PEMBROKE – The Cooper-appointed Democrat that kicked off the 2018 9th Congressional District election investigation, and eventual special election, with his motion on the State Board of Elections is now resigning from his full time post as general counsel for the University of North Carolina Pembroke amid continued focus on his allegedly conflicted role in the saga.
Joshua Malcolm, who hails from the very pocket of the state at the center of the now infamous electoral fraud allegations in the 9th District, served as vice chair and then chair of the State Board of Elections under Governor Roy Cooper. He implied longstanding knowledge of wrongdoing in his part of that state before making a motion to not certify the victory of Republican Mark Harris and launch an investigation.
It was revealed via reporting by investigative journalist Nick Ochsner at WBTV, though, that Malcolm was having frequent and improper communications with a well known Bladen County Democrat in the days leading up to and during the Board’s investigation. Getting those records was like pulling teeth, as WBTV had to hound the NCSBE and Malcolm for records they initially failed to provide.
The same struggle is going on again, now between the media outlet and the University Malcolm is employed by. That may have something to do with his resignation.
From WBTV:
“[…] The email did not give a reason for Malcolm’s departure and a university spokeswoman declined to provide one when asked by a reporter Monday.
Malcolm’s resignation comes as WBTV has pressed in court for months of his communications related to the 2018 election sent using university accounts and devices.
WBTV first requested communication records from UNC Pembroke–including emails, text messages, instant messages and phone logs, among other things–sent and received by Malcolm related to the 2018 election this past January, after a previous investigation revealed Malcolm had frequent contact with a well known Bladen County Democrat. […]”
Ten months after they requested those public records, and UNC Pembroke had prpvided zilch. It’s now wonder; as general counsel Malcolm’s own office is responsible for fulfilling the request and he’s stonewalling for some reason. So, WBTV took them to court, filing a complaint back in August.
Now Malcolm is suddenly resigning.
Recent history would indicate that the records Malcolm apparently does not want to let out contain communications instrumental to the 2018 election drama that won’t look so good. It will be interesting to see just what has been the cause of so much resistance on the part of Malcolm, and what it may reveal about Democrats’ push for a special election do over.
Read more about Malcolm’s role in the 9th District saga here.
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