Top advisers leave Republican Mark Robinson’s gubernatorial campaign
Four senior aides to controversial North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson have resigned amid a series of controversies.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee is withdrawing his support for controversial North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson and retracting an earlier endorsement of his gubernatorial candidacy amid reports of offensive and racist remarks Robinson made on pornographic websites prior to his political career.
“Governor Lee no longer supports Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson’s candidacy for governor,” Lee spokeswoman Elizabeth Johnson said in an email to The Tennessean on Monday.
Lee was scheduled to travel to North Carolina this week for a previously planned fundraiser for Robinson, but Lee’s office confirmed Friday that the event, which charged $500 per ticket, had been canceled.
With his decision, Lee is reversing his recommendation, which he made in March as chairman of the Republican Governor’s Association, shortly after Robinson won the gubernatorial primary.
“North Carolina families want someone whose conservative policies will deliver results by expanding opportunity, safety and freedom. From investing in safe neighborhoods to promoting economic prosperity, Mark Robinson will put the people of North Carolina first,” Lee said in a statement at the time.
The RGA’s current ad buy in North Carolina expires on Tuesday and no further placements have been made, a spokesman said Monday, according to several media reports.
An explosive CNN report last week detailed numerous inflammatory remarks Robinson made on social media and pornographic websites before becoming politically active. According to CNN reports, Robinson years ago referred to himself as a “black NAZI!”, made comments supporting slavery and saying “I’d definitely buy a few,” and shared explicit sexual fantasies and stories in comments on the pornographic website Nude Africa between 2008 and 2012.
Robinson denied ever making those comments, calling them “offensive tabloid garbage” leaked by his Democratic opponent, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein. He has vowed not to drop out of the race.
“You know my words, you know my character, and you know I have been completely transparent in this race and before,” Robinson said in a video Thursday.
An email address belonging to Robinson was also previously registered with Ashley Madison, a website for married people looking for an affair, Politico reported Thursday. Robinson’s campaign denies that he ever created or used the account.
Several senior members of Robinson’s campaign team resigned over the weekend, Politico reported.
The Republican Governor’s Association did not respond to The Tennessean’s request for comment on the matter.
Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at [email protected] or @Vivian_E_Jones.
