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| Virginia Is in Turmoil. Here’s a Breakdown of Nine Days of Scandal. | Virginia Is in Turmoil. Here’s a Breakdown of Nine Days of Scandal. |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Updated Feb. 9 | Updated Feb. 9 |
| For Virginia’s top state officials, it has been more than a week of chaos. | For Virginia’s top state officials, it has been more than a week of chaos. |
| There was an apology, a reversal and an admission about blackface. A sexual assault allegation was made, and an emphatic denial was made in response. Then came another admission about blackface. And another sexual assault accusation. | There was an apology, a reversal and an admission about blackface. A sexual assault allegation was made, and an emphatic denial was made in response. Then came another admission about blackface. And another sexual assault accusation. |
| Last week, the clouds began to gather over Gov. Ralph S. Northam, 59, a physician and Army veteran who was elected in 2017 and won the widest victory for a Democratic candidate for governor in the state in decades. Now, a storm of scandals has engulfed him, Lt. Gov. Justin E. Fairfax and Attorney General Mark R. Herring, all Democrats, as well as Thomas K. Norment Jr., the Republican majority leader in the Virginia Senate. | Last week, the clouds began to gather over Gov. Ralph S. Northam, 59, a physician and Army veteran who was elected in 2017 and won the widest victory for a Democratic candidate for governor in the state in decades. Now, a storm of scandals has engulfed him, Lt. Gov. Justin E. Fairfax and Attorney General Mark R. Herring, all Democrats, as well as Thomas K. Norment Jr., the Republican majority leader in the Virginia Senate. |
| The blackface revelations revived painful memories of Virginia’s disturbing history on race: centuries of slavery, decades of segregation and racial inequalities that still persist. The state was roiled in 2017 when a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville erupted into deadly violence. And the sexual assault allegations came on the heels of the #MeToo movement led by survivors of assault and harassment. | The blackface revelations revived painful memories of Virginia’s disturbing history on race: centuries of slavery, decades of segregation and racial inequalities that still persist. The state was roiled in 2017 when a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville erupted into deadly violence. And the sexual assault allegations came on the heels of the #MeToo movement led by survivors of assault and harassment. |
| Here is a look at the upheaval in Richmond, Virginia’s capital: | Here is a look at the upheaval in Richmond, Virginia’s capital: |
| Last Friday, Big League Politics, an obscure right-wing news outlet, published Mr. Northam’s medical school yearbook page from 1984. (The report came two days after Mr. Northam had angered some conservatives when he discussed late-term abortions during a radio interview.) | Last Friday, Big League Politics, an obscure right-wing news outlet, published Mr. Northam’s medical school yearbook page from 1984. (The report came two days after Mr. Northam had angered some conservatives when he discussed late-term abortions during a radio interview.) |
| A photograph on the yearbook page showed two people: one dressed in a Ku Klux Klan robe, and the other in blackface. Mr. Northam apologized — first in a statement and then in a video — and acknowledged that he was in the photograph. A flood of Democratic officials, including members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus and several 2020 presidential contenders, condemned the photograph and called for Mr. Northam to step down. | A photograph on the yearbook page showed two people: one dressed in a Ku Klux Klan robe, and the other in blackface. Mr. Northam apologized — first in a statement and then in a video — and acknowledged that he was in the photograph. A flood of Democratic officials, including members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus and several 2020 presidential contenders, condemned the photograph and called for Mr. Northam to step down. |
| [Read about the controversial history of the Northam yearbook.] | [Read about the controversial history of the Northam yearbook.] |
| Amid speculation about a possible resignation, more people began to focus on Mr. Northam’s designated successor, Mr. Fairfax, 39, the second African-American person to win a statewide election in Virginia. (Mr. Fairfax ran separately from Mr. Northam during the Democratic primaries for lieutenant governor and governor. Mr. Northam did not choose Mr. Fairfax as his running mate.) | Amid speculation about a possible resignation, more people began to focus on Mr. Northam’s designated successor, Mr. Fairfax, 39, the second African-American person to win a statewide election in Virginia. (Mr. Fairfax ran separately from Mr. Northam during the Democratic primaries for lieutenant governor and governor. Mr. Northam did not choose Mr. Fairfax as his running mate.) |
