A state lawmaker’s viral exchange with a county sheriff prompted calls for the man’s resignation after it devolved into a “fifth-grade civics lesson.”
Elections have consequences is a common refrain these days and one that has increasingly rang true in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Months removed from the murder of Ukrainian Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, the same sheriff who asserted the judges were the victims sat before the state’s House Oversight Committee, stumped over the question, “What branch of government do you operate under?”
Monday in Raleigh, Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden was joined by others from Charlotte in testifying about safety. It was there that committee member state Rep. Allen Chesser (R) received the answer “Mecklenburg County” to his question, only to repeat it and be told, “The Constitution of the United States.”
Our law enforcement agencies have a constitutional duty to understand their role in executing the law and keeping our communities safe. Speaking as former law enforcement – we can and must do better. #ncpol #ncga pic.twitter.com/VyuYBXLPYl
— Rep. Allen Chesser (@gachesser) February 9, 2026
“That is what establishes the branches of government; I’m asking what branch you fall under,” said Chesser who, when told the county again, reacted, “This is not where I was anticipating getting stuck. Um, are you aware of how many branches of government there are?”
“No,” stated McFadden matter-of-factly.
“For the sake of debate, I will move on and say there are three branches of government: legislative, executive, judicial. Of those three, which do you believe you fall under?” asked the lawmaker, earning the answer, “I believe I fall under the last one. Judicial.”
“You are incorrect, sir. You fall under the executive,” stated Chesser who also pressed the sheriff on a statement claiming, “We do not have a role in enforcement whatsoever, we do not have to follow the rules and the laws that are governed by our lawmakers in Raleigh.”
McFadden, who’d previously opined that Zarutska’s murder on a train and the assassination of Charlie Kirk had made victims of magistrates because of social media posts, argued his remark was taken out of context and insisted, “We follow the law, when the law is produced, we follow the law.”
Following the exchange, Chesser spoke with Fox News Digital the next day and admitted, “I was not expecting to have to get into a fifth-grade civics lesson with a duly elected sheriff.”
The lawmaker indicated he had other statements he intended to share that “kind of conflicted with some of the testimony that he provided yesterday about following the law.”
Chesser went on to state, “Last summer, we had the unfortunate death of a young Ukrainian national that had sought refuge in our country and in our state. I think that all North Carolinians, and all people who find themselves in North Carolina, should be able to count on one thing when it comes to public safety, and that is whether or not you are safe and whether or not the law will be enforced is not dependent on what country you find yourself in.”
In the wake of McFadden’s testimony and “alarming display of constitutional ignorance,” the Mecklenburg County Republican Party had been among those calling for the sheriff to resign. “This moment is bigger than a viral clip. It demonstrates the current sheriff’s total lack of accountability, competence, and respect for the citizens of Mecklenburg County. Public office is a responsibility, and Sheriff McFadden has failed miserably not just in this moment, but throughout his tenure.”
🚨 MECKGOP calls on Sheriff Gary McFadden to resign 🚨
A viral hearing showed he could not correctly identify the branches of government or the constitutional role of his office. Mecklenburg County deserves competent, accountable leadership.#MeckGOP #NCPol pic.twitter.com/RCIHBZOr2U
— MeckGOP (@meckgop) February 10, 2026
His ego and ineptitude have directly cost innocent people and law enforcement officers their lives in horrific ways
— lulu (@splitsets) February 10, 2026
He is a complete narcissist and probably a sociopath. He will never resign on his own accord. This guy will have to be forcibly removed.
— EGP (@plantoruproot) February 10, 2026
These “public officials” should have to take some sort of class or competency test PRIOR to even running for office😤
— AJ🔫🔫🇺🇸🙏🏼🙏🏼 (@AJCastillejaAJ) February 10, 2026
“This is… not where I anticipated getting stuck.” pic.twitter.com/v4yzbCqXka
— Teacher in RI (@teacherinRI) February 11, 2026
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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