Harnett has been at odds with the state GOP leadership for months. The latest dispute centers on plans for the annual state Republican Party convention in May. Harnett has sought to lower the price of admission so more activists could attend and help elect party leaders, including delegates to the national convention.
Party leaders suspect that Harnett tried to replace the party’s website with his own site advertising reduced convention fees.
One of the eight “gross violations of the Party’s rules” by Harnett that the Central Committee reviewed Sunday concerned the security of the party’s computer systems and fundraising apparatus.
In a Facebook post March 16, Harnett denied that he tried to tamper with the party website.
