As a GOP-controlled Ohio House panel heard again from a series of business owners Monday urging a reopening of the state, one owner testified that he thinks the whole coronavirus pandemic is part of a plot to thwart the re-election of President Donald Trump.

“This was a government overreach that was politically motivated, quite frankly, to derail our commander in chief’s ability to be re-elected for four more years,” said Bill Bader Jr., owner of Summit Motorsports Park near Norwalk.

“It was more politically motivated than erring on the side of the health and safety and well-being of the citizens of this great country of ours. The media reaction incensed, scared, struck fear in the hearts of people to the point where it blinded people to their constitutional rights.”

>> This story is being provided free as a public service to our readers during the coronavirus outbreak. You can find more stories on coronavirus here. Please support local journalism by subscribing to The Columbus Dispatch at subscribe.dispatch.com.

Columbus Democrat David Leland, one of the 24 members of the House Economic Recovery Tax Force, asked, “Do you really believe that Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, and all the people that are leading us in this particular crisis — their motivation for doing that was to unseat the president of the United States?”

Bader didn’t back down.

“Yes. I think this was a well-constructed plan. I think the timing of it was unique,” he replied.

And he questioned Leland’s citation of 41,000 deaths in the U.S. from the virus, bringing up an undocumented conspiracy theory.

“I understood that every fatality that took place in the United States of America, there was a check box that it was mandated that they perish as a result of the coronavirus. Are there truly 41,000 fatalities due to COVID-19?”

Bader’s original response came in response to questioning from Rep. Nino Vitale, R-Urbana, who said, “I don’t think you’re really doing any harm in reopening your business, and we don’t need any more central-government planning and restrictions. We need to get Ohio open again.”

During another witness’s testimony, Rep. Jon Cross, R-Kenton, said the state should not decide which businesses can and can’t operate.

“We need to work to reopen all business in Ohio,” he said.

Last week, Democratic legislators questioned the one-sided nature of the witnesses being called before the committee, and they expressed concern about a GOP rush to reopen Ohio that could endanger the public. Party members since have been encouraged to suggest witnesses they want to testify.

After Monday’s hearing, Leland said in response to a question emailed by The Dispatch: “What we need are consistent protocols based on science to protect customers and employees before we open. Then, and only then, will consumers venture back into the economy. These regulations, being enforced by law, will prevent unscrupulous operators from getting an economic advantage on those responsible business folks who follow the rules.”

None of Monday’s other witnesses went quite to the extent Bader did in arguing for reopening businesses, but several expressed frustration with state restrictions imposed by DeWine and Dr. Amy Acton, the state health commissioner.

“The biggest obstacle for us is the government shutting down our business,” said Chris Niekamp, owner of INVU Salon in St. Henry in northwestern Ohio.

“People have rights, and I believe the government is overreaching its boundaries.”

Niekamp said that once he reopens his salon, taking proper precautions such as disinfecting chairs between customers, “clients and customers should have right to choose if they want to enter.”

drowland@dispatch.com

@darreldrowland