RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Several top staffers for Republican Gov. Mark Robinson of North Carolina’s campaign have resigned, sending shockwaves to the brink of further disruption CNN report presenting evidence that he posted disturbing posts on a pornographic website forum greater than a decade ago.

The campaign said in a press release Sunday that senior adviser Conrad Pogorzelski III, campaign manager Chris Rodriguez, the campaign’s finance director and deputy campaign manager “have all resigned from their roles with the campaign.” Information in regards to the recent campaign hires might be released soon, the discharge said.

“I appreciate the efforts of those team members who made the difficult decision to withdraw from the campaign, and I wish them well in their future endeavors,” Robinson said in a press release.

Pogorzelski, who helped Robinson win the lieutenant governor position in 2020 in his first campaign for public office and later became his chief of staff, said individually Sunday that other employees — a deputy finance director, two political directors and a chief operating officer — had also left the campaign.

Pogorzelski wrote within the text that “he and others from the campaign left of their own free will.”

A CNN report on Thursday revealed earlier posts Robinson says he made on the porn site’s message boards. In those posts, he referred to himself as a “black NAZI,” said he liked transgender porn, said in 2012 that he preferred Hitler to then-President Barack Obama and lambasted the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., calling him “worse than a bug.”

Robinson denied writing the posts and said Thursday that he wouldn’t be forced out of the race by “sordid tabloid lies.” He avoided direct discussion of the controversy during a gubernatorial campaign event Saturday night on the Fayetteville Raceway. The event got here after earlier within the day President Donald Trump made no mention of Robinson on the rally held about 90 miles (145 kilometers) away in Wilmington.

Before Saturday, Robinson was a frequent guest at Trump campaign stops in North Carolina. The Republican presidential candidate has long praised Robinson — who, if elected, can be North Carolina’s first black governor — calling him “Martin Luther King on steroids” for his speaking style.

Robinson on Sunday continued to precise optimism that he could beat Democratic candidate Josh Stein, the incumbent attorney general, in November. Polls showed Robinson trailing Stein.

Still, Robinson said polls have “underestimated support for Republicans in North Carolina for several cycles,” and with a big portion of the electorate undecided, “I am confident that our campaign remains in a strong position to make our case to voters and win on November 5.”

Robinson has a history of creating provocative comments, equivalent to suggesting that girls who sought abortions “weren’t responsible enough to keep their skirts down” and comparing abortion to slavery.

Elections

Stein said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” that Robinson “is completely incompetent and unfit to be governor of North Carolina, and we will do everything in our power to prevent that from happening.”

Polls show Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris in a detailed race in North Carolina and nationally. Democrats have seized the chance to spotlight Trump’s ties to Robinson, with billboards showing them together and a brand new Harris campaign ad highlighting the GOP candidate’s ties in addition to Robinson’s support for a statewide abortion ban without exception.

On Sunday, Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Robinson deserves a likelihood to defend himself against the allegations, which Graham described as “troubling.” He said Robinson is a “political zombie if he doesn’t put forth a credible defense,” while arguing that the problem won’t hurt Trump.

“If they’re true, he’s unfit to hold office,” Graham said of Robinson and the claims within the CNN report. “If they’re not true, he’s got the biggest defamation lawsuit in the history of the country.”

A 22-year-old man has turned himself in to police for fatally shooting a father of 14 who was trying to break up a fight between two teenagers, including his daughter.

Miami-Dade police said 47-year-old Johnny Stevenson Jr. was shot Tuesday on the intersection of Northwest 14th Street and First Court in Florida City during a fight between two highschool students.

Stevenson learned that his daughter had been involved in a fight on a college bus that had spilled onto the road near a bus stop, and he decided to intervene.

Cellphone footage captured two teenage girls exchanging blows on a bus. Another video showed the fight on the road, where a big crowd had gathered to watch.

“She clubbed me,” Stevenson’s 15-year-old daughter told CBS Miami. “When she clubbed me, we began arguing.

Police say Stevenson tried to break up the fight, but things got worse when one other man intervened and commenced shooting.

“The person who shot my dad dragged my best friend away, then my mom away,” Stevenson’s daughter recalled. “Then my dad saw him, then the guy pushed my dad away, my dad pushed him away, and then the guy pulled out a gun and shot him.”

Authorities say 22-year-old Kentarian Cross was liable for the shooting that left Stevenson seriously wounded.

“I saw my dad fall. I was pushing on his stomach. My mom comes in to push on his stomach,” Stevenson’s daughter says he said.

Stevenson was taken to an area hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds to his abdomen, but he died during surgery.

Cross surrendered to authorities the day after the shooting and had his Miranda rights revoked. He now faces a second-degree murder charge. Witnesses identified Cross because the suspect who opened fire. He can also be seen in a photograph holding a gun before the fight, police said.

“I just don’t understand why he did it,” the victim’s daughter said.

According to local reports, Stevenson was a faithful father of 14 children and a valued member of his community.

“We looked up to him. All of his kids looked up to him – honestly, everyone. He was just that kind of person.” – Stevenson’s cousin he said Local News 10.

Miami-Dade Public Schools released the next statement following the fight:

“Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) is aware of a video clip of students from Homestead Senior High School getting into an altercation on a school bus. School administration is reviewing the matter and the students involved will be disciplined in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. At M-DCPS, the well-being and safety of our students are of the utmost importance. This school district is committed to promoting values ​​of restraint and respect, as well as responsible use of social media. We ask parents to reinforce these principles at home.”