NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson Sues CNN Over Exposé

Mark Robinson has been making some waves in North Carolina politics. As the current Lieutenant Governor of the state, Robinson has also thrown his hat into the ring as a candidate for governor.  

However, his political career has not been without controversy. Most recently, he’s found himself at the center of a firestorm surrounding some contentious comments posted under a pseudonym on the internet that CNN linked to Robinson. Let’s take a look at how he got here.

The Controversial Carolinian

Robinson's background includes service in the U.S. Army Reserves and experience in various blue-collar jobs before entering politics. He rose to political prominence after a passionate pro-gun rights speech at a city council meeting went viral in 2018. Then, in 2020, he was elected as North Carolina's first Black lieutenant governor.

Since then, Robinson has been a bit of a controversial figure, known for his conservative views and outspoken nature. He would often make headlines for his strong stances on social issues and his criticism of public education policies.

Contentious Comments

Throughout his campaign and tenure as lieutenant governor, Robinson made numerous offensive remarks that were racist, sexist, homophobic, and antisemitic. He often treated the outrage these comments generated as a badge of honor.

Robinson's outspoken opposition to transgender rights was a major point of contention. In 2021, he faced calls for resignation after labeling education on transgender issues as "child abuse" and LGBTQ+ content as "filth." He also suggested that transgender individuals should be arrested for using bathrooms that align with their gender identity. Robinson also engaged in rather incendiary rhetoric on abortion, criticizing women's empowerment and birth control.

Not only did this contribute to his controversial public image, but his opponent, Josh Stein, capitalized on it by contrasting it with his own platform that focused on positive messaging and reproductive rights. Many of Robinson's past remarks on issues like these have led to calls for his resignation. Even the Trump campaign has reportedly pressured Robinson to withdraw, fearing a negative impact on the broader Republican ticket.

All in all, it’s safe to say that the lieutenant governor didn’t exactly have a scandal-free record before CNN got involved.

CNN’s Scoop

About a month ago, CNN released an exposé on Robinson, revealing his troubling hidden online history. It linked him to an internet persona ("minisoldr") which had a history of making highly offensive and shocking comments.

Robinson, through this persona, described himself as a "Black NAZI!" and praised Hitler. He made racially offensive remarks about Martin Luther King Jr., expressing derogatory views. One of the most disturbing comments attributed to "minisoldr" was about slavery. Robinson reportedly wrote, "Slavery is not bad," and expressed a desire for its return, saying he would "certainly buy a few" slaves.

Additionally, the account attributed to Robinson made several comments related to pornography — including an admission of enjoying transgender pornography, despite his public anti-transgender stance. He described his interest in "tranny on girl porn," calling it "f*cking hot" and referred to himself as a "perv." Additionally, he recounted a voyeuristic experience from his youth, where he secretly watched women showering, describing it as a fantasy he still remembered.

Repercussions for the Republican

CNN connected Robinson’s name, email address, and biographical details to this persona. CNN claims it chose not to release all findings due to their disturbing nature. This report intensified scrutiny on Robinson, who had already been dealing with backlash over his controversial public statements. The fallout from the report led to the resignation of most of Robinson’s campaign and official staff. The national Republican Governors Association also withdrew financial support.

Despite the revelations, Robinson declared his intention to stay in the race, comparing his situation to Clarence Thomas's past controversies. He called CNN’s report report “salacious tabloid trash” — and vowed to fight back, hiring the Binnall Law Firm to investigate CNN. His attorney, Jesse Binnall, labeled the report a “journalistic hit job,” suggesting the posts could have been made by anyone.

Robinson Fights Back

Robinson’s team shortly filed a complaint in North Carolina state court against CNN, alleging reckless and defamatory reporting. In defamation cases, public figures must prove the information was false and that the defendant acted with knowledge of its falsity or reckless disregard for the truth.

The filing claims that the news network published the report despite knowing or recklessly disregarding that his personal data had been compromised in previous data breaches. Robinson’s team hasn’t yet provided any specific evidence against CNN’s claims but argues the information came from unreliable sources, including hacked data from the dark web. The lawsuit suggests a coordinated attack to derail his gubernatorial campaign, though it has yet to provide evidence of such a scheme. The complaint seeks at least $50 million in damages.

Robinson also sued a Greensboro punk rock band singer, Louis Love Money, who owns a pornography shop in the state. Money claimed Robinson was a frequent customer at his porn shop. Robinson denies these claims, stating he only visited the shop because he worked nearby and would bring pizza to Money. The lawsuit claims these actions are part of an effort to damage his political career.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Robinson stated: “When times of trouble come in this thing we call politics, it separates the strong folks from the weak. The weak will turn and run, and the strong will stand and fight. And that’s what we’re doing here today.”

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