Embattled North Carolina Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards said early Wednesday morning that he would end his re-election campaign after an ethics report found evidence he treated female staffers inappropriately. 
Edwards, who has been in office since 2023, will finish out his term but plans to leave office in January. That announcement comes after the House Ethics Committee <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gop-congressman-faces-censure-over-beyond-inappropriate-treatment-of-staffers">found</a> “substantial reason to believe” he repeatedly subjected two female staffers to inappropriate and unprofessional treatment. The committee recommended that Edwards face a formal censure vote. 
“After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from my re-election campaign,” the married Edwards said in a statement posted to X at 3:32 a.m. ET. “I will complete my current term. Serving Western North Carolina has been the honor of my life. Thank you for your trust, prayers, and support. God bless WNC and America.”
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After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to withdraw from my re-election campaign. I will complete my current term. Serving Western North Carolina has been the honor of my life. Thank you for your trust, prayers, and support. God bless WNC and America.
— Congressman Chuck Edwards (@RepChuckEdwards) <a href="https://x.com/RepChuckEdwards/status/2084905422482178109?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Edwards, a former McDonald&#8217;s franchise owner, began representing the western North Carolina district after he defeated the controversial former Rep. Madison Cawthorn in the 2022 GOP primary. Edwards will be <a href="https://foxbaltimore.com/news/nation-world/north-carolina-rep-edwards-withdraws-re-election-campaign-jamie-ager-house-ethics-committee-allegations-sexual-misconduct">replaced</a> by the district&#8217;s Republican Executive Committee. 
A <a href="https://ethics.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Committee-Report-8.3.26.pdf">report</a> from the House Ethics Committee released on Monday found that Edwards provided young women on his staff with “lavish and recurrent gifts,” commented on their appearance and dress, invited them on intimate dinners and vacations, and sent affectionate notes. 
“Representative Edwards also went beyond norms of professional behavior by giving both women lavish gifts. Both women received numerous gifts from Representative Edwards, including jewelry totaling over $1,000, designer purses, guns, shoes, flowers, a laptop and cell phone, KitchenAid mixer, robotic vacuum, vacations, tickets to performances, and one-on-one dinners,” the report found. 
The report said that Edwards skipped votes to help decorate one staffer’s Christmas tree and that “many relevant messages were omitted and/or seemingly deleted from his phone.”
The committee said it found no evidence that Edwards engaged in sexual activity with the women or suggested that they do so. 
A lawyer for Edwards issued a 15-page response noting the committee cleared the congressman of sexual misconduct allegations and accused the panel of reaching its conclusions through a short-circuited process. He also argued Edwards never got a chance to defend himself before the committee. 
Democrats are targeting Edwards&#8217; seat as a potential flip with nominee Jamie Ager significantly outraising the incumbent in a district traditionally safely Republican.

Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan And Amy Coney Barrett Testify To House And Senate Lawmakers On Budget Request

