We live in exceedingly sexually charged times, but there is a curious logic in the Fairfax-Tyson affair.. Put the case that Mr. Fairfax assaulted Dr. Tyson. If we note her comment from Sheryl Gay Stolberg’s riveting article:
“I did not speak about it for years, and I (like most survivors) suppressed those memories and emotions as a necessary means to continue my studies, and to pursue my goal of building a successful career as an academic,” she wrote.
“In October of 2017, she wrote, she saw a photograph of Mr. Fairfax accompanying an article about his campaign to become lieutenant governor of Virginia. “The image hit me like a ton of bricks, triggering buried traumatic memories and the feelings of humiliation I’d felt so intensely back in 2004,” she wrote.”
then the implication is that the alleged sexual abuse to Dr. Tyson by Mr. Fairfax would have gone unreported by Dr. Tyson, were Mr. Fairfax to have led an otherwise unremarkable life.
At any rate, Mr. Fairfax needs to “do the right thing”. He knows what he did.
As for politics, trump people aren’t absolved, because they have endorsed the predator trump, no emblem of morality, although the Rev. Franklin Graham has absolved trump of his sexual improprieties. Evangelicals are no emblem of morality.
It looks like it will be some time before we straighten all of this mess out.
7
You must really excuse me for making such an observation, take a Valium if necessary, but this statement strikes me as odd:
"Only then did I realize that he had unbuckled his belt, unzipped his pants, and taken out his penis.” "
How could a person not notice such activity? Alone in a motel room with a man who suddenly decided to begin kissing a woman. He must have practiced such stealth maneuvers, like teenage boys practice releasing a bra clasp with one hand. The narration of events has the ring of a hackneyed script.
But you have to be consistent. The woman must be believed. She has proffered lurid details so, therefore, it is a credible accusation. He should resign and be charged with rape. Is there a statute of limitations on such crimes? Has she filed a complaint with the police? The police are investing rape allegations against Harvey Weinstein. Why hasn't she done so?
2
One more comment, if I may. Shouldn't the headline -- "Vanessa Tyson, Accuser of Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, Describes Assault" -- in the interests of journalistic objectivity, include the word "alleged" before the word "assault"? Thank you.
8
i would like more info before taking a position. I absolutely believed Ford (worked next door to that school and there were repeated entitled rich man's sons problems there) I am inclined to believe Fairfax's accuser, but am uncomfortable with how he unzipped his pants and .... without her noticing if they were only kissing, especially if they were sitting down. If they were standing, I would like to know how he pulled her head down so far without her resisting. She needs to be brutally honest to quell doubts. "Just saying things 'quickly progressed from kissing to ...' leaves unanswered ?s.
3
Isn’t it obvious what happened here? They went back to his hotel room. He kissed her. She wasn’t expecting a kiss but it wasn’t “unwelcome” to her. In other words, she was fine with just kissing. But he wanted more. She didn’t. He pushed her head to his crotch for oral sex. She didn’t say no and she didn’t want to do anything to make him angry and potentially violent. Instead, she hoped he would realize that she was not into it and stop. He didn’t notice or care that she was not into it and he did not stop. Then it was over. He left thinking the whole thing was consensual because she never expressly said “no” and she left feeling angry, violated, and ashamed. And the whole episode is a teachable moment in the need for affirmative consent and clear communication in sexual encounters.
13
Attorney General Herring: No wrongdoing. Who decided that it's illegal or immoral for a "white" person to darken his or her skin in order to impersonate a "black" celebrity for Halloween, costume parties, etc.? That is NOT the same as "blackface" minstrel shows. To impersonate Jackson in his later years, even "whites" would have to lighten the skin instead of darkening it.
Lt. Governor Fairfax: He's accused of a very serious CRIME (as opposed to bad choices or poor taste). Investigate. But presume innocence unless proved guilty.
Gov. Northam: The photo was stupid and racially inflammatory. However, I assume that the man has changed a lot in 35 years. Unless you have clear evidence to the contrary, put it behind you and move on.
2
He said she said = nothing.
3
How many will fall before this is all over. It has now come out that the Senate Majority leader in Virginia, a Republican, was editor of the VMI yearbook which was full of racist photos and commentary, including use of the N word! Will people now rush to burn their yearbooks to protect themselves?! Southern states are probably full of them, and at my New York high school we were the "indians" and my yearbook is full of racist drawings and commentary which is really embarrassing looking back on it. That we were 17 and 18 when we wrote it is probably no real excuse by today's standards, but it was 1957. We've come a long way in this country but still have a long way to go when there is a sports team in the nations capital called the "Redskins!"
3
Let's all remember that one of the most liberal members of the Supreme Court during the 20th century, Justice Hugo Black, had been a KKK member earlier in his life. Black joined the majority opinion in the 1954 Brown decision and the 1964 NY Times v Sullivan decision.
4
@jutland...Brown v. was unanimous.
2
Men, we have to do better!
1
Kudos for giving a full account of the rape, because that is what oral sex amounts to, of Dr. Tyson despite the fact that the aggressor is a Democrat, or alleged aggressor! Fairfax. the governor and the attorney general appear to Alexander Harrison as slimy and and loathsome, which is why the number of voters continues to decline yearly! Does anyone really think that Terry McCaulliffe is someone of unimpeachable integrity?The old saw that if you don't vote you should not complain is bogus, since you never or seldom know what goes on behind closed doors, and in any case are given for the most part unacceptable choices by any standard!When is the last time a politician has not tried to fool the voters, or left office not richer than when he entered the political arena?
1
This has happened to me more than once although I was able to say no - and stop it. Clearly she did not feel she could do this. I cannot even describe how humiliating this can be for a woman and how much of a turn off it is. Any man who believes otherwise is a fool. The decision to perform oral sex belongs to the woman, forced it is rape, period.
3
My suggestion to women forced into such a situation: bite. Hard. Not only does it relay the appropriate message, it leaves unmistakable marks for all those who dismiss such assaults because there is no evidence. Of course, you will probably get punched—more evidence.
It’s clear powerful men AND women seek to satisfy their literal lust for control. The victim is merely the means to an end and carries no more value or consideration than does a doormat.
It’s unfortunate we can’t peel the good works from the bad acts, but those who achieve prominence are accustomed to climbing to such heights on the backs of mere mortals.
4
Fairfax should resign... right after Trump does.
3
I remember the case of Aziz Ansar being accused by a woman of being lousy in bed. Clearly she was unhappy after her one night stand, but sexual disappointment is not grounds for legal action. Vanessa Tyson admits this started out as a consensual encounter. Did she object while it was going on? If it was assault, did she tell anyone at the time? Did she really try to introduce Fairfax to her mother 3 weeks later? It's impossible to determine whether this was assault or regret and it seems too convoluted to reach any conclusion at this stage. We either need to know a lot more, or a lot less.
8
This thing is so terribly difficult. Both of these wo people, Mr. Fairfax and Ms Tyson are, appearance-wise beautiful people, probably with personal great charisma. I find it very believable that they met, found chemistry. things clicked, they kissed (consentually) and then the tale diverges into two opposite stories, one of continued consent, the other into a tale of sexual abuse. How to resolve this he said - she said. For her to go to the police and to court (instead of the court of public opinion)? My guess is, she won't win in court (no corroborating tape or video or something). Instead she went the Me#too way. I can see why the he in this case feels smeared. I am not sure I fully understand why she did this now, not last year, not much earlier. Did she go to a therapist because she felt traumatized. Did she keep a diary, letters to herself or did she confide in others way back etc. Did she do this to overcome victimhood. I wish they had found a private solution, a meeting of the minds and souls and an apology in the same private way they went to that hotel room and got involved with each other. There are too many calls on my finite amount of understanding, empathy and ability to listen (and, at times, even care). This public is facing much greater threats politically and socially then the two tales of this unfortunate story (where the beauty of meeting turned into the alleged horror of abuse).
