U.S. Senate candidate Roy Cooper is facing scrutiny over his role in a historic settlement that resulted in the release of 3,500 prisoners. Cooper, who is running against Republican Michael Whatley, told reporters that he fought the release of the inmates and that the court ultimately made the decision.

Cooper’s Record on Crime

Cooper’s comments come as his record on crime is being questioned. As governor, he signed several laws related to bail and gangs, but he also vetoed bills aimed at increasing public safety. According to an analysis by The New York Post, 18 of the released prisoners went on to be charged with murder, and over 600 were charged with other violent crimes.

Cooper’s administration had initially chosen to settle the lawsuit rather than risk a trial, which could have led to even more prisoners being released. The settlement was based on criteria that included prisoners who were pregnant, on home leave, or had a projected release date in 2021. However, dozens of prisoners who were released had been serving sentences for crimes against people, despite the criteria stating that offenders must not be serving a sentence for such crimes.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.