Top Staffers Quit Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s Campaign Amid Controversy

Several top staffers in North Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s campaign for governor have resigned following a CNN report that revealed disturbing posts made by Robinson on a pornography website’s message board over a decade ago. The campaign announced on Sunday that senior adviser Conrad Pogorzelski III, campaign manager Chris Rodriguez, the campaign’s finance director, and the deputy campaign manager have all stepped down from their roles.

Robinson expressed gratitude for the efforts of the departing team members and wished them well in their future endeavors. Pogorzelski, who played a key role in Robinson’s election as lieutenant governor in 2020, confirmed that additional staffers had also left the campaign voluntarily.

The CNN report detailed posts attributed to Robinson in which he referred to himself as a “black NAZI,” expressed enjoyment of transgender pornography, and made controversial statements about historical figures like Hitler and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Robinson denied writing the posts and vowed to continue his gubernatorial campaign despite the allegations.

Despite trailing in polls against Democratic nominee Josh Stein, Robinson remains optimistic about his chances in the November election. However, Stein has criticized Robinson as “utterly unqualified” and unfit for the governorship. The controversy surrounding Robinson’s past statements has drawn attention from national figures, with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham calling for a credible defense from Robinson to address the allegations.

As the election approaches, the fallout from the CNN report continues to impact Robinson’s campaign, raising questions about his fitness for office and the future of his candidacy.