| At an extraordinary news conference last Saturday, Mr. Northam reversed course and said he was “definitely not” in the yearbook picture and did not plan to step down. The governor said he wanted to have “an honest conversation about racial justice,” and he called the yearbook photo of the two men “offensive, racist and despicable.” | At an extraordinary news conference last Saturday, Mr. Northam reversed course and said he was “definitely not” in the yearbook picture and did not plan to step down. The governor said he wanted to have “an honest conversation about racial justice,” and he called the yearbook photo of the two men “offensive, racist and despicable.” |
| But he added that he did darken his face with shoe polish for a Michael Jackson costume in a dance contest in Texas in 1984. And in an awkward moment that seemed to further undermine his standing, he appeared ready to grant a reporter’s request to demonstrate his “moonwalk.’’ | But he added that he did darken his face with shoe polish for a Michael Jackson costume in a dance contest in Texas in 1984. And in an awkward moment that seemed to further undermine his standing, he appeared ready to grant a reporter’s request to demonstrate his “moonwalk.’’ |
| His sudden reversal was not convincing to most Democrats, including the state’s two United States senators, who urged him to step down. | His sudden reversal was not convincing to most Democrats, including the state’s two United States senators, who urged him to step down. |
| In a statement, Mr. Fairfax said that “at this critical and defining moment in the history of Virginia and this nation, we need leaders with the ability to unite and help us rise to the better angels of our nature.” He did not directly call for the governor to resign. But Mr. Herring, the state’s attorney general, did call for Mr. Northam’s resignation on Saturday. | In a statement, Mr. Fairfax said that “at this critical and defining moment in the history of Virginia and this nation, we need leaders with the ability to unite and help us rise to the better angels of our nature.” He did not directly call for the governor to resign. But Mr. Herring, the state’s attorney general, did call for Mr. Northam’s resignation on Saturday. |
| On Sunday, Mr. Northam attended church on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, in his only public appearance since the scandal first broke. Later, Big League Politics again created a stir, publishing an allegation by a woman who said that she had been sexually assaulted by a campaign staff member she had met at the Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004. At that time, Mr. Fairfax had been working as an aide to John Edwards, who was then a senator and the Democratic vice-presidential candidate. | On Sunday, Mr. Northam attended church on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, in his only public appearance since the scandal first broke. Later, Big League Politics again created a stir, publishing an allegation by a woman who said that she had been sexually assaulted by a campaign staff member she had met at the Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004. At that time, Mr. Fairfax had been working as an aide to John Edwards, who was then a senator and the Democratic vice-presidential candidate. |
| On Monday, The Washington Post reported that the woman had contacted the newspaper with the allegation shortly after Mr. Fairfax won his election in 2017. The Post said it was unable to corroborate her allegations, and Mr. Fairfax emphatically denied them. At different points during the day, he hinted that Mr. Northam or Levar Stoney, the mayor of Richmond and a potential political rival, might have played a role in bringing the accusation to light. | On Monday, The Washington Post reported that the woman had contacted the newspaper with the allegation shortly after Mr. Fairfax won his election in 2017. The Post said it was unable to corroborate her allegations, and Mr. Fairfax emphatically denied them. At different points during the day, he hinted that Mr. Northam or Levar Stoney, the mayor of Richmond and a potential political rival, might have played a role in bringing the accusation to light. |
| He also said that he and the woman had a “100 percent consensual” sexual encounter in 2004. He said that the woman had subsequently called him, saying she wanted him to meet her mother, and that he did not recall seeing her again after their initial encounter. | He also said that he and the woman had a “100 percent consensual” sexual encounter in 2004. He said that the woman had subsequently called him, saying she wanted him to meet her mother, and that he did not recall seeing her again after their initial encounter. |
