Northam endorses Fairfax's request for FBI investigation of sexual assault claims

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) on Sunday endorsed a Saturday request from Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax (D) for a federal investigation of sexual assault allegations leveled against Fairfax by two women this past week.

"I say again without reservation: I did not sexually assault or rape Meredith Watson, Vanessa Tyson, or anyone else," Fairfax said in a statement issued late Saturday night. "I call on all appropriate and impartial investigatory authorities, including the FBI, to investigate fully and thoroughly the allegations against me by Ms. Watson and Dr. Tyson. I ask that all three of us be respected during this process."

Northam backed Fairfax's proposal the next day. "I really think, where we are now, we need to get to the truth," he said on CBS. "I support an investigation. These accusations are very serious and we need to get to the bottom of them." Should the allegations prove true, Northam added, Fairfax ought to step down.

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Northam is embroiled in his own scandal following the revelation that his 1984 medical school yearbook page contains a photo of a man in blackface and one in Ku Klux Klan robes. The Democratic Party of Virginia and other prominent Democrats have called on both men to step down; so far, both have refused to do so.