Smoky Mountain News: “The issue has lingered for more than a month, with Whatley declining to respond to repeated questions from reporters and sidestepping at least one direct inquiry in a public setting.”

In case you missed it, Parents Against Whatley launched in response to DC insider Michael Whatley repeatedly appointing convicted child sex offender Harvey West to NCGOP leadership roles.

The coalition is made up of over 60 North Carolina parents from 19 counties, with more than one-fourth of the coalition members registered unaffiliated voters. 

Harvey West has confirmed that Whatley knew he had served six years in prison for sexually abusing three minors and appointed him to state party leadership anyway. 

اقرأ المزيد:

Smoky Mountain News: Parents target Whatley over sex offender controversy

Cory Vaillancourt | May 6, 2026

• The group, calling itself Parents Against Whatley, launched this week with more than 60 members spanning 19 counties. Organizers say the coalition includes a mix of party affiliations, with more than one-quarter identifying as unaffiliated voters. 

• The effort centers on Whatley’s appointment of Harvey West, a man who served six years in prison for sexually abusing three minors, to leadership roles within the North Carolina Republican Party.

• West has acknowledged that Whatley was aware of his criminal history at the time of those appointments.

• The issue has lingered for more than a month, with Whatley declining to respond to repeated questions from reporters and sidestepping at least one direct inquiry in a public setting.

• The coalition launched with 66 members drawn from 19 counties across North Carolina, according to organizers, with more than one-quarter identifying as unaffiliated voters in an apparent effort to frame the issue beyond party lines.

###