5
Now that Dr. Tyson has come forward, I am hoping other women find courage in her example. What other women, you may ask? If Justin Fairfax did this horrific act on one woman, there probably are others. If a man has the sickness within him that allows him to rape, he won't stop with just one. There will be others.
1
I see no reason to believe her. It's just as easy to believe that he rebuffed her after their brief affair and she is retaliating.
2
The fact Dr. Vanessa C. Tyson told others of the event 1-2 years ago, makes her more believable.
It also suggests that some men, even those who claim to support women, may not understand that a kiss should not be taken as consent to have sexual intimacy.
7
@Beth Grant DeRoos
Not really. This is a subject she had both expertise and experience in. The decade of silence says everything I need to know about the veracity of her claim. What kind of "conselor" would not warn others about a "known" issue. When exactly did she forget about it?
What needs more investigation is who stands to gain with Fairfax out of the way and her ties to them. She is not a political novice. Check out her friends in high places.
2
There is a dangerous hole in our views of romance, including just plain ol' sex. It allows for the possibility that, given a polygraph exam with 100% accurate results, both Fairfax and Tyson would pass.
It's too late to fix the situation for encounters that happened in the past. But we can make things MUCH more clear for those occurring in the future, even if we can never make it 100% solved due to, well, human nature.
Let's drop the whole "mystery of romance" concept. It's just too easy for each person in an encounter to get it wrong about whatever "mystery" is in process. And, the more superficially attractive one seems at the start of the encounter, the easier you can get too far into a problem before your partner realizes they are in trouble...
...which segues into: What should be expected from the participants when one of them realizes they are in trouble? I understand that the issue I am addressing probably led to Dr. Tyson not doing any of the following: verbalize non-consent to what was happening as it unfolded; strike Mr. Fairfax with her hands or fists; express outrage after the deed; report sexual assault tantamount to rape to the authorities immediately. I see no evidence that Mr. Fairfax was in a power relationship with Dr. Tyson, so that aspect is not part of this particular equation.
My point is this: there needs to be a full, national conversation about what the rules are, and what behaviors are expected, going forward. Once and for all. Period.
5
The sexual assault sounds believable and horrific , and should be investigated, but the black face incidents from 30 - 40 years ago, which happened during costume parties or Halloween are a different story. These were single incidents and we can believe that these men (then boys) have grown and learned their lesson since then. I see music videos with black performers who are dressing up as white with blond wigs (Beyonce), or appropriating Asian traditional costumes and make up (Nikki Minaj), and that's ok? Doesn't "cultural appropriation", the newest pc offense, go both ways? And the occasional conflict between dark skinned blacks and light skinned ones is ok?
5
Have they learned? Doubtful. If there was enlightenment, these acts of indiscretion would have weighed heavily on them, and they would have apologized long ago. I doubt most of these guys even remember the incidents; it’s the “locker room talk” of racism.
So sad, but there needs to be an investigation!
2
As a Democrat who would dearly love to see an African American governor of Virginia, I believe that no taint of scandal is tolerable in any candidate or potential officeholder. Let there be an FBI investigation and let the facts emerge. No matter how far the chain of succession must be followed, the eventual holder of this office must first be fit to lead, whether Democrat or Republican.
6
Her story sounds credible. His denials sound credible. People keep asking why she would lie. Perhaps because she's been angry and ashamed that what started as kissing went further than she wanted. But what I find glaringly missing from her account is any indication that she said "no," told him to stop, pushed him away or did something to let him know she didn't want to have oral sex. Instead, her statement says she can't believe he didn't know that she didn't want to have sex. That strongly suggests she never told him to stop. That falls far short of a sexual assault and seems to bleed into the realm of regret for having done something shameful. And her statement makes clear, several times, that she is angry that he has cast aspirations on her and that she is releasing the statement to protect her reputation. That's strong motivation to tell a story that casts the teller in the best possible light - an unwilling victim.
7
I don’t know, having to force her head into position sounds like she resisted. “Force” being the telling word.
1
@RTB - Okay, I'll put it bluntly. She didn't say "no" because her mouth was full.
As to why she would have "allowed" that to happen, well, see the other comments re. the differential socialization and physical strengths of men and women.
In a quote attributed to Margaret Atwood "Men are afraid that women will laugh at them. Women are afraid that men will kill them."
3
@PM...Who is Margaret Atwood?
1
if there was a movie about a conspiracy to flip the entire government of a state, it would play out something like this
4
I tend to give accusers the benefit of the doubt. But in this case I have to ask:
Did she not have teeth at the time?
9
Fairfax says the encounter was consensual, but I wonder how he concludes that. Was the choice ever given to Dr. Tyson, or was it assumed to be consensual by Fairfax? I know it seems kind of silly to have to ask for consent every time, but as a man, I know how easy it is to be physically overpowering without trying. We have no concept as to how much more physical strength we have than women. As such, many men may not recognize when they're being forceful, and many women may feel too afraid to speak out when men are being forceful, which makes verbal consent that much more important. The only assumption that should be made is that any answer other than "yes" is a "no".
5
For all those who are pooh poohing her accusations please enlighten all as to why a woman of her stature would subject herself to this publicity and scorn if it really was a 'consensual act' that she was a willing participant in. Waiting.
10
@Quezebo Jones You can say that about any rape accusation-that the woman wouldn't risk scorn if it weren't true. But it is a fact that some rape accusations are deliberate lies.
We can't tell in this instance because we are just learning about it 15 years after it allegedly occurred. And there is no police report or physical evidence.
By your logic we should have believed the accuser in the Duke Lacrosse case, the accuser in the Hofstra case, the accuser in the Michael Irvin case, the accuser in in the Brian Banks case.. After all, why would they lie. But we know that they DID lie. People. both men and women, lie for many different reasons.
1
The absolutism and extremism on the left reminds me of the French Revolution. Eventually, the call for purity and loyalty to the cause resulted in the revolutionaries guillotining their own.
10
You cannot compare this with Brett K case. Where are all the Democrats who put up the show of shame not too long ago? Why CNN and other media folks are not cornering Chuck, Nancy, and 29 Democrats running for the 2020 ticket?
Absolutely the woman, in this case, needs to be believed. WAPO sat on her story for one year. The people of Virginia deserve a hearing. The Keith Ellison story was suppressed by the DNC. Hope that does not happen here.
11
The Keith Ellison story was contradicted on many levels. In fact, Ellison, himself, was alleged to have been a victim of assault.
1
Here’s what upsets me about the MeToo movement. It makes women sound like weak whiners. I understand not fighting back in a situation where you are drugged or ambushed or physically incapacitated in some way. But in a situation where I can, I WILL stand up and FIGHT. Yes, he may be bigger and stronger but I don’t care. I am not going to acquiesce. Yes, that may end me up in the ER with broken bones or even get me killed. But I am going to take that chance. Because for me it’s LIVE FREE or DIE. And living in fear is not being FREE! I am going to use every ounce of adrenaline, strength, speed and wit I have to kick, punch, bite, scream - whatever it takes. I am NOT saying women who don’t do this are not to believed or not to be supported. Not at all. We should be able to live in a society where we don’t have to fight to protect our human right to not be physically violated. But the reality is there are men like this in our society (not saying the Lt. Gov. is such a man, no evidence/investigation yet); and if God forbid I ever cross paths with one I am going to stand up and fight. Stop crying, stop whining and stop fearing. Lose the job. Lose the promotion. Refuse the invitation. Try not to get yourself killed but don’t just acquiesce and later spend decades turning it over in your head letting it destroy you emotionally and mentally. That’s my advice for myself and my daughter and I understand many women will disagree.
10
Wish all women could be like you, but they aren’t. And not all men assault. There is no template for human interaction; we rely on conscience, values, discipline—all inconsistently distributed in society.
She is a proud democrat, real professor, etc. If we don't believe her, we're worse than the republicans say we are.
9
A crime is not Democrat or Republican, a crime is a crime. Truth is not Democrat or Republican it is truth.
