Rosa Parks. Tiananmen Square. Christian martyrs. They stood up for what was right in God’s sight against evil tyrants. And standing up for all of us right now is Jeff LeTowt.

As owner of the Tuck Box restaurant in Carmel, California, LeTowt initially submitted to the lockdown orders of Gavin Newsom and Monterey County. Closing up for a month-and-a-half lost him $60,000. Facing reality, he reopened May 3, and his patrons happily returned.

Yet since then, LeTowt has been oppressed by his county’s district attorney and public health officer.

On May 13, he was cited for a) allowing customers to dine-in, b) not spacing customers six feet apart, and c) not wearing face coverings when serving patrons. These three misdemeanor charges threatened LeTowt with $3,000 in fines and 18 months in jail.

On May 15, two officers of the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control department came to the restaurant to tell LeTowt he could lose his liquor license if he stays open.

Resolved to stay open for the sake of his livelihood and financial future, and to defend his God-given and constitutional rights, LeTowt signed on with attorney Harmeet Dhillon of the Center for American Liberty, who is now representing him. 

Incensed, Jeannine Pacioni, the county’s Democrat district attorney, whose own website claims she will “promote justice” and “ensure that the rights of victims are upheld by treating them with dignity, respect and compassion,” increased her legal attacks.

On May 21, the D.A. got an unconstitutional local judge to issue a temporary restraining order to prevent any further “violations” by LeTowt and the Tuck Box. She’s also suing LeTowt, seeking an injunction on the grounds of “unfair competition” and “unfair business advantage,” claiming LeTowt “unfairly profit[ed]” while other restaurants remained closed.

Not only is this lawsuit communistic in trying to force equal conditions, it’s unconstitutional. Because in both state and federal law, “unfair competition” means fraudulent, false, or misrepresented trade or commerce that harms other businesses or harms consumers.

Is Jeff LeTowt and his restaurant harming customers? No, local residents enjoy dining there, and many customers consider his restaurant “essential.” Harming other businesses? No, LeTowt isn’t causing closed restaurants to lose money — the ruling Democrat politicians are. Is LeTowt engaging in fraud? No, he’s honestly open and not gouging his customers either. Therefore, the county’s lawsuit against him, which “makes up the law,” must fail.

Likewise, the three citations against LeTowt must be dropped. The state and federal constitutions both require due process and compensation before government can take property from private owners. But the ruling Democrats in Monterey County forgot about that, didn’t they?

In the midst of this lockdown madness, Jeff LeTowt is our constitutional hero. He’s a role model for resisting tyranny, upholding the written Constitution, not fearing man, and persevering under great pressure. His act of resistance will help end this lockdown sooner.

3-and-a-half minute interview with Jeff LeTowt

District Attorney seeks a restraining order against Carmel restaurant owner for violating shelter-in-place order

Tuck Box owner defies shelter order, is ready to fight

D.A. Jeannine Pacioni’s news release against Jeff LeTowt

“Unfair competition” can’t mean what the Monterey County District Attorney says it does

Monterey County For Civil Liberties Legal Fund benefiting Jeff LeTowt’s court battle
 

Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or to different punishments, pains, or penalties, on account of such person being an alien, or by reason of his color, or race, than are prescribed for the punishment of citizens, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if bodily injury results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.
18 U.S. Code § 242.Deprivation of rights under color of law