| On Tuesday, it appeared that Mr. Northam still intended to keep his seat, hoping to clear his name. People close to him said he might hire a private investigator to learn more about the yearbook photograph, and he received support from nine of his medical school classmates, who wrote a letter saying they did not believe that Mr. Northam had “ever engaged in, promoted, tolerated, or condoned racism.” | On Tuesday, it appeared that Mr. Northam still intended to keep his seat, hoping to clear his name. People close to him said he might hire a private investigator to learn more about the yearbook photograph, and he received support from nine of his medical school classmates, who wrote a letter saying they did not believe that Mr. Northam had “ever engaged in, promoted, tolerated, or condoned racism.” |
| In a week of head-turning news in the Capitol, Mr. Herring, the attorney general elected in 2013, provided some more: He said that he, too, had once worn blackface. | In a week of head-turning news in the Capitol, Mr. Herring, the attorney general elected in 2013, provided some more: He said that he, too, had once worn blackface. |
| Mr. Herring, 57, said in a statement that he and friends “put on wigs and brown makeup” for a party in 1980, when he was an undergraduate at the University of Virginia, and that he was dressed as the rapper Kurtis Blow. “That I have contributed to the pain Virginians have felt this week is the greatest shame I have ever felt,” he added. | Mr. Herring, 57, said in a statement that he and friends “put on wigs and brown makeup” for a party in 1980, when he was an undergraduate at the University of Virginia, and that he was dressed as the rapper Kurtis Blow. “That I have contributed to the pain Virginians have felt this week is the greatest shame I have ever felt,” he added. |
| Hours later, the woman who had accused Mr. Fairfax of sexual assault came forward with more details. | Hours later, the woman who had accused Mr. Fairfax of sexual assault came forward with more details. |
| The woman identified herself as Vanessa C. Tyson, an associate professor of politics and expert in black history at Scripps College in California. She said that after she met Mr. Fairfax at the 2004 convention, she had an encounter with him that began with consensual kissing but quickly turned into an episode of forced oral sex. | The woman identified herself as Vanessa C. Tyson, an associate professor of politics and expert in black history at Scripps College in California. She said that after she met Mr. Fairfax at the 2004 convention, she had an encounter with him that began with consensual kissing but quickly turned into an episode of forced oral sex. |
| [Read the full text of Dr. Tyson’s statement here.] | [Read the full text of Dr. Tyson’s statement here.] |
| In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Fairfax called Dr. Tyson’s account “painful” to read but denied that he had assaulted her. “I take this situation very seriously and continue to believe Dr. Tyson should be treated with respect,” he said. “But, I cannot agree to a description of events that simply is not true.” | In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Fairfax called Dr. Tyson’s account “painful” to read but denied that he had assaulted her. “I take this situation very seriously and continue to believe Dr. Tyson should be treated with respect,” he said. “But, I cannot agree to a description of events that simply is not true.” |
| On Thursday morning, President Trump said in a tweet that “Democrats at the top are killing the Great State of Virginia,” predicting that the state would turn red in 2020. | On Thursday morning, President Trump said in a tweet that “Democrats at the top are killing the Great State of Virginia,” predicting that the state would turn red in 2020. |
| But allegations involving past racist behavior spread to Republicans when it emerged that Mr. Norment, 72, the majority leader in the State Senate, was a top editor of a 1968 college yearbook that included several photographs of students in blackface as well as racist slurs. The Virginian-Pilot first reported on the yearbook on Thursday. | But allegations involving past racist behavior spread to Republicans when it emerged that Mr. Norment, 72, the majority leader in the State Senate, was a top editor of a 1968 college yearbook that included several photographs of students in blackface as well as racist slurs. The Virginian-Pilot first reported on the yearbook on Thursday. |
| “I cannot endorse or associate myself with every photo, entry or word on each page,” Mr. Norment said, adding that he condemned the use of blackface. | “I cannot endorse or associate myself with every photo, entry or word on each page,” Mr. Norment said, adding that he condemned the use of blackface. |
| It remained unclear how these crises of personal conduct would affect state leadership. On Thursday, statements from Democrats seemed to suggest that Mr. Fairfax was in more political peril than Mr. Herring. | It remained unclear how these crises of personal conduct would affect state leadership. On Thursday, statements from Democrats seemed to suggest that Mr. Fairfax was in more political peril than Mr. Herring. |
