Roy Cooper ripped over 560 inmates rearrested after COVID release

Key Points:

• Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper faces criticism for a COVID-era agreement that led to the release of 3,500 inmates, with over 560 rearrested on new charges within two years, including violent offenses such as murder and firearm violations.
• Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley and the NRSC accuse Cooper of being "soft on crime" and blame him for community safety issues, while Cooper’s campaign denies these claims, arguing he fought the releases in court and followed criteria similar to those used by the Trump administration.
• The mass release stemmed from a 2020 lawsuit over unconstitutional prison conditions during the pandemic, resulting in early releases aimed at reducing overcrowding, though some inmates with violent felony histories were included.
• Critics highlight specific cases of released inmates committing serious crimes post-release, fueling political attacks amid a tight Senate race that could impact party control of the chamber.
• Cooper’s campaign counters by pointing to his record on crime and accusing Whatley of poor judgment in appointing a convicted sex offender to a GOP leadership role, while denying allegations linking released inmates to recent high-profile murders.