NC Speaker Tim Moore sends Democrat who crossed him to a basement office
House Speaker Tim Moore moved a state representative’s office to the basement Thursday, nearly a month after the lawmaker asked for a criminal investigation into allegations that Moore traded sex for political gain.
On Thursday, Rep. Terence Everitt, a Democrat from Wake County, found himself moved to Room 24 of the basement, a former supply closet that Moore said would offer him more “security.”
Everitt had predicted when he unsuccessfully sought the investigation of Moore: “There will be repercussions.”
“These are the repercussions,” Everitt told The News & Observer on Thursday.
But Everitt said this latest move just makes him feel bad for Moore, and he intended to tell the Democratic Caucus that in a meeting Thursday night.
“After five years, he thinks moving me further away from other people and closer to the cafeteria is punishment? He doesn’t understand me at all. He knows nothing about me — like the idea that that office, or any of the trappings of that office matter at all to me, just shows how little he understands other people and what motivates them.”
Moore’s letter to Everitt
Moore’s office responded to a tweet about the move by providing The N&O with a letter that Moore wrote and “personally delivered” to Everitt Thursday morning.
The speaker said in the letter that he had concerns for Everitt’s safety because he heard Everitt was scared of Sen. Paul Lowe, a Democrat from Forsyth County.
“I am informed and was provided information posted to social media that a member of the Senate took issue with one of your social media missives and sought to confront you directly,” Moore wrote. “I am also informed that you were somewhat concerned for your physical safety and were looking for various points of refuge in which to hide from that member during your retreat from that confrontation.
“Please know that I believe all members should be able to express themselves without the need to hide in a staffer’s office no matter how timid they are to avoid direct confrontation,” Moore wrote.
Alex Baltzegar, a Carolina Journal reporter, posted about Wednesday’s incident between Lowe and Everitt on social media.
Everitt had posted on X, formerly Twitter — but later deleted — that Senate Democrats except for Lowe had signed an open letter slamming Republicans for a now-scuttled proposal that emerged last weekend to make Medicaid expansion contingent on passage of a major casino and gaming bill. Everitt tagged Lowe’s account in the tweet. Baltzegar wrote that he witnessed Lowe confront Everitt.
“I want you to know that I take safety and security of you and every member of the legislature very seriously, and have determined it appropriate to elevate your security,” Moore wrote to Everitt.
He went on to say he is moving Everitt to an office tucked away from others and near security.
Everitt said Baltzegar’s post was enough to give Moore a cover story for moving Everitt to the basement.
“Clearly he’s being a (slang expletive for male anatomy),” Everitt said of Moore. “And he’s clearly still upset that I sent out a letter, and this is why people don’t stand up to him.”
Everitt told The N&O that legislators have disagreements all the time.
Was he scared?
“No,” Everitt said. “Paul Lowe and I are not those kind of guys. He never threatened me. I never threatened him. We just disagreed.”
“We disagreed and went our separate ways,” Everitt said. “And then Tim used that as an excuse apparently to move me into the basement for my own safety, because apparently, if an African American man yells in that building, we have to be scared for the white people.” Everitt is white; Lowe is African American.
On Thursday, House Minority Leader Robert Reives wrote to Moore that he had spoken with both Everitt and Lowe, and that the two Democrats had “talked and agreed to disagree.”
Reives also said in the letter, a copy of which was posted on social media by his chief of staff, that it was “obviously disrespectful” for a lawmaker to have their office moved to the basement, and asked Moore to reconsider his decision.
Lowe himself wrote a letter to Moore on Thursday, which was reported by CBS 17, in which he told the speaker that he and Everitt had “discussed our issues and concerns, and all is behind us.”
Moore on ‘historic’ move
Moore’s letter to Everitt gave further details about why he should appreciate the move.
“It is an office that we have held in reserve for quite some time for special circumstances and those members especially deserving or in need of such accommodations,” Moore wrote. “In some ways, this office assignment is historic, mind you in a very insignificant way.”
Moore went on to tell Everitt that in 50 years, no one else has ever used the office.
“For some members, they are often recognized for their legislative accomplishments, constituents services or shaping the passage of laws — for others it was where their office was — each member may determine their priorities for their legacies,” Moore wrote.
Saturday marks one month since Everitt went to the Wake County District Attorney’s office asking prosecutors to open an investigation into Moore on possible charges of embezzlement, bribery and misconduct in public office.
Everitt told the district attorney he was concerned about the recent allegations an estranged husband of a state employee made in a lawsuit that said she feared ending a sexual relationship with Moore because of the repercussions it would have on her job. The lawsuit also alleged that Moore, the state employee and others engaged in group sex.
Freeman told The News & Observer following Everitt’s letter that she didn’t see a basis for a case against Moore and added that it is difficult to prove a legislator misused their office for personal benefit.
“Clearly, I am living rent free in his head,” Everitt said. “That wasn’t my goal, but it’s clearly happening. And that kind of weakness should not be in leadership.”
This story was originally published September 21, 2023 at 4:53 PM.