Republican Ends Re-Election Bid After Report On ‘Beyond Inappropriate’ Behavior

2026 Midterms

Chuck Edwards

ethics committee

House of Representatives

North Carolina

Sexual Harassment

The House Ethics Committee on Monday recommended censuring Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC), concluding there is “substantial reason to believe” he repeatedly subjected two female staffers to inappropriate and unprofessional treatment. 
<a href="https://ethics.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Committee-Report-8.3.26.pdf">The bipartisan committee</a> found Edwards violated House Rules related to sexual harassment and hostile workplaces after a months-long investigation, concluding that the two-term North Carolina Republican developed inappropriately close relationships with young female staffers that affected his official duties. 
According to the committee&#8217;s report, Edwards, who is married, showered the women with expensive gifts, repeatedly commented on their appearance, invited them to intimate dinners and vacations, sent notes expressing his affection, and frequently sought to spend time with them alone. 
Investigators said Edwards called the women “pretty” and “breathtaking,” commented on one staffer’s weight, and gave them gifts including jewelry worth more than $1,000, designer handbags, firearms, shoes, flowers, a laptop, a cellphone, a KitchenAid mixer, a robotic vacuum, vacations, and tickets to performances.  
The report also alleges Edwards skipped House votes on one occasion to visit a female staffer&#8217;s home, where he helped with yard work and decorated her Christmas tree. Investigators said he also wrote poems, paid for gambling outings, discussed visiting strip clubs in Washington, D.C., and planned weekend getaways with the women.
The committee said it found no evidence that Edwards engaged in sexual activity with either staffer. 
“A member of Congress should not single out a staffer and isolate them from other staff, make frequent comments regarding that person’s appearance and weight, send messages in the middle of the night, text staff deeply personal and seemingly romantic thoughts, intrude on personal occasions without invitation, pay for personal vacations, and spend thousands of dollars on gifts for staffers,” the report concluded. 
“That Representative Edwards did all these things to two young staffers, repeatedly over a sustained period, was beyond inappropriate,” it added. 
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<a href="https://ethics.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Appendix-B.pdf">In a 15-page response</a>, an attorney for Edwards said the committee cleared the congressman of sexual misconduct allegations and accused the panel of reaching its conclusions through a short-circuited process. The attorney also claimed the report, which recommended a formal censure vote, did not prove the two female staffers &#8220;expressed discomfort&#8221; and said the congressman was never able to challenge the facts of the allegations. A House censure is a symbolic public rebuke that does not remove a member from office or strip him of committee assignments.
The ethics probe arrives at a politically difficult time for Edwards, whose western North Carolina district has emerged as one of Democrats’ top pickup opportunities in the 2026 midterms.
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Democratic challenger Jamie Ager <a href="https://www.carolinajournal.com/ager-tops-edwards-in-2nd-quarter-fundraising/">outraised</a> Edwards by a wide margin during the latest fundraising quarter, bringing in roughly $1.4 million compared to Edwards’ approximately $155,000, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lawmaker-under-fire-for-gifting-handguns-to-staffers">The Daily Wire</a> previously reported. National election forecasters have also <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/house/race/483756">shifted</a> the district from “Likely Republican” to a more competitive “Lean Republican” as Democrats increase their investment in the race.

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GOP Congressman Faces Censure Over ‘Beyond Inappropriate’ Treatment Of Staffers

Congress

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Ethics investigation

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Politics

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U.S. House

Washington DC

A Crumbl Cookie employee in North Carolina was caught on video styling another worker’s hair behind the counter at the treat shop on Saturday.
The man who recorded the video arrived to pick up the famous cookies at the Midtown Crumbl Cookies in Charlotte where he witnessed what he described as “hair play,” <a href="https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/crumbl-midtown-closes-after-viral-video-of-employees/275-5732f4dc-a8af-4ee8-9579-05c3e0598849">according</a> to WCNC.
Before entering the store, the customer saw one woman playing with the other’s hair and decided to record them. When he was inside, he confronted the employees for their unsanitary behavior, The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/22/us-news/crumbl-cookies-employee-caught-styling-another-womans-hair-in-north-carolina-stores-kitchen/">reported</a>. In response, one employee said, “Do you see me cooking?”
The customer still attempted to order chocolate chip cookies, but there were no freshly baked cookies left.
The video quickly accumulated views, and another customer, who also saw the situation at the Crumbl location, saw the video. Both of the witnesses reached out to Crumbl’s corporate office to file separate complaints.
Crumbl — known for its rotating cookie flavors — said it&#8217;s aware of the video and that the employees’ behavior is “unacceptable.” The Crumbl location closed on Monday for cleaning, and it reopened on Tuesday.
“We are aware of the video circulating on social media showing inappropriate employee behavior at one of our stores,&#8221; Crumbl said. &#8220;The conduct shown is unacceptable and does not reflect Crumbl&#8217;s standards. Upon learning of the incident, we immediately closed the store, discarded all dough on site, brought in a professional cleaning crew, and took appropriate action with the employees involved.&#8221;
&#8220;We hold every location to strict health and safety policies, and we take violations seriously when they occur,&#8221; the company added.
Crumbl confirmed that the two employees who were involved with the “hair play” are no longer working for the company.

