CNN released a report Thursday detailing allegations that Robinson called Martin Luther King Jr. “Martin Lucifer K**n,” supported the reinstatement of slavery, and posted sexually graphic comments on the forum “Nude Africa.” The outlet noted that it was able to verify that Robinson made the posts “by matching a litany of biographical details and a shared email address between the two,” referring to the lieutenant governor and the account titled “minisoldr.”

The message board comments, made between 2008 and 2012, predate Robinson’s time as lieutenant governor.

Robinson called the report “salacious tabloid trash” and quoted Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in saying he was also a victim of “a high-tech lynching.” The North Carolina Republican blamed his Democratic challenger, state Attorney General Josh Stein, for leaking the story.

I wanted to take a minute to address the latest outrageous lies coming from my opponent’s dishonest campaign: #ncgov #ncpol pic.twitter.com/RtteVUiozr

— Mark Robinson (@markrobinsonNC) September 19, 2024

The Washington Examiner reached out to Stein’s campaign regarding Robinson’s accusation.

Robinson said in a video statement just before the report’s publication that he is staying in the race despite speculation that he would drop out.

“Let me assure you, the things you will see in that story, those are not the words of Mark Robinson,” he said. “You know my words. You know my character, and you know that I have been completely transparent in this race and before.

“We are staying in this race,” he added. “We are in it to win it.”

Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign attempted to link Robinson with former President Donald Trump, who endorsed the North Carolinian Republican and said in March that he was “better than Martin Luther King.” The Kamala HQ X account posted a video of Trump saying the phrase.

The Washington Examiner reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.

Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) told reporters before the report’s publication that the “allegations are concerning, but we don’t have any facts.”

National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson (R-NC) told Punchbowl News that the allegations are “very concerning.”

“He says they’re not true,” Hudson said. “I think he needs to assure the people of the state in more detail that they aren’t true.”

Robinson has been blasted repeatedly for other past comments and posts, including that he would like a complete abortion ban. He has since walked back that position, instead saying in a campaign ad that he stands by the current 12-week ban, with exceptions.

Another detail in the report described that Robinson said he wished slavery was still around and that he would buy slaves.

“Slavery is not bad,” he allegedly said. “Some people need to be slaves. I wish they would bring (slavery) back. I would certainly buy a few.”

Recent surveys have Robinson trailing Stein in the gubernatorial race, which could have an impact on the presidential election as well, with North Carolina considered a vital swing state to both Harris and Trump.