Judging without allowing for a lawful investigation and due process in court is not Demoncrat or Republican, it is inhumane, and un-American.
Please let the police and courts do their work.
1
To the people comparing this to Ford and Kavanaugh, Dr. Tyson at least remembers where and when this occurred. You know, the kinds of things one needs to know in order to actually investigate an allegation like this.
15
@P. Ames And yet -- many rape or assault victims will not remember details if the incident happened decades ago. It's more normal not to do so.
@P. Ames: I believe both Ford and Tyson; neither of whom have anything to gain by coming forward. Trauma works differently for different people. Some people remember every vivid detail; others have tried to suppress the memory and they're memories are disjointed. If you've worked with survivors of sexual violence you'd know that there are different ways of coping with the trauma and that it's not uncommon for women to wait weeks, months, years or decades before being able to share their stories. Other women never planned to tell their stories but then realize their perpetrator is going to be in a powerful position over other women and feel an obligation to come forward despite knowing it will tear their personal worlds apart.
These are three separate cases, having one thing in common: they're in the news because some cynical right-wing operatives see an opportunity to grab power. Idealists are always vulnerable, because perfection is impossible.
What we're seeing now is the relatively good guys resigning, while the worst brazen it out and remain in power. Trump never apologizes for crotch-grabbing, Kavanaugh is on the court, and Clarence Thomas has done his damage seemingly for centuries.
Meantime Franken, Corker, Flake and others quit or resign. This doesn't seem to lead to a good ending.
Let me quote LFK, a commenter to this article who describes herself as a lifelong feminist (and who tells us that her daughter might disagree): "Because there is confusion in people. This actually sounds to me like a sexual act misunderstood on both sides." That seems like a place to start. Investigation, not instant resignation.
My hope is that African Americans will also look at the choices in a practical way. The guys who regret what they did have sincerely apologized, and I don't think most of us are reading them as presently racist. Do we really want them gone and replaced by...well, you know.
The proportion of white men within the Democratic caucus is set to drop from 41% to 38% next year, while the same percentage is set to rise among Republicans from 86% to 90%.
I'm older and white, and I want to be in a party that empowers Americans more or less fairly.
8
So help me understand this....Fairfax is an idealist.....
"Idealists are always vulnerable, because perfection is impossible. What we're seeing now is the relatively good guys resigning, while the worst brazen it out and remain in power."
Bias much?
So many situations in which a female goes to the male's hotel room.
I recall a Catholic Church phrase: "Occasion for sin," and that it's wise to recognize such and avoid it.
Catholic or not, the phrase seems apt -- kind of obviously.
6
@geeb If he made a pass, and she said no -- and he left it at that, then you might be right. That's mixed signals.
But he didn't. He didn't even make a pass. He went straight from a kiss to forcing her to give him oral sex. That's not mixed signals. That's a crime. And it's not her fault.
2
@geeb: This is victim-blaming. Women often trust male co-workers up until the point they've been assaulted. Then they're in shock. And the Catholic church which protects pedophiles and priests who rape nuns (per yesterday's NYT article) really doesn't have any moral high ground.
2
The turmoil is being created and maintained by the yellow dog national media. Leave Virginians to take care of themselves. I don't recall that you invested this much time and interest when two buses of Georgia voters were refused access to the polls. How about each time Trump's EPA adds poison to our air or water?
5
In all seriousness, if Fairfax did this to multiple women, the preponderance of evidence would lean towards guilt. If this were a one off, 15 years ago, I would just chalk it up to he said/she said and call it a night. If he is a sexual predator, believe me, Tyson isn't his first and only victim.
4
The hypocrisy of the Democratic has finally come full circle with that hypocrisy crossing all lines of honesty, decency and even morality.
This party needs to take a hard look at itself and right its moral compass before asking the american people to consider them
able to lead in any political fashion. The media does them no service in providing cover and all to often not even discussing these issues in a serious way. Individuals like Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Shumer and Bernie Sanders are nothing more than enablers for Fairfax and others accused of misconduct.
7
Democrats are not only looking, they are doing corrective measures. Unlike Republicans
Interesting that Dem Presidential candidate Corey Booker screamed to the high heavens that the Kavanaugh accuser must be believed even though she was vague about when and where the event happened. The Fairfax accuser is also a college professor and was very detailed on everything, but Booker refuses to comment.
38
@Larry. One difference here is that the accuser accompanied the accused into a hotel room. It seems a bit more like a he said she said than the Kavanaugh case. Both cases might be incorrect or correct. I don't care whether Booker refuses to comment or what his reasons are. I am an independent voter. However, as a woman, I take all accusations of sexual assault seriously because contrary to what many men think, these accusations are not made lightly except in the rarest of cases. Your primary interest seems to be in pointing out a case of hypocrisy in the Democratic party. I would say there is plenty of hypocrisy among Republicans as well.
11
@Larry Mostly because these are two very different stories. While what Dr Ford described was clearly an assault, this is much murkier. An investigation is in order and should clear things up.
What is REALLY interesting is that your President has ADMITTED to numerous sexual assaults, yet you Republicans try to always force Democrats out of office. Where is your outrage for his victims.
12
@Larry I doubt that many in the Democratic power structure disbelieves her, now that she has come forward.
But they have to think twice about calling for all three men to be removed from office at the same time. So they're taking a day or two to do that thinking.
How does this physically work? Does a man force a woman to open her mouth? Also seems like a sketchy proposition given there are teeth involved. I get rape. Honestly curious about forced oral sex.
9
@Jay Lincoln
Maybe Vanessa Tyson thought Justin Fairfax was a dentist. I mean, who questions a dentist when she says, "Open up and let's take a look."
1
@Jay Lincoln Have you heard of shock? And what do you do when you're stunned and shocked? You open your mouth to get a big breath and scream -- and then you're gagging and choking and you can't do anything. Even if you bit, you wouldn't be better off.
Women all know the stories of others who've been beaten senseless or worse for failing to go along. In my age group, we were all taught to give in and let him have his way, in order to live through the situation. And we were taught to blame the victim.
Come on, you can do better on the empathy thing.
1
@Jay Lincoln: In such an encounter where the male is physically stronger the woman chooses to get it over with, get out, and be done with it rather than to resist. That is not consensual.
1
And yet Republican men including the predator in chief get away with everything.
5
Democrats' response to this is irritating and hypocritical. From Sen. Kamala Harris referring to Dr. Tyson as "that woman" in her own statement on the matter (after she made sure to always refer to Kavanuagh's accuser as "Dr." Ford, to their reluctance to say Dr. Tyson must "be believed" when that was the meme against Justice Kavanaugh. Indeed, Dr. Tyson's story is far more credible than Dr. Ford's for many reasons, not the least being that Fairfax admits a sexual encounter with Dr. Tyson and the allegation is way more recent than a 36-year-old teenage high school allegation that had NO corroborating evidence whatever, and indeed was made in the context of a vicious partisan nomination battle. The left called for Kavanaugh's head and laughed off due process. Not so here. Proving that democrats are full of you know what. Awful.
11
thought his case was already adjudicated and deemed to be nothing, isn't this what (under white people laws) is known as Double Jeopardy and thus unlawful. but then all of the white women wherever will say he is guilty with or without a hearing. so another purchased Black woman by slavers out to crucify another Black person.
but then he is Black and will be tried as many times as necessary to be deemed guilty. no different than what these white women along with some purchased Black women's help did to Bill Cosby--still unjust no matter what you white supremacist say.
3
The accuser's account is muddy, self serving and provides very little convencing information. There are huge gaps in the details. The story goes from 0 to over 100 with little explanation. For either story to be believed, both need to be vetted by the professionals. But since this article focuses on her story, my impressions start there. She absolves herself any culpablity. By the way her limited story unfolds, she has a lot more explaining to do. How did she get from consentual kissing to the point of getting assaulted....that part of the story is missing some important details.
