The Washington Post has fired back after Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax invoked a WaPo investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct (allegations the paper decided not to publish after determining them to be uncorroborated) in an attempt to clear himself in the latest controversy in that state. The Post has now reported those allegations in order to defend their decision:

Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax denies sex assault allegation from 2004. "He has never assaulted anyone — ever — in any way, shape or form." https://t.co/K14MbW7iRr — The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) February 4, 2019

The Post did not find “significant red flags and inconsistencies within the allegations,” as the Fairfax statement incorrectly said. https://t.co/27vM9DYg0N — Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) February 4, 2019

Here's the Washington Post's story on the sexual assault allegation against Fairfax, which he denies, and the Post's rationale for not running the storyhttps://t.co/iV0CqJ8GaJ pic.twitter.com/zInxDou6Cd — Katherine Miller (@katherinemiller) February 4, 2019

Other journos weighed in:

Seems like it was a mistake for Fairfax to bring the Post into this by disclosing and characterizing their past knowledge of the story. https://t.co/5FuG8vGZgb — Josh Barro (@jbarro) February 4, 2019

Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and the woman told different versions of what happened in the hotel room with no one else present. The Washington Post could not find anyone who could corroborate either version. https://t.co/j8si24K2lY — Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) February 4, 2019

The Post did not find “significant red flags and inconsistencies within the allegations,” as the Fairfax statement incorrectly said. https://t.co/aAGI5Nb75u — Robert Costa (@costareports) February 4, 2019

The Washington Post’s Dave Weigel asked…

Calling libel law Twitter: If Justin Fairfax is indeed being smeared right now (his face is next to SEXUAL ASSAULT on many headlines and chyrons, for an allegation that media outlets couldn’t verify), what case does he actually have against accuser/publisher? — Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) February 4, 2019

Does any of this sound very familiar, except with a far different resulting media approach?

“Asking for Brett Kavanaugh” — Mollie (@MZHemingway) February 4, 2019

An excellent question. Now do Brett Kavanaugh. https://t.co/rgcYewn2GP — Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) February 4, 2019

Take it all the way to the Supreme Court. I'm sure Kavanaugh has an opinion on it. https://t.co/QY3stkSOcg — Sean Medlock (@Sean_Medlock) February 4, 2019

LOL! Good idea.

Brett Kavanaugh says hello. — Pradheep J. Shanker, M.D., M.S. (@Neoavatara) February 4, 2019

I'm guessing about the same as Brett Kavanaugh's. https://t.co/NPBL9XBF2g — Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) February 4, 2019

We should ask Justice Kavanaugh https://t.co/FZtuSBMYat — Nathan, son of Robert (@NathanWurtzel) February 4, 2019

Post now runs a story with the denial at 12:12, and explanation why they didn’t previously run it (denying Fairfax’s version), but doesn’t explain why this got different treatment than Kavanaugh. https://t.co/lpYziPcX9Z — (((tedfrank))) (@tedfrank) February 4, 2019

“I’ll take ‘Things Not Said About Brett Kavanaugh’ for $1,000, Alex.” https://t.co/0fMWtl4fw2 — Steven ???????‍☠️ (@SFlipp) February 4, 2019

Brett Kavanaugh ring a bell? — Howard Roark Laughed (@Major_Skidmark) February 4, 2019

CC: brett kavanaughs attorney — Christopher Kinney (@C_kinney_CC) February 4, 2019

Are these people for real? https://t.co/MWZZ1dEHjr — Cindy Cooper (@CindyCoops) February 4, 2019

Sometimes we just can’t be sure!

If “Democracy Dies in Darkness”, what changed in the year that the Wash Post has been sitting on this #MeToo allegation against VA Lt. Gov Fairfax? https://t.co/KanxDoIOK0 — Emily Miller (@EmilyMiller) February 4, 2019

I'm glad to read that major outlets like the Washington Post refrained from running with uncorroborated sexual assault allegations against Lt. Governor Fairfax (D). I wish they had applied similar restrain and standards when it came to covering Brett Kavanaugh. https://t.co/Epr0CdxveA — (((AG))) (@AG_Conservative) February 4, 2019

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Related:

REALLY? Virginia Lt. Gov. gives reason WaPo didn’t report harassment allegation against him (and people have questions)