Virginia’s Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax on Monday denied a new sexual assault allegation against him, just as many were preparing for him to take over for embattled Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam.

“Lt. Governor Fairfax has an outstanding and well-earned reputation for treating people with dignity and respect,” Fairfax’s chief of staff and communications director said in a statement Monday that was released at 2:57 a.m. “He has never assaulted anyone — ever — in any way, shape, or form.”

Fairfax will become Virginia governor if embattled Ralph Northam resigns after it was revealed that his 1984 medical school yearbook page contained a photo of a man in blackface standing beside a man in a KKK outfit





The statement appeared to be referencing a claim from a woman, Vanessa Tyson, who said she was sexually assaulted by Fairfax at the DNC convention more than a decade ago.

“Imagine you were sexually assaulted during the DNC Convention in Boston in 2004 by a campaign staffer. You spend the next 13 years trying to forget it ever happened” Tyson wrote. “Then by strange, horrible luck, it seems increasingly likely that he’ll get a VERY BIG promotion.”



“This is Vanessa Tyson’s private post. She gave permission to share this screenshot of her post. She’s a professor...”



Looks like Lt. Gov. Fairfax is caught in a #MeToo scandal following his separation with Gov. #RalphNortham who has been under fire over past racist costumes. pic.twitter.com/BspWPauabj — Culttture (@culttture) February 4, 2019



Tyson is a professor at Scripps College in California.

“This is part of the sad and dark politics that the Lt. Governor has dedicated himself to helping Virginia and the nation rise above,” the statement from Fairfax’s office said.

Gov. Ralph Northam is under pressure to resign after his medical school yearbook surfaced last week, and showed an image of someone in blackface and another in Ku Klux Klan garb on his page. Northam's resignation would likely let Fairfax step in as governor.

Northam held an emergency meeting with his staff Sunday evening during the Super Bowl and is expected to have another meeting later Monday to discuss whether to bow to the widespread calls for him to step down.