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Even before a new scandal began to unfold Thursday, North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) was one of the most controversial MAGA acolytes running for statewide office —which is quite the distinction in a year in which Republicans are fielding some truly terrible candidates.

In a bombshell report, CNN’s investigative unit unearthed a series of comments that Robinson allegedly made years ago in online forums — from expressing his support for reinstating slavery and calling himself a “Black Nazi” to sexually explicit language and admissions of voyeurism.

In response, Robinson called the comprehensive evidence “manufactured” and suggested that the story was planted by his “desperate” opponent, Democrat Josh Stein, who is leading the race comfortably.

In light of his past controversies and incendiary statements, it was never likely that the Republican was going to win the governorship.

The latest scandal, however, could also affect the presidential race now that North Carolina has emerged as a key state that Vice President Kamala Harris hopes to turn blue in November.

Therefore, her campaign wasted no time before portraying Donald Trump and Robinson as close friends by putting together a video of the two of them, including a clip of the former president praising the lieutenant governor as “Martin Luther King on steroids.”

Ironically, CNN reported that Robinson once weighed in on the civil rights legend.

“I’m not in the KKK. They don’t let blacks join,” Robinson allegedly wrote. “If I was in the KKK I would have called him Martin Lucifer Koon!”

However, while there are plenty of reasons to criticize Trump, including his own history of racism, it would be unfair to tie him to these revelations… at least for now.

Yes, there is no doubt that the former president “owns” all of the things that Robinson has said in the past, but he should be given a chance to weigh in on this unfolding scandal.

It seems likely that he will get the chance to do so. Politically, it would probably be smartest to hang the gubernatorial candidate out to dry in this case. Robinson wasn’t going to win North Carolina, so all that he can do now is to be a drag on the GOP ticket.

That being said, neither Trump nor other MAGA candidates are prone to backing down.

Therefore, it is also quite possible that the former president will either claim that he knows nothing about this story or end up taking a more combative line and voicing his support for Robinson.

If Trump chooses that course of action, including feigning ignorance, then he would also “own” this latest scandal.

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