North State Journal: “Former Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, whose gubernatorial campaign last year unraveled after a CNN report alleged he made racist and sexual posts on an online pornography forum, announced he was dropping his defamation lawsuit against the news network and that he would not pursue office in the future.
“The fact of the matter is this: the price we have paid in entering the political arena will never be recognized,” Robinson said in a release. “There is no dollar amount high enough. While it has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the people of North Carolina, the continued political persecution of my family and loved ones is a cost I am unwilling to continue to bear.”
Robinson, a Republican, added that while he plans to continue to promote political causes he supports, he does not intend to run for office in the future.
“I will not run next year, nor do I have plans to seek elected office in the future,” he said.”