Lisa Hanson, a former owner of a wine and coffee bistro who was imprisoned for defying Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s lockdown mandates, expressed to Fox News Digital that the current Democratic vice presidential nominee effectively “shut down and ruined” her small business, cautioning Americans against “tyranny at this level.”
A mother of eight children and soon-to-be 18 grandchildren, Hanson shared that aside from a speeding ticket she received in her youth, she had always been a law-abiding citizen and had run businesses with her husband for over 30 years. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Hanson mentioned that the Interchange Wine & Coffee Bistro in Albert Lea, located approximately 90 miles south of Minneapolis, had been operating for eight years.
Although her bistro initially adhered to the March shutdown directive, Hanson observed that Walz did not fully reopen the state for nonessential businesses like bars, restaurants, gyms, dance studios, and hair salons for several months. Conversely, liquor stores, big-box retailers, and even strip clubs were not shut down by the governor.
After deciding to reopen her business against Walz’s renewed closure order for bars and restaurants between December 2020 and January 2021, Hanson was found guilty in December 2021 on misdemeanor charges, receiving a 90-day jail term and a $1,000 fine. Hanson served 60 days of her sentence.
“This story needs to be heard by America, to understand that Tim Walz is not the affable, cheerful figure the mainstream media portrays him to be,” Hanson expressed to Fox News Digital. “He is not that person. He is inclined to strip away your rights. He will strip away your rights. What happened to me could have happened to anyone. What happened to me could happen to you.”
“My family has suffered greatly. During my time in prison, I missed Christmas with my family, my wedding anniversary, and the birth of one of my grandchildren,” Hanson lamented. “I can never reclaim that lost time. It was stolen from me. My business was ruined. My business is no more. Following all that occurred, Tim Walz and Keith Ellison destroyed my business. They devastated my life.”
“I have heard some people describe Tim Walz as a genuinely nice person. Well, he is not. Take my word for it,” Hanson emphasized. “Through this entire ordeal, I have connected with others who have faced similar struggles while trying to sustain their businesses and livelihoods – mostly women, by the way. So, Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison seem to target women. They are bullies.”
“They are bullies. They target women and torment and destroy women’s lives. This is what they have done in the state of Minnesota. Thus, let America understand that having Tim Walz as vice president is not the right choice. We do not want tyranny at this level,” she continued. “I have witnessed firsthand, as have the people of Minnesota, the malevolence that Tim Walz would bring if elected as vice president of this country. Aligned with Harris, who is also malevolent, they will perpetuate this same malevolence on the American people. We do not want that. This is the reality about Tim Walz.”
“I advocate for Tim Walz’s impeachment. I advocate for his prosecution for the crimes he has committed against the people of Minnesota,” Hanson declared.
When Walz issued an executive order in November 2020 that once again closed dine-in services entirely for indoor and outdoor bars and restaurants in the state, Hanson mentioned that she joined a group of nearly 200 fellow business owners called “Open Minnesota,” believing that the governor, supported by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, was acting “in a rogue manner outside the law.”
“We possess inherent, constitutionally protected rights to remain open. There was no statute. There was no law that permitted Gov. Walz to take the steps he did. He truly overstepped statutory law. Even more crucially, constitutional law,” Hanson stated. “Because we have the right to operate our businesses and lead our lives as we see fit, while complying with the rule of law.”
“We face a corrupt government that is opposing us and asserting, ‘You do not have the right to run your business,'” she remarked. “That is not a republic. A republic does not operate in that manner. It is a dictatorship.”
Hanson recounted to Fox News Digital the moment she discovered that Walz had been chosen as Vice President Harris’ running mate.
“Frankly, my reaction should not have been a shock. But based on my understanding of Tim Walz, of the tyrant he is, who has ruined so many lives in Minnesota. He is not done ruining lives. He will continue ruining lives,” Hanson stated. “I do not use the term ‘evil’ lightly. But considering the evil individual he is, it is no surprise that the malevolent Harris selected him to be her running mate.”
“Tim Walz has accomplished numerous dreadful things in Minnesota in a short period,” she remarked.
Reflecting on the extensive riots following George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, Hanson questioned, “Where was our governor? Where was our governor during the looting and destruction? Fellow business owners – their businesses were destroyed – where was our governor?”
“I have not visited Minneapolis since that incident,” Hanson disclosed to Fox News Digital. “I do not need to go there. I have witnessed what Tim Walz permitted to happen in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Minnesota. That man is a wrecking ball. He must be stopped.”
Within 24 to 48 hours of reopening her wine and coffee bistro in December 2020, Hanson mentioned that “the state came down on us with full force,” sending the health department to her business and eventually initiating around six civil and criminal cases against her. During her trial, Hanson claimed she was deprived of due process and blamed “rogue judges,” the attorney general, and Walz for operating “in lockstep.”
“They utilized all their resources against We the People, who were simply trying to run a business, to serve a cup of coffee to willing customers. And they said, ‘no, you cannot do that,'” Hanson recalled. “And mind you, there was never any harm caused. There was never a COVID-19 infection, nor was there a death due to my decision to keep my doors open and welcome customers.”
Accruing tens of thousands in legal fees and fines, Hanson mentioned that her business was eventually compelled to shut down under severe government pressure.
“What happened to me was not incidental, and they clearly aimed to set an example, right?” Hanson remarked. “It was like living a nightmare.”
Hanson, who voted for former President Trump in 2016 and 2020, expressed uncertainty about supporting the Republican candidate in the 2024 election, citing her reservations about Operation Warp Speed and Trump taking credit for developing the COVID-19 vaccine. While she adamantly opposed the Harris-Walz ticket, Hanson argued against the two-party government system entirely.
“Electing Donald Trump is not, in my opinion, the solution, for numerous reasons,” Hanson stated. “We must reform the two-party system. Otherwise, we are heading towards significant terms like socialism, communism. Many would argue that we are already there, just not entirely yet.
(Source: Fox News Digital)
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