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| Virginia Democratic Lawmaker Moves to Consider Impeaching Justin Fairfax | Virginia Democratic Lawmaker Moves to Consider Impeaching Justin Fairfax |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| RICHMOND, Va. — A Democratic lawmaker in Virginia on Sunday sent his colleagues a draft resolution that would begin impeachment proceedings against Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, who is facing multiple allegations of sexual assault. | RICHMOND, Va. — A Democratic lawmaker in Virginia on Sunday sent his colleagues a draft resolution that would begin impeachment proceedings against Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, who is facing multiple allegations of sexual assault. |
| The resolution directs a House committee to determine whether allegations of sexual assault against Mr. Fairfax by two women, Meredith Watson and Vanessa C. Tyson, “constitute conduct sufficient to provide grounds for impeachment.” | The resolution directs a House committee to determine whether allegations of sexual assault against Mr. Fairfax by two women, Meredith Watson and Vanessa C. Tyson, “constitute conduct sufficient to provide grounds for impeachment.” |
| In an email accompanying the draft, the lawmaker, Delegate Patrick A. Hope, emphasized that the resolution “is not impeachment. It is a process to investigate whether the Courts Committee would recommend impeachment.” | In an email accompanying the draft, the lawmaker, Delegate Patrick A. Hope, emphasized that the resolution “is not impeachment. It is a process to investigate whether the Courts Committee would recommend impeachment.” |
| Mr. Hope declined to comment about the draft on Sunday night, saying only that discussions with colleagues are underway. Mr. Hope had said on Friday evening that he would introduce articles of impeachment on Monday if Mr. Fairfax, a fellow Democrat, had not resigned by then. | Mr. Hope declined to comment about the draft on Sunday night, saying only that discussions with colleagues are underway. Mr. Hope had said on Friday evening that he would introduce articles of impeachment on Monday if Mr. Fairfax, a fellow Democrat, had not resigned by then. |
| Virginia Democrats, who are reeling from more than a week of extraordinary turmoil, are caught in a tough bind after the state’s governor and attorney general both admitted to wearing blackface as young men. | Virginia Democrats, who are reeling from more than a week of extraordinary turmoil, are caught in a tough bind after the state’s governor and attorney general both admitted to wearing blackface as young men. |
| [Get caught up on the scandals that are upending Virginia politics.] | |
| Impeachment proceedings against Mr. Fairfax would be fraught with political risks. Many Democrats have called for Mr. Fairfax to resign over the assault allegations. But some Democrats are wary of impeaching the lieutenant governor, who is black, while sparing the governor and attorney general, who are white and have resisted calls to step down after admitting to racist conduct. | Impeachment proceedings against Mr. Fairfax would be fraught with political risks. Many Democrats have called for Mr. Fairfax to resign over the assault allegations. But some Democrats are wary of impeaching the lieutenant governor, who is black, while sparing the governor and attorney general, who are white and have resisted calls to step down after admitting to racist conduct. |
| The Democrats also do not hold a majority in the House and are thus not free to set the agenda. | The Democrats also do not hold a majority in the House and are thus not free to set the agenda. |
| A spokeswoman for Mr. Fairfax said that while he was “aggressively exploring options for a thorough, independent and impartial investigation,” an impeachment proceeding was “an inherently political process” that would not present “the most likely path for learning the truth.” | A spokeswoman for Mr. Fairfax said that while he was “aggressively exploring options for a thorough, independent and impartial investigation,” an impeachment proceeding was “an inherently political process” that would not present “the most likely path for learning the truth.” |
| The prospects of any one of Virginia’s top three leaders willingly resigning seemed to recede as the weekend wore on. Mr. Fairfax, who has denied the allegations and described the sexual encounters at the center of the claims as “consensual,” released a statement on Saturday night calling for an investigation and citing the need for “due process.” | The prospects of any one of Virginia’s top three leaders willingly resigning seemed to recede as the weekend wore on. Mr. Fairfax, who has denied the allegations and described the sexual encounters at the center of the claims as “consensual,” released a statement on Saturday night calling for an investigation and citing the need for “due process.” |
| And on Sunday morning, the governor, Ralph Northam, remained firm in his intention to stay in office and stopped short of calling for the resignations of either of his fellow scandal-plagued Democratic leaders. | And on Sunday morning, the governor, Ralph Northam, remained firm in his intention to stay in office and stopped short of calling for the resignations of either of his fellow scandal-plagued Democratic leaders. |
| In an interview with “CBS This Morning,” Mr. Northam said he was “not going anywhere” and instead would work as governor to “take action with policy to address” inequities in Virginia. | In an interview with “CBS This Morning,” Mr. Northam said he was “not going anywhere” and instead would work as governor to “take action with policy to address” inequities in Virginia. |
| Asked about his two besieged colleagues — Mr. Fairfax and Mark R. Herring, the attorney general, who admitted to wearing blackface as a college student in the 1980s — Mr. Northam said that they “have all grown” over the last week, and that the decisions on whether to resign would have to be made by the men themselves. | Asked about his two besieged colleagues — Mr. Fairfax and Mark R. Herring, the attorney general, who admitted to wearing blackface as a college student in the 1980s — Mr. Northam said that they “have all grown” over the last week, and that the decisions on whether to resign would have to be made by the men themselves. |
| The governor endorsed Mr. Fairfax’s proposal, made in a statement, to have the F.B.I. investigate the claims of sexual assault. “I really think where we are now, we need to get to the truth,” he said. | The governor endorsed Mr. Fairfax’s proposal, made in a statement, to have the F.B.I. investigate the claims of sexual assault. “I really think where we are now, we need to get to the truth,” he said. |
