CNN Hit With Legal Threat After Going After GOP Candidate

North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson (R-NC) has announced plans to pursue legal action against CNN following the network’s investigative report linking him to offensive and lewd comments made on an adult website years ago. Robinson, who currently serves as North Carolina’s lieutenant governor, asserts that the allegations are unfounded and part of a larger effort to undermine his campaign.

“We absolutely are [taking action],” Robinson said during an interview on Monday. “We’re in talks right now, everything up to legal counsel to take CNN to task for what they have done to us. We are going after them. We are going to go after them for what they’ve done.”

The allegations come from a CNN KFile report linking Robinson to derogatory comments made under the username “minisoldr” on an adult entertainment website. CNN asserts that these remarks, dating back over a decade, include racially charged statements and extreme views that contradict his current public stance. Robinson vehemently denies the accusations, calling them fabricated and aimed at distracting voters from the genuine issues facing North Carolinians.

“Make no mistake about it. We are not going to let CNN throw us off of our mission,” Robinson said. “Our mission is to win this race. And quite frankly, I am dismayed about the fact, as I said before, think about how many people out there right now, right in this place where we are right now who are hooked on fentanyl, who are hooked on opioids and how many will die tonight because of it? Think about what’s going on on our border. Think about what’s going on on the world stage.”

“You better understand, I am coming after CNN full throttle,” Robinson said. “But we’ve got to put the people first, and in order to do that, we’ve got to concentrate on this campaign. And that is exactly what we’re going to do.”

This isn’t Robinson’s first confrontation with the media. Throughout his rise to political prominence, he has often clashed with outlets he views as biased, accusing them of neglecting the real issues affecting everyday Americans. Robinson, a staunch advocate for conservative values, has previously made headlines with his bold positions on issues like abortion and transgender rights. He has been unflinching in his rhetoric, frequently criticizing opponents and media outlets he accuses of misleading the public. Despite the controversy, his base seems largely undeterred.

CNN reports that Robinson’s past online comments include controversial statements such as dismissing a celebrity’s abortion and making derogatory remarks about race and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. He has been accused of using offensive language, which some have interpreted as indicative of white supremacy. Additionally, there have been allegations about him frequenting pornography shops in the 1990s and 2000s, though his spokesperson has denied these claims.

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Before the accusations surfaced last Thursday, Robinson had been closing the polling gap with his Democratic opponent, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein. The Democratic AG, who has held various political positions in the state, is campaigning to become North Carolina’s first Jewish governor. Despite this, Robinson’s message has resonated with many voters who feel dissatisfied with the current political establishment.