Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson “has an obligation to defend himself” following reports this week that Robinson posted obscene messages on a pornographic website more than a decade ago.
“These allegations are beyond disturbing,” Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said in reference to a CNN report Thursday that Robinson posted messages on a pornography website describing himself as a “black Nazi,” advocating for the restoration of slavery and depicting sexual acts. Robinson has denied the reports, calling them “tabloid trash” and vowing to stay in the race.
“If these allegations are true, he is unfit to hold office,” Graham said. “If they are not true, he could be facing the largest defamation lawsuit in the history of the country.”
“If I were him, I would hire the best lawyer I could. I would sue CNN,” Graham added, adding that Robinson “has an obligation to defend himself” because “this is a drag on his campaign.”
A CNN spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In an interview with CNN on Sunday, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, the Democrat running against Robinson for governor, blasted former President Donald Trump and the lieutenant governor, saying that “Robinson exists because Donald Trump made him governor.”
“Mark Robinson could not have existed without the support of Donald Trump,” Stein said, adding that candidates, regardless of rank, should be held accountable for their support of his campaign.
Graham added on Sunday’s “Meet the Press” that the story, while controversial, will not affect Trump’s chances of winning North Carolina in the Electoral College, even though he and Robinson will be on the same ballot.
Graham pointed to the 2016 and 2020 elections, where both times Trump won the Tar Heel state, but Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper also won his races.
“Trump won when the Republican gubernatorial candidate lost in 2016 and 2020,” Graham said.
The senator also discussed his visit to Nebraska earlier this week, where he met with Republican Gov. Jim Pillen and about two dozen Republican members of Nebraska’s unicameral legislature about overhauling state law to allow for majority voting in the Electoral College in the state this year.
Currently, Nebraska distributes its three Electoral College votes by congressional district, with the Republican candidate typically receiving two votes and the Democratic candidate receiving one. Maine is the only other state in the country that participates in the Electoral College in this manner.
“To my friends in Nebraska,” Graham said Sunday, “this electoral vote could be the difference between (Vice President Kamala) Harris becoming president or not, and she is a disaster for Nebraska and the world.”
He added: “The entire federal delegation from Nebraska – the members of the House and two senators – want this change.”
Supporters of the reform have said they do not yet have enough support to pass a bill. Graham estimates there is a “50 percent chance” the law will be changed before Election Day.
On Thursday, Nebraska Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts told NBC News that 48 states have first-past-the-post voting systems and Nebraska should follow suit.
“By not having it, we are disenfranchising our rural voters,” he added.
Ricketts also told NBC News that Graham is a “great spokesperson” for the movement to change Nebraska’s Electoral College votes, adding, “He has a deep understanding of why we need to make sure all of our voters have an opportunity to have their voices heard and what other states are doing.”
Julie Tsirkin, Kate Santaliz, Garrett Haake, Olympia Sonnier, Frank Thorp V And Summer Concepcion contributed.
