NC Sheriff Misidentifies Government Branch in Hearing

In Raleigh, North Carolina, Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden faced pointed questions during a state House Oversight Committee hearing on public safety, where he struggled to identify the branch of government under which his office operates, prompting widespread criticism and calls for his resignation.

The exchange occurred on February 9, 2026, as McFadden and other Charlotte-area officials testified before the committee, which is examining issues including immigration enforcement and jail operations. Republican state Rep. Allen Chesser, a committee member, asked McFadden directly: "What branch of government do you operate under?" McFadden responded, "Mecklenburg County." When pressed further, he cited "the Constitution of the United States," explaining that his office answers to the people of the county. Chesser clarified that the Constitution establishes the branches of government and repeated the question.

McFadden then admitted he was unaware of how many branches exist. To proceed, Chesser stated there are three: legislative, executive, and judicial. He asked McFadden to specify which one applies to the sheriff's department. McFadden selected "the last one,"...