New TV Ad, "Proof," Exposes Roy Cooper's Failure To Fix Crime Lab | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release

    Raleigh, N.C.     Roy Cooper's failure to fix chronic backlogs and delays at the state crime lab is the subject of Pat McCrory's latest television ad, "Proof."

    "Roy Cooper's failure to do his job extends way beyond his refusal to defend state laws in court," said Russell Peck, Pat McCrory's campaign manager. "Roy Cooper failed to fix chronic problems at the state crime lab after 16 years as attorney general, leaving victims waiting for justice and making it harder for law enforcement to do their job to put rapists and murderers behind bars. Roy Cooper's failure to fulfill his promise to rape victims across North Carolina is further proof he can never be trusted to do the job of governor."

    A fact check conducted by WRAL gave a "red light" to Roy Cooper's false claims that he fixed the problems at the state crime lab.


Transcript:

  • I was sexually abused when I was nine. People doubt you, can't look at you in the eye. Immediate proof that you're telling the truth is everything.
  • Attorney General Roy Cooper is in charge of our state crime lab. They can still take as long as two years to process rape kits. Leaving victims to sometimes standby powerless as their rapists go free.
  • Roy Cooper can never be Governor.

Roy Cooper Failed To Fix Crime Lab Backlogs And Delays, Breaking His Promise To Rape Victims

2001: Roy Cooper takes office as attorney general, overseeing the state crime lab

2002: An investigation by former N.C. and U.S. Senator Kay Hagan estimated there were approximately 20,000 untested rape evidence kits in North Carolina

  • "Yet nearly 20,000 of these kits sit untested in local law enforcement offices or at the state crime lab, according to a study commissioned by Sen. Kay Hagan, D-Guilford." (Greensboro News & Record Editorial, 12/3/2002)
  • "Lawmakers in Raleigh and Washington don't care that women are being raped. That bald accusation might appear preposterous and outrageous. But it is the simple truth. They don't care. Not enough to do much about finding and arresting these criminals. The proof of the politicians' indifference is boxed, labeled and stacked in police stations across North Carolina..." (Wilmington Star-News Editorial, 11/21/2002)

2004: Roy Cooper promised to never forget rape victims who need to have their rape kits tested

  • "'I promise that I will never forget those rape victims who need DNA to have their rape kits tested. I promise I will never forget the working people who have to work so hard to make their loan payments,' Cooper said." (Charlotte Observer, 11/3/2004)

2013: "A slap in the face" to victims ... untested rape kit led to a bad plea deal for rapist

  • "A local man served 53 days in jail last year after being indicted on eight felony charges of rape and other sexual offenses in which some victims suspect they were drugged and all were photographed naked." (Greeensboro News & Record, 9/1/2013)
  • "the rape kit had not been processed" (Greeensboro News & Record, 9/1/2013)
  • "'It's kind of like a slap in the face to me and the other girls he did this to,' said the woman, whose allegations against Mathis were dismissed as part of his Sept. 19, 2012, plea bargain." (Greeensboro News & Record, 9/1/2013)

2014: "A big problem" ... Report shows backlogs still persist at state crime lab

  • "We've been looking at the problems in the State Crime Lab this week, particularly the backlog in evidence testing... The interesting thing is that no one is disputing that there is a big problem." (WUNC-FM, 11/19/2014)

2015: 'Stab in my heart' ... Backlogs and delays for processing rape kits "gathering dust" persist across the state, discouraging victims and sometimes letting rapists go free

  • "UNTESTED: Rape Kits Collecting Dust Across NC" (WECT, 10/28/2015)
  • "At last check, prosecutors in North Carolina say the state is still processing rape kits submitted from 2 and a half years ago." (WECT, 6/22/15)
  • "In North Carolina, forensic processing of the rape kits is time best measured in years, rather than months. Results can take from 18 months - sometimes much longer - to return." (Asheville Citizen-Times, 7/18/15)
  • "When I found out that rape kits weren't getting tested, that was the next stab in my heart, and I cried for days," Laurie said. "I knew it was everywhere and I thought, 'Oh my God,
  •    
I am up against huge problems here.'" (Asheville Citizen-Times, 7/18/15)

2016: Crime lab problems, delays and backlogs persist to this day

  • "2016-2017 budget included $3.6 million for personnel at the State Crime Lab to reduce case backlogs" (WRAL, 4/22/2016)
  • "Legislators and state officials around the country have worked in recent years to try to clear a backlog of untested rape kits, spending millions of dollars to do so . But officials in states like Colorado , Kentucky and North Carolina are increasingly disclosing that it's not uncommon for labs to have to trashed untested kits..." (Huffington Post, 2/23/2016)

Problems, delays and backlogs at the state crime lab make it harder for law enforcement to do their job.

  • "The wait time doesn't just add to the pain and suffering. In many cases, it can cost victims a conviction... A couple of recent examples include DNA results from two rapes in the summer of 2013 recently returned to the New Hanover County DA's office. In one case, the victim waited two years to find out that the DA's office doesn't have enough evidence to proceed. In the other case, the evidence is there, but it took so long to get it the victim no longer wants to go to trial. Jordan said this is commonplace." (WECT, 6/22/15)
  • "The long wait time for a rape kit to process is enough to deter some victims of rape from reporting the crime in the first place." (WNCT News, 9/24/15)

While Roy Cooper failed to fix the problem after 16 years as attorney general, Governor McCrory has pushed for millions to address backlogs at the state crime lab since taking office in 2013:

  • Upon taking office, Governor McCrory's proposed 2014-2015 budget pushed for expanded funding for the state crime lab, "providing $500,000 for more equipment and $3.1 million over the next year for to enhance DNA analysis" (WRAL, 3/20/2013)
  • Governor McCrory pushed for additional resources for a Western Crime Lab in his 2015 State of the State address (State of the State Transcript, 2/4/2015)
  • Governor McCrory has since pushed for additional positions at the state crime lab to reduce backlogs (WXII, 3/6/2015)
  • Governor McCrory has emphasized pay raises for hard-to-fill positions: "the governor emphasizes improving pay for certain teachers and targeting state employees in hard-to-fill or dangerous law enforcement positions." (The Associated Press, 3/8/2015)
  • Governor McCrory's proposed 2016-2017 budget included $3.6 million for personnel at the State Crime Lab to reduce case backlogs and to finally open the Western Crime Lab (WRAL, 4/22/2016)

    North Carolina's three major law enforcement organizations endorsed Pat McCrory over Roy Cooper: the N.C. Police Benevolent Association, the N.C. Troopers Association and the N.C. Fraternal Order of Police.

  • Contact: The Pat McCrory Committee
  •     media@patmccrory.com

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