Ian Smith, the former co-owner of Atilis Gym and a U.S. House candidate, announced that the State of New Jersey has dropped all Covid-19 related charges against him. The charges stemmed from his decision to reopen the gym in defiance of Governor Philip Murphy’s lockdown orders during the pandemic.
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Smith shared his victory on social media, reflecting on the four-year battle that ensued after he chose to keep his gym open against state mandates.
“Four 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,” Smith wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
His announcement was celebratory and defiant. “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 revisit or refile these charges.”
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The legal saga began in 2020 when Smith and his co-owner decided to reopen Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, New Jersey, despite the state’s Covid-19 restrictions. Governor Murphy had ordered the closure of non-essential businesses to curb the spread of the virus.
Smith’s defiance made national headlines and turned him into a symbol of resistance against pandemic-related government mandates. The situation escalated that summer when Smith was arrested, leading to a protracted legal battle that involved numerous citations and significant fines.
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Smith’s fight against the state was supported by many who saw the lockdown orders as overreach. His actions were met with a mixture of admiration and criticism, reflecting the broader national divide over the handling of the pandemic.
Smith’s stance resonated with those who felt that their personal freedoms and livelihoods were being unjustly threatened by government mandates.
Despite his newfound notoriety, Smith faced personal and legal challenges. He attempted to leverage his public profile into a political career, running for the NJ-03 GOP congressional nomination in 2022.
However, his campaign was hindered by DWI charges that were eventually resolved. Smith did not secure the nomination.
