Robinson told National Review that ‘continuing to pursue retribution from CNN is a futile effort.’
Former North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson is dropping his defamation lawsuit against CNN over an article the network published connecting the 2024 Republican gubernatorial nominee to salacious race and sex-related comments posted on a porn site years ago, National Review has learned.
“The words of our Savior, along with the Earthly reality that costly litigation and political gamesmanship by my detractors make clear that continuing to pursue retribution from CNN is a futile effort,” Robinson told National Review in an exclusive statement. “That is why I have asked Jesse Binnall [Robinson’s lawyer] and his legal team to terminate any continued attempt to litigate with CNN on my or my family’s behalf.”
Robinson, who lost a race for governor in November, also said he’s retiring from politics.
“I will not next year, nor do I have plans in the future to seek elected office,” he told National Review. The statement seems to confirm that Robinson will not run a primary challenge to North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who is up for reelection in 2026 and has long had a rocky relationship with his state’s former lieutenant governor.
In a statement thanking his legal team, supporters, and a “number of courageous whistle blowers who came forward with their tips, evidence, and information,” Robinson pledged to “continue to utilize my platform to promote and support many of the issues we are all so passionate about,” but “from the sidelines.”
The statement seemingly marks an end to a dramatic saga in North Carolina politics following the publishing of the CNN story. After the story dropped, chaos ensued: the Republican Governors Association canceled pro-Robinson fundraisers and stopped running ads on his behalf, GOP governors distanced themselves from his candidacy, and members of his campaign staff quit in droves.
In October, Robinson filed a defamation lawsuit in the Superior Court of Wake County against CNN after the network published a story connecting the gubernatorial candidate to unsavory comments made by the username “minisoldr” on a porn-site called Nude Africa. Among the comments, he allegedly referred to himself online as a “black NAZI!” and defended slavery.
Robinson has categorically denied the allegations and called the story, published the day of the candidate drop-out deadline, “so well timed as to be uncanny.” His attorneys originally sought $50 million in damages, but later amended the lawsuit to seek in excess of $25,000.
Cash poor and struggling to keep his campaign afloat, he lost the race for retiring Democratic governor Roy Cooper’s seat to Democrat Josh Stein by nearly 15 points.
In November, CNN filed a motion to move the lawsuit to federal court and then to dismiss it entirely, calling it “political theatre” and arguing that “Robinson has not adequately alleged that CNN acted with actual malice.” In December, Robinson’s legal team filed a motion to remand the lawsuit back to state court.
For now, at least, Robinson appears to be done with politics.
“The fact of the matter is this: the price we have paid in entering the political arena will never be recognized,” he told National Review. “There is no dollar amount high enough. While it has been an honor of a lifetime to serve the people of North Carolina, the continued political persecution of my family and loved ones is a cost I am unwilling to continue to bear.”