North Carolina’s Republican Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson has initiated a defamation lawsuit against CNN, following a report that alleged he made racially and sexually explicit comments on a pornography website’s message board over a decade ago. The report, which aired on September 19, claimed that Robinson referred to himself as a “black Nazi” and praised Adolf Hitler over former President Barack Obama.
CNN’s investigation reportedly connected the account on the message board to Robinson through a comparison of usernames, email addresses, and personal information. However, Robinson, who is running for governor and would be North Carolina’s first black governor if elected, has firmly denied posting the offensive remarks, labeling the report a “high-tech lynching” orchestrated by political opponents to undermine his campaign.
During a news conference in Raleigh, Robinson revealed the lawsuit, stating that CNN overlooked evidence suggesting his data had been compromised in various breaches. He is seeking at least $50 million in damages. The lawsuit was filed in Wake County Superior Court shortly after the CNN report prompted numerous Republican officials, including Donald Trump, to distance themselves from his gubernatorial bid.
In addition to CNN, the lawsuit names Louis Love Money, a punk singer from Greensboro who alleged that Robinson frequently visited a porn shop in the 1990s and early 2000s. Robinson denied these allegations, asserting they are part of a coordinated effort to sabotage his campaign.
The fallout from the report has been significant, with key campaign staff resigning and the Republican Governors Association retracting its financial support. As a result, Robinson’s campaign has reduced its television advertising and shifted focus to in-person events. Despite this, he continues to trail Democratic opponent Josh Stein in the polls.
CNN has not commented on the lawsuit, while Stein’s spokesperson remarked that questions regarding Robinson’s qualifications for governor existed even prior to the report, stressing that North Carolinians deserve superior leadership.