Crumbl Cookies Employee’s Unsanitary Behind-The-Counter Activity Caught On Camera

crumbl

A North Carolina man is accused of torturing his 19-year-old girlfriend for months before she was found dead inside an apartment, according to court documents.  
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police responded to a 911 call on May 1 after Thomaz Kenon Hamilton, 24, reported that his girlfriend, Isabella Mary Alexandria Stroupe, was unresponsive, <a href="https://fox11online.com/news/nation-world/man-faces-murder-rape-charges-after-19-year-old-girlfriend-allegedly-tortured-report-torture-charlotte-north-carolina-death-homicide-investigation-killed-murdered-raped-sex-sexual-assault-blood-true-crime">according</a> to Fox 11 News. 
Officers found Stroupe dead inside an apartment in east Charlotte.  <a href="https://www.wbtv.com/2026/05/06/19-year-old-woman-found-dead-charlotte-apartment-was-tortured-months-affidavit-says/">According</a> to an affidavit cited by WBTV, she was wearing “minimal clothing” and was allegedly tied to a bed with a tow strap.
Investigators said Stroupe suffered multiple traumatic injuries, including broken and fractured bones as well as stab wounds. Her death was ruled a homicide. 
Hamilton, who authorities said was dating and living with Stroupe, allegedly told investigators they had been having sex when she suffered a heart attack. Investigators said the evidence was inconsistent with that account. 
Police said they recovered what appeared to be a bloodstained knife wrapped in cellophane, along with a sword, a baseball bat, multiple cell phones, clothing with possible blood, and a bloodstained mattress. 
According to the affidavit, investigators concluded that “Stroupe was being tortured over a period of several months and that Stroupe would have been physically unable to provide consent for vaginal sexual intercourse.”
Police arrested Hamilton on May 5 and charged him with first-degree murder and rape in connection with Stroupe’s death, <a href="https://www.charlottenc.gov/cmpd/News-Information/Newsroom/New-page-124">according</a> to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. 
Stroupe’s family later created a<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-give-isabella-a-proper-goodbye"> GoFundMe</a> to help cover funeral expenses, saying her death “has left a huge hole in our lives.” 
“I loved Isabella deeply. She was a total bookworm, always reading and sharing her favorite stories with me,” Stroupe&#8217;s sister said. “She loved fan fiction and My Little Pony, and her creativity brought so much joy to our family. Remembering her passion for books and the happiness she brought to those around her makes this loss even harder.”

Police Say Teen Was Tortured For Months Before Death

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Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) is facing fresh scrutiny after a report revealed he gifted personalized handguns to two women who worked in his congressional office.
According to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/20/chuck-edwards-ethics-guns-female-staff">Axios</a>, Edwards gave one staffer a blue handgun engraved with her name and another a pink handgun while they were employed in his office in 2024. The gifts are the latest in a series of alleged personal gestures — including handwritten letters, poems, flowers, casino trips, personalized gifts, and a surprise birthday performance — that have become central to the ethics investigation.
Edwards acknowledged providing firearms to some staff members but denied any wrongdoing. &#8220;I have taught several staff members to shoot and handle weapons, and in some cases, I provided them with their own,&#8221; Edwards told Axios. &#8220;Before being elected to Congress, I was a licensed firearm dealer. I&#8217;m a strong believer in teaching men and women about firearm safety and self-defense.&#8221;
One former staffer&#8217;s attorney said her client &#8220;only awkwardly accepted the gift for fear of reprisal against her employment&#8221; before later legally disposing of the firearm. According to Axios, three sources familiar with Edwards&#8217; office said they had never seen him give firearms to other staff members or teach other employees how to handle weapons, raising further questions about whether the congressman singled out the two women.
The handgun gifts are the latest allegations to emerge against Edwards&#8217; who is already under House Ethics Committee investigation over allegations that he created a hostile work environment for young female staffers.
Axios <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/04/chuck-edwards-letter-house-ethics">previously reported</a> Edwards, who has been married since 1980, allegedly wrote one staffer a three-page handwritten letter telling her she had &#8220;written a complex chapter in my heart,&#8221; read an emotional poem to her during a farewell event, gave her personalized gifts, left during the workday to visit her after she was hospitalized with appendicitis, arranged a surprise performance for her birthday, and later vacationed with her in Las Vegas after she left his office, where flowers were reportedly waiting in her hotel room. Edwards has denied misconduct related to those allegations.
The ethics probe arrives at a politically difficult time for the North Carolina Republican, whose western North Carolina district has emerged as one of Democrats&#8217; top pickup opportunities in the 2026 midterms.
Democratic challenger Jamie Ager <a href="https://www.carolinajournal.com/ager-tops-edwards-in-2nd-quarter-fundraising/">dramatically outraised</a> Edwards during the latest fundraising quarter, bringing in roughly $1.4 million compared to Edwards&#8217; approximately $155,000. National election forecasters have also <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/house/race/483756">shifted</a> the district from &#8220;Likely Republican&#8221; to a more competitive “Lean Republican” as Democrats increase their investment in the race.
The allegations against Edwards also come amid heightened scrutiny of lawmakers&#8217; relationships with staff following recent scandals involving <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/swalwell-under-federal-investigation-for-alleged-sexual-assault?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Swalwell+Under+Federal+Investigation+For+Alleged+Sexual+Assault">former Rep. Eric Swalwell</a> (D-CA) and new allegations surrounding <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-presidential-hopeful-swalwell-bff-accused-of-having-sex-with-staffers">Sen. Ruben Gallego</a> (D-AZ), placing congressional workplace conduct under renewed attention.
The House Ethics Committee has not publicly indicated when its investigation into Edwards will conclude.

