Convicted Sex Offender Led ‘Integrity and Honesty’ Prayer at GOP Senate Candidate’s Rally

Screenshot via Michael Whatley on X

A registered sex offender twice imprisoned for convictions involving children led a prayer calling for “integrity and honesty” at a recent rally featuring North Carolina Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley, according to a Friday report from The Associated Press.

Pastor Daimon L. King delivered the opening prayer at an Aug. 28 gathering at the Craven County Republican Party headquarters in New Bern, the outlet reported.

King, 60, asked God to bring “integrity and honesty” to those in attendance and to right wrongs “hammered down on the conservative movement.”

Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump’s administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, also spoke at the rally. King was visible in a video posted by Whatley’s campaign after the speeches, the AP pointed out, standing behind the speakers and at one point giving two thumbs up.

Whatley’s campaign said the candidate did not know King and denied having a role in bringing him to the event.

Campaign spokesman DJ Griffin told the outlet that the gathering “was NOT planned nor organized by the Whatley campaign nor did the campaign invite any of the guests,” adding King was “invited by the hosts,” the Craven County Republican Party, which was not reachable for comment.

King, who leads New Beginnings Celebration church in New Bern and has previously served as a Craven County GOP precinct chairman, was convicted in 1998 after being charged with statutory rape and indecent liberties with a 15-year-old student while working as a high school marching band assistant. He served nearly five years in prison.

In 2010, King pleaded guilty to having sex with an underage female relative and spent nearly another three years behind bars. He is required to register as a sex offender for life.

The revelation comes as Whatley faces former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) in a closely watched Senate race. Democrats have already spent more than $2.3 million on advertisements highlighting Whatley’s association with Harvey L. West Jr., a former state GOP official who was convicted of five counts of indecent liberties with a child.

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