| The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus said the allegations against Mr. Fairfax were “troubling,” and that it would “await further action” on the part of Mr. Herring to reassure citizens. Virginia’s congressional Democrats said they were “deeply disturbed” by the allegations against Mr. Fairfax, while Mr. Herring “must stand ready to answer questions from the public if he is to regain their trust.” | The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus said the allegations against Mr. Fairfax were “troubling,” and that it would “await further action” on the part of Mr. Herring to reassure citizens. Virginia’s congressional Democrats said they were “deeply disturbed” by the allegations against Mr. Fairfax, while Mr. Herring “must stand ready to answer questions from the public if he is to regain their trust.” |
| Senators Kamala Harris of California and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who are both running for president as Democrats, described Dr. Tyson’s claims as “credible” and called for an investigation. | Senators Kamala Harris of California and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who are both running for president as Democrats, described Dr. Tyson’s claims as “credible” and called for an investigation. |
| Mr. Northam, meanwhile, still seemed determined to hold on to his job. | Mr. Northam, meanwhile, still seemed determined to hold on to his job. |
| On Friday, a second woman, Meredith Watson, accused Mr. Fairfax of sexual assault, saying that he raped her in 2000 while they were both students at Duke University. | On Friday, a second woman, Meredith Watson, accused Mr. Fairfax of sexual assault, saying that he raped her in 2000 while they were both students at Duke University. |
| In a statement issued by her lawyer, Ms. Watson accused Mr. Fairfax of a “premeditated and aggressive” assault and called on him to resign immediately. | In a statement issued by her lawyer, Ms. Watson accused Mr. Fairfax of a “premeditated and aggressive” assault and called on him to resign immediately. |
| She said that Dr. Tyson’s allegations had inspired her to tell her story and that she was seeking no legal remedy or compensation from Mr. Fairfax. | She said that Dr. Tyson’s allegations had inspired her to tell her story and that she was seeking no legal remedy or compensation from Mr. Fairfax. |
| Shortly after Ms. Watson came forward, Mr. Fairfax issued another denial, calling the allegation “demonstrably false” and vowing that he would not resign. | Shortly after Ms. Watson came forward, Mr. Fairfax issued another denial, calling the allegation “demonstrably false” and vowing that he would not resign. |
| “I demand a full investigation into these unsubstantiated and false allegations,” he said. “Such an investigation will confirm my account because I am telling the truth.” | “I demand a full investigation into these unsubstantiated and false allegations,” he said. “Such an investigation will confirm my account because I am telling the truth.” |
| Other Democrats appeared unconvinced. By late Friday, the Democratic caucuses in the state House and Senate, at least six members of the state’s congressional delegation, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Senators Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California, both presidential candidates, had all called on him to resign. | Other Democrats appeared unconvinced. By late Friday, the Democratic caucuses in the state House and Senate, at least six members of the state’s congressional delegation, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Senators Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California, both presidential candidates, had all called on him to resign. |
| Patrick Hope, a Democratic legislator from Northern Virginia, said on Twitter that he would introduce articles of impeachment against Mr. Fairfax on Monday if he had not quit by then. | Patrick Hope, a Democratic legislator from Northern Virginia, said on Twitter that he would introduce articles of impeachment against Mr. Fairfax on Monday if he had not quit by then. |
| On Saturday, the state Democratic Party issued a statement saying Mr. Fairfax no longer had “their confidence or support” and should quit. | On Saturday, the state Democratic Party issued a statement saying Mr. Fairfax no longer had “their confidence or support” and should quit. |
| The lieutenant governor’s refusal to resign presented Democrats with an excruciating choice: whether to impeach an African-American leader at a moment when the state’s other two top leaders, both white, are also resisting calls to quit after admitting to racist conduct. | The lieutenant governor’s refusal to resign presented Democrats with an excruciating choice: whether to impeach an African-American leader at a moment when the state’s other two top leaders, both white, are also resisting calls to quit after admitting to racist conduct. |
| Mr. Fairfax on Saturday confirmed that he had an encounter with Ms. Watson, but said it was consensual. He called for an independent investigation of the allegations, and asked that “no one rush to judgment” and for “due process.” | |
| Legal teams for Dr. Tyson and Ms. Watson issued statements on Saturday night that said the women would be willing to testify in impeachment proceedings against Mr. Fairfax. |