NCGOP Files Lawsuit To Compel Governor Cooper To Comply With Public Records Laws And Release His Official Schedule
October 14, 2020
For Immediate Release
Raleigh, NC – The North Carolina Republican Party filed a lawsuit today to force Governor Roy Cooper to follow the law and keep one of his key campaign promises, transparency. Months ago, the NCGOP filed a public records request with Cooper’s office seeking information on his daily work schedule. Instead of complying with public records law, Cooper broke another one of his promises to the people of North Carolina and refused to provide public records.
Unfortunately, this is not a one time issue with Cooper. Cooper’s been sued multiple times by media outlets for his failure to provide public records. He’s even refused to release the most basic information about his schedule to members of the media. Also, the Cooper administration currently is fighting a lawsuit brought by a coalition of media companies to get access to the COVID-19 data he uses to justify his decisions to keep North Carolina small businesses and schools shuttered. Even his fans at the News and Observer editorial board decried Cooper’s lack of transparency.
The lawsuit filed today by NCGOP seeks to compel the Governor to comply with a July public records request sent. The law states that Cooper must comply with our request “as promptly as possible,” not when it is politically convenient for the Cooper Administration.
“Despite his repeated promises of transparency, Governor Cooper has been the most secretive Governor in North Carolina history. The voters have a right to know what their Governor is doing - even if he isn't actually doing anything to help them,” said NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley. “We have never had a less transparent governor than Roy Cooper. Other than his closed-press press conferences and a few photo ops like his famous march with rioters, looters and vandals in front of the Governor's Mansion, voters have not seen the Governor anywhere in North Carolina for more than eight months and have never been able to see his daily schedule. North Carolina's public records laws were written to hold officeholders accountable, and we hope that the Court will rule expeditiously to show North Carolina voters what the Governor has been up to while he has been holed up in the Governor's Mansion.
To read the lawsuit, click here.
For Immediate Release
Raleigh, NC – The North Carolina Republican Party filed a lawsuit today to force Governor Roy Cooper to follow the law and keep one of his key campaign promises, transparency. Months ago, the NCGOP filed a public records request with Cooper’s office seeking information on his daily work schedule. Instead of complying with public records law, Cooper broke another one of his promises to the people of North Carolina and refused to provide public records.
Unfortunately, this is not a one time issue with Cooper. Cooper’s been sued multiple times by media outlets for his failure to provide public records. He’s even refused to release the most basic information about his schedule to members of the media. Also, the Cooper administration currently is fighting a lawsuit brought by a coalition of media companies to get access to the COVID-19 data he uses to justify his decisions to keep North Carolina small businesses and schools shuttered. Even his fans at the News and Observer editorial board decried Cooper’s lack of transparency.
The lawsuit filed today by NCGOP seeks to compel the Governor to comply with a July public records request sent. The law states that Cooper must comply with our request “as promptly as possible,” not when it is politically convenient for the Cooper Administration.
“Despite his repeated promises of transparency, Governor Cooper has been the most secretive Governor in North Carolina history. The voters have a right to know what their Governor is doing - even if he isn't actually doing anything to help them,” said NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley. “We have never had a less transparent governor than Roy Cooper. Other than his closed-press press conferences and a few photo ops like his famous march with rioters, looters and vandals in front of the Governor's Mansion, voters have not seen the Governor anywhere in North Carolina for more than eight months and have never been able to see his daily schedule. North Carolina's public records laws were written to hold officeholders accountable, and we hope that the Court will rule expeditiously to show North Carolina voters what the Governor has been up to while he has been holed up in the Governor's Mansion.
To read the lawsuit, click here.
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