Robinson campaign staffers resign amid online post fallout
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Several top staffers in North Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s campaign for governor have resigned following a CNN report that revealed he made disturbing posts on a porn site’s message board more than a decade ago. Robinson, who would be North Carolina’s first Black governor if elected, has denied the allegations and refused to withdraw from the race, despite trailing in the polls against Democratic nominee Josh Stein. Robinson has some history of making inflammatory comments, with past remarks comparing abortion to slavery and suggesting women who sought abortion “weren’t responsible enough to keep your skirt down.”
North Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, accused of making disturbing posts on porn site boards, experiences fallout from a CNN report as top staffers quit his gubernatorial campaign.
Senior adviser Conrad Pogorzelski III, campaign manager Chris Rodriguez, the finance director, and the deputy campaign manager have stepped down. The campaign promises new staff announcements soon.
Robinson thanked the exiting team members for their contribution and wished them well for future endeavors.
Pogorzelski, who played a key role in Robinson’s 2020 election win, informed that several additional staffers including the deputy finance director, two political directors, and the director of operations have also left the campaign.
According to the CNN report, Robinson allegedly referred to himself as a “black NAZI;” enjoyed transgender pornography; preferred Hitler to Obama in 2012; and insulted the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Robinson denied the allegations, dismissing them as “salacious tabloid lies.” He refrained from discussing the controversy during a campaign event at a race track in Fayetteville. Interestingly, former President Donald Trump didn’t mention Robinson at a rally in Wilmington on the same day.
Despite the controversy, Robinson remains hopeful of victory in the November elections against Democratic nominee Josh Stein, the sitting attorney general, despite trailing him in the polls.
Robinson has been controversial in the past as well, equating women seeking abortion to irresponsible behavior and comparing abortion to slavery.
Meanwhile, Stein has declared Robinson as “utterly unqualified, unfit” for the governor’s post. The Democrats are leveraging the situation to draw attention to Trump’s association with Robinson.
Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham opined that Robinson deserves a chance to defend against the allegations, describing them as “unnerving.” While Graham expressed that Robinson is “a political zombie if he does not offer a credible defense,” he maintained that the issue wouldn’t impact Trump adversely.
Graham further stated that if the allegations are true, Robinson is unfit for office. However, if they are false, he would have a strong case for a libel lawsuit.
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