A federal lawsuit alleges Mooresville Mayor Chris Carney was caught on video in a compromising position inside town hall, leading to the firing of former IT director Chris Lee. Lee claims he was forced to resign after refusing to delete or alter the footage showing Carney undressed and visibly aroused during a late-night October 10, 2024, incident.

Lee's lawsuit names Carney, the town of Mooresville, Police Chief Ron Campurciani, Town Manager Tracey Jerome and Chief Financial Officer Chris Quinn. The town issued a statement denying wrongdoing and vowing to defend the matter vigorously in court. This follows similar lawsuits from two other former employees who claim they were pressured to resign after raising concerns about the incident and missing body camera footage from a traffic stop involving the mayor.

Carney previously told The Charlotte Observer the claims were false, explaining he was cleaning vomit from medication issues after drinking at a nearby bar. However, Lee's lawsuit alleges the video shows Carney with exposed genitalia and an erect penis inside town hall. The escalating legal battle raises serious questions about workplace retaliation and evidence preservation in local government.