The top aide to North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, Brian LiVecchi, is resigning from his position within the state government, according to state Sen. Benton Sawrey. This comes following a CNN report that alleged Robinson made explicit racial and sexual posts on a pornography website’s message board. LiVecchi, who also served as Robinson’s chief of staff and general counsel, will be stepping down effective next Tuesday. Despite not returning calls or emails seeking comments on staff changes within the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, LiVecchi authorized Sawrey to confirm his departure. Sawrey praised LiVecchi’s leadership and dedication to serving North Carolina.
Over the weekend, Robinson announced that four key staff members on his gubernatorial campaign staff had also left their positions, including senior adviser Conrad Pogorzelski IIi and campaign manager Chris Rodriguez. Pogorzelski later named eight more campaign workers who had resigned, leaving the team in disarray just six weeks before the election against Democratic nominee Josh Stein. Despite the setbacks, Robinson expressed optimism about rebuilding the campaign staff and remained focused on the upcoming election.
CNN’s report highlighted posts attributed to Robinson on a porn site’s message boards, where he allegedly referred to himself as a “black NAZI,” expressed enjoyment of transgender pornography, and made derogatory remarks about historical figures like Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Robinson, who could become the state’s first Black governor if elected, denies writing the messages that CNN attributed to him from over a decade ago. In response, his campaign has hired a law firm to investigate the origins of these accusations. Nevertheless, top Republicans, including the Republican Governors Association, have distanced themselves from Robinson, citing the need for evidence to refute the allegations.
The Republican Governors Association has ceased support for Robinson’s campaign, with no new ad placements planned. Meanwhile, Stein’s campaign and his supporters have outraised Robinson’s camp, running advertisements critical of Robinson for his past controversial statements on various issues. With pressure mounting, state Republicans have urged Robinson to provide evidence to counter the claims made in the CNN report. Robinson, in response, emphasized the importance of focusing on policies over personalities in the election, calling for unified support from Republican leaders across the state.
Despite the controversies surrounding the Lieutenant Governor, Mark Robinson’s office is relatively small, with only eight identified employees. His duties include presiding over the state Senate, serving on the State Board of Elections, and handling constituent services. Robinson has also been active in advocating for work apprenticeships and opposing what he views as political indoctrination in public schools. As the lieutenant governor’s four-year term nears its end, the focus remains on the upcoming election and the impact of the recent staff departures on Robinson’s campaign strategy.