| In the interview, he also said he was dedicated to continuing the work of racial progress, pointing out that the state is 400 years from the moment “the first indentured servants from Africa” landed in Virginia. | In the interview, he also said he was dedicated to continuing the work of racial progress, pointing out that the state is 400 years from the moment “the first indentured servants from Africa” landed in Virginia. |
| At that point the interviewer, Gayle King, chimed in: “Also known as slavery.” | At that point the interviewer, Gayle King, chimed in: “Also known as slavery.” |
| It has been more than a week since a photograph showing men in blackface and a Ku Klux Klan outfit on Mr. Northam’s medical school yearbook page came to light. Nearly every day since has provided an unforeseen twist. | It has been more than a week since a photograph showing men in blackface and a Ku Klux Klan outfit on Mr. Northam’s medical school yearbook page came to light. Nearly every day since has provided an unforeseen twist. |
| The governor, who initially apologized for appearing in the photo and appeared to be on the verge of resigning, has since insisted it is not him in the picture. A Washington Post-Schar School poll released on Saturday showed that Virginians are evenly split on the question of whether the governor should resign. That same poll showed that black residents were significantly more likely to support his staying in office, though nearly 40 percent still believed he should step down. | The governor, who initially apologized for appearing in the photo and appeared to be on the verge of resigning, has since insisted it is not him in the picture. A Washington Post-Schar School poll released on Saturday showed that Virginians are evenly split on the question of whether the governor should resign. That same poll showed that black residents were significantly more likely to support his staying in office, though nearly 40 percent still believed he should step down. |
| Mr. Fairfax, who a week ago seemed almost certain to take the governor’s place, now appears to be in political danger. He has denied the assault allegations, insisting that the sexual encounters in 2000 and 2004 at the center of the claims were consensual. | Mr. Fairfax, who a week ago seemed almost certain to take the governor’s place, now appears to be in political danger. He has denied the assault allegations, insisting that the sexual encounters in 2000 and 2004 at the center of the claims were consensual. |
| The legal teams of both of Mr. Fairfax’s accusers released statements on Saturday night saying the women would be willing to testify at an impeachment proceeding. | The legal teams of both of Mr. Fairfax’s accusers released statements on Saturday night saying the women would be willing to testify at an impeachment proceeding. |
| Despite Mr. Fairfax’s and Mr. Northam’s vows to remain in office, it is not clear how much support they can regain. Appearing on CBS’s “Face the Nation” after clips of the interview with Mr. Northam were played, two Democratic members of Virginia’s congressional delegation, Representatives Jennifer Wexton and Don Beyer, said they still believed that Mr. Northam and Mr. Fairfax should step down. | Despite Mr. Fairfax’s and Mr. Northam’s vows to remain in office, it is not clear how much support they can regain. Appearing on CBS’s “Face the Nation” after clips of the interview with Mr. Northam were played, two Democratic members of Virginia’s congressional delegation, Representatives Jennifer Wexton and Don Beyer, said they still believed that Mr. Northam and Mr. Fairfax should step down. |
| “I don’t believe he can effectively lead the commonwealth at this time,” Ms. Wexton said of the governor. Of Mr. Fairfax, she said, “I believe the lieutenant governor will do the right thing for Virginia and resign.” | “I don’t believe he can effectively lead the commonwealth at this time,” Ms. Wexton said of the governor. Of Mr. Fairfax, she said, “I believe the lieutenant governor will do the right thing for Virginia and resign.” |
| Neither representative called for the resignation of Mr. Herring, contrasting his “heartfelt” apology and outreach to African-American leaders with Mr. Northam’s peculiar response, first apologizing for being in the photo and then insisting it was not him. They also dismissed Mr. Fairfax’s calls for an investigation, describing the accusations against him as “extremely credible.” | Neither representative called for the resignation of Mr. Herring, contrasting his “heartfelt” apology and outreach to African-American leaders with Mr. Northam’s peculiar response, first apologizing for being in the photo and then insisting it was not him. They also dismissed Mr. Fairfax’s calls for an investigation, describing the accusations against him as “extremely credible.” |
| In the Washington Post poll, nearly two-thirds of respondents said they did not know enough to form an opinion about Mr. Fairfax’s denial of the initial sexual assault allegation by Dr. Tyson, a political science professor. The poll was taken before the second allegation of sexual assault became public. | In the Washington Post poll, nearly two-thirds of respondents said they did not know enough to form an opinion about Mr. Fairfax’s denial of the initial sexual assault allegation by Dr. Tyson, a political science professor. The poll was taken before the second allegation of sexual assault became public. |
| Ms. Wexton and Mr. Beyer were not the only politicians to weigh in on the scandals in Virginia on Sunday morning. Shortly before their appearances, President Trump chimed in on Twitter, apparently alluding to the political awkwardness of scandals that may take down the black lieutenant governor while leaving in place the white governor and attorney general, who have both admitted to wearing blackface. | Ms. Wexton and Mr. Beyer were not the only politicians to weigh in on the scandals in Virginia on Sunday morning. Shortly before their appearances, President Trump chimed in on Twitter, apparently alluding to the political awkwardness of scandals that may take down the black lieutenant governor while leaving in place the white governor and attorney general, who have both admitted to wearing blackface. |
| “African Americans are very angry at the double standard on full display in Virginia!” the president tweeted, before going on to declare that “the Virginia disaster” had been one part of “a very bad week for the Democrats.” | “African Americans are very angry at the double standard on full display in Virginia!” the president tweeted, before going on to declare that “the Virginia disaster” had been one part of “a very bad week for the Democrats.” |