Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax speaks to the media in the rotunda at the Capitol in Richmond, Va., Monday, Feb. 4, 2019. The Ivy League-educated lawyer and presiding officer in Virginia's Senate would become the state's second African-American governor should Ralph Northam resign over a racist photo on his 1984 medical school yearbook page. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
February 05, 2019 - 4:30 AM
RICHMOND, Va. - Amid the political upheaval over Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's yearbook page featuring a racist photograph, a woman who accused the state's lieutenant governor of sexual assault is consulting with a law firm.
Democratic Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax strongly denied the allegations Monday. They were initially circulated on a conservative website.
A person close to the legal team who's not authorized to speak publicly says the woman accusing Fairfax has retained Washington law firm Katz Marshall & Banks and is consulting about next steps. The person insisted on anonymity.
A firm founding partner, Debra Katz, represented Christine Blasey Ford, who accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her decades ago when they were teenagers. He denied the allegation and was confirmed to the court.
The Associated Press is not reporting the Fairfax allegation because the organization hasn't confirmed it.
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Associated Press writer Julie Pace contributed from Washington.
News from © The Associated Press, 2019