The editorial boards of the News & Observer and Charlotte Observer posted a joint opinion piece recently, criticizing Gov. Roy Cooper (D) and state House Democratic Leader Darren Jackson (D-Wake).
The news organizations allege that Cooper and Jackson interfered with an investigation of Cooper's handling of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) permit deal.
The opinion piece alleged that Cooper's approval of the ACP permits in conjunction with the multi-million dollar fund contributed by energy companies is “an unusual agreement."
The editorial said that the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality under Cooper granted permits for the pipeline in 2018. Cooper's office also announced a $57.8 million contribution from the energy consortium developing the pipeline for "environmental mitigation, economic development and renewable energy."
The editorial boards allege that Jackson tried to disband the committee investigating the pipeline permit deal, while Cooper's office requested investigation records.
No other information has been released by the editorial boards.