19 tests weekly.

“As the Sheriff of Knox County, I will not comply with this unconstitutional order,” Spangler said in the letter.

“We are in a time in our Country where men and women are leaving the profession of law enforcement in record numbers. If I were to enforce this mandate; it is likely we could lose a large majority of our work force, putting the lives of our citizens in immediate danger. Our deputies, corrections officers, and support staff are overworked and underpaid. Therefore, retention remains challenging. This mandate would also make the Knox County Sheriff’s Office less attractive for those seeking a career in law enforcement.”
Knox Co. Sheriff Tom Spangler

Speaking at the White House on Sept. 9, Biden sharply criticized the tens of millions of Americans who are not yet vaccinated, despite months of availability and incentives.

“We’ve been patient. But our patience is wearing thin, and your refusal has cost all of us,” he said, all but biting off his words. “The unvaccinated minority can cause a lot of damage, and they are,” he added.

The expansive rules mandate that all employers with more than 100 workers require them to be vaccinated or test for the virus weekly, affecting about 80 million Americans. And the roughly 17 million workers at health facilities that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid also will have to be fully vaccinated.

Biden is also requiring vaccination for employees of the executive branch and contractors who do business with the federal government — with no option to test out. That covers several million more workers.

Knox County Sheriff’s Office employs more than 960 employees, according to KCSO Spokesperson Kimberly Glenn.

President Biden Letter by WVLT News on Scribd

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The requirement for large companies to mandate vaccinations or weekly testing for employees will be enacted through a forthcoming rule from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that carries penalties of $14,000 per violation, an administration official tole the Associated Press.

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs wrote a letter to President Joe Biden regarding the vaccine mandate executive order in September, according to a social media post.

“Knox County will not comply with your mandate,” said Mayor Jacobs in the letter.

He continued by saying as the chief executive of an organization that employs 2,700 individuals, he thinks the executive order would add financial, legal and regulatory burdens that will impact Knox County taxpayers.