Justin Fairfax, Virginia lieutenant governor, denies sexual assault allegation
By Camilo Montoya-Galvez
/ CBS News
Democratic Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax of Virginia strongly denied an uncorroborated sexual assault allegation first published by a conservative website, calling the accusation a "smear" and "character assassination." His remarks Monday afternoon come as many Democrats are calling for Gov. Ralph Northam to resign over the revelation of racist yearbook photos from his time in medical school, which would elevate Fairfax to the governorship.
"I have lived my life in a way that I'm proud of," Fairfax told reporters in the rotunda of Virginia's state Capitol.
Fairfax's office later said the unsubstantiated allegation he assaulted a woman when he was young Democratic staffer in 2004 was "false" and threatened legal action against "people who continue to spread these false allegations."
On Sunday night, Big League Politics — a right-wing political site that first published the photo from Northam's yearbook, in which one man is wearing blackface and another is dressed as a member of the Ku Klux Klan — reported that a woman who is currently a fellow at Stanford University said a man sexually assaulted her at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
In an early morning statement, Fairfax's office denied the allegation and claimed The Washington Post had found "significant red flags and inconsistencies within the allegations" when it investigated the matter last year. The Post did confirm the woman contacted the newspaper after Fairfax's election to claim he had sexually assaulted her in 2004, but the paper refuted Fairfax's characterization of why it declined to publish a story about the accusation.
"The Post did not find 'significant red flags and inconsistencies within the allegations,' as the Fairfax statement incorrectly said," according to The Post's report Monday. Instead, The Post said it did not run the story because it "found no similar complaints of sexual misconduct against him" after talking with people from Fairfax's college, law school and political circles, and could not corroborate the woman's account. Fairfax told The Post the encounter had been consensual and had taken place before he was married.
During the gaggle with reporters on Monday, Fairfax confirmed meeting the woman and having sexual activity with her that was "100 percent consensual," but he repeatedly and vehemently denied sexually assaulting her. The 39-year-old Democrat said it was suspicious that the allegation surfaced amid a time when he could possibly assume the governorship if Northam steps down.
"Does anybody believe that's a coincidence?" Fairfax asked.
Asked if Northam should relinquish his post, Fairfax said the governor has to make a decision that's in the best interest of Virginia, again declining to call for Northam's resignation.
First published on February 4, 2019
© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Virginia's lieutenant governor denies sexual assault allegation
"I have lived my life in a way that I'm proud of," Fairfax told reporters on Monday
updated 0M ago 
Super Bowl LIII: Live score and updates
The Patriots have won their sixth NFL championship
updated 16M ago 
Pot for pets? Cannabis products marketed for animals
Some animal lovers are giving the supplements a try, but experts caution they aren't necessarily a good fit for every pet
updated 17M ago 
Parkland dad who slammed Louis C.K. to attend State of the Union
A grieving father who responded to Louis C.K.'s jokes about the Parkland shooting with a standup routine of his own has been invited to Tuesday's State of the Union address
updated 52M ago 
GM confirms start of 4,000 white-collar layoffs
The layoffs will impact white-collar workers and are part of the automaker's efforts to reduce headcount
1H ago
Virginia's lieutenant governor denies sexual assault allegation
"I have lived my life in a way that I'm proud of," Fairfax told reporters on Monday
updated 0M ago 
How to watch the State of the Union address
The State of the Union address is only the second to be postponed in American history
2H ago 
Pentagon: ISIS likely to "resurge" without "sustained pressure"
A DOD report says that ISIS is "regenerating key functions and capabilities more quickly in Iraq than Syria"
3H ago 
Northam meets with top aides amid pressure to resign
Northam met with administration officials of color Sunday as he faces mounting pressure to step down as governor
updated 20M ago 
Cory Booker urges "revival of civic grace," responds to Trump jab
Booker said that he's had a "very unique political path" which has forced him to run toward some of the "toughest problems" facing the country
6H ago 
Pentagon: ISIS likely to "resurge" without "sustained pressure"
A DOD report says that ISIS is "regenerating key functions and capabilities more quickly in Iraq than Syria"
3H ago 
Al-Shabab claims new carnage despite relentless U.S. air war
Bomb blast in Mogadishu comes weeks after brazen attack in Kenya, where U.S. warns of more attacks despite regular U.S. strikes targeting terrorists
5H ago 
