Joe Biden and the North Carolina Democrats Lead the Nation in #MeToo Hypocrisy. Will Call Cunningham and Roy Cooper Stand by Their Men? | Eastern NC Now

Press Release:

    RALEIGH NC     Last week, the Raleigh News and Observer reported that the police confirmed that Senator Erica Smith suffered an assault at the hands of State Senator Paul Lowe at a meeting of the African American Caucus at the General Assembly. This is yet another in a series of sexual assault and harassment allegations plaguing legislative Democrats. During 2018, North Carolina Democrats, including legislative leadership and Governor Roy Cooper, demanded State Representative Duane Hall resign when less serious allegations surfaced about his inappropriate behavior. Now, the North Carolina Democratic Party is refusing to comment on Senator Smith's serious allegations.

    Why are North Carolina Democrats refusing to take Senator Smith's allegations seriously? It reeks of politics and hypocrisy and is very reminiscent of National Democrats' handling of Tara Reade's allegations against Joe Biden. DC Democrats have consistently ignored Reade's allegations despite the mounting evidence. Congresswoman Illan Omar went so far as to claim she believed Reade, but she would still be voting for Biden.

    Cooper personally called for Hall to resign from the legislature and tried to paint himself as a MeToo leader. However, he has remained entirely silent on the troubling allegations about Reade. Cooper also personally knows Smith and Lowe. So far, Cooper has completely ignored Smith's complaint, which is entirely different from his handling of the Hall situation.

    The national and state Democrats' hand picked candidate Cal Cunningham has acutely shown MeToo hypocrisy. He proudly boasted he marched in the Women's March, but we now know he took advantage of the behind the scenes drama related to Smith's allegations to steal the DSCC's endorsement. Cunningham actively supported his dark money liberal allies to sabotage Smith in the Democratic primary. Now, he refuses to speak in her defense as she shares her story.

    For both Cooper and Cunningham, apparently the victim is only to be believed when it is politically expedient.

    "North Carolina Democrats MeToo Hypocrisy is despicable and predictable," Said NCGOP Spokesman Tim Wigginton. "Cal Cunningham is avoiding debates with Thom Tillis, and Roy Cooper only leaves his mansion to march with protesters from one side to another. Both of these leading North Carolina Democrats need to explain why the North Carolina Democratic Party will pressure Duane Hall to quit but will not take similar action when one of their own comes forward to tell her story."

• Contact: Tim Wigginton
•     communications@ncgop.org