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Republican leader in Cabarrus County accused of mocking Kavanaugh accuser

By Kristin Leigh
By Kristin Leigh

CABARRUS, COUNTY, N.C. — A North Carolina Republican leader in Cabarrus County is accused of mocking Dr. Christine Blasey Ford in a photo he shared on his Facebook page.

Cabarrus County GOP Chairman Lanny Lancaster made national headlines for sharing a picture making the rounds on social media, which falsely claims to be a photo of Ford, the woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault.

A Facebook user uploaded the photo and incorrectly posted, "This was Christine Blasey Ford in 1982."

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Lancaster then shared the photo and wrote, "This is the alleged assault victim. Wow."

Lancaster talked to Eyewitness News anchor Kristin Leigh by phone Friday.

"We are not taking any interviews or making any comments," Lancaster said. "That was a fake photo that was accidentally shared. It was removed immediately. We have no comment."

Mike Anderson, who lost as a Republican in this year’s primary race for the North Carolina House of Representatives, said he was outraged to see the comment from a leader of his own party.

"With his simple comments to the image that he posted, he's implying that she wasn't even good looking enough to be sexually assaulted," Anderson said. "It's not even real. This man didn't even do his homework.

"He shared this post and didn't even check out to see the validity of it.”

Anderson is calling for leadership change in Cabarrus County.

"We are not being a shining light to others if we're demeaning people like this," Anderson said.

Jeff Hauser, communications director for the North Carolina Republican Party, said the NCGOP had "no comment" about Lancaster's post.

"I'm sure after the elections they'll probably take a close look at Cabarrus County at the leadership here," Anderson said. "We're going to change this."

Lancaster also received backlash from Democratic opponents.

Frank McNeill, the Democratic congressional candidate running against U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson in North Carolina's 8th District, which includes Cabarrus County, took a screenshot of the post in a newsletter to his constituents this week.

"The Republicans' assault on the safety and dignity of American women continues to grow more personal and ugly," McNeill said in Tuesday night's newsletter. "Now Republican attacks on Dr. Blasey Ford are coming from inside our own 8th District.

"Cabarrus County Republican Chair Lanny Lancaster posted this nastiness on Facebook just last night.”

Marc O'Hara, McNeill's campaign manager, criticized Lancaster for "shaming a young woman by suggesting she's too unattractive to be sexually assaulted."

"Lanny Lancaster is Congressman Hudson's own county chair," McNeill said. "Hudson should call on Lancaster to resign now, or his silence sends a message to every woman that Lancaster's behavior is fine by him."

Hudson, who is pictured with Lancaster in the chairman's personal Facebook page had not returned Channel 9's request for comment as of Friday afternoon.

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