Associated Press
- A second woman has come forward alleging Virginia Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax sexually assaulted her.
- Lawyers for Meredith Watson alleged in a statement that Fairfax raped Watson when they were both students at Duke University in 2000 in a "premeditated and aggressive" attack.
- The latest allegation against Lt. Gov Fairfax marks the end of a tumultuous week in Virginia politics, as Gov. Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring are both declining to resign after admitting to wearing blackface in the 1980s.
A second woman came forward Friday to allege that she was sexually assaulted by Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax.
Meredith Watson alleged in a Friday statement released through an attorney that Fairfax raped her when they were both students at Duke University in 2000 in a "premeditated and aggressive" attack.
Watson’s lawyer, Nancy Erika Smith, said they are in possession of emails, Facebook messages, and statements from classmates all confirming that Watson discussed the alleged attack with friends immediately after they say it occurred, and in the following years, some of which they provided to the Washington Post.
The statement said Watson was "reluctantly" coming forward after being "upset" by allegations against Fairfax made by political science professor Vanessa Tyson. Tyson alleged in a statement released Wednesday that Fairfax forced her to perform oral sex on him at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Watson’s lawyers said in the statement that Tyson’s allegations were similar to Watson’s alleged experience.
After Watson’s allegation became public, former Virginia Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe, Senator and presidential candidate Cory Booker, Members of Congress from Virginia Gerry Connolly and Jennifer Wexton, and House of Delegates member Lee Carter called on Fairfax to resign.
In a statement given to Katherine Faulders of ABC News on Friday, Fairfax’s office demanded an official investigation into the accusations, which he described as "unsubstantiated" and part of a "vicious and coordinated smear campaign" against him, and said he would not resign.
"I will clear my good name and have nothing to hide," the statement said. "I have passed two full field background checks by the FBI and run for office in two highly contested elections with nothing like this being raised before."
Fairfax has also vehemently denied Tyson’s allegations, calling them a "totally fabricated story out of the blue" and threatening legal action against those leveling accusations.
Watson’s lawyers said she is coming forward with her allegations "out of a strong sense of civic duty and belief that those seeking in public office should be of the highest character."
"She has no interest in becoming a media personality or reliving the trauma that has affected her life," the statement continued. "Similarly she is not seeking any financial damages. We have notified Justin Fairfax through his attorneys that Ms. Watson hopes he will resign from public office."
The latest allegation against Lt. Gov Fairfax is another chapter in a tumultuous week in Virginia politics, as Gov. Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring are both declining to resign after admitting to wearing blackface in the 1980s.
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See Also:
- A wave of scandals has turned Virginia politics on its head, and the state’s top three politicians could all be on the way out
- The Virginia Democratic Party says it’s going to ‘evaluate’ the sexual-assault allegation against Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, who could become the state’s next governor
- Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax calls sexual assault allegation a ‘totally fabricated story’
Source: Business Insider