Wednesday, October 14, 2026
By Outer Banks Voice on August 25, 2026
A new story in The Raleigh News & Observer reports that the Wake County District Attorney has asked the NC State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) to launch a criminal probe into a state-funded program connected to Jordan Hennessy. With federal probe into domestic abuse program seemingly stalled, Wake DA steps in
The SBI confirmed to the Voice that is has opened that investigation.
Hennessy, a member of the North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission, has been a key figure in several major Dare County ventures that involved state funding—as an officer of EJE Dredging which owned the Miss Katie Dredge that arrived in Dare County in 2022, and as an official of Coastal Affordable Housing, LLC which had been a Dare County affordable housing partner. The county terminated its contract with Coastal Affordable Housing in 2024 and returned $35 million allocated by the state for that housing.
The News & Observer story reports that late last year, Wake County DA Lorrin Freeman asked the SBI to probe Caitlyn’s Courage a domestic violence prevention program that NC legislators funded with $3.5 million in 2020. Caitlyn’s Courage is named after Laura Caitlyn Whitehouse who was killed by a former boyfriend in 2019. Her father Judson Whitehouse, has been a partner in EJE Dredging and the “Miss Katie” is named for his daughter.
In response to a Voice inquiry on Aug. 25, SBI Public Information Officer Chad Flowers confirmed that the “Wake County DA requested the SBI in late fall 2025 to investigate the case. We are actively investigating.” He also said that no other details are currently available.
The Wake County DA’s office was unable to respond to a Voice inquiry by the deadline for this story. The Voice was unsuccessful in attempting to reach Hennessy for comment.
Prior to the intervention by the Wake County DA, a federal probe had been looking at matters related to state funding of the dredging and affordable housing projects, according to news reports. In October 2024, the U. S. Attorney’s office asked the Dare County Commissioners and Oregon Inlet Task Force to provide records for an investigation into EJE Dredging and the Coastal Affordable Housing, LLC, among other things.
And in November 2024, Dare County confirmed that six members of the Board of Commissioners had been subpoenaed to testify before the federal grand jury. The Outer Banks Voice – News & Observer reports six Dare Commissioners to testify before federal grand jury
No public information has been released about the fate of that federal investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s office changed hands following the election of Donald Trump in 2024.
Comments
Aida Havel
Does anyone else find it interesting that there has not been one peep out of our County Commissioners regarding that Federal case that six of them were subpoenaed in in Ocober 2024? My guess is that if the case had been dismissed or in some other way had gone away, they’d have mentioned it. It certainly is curious.
the joker
Sorry Aida, Chairman Woodard doesn’t have time for serious business like commenting on the status of federal grand jury investigations, he’s too busy telling jokes and building his million dollar pickleball courts.
BeachGirl
Here Comes the Juice!!
Robert S Dean
Hmmm…. Interesting. But it’s important to point out that “investigations” and grand jury testimonies are no indication of guilt. Many of them come to a dead end. Also interesting that this comes so close to a critical election and is renewed by a Liberal D.A. in Wake County. Just sayin’
Grandy Voice
I read up on Jordan Hennessy in a 2024 News & Observer article. My takeaway is that he was an aspiring MAGA, making campaign contributions to state Republicans in the $100s of dollars.
Then, millions in state contracts started flowing his way, and now he makes contributions to those politicians in the $100,000 range. It’s called ‘a taste’, in some circles.
I hope the investigation still exists, or at least was a warning shot fired over Hennessy’s bow.
So much corruption is accepted now, while the public is entertained with prosecuting James Comey for arranging shells on the beach, or a former Olympian for looking at a pond. Bread and circuses.
Vote Dan Davis (veteran, two masters degrees) over Laurie Buckhout this fall. And if you can’t square the circle for a Democrat, just consider leaving it blank. Please!
Dom Bostich
Grandy with the TDS…and the idolatry of someone because they have “two master’s degrees.”
You know, Tony Fauci is working on a vaccine for that ailment. As soon as he finishes torturing some beagles, perhaps he will enlist you as a subject in his clinical trials. Just contact him at your local wet fish market.
Liz
@Grandy Voice
You must not be a poker player, or if you are you must be a rank amateur.
You’re showing your hand way, way too soon in the game.
Come on, tell us how you really feel. Don’t hold back.
According to you, if we don’t vote for a Democrat, we should leave a blank.
Why bother to vote at all?
Vote "Dan Davis"
I agree with Grandy Voice. All Democrats should write in their vote for “Dan Davis”. No one knows who that is but apparently he is a veteran.
FYI — Laurie Buckhout is a retired US Army Colonel who was also Assistant Secretary of Defense and founded a defense company that specializes in electronic warfare and cyberspace operations.
charlie
Perhaps a question or two during the public comment time is appropriate
So predictable
Hennessy may have done something wrong. But stop with the gaslighting.
TDS is real! This is all these socialist have. Anything to destroy this country.
Do it for the kids, form another committee, protest on the street, teachers under paid?
Climate change, destroy our generational fisherman? Where did all these complaints come from? It’s the blue party who cannot even give us the definition of a woman.
The Outer Banks has been taken over by malcontents and others who believe they are so much smarter than everyone else.
Let’s stop trying to change so many things.
If the SBI has the goods on Hennessy or finds something he will be in trouble. Let it play out?
BeachGirl
Told Ya!
Juicy…
You act like a clown-
You gonna get the Circus!