NC GOP candidate Mark Robinson sues CNN for defamation over porn site allegations

Lawsuit comes weeks before state's November 5 gubernatorial election where Robinson faces Democrat Josh Stein

North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate and current Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson has filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against CNN, accusing the network of publishing false reports that he posted inflammatory comments on a pornography website over a decade ago.

The lawsuit, filed in Wake County Superior Court, comes just weeks before the state's Nov. 5 gubernatorial election, where Robinson faces Democrat Josh Stein, North Carolina's attorney general.

The lawsuit stems from a CNN report that aired in September, alleging that Robinson made racially and sexually explicit comments on a pornographic website's message board under the username "minisoldr."

Among the claims, CNN reported that Robinson called himself a "black Nazi," expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler over then-President Barack Obama, and criticized civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. as "worse than a maggot."

The report also claimed Robinson expressed support for slavery and made derogatory comments about transgender people.

Robinson, 56, has vehemently denied the accusations, calling the report a “malicious hit job” intended to derail his gubernatorial campaign.

At a press conference announcing the lawsuit, Robinson described the CNN story as part of a broader campaign of political interference against him, describing it as a “high-tech lynching.”

He has also suggested that his data, including personal information, was compromised in multiple data breaches, and he denied ever authoring the posts attributed to him by CNN.

The lawsuit, which also names Greensboro musician Louis Love Money as a defendant, accuses CNN of publishing the defamatory claims despite doubts over the verifiability of the data.

Money, a punk rock singer, had alleged in a music video and an interview that Robinson frequented a porn shop where he worked in the 1990s and early 2000s, accusations Robinson has also denied.

CNN's report was based on what it described as a comparison of online accounts, including usernames and email addresses, that matched Robinson’s biographical information, such as his age and length of marriage.

However, Robinson claims that CNN failed to provide him with access to the purported data supporting its story, which he says was obtained from the dark web.

The lawsuit argues that CNN’s report was part of a coordinated effort to damage Robinson’s campaign. While it offers no concrete evidence of collaboration between CNN and outside groups, Robinson’s attorney, Jesse Binnall, hinted that the legal team will use subpoena power to uncover more information.

Binnall, a Virginia-based attorney who has previously represented former President Donald Trump, emphasized the need for thorough investigation.

Robinson has been a polarizing figure in North Carolina politics, known for his controversial remarks on issues such as LGBTQ+ rights and abortion.

Despite his endorsement by Trump, the CNN report led to backlash from within his own party, with many Republican leaders distancing themselves from his campaign.

The Republican Governors Association, which had been financially supporting Robinson’s bid, has since withdrawn its backing.

With early voting already underway in North Carolina, polls show Stein holding a lead over Robinson.

The defamation suit is seen as a critical moment in the race, which has drawn national attention due to the high-profile nature of the candidates and the contentious nature of the claims.

Robinson, if elected, would be the first Black governor of North Carolina.