A registered sex offender, Daimon L. King, led the opening prayer at an Aug. 28 rally for North Carolina GOP Senate candidate Michael Whatley, The Associated Press reports. King, who has two convictions involving minors and is a lifetime-registered sex offender, asked for "integrity and honesty" and was seen in campaign video. The Whatley campaign says it did not invite King and says the Craven County GOP hosted the event. The incident comes as Whatley faces Democrat Roy Cooper in a high-profile Senate race where Democrats have already spent millions on related ads.
Registered Sex Offender Led 'Integrity and Honesty' Prayer at Whatley GOP Rally; Campaign Says It Was Not Involved
Screenshot via Michael Whatley on X
A registered sex offender who has served prison time for convictions involving minors delivered the opening prayer at a Aug. 28 rally featuring North Carolina Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley, The Associated Press reported.
Pastor Daimon L. King, 60, led the prayer at the Craven County Republican Party headquarters in New Bern, asking God to bring "integrity and honesty" to those in attendance and to correct wrongs he said were being "hammered down on the conservative movement." Video posted by the Whatley campaign showed King standing behind the speakers and at one point giving two thumbs up, the AP noted.
Dr. Mehmet Oz was also among the speakers at the event, according to the AP. The Whatley campaign said the candidate did not know King and denied arranging his presence.
Campaign Response
Campaign spokesman D.J. Griffin told the AP the event "was NOT planned nor organized by the Whatley campaign nor did the campaign invite any of the guests," adding that King was "invited by the hosts," the Craven County Republican Party. The local party did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Background On Daimon L. King
King leads New Beginnings Celebration Church in New Bern and has previously served as a Craven County GOP precinct chairman. He was convicted in 1998 on charges of statutory rape and indecent liberties involving a 15-year-old student while he worked as a high school marching band assistant; he served nearly five years in prison. In 2010, King pleaded guilty to having sex with an underage female relative and served nearly three more years behind bars. He is required to register as a sex offender for life.
Political Context
The revelation arrives as Whatley faces former North Carolina governor Roy Cooper (D) in a closely watched Senate race. Democrats have already spent more than $2.3 million on advertisements highlighting Whatley's ties to Harvey L. West Jr., a former state GOP official convicted of five counts of indecent liberties with a child.
The original report ran on Mediaite and cited The Associated Press. This development is likely to be used by both parties as the campaign continues to highlight questions about candidate associations and vetting at local events.
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