Virginia Democrats may have surrendered on efforts to impeach Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, but his political future is by no means certain. According to a report from the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Fairfax’s political base is crumbling around him after at least four staffers resigned following news Friday of a second sexual assault allegation against him.
Abandon ship!
Two of the three government employees assigned to Fairfax and two members of his political action committee have decided to move on with their careers rather than continue working for a politician accused of raping two women.
“The lieutenant governor appreciates the amazing service of his former staff members. Their work and dedication was incredible. He certainly wishes them well and appreciates their service to the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Fairfax’s communications director, Lauren Burke, in an emailed statement to the Washington Post.
Fairfax’s tenure as lieutenant governor lasted less than a month before allegations of misconduct emerged. Vanessa Tyson, a fellow at Stanford University, came forward with explicit allegations that Fairfax forced her to perform oral sex on him in 2004. A second accuser, Meredith Watson, went public on Friday alleging that Fairfax raped her in 2000 when the pair were both students at Duke University.
The two state government workers to abandon Fairfax were Adele McClure, his policy director, and Julia Billingsley, the Democrat’s scheduling director. Lawrence Roberts, Fairfax’s chief of staff, is the only state employee remaining on the lieutenant governor’s payroll, although he told the Post that mounting pressure is beginning to take a toll on the public office.
“The pressure of constant incoming press, political and calls — our phones ring every five seconds and just trying to clear your voicemail is impossible,” Roberts said.
Perhaps the most prominent Fairfax surrogate to seek greener pastures elsewhere is Dave Mills, the executive director of We Rise Together, a PAC that helped Fairfax win the November lieutenant governor’s race. Mills’ wife, Democratic state Sen. Jennifer McClellan, is at the top of a list of possible contenders to replace Fairfax if he succumbs to pressure to resign.
Courtney McCargo, who worked as a fundraiser for the PAC, also left the lieutenant governor’s office. As Fairfax’s spokesperson, Burke has remained loyal to the embattled executive and is employed by his PAC.
Help wanted
To make matters worse, however, the D.C.-based private law firm Morrison and Foerster which employs Fairfax placed him on administrative leave as it investigates the sexual assault allegations. The lieutenant governor post is a part time position that pays just $36,321 annually, creating financial difficulties for the Columbia Law School graduate if he continues to struggle with employment.
“We take the allegations against Justin very seriously,” said Morrison and Foerster chairman Larren Nashelsky in a public statement issued on Friday. “As a firm, we believe that it is important to seriously listen to any allegation of sexual assault or harassment, and to treat all persons making such allegations with respect and sensitivity.”
If only the Virginia state legislature took the allegations facing Fairfax as seriously as his private sector employer. Led by Delegate Patrick A. Hope, Virginia lawmakers called on the lieutenant governor to resign on Friday or face impeachment proceedings.
When Fairfax refused to quit, Hope initiated a resolution that directed a Virginia House committee to investigate the sexual assault allegations and determine if impeachment proceedings were appropriate. However, Hope abandoned his political crusade after a coalition of black Virginia lawmakers persuaded him to exercise restraint since the state’s governor and attorney general refused to resign after each admitted wearing blackface in their youth.
At least one of Fairfax’s alleged victims is unsatisfied by these developments. Nancy Erika Smith, who represents Ms. Watson, demanded that Virginia Legislature “hold hearings” immediately to investigate the charges, “regardless of what they are called.”
“Both victims of his sexual assault have agreed to testify and they will produce witnesses and documents to show their honesty and good character,” Smith said. “Please do not allow these women to be further victimized by delay and defamation.”
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