Lawyers for North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson filed an amended complaint in his defamation case against CNN and a Greensboro man who said Robinson watched and purchased pornography decades ago.

The new complaint, filed Monday, removes a reference to $50 million in damages. It is replaced by an ask for "in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00)." But the modification does not change what Robinson could be awarded or is seeking in compensatory, special or punitive damages.

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The $25,000 figure is a placeholder figure, which is needed to have the case heard in Wake County Superior Court rather than district court. That would ensure a trial, if held, would have a jury that could then decide what damages Robinson is entitled to.

Robinson, a Republican, is running for governor against Democrat Josh Stein. His lawsuit argues that the stories were designed to harm his campaign. The election is Nov. 5, but in-person early voting has already begun in North Carolina.

"North Carolina state courts limit plaintiffs to stating in a complaint whether the damages are more than $25,000," said Matt Hurley, a spokesman for the Robinson campaign, in a statement emailed to WRAL. "The exact amount of damages will be determined by a jury at trial. We have every confidence that the jury will get it right.”

The original complaint was filed on Oct. 15.

CNN published a story on Sept. 19 claiming that Robinson, using a screen name, referred to himself as a "Black Nazi," called for the reinstatement of slavery and described pornographic consumption habits in the comments section of a website called Nude Africa more than a decade ago, before Robinson entered politics.

The amended complaint also includes more allegations against CNN, alleging the network did not attempt to verify the posts on Nude Africa, make contact with the owner of the website or take into account that the site used out-of-date software that was "highly vulnerable," the complaint says.

CNN declined comment Tuesday. The owner of Nude Africa hasn't responded to messages seeking comment.

Louis Money, a Greensboro man, told his story to The Assembly and other media outlets. He said Robinson often visited the porn shop that Money worked at, located next to a pizza shop that Robinson worked at. In his complaint, Robinson said he made friends with Money and that he would occasionally bring over free pizza and socialize, but he denied spending hours at the video store.

Money asked the court to dismiss the defamation case.

The $50-million figure made it into nearly every headline about the lawsuit.

Robinson has been trailing in nearly every poll of the governor's race. Stein is leading by an average of more than 15 points, according to the Real Clear Politics polling average.

President Donald Trump, who endorsed Robinson in March and has in the past compared him favorably to civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr., was asked about the race during a stop in Swannanoa on Monday.

"I’m not familiar with the state of the race right now,” Trump said to a question from POLITICO as he was about to get into his vehicle. “I haven't seen it.”