4
After all this "Me Too" Hoopla did Dr. Tyson think it might not be a good idea to go to a man's hotel room she barely knew for some so called "consensual kissing." Sounds to me her Ph.D. was not in common sense. I don't believe her and no one else should either.
4
@Hello This encounter happened more than a decade ago -- are you aware of that?
3
A man and a woman go to a hotel room alone and engage in consensual intimacy. Something happens, no one is physically injured, and the woman doesn't report it. Fifteen years later, when the man becomes a public figure, the woman alleges sexual assault and the man denies it. There is no pattern of behavior on the part of the man, and no confirmatory or exculpatory evidence.
It sounds like at least one media outlet declined to report it. Kudos to them. Perhaps media organizations should come up with some criteria for when these events warrant coverage.
16
@A Doctor
Did you call for them same when Kavanaugh was accused?
4
I think the circumstances in The Kavanaugh case deserved media coverage. However, as much as I did not want him on the court, following the scrutiny he underwent, Ford’s allegations did not rise to the level whereby they should have denied him the position.
Dr. Tyson's story becomes credible with its detail and explanations of not coming forward. Women have learned over the years that in a he said she said, she loses, the man gets the benefit of the doubt. I have friends who kept silent after sexual assaults because they knew they would be called liars or worse and careers harmed. Silence might hurt internally but at least they didn't have to be further harmed by a system that protects powerful men.
Mr. Fairfax thinks as long as he denies any wrongdoing he will survive, the Kavanaugh low bar. People who think a woman going into a hotel room to retrieve papers is an automatic yes to anything are the problem. The #MeToo movement took off so fast because so many women have been assaulted and told it's their fault.
4
Of all the cases of alleged sexual assault, this one seems to be most susceptible to different, yet reconcilable, interpretations by the parties involved. It started out consensually and Fairfax might reasonably have believed that it remained so throughout the encounter, while Dr. Tyson might reasonably have believed that she indicated at some point that it was no longer consensual and that Fairfax knew or should have known that.
3
@Bernard The whole pulling back, and having him use force to keep her in place tends to tell me he SHOULD have known it was not consensual.
I read somewhere that most men who commit rape do not believe it was rape. Somehow, even when they're using force, they ignore that part, and convince themselves that it was fine because ..... whatever.
So maybe he believes it was consensual. That doesn't mean it was, nor that that belief was reasonable.
Maybe it doesn't matter. It didn't in the case of Kavanaugh, did it?
4
The choreography as described leaves me with big questions. The story as written strikes me as the work of a committee.
5
The y should all resign, even if it means that the Speaker (a Republican) shall become Governor.
1
@Stanley
Nope
Since when is pushing one's head down the same as forcing. Did she move away or protest in any manner?
6
I will surely get attacked here. But..."believe the woman" sounds great and it should be the rule. But don't forget that Roger Stone and his ilk delight in this, and would gladly pay women to lie to bring down every Democrat they can. And there are women who would do it gladly for the right sum. I am not saying that that happened here, but...when there is only one complaint without any corroboration, I see no way out except to let it be.
4
Do you mean only Republicans would do such a thing? Humans are humans.
1
All women must be believed.....at least that's what Dems tell us about charges against conservatives. Otherwise, not so much.
4
I know Vanessa personally. She has discussed this among people who know her longtime ago. #IbelieveVanessa
5
If the offense occurred anything like the aggrieved claims, it is very unlikely there are not other compellingly similar instances of it for Fairfax. It is a very strange, hard-to believe allegation. It almost makes no sense, and seems contradictory as a narrative for gratification. As in almost impossible.
On the other hand, why would Tyson lie? Is it possible the actual events 'changed' in her mind during the intervening years. How does Tyson vote?
4
I found Dr. Tyson's allegations to be credible and shocking. Fairfax needs to be investigated. He should resign and if not be removed. Democrats do not need to promote people who commit sexual assault in their ranks. I understand the political consequences are grave, because the Republicans are looking to take power, but this is clearly unacceptable by any standard.
Those who want the investigation to be completed before his fate is decided I only want to point out that he has confirmed the encounter occurred, and we have no reason to suspect Dr. Tyson has any ulterior motive. Even if this comes down to an unprovable allegation in regards to the law, it's fairly clear he does not respect women and has no place in the party or leadership.
What status might Dr. Tyson have now had this incident not happened to her? I want people like her to be promoted to leadership over him. That's the switch we all need.
3
What I don’t understand is why Dr. Tyson didn’t come forward when she saw that Fairfax was running for Lt. Governor. I understand that victims of sexual assault stay quiet out of misplaced, but understandable, embarrassment and shame. So it doesn’t surprise me that she would have kept this quiet since 2004.
But if she was going to come forward, why now instead of the time she learned Fairfax was running for Lt. Governor? At the same time, she apparently has no vendetta, no reason to come forward now versus 2017. So I tend to believe her.
The problem with sexual assault is that it almost always comes down to “he said/she said”. Outside of rape, where a DNA test can be conducted, it’s nearly impossible to determine who is telling the truth.
That said, I almost always tend to side with the accuser. One reason victims don’t come forward is because it’s nearly impossible to prove beyond a reasonable doubt.
And as for the argument that memories would be unreliable after 14 years, no, not for this type of assault. It doesn’t surprise me that Dr. Tyson has such vivid recall of the event.
3
From some of the comments it's obvious misogyny is very much alive for NYT readers. All the contortions trying to justify sexual assault because of what? If Dr. Tyson is white I suspect the assault against her will be even more ferocious. It certainly is a case of he said, she said, yet if both are willing to take a lie detector test, the truth will emerge easily. I suspect she will be willing to take the test and he will not.
5
The problem with Senator Gilibrand’s zero tolerance policy, which claimed the career of Al Frankenstein, (and which Gilibrand said was needed in order to level attacks on Republicans for their misbehavior) is that every case stands on it’s own facts. The bizarre behavior of he Governor and Attorney General, although weird and abhorrent, only shears the coincidence of timing with the Fairfax matter. And the inappropriate touchy-feely behavior exhibited by the former comedian Frank is not comparable to the serious allegaagainst the Lt.Governor.
Fairfax is accused of conduct which constitutes a criminal sexual assault, probably a serious felony. Now that the accuser has come forward publicly, the State should conduct hearings to determine Fairfax’s fitness for office. Yes , there must be due process, but the inquiry should not be delayed.
As to the other clowns, Northam’s prevaricating is leading to self destruction, whereas the Attorney General may be excused for his adolescent behavior, which may have been thought less but not maliciously motivated.
Zero tolerance should be replaced with due consideration as a means of dealing with inappropriate acts or words.
4
Can someone explain to me why a victim of this kind of rape doesn't bite down hard to stop the encounter? Is it out of a sense of not wanting to perpetrate an assault? And what implications, if any, can be drawn from the lack of willingness to do so?
3
@afraid of the backlash -
1) Women are socialized not to hurt people, or to give offense in even non physical ways.
2) Most women do not know how to fight.
3) Even if a woman knows how to fight, the average man is larger and stronger than the average woman, so she will probably lose.
4)If the injured man thus decided to retaliate for the bite, he could do serious damage to the woman. Forced fellatio is survivable, but maybe not the other physical violence the man may decide to inflict.
5) The woman may not even think to fight back, as she is probably paralyzed from shock and fear.
So what implications can be drawn from a woman's reluctance to bite down, as it were? Well, certainly not that the woman consented in any meaningful way.
3
I believe her. I also believe Fairfax doesn't think he did anything wrong. He seems to be in that tribe of men who think a kiss means a woman wants to bump. Because he is of that mindset, he should step aside.
2
Do not Mr. Fairfax’s words in referring to his accuser in a “private” state Senate caucus meeting on Monday, say more about him than anything he publicly says?
3
William F. Buckley, Jr. once said he’d rather be governed by the first 2,000 people in the telephone book than by the faculty of Harvard University.
Virginia Democrats should try the same thing.
5
@A. Stanton True. But he specify the Boston phone directory!
