Forest Blasts Cooper for ‘Shameful’ Veto

RALEIGH – Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest is blasting Governor Roy Cooper for his immediate veto of House Bill 370, a bill requiring local law enforcement cooperate with ICE.

After ICE came out and excoriated some sheriffs in North Carolina for refusing to honor detainer requests and providing real life examples of thee sheriffs releasing violent, criminal, illegal aliens back on to the streets instead of holding cooperating with immigration enforcement, the legislature suddenly found the gumption to pass House Bill 370.

As expected, though, Cooper vetoed the bill and cemented his legacy as a ‘Sanctuary Governor.’ What’s more is, with a straight face, Cooper accused Republicans of pushing the bill as a mere partisan stunt.

“This legislation is simply about scoring partisan political points and using fear to divide North Carolina. As the former top law enforcement officer of our state, I know that current law allows the state to jail and prosecute dangerous criminals regardless of immigration status. […]”

It’s rich that Cooper mentions his tenure as attorney general, since he used to post to run for governor, repeatedly “scoring partisan political points,” and abandoned the State’s interest when it didn’t suit his political career. It’s also intellectually dishonest to act like the issue at hand is about nothing more than the ability of jailing and prosecuting criminals that are illegal aliens. He is certainly aware that it is the anti-cooperation policies of some sheriffs that allow for many illegal alien criminals to simply walk out and disappear after posting bail.

Forest, who just launched his 2020 campaign to kick Cooper out of the governor’s mansion, points out that it is Cooper, not Republicans, holding a partisan line against simple, common sense policies to maintain law, order, and public safety.

Forest’s statement (emphasis added):