A number of aides in North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s campaign for governor have resigned in light of a scandal revealed by a CNN report.

Robinson became the subject of a CNN inquiry released on Thursday which uncovered controversial remarks he allegedly made over ten years ago on a pornography forum. The statements attributed to him were highly provocative, as he referred to himself as a “black NAZI,” a “perv,” and advocated for slavery. In a CNN interview, Robinson denied making these statements.

On Sunday, the campaign revealed that several key figures, including top adviser Conrad Pogorzelski, campaign manager Chris Rodriguez, finance director Heather Whillier, and deputy campaign manager Jason Rizk, had resigned from their positions.

The exits have left the campaign with a significantly reduced team, now only comprising two spokespeople and a bodyguard, according to reports from North Carolina public radio outlet WUNC.

“I thank these team members for their contributions and understand their tough decision to part ways with the campaign. I wish them success in their future endeavors and look forward to introducing new staff soon,” Robinson expressed in a statement to YSL News.

Impact of Robinson’s scandal on the 2024 presidential race

With the deadline to remove him from the ballot having passed, Robinson asserts he is ready to win, despite polls indicating he is trailing behind Democratic candidate Josh Stein before the CNN report broke.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Democrats initiated advertisements focusing on Trump’s connections to Robinson, who has received Trump’s endorsement in the past.

Since the scandal emerged, Trump has avoided direct questions regarding Robinson, emphasizing that the campaign’s goal is to secure victory in North Carolina and leaving Robinson out of discussions at a campaign rally during the weekend.

North Carolina plays a crucial role in the upcoming 2024 election. It has been since 2008 that a Democrat last won the state, yet Trump narrowly prevailed over Joe Biden in 2020 with a 50.1% to 48.7% margin. As presidential elections often elevate voter turnout that can influence lower-tier contests, questions arise about whether Robinson’s scandal could diminish Trump’s prospects in the state.

Contributing: David Jackson