Lt. Gov. Forest drops suit over pandemic shutdown orders
After a judge ruled against Lt. Gov. Dan Forest this week in his suit against Gov. Roy Cooper, his opponent in the November election, Forest has decided against an appeal.
Posted — UpdatedAttorney General Josh Stein announced the end to the case on Twitter.
"While Dan Forest makes reckless decisions that endanger North Carolinians in an effort to prop up his campaign, Governor Cooper will continue to do what is right for their health and safety," Cooper campaign spokeswoman Liz Doherty said in a statement.
Forest sued Cooper last month, arguing that the governor needed to obtain consent from the Council of State, a group of 10 statewide elected officials that includes both Cooper and Forest, before issuing statewide emergency orders shutting down bars, gyms, entertainment venues and other businesses for months during the pandemic.
Forest and other Republican leaders have questioned many of Cooper's actions during the pandemic and have pressed that he roll back his shutdown orders and allow businesses to reopen under restrictions designed to keep workers and customers safe.
Cooper began to ease the state-mandated restrictions in May, but he has twice extended "Phase 2" of the state's three-part plan to reopen businesses and resume social activities during the pandemic. The latest extension was made last week and runs through Sept. 11.
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