Fairfax Staffers Resign Following Second Accusation Of Sexual Assault

Two of Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax's staffers and two employees of his political action committee have resigned following a Friday report of a second sexual assault allegation against the embattled politician, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

The PAC employees who left are Dave Mills, who was the executive director of We Rise Together, and Courtney McCargo, a fundraiser for the PAC.

Mills is the husband of state Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, who is considered a strong contender to replace Fairfax as lieutenant governor should Fairfax resign.

On the government side, Adele McClure, the policy director, resigned, as did Julia Billingsly, the scheduling director. -Richmond Times-Dispatch

Still standing by Fairfax - so far, are communications director Lauren Burke who is employed by his PAC, and his chief of staff Larry Roberts, who remains a state employee.

According to the Times-Dispatch, the job of lieutenant governor is part time - while law firm Morrison & Foerster has placed Fairfax on paid leave.

As we reported last week, Meredith Watson, a friend of Fairfax's at Duke University when they were both undergraduates, alleges that Fairfax raped her in a "premeditated and aggressive" assault in 2000.

Watson is the second woman to come forward alleging Fairfax sexually assaulted her.

Speaking through an attorney, Nancy Erika Smith, Watson said that she shared her claim immediately after it happened with several classmates who have provided statements, while her lawyer added that Wilson shared her account with friends in several Facebook messages and emails.

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