Arizona AG Brnovich seeks restraining order against Biden vaccine mandate

PHOENIX – Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich on Friday requested a temporary restraining order as part of his ongoing lawsuit against pending federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

He told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show he’s hoping the federal court acts on his request as soon as next week.

“One of the reasons why we asked for a temporary restraining order is because we think this is clearly unconstitutional and there is going to be irreparable harm to the people if Biden is allowed to force this on Americans,” said Brnovich, who is seeking the Republican nomination for a U.S. Senate seat in 2022.

Under rules being developed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration at President Joe Biden’s direction, workers at businesses with more than 100 employees would be required to be fully vaccinated or pass weekly COVID tests.

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.

Brnovich filed his lawsuit Sept. 14, just five days after Biden announced the plan, which is projected to impact about 100 million Americans.

“This is the first lawsuit, but this is just one shot across the bow,” Brnovich said. “If and when OSHA issues rules there will be additional lawsuits that we’ve got teed up with some of my colleagues.”

In addition to asking the U.S. District Court in Arizona to grant the temporary restraining order and nationwide preliminary injunction, Brnovich filed an amended complaint expanding his legal argument in the case.

“The president does not have the authority to do this, and I think it’s incumbent on us to do everything we can to protect the hardworking taxpayers of Arizona, but also push back against the overreach of the federal government,” Brnovich said.

Follow @kstonezone