DOJ warns against fraudulent face mask exemption cards

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is warning against fraudulent cards or flyers that are being used to claim immunity from face mask mandates. 

Images of the cards have circulated online and show they have a DOJ seal and claim protection from face mask mandates under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Citizens are reportedly using the cards to avoid wearing face masks in places where they are required. 

The following picture is a #counterfeit face mask flyer/card that has been circulating the United States. The @ADANational has issued a statement that these cards were not issued by @TheJusticeDept and have not been endorsed by the Department.https://t.co/Qh7DI3WWCe pic.twitter.com/3OnsySrAOr

— STOPfakes.Gov (@STOPfakesGov) June 26, 2020

The department said it did not issue the cards nor condone their use. 

“Do not be fooled by the chicanery and misappropriation of the DOJ eagle,” U.S. Attorney Matthew G.T. Martin said in a statement. “These cards do not carry the force of law. The ‘Freedom to Breathe Agency,’ or ‘FTBA,’ is not a government agency.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing facial coverings in situations where social distancing isn’t possible, and several state and local governments have required their use in public spaces. 

Earlier this year some began protesting social distancing guidelines, claiming they encroached on civil liberties.