SPRUCE PINE — David Wheeler, a Mitchell County resident and Democratic candidate for North Carolina State Senate District 47, has formally requested an investigation from United States Attorney General William Barr.
Wheeler made his request for the investigation official in a letter addressed to Barr written on Thursday, Sept. 24.
“I am formally requesting the United States Department of Justice investigate political corruption, collusion and illegal acts by elected officials, law enforcement, judges and a drug cartel in Rutherford County,” Wheeler wrote. “It has been credibly reported that individuals are colluding to subvert the law and allow Rutherford County to be overrun by illegal activity, intimidation, violence and corruption.”
In addition to his request for an investigation of the aforementioned activity in Rutherford County, Wheeler also requested a review of actions by his political opponent and fellow Mitchell County resident, Republican Ralph Hise.
A July 12 article from Rutherford County news source RC Catalyst alleges that North Carolina Representative David Rogers leveraged his position and relationship with legislative officials, primarily Hise, to create the Public Defender’s Office in Judicial District 41.
The allegation adds that Rogers was hired as part-time assistant public defender at a salary of $75,000. Most other part-time assistant public defenders, the article says, make only $32,000 per year.
“He does not perform any duties, nor does he maintain any office hours or work from home for his salary,” Wheeler wrote. “This is clearly a ghost payroll job and needs your attention since it is political corruption. Hise colluded with Rogers to introduce and pass funding for this position in the North Carolina Legislature in 2019.”
Wheeler closed his letter by requesting that Barr and his department determine if any federal laws were broken that could affect the November election.
“In addition, I am requesting you review whether these actions would require intervention by the United States Department of Justice due to the serious nature of these matters and the complicity by local elected officials, law enforcement, judicial officers and others in the position of authority,” Wheeler said.
Hise said in a statement to the News-Journal that he has no further comment regarding Wheeler’s investigation request.
“I will no longer comment on Mr. Wheeler’s harassment and conspiracy theories,” Hise said.
Wheeler’s request for a review comes on the same day Republican Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest sent his own letter to Barr requesting an investigation into Democrat collusion and election interference.
State Republicans say the Democratic Party-controlled State Board of Elections, with help from several officials including Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein and Democratic Governor Roy Cooper, colluded to rewrite election laws including moves to allow anonymous absentee ballot drop boxes and moves to subvert absentee ballot witness requirements in what they deem a “flagrant abuse of the legal system.”
North Carolina Republicans said that the settlement violates state law by extending the deadline for receipt of absentee ballots to nine days after the election.
Hise, the co-chair of the Senate Elections Committee, responded to the election laws issue in a statement, calling the upcoming legal battle “the defining fight of the 2020 North Carolina Election.”
“They’ve rewritten election laws while the election is actively underway,” Hise said in a statement. “We’re witnessing a slow-motion mugging of North Carolina’s election integrity.”
Stein said in a statement on Friday, Sept. 25 that he and the North Carolina Department of Justice are committed to doing everything they can to hold safe elections while ensuring every vote counts.
“These Republican leaders are lying about the consent decree to create mistrust in our elections,” Stein said. “That’s disgraceful and un-American. They should care more about helping people stay safe, healthy and have their vote count than they do about power.”