Republican House Members Attend Party Conference Meeting

Lawmaker Under Fire For Gifting Handguns To Staffers

House Republicans

Before launching his latest bid for Senate, Democrat Roy Cooper implemented policies as North Carolina&#8217;s governor that created a sanctuary state and shielded some bad hombres from federal immigration authorities.
As governor, Cooper <a href="https://webservices.ncleg.gov/ViewBillDocument/2021/55334/0/S101-BILL-NBC-9598" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vetoed</a> a bill in 2022 that would&#8217;ve required local police to make an effort to determine the immigration status of inmates being held in their jails, and to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of their findings.
At the time, the Democratic politician said the proposed legislation was &#8220;only about scoring political points and using fear to divide North Carolinians.&#8221; He went on to claim it could hurt local law enforcement&#8217;s &#8220;ability to protect their counties.&#8221;
In 2019, Cooper vetoed a similar bill to force local police to hold detainees for ICE to pick them up in compliance with federal immigration detainers.
After Cooper&#8217;s vetoes, several illegal immigrant criminals were shielded from ICE.
<div id="attachment_1132563" style="width: 240px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1132563" class="wp-image-1132563 size-medium" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/260120charlotte_JulioCesarXocopVicente-230x300.jpg" alt="" width="230" height="300" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/260120charlotte_JulioCesarXocopVicente-230x300.jpg 230w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/260120charlotte_JulioCesarXocopVicente.jpg 300w" sizes=" (max-width: 230px) 100vw, 230px" />Julio Cesar Xocop-Vicente (ICE)</div>
Local authorities allowed Guatemalan national Julio Cesar Xocop-Vicente to walk free after he was convicted in 2023 for driving under the influence and without a license, and had a criminal record that includes a previous arrest for assault on a female, <a href="https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/operation-charlottes-web-ice-arrests-criminal-illegal-alien-who-killed-15-year-old" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to ICE.
Xocop-Vicente went on to kill 15-year-old Amber Paris after speeding through a stop sign in a Charlotte neighborhood on November 24, 2025, the agency said in January after finally catching up to the suspect who had been let go for a second time.
Cooper was not serving as governor when the Guatemalan man was released for the second time.
<div id="attachment_1132557" style="width: 188px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1132557" class="size-full wp-image-1132557" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/Untitled-design-2026-07-10T120906.719.jpg" alt="" width="178" height="132" />Claudy Ngoy (DHS)</div>
Under Cooper&#8217;s leadership, Claudy Ngoy, of the Democratic Republic of Congo, also had multiple releases despite having a rap sheet.
Authorities charged the illegal immigrant in August 2020 with second-degree trespass, intoxicated and disruptive, and resisting a public officer, but the charges were subsequently dropped, according to court records.
Ngoy was charged with trespassing in December 2020 and a misdemeanor probation violation.
He was then caught for allegedly trespassing again in July 2021, but the charge was dismissed.
In August 2021, Ngoy was charged with possession of a controlled substance on prison or jail premises, which was ultimately dismissed by the district attorney.
Ngoy turned up on local law enforcement&#8217;s radar again in April 2023 for alleged breaking and entering, larceny, and resisting a public officer, according to court records. The charges for larceny and resisting an officer were dismissed, while he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge for breaking and entering.
Still, he was released onto the streets again, according to court records.
In July 2024, Ngoy was charged with trespassing and sentenced to one day behind bars, according to court records.
Ngoy allegedly assaulted a woman and was hit with another trespassing charge in August 2024, for which he received a 35-day sentence, per court records.
Authorities hit Ngoy with an indictment for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill in January 2025, after Cooper left office. He was released the next month and <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2026/02/23/wowdhsgov-over-weekend-ice-arrests-pedophiles-rapists-violent-assailants-and-other" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ICE</a> was able to quickly nab him.
ICE issued a detainer with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff&#8217;s Office in May 2019 for the arrest of Honduran national Luis Analberto Pineda-Anchecta after he was charged locally for domestic assault, according to The Charlotte Observer. Pineda-Anchecta, who was previously deported in 2006 after entering the country illegally, was released on bond.
Four days later, he allegedly kidnapped his ex-girlfriend, wrapping a plastic rope around her neck and driving her to a fishing hole where he planned to kill her, The Charlotte Observer reported. During the incident, he allegedly told her &#8220;I love you and I’m going to kill you.”
Days later, Pineda-Anchecta was arrested after an hours-long standoff with local police, according to WBTV. ICE filed a detainer in the case, but the request was reportedly ignored by the Mecklenburg County Sheriff&#8217;s Office.
ICE tracked him down the next day and took him into custody while he was sitting in a vehicle that had a loaded firearm and ammunition inside, according to The Charlotte Observer.
Cooper&#8217;s Senate campaign didn&#8217;t respond to a request for comment.

