RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia State Conference NAACP called for a full investigation Thursday into the sexual assault accusations against Virginia's Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax.
Two women have come forward accusing Fairfax of sexual assault. The first, Dr. Vanessa C. Tyson. She claimed that Fairfax forced her to perform oral sex while they were staffers at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston.
A second woman, Meredith Watson, in a written statement claimed Fairfax raped her in 2000 while they attended Duke University.
Justin Fairfax has denied both claims and has asked for a full investigation.
The Virginia State Conference President Kevin Chandler released the following statement about the allegations, and request a full investigation into both accounts:
"The Virginia State Conference NAACP takes allegations of sexual assault very seriously and believes that every woman, or any person who has endured such an egregious act and has demonstrated the willingness to come forward should not only be heard, but should have the expectation of due process that is inclusive of an unbiased investigation to reveal facts and evidence. The Virginia State Conference NAACP is lending its full throat-ed support to the call for a full investigation to insure that Dr. Melissa Tyson, Ms. Meredith Watson and Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax are all the given the benefit of due process in this very serious matter."
Calls for Fairfax's resignation have mounted since the allegations have come out.
House of Delegates Speaker Kirk Cox said in a statement that Fairfax's ability to govern has been "permanently impaired" by "multiple, serious credible allegations" of sexual assault made recently by two women.
The Virginia Democrats also joined calls for Fairfax's departure. They released a statement via Twitter and said: "it has become clear he can longer fulfill the duties and responsibilities of his post."