What's happened
Mark Robinson, North Carolina's lieutenant governor, is embroiled in controversy following a CNN report detailing inflammatory comments he allegedly made on a porn site. The fallout has led to staff resignations and raised questions about his gubernatorial campaign against Democrat Josh Stein.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, Robinson has hired attorney Jesse Binnall, known for representing Trump, to combat CNN's allegations. Robinson claims the comments attributed to him are fabricated, stating, 'These are not my words and this is not anything characteristic of me.' Meanwhile, Axios highlights the significant backlash within the GOP, noting that Trump's campaign is increasing its presence in North Carolina while distancing itself from Robinson. The Guardian reports that GOP leaders are urging Robinson to defend himself credibly, with Graham stating, 'If they’re true, he’s unfit to serve for office.' This sentiment is echoed by other Republican figures who are concerned about the potential fallout from Robinson's comments on the party's standing in a crucial swing state.
How we got here
Robinson's campaign has been marred by allegations of past comments, including self-identifying as a 'Black Nazi' and making graphic statements about women. These revelations come as he trails in polls against his Democratic opponent, Josh Stein.
More on these topics
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North Carolina is a state in the southeastern region of the United States. North Carolina is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the 50 United States.
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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Kamala Devi Harris is an American attorney and politician who has served as the junior United States Senator from California since 2017.
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James David Vance is an American author and venture capitalist. He is best known for his memoir Hillbilly Elegy, about Appalachian values and their relation to the social problems of his hometown, which attracted significant media attention during the 201
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CNN is an American news-based pay television channel owned by CNN Worldwide, a unit of the WarnerMedia News & Sports division of AT&T's WarnerMedia.
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Lindsey Olin Graham is an American politician, affiliated to the Republican Party, who serves as the senior United States Senator from South Carolina, a seat he has held since 2003.
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Joshua Stein is an American lawyer and politician who serves as the 50th and current Attorney General of North Carolina, a position he has held since 2017.
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Mark Robinson may refer to: