The username at the center of allegations against Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson — who used the alias “Mini-Solder” on a pornographic website more than a decade ago to use the obscene and racist alias, according to cable network CNN. – was revealed in a news story last week. Meeting regarding the inauguration of Governor-elect Josh Stein.
Mr. Robinson, a Republican, lost to Mr. Stein by a 15-point margin in the November election. The loss comes after Robinson used an online handle to post comments on a website called Nude Africa, including comments that supported slavery and declared, “I’m a black Nazi,” CNN reported. This happened more than a month after the incident was reported.
Robinson denied the CNN report’s claims, saying the network did not adhere to journalistic standards and that the data breach could have allowed impersonated users to post messages using their usernames. He sued the network for defamation. The username is associated with other online accounts controlled by Robinson, CNN reported, and Robinson confirmed this. .
At the Dec. 10 Inauguration Committee meeting, Robinson logged on to the virtual meeting using “minisoldr” as the username, according to a congressional report.
Matt Hurley, a spokesman for Robinson’s gubernatorial campaign, told WRAL that Robinson has used that username for 20 years and that his personal use has nothing to do with comments posted on the porn site. he said.
“Mark’s personal username has been MiniSoldr for over 20 years,” Hurley said in an email. “Anyone who has followed Mark for any length of time knows this. People try to impersonate him all the time using variations of the name.”
Hurley said Robinson attended the inaugural planning meeting virtually from his home as he was recovering from dental treatment.
Mr. Robinson’s use of the nickname caused a stir, said state Sen. Jim Bergin (R-Harnett), who also attended the meeting.
“Other people have already called me about this and said, ‘Is that true?'” Bergin said during the meeting, referring to Robinson’s username. “And I said, ‘Yes, that’s right.'”
Bergin said he noticed Robinson’s username as soon as he joined the meeting. Bergin said no one asked Robinson for his username during the meeting. Bergin said Robinson only answered the phone briefly. Bergin said Robinson called the meeting and left the meeting after mentioning dental treatment.
Stein is scheduled to be sworn in at 10 a.m. on January 11, but Robinson’s lawsuit against CNN is still pending. Jesse Vinal, a Virginia lawyer hired by Robinson to investigate the CNN report, did not respond to a request for comment. The network filed a notice last month to move the case from state court to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, arguing that the case belongs in federal court in part because CNN is not based in North Carolina. .
