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Posted: 2020-08-07T21:45:57Z | Updated: 2020-08-10T18:21:55Z

A Las Vegas hotel received a civil penalty and a $250 fine this week after hosting a faith-based campaign event for President Donald Trump that violated the citys COVID-19 social gathering restrictions.

More than 500 people attended Thursdays Evangelicals for Trump event at the Ahern Hotel and Convention Center, which was headlined by the presidents pastor and spiritual adviser, Paula White .

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal , attendees were required to wear masks, and their temperatures were checked upon arrival. Signs urged anyone who felt ill to go home.

A short video posted to Twitter by Faith and Freedom Coalition founder Ralph Reed showed a packed house taking in a musical performance in the Ahern Hotels lobby.

Packed house at #EvangelicalsForTrump prayer & praise event in Las Vegas. NV Governor banned church services but casinos can operate at 50% capacity. So we are praying in a casino. pic.twitter.com/fP4xE3lPAb

Ralph Reed (@ralphreed) August 7, 2020","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Ralph Reed","author_url":"https://twitter.com/ralphreed","cache_age":86400,"description":"Packed house at #EvangelicalsForTrump prayer & praise event in Las Vegas. NV Governor banned church services but casinos can operate at 50% capacity. 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Packed house at #EvangelicalsForTrump prayer & praise event in Las Vegas. NV Governor banned church services but casinos can operate at 50% capacity. So we are praying in a casino. pic.twitter.com/fP4xE3lPAb

Ralph Reed (@ralphreed) August 7, 2020

City and state officials reportedly urged organizers not to move forward with the event, as doing so would violate Gov. Steve Sisolaks coronavirus restrictions on gatherings of more than 50 people.

The Las Vegas City Council expressed those concerns in a Thursday letter to the Ahern Hotels president and general manager, Keith Wright. A copy of the letter that appeared on Fox affiliate WVVU-TVs website stated that the event would be in violation of the governors current directive for public and private gatherings and, as such, may result in civil fines, license suspensions, and/or denial of your pending permanent licenses.

Given that the Ahern lobbys maximum capacity is more than 1,600, the Trump campaign has maintained that the event fell within the 50% operating directive for casinos and restaurants and that it not subjected to the 50-person cap on churches and houses of worship.

Our churches have been shut down for FIVE months.

In Nevada, you can go to a casino but you cant have more than 50 people at church.

Well tonight, HUNDREDS of us brought church to the casino with #EvangelicalsForTrump in Las Vegas.

pic.twitter.com/lpSJxiptPc

Courtney Holland (@hollandcourtney) August 7, 2020","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Courtney Holland","author_url":"https://twitter.com/hollandcourtney","cache_age":86400,"description":"Our churches have been shut down for FIVE months.In Nevada, you can go to a casino but you cant have more than 50 people at church.Well tonight, HUNDREDS of us brought church to the casino with #EvangelicalsForTrump in Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/lpSJxiptPc Courtney Holland (@hollandcourtney) August 7, 2020\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":1200,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/ext_tw_video_thumb/1291554202435457025/pu/img/0Ai-Xsd_DSEdqPcB.jpg","thumbnail_width":675,"title":"Courtney Holland on 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Our churches have been shut down for FIVE months.

In Nevada, you can go to a casino but you cant have more than 50 people at church.

Well tonight, HUNDREDS of us brought church to the casino with #EvangelicalsForTrump in Las Vegas.

pic.twitter.com/lpSJxiptPc

Courtney Holland (@hollandcourtney) August 7, 2020

Appearing at the event Thursday, White reportedly said that Sisolak, a Democrat, had attempted to block the event. She also reiterated her support for Trump, telling the crowd, Our president understands how important faith is to our country.

I remember looking at him knowing in my spirit he was going to be president someday, she added, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal . And I said, Our country needs you, sir.

HuffPost has reached out to representatives of White and the Ahern Hotel for comment.

As of Friday, there had been more than 53,557 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nevada, according to Johns Hopkins University .


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