Cunningham Refuses To Answer News & Observer’s Follow-Up Questions On His Extramarital Relationship

What Is Cunningham Hiding? 

October 4, 2020
For Immediate Release 

RALEIGH, N.C. - After the Raleigh News & Observer confirmed late Friday night that “Cal Cunningham, a married father of two, sent text messages of a sexual nature to a woman who is not his wife,” it today reported that Cunningham and his campaign are refusing to answer any follow-up questions on the scandal. 

Check out this key excerpt from the News and Observer. 

  • “I remain grateful and humbled by the ongoing support that North Carolinians have extended in this campaign, and in the remaining weeks before this election I will continue to work to earn the opportunity to fight for the people of our state,” Cunningham said in his statement.

  • It is the only public comment Cunningham or his campaign have made about the issue. In his statement, he said, “I ask that my privacy be respected in this personal matter.”

  • The News & Observer has asked his campaign questions related to the issue.

 

“A paragraph long apology written by his DC consultants and Chuck Schumer's allies will not suffice when it comes to Cal Cunningham’s recently revealed misconduct,” said NCGOP spokesman Tim Wigginton. “North Carolinians deserve to know if there is more to this story and they deserve to hear from Cunningham in the flesh. The media should keep in mind that Cal Cunningham has spent this entire race hiding in a windowless basement, refusing to provide honest answers on critical questions - and this situation is no different. He should stop ducking questions for the News & Observer and come clean about the full details of his extramarital relationship. What is Cunningham hiding?” 

Cunningham's lack of transparency on his misconduct comes even though his campaign yesterday was able to answer questions from the media about his COVID-19 test status. 

Some questions Cunningham is probably ignoring are:

  • Given Cunningham’s rank as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves and his mistress’s status as the wife of an Army veteran, could Cunningham face court martial for violating Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice once more details come out? 

  • Cunningham admitted to the sexting as recently as July and alluded to knowing his mistress for years. Did a sexual, physical relationship also occur? If so, when did it begin and when was the last time they saw each other?

  • Were any campaign resources from Cunningham’s lieutenant governor or U.S. Senate campaigns – including fundraising travel or “meetings” – used to facilitate the affair?

  • Cunningham recently invited cameras into his home for a sit-down interview with himself and his wife and has made “duty” and “honor” central to his candidacy. Were all those intentional, calculated efforts to distract from his personal misconduct?