2:43
- ABC News
- February 5, 2019
Virginia governor hangs on amid new uncertainty
Who will be Virginia's governor by the end of the week remains an open question.
Furthering the chaos is the situation facing the man who would succeed Northam should he step down: Virginia's Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax. A 39-year-old African-American and former federal prosecutor, Fairfax is seen as a rising star and potential gubernatorial candidate in 2021.
This morning Fairfax is facing questions after an unconfirmed report surfaced about an alleged sexual misconduct incident from 2004, an allegation he vehemently denies.
\"This was 14 years ago ... this was not only from left field, it was from planet Mars because it didn't happen in the way it was described,\" Fairfax told reporters at an impromptu news conference in Richmond on Monday afternoon.
\"The current situation and so it’s all completely political, a complete smear,\" Fairfax said Monday evening as he was leaving the statehouse.
The Virginia Democratic Party released a statement Tuesday afternoon on the allegations against Fairfax that read, \"All allegations of sexual assault deserve to be take with profound gravity. We will continue to evaluate the situation regarding Lieutenant Governor Fairfax.\"
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF VIRGINIA STATEMENT: \"All allegations of sexual assault deserve to be taken with profound gravity. We will continue to evaluate the situation regarding Lieutenant Governor Fairfax.\" pic.twitter.com/ae39YSXi69
— Virginia Democrats (@vademocrats) February 5, 2019
The Democratic caucuses in the Virginia House of Delegates and State Senate released a joint statement Tuesday afternoon that was similarly brief.
\"The facts here are still being determined. Every individual deserves the opportunity to be heard, and we respect anyone who comes forward to share their story,\" the statement read.
Fairfax has remained non-committal on whether or not he thinks Northam should resign over the racist yearbook photo.
When asked Monday whether Northam should resign, Fairfax reiterated his original call for him to \"make a decision that's in the best interest of the Commonwealth of Virginia.\"
\"I’m in a unique position obviously answering to the governor...someone who would have to assume the office in the event he were to resign. So I have to be very circumspect. I have to think about the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia,\" Fairfax added.
Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax on widespread calls for Governor Ralph Northam's resignation: \"I believe the governor has to make a decision that's in the best interest of the commonwealth of Virginia.\" https://t.co/11s7JEbGI5 pic.twitter.com/GXF1v4oxVH
— ABC News (@ABC) February 4, 2019
Fairfax said he spoke to Northam \"probably a couple of days ago,\" and when asked if he spoke to the governor following his Saturday news conference, Fairfax said, \"I don't know. I don't think I have. I'd have to double-check my records.\"
Fairfax's accuser, whom ABC News is not naming, has retained legal services from the firm Katz, Marshall and Banks, according to a source close to her legal team.
This is the same firm that was hired by Christine Blasey Ford, a California psychology professor who brought forward allegations of sexual misconduct against Brett Kavanaugh, then-President Trump's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court. Kavanaugh was later confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
ABC News' Tom Llamas, Kendall Karson and Katie Bosland contributed to this report.
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