North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson has filed a lawsuit against CNN for defamation over a report that alleged he made explicit racial and sexual posts on a pornography website’s message board. Robinson, who is running for governor and would be the state’s first Black governor if elected, denied authoring the messages and called the report a “high-tech lynching.” The lawsuit claims that CNN published the report despite knowing or disregarding that Robinson’s data had been compromised in previous data breaches.
According to the CNN report, Robinson made statements over a decade ago on the message board where he referred to himself as a “black NAZI,” expressed an interest in transgender pornography, and criticized figures like Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and former President Barack Obama. The report also matched details from the account on the message board to Robinson’s other online accounts, including usernames, email addresses, and biographical information. Polls at the time of the report showed Robinson’s Democratic rival, Josh Stein, with a lead over him.
The lawsuit also involves Robinson suing a Greensboro punk rock band singer who alleged in a music video and interview that Robinson frequented a porn shop in the 1990s and early 2000s. Robinson denies the allegations and claims that the singer’s statements are false. The lawsuit, seeking at least $50 million in damages, suggests that there may be a coordinated effort to derail Robinson’s campaign for governor, although it does not provide evidence of such a scheme.
Following the CNN report, Robinson’s campaign faced setbacks as top staff members quit, and the Republican Governors Association stopped supporting his bid. Democrats began running ads linking their opponents to Robinson, emphasizing his history of inflammatory comments on various topics. Robinson’s campaign decided to forego TV commercials and focus on in-person campaign stops. Hurricane Helene diverted attention from the CNN report as Robinson participated in relief efforts and criticized Governor Roy Cooper’s response.
Robinson’s lawyer, Jesse Binnall, indicated that they would continue to pursue the facts of the case and uncover potential bad actors involved in the defamation. Despite the challenges faced by his campaign, Robinson remains determined to continue his bid for governor. The lawsuit against CNN and the punk rock band singer will likely play a significant role in shaping the narrative around Robinson’s candidacy as the election approaches. Robinson’s allies and opponents continue to clash over his suitability for the highest office in North Carolina.
