Cooper responds over NC absence in Obama lawsuit

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — Attorney General Roy Cooper is responding to complaints about why North Carolina isn’t among the states challenging President Barack Obama over his executive order on immigration.

Gov. Pat McCrory joined the lawsuit filed this week and spearheaded by the Texas attorney general accusing Obama of overstepping his constitutional authority. McCrory is a plaintiff, but Cooper is not involved.

Cooper wrote Friday to Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, who had urged Cooper in a letter Thursday to join the case. Cooper says he would monitor the litigation and determine whether it’s beneficial for North Carolina to join. But he told Forest he’s concerned joining a “partisan lawsuit” would cause further division on the immigration issue.

Cooper and more than 30 other attorneys general last year urged Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

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