Roy Cooper runs for US Senate in North Carolina

Dem Senate Hopeful Vetoed ICE Cooperation, And These Migrant Criminals Took Advantage

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Roy Cooper

Senate

A heavily armed man was arrested earlier this week outside a North Carolina church after authorities found an arsenal of weapons, including two flamethrowers, in his truck. 
On Sunday morning during a service, a caller reported that an armed man wearing camouflage clothing was sitting in his truck in the parking lot of Wesley Memorial Methodist Church. Authorities responded to the call and arrested 44-year-old William S. Milliken III, charging him with possession of a weapon of mass destruction, impersonation of a law enforcement officer, and possession of a controlled substance, <a href="https://www.highpointnc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/30161/Officers-Arrest-Armed-Man-in-Church-Parking-Lot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the High Point Police Department.
Milliken was wearing body armor during his arrest and was disarmed by officers. He was taken into custody without incident and is currently being held at Guilford County Jail.
After Milliken’s arrest, the officers searched his truck and discovered several weapons, including a CO2-powered launcher made to resemble a handgun, two flamethrowers, two crossbows, more than 500 rounds of ammunition, rolls of black duct tape, three knives, and Oxycodone pills, according to police.
WFMY <a href="https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/local/man-with-flamethrowers-body-armor-500-rounds-ammo-arrested-outside-high-point-church/83-9a624fdd-9c94-4376-a36a-4534b90bd514">reported</a> that court documents revealed Milliken had a history of mental health issues. He possessed GPS coordinates, body armor, radios with police scanners, handcuff keys, an enlarged map of North Carolina, and a notebook with addresses of other churches, schools, and public buildings.
“Thanks to the quick action of our officers, a man armed with weapons was taken into custody before anyone was hurt,” Chief Curtis Cheeks III said. “The officers prevented a potentially dangerous situation from escalating and helped ensure everyone attending church services could return home safely.
“We also want to thank the community members who recognized a potential danger and had the courage to speak up. As we work to keep High Point safe, it is crucial that we continue to look out for each other,” Cheeks said.
Mayor Cyril Jefferson of High Point also <a href="https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/high-point/man-accused-of-bringing-flamethrower-to-high-point-church-had-notebook-with-addresses-of-churches-schools-mayor-says/">spoke</a> out about the incident.
 “Most importantly, no one was hurt,” Jefferson said. “Hundreds of people who had gathered to worship were able to return home safely to their families.”

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Police Stop Man With Flamethrowers Outside Church Service

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Crime

Deadly weapons

U.S.

