Fines hit $1.2 million for New Jersey gym owners who're staying open amid virus mandates

The New Jersey gym owners keeping open their business amid the state Democratic governor's coronavirus shutdown orders say they now face 60 citations totaling more than $1.2 million.

Atilis Gym owners Owners Frank Trumbetti and Ian Smith made the claim in a video they recently posted on social media in which they also say they have no plans to pay the fines, follow at least one mandate or close their Bellmawr, N.J., business.

"We don't mandate masks. We never will," reads a sign reads in their most recent video. “Gov. Murphy will see this video and fine us $15k for it….But … free men don’t ask permission. Or for forgiveness."

The owners were arrested earlier this year for not closing, but they say they now have over 84,000 visits to the gym, and no infections linked back to them.  For every day they operate, they are fined $15,497.76, yet they have no plans of closing. 

“You are putting people out of business for good. You are making them reliant on big government. You are taking away their civil liberties under the guise of pretending like you care about public health," Smith said on Fox News.