North Carolina’s Lieutenant Governor, Mark Robinson, has decided not to attend an upcoming rally hosted by former President Donald Trump in Wilmington following a report by CNN about alleged posts made by Robinson on a pornography website’s message board. Despite being a prominent figure at Trump’s campaign stops in North Carolina, Robinson will be absent from this event, as confirmed by sources familiar with the matter. Trump’s campaign issued a statement that did not mention Robinson specifically in light of the recent report but emphasized the importance of North Carolina in the campaign efforts.
While the deadline has passed for Robinson to withdraw as a candidate, he remains the Republican nominee for governor. Robinson has denied writing the controversial posts, which include racial and sexual comments, calling them “salacious tabloid lies.” Despite trailing in recent polls to Democratic nominee Josh Stein, Robinson reaffirmed his commitment to continue campaigning and stated, “We are in it to win it.”
The report by CNN revealed disturbing details of the alleged posts made by Robinson on the pornographic website forum over a decade ago. The state Republican Party defended Robinson, but individual GOP leaders expressed concerns and urged Robinson to address the allegations more thoroughly. CNN claimed to have matched the account details to Robinson through various online accounts, including usernames, email addresses, and biographical information.
The fallout from the report could have significant implications for the GOP’s control in North Carolina, including jeopardizing key races in swing districts and potentially impacting the balance of power in Congress. The state’s political landscape has been shaken by the revelations, with Democrats seizing the opportunity to highlight Robinson’s past controversial remarks and affiliations. Despite facing scrutiny, Robinson, who was elected lieutenant governor in 2020, remains resolute in his determination to continue his campaign for governor.
