RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- A second woman has come forward to accuse Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax of sexual assault. The woman said in a statement Friday that the attack took place when she and Fairfax were students at Duke University.
Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, left, greets Saifaldin Abdul Rahman, Dar Al Noor Islamic Center, Woodbridge, Va., after Rahman offered the prayer as the Senate session began at the Capitol in Richmond, Va., Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019. Fairfax, was confronted with an uncorroborated allegation of sexual misconduct first reported by a conservative website. Fairfax denied the allegation Monday and called it a political smear, telling reporters the 2004 encounter with a woman was consensual. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
The new accusation further clouds the fate of Virginia's government. Fairfax would take over if Gov. Ralph Northam were to resign over the racist photo that appeared on his medical school yearbook page. Northam told his top staff Friday that he would not resign. Attorney General Mark Herring, who is second in line of succession, admitted putting on blackface in college.
Earlier this week, California college professor Vanessa Tyson accused Fairfax of forcing her to perform oral sex on him in 2004 during the Democratic National Convention. Fairfax called the allegation a political smear.
