Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., indicated Tuesday he’s standing by Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax even as Fairfax faces an accusation that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2004.
“You’ve got to take any accusation like this seriously, but I understand the lieutenant governor has denied it,” Warner told the Washington Examiner. “That’s my statement.”
When asked whether Fairfax remains qualified to serve as governor, Warner declined to answer.
A university professor has accused Fairfax of sexually assaulting her in a hotel room during the 2004 Democratic convention in Boston.
Fairfax admitted to the encounter but said it was consensual and that the accusation is politically motivated and an attempt to smear him. Still, the accusations are creating a dilemma for Democrats who have said in previous sexual assault cases that the woman accuser should always be believed — many Democrats said then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh should be disqualified because of a sexual assault allegation against him that allegedly took place decades ago.
Fairfax could soon be elevated to the top elected position in Virginia.
Gov. Ralph Northam, who is also a Democrat, is under tremendous pressure by his own party to resign because of his 1984 yearbook page, which shows a picture of a man in blackface and someone in a KKK robe. Northam has said he is not either of the people in the picture, but it has sparked wide calls for him to resign.
Warner had issued a joint statement with fellow Democrats Sen. Tim Kaine and Rep. Bobby Scott last week calling on Northam to resign. Earlier Tuesday, Kaine had declined to comment on Fairfax, telling reporters he did not have enough information on the matter.
