Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring admits to dressing in blackface as a student
By Grace Segers
/ CBS News
Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, the second in line to assume the governorship of the state, admitted on Wednesday to dressing in blackface when he as a 19-year-old college student. This statement comes amid turmoil in Virginia, after many Democrats have called on Gov. Ralph Northam to resign over the revelation of racist yearbook photos from his time in medical school, and his own confession to wearing blackface in 1984.
"I have a glaring example from my past that I have thought about with deep regret in the many years since, and certainly each time I took a step forward in public service, realizing that my goals and this memory could someday collide and cause pain for people I care about," Herring said in a statement.
"In 1980, when I was a 19-year-old undergraduate in college, some friends suggested we attend a party dressed like rappers we listened to at the time, like Kurtis Blow, and perform a song," Herring said. "It sounds ridiculous even now writing it."
Herring acknowledged that he and his friends did dress up in wigs and brown makeup for the party. He has not ruled out the possibility that he could resign over the incident.
"That I have contributed to the pain Virginians have felt this week is the greatest shame I have ever felt," he said. "In the days ahead, honest conversations and discussions will make it clear whether I can or should continue to serve as attorney general."
When news came out of Northam's yearbook, Herring called for the governor's resignation.
"It is no longer possible for Governor Northam to lead our Commonwealth and it is time for him to step down," he said on Friday.
Also on Wednesday, Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax addressed sexual misconduct allegations against him again in a statement, apologizing for what he believed to be a consensual encounter with a woman who claimed he sexually assaulted her in 2004. Fairfax has consistently strongly denied the allegations, first published by a conservative website, calling the accusation a "smear" and "character assassination," on Monday.
Fairfax would assume the governorship if Northam resigned.
Unlike his vehement denials to reporters on Monday, Fairfax began the statement released Wednesday by "emphasizing how important it is for us to listen to women when they come forward with allegations of sexual assault or harassment."
"[W]hile this allegation has been both surprising and hurtful, I also recognize that no one makes charges of this kind lightly, and I take it and this situation very seriously," Fairfax said. He repeated that he had a "consensual encounter" with the woman who made the allegations against him.
"I would like to encourage the media, my supporters, and others to treat both the woman who made this allegation and my family with respect for how painful this situation can be for everyone involved. I wish her no harm or humiliation, nor do I seek to denigrate her or diminish her voice. But I cannot agree with a description of events that I know is not true," he said.
First published on February 6, 2019
© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Grace Segers
Grace Segers is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital.
Virginia AG admits to dressing in blackface as a student
Herring dressed as the rapper Kurtis Blow as a 19-year-old college student
updated 6M ago 
Ex-CIA chief's biggest concern about Trump-Kim summit
President Trump has tried to downplay North Korea's national security threat, despite continued efforts to advance their nuclear program
updated 5M ago 
Massachusetts high court upholds conviction in texting suicide case
Court rules that the evidence proved Michelle Carter's conduct caused the suicide of Conrad Roy III in 2014
updated 17M ago 
Runner survives attack by suffocating mountain lion
"In the event of a lion attack you need to do anything in your power to fight back just as this gentleman did"
updated 17M ago 
Latest U.S. trade gap falls on China slowdown
America's trade deficit falls to lowest level since June, as global sales from China — from cars to cellphones — slow
updated 52M ago
Virginia AG admits to dressing in blackface as a student
Herring dressed as the rapper Kurtis Blow as a 19-year-old college student
updated 6M ago
Ex-CIA chief's biggest concern about Trump-Kim summit
President Trump has tried to downplay North Korea's national security threat, despite continued efforts to advance their nuclear program
updated 5M ago 
Could Venezuela showdown lead to one between U.S. and Cuba?
Vicki Huddleston said the two countries' previous leaders, Fidel Castro in Cuba and Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, forged a close relationship
updated 31M ago 
Fact checking Trump's State of the Union
Here's a look at the president's claims on foreign and domestic policy
2H ago 
Dem leader to Trump on shutdown negotiations: "Stay out of it"
"The committees are making progress. The president's got to stay out of it. We can get it done"
3H ago 
Ex-CIA chief's biggest concern about Trump-Kim summit
President Trump has tried to downplay North Korea's national security threat, despite continued efforts to advance their nuclear program
updated 5M ago
Could Venezuela showdown lead to one between U.S. and Cuba?
