RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - In a story that mixes policy with politics, Attorney General Roy Cooper is now under pressure from state Republicans to join a group of his fellow law enforcement officials and Gov. Pat McCrory in a lawsuit that challenges President Obama's use of executive power.

On Thursday, North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Claude Pope referred to Cooper -- who is rumored to eyeing a 2016 gubernatorial run -- a "part time Attorney General and full-time political candidate."

“In a sorry attempt to make it seem like he is leading the nation, President Barack Obama took overreaching and irresponsible action on immigration that could have untold consequences on our state’s education and health care systems,” said Chairman Pope in his statement. “Part-time Attorney General and full-time political candidate Roy Cooper has a serious decision to make – join the suit and protect North Carolina citizens, or stand with the president and allow him to erode one of the most important documents in our nation’s history – the constitution. Will Cooper take a stand, or will he stand on the sidelines as he has done in the past with the popular voter ID legislation or Amendment One? Its time for Cooper to make his positions known, not hide behind a cloak of inaction,” Pope concluded.
 
Earlier this week, Gov. Pat McCrory joined with other governors and Attorneys General from 17 different states in the suit.