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Sex offender gives prayer at NC GOP rally
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
A convicted sex offender gave the opening prayer at a rally for GOP nominee Michael Whatley.
The pastor's record raises vetting questions for a Senate campaign.
Background
The prayer was delivered at a recent campaign stop for Michael Whatley, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in North Carolina. The man who led it is a registered sex offender, according to AP reporting. The story centers on how a person with that record came to appear at a campaign event.
How it unfolded
- Mar 13, 2026Michael Whatley addressed a crowd in Rocky Mount, N.C., before Vice President JD Vance spoke.
- Sep 9, 2026Whatley greeted delegates as he took the stage at the Republican convention in Dallas.
- Sep 11, 2026AP reported that a convicted sex offender offered the opening prayer at a rally for Whatley in North Carolina.