'He’s got to pay': Chaos as Republican caught pantless in town hall refuses to resign

Video footage has resurfaced of a North Carolina Republican caught without his pants inside the local town hall after hours with a female journalist, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

The incident involving Mooresville Mayor Chris Carney and has outraged — and also amused — people in the town nicknamed Race City USA after its long history with NASCAR.

"The episode occurred in 2024 but is now bubbling up on multiple fronts," The Journal reported. "Three former town employees are suing Mooresville officials, alleging retaliation for their efforts to preserve the footage or investigate. Town commissioners passed a no-confidence vote this month urging Carney to quit. And a judge last week ordered the town to release video of the incident, a move the town forestalled by appealing Wednesday."

Locals were apparently bewildered about what happened to the mayor's pants.

People were talking, according to Commissioner Eddie Dingler, the mayor pro tem, who spoke to The Journal.

"It never goes away," Dingler said. "It's distracting."

Some residents think Carney should step down from his position.

"It’s an insult to the city," 71-year-old retired UPS driver Dave Homick told The Journal. "He put himself in that position. He’s got to pay the price."

Carney has reportedly not expressed any signs that he plans to resign. His term ends in 2027.

"He has publicly apologized for what he called an innocent visit to town hall, spurred by a bad reaction he had to alcohol and medication that eventually made him vomit. He has told people he took off his pants to clean them," according to The Journal.