North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson finds himself embroiled in controversy as reports surface linking him to a series of inflammatory online comments and an account on Ashley Madison, a website designed for people seeking extramarital affairs. Robinson, a Republican candidate for governor, has vehemently denied the allegations, which come at a critical moment in his campaign.
The controversy began when an email address belonging to Robinson was found on Ashley Madison, a notorious website that gained widespread attention after a major data breach in 2015. Robinson's campaign swiftly denied that he ever created or used an account on the site. "Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson denies that he ever created or used an account on this website," said Mike Lonergan, Robinson's communications director.
Further complicating matters, CNN reported that Robinson had previously made a series of explicit and controversial comments on an online pornography forum called "Nude Africa," using the same email address associated with the Ashley Madison account. The posts, allegedly made between 2008 and 2012, included remarks about transgender pornography, racial slurs, and even statements supporting the return of slavery. Robinson has denied these claims as well, calling them "salacious tabloid trash."
In a video released by his campaign, Robinson addressed the mounting allegations and accused his political opponents of orchestrating a smear campaign. "Let me reassure you, the things that you will see in that story, those are not the words of Mark Robinson," he said, pointing fingers at his opponent, Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein. Robinson insisted that his campaign remains focused on the issues that matter to North Carolinians, dismissing the allegations as distractions. "We are not getting out of this race. There are people who are counting on us to win this race," he declared.
Despite Robinson's denials, prominent Republicans have voiced concerns about the severity of the allegations. U.S. Senator Ted Budd of North Carolina issued a statement calling the reported comments "disgusting" and urged Robinson to address the claims more thoroughly. "Mark Robinson says they are not from him. He needs to prove that to the voters," Budd said.
Rep. Richard Hudson, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, also expressed concern. "The allegations are very concerning," Hudson told reporters. "He says they're not true, but I think he needs to assure the people of the state with a little more detail."
The revelations have rocked Robinson's campaign for governor, a race in which he has already struggled to gain traction. Polls show Robinson trailing significantly behind Democratic candidate Josh Stein, with some surveys indicating a gap as large as 14 percentage points. An internal poll conducted for Donald Trump's campaign, which has endorsed Robinson, found the lieutenant governor trailing Stein by double digits while Trump himself leads Vice President Kamala Harris by three points in North Carolina.
Robinson's past remarks have been a source of controversy throughout his political career. He has previously made inflammatory statements about women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and religious minorities, which have drawn sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. In 2020, Robinson campaigned on a platform that included a complete ban on abortion without exceptions, though he later expressed regret for having paid for his now-wife to have an abortion in the 1980s.
However, the latest revelations of his alleged online activity have brought a new level of scrutiny. CNN's investigation uncovered posts attributed to Robinson under the username "minisoldr" on the Nude Africa forum, where he allegedly described his sexual arousal from voyeuristic experiences, expressed admiration for transgender pornography, and used racial and homophobic slurs. One post from 2010 reportedly included the phrase "I'm a black NAZI!" and another endorsed the return of slavery, with Robinson purportedly writing, "Slavery is not bad. Some people need to be slaves."
The timing of these revelations has sparked speculation about their impact on the broader political landscape in North Carolina. Despite Robinson's endorsements from Trump and the North Carolina Republican Party, political observers question whether he can recover from the damaging allegations as the governor's race heats up. Trump, who won North Carolina in both 2016 and 2020, has not publicly addressed the controversy but is scheduled to hold a rally in Wilmington this weekend, where Robinson may appear.
While Robinson continues to deny involvement in the online activities attributed to him, his opponents are capitalizing on the scandal. Stein's campaign released a statement condemning Robinson, saying, "North Carolinians already know Mark Robinson is completely unfit to be governor." Stein, who has positioned himself as a moderate Democrat focused on public safety and education, is using the controversy to further differentiate himself from the embattled lieutenant governor.
The impact of these allegations on Robinson's gubernatorial bid remains uncertain, but as the campaign moves forward, his ability to address the scandal could determine his political future. With key endorsements from influential figures like Trump, Robinson will need to convince voters that the accusations are baseless if he hopes to close the gap in the polls and remain a viable candidate.
