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Women accusing Fairfax of sexual assault are willing to testify at impeachment hearing

Posted at 10:07 PM, Feb 09, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-11 18:14:52-05

Prominent Virginia and national Democrats are roundly calling on Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax to resign following a second sexual assault allegation.

Meredith Watson’s Attorney released a statement that says both Watson and Vanessa Tyson are now ready to testify against Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax.

The released from Nancy Erika Smith, Watson’s attorney, reads:

After Dr. Vanessa Tyson and Meredith Watson reported that Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax raped them, Fairfax said he wanted “due process”. Impeachment hearings would have provided just that.  It turns out that Mr. Fairfax does not want due process; he wants to assault the character of his victims in secret, not in public, and certainly not under oath. Meredith Watson asks the Virginia Legislature to hold hearings, regardless of what they are called, and to reject a secret and delayed proceeding. Both victims of his sexual assault have agreed to testify and they will produce witnesses and documents to show their honesty and good character.  Please do not allow these women to be further victimized by delay and defamation.

In an earlier statement made on Meredith Watson’s behalf, it was stated that there was nothing consensual about the rape of Watson and the only post rape interaction between them was when Watson confronted Fairfax about the assault.

The release also states that Watson will provide at least two witnesses whom Watson made aware of the assault the day after Fairfax allegedly raped her.

This recent release states that both of the accusers are now offering to testify against Lt. Gov. Fairfax, both having witnesses and documentation that support their claims.

The full release sent on February 8 reads:

Justin Fairfax’s latest statement re-victimizes Ms. Watson and Dr. Tyson.  He claims that two women, who never spoke or met each other, but who describe very similar sexual assaults, are lying. Fairfax says both women’s claims are “unsubstantiated.” False – they corroborate each other.

Fairfax, now, for the first time admits sexual contact with Ms. Watson, but now claims that it was “consensual.” There was nothing consensual about the rape of Ms. Watson and the only post rape interaction between them consisted of Ms. Watson confronting Mr. Fairfax about the assault. We will provide at least two witnesses whom Ms. Watson told of the assault the day after Fairfax raped her.  We will also produce documentary evidence of Ms. Watson revealing to others the fact that Fairfax raped her. Fairfax says he “passed” two FBI background checks. Ms. Watson was never interviewed by the FBI, so he was “cleared” of nothing related to his rape of Ms. Watson.

Mr. Fairfax claims to want due process, saying he seeks an FBI investigation.  But he knows as a former Prosecutor, that the FBI has no jurisdiction over this matter. Indeed, my client may contact North Carolina authorities about a possible criminal prosecution.

For real due process, not hidden from the public, we invite Mr. Fairfax to join Ms. Watson and her witnesses in testifying at an impeachment hearing.  Ms. Watson stands ready, although it will be painful, to tell the Virginia Legislature what Mr. Fairfax did to her when she was 20 years old.

To read more on the sexual assault allegation against Lt. Gov. Fairfax, click here.