Mark Robinson says he’s ‘going after’ CNN following report on history of online comments

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson said Monday he was going to “go after” CNN after the network published an investigation last week about his history of disturbing online comments.

The Republican nominee for governor has decried the story as “salacious tabloid trash,” insisting that “those are not the words of Mark Robinson,” while staff exit the campaign. And in comments to reporters in Wilkesboro on Monday morning, Robinson said he was in talks “up to legal counsel” to “take CNN to task.”

“We are going after them, okay?” Robinson said. “We are going to go after them for what they’ve done.”

He added that with five weeks left in the campaign, “we are not going to let CNN throw us off of our mission.” And he blasted the press for focusing on the controversy enveloping his candidacy rather than policy issues like the economy.

“You’re not focused on those things,” he said. “I am. I’m going to remain focused on those things. And you’d better understand, I am coming after CNN full throttle.”

Robinson has continued to hit the trail in the wake of the report, as some North Carolina Republicans distance themselves from him and the GOP presidential ticket ignores him at events in the battleground state.

A number of prominent staffers, including the campaign manager, deputy campaign manager, political director and more, have all left the campaign. After far-right conspiracy theorist Jack Burkman claimed on social media Sunday that he had assumed the role of “acting campaign manager,” campaign spokesperson Mike Lonergan said that was “completely false.”

Robinson’s opponent, Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein, has called Robinson “unfit” to serve as governor.