GOP donors ‘getting fleeced’ by Mark Robinson, Republican says amid CNN report fallout

A top-ranking North Carolina Republican says the news of the latest scandal involving Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is running for governor, is “not a shock to me.”

CNN reported on Thursday a series of allegations detailing posts that are vulgar, racist, sexually explicit and derogatory, and tied the decade-old online postings on a pornographic website to Robinson himself through several identifying details, from his email address to a photo and common phrases. Robinson denies that it was him, and says as of Thursday evening that he will not exit the race.

North Carolina’s Republican State Treasurer Dale Folwell said “it seems like anyone who’s ever come in contact with (Robinson) has been fleeced. And this is just the latest example of the taxpayers and the donors getting fleeced.”

Folwell, a longtime elected official who also served in the General Assembly, ran unsuccessfully against Robinson in the Republican gubernatorial primary.

“His consultants, who have made hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars off him, are laughing all the way to the bank,” Folwell said in an interview Thursday with The News & Observer.

The CNN report is “concerning,” said Rep. Richard Hudson, a North Carolina member of Congress who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, in a statement sent by a spokesperson for the NRCC.

“The allegations involving Lt. Gov. Robinson in this new report are concerning. I am hoping Mark can reassure North Carolinians that each of these specific allegations are not true,” Hudson said.

Former primary opponent on Robinson

Folwell recalled Robinson saying in a speech “that anybody who criticizes him, God’s going to come down on a white horse and exercise His vengeance.”

“I guess there’s going to be a lot of white horses,” Folwell said.

As treasurer, Folwell serves on the 10-member Council of State with Robinson and other statewide elected officials.

Folwell said that when it comes to dropping out of the race for governor, the only people who can make that decision are Robinson, former President Donald Trump and Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley, who previously led the NC Republican Party, because “they’re the ones that selected him to start with.”

Trump has endorsed Robinson, and brought him on stage with him briefly during a campaign rally in Asheboro in August. However, Robinson was not at a rally this week with Sen. JD Vance, Trump’s running mate.

Scott Lassiter, a Republican candidate for state Senate, is calling for Robinson to end his campaign and let another Republican take his place.

Lassiter said that “no one should feel obligated to support a candidate solely due to party affiliation,” and called for Robinson to step aside.

Robinson said even before the CNN report came out that he will not leave the race, and denies the allegations.

Democrats’ response

Robinson’s opponent in the governor’s race is Attorney General Josh Stein.

“North Carolinians already know Mark Robinson is completely unfit to be Governor. Josh remains focused on winning this campaign so that together we can build a safer, stronger North Carolina for everyone,” Stein’s campaign said in a statement sent to The N&O.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, at a event-naming ceremony for the Lenovo Center, was asked about Robinson ahead of the CNN story publishing.

“So there is something special that has happened? I think every day could be a reason for him to have dropped out of the race. You know, he’s the wrong choice for North Carolina,” Cooper told reporters.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson, who is running for attorney general against Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, sent out a news release about the CNN story with photos of Bishop and Robinson together, asking if Bishop regrets his endorsement of Robinson.

“Is he still “proud” to give Robinson his support? ... Or are Robinson’s comments on Nazis and slavery a bridge too far, even after all the other controversy?” Jackson wrote.

Other Democrats were already sending out fundraising emails off the Robinson news, including Democratic state House candidate Nicole Sidman, who is running against Republican N.C. Rep. Tricia Cotham. Cotham switched parties in 2023, delivering a supermajority to Republicans in the General Assembly.

“Anyone who calls themself a Nazi, says Hitler would be a better leader than an American president, or advocates for the return of slavery — even in jest — shouldn’t hold public office or a position of trust in the United States,” Sidman’s campaign email said, referencing the allegations in the CNN report.

Democratic Governors Association spokesperson Izzi Levy called it “just the latest proof that Mark Robinson is unhinged, dangerous, and completely unfit to be governor.”

Avi Bajpai and Chip Alexander contributed to this story.