Sen. Tillis gives struggling Republican candidate in key state ultimatum: ‘He owes it to President Trump’
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., issued an ultimatum to North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson following the shock revelation of his alleged pornography scandal, saying he “owes it to President Trump.”
“If the Mark Robinson story is a complete fabrication, he needs to take immediate legal action,” Tillis said in a Friday message posted on X.
“If what he says is 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 before himself,” he said.
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North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson arrives at a “Get Out The Vote” rally in Greensboro, North Carolina, on March 2. (Getty Images)
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Tillis’ statement came after Robinson posted a video on social media denying his involvement in the scandal and vowing to remain in the race for governor of the Old North State.
“Let me reassure you, the things you’re going to see in this story, they’re not Mark Robinson’s words. You know my words, you know my character, and you know that I’ve been completely transparent in this race and before. Folks, in this race right now, our opponents are desperate to distract from the substantive issues and focus on what you care about and turn to salacious traps, sensationalist garbage,” he said in the X video.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to Robinson’s campaign for comment.
In comments to CNN, Robinson said it was “not us.”
“It’s not us. It’s not our words. And it’s not something that characterizes me,” Robinson said. “I’m not going to get into the details of how somebody fabricated this, these salacious tabloid lies.”
North Carolina Lieutenant Governor and gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson delivers remarks before former President Donald Trump, Republican presidential candidate, speaks during a campaign event at Harrah’s Cherokee Center on August 14, 2024, in Asheville, North Carolina.
In a report aired Thursday afternoon by CNN, the outlet alleged that Robinson had previously used a pornographic site called “Nude Africa.”
On the porn site, Robinson allegedly sent messages to other users about spying on women in locker rooms as a teenager, describing himself as a “black Nazi” and declaring a penchant for transgender pornography. The candidates’ involvement spanned from 2008 to 2012, according to CNN, well before Robinson entered the political arena in 2019.
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CNN report alleged that Robinson used a pseudonym on the pornographic site, “minisoldr.”
“I came to a place that was a dead end but had two big vent covers over it! It just so happened to overlook the showers! I sat there for about an hour and watched several girls come in and take showers,” Robinson reportedly wrote on Nude Africa.
In another 2010 article, CNN reported that Robinson allegedly said, “I’m a black Nazi!” while discussing black Republicans.
North Carolina Lt. Governor Mark Robinson speaks at the Faith and Freedom Road to Majority conference at the Washington Hilton on June 21, 2024, in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)
The allegations come as North Carolina remains a hotly contested key state heading into the 2024 election.
Key battleground states – including North Carolina – had razor-thin margins that decided President Biden 2020 election victory against Trump.
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In 2020, Trump narrowly won North Carolina by just over a point. The latest polls in the monumental 2024 presidential race suggest a toss-up, with the former president holding a slight advantage.
Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton, Paul Steinhauser and Tyler Olson contributed to this report.
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