Virginia politics in chaos

By Veronica Rocha, Brian Ries, Meg Wagner and Amanda Wills, CNN

Updated 7:57 p.m. ET, February 7, 2019
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7:57 p.m. ET, February 7, 2019

Our live coverage has ended for the night. Scroll through the posts below to read more or follow CNN Politics.

5:49 p.m. ET, February 7, 2019

The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus wants an investigation into Justin Fairfax, chair says

From CNN's Bonney Kapp

Lamont Bagby, the chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, tells CNN that his group wants an investigation into Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, but they won't conduct it.

"I don't think it's our role, but we are anxious to see what an investigation gets us," Bagby said.

Fairfax has been accused by a college professor of sexual assault.

Many Democrats have called for an investigation into Fairfax for what they view as a credible allegation made against him but have stopped short of calling for a resignation. Vanessa Tyson said Wednesday that Fairfax sexually assaulted her at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. Fairfax has vehemently denied the allegation.

4:48 p.m. ET, February 7, 2019

New Daily DC Podcast: The Democrats' Dilemma in Virginia

Virginia politics continues to be consumed by the latest blackface and sexual assault scandal. In the latest Daily DC, CNN Political Director David Chalian discusses the latest controversy being faced by Virginia's top three Democrats.

Listen to it on CNN and subscribe on iTunes

3:43 p.m. ET, February 7, 2019

Here's a list of celebs and lawmakers who got in trouble over blackface

From CNN's Doug Criss

It's not just Virginia politicians.

Prominent people in the worlds of politics and entertainment have gotten into hot water for wearing blackface long before Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and state Attorney General Mark Herring recently admitted to it.

Blackface dates back nearly 200 years, when white performers started darkening their faces with polish and cork to mock enslaved Africans in minstrel shows. These displays depicted black people as lazy, ignorant, cowardly or hypersexual. It was racist and offensive then and still is today.

Here's a (growing) list of politicians and celebrities who've gotten in trouble over blackface. (Note: We're not including regular people -- and there have been plenty of those cases.)

Keep reading.

2:57 p.m. ET, February 7, 2019

Some Democratic senators say Fairfax's accuser is credible

From CNN's MJ Lee, Laurie Ure and Ryan Nobles

Several Democratic senators weighed in on the sexual assault allegation against Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax.

A spokesperson for Sen. Elizabeth Warren said she supports an investigation into the allegations: "Warren believes these allegations need to be taken seriously and supports an investigation into the claims."

And Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand tweeted support for Fairfax's accuser Vanessa Tyson:

Sen. Kamala Harris said she thinks there should be an investigation into what happened surrounding the allegations, but added that Tyson seems credible.

“But certainly her (the accuser’s) letter reads as — it’s quite detailed, and suggests there’s credibility there," she said.

Harris has announced that she's running for president in 2020 while Gillibrand and Warren have announced exploratory committees.

10:14 a.m. ET, February 7, 2019

Dem congressman told by accuser a year ago that Fairfax had "#MeToo allegation," sources say

From CNN's Dan Merica, Ryan Nobles and Dana Bash

The woman accusing Justin Fairfax of sexual assault told a Democratic congressman a year ago that the Virginia lieutenant governor had a "#MeToo allegation" against him, sources tell CNN, though Rep. Bobby Scott's aides say he didn't learn of the full extent of her allegations until this week.

Vanessa Tyson said Wednesday that Fairfax, a Democrat, sexually assaulted her at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. She informed Scott, a Virginia Democrat, about her allegations because she and the congressman had previously been in a long-term romantic relationship, the sources said, adding that Tyson mentioned her allegations to Scott after they had ended the relationship.

Fairfax has forcefully denied the allegations leveled by Tyson and responded to her lengthy statement on Wednesday by saying he had "never done anything like what she suggests."

Aides to Scott told CNN that the congressman did not learn "the full scope of the allegation" until Wednesday, when Tyson released a lengthy statement that detailed her version of her encounter with Fairfax.

Read the story.

(This post was updated.)

7:32 p.m. ET, February 6, 2019

Justin Fairfax denies sexual assault allegation: "I have nothing to hide"

From CNN's Sophie Tatum, Dan Merica and Dana Bash

(LOGAN CYRUS/AFP/Getty Images)
(LOGAN CYRUS/AFP/Getty Images)

Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax responded to Vanessa Tyson's sexual assault allegation in a written statement, saying he had "never done anything like what she suggests."

"Reading Dr. Tyson's account is painful," he said. "As I said in my statement this morning, I have nothing to hide. Any review of the circumstances would support my account, because it is the truth. I take this situation very seriously and continue to believe Dr. Tyson should be treated with respect. But, I cannot agree to a description of events that simply is not true."

Fairfax added: "I support the aims of the MeToo movement and I believe that people should always be heard and the truth should be sought. I wish Dr. Tyson the best as I do our Commonwealth."

6:50 p.m. ET, February 6, 2019

The same law firm that defended Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh is representing Justin Fairfax

From CNN’s Dan Merica

Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax presides over a session of the state Senate in downtown Richmond on Feb. 4, 2019.
Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax presides over a session of the state Senate in downtown Richmond on Feb. 4, 2019. (LOGAN CYRUS/AFP/Getty Images)

The law firm of Wilkinson Walsh + Eskovitz is representing Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax as he defends himself against allegations of sexual assault by Vanessa Tyson.

That is the same law firm that represented Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh when he was accused of sexual misconduct by Christine Blasey Ford in 2018.

“I and my firm were retained by the Lieutenant Governor in January 2018 with respect to a possible story in a media publication and we are currently representing him as well,” said Rakesh Kilaru, a partner with Wilkinson Walsh + Eskovitz.

Kavanaugh was represented by Beth Wilkinson.

Fairfax’s spokesperson said the lieutenant governor hired the law firm in January 2018 after the Washington Post began investigating the allegations, before the Kavanaugh controversy in September 2018.

6:18 p.m. ET, February 6, 2019

Mark Herring's college fraternity disavows his admitted actions

From CNN’s Dan Merica

In this Feb. 10, 2017 file photo, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring speaks to members of the media in front of a US District Court in Alexandria, Virginia.
In this Feb. 10, 2017 file photo, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring speaks to members of the media in front of a US District Court in Alexandria, Virginia. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Michael Church, the executive director of Sigma Chi Fraternity, the national organization that oversees the University of Virginia Sigma Chi chapter that Mark Herring belonged to during his time at the university, disavowed the actions the attorney general admitted to on Wednesday.

“The Sigma Chi Fraternity in no way, shape, form or fashion condones the portrayal of blackface by any of our members in any circumstance,” Church said in a statement to CNN. “Such behavior is insensitive and wrong and not in alignment with the values of our fraternity.”

Earlier on Wednesday, David Ashinoff, the regional manager of all Sigma Chi chapters in Eastern Virginia, declined to comment about Herring admitting he appeared in blackface at a college party in 1980.

Ashinoff currently oversees the chapter at University of Virginia for the national Sigma Chi headquarters in Evanston, Illinois.

Herring was a member of the fraternity during his time at University of Virginia and appeared in fraternity photos from 1980, 1981 and 1983 reviewed by CNN.