'A Wave Of Silence': North Carolina's GOP Chairman Describes Tensions Around His Tenure

(Ed.: This story was updated Tuesday morning with a response from the NCGOP.)

Earlier this month, news broke of some intense disagreements brewing among the leadership in the North Carolina Republican Party.

Last week, the GOP's central committee held a vote of “no confidence” in its chairman, Hasan Harnett, the first step in removing him from the post.

Republican insiders say he violated party rules. But in emails leaked earlier this month, Harnett – who is black – appeared to suggest the vote was racially motivated. He is currently locked out of his official email account, and has no access to party databases, voicemail, or other information.

Publicly, the chairman has been mostly quiet about the issue. But on Monday, Harnett spoke to WFDD about the current tension surrounding his tenure.

Interview Highlights

On whether he thinks the GOP's actions are racially motivated:

"I won't make any comments on that at this time. But what I will tell you is my main focus is to make sure we're raising money and that we're working to have an effective party to get Republican candidates elected and that's been my main thing from day one. But it seems to me that, also from day one, that there have been various individuals who have worked schemes and plots against me. It's very disheartening to know that, here's your state chairman...who is working very diligently to raise money and get Republicans elected, but yet the very folks on the inside, see it differently and they would like to see that I'm not there any longer."

On why he believes party insiders have plotted against him:

"Here you have a number of individuals who do things the same way, year after year, and don't make any changes. And that's fine. That can work a majority of the time. However, times have changed and we can no longer afford to say one thing and do something totally different. So, what we need to do at this time is we need to be a party that does reach into the community. We have a central committee that's focused on creating witch hunts and putting things out in the media against their own non-disclosure agreements."

On whether he thinks the party set him up for failure:

"The chairman should have full access to any and all things as it relates to the state party. Yet, there are times where I'm often asking ‘where can I get this information?' And even in my request for a particular access, sometimes there's a wave of silence. Or, the act of ‘yes, we've received your information, we're working on it' and nothing happens. Even at this point in time, I have no access to the websites, the databases, emails, voicemails, no access to the headquarters, and this is very alarming."

On whether he thinks the controversy around his leadership will hurt the GOP:

"It is certainly a black eye for the select members on the central committee and the executive director for plotting and planning schemes against their chairman. So in that essence, it is a black eye.

But overall, I still believe there's plenty of time for us to get it together and move the party in the right direction, open and honest, transparent for all, a party that lives its values and principles and stands for what is right."

Update: North Carolina Republicans Respond

In response to WFDD's request for comment on Harnett's censure, the North Carolina Republican Party sent statements from some prominent party figures.

"I can only express my profound disappointment in having to deliberate this proceeding," said former NCGOP Chair Claude Pope, "but the work of the party must carry on in an environment of mutual trust and respect with our leaders. It became painfully evident that this was not to be the case with this chairman."

Scott Cumbie is assistant secretary to the central committee, which took the "no confidence" vote on Harnett's leadership.

"This has been a very difficult process and a process that no one wanted to participate in, but it was necessary for us to take this action in order to restore an environment where we can refocus on the important work ahead this year," Cumbie said.