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McCrory emails reveal HB2 conversations

RALEIGH — Channel 9 obtained thousands of pages of emails related to House Bill 2 from former Gov. Pat McCrory's office.

Eyewitness News anchor Scott Wickersham explained how McCrory tried to manage his message from the beginning.

McCrory responded to an email from councilmen Ed Driggs and Kenny Smith warning the council against passing the ordinance on the night before the Charlotte City Council approved its non-discrimination ordinance in February 2016.

McCrory said in the email, which was later forwarded to all of the council, that the ordinance would most likely cause immediate state legislative intervention and would put unneeded strain on the relationship between the city of Charlotte and the state of North Carolina.

After HB2 was in place, the governor was defensive of the law, calling on his staff to keep news organizations balanced, and criticizing negative stories.

The governor emailed his communications director when a CNN article reported the group Anonymous was targeting North Carolina over HB2.

"We need to respond to CNN that these terrorist groups do not merit publishing agenda," the email said.

McCrory sent a note to his communications director that said “B.S.” in response to a Washington Post article that claimed HB2 kept backfiring on the governor.

McCrory's office also received hundreds of messages of support, including several from residents offering prayers and kind thoughts.

“I apologize for sad people that are tearing HB2 apart and trying to make you look bad,” one person wrote to McCrory. “I know your intentions were good concerning that issue.”

The governor often made it a point to respond personally or have his office respond to messages of support.

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