North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson is facing increasing scrutiny following a CNN report accusing him of making explicit racial and sexual posts on a pornography website’s message board.
Robinson, the state’s current lieutenant governor, has denied the accusations and announced that his campaign has hired the Binnall Law Group to investigate what he calls false smears.
The CNN report claims Robinson made inflammatory comments on the website, including calling himself a black NAZI and criticizing figures such as Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and former President Barack Obama.
Several North Carolina Republicans are urging Robinson to either refute the allegations quickly or risk damaging the party’s chances in other races.
Some prominent Republicans, including the Republican Governors Association and several top campaign staffers, have already withdrawn their support.
Senator Thom Tillis suggested that Robinson must provide evidence of his innocence by Friday or risk losing broader GOP backing.
Robinson, who would be North Carolina’s first Black governor if elected, has been a polarizing figure due to previous controversial comments on LGBTQ+ issues and abortion.
He remains a favorite among the state’s conservative base and has been endorsed by Donald Trump.
However, Robinson’s absence from a recent Trump rally in Wilmington, and the lack of any mention by Trump, has raised questions about the strength of their alliance moving forward.
The allegations come at a critical time in the race, with Democratic nominee Josh Stein leading in polls. The deadline for Robinson to withdraw from the race has already passed, leaving the GOP in a difficult position