Former Dem gov in hot seat for 'complete failure' in 'INSANE' early release of thousands of inmates

A Fox News Digital review of data from the North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission found that more than 560 inmates released during the Cooper administration went on to be arrested on charges of new offenses within two years of their release.

Another released inmate, Daron Owens, went on to be sentenced in federal court to 10 years in prison for possession of a firearm by a felon stemming from a drive-by shooting months after his release that left a victim with gunshot wounds. Owens was released a month early.

Cooper's Senate opponent, Republican Michael Whatley, ripped into him, posting on X that "Roy Cooper was a complete failure at keeping our communities safe."

"Victims' families deserve answers," he continued, adding, "Why did Roy Cooper allow these dangerous criminals back on our streets?"

The mass release stemmed from a 2020 lawsuit filed by the North Carolina NAACP, ACLU and other groups, which argued that crowded prison conditions during the pandemic put inmates at unconstitutional risk. The plaintiffs initially pushed for the release of thousands more inmates. But the state ultimately settled the case in early 2021, agreeing to reduce the prison population through expanded early releases, parole reviews and other measures, resulting in about 3,500 inmates being released.

The move has been criticized by Republicans as one of the largest mass prisoner releases in the country. At the time, Cooper's administration emphasized that the releases would focus on nonviolent offenders, though officials later acknowledged that individuals convicted of violent crimes were also included.

Data reviewed by Fox News Digital found that from a sample group of 1,180 prisoners, 48%, 566, were later arrested on charges of new offenses. From the sample group, 20% have been convicted.

Besides Brace and Owens, another individual released was Jimmie Speight, who was convicted of indecent liberty with a child and failure to register as a sex offender and was released just under nine months early. In 2023, he was sentenced to more than 32 years in prison for second-degree murder.

Another, Kyshuan Norrell, who was convicted of manslaughter, was also released and has since been sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder.

Whatley campaign spokesperson DJ Griffin drilled into the former governor over these releases, telling Fox News Digital that "Roy Cooper has blood on his hands."

Griffin posited that Cooper's "dangerous decision to release thousands of convicted felons during COVID has resulted in the deaths of 19 North Carolinians."

"Now, victims' families say he is solely to blame for these deaths. All while Cooper refuses to take any responsibility for his actions," said Griffin.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) also piled on Cooper, calling the releases "INSANE," in an X post, adding, "Roy Cooper must answer for this."

Bernadette Breslin, a national press secretary for the NRSC, told Fox News Digital that the agreement amounted to the Democrat having "aided and abetted the release of thousands of violent criminals onto North Carolina's streets," adding, "Cooper's soft-on-crime policies are too dangerous for North Carolina families."

In response, a spokesperson for Cooper's campaign dismissed the criticisms, telling Fox News Digital that "these blatant lies from Republicans have been fact-checked for months and found to be false."

The spokesperson said that "after Roy fought against these releases in court, North Carolina law enforcement officials and parole officers looked to similar criteria President Trump used a year prior when his administration released thousands of federal prisoners due to COVID-19."

"Keeping the public safe is Roy Cooper's top priority, which is why he refused to commute sentences when outside groups asked him to during the pandemic," the spokesperson continued.

Brown had been arrested at least 14 times prior to the killing and previously served time in North Carolina prison after a 2015 armed robbery conviction. He was released from custody in September 2020.

Fox News Digital's Stepheny Price contributed to this report.