Republicans and conservative voices across the country are slamming Democrat Roy Cooper’s soft-on-crime record after new reporting revealed then-Governor Cooper released the repeat offender from prison who went on to murder Iryna Zarutska on the Charlotte Light Rail. Here’s what folks are saying:
Michael Whatley, Candidate for North Carolina Senate: “When he was North Carolina Governor, Roy Cooper released repeat offender DeCarlos Brown Jr., who went on to brutally murder Iryna Zarutska aboard the Charlotte light rail this past summer.Cooper said the inmates he released weren’t violent. That was a lie. Then he tried to cover it up. An innocent woman is dead, and her blood is on his hands. Instead of taking responsibility, Cooper is still lying and scrambling to hide the truth.”
Tim Scott, South Carolina Senator and NRSC Chairman: “Iryna Zarutska should be here today. Her tragic murder was preventable. So is putting Roy Cooper in the Senate.”
Richard Hudson, North Carolina Representative and NRCC Chairman:
“Roy Cooper chose criminals over public safety. His COVID-era mass release put violent offenders back on the street, and North Carolinians paid the price. Soft-on-crime policies cost lives.”
Ted Budd, North Carolina Senator: “More proof that soft-on-crime Dems like Roy Cooper endanger innocent lives. Iryna Zarutska’s tragic murder was preventable. Even worse, Cooper tried to hide the truth & consequences of his actions, putting violent criminals ahead of law abiding citizens. Infuriating.”
Sean Duffy, U.S. Secretary of Department of Transportation: “We won’t forget Iryna Zarutska 🙏 It is a slap on the face to her family and to all victims of transit crime when liberal leaders allow repeat violent offenders to walk our streets and ride our trains!”
Mike Johnson, Louisiana Representative and U.S. House Speaker: “Today we learned that the tragic and horrific murder of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, NC was the COMPLETELY avoidable and DIRECT result of Democrat-run SOFT-on-crime policies. These DANGEROUS and DEADLY policies punish the innocent, erode public safety, and keep violent criminals on the streets. It’s unmistakable — Iryna would still be alive today if Democrats cared about combatting crime.”
Addison McDowell, North Carolina Representative: “Cooper’s silence is deafening. His policies put dangerous criminals back on the streets, and Iryna Zarutska paid the price. Cooper chose convicts over citizens then, and he’ll do it again if given the chance.”
Brad Knott, North Carolina Representative: “Leaders do not cave to radical, dangerous ideologies. Rather than fighting the Left’s efforts to defund police and protect criminals, Roy Cooper bought right in and became the Left’s biggest advocate. Innocent North Carolinians have – and are – paying the price.”
Pat Harrigan, North Carolina Representative: “…Roy Cooper went all in on soft-on-crime policies because he thought they were a political winner. The result was Iryna’s horrific, preventable murder. Even worse, Cooper tried to hide the consequences by refusing to release the list of who he freed, putting violent criminals ahead of innocent North Carolinians. Cooper was soft-on-crime as governor, and he’ll be soft-on-crime in the Senate.”
Phil Berger, North Carolina State Senate President: “Roy Cooper released thousands of criminals, and he did everything he could to hide their names from you. So, I got ahold of the list and am working my way through it. It’s shocking the lengths Cooper went to keep it secret. His soft-on-crime policies harm our communities and Senate Republicans won’t let that stand.”
Jason Simmons, Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party: “Radical Roy Cooper’s mass prison release made North Carolina cities more dangerous. The @NCGOP will remind voters every day he is the chosen candidate of the Radical Left and doesn’t share our values.”
Katie Britt, Alabama Senator and NRSC Vice Chair: “Under Roy Cooper, a reckless soft-on-crime prison deal led to the violent and heartbreaking murder of Iryna Zarutska. The criminal who killed her should never have been released. Democrat-led states and cities create chaos and put Americans in danger. Cooper was wrong for North Carolina then, and he’s wrong now.”
