NC Voices: “Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley is once again facing questions involving his proximity to people and institutions accused of protecting child sex offenders”
DC insider and Big Oil Lobbyist Michael Whatley is facing criticism for campaigning at a church that reportedly covered up for and protected an employee who was indicted for sexually abusing children.
NC Voices: “Whatley campaigned at Victory Baptist Church in Sylva, where longtime church piano player and basketball coach Mickey McMahan allegedly used his work with the church to groom and sexually assault young girls. McMahan was arrested in 2024 on 26 child sex offense charges.”
Whatley was recently exposed for having ties to the Word of Faith Fellowship, which is “at the center of an abuse scandal” that included punching and choking children.
This comes as Whatley’s repeated appointment of convicted child sex predator Harvey West continues to be a top concern for North Carolinians, and as Whatley defends his biggest individual donor who was charged in a sex trafficking investigation.
Plus d'informations :
August 14, 2026
- Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley is once again facing questions involving his proximity to people and institutions accused of protecting child sex offenders. This time, after campaigning at a western North Carolina church where a longtime employee was accused of sexually abusing young girls for decades.
- Whatley campaigned at Victory Baptist Church in Sylva, where longtime church piano player and basketball coach Mickey McMahan allegedly used his work with the church to groom and sexually assault young girls. McMahan was arrested in 2024 on 26 child sex offense charges.
- Former church members have also accused church leadership of ignoring warnings about McMahan for years. One woman told The Sylva Herald that victims had reported alleged assaults to church leaders and others but were silenced, saying, “The church hid a lot of stuff.”
- The latest controversy comes as Whatley continues to face scrutiny over his own relationship with convicted sex offender Harvey West. West served six years in prison after being accused of statutory rape involving three minors and pleading guilty to indecent liberties with a child. During Whatley’s tenure as NC GOP chair, West was appointed multiple times to the party’s powerful rulemaking committee. West has said he openly discussed his criminal history with Republican Party leaders.
- For months, Whatley has been asked to explain why he gave West positions of influence despite West’s criminal history. His campaign stop at Victory Baptist Church is now bringing new attention to an issue that Whatley has repeatedly tried to leave unanswered.
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