Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax has resigned from his partnership at a law firm, following two accusations of sexual assault in 2000 and 2004.
The firm, D.C.-based Morrison & Foerster, placed Fairfax on leave in February following the allegations from college professor Vanessa Tyson, who claimed that Fairfax had assaulted her at the Democratic National Convention in 2004, and Meredith Watson, who said that Fairfax raped her while they were both students at Duke University in 2000. Fairfax admitted to having sexual encounters with both women but claimed they were consensual. Several members of Fairfax’s own Democratic party called on the Lt. governor to resign at the time, but he has so far resisted.
Fairfax joined Morrison & Foerster in September of 2018, several months after being sworn into office as Lt. governor. It is not uncommon for people in Virginian political office to hold second jobs. The current salary for Lt. governor is just under $37,000 annually.
Morrison & Foerster conducted and independent investigation into Fairfax’s persona conduct during his brief tenure at the firm, but found no indication of wrongdoing. The announcement of Fairfax’s departure from the law firm comes just after Republicans in the Virginia State Assembly have requested a bipartisan hearing into assault allegations against Fairfax during a special session next week. Fairfax has so far welcomed any investigation into his past.