Her version according to the Times:
"Their previous interactions had not been flirtatious, she said, and so she agreed. Once in the room, he kissed her, she wrote, and “though surprised by his advance, it was not unwelcome and I kissed him back.” He then pulled her toward the bed, where the assault occurred, she wrote."
Returning a not unwelcome kiss in the intimacy of a hotel room is now being called an assault which seems to be a contradiction in terms.
This is what a real political witch hunt looks like.
4
This is quite disturbing . I believe the woman . I just heard a commentator on TV somehow claiming that this is a trap against this guy because he’s black . What ?? Black , White any man who is a creep is capable of sexual assault and the victim is black so what he said makes no sense.
6
I believe her. Why on earth would she lie about something like this and go through this ordeal and these shameless and cruel attempts to humiliate and silence her again?!!
Just because the current occupant of the oval office will do and say ANYTHING to get attention does not mean that the rest of us are degenerates. Grow up and wake up everyone!
4
@Bob R . . . Why? Fame, pure and simple. As a liberal professor, she craves it. It what drives her entire career: the adulation of her sisters in victimhood.
1
So they start kissing and making out with her willfully participating. But 15 years later she comes out claiming she didn't didn't enjoy the oral part???
If I tried to count the many times I have had bad sex where I obligingly did things I wasn't really into, the fingers of my two hands wouldn't be enough...
Just file it under "good deed" and get over it! (Btw, I am male!)
7
The Democratic leadership of Virginia has betrayed the trust and votes of African Americans and Women. Zero tolerance of racism and sexual assault means zero tolerance. All 3 politicians must be kicked out of office now .
7
I believe women.
Give him the Brett Kavanaugh treatment and see if he's innocent or guilty.
5
@AutumnLeaf
And if he floats, he's a witch, right?
2
If the Democrat party is going to live by identity politics, then it will die by them. Women and the metoo movement are just useful pawns for Democrats. Always believed unless the accused is one of their own. Dr. Tyson remembers where, when, how, and what happened to her. Suddenly due process of Mr. Fairfax is warranted. Very duplicitous indeed...
8
And what did allegations against Kavanaugh mean?
To republicans? Nothing.
5
Congressman’s Scott ‘s failure to do anything about the allegations reminds me of the Catholic bishops who did nothing about complaints by victims about priests who abused them
3
this woman chose a time that could not be worse for the Democratic Party of Virginia and the USA.
so destructive to wait 14 or 15 years!!!
2
So: Fairfax meets Tyson, they realize that they have a mutual friend, Tyson is volunteering at a rape crisis center, she goes to his room and discovers that she enjoys him kissing her, she responds and then the degrading thing happens. And she, despite her volunteer work, doesn't speak about it for years, doesn't tell the mutual friend, etc. And Fairfax kisses and then risks scandal by degrading a friend of a friend who volunteers at a rape crisis center.
Am I on the right page?
9
@PeterE
What was the "degrading thing"?
Volunteering? Going to his room? kissing him?
The REAL degrading thing is waiting decades to report something that can not be verified in any way, and ruining a mans life....not saying it didn't happen in some way, but NOW she decides to report it as an "assault"?
I do NOT support any kind of violence against women or men.
But this is just too suspicious to me.
5
And did Mr. Fairfax not know at the time of the alleged assault in 2004 that this woman was a victims advocate?
2
I think in a situation like she described - where it's not an ambush or a violent assault by a deranged gun-toting stranger - it's difficult for me to imagine such an act being forcedupon me. You have teeth. Use them.
16
Justin Fairfax will be Mr. Trump's next nominee for the formerly Supreme Court
2
This should be looked at in isolation from the other scandals that are occurring within the Virginian administration, as it is a far more serious charge. Regardless of the political outcome this should be investigated fully.
3
I believe her, and that’s what makes me a liberal. Unlike the GOP, my belief isn’t based on my expectation of getting political favors
3
We'll never know the truth of this story, but we do know this is the worst possible time for it to come out. It may be understandable why Tyson previously didn't go as public as she did now, but where was Representative Bobby Scott up to now? He knew about the allegation for a year. He saw the chaos of the Kavanaugh hearings and knew the damage it could do to his state party.
Did he go to Fairfax and let him know this was out there? It would be great for a NY Times journalist to ask him to explain what he did with this allegation once he heard it.
9
I believe both Fairfax and Tyson are being truthful in expressing their own subjective experience of the episode in question. The fact that we all experience a reality through the lens of our own perspective, and that we remember (or forget) things to affirm our reality, explains much of why we so many situations such as Fairfax/Tyson and BlaseyFord/Cavanaugh. We aren't video recorders; we're people.
At least so far, these aren't criminal proceedings; it's only the court of public opinion we're talking about. In a free country, we're all entitled to our opinions.
The political implications are something else; the People of Virginia voted for these men, yes, but they also voted for the Democratic party values and priorities these men ran on. The resignation of these men should no more elevate Republicans to unelected office, then removal of Trump/Pence should elevate Nancy Pelosi to the presidency. In parliamentary systems, the majority party could simply elevate a new Prime Minister to replace the last, or call new elections. That process certainly seems wise in this circumstance.
4
@Sam I Am
Good point. It strikes me as quite plausible that Fairfax did receive what most of us would take as signs of affirmative consent throughout this episode while Tyson thinks that she did not express any such thing. At the same time, though, it seems that she never expressed refusal.
Affirmative consent means that, once you enter into intimacy, you have a duty to your partner to ensure there is no confusion. So, while Fairfax had a duty to ensure consent at each step, Tyson also had a duty to emphatically refuse if she thought that Fairfax was confused.
Sex is confusing. Affirmative consent is not a chess game. It's not something that men have to "get" in order to do things to women. Both parties are responsible for positive outcomes.
7
Andy Dufresne had an extremely effective way of discouraging the alleged behavior.
1
That would be an illuminating observation, if I knew who that person is, or had the slightest idea of what you are trying to say.
This isn't a "he said she said" issue. Neither is it a question of due process and the corresponding criminal "no reasonable doubt" standard. This isn't a criminal trial. Different standards apply.
I believe the most pertinent standard here is something akin to "the appearance of impropriety," which applies to, for instance, boards of trustees. An elected official must in all things be a representative of all of their constituents.
In that light, the numbers are of paramount importance. The vast majority of sexual assault victims never receive justice. That is especially true for brown women. Moreover, most perpetrators are never brought to justice.
The Democrats must hold several thoughts in their minds simultaneously. This is a Republican hit job. Mr. Fairfax and the other two Democrats have made mistakes. The trust and wellbeing of their constituents must come first.
Needless to say, the Democrats don't need to do what the Republicans are demanding. The Republicans need to go put their own house in order first. Mr. Kavanaugh and Mr. Trump have both been credibly accused of sexual assault.
All the same, the Democrats, including these three men, do need to think this over and do the right thing according to their own standards. These three men have not done the right thing yet.
Don't forget it: The Democrats believe racism and sexual assault are wrong. The Republicans don't. The Democrats believe in women's rights. The Republicans believe in "The Handmaid's Tale."
5
There were some reasons to doubt Christine Blasey Ford because (1) she was a Democrat accusing a Republican, and (2) her previous statements that she avoided air travel turned out not to be true. That's not to say that she was not telling the truth, but it meant that we needed to be careful in believing her.
Vanessa Tyson is a Democrat accusing a Democrat, and her claims seem very likely to be true.
I'm a Democrat who supports people such as Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and AOC, and I have no reason to side with Republicans on this issue. It seems to me that those who supported Ford and who don't believe Tyson are not being reasonable.
11
It is concerning when accusations 20, 30, 40 years old come out conveniently when it can cause the the most significant damage to a mans career.
Sexual assaults has to be dealt with when they occur other wise we are not talking justice, we are talking revenge.
Revenge movies are great, the bad guy getting his due always feels good. However accepting revenge as a viable system of justice in society or justice system of any kind is fundamentally wrong.
