Roy Cooper, the former Democratic governor of North Carolina, who is currently vying for a Senate seat, faced scrutiny for appointing an ex-member of the Bloods gang to a “Racial Equity in Criminal Justice” task force in 2020. This decision followed George Floyd’s death, which led Cooper to establish the task force via executive order, according to The Washington Free Beacon.
The task force, led by then Attorney General and now Governor Josh Stein, included state officials and community activists. One such activist, Kerwin Pittman, had been convicted in 2007 for conspiracy to commit murder, serving 14 years in prison. Prosecutors identified Pittman as a “ranking member of the Bloods” during testimonies in a related murder trial.
Pittman was involved in a 2006 drive-by shooting of Jamel Amiens Jeffreys, as reported by The Free Beacon. He defends his task force role, attributing his past to youthful poor judgment. “I was asked to contribute to criminal justice reform discussions due to my experiences and community work,” Pittman stated. “I have always been open about my past.” Now 39, he asserts that the offenses occurred during his teenage years.
Pittman’s association with Emancipate NC, an organization known for its critical stance on police, is noteworthy. The Free Beacon highlights that Emancipate NC argues policing has long aimed to maintain white supremacy, as detailed in a 2023 blog post.
Roy Cooper, competing against former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, brought attention to his opponent’s controversial appointments when asked about the Free Beacon’s report. “While I focused on incarcerating violent criminals and passing strong crime laws, Michael Whatley appointed a convicted child sex offender to a major role in the North Carolina Republican Party,” Cooper’s campaign stated.
Pittman and Whatley’s campaign did not provide immediate comments to Fox News Digital regarding the situation.