Several key figures from Republican Mark Robinson’s campaign for North Carolina governor have resigned, just days after a CNN report revealed controversial comments made by Robinson on a pornographic website. On Sunday, the campaign confirmed the departures of general consultant and senior adviser Conrad Pogorzelski III, campaign manager Chris Rodriguez, finance director Heather Whillier, and deputy campaign manager Jason Rizk.
Pogorzelski confirmed their decision to step down, citing that they had done so voluntarily. Additional resignations included deputy finance director Caroline Winchester, political directors John Kontoulas and Jackson Lohrer, and operations director Patrick Riley.
These resignations follow the release of a CNN investigation that uncovered offensive remarks Robinson made on an adult website over ten years ago. In the messages, Robinson referred to himself as a “black Nazi” and shared inappropriate stories about spying on women at a gym as a teenager. While Robinson has been known for making provocative statements in the past, these newly discovered comments have heightened the controversy surrounding his campaign.
Robinson had listed his full name and email address on the website, linking the posts directly to him.
The comments, which were notably sexual and lewd, were posted under the username "minisoldr," a name that Mark Robinson has used frequently online. CNN connected the username to Robinson by cross-referencing various biographical details and a common email address. In his posts, Robinson made controversial remarks about race, gender, and abortion, including referring to himself as a “black NAZI!” and expressing support for the reinstatement of slavery. He also discussed his interest in transgender pornography, which contradicts his recent anti-transgender rhetoric.
In an interview with CNN, Robinson vehemently denied making those comments on the site Nude Africa. “These are not our words, and this does not reflect who I am,” he asserted. When confronted with evidence linking him to the username, he dismissed it as “salacious tabloid lies” and refused to delve into the details of how this situation might have been fabricated.
Despite the uproar, the North Carolina Republican Party has continued to support Robinson, issuing a statement on Thursday that highlighted his categorical denial of the allegations. “The Left is attempting to demonize him through personal attacks,” the NCGOP's statement read. “They want this election to focus on personalities rather than policies, because if voters consider the policies, Republicans will prevail on Election Day.” This statement was released just hours before the deadline for any candidate wishing to withdraw from the race.
Following the CNN report, some Republicans in North Carolina have begun pressuring Mark Robinson to withdraw from the gubernatorial race, although the official deadline for his exit has already passed. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign has sought to exploit Robinson’s ties to former President Donald Trump in a new advertisement. CNN’s KFILE noted that the offensive posts from the pornographic website Nude Africa were taken down on Thursday, but it remains unclear whether Robinson himself or the site’s administrators made the removal. Neither the Robinson campaign nor Nude Africa responded to CNN's requests for comment.
In a statement, Robinson reaffirmed his commitment to the campaign, asserting, “Polls have consistently underestimated Republican support in North Carolina, and with a significant portion of the electorate still undecided, I believe our campaign is well-positioned to connect with voters and succeed on November 5.”
Notably absent from a rally featuring Trump in Wilmington, Robinson was not invited to the event, and the former president did not mention him during his speech. Trump has previously expressed admiration for Robinson, referring to him as “Martin Luther King on steroids” at a rally in Greensboro earlier this year, where he praised Robinson's speaking abilities.
This story has been updated with contributions from CNN's Andrew Kaczynski, Em Steck, and Eric Bradner.
In the wake of recent controversies, Mark Robinson's campaign faces increasing scrutiny and pressure from within his own party, as well as from political opponents. While Robinson maintains his commitment to the gubernatorial race, the fallout from the CNN report and the subsequent departures of key campaign officials raise questions about the campaign's viability and public perception. As the election approaches, the dynamics between Robinson, Trump, and the broader Republican landscape will be critical in determining his path forward. How effectively he navigates these challenges will significantly impact both his candidacy and the Republican Party’s standing in North Carolina.
