A former pornography store clerk seeks to have North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson's $50 million lawsuit dismissed.

WAKE COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) — North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson is pursuing a defamation lawsuit against CNN, alongside a man named Louis Love Money, who has now filed a motion to dismiss the claim.

At a news conference on Tuesday, Robinson and his attorney, Jesse Binnall—who previously represented former President Donald Trump—announced the lawsuit. They allege that false articles published in September by The Assembly and CNN falsely suggested that Robinson frequented a pornographic video store and message boards during the 1990s and early 2000s.

The complaint claims that CNN and Money shared defamatory statements to undermine Robinson's political career.

Read the full complaint below:

Complaint-2024.10.15Download

On Thursday, Money and his legal team filed a motion to dismiss Robinson's allegations, arguing that the complaint is filled with “impertinent and bizarre allegations.” They cite references to George Soros, media bias conspiracies, and even a commentary on Robinson's financial recovery.

Money's motion alleges that Robinson's legal team may have violated Rule 8(a)(2) of the North Carolina General Statutes, which governs the requirements for pleading and demands for relief. The rule states that the pleadings must indicate whether damages sought exceed $5 million, or in negligence cases, simply indicate that damages exceed $25,000. Money's motion argues that the complaint was crafted to attract media attention for Robinson's campaign, creating a convoluted narrative involving CNN, Robinson, and a comedic video that Money produced, which claims Robinson owes him $25.

Money seeks the dismissal of the complaint and reimbursement for his legal fees, as well as a court hearing on the potential violation of Rule 8(a)(2).

Who is Louis Love Money?
On August 11, 2024, the band Trailer Park Orchestra released a music video titled "The Lt. Governor Owes Me Money," featuring Money, who claims Robinson still owes him $25 for a "bootleg" porn tape. The video depicts a man in a suit, masked to represent Robinson, entering a pornographic video store.

In the video, Money humorously acknowledges their past interactions, stating, “It was an inside joke… when he became lieutenant governor, it was like, ‘Well, how do I not write this song? It’s a true story.’”

Money expressed enthusiasm about the lawsuit, jokingly hoping it boosts the band's views online.

The Assembly published an article on September 3, which included claims from former employees of a video store where Money worked. The article alleged that Robinson was a regular customer in the late 90s and early 2000s. Money claimed Robinson frequently visited the store, often using private rental booths late at night.

However, Robinson refutes these claims, stating that during that time he was employed at Papa John's and would occasionally visit the store to socialize with Money but never rented or bought pornographic materials. Robinson emphasized that he would go home after work to spend time with his family.

In contrast, Robinson’s lawsuit contends that CNN published damaging claims about him, including allegations of disturbing comments made on a pornographic forum and accusations of creating an account on AdultFriendFinder.com. Robinson's team asserts that these allegations stem from dubious sources and were released to tarnish his reputation before the upcoming gubernatorial election.

Robinson’s lawsuit also highlights the timing of both The Assembly's and CNN's articles, suggesting they were designed to undermine his political standing. He is seeking $50 million in damages from both defendants, claiming that the defamatory articles have caused severe personal and professional harm.

While the complaint does not directly name Robinson’s opponent in the gubernatorial race, District Attorney Josh Stein, Robinson has accused Stein of leaking information to CNN. Robinson remarked, “The news media is at it again. My opponent is at it again… Let me reassure you, the things that you will see in that story are not the words of Mark Robinson.”

Money's motion is a key development in this ongoing legal battle, as both sides prepare for what could be a contentious court case over the claims made against Robinson.