North Carolina Republican candidates face campaign scrutiny

Republican candidates in North Carolina are facing scrutiny regarding their professional backgrounds and associations during their respective campaigns.

Michael Whatley, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, has reportedly removed mentions of his previous role as a senior official in the George W. Bush Administration at the Department of of Energy from his campaign website. Whatley had previously described himself as a lead negotiator for energy legislation that benefited Enron, a company that was a major donor to President Bush and lobbied for energy deregulation.

Simultaneously, GOP Supreme Court candidate Sarah Stevens has faced criticism for her ties to convicted sex offender Harvey West. Stevens attended a fundraising event at the home of West and appeared on a podcast hosted by his wife, despite stating she was unaware of his criminal record. The controversy follows reports that Whatley also faced questions regarding his support for West’s service on Republican committees.