Michael Whatley, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate from North Carolina, has remained steadfast in his support of former President Donald Trump’s controversial pardons. These pardons were granted to participants in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, some of whom have since been linked to sex crime charges.
Despite Trump’s initial promise to pardon only nonviolent offenders, his blanket pardon encompassed all rioters. According to an NPR report, many of these individuals had previous or pending sex crime charges, including rape and sexual abuse of minors.
When questioned about his stance during a public event in February, Whatley confirmed his continued support for the pardons, labeling the legal actions against these individuals as “malicious.”
Among those pardoned was David Daniel from Mint Hill, N.C., who was charged with producing child pornography. He claimed that Trump’s pardon included this charge, but a judge ruled otherwise, resulting in his guilty plea.
Additional charges related to sex crimes emerged after the pardons were issued. Andrew Paul Johnson from Florida, for instance, was sentenced to life in prison in March for molesting minors. He allegedly told one of his victims about a potential financial settlement connected to the pardon, suggesting he would share it if the victim remained silent. Johnson might have been influenced by Trump’s attempt to set up a fund for victims of perceived governmental overreach, which included the pardoned rioters.
Whatley has expressed his support for this fund, although it is currently stalled by a federal judge’s order.
Whatley’s ongoing endorsement of Trump’s actions could potentially highlight another controversy. During his tenure as chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party from 2019 to 2024, Whatley appointed Harvey West to party committees despite West’s guilty plea in 2000 for indecent liberties with a minor, as reported by Asheville Watchdog.
Endorsed by Trump, Whatley is set to compete against former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper in the upcoming general election.
The post Whatley stood by Trump’s Jan. 6 pardons despite sex crime charges appeared first on American Journal News.
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