Small Town in Brouhaha Over Video of Pantsless Mayor

The town of Mooresville, North Carolina is pushing back against a court order that would make controversial surveillance footage public. On Wednesday, officials filed an appeal after a judge ruled that overnight video from Town Hall—showing Mayor Chris Carney without pants alongside a woman on October 10, 2024—must be released.

The appeal, submitted to the state Court of Appeals, challenges an April 15 decision that determined the recordings qualify as public records rather than protected materials tied to a criminal investigation or security concerns. The dispute began when WBTV filed a lawsuit seeking access to the footage.

Local leaders argue the issue goes beyond the mayor himself. They say the ruling could set a broad precedent, potentially opening the door for surveillance video from government buildings across the state—including courthouses and emergency service facilities—to be made public. Officials warned that such a standard could create serious safety and security risks.

Although the town’s Board of Commissioners previously voted no confidence in Carney and called for his resignation, they emphasized that their support for the appeal is based on protecting security practices, not defending his behavior.

Carney, for his part, has explained that the incident stemmed from a reaction to mixing medication with alcohol. He said he became sick, triggered building alarms twice, and removed his pants while attempting to clean them after vomiting. He maintains that nothing improper occurred with the woman present, describing her as a family friend, and has questioned how his personal dignity factors into the situation.