Top Staff Resign from Mark Robinson's Campaign Amid Controversy
Four senior members of Mark Robinson’s gubernatorial campaign have resigned following allegations that the North Carolina lieutenant governor made offensive posts on a pornographic website years ago. The resignations were confirmed by the campaign on Sunday, just weeks before the November election.
Conrad Pogorzelski III, general consultant and senior adviser; Chris Rodriguez, campaign manager; Heather Whillier, finance director; and Jason Rizk, deputy campaign manager, have all stepped down from their positions. The campaign did not specify reasons for their departures.
In a statement, Robinson acknowledged the resignations but remained focused on the upcoming election. “I appreciate the efforts of these team members who have made the difficult choice to step away from the campaign, and I wish them well in their future endeavors,” Robinson said. “I look forward to announcing new staff roles in the coming days.”
The resignations come in the wake of a CNN report that alleged Robinson authored racist and antisemitic posts on the pornographic website "Nude Africa," where he reportedly described himself as a “black Nazi” and expressed a preference for Adolf Hitler over then-President Barack Obama. Robinson has denied making the comments, calling them “salacious tabloid lies.”
Robinson, who is currently trailing his Democratic opponent Josh Stein in recent polls, asserted that his campaign remains strong despite the departures. “I am confident our campaign remains in a strong position to make our case to the voters and win on November 5,” he stated.
Republican leaders have expressed concern over the impact of the allegations and subsequent staff resignations on the campaign. However, Robinson’s campaign maintains that it will continue to focus on key issues such as the economy, crime, and education.
The resignations mark a significant setback for the campaign, which had been ramping up efforts ahead of the absentee ballot distribution beginning this week. Robinson, who has canceled public appearances since the allegations surfaced, is expected to resume campaign activities in the western part of North Carolina on Monday.
As the race for North Carolina governor heats up, the state’s Republican Party has not withdrawn its support for Robinson. The North Carolina GOP stated that Robinson has “categorically denied the allegations” and remains their endorsed candidate.
Despite the controversy, Robinson remains defiant, stating that polls have “consistently underestimated Republican support in North Carolina for several cycles.” He emphasized his commitment to staying in the race and addressing “the substantive issues at stake in this election.”
An announcement of new campaign staff members is expected soon. As Robinson put it, “Our campaign will continue to ramp up our efforts across the state,” indicating his determination to move forward amid the controversy.
The upcoming election is considered one of the most closely watched gubernatorial races in the country. With Robinson’s campaign facing internal upheaval and external scrutiny, the outcome remains uncertain.
“We’ve all done things in our past that we’re sorry for,” Robinson stated. “But we will continue to fight for what we believe in.”
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