Convicted sex offender offered opening prayer at rally for GOP Senate nominee in North Carolina
A pastor who is a registered sex offender delivered an opening prayer at a Republican campaign rally for Michael Whatley, the Republican nominee for Senate in North Carolina. The prayer requested God to uphold "integrity and honesty" and to address wrongdoings in the conservative movement. Pastor Daimon L. King, 60, was charged with statutory rape and indecent liberties with a 15-year-old student 30 years ago and served five years in prison.
King, who leads the New Beginnings Celebration church in New Bern, was present at the rally with former Trump administration official Dr. Mehmet Oz. Whatley, who previously served as chairman of the North Carolina GOP and led the Republican National Committee, denied knowledge of King's involvement and stated the event was not organized by his campaign.
Democrats have seized on this incident, highlighting Whatley's association with another convicted sex offender, former GOP official Harvey L. West Jr., in an attempt to undermine his campaign.
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