Former North Carolina Lt. Governor Mark Robinson has announced that he is dropping his defamation lawsuit against CNN. The lawsuit stemmed from a report published by the network on September 19, which claimed that Robinson had made racist and lewd comments on a website called Nude Africa approximately ten years ago. According to CNN, Robinson allegedly referred to himself as a “black Nazi” and appeared to enjoy watching transgender pornography.
Robinson, who had filed the lawsuit in October, denied writing the posts attributed to him. However, he has now decided to withdraw the legal action, calling it a “futile effort.” In a statement, Robinson expressed that while serving the people of North Carolina had been an honor, the ongoing political scrutiny and its impact on his family were burdens he no longer wished to endure.
The former lieutenant governor had run for governor in November but was unsuccessful in his bid, losing to Democrat Josh Stein by 14 points. Following his election loss and the dropped lawsuit, Robinson also stated that he would not be running for office next year and had no plans to seek elected office in the future.
This decision marks a shift in Robinson’s political career, as he had been a prominent conservative figure in North Carolina politics. While his tenure was marked by strong support from his base, he was also a controversial figure due to past statements and political stances. His decision to step away from future political races signals a departure from public office, at least for the foreseeable future.