Vicki Huddleston said the two countries' previous leaders, Fidel Castro in Cuba and Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, forged a close relationship
updated 31M ago 
EU leader: "Special place in hell" for Brexit promoters
The EU leader has received backlash in the U.K for his remarks
1H ago 
Taliban claims U.S. agreed to major Afghan withdrawal in 2 months
Negotiators for Islamist insurgent group say White House envoy promised half of U.S. forces would come out by end of April
1H ago 
Egypt's opposition balks at presidents bid for longer term
The proposed changes to Egypt's constitution would consolidate Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi for years to come
3H ago 
Bradley Cooper "embarrassed" about Oscars snub
"A Star is Born" received eight nominations, but Cooper is disappointed about the one he didn't get – best director
updated 9M ago 
R. Kelly deletes tweet about tour
Some Twitter users expressed anger over the tour announcement – and then it vanished
1H ago 
More than 1M Patriots fans celebrate team's 6th Super Bowl win
New England Patriots and more than 1 million fans celebrated the team's victory in a celebratory parade down the streets of Boston
16H ago 
Oscars aim for "brisk" 3-hour show without a host
The Academy Awards will officially forgo an emcee after Kevin Hart pulled out amid controversy
17H ago 
Liam Neeson says he's "not racist" after disturbing interview
Neeson, 66, joined ABC's "Good Morning America" to further explain his controversial comments
17H ago 
Snap reports record revenues, but struggles to add users
Struggling social media company gets a badly needed boost in growth, while its losses narrowed
18H ago 
Dinosaur that used spiny back to defend itself found in Patagonia
The new species of dicraeosauridae, christened Bajadasaurus pronuspinax, was revealed in scientific journal Nature
20H ago 
Facebook messenger rolls out unsend feature
After Facebook came under fire for letting Mark Zuckerberg alter message history, it gave all users an "unsend" option
20H ago 
What happened when I asked Alexa and Google Assistant for my data
As smart home devices become increasingly popular, concerns about data collection aren't going away
18H ago 
Crypto company out $137M after passwords die with owner
The founder's widow said "repeated and diligent searches" for a password have failed
Feb 4 
Study reveals top reason people use medical marijuana
More than 30 states now allow marijuana for dozens of health problems if a doctor approves
19H ago 
7 steps for heart health may also help with diabetes
New research shows these lifestyle habits can significantly reduce the risk of both heart disease and diabetes
21H ago 
Women's brains appear "years younger" than men's, study finds
New research offers clues as to why women tend to outlive men and stay mentally sharp longer
16H 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
Feb 4 
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
Feb 4 
Latest U.S. trade gap falls on China slowdown
America's trade deficit falls to lowest level since June, as global sales from China — from cars to cellphones — slow
updated 52M ago 
GM's 2018 profit jumps, will hire 1,000 at Flint pickup plant
The healthy earnings will mean profit-sharing checks of $10,750 each for 46,500 union workers
3H ago 
Fiat Chrysler recalls 573,000 Ram trucks for steering problem
The problem, which can cause drivers to lose steering control, has been linked to one injury and eight crashes
3H ago 
Sears plans to unload pensions, close more stores
Billionaire investor Eddie Lampert's commitment to saving jobs is questioned in bankruptcy court
3H ago 
How much income you need to be in the 1%
Despite the furor over proposals to hike taxes on the rich, only a small fraction of Americans would be affected
1H ago 
Man accused of kidnapping Jayme Closs appears in court
Jake Patterson faced a judge in person for the first time
updated 9M ago 
Suicide texting trial: The case against Michelle Carter in the death of Conrad Roy
The groundbreaking trial of a crime of the digital age — should a young woman go to prison for sending texts to a friend who took his own life?
updated 10M ago 
Sandusky to be re-sentenced for child molestation conviction
Jerry Sandusky lost a bid for a new trial Tuesday, but a Pennsylvania appeals court ordered him to be re-sentenced for a 45-count child molestation conviction
18H ago 
Nurse accused of assaulting patient pleads not guilty
Nathan Sutherland is accused of raping a patient at Hacienda HealthCare
22H ago 
Va. state trooper, drug suspect shot to death during home search
Authorities say suspect fired at officers who entered a home to look for drugs, killing trooper, and officers then shot suspect
Feb 5 Original Article
