Former Atilis Gym co-owner and U.S. House candidate Ian Smith says the state’s Covid-19 era case against him has been dropped.
“4 years ago today, we reopened Atilis Gym in direct violation of an unconstitutional order by Governor Philip Murphy to close small businesses in New Jersey. The support we received locally, nationally, and internationally for our stand is something I will be forever grateful for,” wrote Smith on X. “With that being said, I am thrilled to announce that we have achieved a major victory in the long, hard fight against the State. ALL OF THE 80+ municipal citations of violations of a governor’s order, public nuisance, disturbing the peace, and operating without a license against us have been dropped by the courts WITH prejudice. This means the State has NO ability to revist or refile these charges.”
Smith became a minor celebrity in 2020 when he and his co-owner reopened their Atilis Gym location in Bellmawr, New Jersey, in defiance of Governor Phil Murphy’s coronavirus lockdown orders. Matters reached a head that summer when Smith was arrested. An extensive legal battle ensued over a six-figure amount of total assessed fines.
He became one of the faces of the Covid-19 pushback but failed to successfully leverage his profile into an NJ-03 GOP congressional nomination in 2022 amid subsequently-resolved DWI charges.
“This victory opens the battlefield again and gives us options to continue to push back and bring justice to the treasonous actions of Phil Murphy and his lackies,” added Smith before concluding “[s]uck my dick Phil Murphy.”
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT – PLEASE SHARE THIS THIS POST.
4 years ago today, we reopened Atilis Gym in direct violation of an unconstitutional order by Governor Philip Murphy to close small businesses in New Jersey.
The support we received locally, nationally, and internationally…
— Ian Smith (@iansmithfitness) May 18, 2024
