{"id":2617699,"date":"2026-06-23T09:56:55","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T13:56:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/roy-cooper-promotes-record-on-crime-despite-gop-attacks-felon-releases\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T09:59:02","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T13:59:02","slug":"roy-cooper-promotes-record-on-crime-despite-gop-attacks-felon-releases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/roy-cooper-promotes-record-on-crime-despite-gop-attacks-felon-releases\/","title":{"rendered":"Roy Cooper promotes record on crime despite GOP attacks felon releases"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Froy-cooper-promotes-record-on-crime-despite-gop-attacks-felon-releases%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2617699&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Roy Cooper, the former North Carolina governor and Democratic Senate candidate, has launched a campaign ad emphasizing his record on crime, countering Republican criticism over his administration\u2019s decision to release felons from prison. Cooper, running for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Thom Tillis, highlights actions taken under his leadership that prioritized keeping criminals incarcerated and tightening bail laws. <\/p>\n<p>Republicans, led by nominee Michael Whatley, have criticized Cooper for perceived leniency, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >citing high-profile crimes committed<\/a> by individuals who were released early. They especially focus on the case of Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian woman murdered by DeCarlos Brown Jr., who was released early during Cooper\u2019s tenure. Republicans argue that Cooper\u2019s early release policies, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, contributed to this tragedy, prompting GOP-led investigations into the inmate release processes.<\/p>\n<p>Cooper denies responsibility, claiming the GOP is politicizing the issue, with President Donald Trump backing Whatley and criticizing Cooper\u2019s record.Despite GOP attacks, polls suggest Cooper maintains a lead in the race, though the contest remains competitive heading into the November election. Cooper\u2019s campaign continues to emphasize his support for enhanced public safety measures amidst the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-economic-views-of-the-new-u-k-prime-minister\/\" title=\"The Economic Views of the New U.K. Prime Minister\">ongoing political battle<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Former <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/north-carolina\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"552\">North Carolina<\/a> governor and Democratic Senate candidate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/roy-cooper\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1063\">Roy Cooper<\/a> released a new campaign ad touting his record on crime despite persistent Republican scrutiny for his role in releasing felons from prison.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cooper, the Democratic nominee for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/thom-tillis\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"973\">Thom Tillis<\/a> (R-NC), is pointing to actions taken under his administration that \u201cput criminals in prison and kept them there\u201d and tightened bail laws in a new ad attempting to extinguish Republican attacks.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4619924\/mamdani-new-york-congressional-delegation-remake\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Zohran Mamdani tries to remake the Big Apple\u2019s congressional delegation<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4619951\/latino-group-gop-midterm-support\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Latino group homes in on key midterm races, hoping to help GOP with Hispanics<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4611267\/new-york-primary-races-to-watch\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>New York races to watch: Which battles could shape the Democratic Party\u2019s future?<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The renewed focus comes as Republican nominee <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michael-whatley\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"17723\">Michael Whatley<\/a> and GOP allies intensify criticism over criminal justice decisions made during Cooper\u2019s tenure. Whatley has repeatedly accused Cooper of failing to protect North Carolinians, citing high-profile crimes committed by repeat offenders and arguing that the former governor was too lenient on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-sheriff-warns-new-residents-do-not-ruin-state-by-voting-for-policies-that-youre-escaping\/\" title=\"Florida Sheriff Warns New Residents: Do Not Ruin State By Voting For Policies That You\u2019re Escaping\">public safety issues<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"> <span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/i6YAwQrRFEc?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Senate Leadership Fund, the premier GOP political action committee, has been running an email series called \u201cRoy Cooper\u2019s Felon Friday,\u201d where the PAC highlights other convicted felons who were released early by Cooper.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whatley and his party have particularly gone after Cooper as it relates to the killing of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian woman who moved to Charlotte in 2022 after Russia invaded her home country. Zarutska\u2019s alleged killer, DeCarlos Brown Jr., was released early from prison by then-Gov. Cooper.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans argue Brown was released early due to a 2021 court settlement reached by Cooper during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Brown was released before the lawsuit was settled. The COVID-19 settlement released roughly 3,500 inmates, but Cooper reportedly included prisoners released shortly before the lawsuit was settled, including Brown.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">GOP lawmakers later launched an investigation this year into the circumstances surrounding the agreement, contending that voters deserve answers about how the releases were handled.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cooper has rejected responsibility for the releases, saying Whatley is trying to score political points by citing Zarutska\u2019s death to damage his Senate campaign. President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a>, who backed Whatley, has also cited Zarutska\u2019s death as one of Cooper\u2019s flaws.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4460164\/trump-endorsement-tracker-gop-2026-election-primaries\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4460164\/trump-endorsement-tracker-gop-2026-election-primaries\/\">TRUMP ENDORSEMENT TRACKER: HERE\u2019S WHO THE PRESIDENT HAS PICKED IN GOP MIDTERM ELECTION PRIMARIES<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cooper\u2019s campaign has not been able to halt GOP attacks targeting his former administration\u2019s actions and has instead responded by emphasizing his support for tougher pretrial detention standards and other public safety measures enacted during his administration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Polling <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carolinajournal.com\/polls\/may-2026-coopers-lead-over-whatley-in-senate-race-widens\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.carolinajournal.com\/polls\/may-2026-coopers-lead-over-whatley-in-senate-race-widens\/\">from the <em>Carolina Journal<\/em><\/a>  suggests that Cooper has held a consistent lead over Whatley, but the two still have a bitter fight ahead of the November general election.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Roy Cooper highlights crime record amid GOP attacks<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2617700,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26076713880529.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[50403,33010,81584,6203,35541],"class_list":["post-2617699","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-crime-2","tag-criminal-justice","tag-felon-releases","tag-gop","tag-roy-cooper"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26076713880529.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617699","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2617699"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617699\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2617703,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617699\/revisions\/2617703"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2617700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2617699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2617699"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2617699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}