The filing was made in Wake County Superior Court on Tuesday morning. Robinson accuses CNN and Money of defamation, saying Money’s claims are “completely unsubstantiated and defamatory.”
Robinson seeks relief to include “all income the defendants have made off of their lies” in an amount proven at trial to be no less than $50 million.
Robinson, in a prepared statement released, said, “As I’ve said from the beginning, the claims from leftist media like CNN and grifters like Louis Love Money are salacious tabloid trash. CNN’s disgraceful and dishonest smears against me and my family amount to a 21st century, high-tech lynching.”
The CNN story appeared on Sept. 19 under the headline “‘I’m a black NAZI!’: NC GOP nominee for governor made dozens of disturbing comments on porn forum.” A replaying video is atop the story with comments he made 14 years ago.
The story refers to comments he is accused of making between 2008 and 2012. CNN said it authenticated its findings based on biographical information of Robinson compared to the poster on multiple websites, and a common email address.
Robinson on the same day released a video vowing to stay in the race for governor against Attorney General Josh Stein.
“Folks, this race right now, our opponents are desperate to shift the focus from the substantive issues and focus on what you are concerned with, to salacious tabloid trash. We cannot allow that to happen.”
Robinson and Stein were considered a toss-up race earlier in the calendar year, even into the spring. During the summer and since, polling suggests Stein has begun to create separation. After the CNN story dropped, so did Robinson’s polling numbers.
An Emerson College poll of 1,000 likely voters taken Oct. 5-8 had Stein ahead 49.5%-34.4% with 11.3% still undecided.
Robinson’s release notes national news wire The Associated Press has reported but not confirmed the CNN findings.
Todd Stiefel, originator of the political action committee Americans for Prosparody, is the donor. Robinson’s release says, “While Stein’s team claimed to disavow Stiefel, they have yet to disavow his campaign contributions.”
In a campaign stop on Monday in Ayden, The Daily Reflector reported Robinson told his audience at Bum’s Restaurant, “Why are they doing all this, folks? Why are they spending $50 million on a guy they said couldn’t win the governor’s mansion? Because they know we can. They know good and well what’s at stake here.”
