Governor says senator's pandemic accusations 'not based on fact'

Gov. Mike Dunleavy said his administration will no longer respond to or participate in hearings led by Sen. Lora Reinbold, telling the fellow Republican in a withering letter Feb. 18 that she has used her position to “misrepresent” the state’s COVID-19 response and that her demands for information are “not based in fact.”

Reinbold has criticized the governor’s pandemic disaster declarations and taken aim at health restrictions imposed by local governments, airlines and the Legislature, including mask requirements. She has used social media to question medical science and accuse the Dunleavy administration of seeking disaster declarations to get mass vaccination clinics.

One of the participants in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol — who is facing federal felony charges for her part in the event — had been scheduled to testify before Reinbold’s Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 19 about the purported medical benefits of hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment.

Senate President Peter Micciche canceled the hearing Feb. 18.

In his letter to Reinbold, the governor said: “I will not continue to subject the public resources of the State of Alaska to the mockery of a charade, disguised as public purpose.”

Reinbold said in a statement Feb. 19 that Dunleavy’s letter was “full of baseless accusations and complaints’’ about her role on the Judiciary Committee. Dunleavy’s letter to Reinbold included footnotes, with many references to the senator’s own Facebook posts.

The senator has been a frequent critic of government and private actions during the pandemic. The Eagle River lawmaker in November referred to Alaska Airlines staff as “mask bullies” and said the airline was “part of mask tyranny” after flight attendants asked her to wear a mask.

Reinbold said in a Facebook post in November that people should bypass the mandatory COVID tests for passengers flying into Alaska. “Sneak by if you are bold (for) they cannot force you,” she wrote.

As chair of the Judiciary Committee, Reinbold has had combative exchanges with the state health commissioner and has highlighting testimony from people questioning the usefulness of masks and effects of government emergency orders.

The Senate president said the governor’s letter takes to the “next level” long-simmering tensions between Dunleavy and Reinbold. Micciche, a Republican, said he plans to speak with Reinbold and the governor’s office and have his caucus discuss a path forward.