Robinson hires law firm to investigate ‘false smears’ in CNN report

North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson announced it hired a law firm to investigate the “false smears” in the CNN report that outlined the candidate calling himself a “black NAZI.”

Robinson’s campaign said on Tuesday it hired Binnall Law Group, a law firm based in northern Virginia whose partner, Jesse Binnall, had worked for former President Trump and his campaign. 

“As I’ve said from the beginning, the claims from CNN are salacious lies. I will not let these attacks distract us from sharing a better future for our state, and I’m glad to be able to bring Jesse Binnall and his team on board to investigate where and how these false smears originated,” Robinson, who has shot down claims detailed in the CNN bombshell report, said in a statement. 

“I am confident that Binnall Law Group will leave no stone unturned and enable us to use every legal means to hold CNN accountable for their lies,” he continued. “In the meantime, my campaign remains laser-focused on the issues at stake in this election.”

Robinson threatened to sue CNN on Monday. 

CNN’s explosive report revealed that Robinson made a flurry of inflammatory comments on a pornography website’s message board over 10 years ago. Among those included wishing for slavery to be reinstated and saying he was a “black NAZI.” Robinson also reportedly said that Martin Luther King Jr. was a “commie bastard” and that he would pick Adolf Hitler over “any of the s‑‑‑ that’s in Washington.”

Some Republicans have distanced themselves from the gubernatorial candidate, who is amid a firestorm over CNN’s report. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) indicated he would not vote for Robinson. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said over the weekend that if the allegations in the report are true, he would be “unfit to serve.” 

“Look, I’ve seen these allegations, Jake, and they’re concerning allegations,” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said on CNN, adding that Robinson “owes the people of North Carolina more answers about it.” 

CNN’s report, released last week, has caused resignations from Robinson campaign’s key staffers, including the campaign manager, a finance director, a deputy campaign manager, a general consultant and a senior adviser. The Republican Governors Association said it has no further ad buys placed in Robinson’s race against state Attorney General Josh Stein (D). 

“My team and I are looking forward to getting to the bottom of CNN’s claims and we will bring all our resources to bear in getting to the facts. Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, his family and the voters of North Carolina deserve nothing less,” Binnall said. 

The Hill has reached out to CNN for comment.