Bernie Moreno, Ohio Senator and NRSC Vice Chair: “Roy Cooper’s soft-on-crime policies murdered Iryna Zarutska. Time after time, he chose violent criminals over North Carolinians. This isn’t leadership, it’s deadly betrayal.”
Tom Cotton, Arkansas Senator and Senate Conference Leader: “Roy Cooper went all in on jailbreak policies because he thought they were a political winner. And the result was the horrific, preventable murder of Iryna Zarutska. Roy Cooper was soft-on-crime as governor, and he would be soft-on-crime in the Senate.”
Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee Senator and NRSC Vice Chair:
“@RoyCooperNC released criminals he claimed weren’t violent and then hid the truth from North Carolinians. North Carolinians have a right to know who was released and why.”
Ted Cruz, Texas Senator: “Tragic. And entirely preventable.”
Tommy Tuberville, Alabama Senator: “Too many people have been MURDERED because Democrats are releasing criminals, rapists, and killers onto our streets. Iryna Zarutska may still be alive today if it weren’t for woke Roy Cooper.”
John Barrasso, Wyoming Senator and Senate Majority Whip: “For years, soft-on-crime Democrats made America less safe. As Gov, Roy Cooper released violent criminals onto the streets of NC — one brutally stabbed and murdered a 23-year old girl. Dems are pro-crime. Republicans are fighting for safer communities.”
Rick Scott, Florida Senator: “Anyone who watched the horrific video of Iryna being murdered in cold blood knows it’s impossible to forget. @RoyCooperNC’s soft-on-crime policies cost this young woman her life, and there’s no telling who else he let out.”
Sentinel Action Fund: “Iryna Zarutska didn’t have to die. Her murderer was arrested 14 TIMES and still released on the streets. @RoyCooperNC needs to answer for this prison release and which criminals he let back into North Carolina’s communities. His policies weren’t just extreme. They were deadly.”
CJ Pearson, Host of the CJ Pearson Show: “NEVER FORGET: Iryna Zarutska would be here today if it wasn’t for Democrat Roy Cooper. He released her killer without a second thought. He doesn’t give a damn about keeping North Carolina safe.”
Matt Whitlock, Republican Strategist: “Expect this to be a dominant theme all the way through November. North Carolina is a purplish-red state, but Roy Cooper’s soft-on-crime policies mirror California or New York – and led to one of the most horiffic murders America has seen in years.”
Senate Leadership Fund: “Roy Cooper chose radical ideology over the law. He should never be trusted with another ounce of power.”
Matt Mercer, North Carolina GOP Communications Director: “Iryna Zarutska died because Crooked @RoyCooperNC agreed to the largest mass release of convicted criminals in North Carolina history. If you’re not mad, you’re not paying attention.”
Payton McNabb, Former North Carolina High School Athlete and Independent Women’s Sports Ambassador: “Roy Cooper is trying to rewrite his record as he runs for Senate. His policies failed on public safety, and families like Iryna Zarutska’s live with that reality EVERY DAY”
Eric Daugherty, Conservative Influencer: “THIS IS BETRAYAL. It must never happen again.”
Matt Van Swol, North Carolina Conservative Influencer: “#BREAKING: Horrifying new information has been released that m*rderer of Iryna Zarutska, Decarlos Brown Jr., was allegedly LET OUT OF PRISON by NC Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper as part of an early release program of 3,500 criminals in 2021. WHAT?!!!!!! THEY LET HIM OUT OF PRISON?!”
Kyle Martinsen, Republican Strategist: “Holy crap Iryna Zarutska’s killer DeCarlos Brown Jr. was one of the 3,500 inmates Roy Cooper released EARLY in 2021.”
Republican State Leadership Committee: “Roy Cooper’s radical policies put dangerous criminals back into NC communities. North Carolinians deserve to know the full extent of Cooper’s disastrous, soft-on-crime policies.”
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