With the court fight over Omaha’s mask mandate set for next Monday, Attorney General Doug Peterson is doubling down against the city.

The mandate, which was handed down by Douglas County Health Director Lindsay Huse who also acts as Omaha’s Health Director, went into effect last Wednesday.

But the Attorney General, who has long insisted that any mask mandate in Omaha must come from the City Council, upped the ante today declaring the city’s health director position a fake to try and get around state law.

"Somehow someone gave them counsel that with their city ordinances they had the ability not to do the process through the City Council but somehow create a 'fictitious' city health director," said Peterson.

[View more of Peterson's comments above]

Huse, who is backed up by the Omaha City Attorney, insists she’s on firm legal ground.

Even Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, who opposes the mandate, says the health director has the authority to issue the order which is good for four weeks.

Peterson is looking for the court to step in and at the very least put the mandate on hold pending further legal action.