Body visible in undersea wreckage of soccer star's plane
Private search crew found small aircraft that was carrying Argentine striker Emiliano Sala and his pilot 2 weeks after it vanished
7H ago 
Defiant Maduro warns Trump he'll stain his "hands with blood"
Pressure increases on embattled Venezuelan president as Europeans back opposition, global foes discuss sending aid in around him
7H ago 
Using high-tech tools to recreate and preserve ancient treasures
In its Madrid workshop, Factum Arte uses scans of archaeological masterpieces to create exacting facsimiles that have both the look and feel of the originals
Feb 3 
Grammy nominee H.E.R. on seeing her "vision come to life"
At 21 years old, the R&B singer-songwriter is up for five Grammy Awards including best new artist and album of the year
updated 40M ago
Parkland dad who slammed Louis C.K. to attend State of the Union
A grieving father who responded to Louis C.K.'s jokes about the Parkland shooting with a standup routine of his own has been invited to Tuesday's State of the Union address
updated 52M ago 
Adam Levine responds to critics after Super Bowl show
"We thank our fans for making our dreams possible. And we thank our critics for always pushing us to do better," Levine wrote on Instagram
3H ago 
Who won and lost this year's Super Bowl commercials
A few advertisers scored points, expert says, while one company got sacked for a loss
2H ago 
Kristoff St. John, "Young and the Restless" star, dies at 52
Kristoff St. John played Neil Winters on CBS' "The Young and the Restless"
updated 6M ago 
Tech investor says Facebook is "terrible for America"
"Zucked" author Roger McNamee says Facebook is a threat to democracy, public health and privacy, and makes everyone vulnerable to bad actors
4H ago 
Meteorite appears to hit Cuba
In a tweet, the National Weather Service said its radar "may have detected the meteor" at 1:21 p.m. near Viñales, Cuba
Feb 1 
"Lies spread faster than truth" on social media, journalist says
The CEO of Rappler alleged the online news website has been targeted by social media disinformation campaigns after its tough reporting on the government
Feb 1 
Possum was living in unused, $1M taxpayer-funded bus
The zero-emission bus was never put into service
Feb 1 
Steaming lakes and thundersnow: Weird winter weather explained
Extreme cold weather can produce some unusual phenomena, from sea smoke to slushy ocean waves
Feb 1 
Pot for pets? Cannabis products marketed for animals
Some animal lovers are giving the supplements a try, but experts caution they aren't necessarily a good fit for every pet
updated 17M ago 
3rd poultry firm recalls chicken on fears of tainted goods
Pilgrim's Pride recall follows Tyson and Perdue moves to stop sales of food possibly tainted with extraneous material
1H ago 
Obesity-linked cancers rising for young Americans
Cancers tied to extra weight keep climbing among those aged 25 to 49, a new study finds
3H ago 
Bill would eventually make Hawaii first state to ban cigarette sales
Measure would gradually raise minimum age of people allowed to buy them to 100
9H ago 
An end to food allergies?
26 million people, including 6 million kids, are allergic to one food or another, with peanuts producing one of the most severe reactions; might a reversal of medical advice slow or even eliminate the problem?
Feb 3 
GM confirms start of 4,000 white-collar layoffs
The layoffs will impact white-collar workers and are part of the automaker's efforts to reduce headcount
1H ago 
Bettors debate length of Gladys Knight’s national anthem
Debate around length of Gladys Knight's rendition of national anthem dominated sports-betting sites after big game
2H ago
3rd poultry firm recalls chicken on fears of tainted goods
Pilgrim's Pride recall follows Tyson and Perdue moves to stop sales of food possibly tainted with extraneous material
1H ago
Who won and lost this year's Super Bowl commercials
A few advertisers scored points, expert says, while one company got sacked for a loss
2H ago
Tech investor says Facebook is "terrible for America"
"Zucked" author Roger McNamee says Facebook is a threat to democracy, public health and privacy, and makes everyone vulnerable to bad actors
4H ago 
Jury begins deliberations over fate of infamous drug lord "El Chapo"
The jury has heard months of testimony about Joaquin Guzman's rise to power as the head of the Sinaloa cartel
updated 59M ago 
Pregnant woman stabbed to death in NYC apartment lobby
Candle burned outside the apartment building where 35-year-old real estate agent Jennifer Irigoyen was savagely stabbed to death.
1H ago 
Ex-MMA fighter facing murder charges is captured
Authorities spent hours searching for Cedric Joseph Marks after he fled a prisoner transport van at a McDonald's in Texas
12H ago 
White officer demoted for Snapchat video taunting black woman
The officer had just impounded the woman's car and posted video of himself making derogatory comments as she walked away
Feb 1 
Person investigating woman's death found dead inside home
Michelle O'Connell's 2010 death was ruled a suicide, but her family believed she was killed by her boyfriend
Feb 1 Original Article
