It was a rough weekend for North Carolina Democrats.

On Friday, The Daily Caller posted a story with claims that a high-level official had sexually harassed a junior staffer last year, and that the party paid the staffer money to keep quiet about it.

All this came out in a series of emails leaked to the media.

Jay Parmley, who resigned as executive director of the N.C. Democratic Party on Sunday.

The official in question turned out to be Executive Director Jay Parmley, who resigned Sunday. In a statement released, he said, “Let me be clear: I have never harassed any employee at any time at the NCDP or in any other job.”

According to the emails, this issue had been stewing within the party since last fall, when the staffer left the party.

Another party official complained to State Chairman David Parker that if this story got out, it would “doom” the party's chances in the general election in November.

Not only that, but with North Carolina in the national spotlight as a swing state and Charlotte hosting the Democratic National Convention in September, it could be a distraction for Democratic candidates running for state and national offices.

Senior Political Reporter Loretta Boniti has more analysis on tonight's Capital Tonight. You can view the story here.