Inmates overpowered correctional officers and seized control of a North Carolina jail Monday morning, holding two guards hostage for hours before state and federal law enforcement retook the facility in a dramatic operation that underscored growing concerns about security and staffing.
The incident began around 5 a.m. at the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center in Windsor, where 88 incarcerated people and just three correctional officers were inside the 90-bed facility when inmates assaulted staff and took control of portions of the jail.
According to Bertie County Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin, one correctional officer escaped while two others were taken hostage. Local deputies responded within minutes but were unable to enter the locked facility, forcing authorities to establish a perimeter as tactical teams and negotiators from dozens of local, state, and federal agencies converged on the jail.
Negotiations eventually secured the release of the two hostage correctional officers and most of the inmates before tactical teams entered the building. By approximately 2 p.m., agents from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the FBI had regained full control of the facility.
Ruffin said in a <a href="https://www.wcnc.com/video/news/regional/ncsbi-to-investigate-inmate-takeover-of-nc-jail-bertie-county-sheriff/275-88b0aa3b-d598-42b7-9430-b96d8996a10b">press conference </a>the incident ended with &#8220;minimal injuries,&#8221; and authorities confirmed all correctional officers and inmates were accounted for. The injured guards received medical treatment, while inmates were transferred to secure detention facilities elsewhere in the state.
The sheriff cautioned that investigators are only beginning to determine exactly how the takeover unfolded.
&#8220;Now that the incident has concluded, the investigation into what occurred and how it happened is just beginning,&#8221; Ruffin said during the press conference. He added that investigators from both the SBI and the FBI will conduct interviews in the coming days and promised the public continued updates as the investigation progresses.
One question likely to receive significant scrutiny is staffing. At the time of the takeover, three correctional officers were supervising 88 inmates, including detainees facing charges ranging from low-level offenses to murder.
Ruffin declined to speculate on whether the staffing level complied with jail policy, noting that the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center operates independently of both the Bertie County and Martin County Sheriff&#8217;s Offices under a regional jail board.
&#8220;I&#8217;m not for sure about the officer-to-inmate ratio, and so I&#8217;m not sure if that is a common ratio or not,&#8221; Ruffin said. &#8220;Again, we will get those answers in the coming days and relate it to the public.&#8221;
Authorities have not yet said what sparked the uprising or whether investigators believe inmates planned the takeover in advance.
The operation drew assistance from the FBI, the SBI, State Highway Patrol, the Department of Adult Correction, Alcohol Law Enforcement, multiple SWAT teams, bomb squad personnel, and sheriff&#8217;s offices across eastern North Carolina.
North Carolina Democratic Gov. Josh Stein called for those responsible to be &#8220;held accountable for this horrifying action&#8221; while urging a review of jail security. 
&#8220;We also must do everything in our power to ensure this doesn&#8217;t happen again,&#8221; Stein <a href="https://x.com/NC_Governor/status/2071663240971538609">said</a>. 
The Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center remains closed while investigators assess the damage inside the facility and continue what officials say could be a days-long investigation.

Jail

Inmates Take Over Jail, Hold Guards Hostage For Hours

The man accused of brutally murdering a young Ukrainian refugee won&#8217;t face trial anytime soon, after a federal judge ruled that he&#8217;s <a href="https://www.wral.com/news/local/decarlos-brown-mental-competency-trial-june-2026/">too mentally unfit</a> to stand in a courtroom.
DeCarlos Brown Jr., 34, was found incompetent to stand trial Tuesday for the August 22, 2025, murder of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old who fled Russian bombs only to be stabbed from behind while listening to music on Charlotte&#8217;s Blue Line light rail.
She never saw it coming.
Zarutska — a college-educated artist, aspiring veterinary assistant, and devoted daughter — had <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/09/us/decarlos-brown-jr-charlotte-train-stabbing">survived</a> two years of war and built a quiet, hopeful life in North Carolina. She walked neighbors&#8217; dogs, studied English, and worked at a pizzeria. She was thriving. Then Brown allegedly plunged a pocketknife into her neck and walked away, blood dripping from the blade.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell ruled Brown cannot understand the charges against him and is unable to assist his own defense. Brown&#8217;s behavior in court on Tuesday did little to dispute the claim — he repeatedly interrupted proceedings with unhinged outbursts. His team filed a motion saying he “experiences delusions that center around his belief that he was exposed to a material that controls his every movement.&#8221;
Brown will be hospitalized for up to four months. If doctors restore his competency, he&#8217;ll finally face trial — and potentially the death penalty.
This is exactly the kind of case that makes ordinary Americans furious with the insanity defense.
Brown has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fatal-charlotte-stabbing-highlights-the-failure-of-racial-equity-policies">14 prior arrests</a>. He did five years for armed robbery. Law enforcement knew he was unwell — he called 911 claiming a government implant was controlling his body, and officers sent him home with a misdemeanor. His family begged for help. The system shrugged.
Now, after an innocent woman is murdered in cold blood — on camera, in front of passengers — the legal machinery grinds to a halt over whether the accused killer truly understood what he was doing. Experts will battle over his mental state ten months after the fact. A jury may never hear the case.
Critics of the insanity defense have long warned of exactly this: dangerous individuals cycling through a system that prioritizes their diagnosis over their victims&#8217; deaths. Four states have abolished the defense entirely for this reason.
Zarutska&#8217;s family is holding firm: &#8220;We have confidence his capacity will be restored so he can stand trial for what he did to Iryna.&#8221;
So does prosecutor Russ Ferguson. &#8220;Our number one goal is justice for Iryna Zarutska,&#8221; he said. &#8220;That&#8217;s what&#8217;s on our minds and our hearts every day.&#8221;
She deserves nothing less.

