North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s campaign is standing by his wife Yolanda Hill in the face of allegations of financial and operational irregularities surrounding her now-closed nonprofit, Balanced Nutrition Inc. The allegations were made by the state’s Department of Health and Human Services following an investigation that coincided with Robinson’s gubernatorial campaign launch in April 2023.
The DHHS report claims that BNI did not adhere to administrative and financial guidelines, resulting in the state ordering the business to repay $132,000 in disallowed expenses, including part of Hill’s salary, and issuing a “Notice of Serious Deficiency” for expenditure reporting. Robinson’s campaign team has labeled the allegations as politically motivated and timed to hurt Robinson’s campaign, pointing to an independent audit report that found BNI to be compliant.
Hill has filed an appeal against the DHHS order, with the campaign asserting that the accusations are part of a political vendetta orchestrated by Democratic officials. Hill alleged that she was targeted by the DHHS investigator due to her husband’s political affiliation. Robinson detailed his involvement with BNI in his autobiography, where he discussed joining his wife in running the nonprofit after losing his job at a furniture manufacturer in 2018.
The controversy surrounding BNI and the allegations made by DHHS have become a focal point in Robinson’s gubernatorial campaign against Democrat Josh Stein, who is supported by current Governor Roy Cooper. The campaign is dedicated to proving the innocence of BNI and Hill while condemning what they believe to be a politically-driven attack on Robinson’s reputation.
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