North Carolina Lt. Governor Mark Robinson has amended his high-profile lawsuit against CNN, following accusations that he posted explicit content on a pornographic website. Initially, Robinson sought $50 million in damages; however, his legal team has revised the complaint to comply with North Carolina procedural rules, which require plaintiffs to specify damages as “in excess of $25,000.”
In a statement regarding the amended lawsuit, Robinson’s campaign spokesperson, Matt Hurley, clarified the change, stating, “North Carolina state courts limit plaintiffs to stating in a complaint whether the damages are more than $25,000. The exact amount of damages will be determined by a jury at trial. We have every confidence that the jury will get it right.”
Robinson, a Republican running for governor, vehemently denies CNN’s allegations and continues to assert that their report was based on false information. His legal team claims that CNN either ignored or was reckless in reporting on the vulnerabilities of the software used by the pornographic website in question. The lawsuit, originally filed for $50 million in punitive damages, now leaves the final amount in the hands of a jury.
Robinson’s legal battle with CNN began after the network published a bombshell report accusing him of posting salacious messages on the site. The Lt. Governor quickly refuted the allegations and announced his intention to sue CNN. The case is scheduled to go to court on November 18, just two weeks after the North Carolina gubernatorial election.
