Second woman accuses Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax of sexual assault
A second woman, Meredith Watson, came forward on Friday to say that Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax (D) sexually assaulted her.
Through her legal team, Watson alleges that she "was raped by Justin Fairfax in 2000, while they were both students at Duke University." The statement calls the alleged assault "premeditated and aggressive" and says former classmates have corroborated her account.
Fairfax was accused of sexual assault by Vanessa Tyson earlier this week, who says he forced her to perform oral sex while they attended the Democratic National Convention in 2004. Fairfax denied Tyson's allegation, calling it "false and unsubstantiated" and insisting it was a "consensual encounter."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The New York Times' Jonathan Martin reports that Fairfax is denying Watson's allegations; he has yet to release a statement in response to her claims. Read her full statement below, via The Guardian. Summer Meza
Update 5:10 p.m. EST: Fairfax issued a statement denying Watson's account, and said "I will not resign," instead calling for an investigation. He said there is a " vicious and coordinated smear campaign" targeting him and claimed her allegation is "demonstrably false."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
Is pop music now too reliant on gossip?
Talking Point Taylor Swift's new album has prompted a flurry of speculation over who she is referring to in her songs
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Nuclear near-misses
The Explainer From technical glitches to fateful split-second decisions, the world has come to the brink of nuclear war more times than you might think
By Rebecca Messina, The Week UK Published
-
What is cloud seeding and did it cause Dubai's severe rainfall?
The Explainer The future is flooded
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published