Sen. Kamala Harris’ push for an independent probe increases the pressure on Justin Fairfax in a state that’s been rocked by a series of scandals. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Politics Harris: Fairfax accuser's account has 'credibility,' should be investigated

Sen. Kamala Harris on Thursday called for an investigation of Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, labeling the sexual assault allegations against the Democratic official a “credible account” but stopping short of demanding he step aside.

“I think there should be an investigation to determine what happened,” the California Democrat told reporters on Capitol Hill. “Certainly her letter reads — it’s quite detailed — and suggests that there’s credibility there. But there needs to be an investigation to determine what exactly happened.”


Fairfax’s accuser, college professor Vanessa Tyson, alleges that the lieutenant governor assaulted her at the Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004, including forcing her to perform oral sex on him.

Fairfax — Virginia's only statewide-elected African-American official — has dug in since Tyson went public with her story, hiring the same firm that represented Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings last year that revolved around claims of abuse. Tyson has retained the same law firm that represented Kavanaugh's most high-profile accuser, Christine Blasey Ford.

Harris’ push for an independent probe increases the pressure on Fairfax in a state that’s been rocked by a series of scandals. The entire field of presidential candidates, along with several high-profile Democrats, have pushed for Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam to resign for appearing in blackface decades ago. Northam has refused to step down.

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On Wednesday, Attorney General Mark Herring admitted he also wore blackface in his youth, engulfing all three of Virginia's top elected officials in scandal. Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Kirk Cox, a Republican, would be fourth in line for the governorship if Northam, Fairfax and Herring were all to resign.

Asked a two-part question earlier Thursday about what Virginia Democrats should do — and whether Fairfax and Herring should resign — Harris told POLITICO that “the most important thing that needs to happen is that the people of Virginia need to make that decision. That’s where I am on it.”

Harris was then whisked away before addressing the question of resignations.