Order comes on heels of gym owner arrests in Broward
DeSantis broke the news in the context of two Broward County gym owners who had been arrested at least three times and charged with misdemeanors after allowing patrons to work out without masks in violation of Broward's mask mandate.
The state's Board of Executive Clemency includes DeSantis, state CFO Jimmy Patronis and Attorney General Ashley Moody, all Republicans. The other member is Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, a Democrat who is expected to challenge DeSantis' bid for reelection next year.
The governor needs only two additional votes to grant a pardon, which "unconditionally releases a person from punishment and forgives guilt for any Florida convictions," according to the state's clemency rules.