I understand the reluctance of someone who is victim to come forward, sexual assault between people who know each other, or are on a date are difficult to prove. But decades later they are impossible to prove and for some reason the impossible onus is put on the accused to disprove. Modern civilization awhile ago agreed that practice is not part of a moral or ethical system of justice.
8
With yet another story like this one, one has to wonder about politicians themselves ... and not just Fairfax and Virginia’s current governor and lieutenant governor, but all politicians in every elected office who are part of that profession (if that’s what it’s called). Is there, for example, a basic character trait of arrogance and disregard for ordinary rules and decency that these persons ... seemingly men especially ... have in common which catches up with some of them? Or, is it that no such common trait exists, but that once these individuals ... lawful all their lives, say ... gain election to office, they (some of them) become targets of persons who, out of their own personal problems or needs, attack them? It’s not clear what the answer to this is, or even if it has to be one answer only. However, it is striking that cases such as with Fairfax, didn’t come up earlier ... say before his election. As far as the accusation against him: physiologically and even psychologically speaking, the woman’s detailed account is difficult to accept. But who not there knows? The “me too” movement is important; however, it does not and never will justify the rush to judgment.
4
My solution is for Northam to resign and Fairfax to resign only when and if either Trump or Kavanaugh resigns.
3
@George Santangelo
And Trump or Kavanaugh should resign only when Dems cave on building a solid, concrete barrier across the southern U.S.
Why stop with general subject matter, irrespective of the particulars of an individual case, when linking different acts by different people?
5
These almost daily accusations and denials of officials and candidates seem to be proliferating. Could all this be the result of foreign interference in our next elections?
Hopefully, all will be revealed by the close of the Mueller investigations.
2
We Believe Survivors! We Believe Survivors! We Believe Survivors! Sound familiar? After the disgraceful treatment of Brett Kavanaugh, contrasted to the wink and a nod given to Bill Clinton by the otherwise outraged media, it will be fascinating to see if Lt. Gov. Fairfax is held to the same standard, and if his accuser will be afforded the same level of credibility as Christine Blasey Ford.
5
What are the possibilities that the past dangerous sexual improprieties she suffered at the hands of her father, were impressed on the visage of Mr. Fairfax, a less dangerous individual. I mean is it possible she remembers vividly an experience she had with another black man, and then later combined the memories into one? I am not a psychologist nor a false memories expert, but know that witnesses often falsely remember many faces that later turn out to be innocent people who ended up in jail due to those false memories.
2
Sad story for both involved. We'll never know for sure what happened in that hotel room. Realistically there's a chance both honestly believe their own version of events IMHO. One somewhat crass observation I'd make though. In my experience many willing and enthusiastic participants struggle to keep teeth out of the equation when it comes to this alleged act, which can be very uncomfortable. Just not exactly sure how truly forced oral would work unless it's under threat of violence. If you really don't want something in your mouth you have some very sharp tools at your disposal. Obviously could have been extremely coerced.
4
So, did Tom Robinson do it, and if so was Atticus Finch wrong for cross-examining Mayella? Wasn't Mayella credible, or does she not get the benefit of the doubt?
6
This is not working. Democrats guilty of wrongdoing lose their jobs. Republicans end up in the presidency or on the supreme court. Talk about a Pyrric victory.
We need to find a way to punish people like Fairfax that does not punish all women by putting republicans in control off their bodies.
4
Why does consent seem to be such a difficult concept and practice for many commenters to understand? It is quite simple: at each stage of a romantic or sexual encounter, particularly first time ones, all parties should be looking for clear affirmations. How about asking, “Is this okay?” or “How are you feeling?” or “Do you want to keep going? Or slow down?” All these comments about how one act like going to someone’s room or kissing them or whatever imply that everything goes are just so wrong. A person, female or male, does not commit to any or all sexual acts just because she/he likes you, talks with you, kisses you, or even starts love-making. Think of sex like you would conversation: “Good morning” does not necessarily mean your interlocutor wants to plumb the depths of your thoughts.
3
@voltairesmistress
"at each stage of a romantic or sexual encounter, particularly first time ones, all parties should be looking for clear affirmations."
That is simply not how most people react or respond to each other during erotic encounters. And affirmations during that activity may well be non-verbal or at least not words anyone but the other person might understand.
And again, in this case it doesn't matter. Fairfax is claiming the encounter WAS consensual. For all we know he did run down a checklist of constant affirmations and updates.
Lastly many people, both men and women do not appreciate their partner treating them like a toddler and constantly interrupting to ask if everything is ok. Such behavior could ruin the encounter. Most people aren't rapists and are quite capable of indicating displeasure or disagreement with a given activity.
2
@voltairesmistress How about a contract? That would protect all from later allegations. Might cool the passions a bit.
If Brett Kavanaugh can be a Supreme Court Justice then what is the case against Justin Fairfax?
3
Two wrongs don’t make a right.
1
Political hit job from the right. I do not believe this woman. She was afraid to report it then, but not now?
8
@Jackie
1. She is a D
2. She did report to WaPo. But while WaPo was able to breathlessly report as facts fantasies of crazy persons about Kavanaugh, here all of a sudden they felt that their "integrity" would not allow to publish.
10
Let her make a statement under oath and with cross-examination like Dr. Blasey Ford did and we can go from there.
15
Very suspicious timing for this to come out of the woodwork.
10
@A Good Lawyer
Not suspicious at all.
They dug for it and they found it.
Does not make it any less true.
5
If you agree to enter a man's hotel room after being kissed, unless you have made it very clear that you don't want to go any further, you have given the message that you are open to sex. If a man rapes a woman vaginally and holds her down, the woman does nothing but suffer the assault. With oral sex, the woman has to do something. What did Fairfax do? Did he threaten her? Did she try to leave and he stopped her? Unfortunately, we can never know what really happened. Because of that, Fairfax should not be held accountable for something he may not have done.
15
She didn't enjoy it. And 15 years later she's letting the world know...
4
She says that it wasn't until they went to his hotel room allegedly to pick up some documents that he kissed her
1
@Lee M Oral sex does put a wrench into this story. And the fact that works with rape victims. Who would know more than her about the importance of telling the story to warn and prevent other victims... And then ... Somehow she forgot about the assault without a word to anyone...hmmmm.... Very very convenient.
1
While all this is going on, our nation's feckless leader has nothing better to do than chime in over the alleged malfeasances of Virginia's Democratic leaders. Let's recall that at roughly the same time that the Governor and his Attorney General were fooling around in blackface, The Donald and his dad were being found guilty of rejecting applications from prospective black tenants for apartments in the buildings they'd constructed.
12
Governor “Coonman “ Northam and his supporter are spreading these false allegations to smear the African American Lt Governor in a disgraceful effort to avoid being forced to resign. Virginia Democrats must adopt a zero tolerance for racism and kick Governor Northam out of office immediately.
4
The amount of sophistry in the comments is breathtaking. I can only conclude we are an amoral nation that completely deserves the leaders we have.
Those of us who are married or have significant others frequently go to dinner, kiss, go to a hotel room, and are capable of having intimate contact that respects boundaries, the desires and moods of our partners. This "what did she think was going to happen" argument has to be coming from sociopaths. I dunno, respect? Not being traumatized or raped?
15
Kompromats make it so easy.
1
Blackface scandal silences Jimmy Kimmell and Jimmy Fallon as hosts and celebs including Billy Crystal, Judy Garland, Ted Danson and Joy Behar have participated in the racist practice
Funny how some press organizations cover things that others ignore.
13
She went into a hotel room with a stranger and complains about his sexual preferences. WOW !!
11
I believe Vanessa Tyson. All women should believe Vanessa Tyson. As much as they believed Judge Kavanaugh's accuser.
10
For those talking about HE said SHE said.
That's the problem with sexual assault. It's usually done with no witnesses and that's intentional on the part of the perpetrator.
