RALEIGH, N.C. — CNN has moved to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed by North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, arguing that the case fails to meet legal standards for proceeding. The media giant filed its motion on November 21, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, where the case was recently transferred from state court.
This follows CNN's November 15 filing of a Notice of Removal, requesting that the lawsuit be moved from Wake County Superior Court to federal jurisdiction. CNN argued that the transfer was appropriate given the nature of the claims and the diversity of the parties involved.
The lawsuit stems from a CNN article alleging Robinson made sexually explicit and racist comments on a pornography website's message board years ago. Robinson, who recently lost the North Carolina governor's race to Democrat Josh Stein by a resounding 14.8-point margin, has called the claims defamatory.
In its motion to dismiss, CNN maintains that Robinson's complaint does not provide sufficient legal grounds for defamation and requests the court dismiss the case with prejudice, barring Robinson from refiling.
Robinson’s legal battle against CNN is not his only active case. He also filed a defamation lawsuit against Louis Love Money, a former adult video store worker who reportedly made similar allegations against him. Money has filed his own motion to dismiss, but a hearing on that matter has yet to take place.
CNN's legal team, led by attorneys from Moore & Van Allen LLP and Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, emphasizes that Robinson’s amended complaint lacks merit. "Plaintiff Mark Keith Robinson has failed to state a claim for which relief can be granted," CNN’s filing states.
This lawsuit comes after Robinson’s decisive defeat in the North Carolina gubernatorial race. Stein’s victory marked the largest margin in a state governor’s race since 2012.
The court will now decide whether CNN’s motion to dismiss will end this case or if it will proceed to further stages of litigation. Robinson’s legal team has not yet commented on the recent filing.