Showdown: NC Gov. Pat McCrory Asks Justice Dept. For More Time to Respond on HB2

Republican Earlier Had Said State Would Respond by Monday 6PM Deadline

Governor Pat McCrory had time to sit down with “Fox News Sunday” to discuss his anti-LGBT law HB2 but says he doesn’t have enough time to respond to the Dept. of Justice on whether or not he will enforce it even though it’s been declared both illegal and unconstitutional.

On Sunday, the North Carolina Republican said he had asked the DOJ for more time, after telling reporters earlier in the week that the state would meet the federal law enforcement agency’s Monday 6 PM deadline. 

“McCrory said the U.S. Department of Justice declined his request unless he was willing to admit that House Bill 2 was discriminatory,” The News & Observer reports. 

“I’m not going to publicly announce that something discriminates, which is agreeing with their letter, because we’re really talking about a letter in which they’re trying to define gender identity, and there is no clear definition of gender identity,” McCrory said, in the “Fox News Sunday” interview.

McCrory complained that the Dept. of Justice had only given him “three working days” to send his response.

“It’s the federal government being a bully,” McCrory said.

A Justice Dept. spokesperson called the HB2 discussions with North Carolina “ongoing,” according to The News & Observer.

Despite what some news media outlets are reporting, the DOJ is merely asking the governor the “remedy” Title VII violations and to notify the DOJ “that the State will not comply with or implement H.B. 2.” McCrory also has to notify “employees of the State and public agencies that, consistent with federal law, they are permitted to access bathrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender identity.”

LOOK: 9 Cold Hard Facts: HB2 Was Never About ‘Public Safety’

Some lawmakers, like House Speaker Tim Moore, publicly lied, stating the DOJ has demanded North Carolina “repeal” HB2 “before Monday,” which is false.

 

EARLIER:

NC Gov. Pat McCrory Denounces Obama Administration and Justice Dept. ‘Claim’ That HB2 Is Illegal

Top North Carolina Republicans Are Going Ballistic Over Justice Dept. Announcement HB2 Is Illegal

Breaking: GOP House Speaker Says North Carolina Has No Intention of Meeting DOJ’s HB2 Deadline

 

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