Mark Robinson admits he lied about past during 2024 gubernatorial campaign

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Former North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson has acknowledged he lied about parts of his past during his unsuccessful run for governor.

Our newsgathering partners News & Observer reported that Robinson made the comments during an appearance on a newly released podcast, where he said he was untruthful during the 2024 governor's race, including about what he described as an obsession with sex and pornography.

Robinson said he denied the allegations at the time to protect people around him, including former President Donald Trump, and added that he would make the same choice again.

The remarks were released Thursday in an hour-long interview and Mark Robinson's most extensive public comments since losing the election.

The admission contradicts his 2024 campaign stance, when he denied a CNN report that tied him to messages described as "lewd" and "racist" on a pornographic forum.

Robinson sued CNN for $50 million but dropped the lawsuit after losing the election by double digits.

In the interview, Robinson said he felt pressure during the campaign to continue denying the allegations but said that after the election he began "acknowledging the truth."