You factor in the shame, horror and how it messes with you mentally. Some women may go straight to the police and some may not want to go through more stressful trials and tribulations. This compounds if you are dealing with a public figure.
It doesn't mean the person who did that to them shouldn't be punished.
I wish crimes like this would be treated like how they treat murder cases or when the victim is a child. It should be the state vs the defendant and it doesn't rely on the victim to go through more hardship to make sure there is justice.
Laws could be made so that the defendant in a situation like this is kept confidential until the investigation is complete (unless they are in contact with their victims in their line of work then discreetly suspended with pay)
Giving a pass to situations like this of not enough evidence just emboldens more predators to know that if they get a woman, child or another man alone in a room then they can get away with assault.
I've dealt with a similar situation where I was led to a hotel room under a false pretense and the guy tried to put on the moves. Luckily he stopped when he knew I wasn't receptive. I would hate to think if he had forced the issue then I'd have no recourse for justice.
5
I hope come 2020 Virginians think long and hard before handing their state to Mr. Trump as he now predicts. I am not excusing these three men, but at the very least at least they are attempting to be forthright. Re Fairfax, this is the Kavanaugh hearing all over again. The fact of the matter is I believe both the accused and the victim. As twenty-plus young adults, who knows what was on their minds or what their sexual perceptions were. As a woman I tend to support Ms Tyson, but then...
Returning to Mr. Trump, let us remember he is a thrice married adulterer. That is FACT. Let us remember his fairly recent defense of racists and bigots. FACT. Let us remember his treatment of African-Americans as a business man, e.g., his insidious discrimination against a non-White race as a real estate mogul. FACT. Please, do not allow this man to get away with all his devious and self-serving actions any more...
7
Believe the woman and the way she says it went, but not sure this is clear cut abuse. This is not what I think of when we use the term, rape. Believe the Lt. Gov should finish his term, but do believe his political future is bleak. Now if there was any violence or threats to her, then he should resign.
5
Actually, physically forcing someone to perform a sex act is exactly what we define as rape.
1
Richmond Theatre of the Performing Arts presentation opening this week-Who's Afraid of Virginia "Wolves"?
State motto: "Virginia Is For (Consenting) Lovers"
Overheard in the Republican State Senate Caucus room..."Yes, Virginia...there is a Santa Clause!".
2
Honestly, I think all of these allegations are an attempt to remove the Democrats from their positions in VA. They may be true, but digging them up is not coincidence, IMHO.
11
@D
No, of course it is not coincidence.
Does it make less true?
8
Another sad tale of abuse of power. The moral of this story (like so many others) is be careful who you go to a private hotel room with (even if it is your boss who wants to go over some "paperwork" or whatever). If you go willingly, it probably won't go well. I am not blaming her but it is the same thing as bring your own bottle of booze to a frat party.
5
I’m not sure it’s an abuse of power, exactly. He was a staffer, and 25 years old just out of law school.
4
Why do women not report dangerous rapists?
Don't they care about other women suffering the same fate?
Is this not selfish? To wait until the "aggressor" has something they can take away before acting?
7
@Mike
The injustice seems greater if the perpetrator is prospering.
I mean, obviously. You can't really need to have had this pointed out.
2
You didn't answer the question. If you knew someone was a murderer would you wait until they were elected to office before telling anyone?
I have a solution - going forward elect females to public office. This way we will eliminate accusations down the road of sexual assault. Elizabeth Warren's campaign slogan - "I'm not a man."
5
Sorry but Elizabeth Warren lost my support yesterday when it was revealed that she wrote “American Indian” as her race on a Texas Bar registration card in 1985. That’s very dishonest and disqualifying in my opinion. Now I have no idea who to vote for in 2020. Maybe Bernie, but I’m not so sure at this particular moment. What a quandary we’re all in. I absolutely detest Donald Trump, but I really don’t love any of his Democratic opponents right now.
3
Wait! You are mistaken! The stories will go: "She came up to my room, we started kissing, I wanted intercourse but she made me do 20 mins of foreplay which I didn't enjoy..."
1
It's difficult to pry a persons mouth open as it is any creature. I can't think of a more dangerous position for a man to place himself. I find it hard to believe either are giving us the whole truth, but they each may believe they are.
15
@Joe Williams... Exactly-This is a sordid tale but how did she happen to part her lips and open her mouth... The story is silent.
1
Is that from personal experience?
1
I believe her
6
Let's not lose sight of the impact of the Washington Post's dismissive treatment of this in the first place, invoking a journalistic standard they never had before, nor since.
13
Good timing Vanessa. When a person so obviously perfectly innocent comes forward to ruin another's career over such an important matter, she deserves some sort of reward.
Of course, when such a brute is able to force something like this, let's make sure we apply adequate penalty. Right?
1
These responses could have been lifted from any discussion on the Kavanaugh/Blasey-Ford allegations. Let's be consistent.
6
@Pragmatic Dad So true. The Democrats set the standard for believability - that you are a woman - and should abide by it.
10
I'm not sure what's the fairest way to establish what really happened in these kinds of cases, where our judgements often rely on subjective perceptions of events which can be decades old. And I definitely don't know about the merits of this individual case. But my life's experience and common sense have me absolutely convinced that the way we socialized both boys and girls in the past has led to unequal power relations between men and women today, especially with regard to sexuality.
So, obviously, if this is true, in the name of human freedom, we have to tear out this inequality, root and branch. Not going to be easy though, because human emotions, subjectivity and rationalization are complex phenomena, especially with lives and careers at stake. I'm a (white) man myself, who is regularly accused of racism and sexism- both casually by friends abd family and occasionally more formally on the job. So, I'm aware that there will be collateral damge to the reputations and lives of innocent men. We should minimze that, but I for one believe we may have to pay this cost if we want our children, boys and girls, to live in a healthier social world.
2
What would we find if we looked deeply into Speaker Kirk Cox's background? Or any other delegate?
Are we certain everybody's record in every state government is pristine?
Either we dig deep in every state and federal official's past, or we come to an understanding that some things that were common in their time should be left to the voters.
We can't change our past. But we can change the future.
6
Unlike the accusation against Kavanaugh (none of which could even be remotely verified with any corroboration) the accusations against Fairfax will result in witnesses verifying they were seen together. Fairfax is toast.
14
@Jonathan
Also, there is no political motivation in this accusation.
5
No political motivation? She may be telling the truth, no doubt about it. But waiting for the man to take office?
Sounds like some very rough behavior, although if she just kept her jaws clamped shut, wouldn't that have prevented him from succeeding?
I sympathize with the woman, but all this stuff is nettlesome, just as it was with Clinton's satyriasis and violent sexual behavior. Forceful, unwanted sexual contact is egregious but are we going to argue every case?
1
I'll bet the woman who accused Fairfax would NEVER accept a ride from a stranger, yet she "hooked up" with a strange man. If people want to significantly reduce their chances of assault, then they should not have casual sex. Maybe Mom was right.
8
@Susan Blaming the victim - nice.
13
@Katie
Camille Paglia's words are beautiful: "It is entirely appropriate to blame the victim when the victim has behaved stupidly."
5
@Wine Country Dude
While you're at it, Ms. Paglia's many, many, many favorable quotes about Trump would be an interesting juxtaposition.
3
These days, simple political affiliation ultimately decides guilt or innocence. If anyone is accused of assault, they better make sure it says Democrat on their party preference. Otherwise, you're done.
7
I'm a coward. I'd never force a woman to do that. What if she bit me and screamed for help? But I admit that doesn't mean anything here, I don't suppose any of us can be sure.
4
How come Trump and Kavanaugh get a pass but no Dem does? I'm not saying any man should, but it's strange only Dems are affected by these allegations.
Dems better elect ONLY women of color from now on.
5
@Veda
That's because Democrats run on identity politics -- gender, race, etc.
They come across as very hypocritical if they don't act on accusations of racism or sexual harassment. Democrats' obsession with race and gender has come back to bite them.
