Revolt grows as GOP Senate hopeful championed convicted child sex offender for party roles

North Carolina GOP Senate candidate Michael Whatley has tried to paint his Democratic opponent, former Gov. Roy Cooper, as soft on crime — but a new report indicates Whatley himself forgave a sex offender accused of sexually assaulting teenagers in one of his hires for a party office.

According to the Asheville Watchdog, "Whatley, former chairman of the state and national Republican Party, is at the center of the spreading revolt after championing the rise to power of Harvey L. West Jr....