North Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson has swiftly appointed a new chief of staff following several resignations from his office and gubernatorial campaign. The resignations came after a CNN report alleged that Robinson made controversial comments on an online message board. Deputy Chief of Staff Krishana Polite was elevated to the position of chief of staff, with several other office workers resigning as well. The departures were announced by the current Chief of Staff and General Counsel Brian LiVecchi, who is also resigning from his position.
The departures from Robinson’s office come amid the upcoming elections where he is facing Democratic nominee Josh Stein. Republican officials and GOP groups have distanced themselves from Robinson, with the Republican Governors Association withdrawing its support. Former President Donald Trump, who previously endorsed Robinson, has not mentioned him at recent rallies. The CNN report detailed statements attributed to Robinson on a porn site’s message board, which he has denied writing. Democratic opponents have used Robinson’s history of controversial comments in their campaign against him.
Robinson’s campaign has hired a Virginia law firm to investigate the allegations made in the CNN report. The firm, led by partner Jesse Binnall, has promised a thorough investigation to provide answers before the election. The network has not commented on Robinson’s accusations, but the report linked details from the message board account to other online accounts associated with Robinson. The campaign is focused on disproving what Robinson believes are false claims against him.
The personnel changes in Robinson’s office and campaign have raised concerns among Republicans as the election draws closer. Robinson, who would be the state’s first Black governor if elected, is facing scrutiny over his past statements and the recent allegations. The campaign is working to rebuild its staff and support ahead of the election. The impact of the CNN report and subsequent resignations on Robinson’s candidacy remains to be seen as the race heats up in North Carolina.
With absentee voting already underway, the election campaign in North Carolina is in full swing. Both Robinson and Stein are working to earn the support of voters in the state. The allegations made against Robinson have become a focal point of the campaign, with both sides trying to sway voters with their messaging. The investigation into the allegations by the Virginia law firm will play a crucial role in shaping the narrative around Robinson’s candidacy as the election approaches. Voters will ultimately decide the outcome of the race when they cast their ballots on November 5th.
