CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson are exchanging calls for each other to resign.
"My response to him is he should resign for the pitiful response that he showed for the people of western North Carolina," Robinson told WCNC's Ben Thompson on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Cooper responded to a new lawsuit Robinson filed against CNN, suggesting Robinson shouldn't stay in office.
"I have said for years that he should step down from his position because of extreme positions that he has taken in his attacks on people," Cooper said. "I don't think he's qualified."
CNN claimed Robinson had posted several sexually graphic and racist comments to a pornographic website. Robinson and his attorney Jesse Binnall, with the Binnall Law Group, called the report a "high-tech lynching" intended to interfere in the gubernatorial election.
The very public spat between Cooper, a Democrat, and Robinson, a Republican, has come to a head in recent weeks after years of hostility. Cooper has accused Robinson of spreading disinformation and doubt in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
"His response was horrendous, but luckily, the people of North Carolina stepped in and filled in the gap," Robinson said.
Robinson is running to replace Cooper in the Governor's mansion. He's facing current Attorney General Josh Stein, who's currently leading in polls.
Contact Ben Thompson at bthompson@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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