Memorial of the 23 years old Ukrainian Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte

Iryna Zarutska’s Accused Killer Won’t Be Going To Trial Anytime Soon

Courts

Criminal Justice

Insanity

Iryna Zarutska

Clayton High School administration in North Carolina intervened as the school&#8217;s valedictorian went off-script during the graduation ceremony’s welcome speech on May 28.
High schooler Leen Hijaz, a Muslim student from Johnston County, North Carolina, abandoned her pre-approved speech and instead ranted about ICE and voiced her support for Palestine. 
“Before I leave the stage, I have one last thing to say. Every single person here has a voice, and we are privileged to have the freedom to use it when so many people around the world are struggling and suffering to be heard,” Hijaz said. 
“Whether it’s the millions suffering in Palestine, Sudan, Congo, Afghanistan and so many other countries around the world, or the families being torn apart by ICE. These are not distant issues,” Hijaz said. “They are happening right now as I speak.”
A video of the graduation ceremony spread on social media.
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“My point is, we’re not given a voice to stay silent,” Hijaz said to cheers from some people in the crowd. The video also shows other graduates behind her look at each other in confusion as they realized Hijaz was going off-script. The school’s principal, Melissa Hubbard, then rushed onto the stage and stopped her from continuing her impromptu political speech. 
A day after the graduation, Hijaz took to <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@leenhijaz_/video/7645327665137798414?_r=1&amp;_t=ZT-96lijkzSKQ1">TikTok</a> complaining about her diploma being withheld and her experience as a Muslim-Arab in Johnston County, North Carolina. 
“If I submitted [the speech] to the school they would have disapproved it immediately because of how racist they are,” Hijaz said. “I really think if you think I did something wrong then there’s something wrong with you.” 
Johnston County Public Schools confirmed that Hijaz has been awarded her diploma. 
&#8220;School administrators intervened in order to maintain the integrity and focus of the program in real time,” school leadership <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/06/02/valedictorian-graduation-speech-interrupted-clayton-north-carolina/90370678007/">said</a> in a statement to USA TODAY. “This action was not about limiting a student’s voice, but about ensuring that a school-sponsored event remained consistent with its intended purpose.&#8221;

Graduation Ceremony

Valedictorian Uses Graduation To Attack ICE And Israel. It Doesn’t End Well.

Anti-ICE

High School

Muslim

A North Carolina school district faces a Trump administration investigation after high school girls accused school officials of doing nothing after they complained about a transgender-identifying male invading their personal spaces. 
The Department of Education told Cabarrus County Schools on Monday that it had opened a Title IX investigation over complaints that biological male students had been allowed to access girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms. Students in the district for months have lambasted school officials for not keeping the spaces separated by sex. 
“The Complainants alleged that the District permits male students to access sex-segregated restrooms and locker rooms for female students and has failed to respond as required to reports of female students being sexually harassed by male students in school restrooms or locker rooms,” the Education Department wrote in a letter obtained by The Daily Wire. 
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Trista Ruck, a student at Cox Mill High School, said that school officials dismissed her concerns about feeling uncomfortable with a male using the women’s bathroom. She said the principal told students the issue was &#8220;too political to address.&#8221;
“Our school is supposed to make every student safe, but we get ostracized when we discuss this with adults who are supposed to ensure the safety and comfortability at school,” she said in April. “Personally, I try to avoid the restrooms at all costs, but I do use these facilities at times when I really have to.”
The Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights will probe whether the district’s policies discriminate based on sex by denying female students access to private intimate spaces. 
To comply with the investigation, the department asked the district to provide documents on its policies related to “gender identity” and any complaints it received from girls about males in their spaces. 
School officials downplayed concerns from parents and students and previously <a href="https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/verify/viral-claim-that-boy-tried-to-watch-young-girl-in-school-restroom-is-false-cabarrus-county-school-district-says/275-e53d0323-7532-4438-901b-79ca4c0ceaec">said</a> it is constrained by laws, stating that “schools may not discriminate against students by denying them access to the bathroom corresponding to their gender identity.”
The Education Department investigation comes after Rep. Addison McDowell (R-NC) wrote a letter on May 7 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/congressman-urges-trump-admin-to-intervene-after-high-school-girls-say-spaces-invaded-by-boy">urging action</a> against the district. 
“If my daughters were speaking up, I would want leaders in the community to act. It took a lot of courage for these girls to stand up and speak out,&#8221; McDowell told The Daily Wire. &#8220;There appears to have been confusion at the local level about how Title IX protections apply to girls in our schools. I look forward to the Department providing clarity and restoring common sense.&#8221;
The Trump administration said the investigation was part of its efforts to recognize June as “Title IX Month.” 
“Today’s investigation demonstrates that the Trump Administration will not stop pursuing Districts that reportedly subject our women and girls to egregious violations of their privacy and safety,” said Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey. “Under the Trump Administration, no woman or girl will have to fight alone to secure her basic protections, and we will not relent until Title IX is restored to the fullest extent of the law.”

