Virginia delegate backs away from Justin Fairfax impeachment plan

The Virginia delegate who was set to introduce articles of impeachment against Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax (D-Va.) has changed his tune.

Delegate Patrick Hope tweeted Friday that he would begin the impeachment proceedings against Fairfax on Monday "if he has not resigned before then." On Monday, though, Hope said that after circulating a draft among his colleagues, he has decided there are "additional conversations that need to take place before anything is filed," CBS News reports.

Hope also said that "the impeachment process is about investigating to find the truth" but that he is "open to discussions on other avenues that would accomplish the same goals."

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Fairfax has now been accused of sexual assault by two women. Vanessa Tyson has alleged that Fairfax sexually assaulted her at the Democratic National Convention in 2004, while Meredith Watson alleged that Fairfax raped her in college. Fairfax has denied both allegations and in a statement Saturday asked for the public not to "rush to judgment" before an FBI investigation can be conducted, The New York Times reports.

But Fairfax is facing calls to resign from prominent Democrats, including Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and 2020 candidates like Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sen Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), per The Hill.