Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) got a haircut at the salon in Dallas where the owner was thrown in jail by that tyrannical judge who thinks stay-at-home orders are the supreme law of the land. It was Cruz's first haircut in three months, and salon owner Shelly Luther reportedly cried as she thanked the senator for his support.
"When people reach out with true authenticity, it’s huge," Luther said.
According to CBS 11, Cruz told Luther his wife Heidi was worried her husband would bring back mullets if the senator didn't get a haircut soon.
"It’s a nice gesture," Luther said. "His family actually called my boyfriend and prayed for him for 20 minutes while I was in jail. To me that’s not political… that’s just really nice people reaching out and making sure that our family is okay."
Hair salons & barbershops are open in TX today. Just got my hair cut for first time in 3 months at Salon ALa Mode to support Shelley Luther, who was wrongly imprisoned when she refused to apologize for trying to earn a living. Glad Shelley is out of jail & her business is open! pic.twitter.com/yJD8fWb84W
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 8, 2020
District Judge Eric Moye gave Luther the choice of apologizing, paying a fine, and closing her salon over what the judge called "selfish" behavior, or spending seven days in jail. Wasn't the left worried about people catching the coronavirus behind bars?
"I have much respect for this court and laws," Luther told the judge. "I have never been in this position before and it’s not someplace that I want to be. But I have to disagree with you sir, when you say that I’m selfish because feeding my kids is not selfish. I have hair stylists that are going hungry because they’d rather feed their kids. So sir, if you think the law is more important than kids getting fed, then please go ahead with your decision, but I am not going to shut the salon."
While Luther was behind bars for trying to work, Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin paid the salon a visit in a show of support. Several prominent Republicans also rallied to Luther's defense. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick even offered to pay Luther's $7,000 jail fine or serve her jail sentence under house arrest.
Luther's release came only after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott amended his executive order to say no business owners could be jailed for violating the mandate.
"Throwing Texans in jail who have had their businesses shut down through no fault of their own is nonsensical, and I will not allow it to happen," the governor said in a statement. "That is why I am modifying my executive orders to ensure confinement is not a punishment for violating an order. This order is retroactive to April 2nd, supersedes local orders and if correctly applied should free Shelley Luther."
Salons in Texas got the go-ahead to reopen on Friday.
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