Public shower room with shower cabins. A large, empty public shower room with bright walls. Toilet and locker room of a swimming pool, sports club and fitness center, school, college, dorm or hostel. The concept of hygiene and healthy lifestyle.

Trump Admin Steps In After Female Students Raise Alarm Over School’s Trans Policy

Female Students Raised Alarm Over School's Trans Policy. Trump Admin Now Taking Action.

Civil Rights

Department of Education

Title IX

Transgender

A Republican congressman is pushing the Trump administration to investigate a North Carolina high school after female students complained that a biological male has been using the women&#8217;s locker room, according to a letter first obtained by The Daily Wire. 
Rep. Addison McDowell wrote a <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/1036268220/Title-IX-Letter-to-OCR">letter</a> on Thursday calling on the Education Department to investigate Cox Mill High School in Cabarrus County for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/principal-tells-girls-to-go-somewhere-else-if-theyre-uncomfortable-with-boys-in-their-bathrooms">reportedly allowing</a> a boy to access intimate female spaces. He urged Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey to review a parental complaint filed on April 17 claiming the school violated a female student&#8217;s Title IX privacy rights. 
“I was profoundly concerned to learn of reports that the school is allowing biologically male students to enter women’s restrooms and locker room facilities on school property,” McDowell wrote. “As a father of three girls and one on the way, and the Representative for the Sixth Congressional District of North Carolina, I remain committed to working to protect women and girls and preserving their civil rights for generations to come.”
The Trump administration has interpreted Title IX as protecting the right of girls to access private, single-sex spaces such as bathrooms and locker rooms. 
In recent months, students and parents have asked the Cabarrus County School Board to adopt policies ensuring female-only spaces at the high school. School officials have downplayed concerns from parents, saying some claims about incidents involving the transgender student are false. 
The district previously <a href="https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/verify/viral-claim-that-boy-tried-to-watch-young-girl-in-school-restroom-is-false-cabarrus-county-school-district-says">said</a> it was constrained by a law that mandates “schools may not discriminate against students by denying them access to the bathroom corresponding to their gender identity.”
McDowell said the district must step up to ensure students&#8217; privacy. 
“It is the bare minimum for schools to ensure a safe learning environment, and schools owe students’ parents a guarantee that the school is taking every available measure to protect the health and safety of kids,” he said. “The policy that the school district has adopted is in direct opposition to these principles.”
On Tuesday, the organization NC Values <a href="https://x.com/NCValues/status/2051752454035824984" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> a video featuring Trista Ruck, a junior at Cox Mill High School, who said she had seen a male in the girls&#8217; bathroom. 
&#8220;I encountered a male in the female restroom. I walked straight to the restroom, did my business, and then whenever I went to go wash my hands, he walked in,&#8221; she said. &#8220;He then just looked at me, and then went about his business, but honestly, I felt uncomfortable. Why would I want someone who has different parts than me in the same bathroom as me?&#8221;

Rep.-elect Addison McDowell

Congressman Urges Trump Admin To Intervene After High School Girls Say Spaces Invaded By Boy

Trump Administration

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