Source: Fox News
Summary
North Carolina Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley criticized his Democratic opponent, former Gov. Roy Cooper, ahead of the primary election, linking him to the stabbing death of Ukrainian immigrant Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte’s transit system last year. Whatley’s campaign claimed that Cooper’s 2021 settlement with civil rights groups over COVID-19 prison conditions led to the release of the suspect, Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr. Cooper’s campaign responded, saying the attacks are false and that Cooper has a record of prosecuting violent criminals and signing tough-on-crime laws.
Our Reading
As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
The discussion around Iryna Zarutska’s death has become a focal point in the North Carolina Senate election. Michael Whatley’s campaign has targeted Roy Cooper, linking him to the suspect’s release. Cooper’s campaign has fired back, defending his record on crime. The exchange has become a familiar pattern in the election, with each side trying to gain an advantage. The timing of the attack, just before the primary election, is not coincidental. The use of a victim’s tragic death as a political tool is a familiar tactic, one that can be seen as a performance, with each side playing its role.
Author: Evan Null
