U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., says North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson risks becoming a “political zombie” if he doesn’t have a credible defense to alleged lewd comments he made on a pornographic website a more than a decade ago.

“He deserves a chance to defend himself, Mark Robinson,” Graham said of the Republican nominee for governor in the Tarheel State. “The charges are beyond unnerving. If they’re true, he’s unfit to serve for office. If they’re not true, he has the best lawsuit in the history of the country for libel.”

Graham made the comments Sunday during an appearance on Meet the Press. Moderator Kristen Welker said NBC News had not confirmed CNN’s report published Thursday about the sexually graphic and racist posts.

On the site, a username linked to Robinson described himself as “Black Nazi,” and commented how enjoyed watching transgender pornography, CNN reported.

Robinson has claimed the comments on the Nude Africa, which have been taken down, were generated by artificial intelligence.

Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Robinson, even calling him “Martin Luther King on steroids.” However, when Trump campaigned in Wilmington, North Carolina on Saturday, he made no mention of Robinson, according to the Raleigh News and Observer.

Robinson did not attend the rally.

Graham said Trump should still be able to win North Carolina, a swing state in the presidential election, despite Robinson’s alleged comments. Trump won the state in 2016 and 2020 even though the Republican candidate for governor lost.

“I don’t think this hurts Trump, but as to Robinson, he’s a political zombie if he does not offer a defense to this that’s credible,” Graham said.

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