United StatesRepublican Senate candidate Michael Whatley accused Democrat Roy Cooper of aligning with socialist policies during a Breitbart News interview. Whatley claimed Cooper, while serving as North Carolina governor, released over 4,200 inmates during the coronavirus pandemic, including violent offenders such as pedophiles, rapists, and murderers. He argued that these actions led to a surge in crimes, citing specific cases like the murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska by DeCarlos Brown Jr. and another case where a man killed his own daughter with fentanyl. Whatley also criticized Cooper for vetoing legislation to prevent men from participating in girls' sports, suggesting this aligned him with socialist values. The remarks were part of a broader critique of socialist influence in politics.
Bias read (Conservative): The article frames Democratic Senatorial candidate Roy Cooper as a proponent of socialist policies through selective emphasis on his release of incarcerated individuals and opposition to gender-segregated sports. The language used—such as 'socialist banner,' 'worst of the worst,' and 'blood on Roy's
