NCDP calls on Speaker Moore to break his silence and disavow the extremist caucus growing in his party.
Every day there seems to be a new tie between North Carolina Republicans in the General Assembly and the violent insurrection at the Capitol on January 6th. Earlier this week, Republicans picked a January 6th capitol insurrection attendee, Donnie Loftis, to fill the term of a late Gaston County lawmaker. We have also learned that two other members of Moore’s Republican Caucus, Mike Clampitt of Bryson City and Keith Kidwell of Beaufort County, have been members of the Oath Keepers, a right-wing anti-government extremist militant group that coordinated and helped fund violent protestor’s participation in the attack on the U.S. Capitol.
When Tim Moore was asked about his members’ violent ties, a spokesperson declined to comment.
“North Carolina voters, the North Carolina Democratic Party, and reporters have all asked House Speaker Tim Moore to condemn his members’ affiliation to this extremist militant group. Yet, Moore has chosen time and again to remain silent,” said NCDP Executive Director Meredith Cuomo. “So let me make this very clear. Unless Moore condemns his members’ role in this violent organization, North Carolina voters will have no choice but to assume that he supports them and their group’s actions. Moore and the Republicans’ silence undermines our democracy and shows their undying desire to please a disgraced past president.”
Learn more about the Republican caucus members that Tim Moore and Republicans can’t seem to stand up to:
- So far 22 members of the Oath Keepers, a group whose membership includes Reps. Kidwell and Clampitt, have been charged in connection to the Jan. 6 insurrection.
- Rep. Kidwell serves as chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, which spread dangerous conspiracy theories of voter fraud in the 2020 election.
- Rep. Clampitt said last week he stands by his Oath Keepers affiliation.
- Donnie Loftis was “close enough to the Capitol breach to get hit repeatedly with tear gas.”