Polk County Democratic Party says Rep. Cody Henson should resign 

 

COLUMBUS—The Polk County Democratic Party Executive Committee recently released a statement calling for North Carolina Representative Cody Henson’s resignation.  

Henson was recently issued a domestic violence protection order by a judge.  

Judge Fritz Mercer issued the order against Henson (R) last week. Henson represents the North Carolina House of Representatives 113th District, which includes Polk, Transylvania and parts of Henderson counties. Henson won his second term last November.  

The civil court hearing on last Tuesday was held at the Transylvania Courthouse in Brevard, where Henson lives.  

Henson’s wife Kelsey petitioned earlier this year that her husband was repeatedly texting her outside the hours they agreed they would to communicate about their children.  

The Polk County Democratic Party said Rep. Henson describes himself as a Christian conservative who believes in family values but for the better part of a year, his wife has repeatedly felt the need to ask authorities to protect her and her children from him.  

Kelsey Henson called the police three times over the past year on her husband, according to reports. 

“Ms. Henson described his behavior as violent, threatening and emotionally abusive,” said the Democratic Party statement. “The judge agreed.”  

The Polk County Democratic Party also said Henson’s wife deserves more support than she has been getting up to this point and while she and her children live in fear, he enjoys the privileges of office.  

“The Polk County Democratic Party believes and supports the victims of domestic harassment and abuse,” the party’s statement said. “We call on Rep. Henson to resign his seat in the North Carolina General Assembly immediately and seek appropriate professional help.”  

The order of protection issued last week requires that Henson refrain from domestic violence. Henson is now also investigated for cyber stalking by the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office, but has not been charged.  

Kelsey Henson claimed that she has been subjected to levels of harassment to such a level as to inflict substantial emotional distress, with her placed in an ongoing fear for her safety and that of her children. She has reportedly made three calls to 911 about her husband over the last year. She has also said the abuse was not physical.  

North Carolina statutes define electronic communications become the crime of cyberstalking when done repeatedly, whether or not conversation ensues, for the purpose of abusing, threatening, terrifying, harassing or embarrassing any person. Cyberstalking is a class 2 misdemeanor in North Carolina.  

Following is the full statement issued by the Polk County Democratic Party Executive Committee, located in Columbus:  

On February 26, NC State Representative Cody Henson was found by District 

Judge Fritz Mercer to have committed acts of domestic violence against his wife. 

The judge granted Ms. Henson a year-long domestic violence order of 

protection.  

Rep. Henson describes himself as a Christian conservative who believes in 

family values. But for the better part of a year, his wife has repeatedly felt the 

need to ask authorities to protect her and her children from him. Ms. Henson 

described his behavior as violent, threatening and emotionally abusive. The 

judge agreed. 

Ms. Henson deserves more support than she has been getting up to this point. 

While she and her children live in fear, Rep. Henson enjoys the privileges of his 

office and the complicit silence of his political friends. 

The Polk County Democratic Party believes and supports the victims of domestic 

harassment and abuse. We call on Rep. Henson to resign his seat in the North 

Carolina General Assembly immediately and seek appropriate professional help. 

The citizens of House District 113, and the Henson family, deserve no less. 

— Executive Committee, Polk County Democratic Party