Watch Cooper Campaign’s New TV Ad “Knew”
RALEIGH – Today, Cooper for North Carolina released a new TV ad, “Knew” that spotlights Michael Whatley repeatedly appointing Harvey Lee West, a known convicted child sex predator who spent six years in prison, to a position of power within the North Carolina Republican Party.
This follows breaking reporting that Whatley campaigned with a convicted child rapist, members of a cult accused of sexually abusing children and at a church that protected a child sex abuser.
“Michael Whatley knew Harvey Lee West was a convicted child sex predator who spent six years in prison for his crimes and still gave West a top political role that gave him access to children,” said Cooper for North Carolina Campaign Manager Jeff Allen. “Whatley has even continuously elevated and campaigned with multiple other sex predators over the past year. Roy Cooper is the only candidate in this race who has put violent criminals, rapists and child sex offenders behind bars and kept them there.”
The ad will run on broadcast television, streaming and digital platforms statewide as part of a seven-figure buy.
Read a transcript of “Knew” below.
Narrator: When Michael Whatley ran the North Carolina Republican Party, he could have picked anyone to be in senior leadership.
Whatley chose Harvey Lee West, a registered sex offender, appointing West after he spent six years in prison for sex crimes against children. And West said he was open about his past from “day one.”
Whatley even let West attend events with kids. Michael Whatley knew, and that tells you everything you need to know about him.
Roy Cooper: I’m Roy Cooper and I approve this message.
Michael Whatley has a disturbing pattern of campaigning with and elevating child sex predators, including:
- Appointing Harvey West, who spent six years in prison for sexually abusing three minors to NCGOP leadership.
- Campaigning with Daimon King, a registered lifetime sex offender who spent years in prison on two separate occasions for child sex crimes, including rape and incest.
- Attributing his rise in politics to the Rutherford County GOP, which has been “taken over” by the Word of Faith Fellowship – a cult that has been accused of physically and sexually abusing children.
- Campaigning at Victory Baptist Church, which reportedly covered up for and protected an employee who was indicted for sexually abusing children for over a decade.
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