North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson recently announced that his campaign has enlisted the help of a law firm to investigate allegations made in a CNN report claiming he made offensive racial and sexual remarks on a pornography website’s message board. Robinson has branded these claims as “false smears” and is determined to uncover the origins of these accusations. The news of these developments has caused concern among some North Carolina Republicans, who have suggested that if Robinson cannot promptly disprove the allegations, the GOP should concentrate on other state races.
Some members of the Republican party have already distanced themselves from Robinson, including the Republican Governors Association, which declared it would cease its support for him. This decision followed the circulation of the report as well as the resignation of several of Robinson’s key campaign staff. The mounting unease within the GOP is fueled by fears that Robinson’s predicament could jeopardize other important seats on the ballot and even impact Donald Trump’s election prospects in North Carolina.
Robinson, a prominent figure in the state’s conservative circles, has vehemently denied writing the messages attributed to him, asserting that they date back over a decade before his entry into politics. He expressed confidence that the law firm engaged in the investigation would leave no stone unturned in unravelling the truth behind the allegations and potentially taking legal action against CNN for what he perceives as false reporting. Despite his denials, the unearthed forum posts by CNN contain controversial statements associated with Robinson such as self-identifying as a “black NAZI” and expressing views favorable to Adolf Hitler over former President Barack Obama.
The report by CNN has not received an immediate response from the news outlet, while Robinson has vowed to pursue action against them. U.S. Senator Thom Tillis has set a deadline for Robinson to present evidence refuting the allegations by the end of the week, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the situation swiftly. Despite initially receiving Trump’s endorsement, Robinson’s involvement in the campaign has seen setbacks, including his absence at a recent Trump rally and lack of mention by the former president.
As the gubernatorial race in North Carolina unfolds, spending on advertisements has shown a significant disparity between Robinson’s campaign and his opponent, Josh Stein. Data reveals that Stein’s campaign and affiliated groups have outspent Robinson and his allies by a wide margin. With the deadline for candidates to withdraw from the race already passed, the outcome of the gubernatorial election remains uncertain amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding Robinson.
