NC Senate Race: False Blame on Cooper's Murder

0:00I'm Cory with the story, bringing you the latest from Derm news today. In North Carolina's U.S. center race, Republicans are falsely blaming former Governor Roy Cooper for the murder of 23-year-old Ukrainian Refugee Irina Zorutska, killed on Charlotte's light rail last year. GOP nominee Michael Whitley claims Cooper has her blood on his hands, pointing to suspect the Carlos Brown, who they say was released early due to a prison settlement under Cooper's watch during the COVID pandemic. The facts show Brown finished his full sentence and was released in September 2020, then placed under post-release supervision for a year. The settlement happened five months later in February, 2021, after he was already out. Even though his name appears on the list, it did not cause his initial release. Republicans like Whitley and even President Donald Trump, who endorsed him, keep pushing the claim despite fact checks. They argue a later arrest should have sent Brown back to prison, but blame the settlement for keeping him free.

1:00Voters in the state see Cooper as more popular with better name recognition amid a tough political climate for Republicans. Timeline proves no link. Brown's supervision ended in September 2021, four years before Zorutska's death in August 2025. No scenario keeps him locked up that long, without new serious crimes. While the settlement deserves debate, some released offenders reoffended at high rates, twisting it to blame Cooper for this murder is just untrue. Republicans often stretch facts, but this one falls flat from every angle. The Daily News Now is powered by a sponsor, link in the description. No earbuds, no headbands, no awkward sleeping positions, just a pillow that plays your sound. S-O-L-I-SoliPillow.com