‘Dont rush to judgement’ Virginia Lt Gov Justin Fairfax compares himself to Jim Crow-era lynching victims – Seeks due process
Virginia Lt Gov Justin Fairfax compares himself to Jim Crow-era lynching victims in a surprise speech as he resists calls to resign following allegations of sexual assault by two women
Virginia Lt Gov Justin Fairfax compared himself to Jim Crow-era lynching Sunday
When he finished impromptu speech, stunned senators sat in awkward silence
He has been accused of sexual assault by Vanessa Tyson and Meredith Watson
Earlier this month, Tyson publicly accused Fairfax of forcing her to perform oral sex in his hotel room during Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004
Watson also accused Fairfax of sexual assault and issued a statement accusing him of raping her 19 years ago while they were students at Duke University
Virginia Lt Gov Justin Fairfax [left], is fighting allegations of a sexual assault made by Vanessa Tyson [right]. The attack allegedly happened 15 years ago in a Boston hotel room, when they were both in their mid-twenties and working at the Democratic convention
Virginia Lt Gov Justin Fairfax who continues to be dogged by accusations of sexual impropriety, Sunday compared his current crises to Jim Crow-era lynching victims in a surprise speech delivered on the senate floor, as he resists widespread calls to resign prompted by allegations of sexual assault.
Fairfax strongly defended himself and lashed out at his critics from his rostrum in the state Senate as the 2019 legislative session was coming to a close.
‘I’ve heard much about anti-lynching on the floor of this very Senate, where people were not given any due process whatsoever, and we rue that,’ Fairfax said, referencing legislation the General Assembly passed expressing ‘profound regret’ for lynchings in Virginia between 1877 and 1950.
‘And we talk about hundreds, at least 100 terror lynchings that have happened in the Commonwealth of Virginia under those very same auspices. And yet we stand here in a rush to judgment with nothing but accusations and no facts and we decide that we are willing to do the same thing,’ Fairfax said.
When he finished his five-minute impromptu speech, stunned senators sat in awkward silence.
Fairfax is facing accusations from two women, both are African American, of sexual assault- once while a student at Duke University and later while working as a political intern.
Race based defense? Lt Gov Fairfax has compared himself to Jim Crow-era lynching victims in a surprise speech Sunday, as he resists widespread calls to resign prompted by allegations of sexual assault
Earlier this month, Vanessa Tyson publicly accused Fairfax of forcing her to perform oral sex in his hotel room during the Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004.
Her lawyer said last week that Tyson plans to meet with prosecutors in Massachusetts to detail her allegations.
In another case, a second accuser has come forward. Maryland resident Meredith Watson publicly accused Fairfax of sexual assault, that occurred four years earlier than the Boston incident. Watson issued a statement accusing him of raping her in 2000 while they were students at Duke University.
In the face of Fairfax denials, Watson’s attorney said that at the time she reported the assault to a dean at Duke, who discouraged her from pursuing it further.
However shortly after the second accuser came forward, a restraining order filed against her in 2008, was reported by Politico.
A man who was reportedly in a relationship with Meredith Watson claimed that she held him against his will in his North Carolina vacation house, “dented the trunk” of his car with her fist, sent threatening texts, and threatened to kill herself, court records reportedly show.
In a petition for the restraining order, the man also described Watson “throwing property” at his home and said she threatened to commit suicide “on numerous occasions.” Watson also allegedly called the man “around 100 times a day” and sent him text messages saying she would “enjoy tearing [him] down just as much as you enjoyed tearing [her] down,” according to the report.
The man was reportedly granted a peace order, a type of restraining order in Maryland for those who are not spouses or domestic partners.
In a move designed to get to the root of the allegations, House Republicans announced plans Friday to hold a public hearing where Fairfax and the two women, Tyson and Watson can testify. This move has been criticized by Fairfax and some Democrats as a political ploy.
Earlier this month, Vanessa Tyson [photo], publicly accused Fairfax of forcing her to perform oral sex in his hotel room during the Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004
Earlier this month, Vanessa Tyson publicly accused Fairfax of forcing her to perform oral sex in his hotel room during the Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004.
Her lawyer said last week that Tyson plans to meet with prosecutors in Massachusetts to detail her allegations.
Meredith Watson has also publicly accused Fairfax of sexual assault that happened four years earlier than the Boston incident. She issued a statement accusing him of raping her 19 years ago while they were students at Duke University.
House Republicans announced plans Friday to hold a public hearing where Fairfax, Tyson and Watson can testify, a move that Fairfax and some Democrats have condemned as a political ploy.
Fairfax has indicated he won’t participate in the hearing, leaving it an open question whether Republicans will try to compel him to testify. Fairfax has said the accusations should be investigated by law enforcement.
Republican House Majority Leader Del Todd Gilbert said the Lt Gov’s comments about lynchings were highly inappropriate.
‘That is the worst, most disgusting type of rhetoric he could have invoked,’ Gilbert said.
‘It’s entirely appropriate for him to talk about due process and we would intend to offer him every ounce of it, and he’s welcome to take advantage of that anytime he would like.’
House Republicans announced plans to hold a public hearing where Fairfax [center], and his two accusers – Tyson and Watson – can testify. Fairfax and some Democrats say the proposed hearing is a political ploy
In a counterpoint, black lawmakers did not object to Fairfax’s speech.
‘He said what he needed to say,’ said Sen. Mamie Locke.
Virginia Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Del Lamont Bagby said he’s heard similar rhetoric from his constituents, who have expressed concerns that Fairfax is being treated unfairly because of his race.
Significantly Virginia Gov Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring, both Democrats and both white, are embroiled in their own scandal after acknowledging they wore blackface in the 1980s. The fate of the governor’s mansion is in a flux as Northam has also resisted widespread calls to resign and instead said he intends to devote his remaining years in office to addressing the state’s deep and lingering racial divisions.
The trio of scandals has rocked Virginia politics and exposed deep divides among Democrats.
State Democrats have expressed fear that the uproar over the governor could jeopardize their chances of taking control of the GOP-dominated Virginia legislature this year.
The party made big gains in 2017, in part because of a backlash against President Donald Trump, and has moved to a cliff edge of gaining a majority in both houses.
At the same time, the Democrats nationally have taken a hard line against misconduct in their ranks because women and minorities are a vital part of their base. A major part of their ‘wave change’ strategy is in jeopardy – the ability to criticize the well documented trail of divisive rhetoric and policies by the Trump administration without looking hypocritical.
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