North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson is suing CNN over a story the outlet published last month revealing salacious messages using offensive language that he allegedly posted on a porn website.
The suit, filed in North Carolina, alleges the network defamed Robinson and intended to “derail his political career” with a “reckless disregard for the truth.” It seeks $50 million in damages.
The CNN story was published online Sept. 19 and laid out inflammatory and offensive comments Robinson reportedly made on a porn website’s message board more than a decade ago, including some in which he called himself a “black NAZI” and said he would like to own slaves.
The bombshell report sparked the resignation of several key staffers to Robinson’s campaign.
“CNN—a politically left-wing media outlet, whose reporting is often indistinguishable from Democrat party talking points and opposes politically conservative candidates for office, including Lt. Gov. Robinson—intended to damage Lt. Gov. Robinson’s gubernatorial run,” the lawsuit reads.
CNN declined to comment.
Robinson previously teased a lawsuit against the network, which is a frequent target of former President Trump and his allies.
“Think about what’s going on our border. Think about what’s going on on the world stage. And this is what you — this is what you choose to focus on?” Robinson told reporters days after the story was published. “You’ve got these news cameras, news reporters, pens, pencils, your microphones, this is what you’re focused on?”
