Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina suggested that North Carolina's Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson should take legal action against the media or drop out of the race.
“If the reports about Mark Robinson are a complete media fabrication, he needs to take immediate legal action,” Tillis said at a press conference on Friday. post About X. “If the reports are true, he owes it to President Trump and all Republicans to take responsibility for his actions and put the future of North Carolina and our party above himself.”
Tillis' social media comments came the day after CNN published a shocking report revealing that Robinson had made a range of inflammatory comments on a pornography site more than a decade ago, including calling people “black Nazis” and calling for the reinstatement of slavery. CNN reported that Robinson made the comments on a website called “Nude Africa” between 2008 and 2012.
“Slavery is not a bad thing. Some people have to be slaves. I want slavery to be abolished.” [slavery] “I'll be back. I'll definitely buy some,” he said, according to CNN.
Robinson has denied the story was false and vowed to continue his campaign.
“I promise you that what you're going to see in this news story are not the words of Mark Robinson,” Robinson said in a video posted to X, which was shared shortly before CNN published the report.
“You know my words. You know my character. And you know I've been completely transparent in this campaign and before,” he added. “We're going to continue this campaign. We're fighting to win.”
Senator Tillis' first public response to the CNN report was on Thursday night. The Republican senator did not directly address the report, but warned that if Democratic candidate Vice President Harris wins in North Carolina, she will become the next president of the United States.
“It's been a tough day, but we've got to stay focused on the races we can win,” Tillis said in an interview Friday night. statement About X. “We must ensure President Trump wins North Carolina and support the excellent Republican candidates running in key NCGA and judicial races. If Harris wins North Carolina, she'll also get the White House. We can't let that happen.”
North Carolina Republican Party Protected Robinson on Thursday claimed “the left” is “demonizing” him and trying to shift the focus of the race from policy to a “personality contest.”
Robinson, who has been endorsed by Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump, will face off against Democrat Josh Stein, who is leading in most recent polls. A source familiar with the matter said Robinson will not attend Trump's rally in the state on Saturday. Robinson, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, attended the former president's rally in the Tar Heel State last month.
The Hill has reached out to Robinson's campaign for comment.
