This story was last updated 5:20 p.m.
A second woman on Friday has come forward accusing embattled Virginia Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax (D) of sexual assault, in 2000 when they were in college at Duke University, calling the alleged attack “premeditated and aggressive.”
The woman identified herself in a statement as Meredith Watson. Lawyers representing Watson say she “is reluctantly coming forward out of a strong sense of civic duty and her belief that those seeking or serving in public office should be of the highest character.”
Watson also called for Fairfax to resign from office.
Fairfax then issued a statement denying the allegation.
From NPR’s Sarah McCammon:
Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax denied an allegation that he raped a fellow student at Duke University in 2000.
“I deny this latest unsubstantiated allegation. It is demonstrably false. I have never forced myself on anyone ever,” Fairfax said in a statement. “I demand a full investigation into these unsubstantiated and false allegations. Such an investigation will confirm my account because I am telling the truth.”
“I will clear my good name and I have nothing to hide,” Fairfax added. “I have passed two full field background checks by the FBI and run for office in two highly contested elections with nothing like this being raised before. It is obvious that a vicious and coordinated smear campaign is being orchestrated against me.”
Finally, he said: “I will not resign.”
Reaction was swift from former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe.
The allegations against Justin Fairfax are serious and credible. It is clear to me that he can no longer effectively serve the people of Virginia as Lieutenant Governor. I call for his immediate resignation.
— Terry McAuliffe (@TerryMcAuliffe) February 8, 2019
On Wednesday, Vanessa Tyson, a professor in Southern California, detailed a sexual encounter with Fairfax in 2004.
“What began as consensual kissing quickly turned into a sexual assault,” Tyson wrote. She said Fairfax forced her to commit a sexual act during the Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004. Tyson hired the same law firm that represented Christine Blasey Ford in her allegations against then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, while Fairfax retained the same lawyers who represented Kavanaugh.
Fairfax has denied assaulting Tyson, alleging that the encounter was consensual.
The latest Fairfax news comes after a tumultuous week in Virginia politics.
The top three legislators in Virginia are all mired in controversy after a racist photo surfaced from a yearbook page belonging to Gov. Ralph Northam surfaced and Attorney General Mark Herring admitted to dressing in blackface in 1980.
Northam initially claimed to be in the photo but later walked the remarks back. Northam has resisted calls for his resignation, tweeting out a meeting he had with a black farmer, while Herring apologized for his actions.
This story was updated to include the full statements from Watson and Fairfax.
Victoria M. Walker is a producer in the WAMU newsroom.
This story first appeared at WAMU.
