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NewsBreitbartMay 4, 2026United States

Claims Regarding North Carolina Prisoner Releases During COVID-19

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley alleges that former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper released thousands of violent criminals from state prisons during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whatley claims these releases were part of a legal settlement and that the administration initially obscured the identities of those released.

criminal justiceelectionspublic safetyCOVID-19prison policy
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Why It Matters

The controversy centers on the state's management of prison populations during the pandemic and the subsequent legislative investigation into the release of 3,500 inmates, including individuals serving life sentences.

Key Facts

  • Michael Whatley alleges that 3,500 prisoners were released from North Carolina prisons during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The releases followed a settlement agreement signed by Roy Cooper in February 2021 after lawsuits from the ACLU and NAACP.
  • Whatley claims the list of released individuals included 51 people serving life sentences.
  • The North Carolina legislature has obtained the previously sealed list of released inmates.
  • Legislative hearings are being opened to investigate the criteria used for selecting prisoners for release.
  • Whatley alleges that the administration initially claimed no violent criminals were included in the releases.

Who's Mentioned

other51“Number of released prisoners allegedly serving life sentences”organizationACLU“Plaintiff in a lawsuit against the state regarding prison conditions”personDecarlos Brown, Jr.“Individual accused of murder who had been previously arrested and released”organizationNorth Carolina Legislature“State body currently investigating the prisoner release list”other3,500“Total number of prisoners allegedly released”personMichael Whatley“Republican U.S. Senate candidate and former RNC chairman”personIryna Zarutska“Victim of a murder allegedly committed by a released inmate”organizationNAACP“Plaintiff in a lawsuit against the state regarding prison conditions”personRoy Cooper“Former Governor of North Carolina and U.S. Senate candidate”