UPI

N.C. gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson seeks $50M from CNN over ‘Nazi’ article

Published

3 months ago

October 15, 2024

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By Mike Heuer

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson speaks at the 2024 Republican National Convention at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on July 15. On Tuesday he sued CNN and another defendant for defamation for claiming he made offensive online posts and frequented a North Carolina pornographic video store. File Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI | License Photo

Oct. 15 (UPI) — North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson on Tuesday sued CNN for publishing posts allegedly made by Robinson on a pornographic website many years ago and seeks at least $50 million.

Robinson, who is the Republican candidate in North Carolina’s gubernatorial race, accuses CNN and co-defendant Louis Love Money of two counts of defamation in the lawsuit filed Tuesday in North Carolina’s Wake County Superior Court.

“This is a high-tech lynching on a candidate who has been targeted from day one by folks who disagree with me politically and want to see me destroyed,” Robinson told media during a press conference in Raleigh, N.C.

“We are glad to take these first steps to fight back against what we consider to be one of the greatest examples of political interference in this state’s history,” Robinson said.

Robinson described CNN as “one of the world’s most well-recognized media companies” and Money as a 52-year-old North Carolina resident and lead singer of a punk rock band called Trailer Park Orchestra. Robinson says Money recently changed his name from Louis Alan Wooten.

Robinson said that on Aug. 11 Money posted a music video titled “The Lt. Governor Owes Me Money” the depicts a masked man that Robinson says represents him entering a pornographic video store to buy and watch pornographic videos.

Money, in the video, sings lyrics that accuse Robinson of owing money for a “bootleg” pornographic video that Money allegedly made for the lieutenant governor.

Robinson said a “major online publication” called The Assembly — which he says is affiliated with George Soros — on Sept. 3 published an article titled, “Ex-Porn Shop Employees Say Mark Robinson Was a Regular. He Denies It.”

In the article, Money accuses Robinson of frequenting a pornographic video store where he worked during the 1990s and early 2000s and “spending a good amount of money” on viewing and buying pornographic videos, Robinson said.

CNN published an article on Sept. 19 titled, “‘I’m a black NAZI!’: NC GOP nominee for governor made dozens of disturbing comments on porn forum.”

“These falsely attributed statements include several lewd, sex-obsessed, racist and outrageous statements” allegedly made by Robinson on website called NudeAfrica, he said.

Robinson also said the CNN article falsely claims he made an account on AdultFriendFinder.com.

Robinson describes CNN as a “politically left-wing media outlet, whose reporting is often indistinguishable from Democrat party talking points and opposes politically conservative candidates for office.”

Robinson said his personal information was compromised by a data breach and anyone could have used that information to create accounts on the cited websites and others while hiding their respective names and identities.

Robinson said he sent a notice demanding a retraction to CNN on Oct. 1 and another notice requesting the source information on Oct. 3 for forensic analysis.

Robinson said CNN on Oct. 4 refused to retract the story or provide the source material.

“CNN had every reason to doubt the veracity of the data upon which it relied,” Robinson said.

The NudeAfrica website has deleted the section in which the posts allegedly were made, and all its posts, and CNN did not verify the information, Robinson said.

CNN also relied on “unverifiable, dark web-sourced data breach files” and “recklessly disregarded the fact” that his personal information, including email and passwords, had been stolen,” he said.

Robinson seeks compensatory and punitive damages of no less than $50 million from CNN and Money.

Several of Robinson’s top aides have resigned after CNN published the story.

UPI

Georgia Supreme Court overturns absentee ballot extension in Cobb County

Published

3 months ago

November 5, 2024

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By Sheri Walsh

Elections workers in Georgia process absentee ballots Monday, as Georgia’s Supreme Court reversed a lower court’s 3-day ballot extension in the swing state. The court ruled that 3,000 absentee ballots — which were sent out late in Cobb County — will only be counted if they are received by Election Day. File Photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA-EFE

Nov. 4 (UPI) — Georgia’s Supreme Court reversed a lower court’s ballot extension in the swing state Monday, ruling that 3,000 absentee ballots — which were sent out late in Cobb County — will only be counted if they are received by Election Day.

Monday’s ruling reversed a lower judge’s decision that originally gave voters an extension to Nov. 8, the same deadline for overseas ballots, after Cobb County elections officials missed the ballot mailing deadline.

Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration Chairwoman Tori Silas blamed faulty equipment and a late surge in absentee ballot requests for the delay.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the Southern Poverty Law Center filed a lawsuit Friday to extend the deadline to Nov. 8.

On Monday, the higher court ordered the Cobb County Board of Elections to count only those votes received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

The court also ordered elections officials to notify affected voters of the change and to “keep separate” any absentee ballots received after Election Day, but before Nov. 8, “in a secure, safe and sealed container separate from other voted ballots.”

Georgia is a critical battleground state in Tuesday’s presidential election between Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris.

