BREVARD - Republicans have remained largely silent after allegations of harassment and cyberstalking against Rep. Cody Henson of Transylvania County, doing little to counter calls by Democrats and others for the resignation of the two-term GOP legislator.

Friday protesters gathered outside Brevard College where Henson, whose case involves his estranged wife, had been scheduled to attend a chamber of commerce legislators breakfast.

"Elected officials shouldn't be granted special circumstances for their actions," organizer Ashley McDermott said after the morning gathering of 20 protesters who held signs in the rain calling for Henson to step down.

Henson wasn't at the event, notifying chamber officials Wednesday he wouldn't attend, said Chamber Executive Director Clark Lovelace. Attendee and fellow Republican House member Chuck McGrady of Henderson County said he understood Henson had to take his child to a doctor's appointment.

Henson's 113th District covers all of Transylvania and Polk counties and the southern part of Henderson.

The protest followed a Thursday call by NC Democratic Party leaders for Henson to leave the legislature. Transylvania County party Chairman David Smith echoed that, saying he got a copy of the long-term protective order a judge issued last week telling Henson to stay away from his wife, Kelsey Henson. The order said text messages she received amounted to "mental harassment."

"It appears quite clear," Smith said. "Seeing it in black and white affected my opinion of the matter."

Thursday Henson was charged by the Transylvania County Sheriff's Office with cyberstalking, a class 2 misdemeanor. He was served a criminal summons, meaning he was not arrested but was ordered to appear in court on March 28.

A person answering the phone at Henson's legislative office in Raleigh said he was not there and, after another question, hung up. In an email Henson declined to address the calls for his resignation, referring questions to his attorney, Michael Edney. Edney, who serves on the Henderson County Board of Commissioners, didn't return phone messages left Thursday and Friday.

Asked about calls for Henson's resignation, fellow House member McGrady said, "as for Cody, he needs to do what is best for his family and himself."

The General Assembly would likely not consider any action regarding Henson until the criminal case was finished, he said.

Other Republicans have declined to talk about the issue.

State GOP spokesman Jeff Hauser said Friday the party had no comment and a message left with House Speaker Tim Moore's office was not returned. Henderson NC Sen. Chuck Edwards, who attended the chamber event, and Madison County Rep. Michele Presnell, who is a member of the General Assembly's ethics committees, didn't respond to questions.

Transylvania County GOP Chairman Sammy Kicklighter said his members didn't have an official statement on the matter which they considered a "sensitive issue."

"(We) are just trying to get internal consensus among our party," Kicklighter said.

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