“Huge election integrity victory in Georgia. Democrat-run Cobb County wanted to accept 3,000 absentee ballots after the Election Day deadline. We took this case to the Georgia Supreme Court,” Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley said in a statement Monday.

“We just got word that we won the case. Election Day is Election Day — not the week after. We will keep fighting, keep winning and keep sharing updates,” Whatley added.

The ACLU also released a statement, urging voters — impacted by the ruling — to vote in person on Election Day.

“Because of this ruling, we urge all affected voters to prioritize vote in person on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024, if at all possible,” the ACLU said. “If a voter has their absentee ballot but cannot vote in person on Election Day, they should hand deliver that ballot to their county elections office as soon as possible.”

UPI

Elon Musk’s $1M cash giveaway for voters to continue, judge rules

Published

3 months ago

November 5, 2024

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By Sheri Walsh

Billionaire Elon Musk rallies supporters for former President Donald Trump at the Butler Farm Show grounds in Pennsylvania on October 5. On Monday, a judge in Pennsylvania declined to issue an injunction against Musk’s America PAC, allowing a $1 million daily giveaway to registered voters to continue. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI. | License Photo

Nov. 4 (UPI) — A judge in the swing state of Pennsylvania ruled Monday that Elon Musk‘s daily $1 million giveaway to registered voters in battleground states can continue, with one last prize to be handed out on Election Day.

Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Angelo Foglietta declined to issue an emergency injunction that would have stopped the tech billionaire’s America PAC giveaway, which rewards voters who sign a pledge to support the Constitution.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner argued, in the lawsuit filed last week, that the giveaway was a data grab and was illegal.

“They were scammed for their information,” Krasner said. “It has almost unlimited use.”

Musk’s lawyers blasted the lawsuit, calling it a “dreadful violation of constitutional rights” and a violation of free speech. Musk, who supports Donald Trump, called Krasner’s lawsuit a “publicity stunt” for his disagreements with the former president. Monday’s hearing was delayed last week after Musk’s legal team filed to move the case to federal court.

Krasner testified the awards were supposed to be issued at random. “This was all a political marketing masquerading as a lottery,” Krasner claimed Monday.

America PAC attorney Chris Gober responded, saying the giveaway was not a lottery because winners are not determined by chance. They are spokespeople, who “earn” $1 million, he argued, adding “There is no prize to be won.”

The recipients “are selected based on their suitability to serve as a spokesperson for America PAC,” Gober said, claiming the money is payment for their work. “We know exactly who will be announced as the $1 million recipient today and tomorrow.”

Musk announced the contest during a Trump campaign rally on Oct. 19.

“Every day, from now through Nov. 5, America PAC will be giving away $1M to someone in swing states who signed our petition to support free speech and the right to bear arms!” Musk wrote in a post on X. “We want to make sure that everyone in swing states hears about this and I suspect this will ensure they do.”

UPI

Rufus Wainwright blasts Trump campaign for playing ‘Hallelujah’ during town hall

Published

3 months ago

October 15, 2024

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By Sheri Walsh

Singer Rufus Wainwright says he was “mortified” to hear his cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” played at former President Donald Trump’s town hall Monday night in Pennsylvania, calling it “the height of blasphemy.” File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

Oct. 15 (UPI) — Singer Rufus Wainwright is joining other musicians, demanding former President Donald Trump stop campaigning with their music, as Wainwright announced Tuesday he was “mortified” to hear his cover of Leonard Cohen‘s “Hallelujah” played at Trump’s town hall in Pennsylvania.

Monday night’s town hall at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center and Fairgrounds in Oaks was interrupted twice by medical emergencies, during which music was played as first responders attended to supporters.

“Witnessing Trump and his supporters commune with this music last night was the height of blasphemy,” Wainwright, who supports Vice President Kamala Harris, wrote Tuesday in a post on Facebook.

“I in no way condone this and was mortified, but the good in me hopes that perhaps in inhabiting and really listening to the lyrics of Cohen’s masterpiece, Donald Trump just might experience a hint of remorse over what he’s caused,” Wainwright added. “I’m not holding my breath.”

The publishing company for the Leonard Cohen estate has sent the Trump campaign a cease and desist letter, according to Wainwright’s statement, which referred to the anthem as “peace, love and acceptance of the truth.”

This is not the first time the Trump campaign has heard from artists over the use of their music during campaign events.

Last month, a federal judge in Georgia ordered Trump’s campaign to stop using the song “Hold On, I’m Coming” in videos and at campaign rallies for the Republican presidential nominee, following a lawsuit by the estate of the late R&B artist Isaac Hayes.

Swedish pop band ABBA, the Foo Fighters, Céline Dion, Beyoncé, Johnny Marr of The Smiths and the estate of the late singer Sinéad O’Connor have also demanded Trump stop playing their songs.

The Trump campaign’s unauthorized use of music goes back to his 2016 and 2020 campaigns, according to Adele, Aerosmith and Guns N’ Roses, who also claimed they had not given Trump permission to use their songs.