79
@Ian
Identity Politics: Republican code word for Equality
Obsession: Republican code word Conscience
Political Correctness: Republican code word for Civility
But it is true. Republicans are from Mars and Democrats are from Venus and the double standard exists. There should be only one, but Republicans will have none of it, unless of course, the standard is applied to Democrats.
3
@Ian
Everyone runs on " identity politics". There is only one race aka human. There is only one national origin aka Earth. There are only two natural procreative human genders aka female and male. No one picks their identity aka father and mother.
4
"Women need to be believed", said every Democrat who attacked Kavanaugh based on no evidence.
16
“You can just walk up and grab them,” said your President, to the cheers of every hammerhead in the country.
10
@Robert
That's not what he said. You can Google the quote, although I doubt you will. Lies are more fun, I suppose.
5
@Joe Schmoe
What he said was worse!
10
Are these types of attackers of women ever injured in the process of the attack? It seems quite unlikely that at least a few victims would not retaliate, on the spot so to speak, perhaps leaving some scarring as evidence of the encounter. Very odd.
2
Be careful when believing anyone based soley on gender.
Although most sexual assault happens in private, making it difficult to prove, and most perps are indeed male, there must be compelling context or corroboration, or highly credible victim testimony (I believed Dr. Ford) .
I had a friend whose 26 year old son was falsely indicted for rape. There was no physical evidence, no witnesses, no corroboration ( ie: shrink; friends; co-workers) and the allegations were 4 years old. The alleged victim barely knew him and was sketchy on details.
Her mother had shopped around for a clerk magistrate who would find probable cause (the first 3 turned her down) Once that happened, the DA indicted. (mother also filed a civil suit for monetary damages)
I never doubted his innocence.
It went all the way to a jury trial which cost 150K (parents had to spend their retirement.)
If he was convicted he would have spent 20 years in prison.
The kid had been offered a plea deal on lesser offense and no time, but did not want to be branded a sex offender for the rest of his life.
He took the stand.
The jury came back in an hour.
Not guilty.
Not that simple.
18
@r mackinnon This would have been very timely last September also.
4
Why do these people who claim to have been sexually assaulted wait, sometimes for decades, until their alleged attackers are being considered for positions in public office to make their accusations ?
8
@sheikyerbouti
You really don't understand? Perhaps because the sense of injustice is greater when you see the perpetrator having not only avoided consequences, but actually having exemplary success?
8
The reporter's description of the interaction indicates progressive intimacy with affirmative consent (going to room, kissing). It's likely that the movement toward the bed had elements that a reasonable person would count as consent to sexual interaction.
Although failing to clearly express one's wishes does not mean that one is consenting, there is still a duty in a case like this to clearly express those wishes. Once one has begun a consensual sexual activity, one has a duty to one's partner to clearly communicate a change of mind. In other words, the affirmative consent standard (which was not the standard at the time) does not absolve either party from clearly communicating what they want. The primacy of "yes means yes" does not mean that "no means no" has no role, especially in a situation already marked by degrees of affirmative consent.
The idea that the accuser might be afraid to communicate refusal because of violence holds no water here since they have already entered into consensual intimacy. Therefore, she did not have a reasonable expectation of violence. The mere possibility of violence is not the same as a reasonable expectation.
It is surprising that a political theorist active in the anti-sexual violence movement would not know all this. There is something wrong with this accusation.
15
If she didn't learn anything from the Kavanaugh debacle, she's not smart enough to light a candle unsupervised. She should have immediately come out of the room screaming bloody murder. Waiting years, months, or even days after an assault just doesn't cut it. When are people, both women and men, going to learn the meaning and importance of "Time is of the essence?" No amount of scrutiny or investigation can ever determine who is telling the truth. Fifteen years is absurd. I totally believe Dr. Tyson, but what I believe doesn't matter.
2
I believe Ms. Tyson because her description of the incident and how it impacted her is very specific. Mr. Fairfax has every right to defend himself; however, I think it will be rather difficult for him to lead Virginians as a result of this troubling story. I also feel that Governor Northam has lost all credibility as has Attorney General Herring. Of course I do not want to see Speaker Cox elevated to the governorship; however, I am not sure what other choice we have at this point. Who knows, maybe there’s a sordid story in his past, too. Anyway, Virginians deserve so much better than these misbehaving men.
8
Sexual assault accusations, especially against political figures, need to be fleshed out prior to a candidates name being placed on the ballot. There's a timeline during the nomination/campaign process which allows for complete public vetting of a candidate. However, once a candidate has been elected to office it becomes too much of disruption to their duties of governance. Sexual assault accusations then become all consuming events which could have been addressed and the candidate removed from contention with minimal impact to the public.
2
@Kurt Pickard Perhaps, but it doesn't mean that she cannot bring it to the light of day now. Women need to be believed.
1
@Katie
But why put the entire State of Virginia on hold for this Katie? This could/should have been prosecuted years ago instead of being allowed to be turned into a media circus. There's no doubt that his woman has a right to be heard but her timing is not good and thus circumspect.
2
Always hard to be sure, but it does feel as though Dr Tyson is more believable. However, the timing does seem worrying; that and her occupation then; perhaps JLG and others earlier, are on to something, and there is some politiking at work here. I have commented earlier on the use of unpleasant, non criminal "Outing" (especially long after the event) how we will finish up only able to elect 3rd rate and/or shamless candidates as leaders.
She went to congressman Bobby Scott in 2017 about the allegations. She spoke out! What more was she supposed to do?
1
The incident took place in 2004. She did volunteer work at a rape crisis center. I sure hope she counselled other women to do more than wait 13 years before telling anyone.
This is actually a power grab to disrupt and eliminate the top 3office holders who are democrats. There’s an anti abortion effort behind this.
6
Is it just me, or is it strange that these "victims" always seem to come forward decades after the alleged event, and only if the accused hits the national spotlight?
There are men who abuse their position of power, as there are opportunistic women who use sex in exchange for favors. Reason: oftentimes, the end result is favorable. If it weren't, it would be a rare occurrence.
3
If we believed Dr Ford we also need to believe Dr Tyson. Being consistent can be hard when it goes against your tribe but to betray Dr Tyson is tantamount to support of Mr B Kavanaugh.
This is one reason we all need to think long and hard about the intelligence of tribalism.
9
Tribalism? No, political factionalism at best.
1
Dr Tyson appears to have a sad history of emotional problems stemming from her alleged molestation as child. 15 years ago she struck up a relationship with Mr Fairfax that now she recalls as 'not having ended as she expected'.
Dr Tyson appears to be an intelligent person, fully capable of rational decisions. As such, a rational observer must ask, 'Is she projecting her (alleged) childhood experience into the Fairfax experience and why has it taken 15 years?'
Like so much of life, once we are 'in for a penny' we're committed to be 'in for a pound'. As such, we must learn from our errors and not blame others with whom we, at the time willingly participated.
12
@jim
Does that mean either:
1) she’s making this up and has confused being forced to perform oral sex with some other childhood trauma.
2) Because she experienced childhood trauma she can’t be trusted?
3) as a result of facing childhood trauma she cannot be intelligent even though she carries the title of Dr?
4
@Prudence Spencer, how about:
4) victims of child abuse may need years to recover from a feeling they have no choice when a man wants something from them.
She was very young at the time this incident took place.
1
I don't know who to believe here, but I do know that if a man tried to force me to do what Ms. Tyson alleges, he would immediately be in need of stitches.
The timing here on top of the Northam yearbook outrage is not coincidental.
I'm all for #MeToo bringing the subject of pervasive sexual assault to the forefront of a much needed discussion, but I'm not buying this one. How is one's mouth forced open?
8
@Deb I am conservative as they come but I agree with you how do you force someones mouth open, I would think the perpetrator is risking serious injury
3
@Deb I'm going with the standard that was set last Fall - if a woman says it, it must be true. Anything else would be, well, hypocritical.
1
I told you #metoo was really a Puritan movement. Now a man is automatically guilty of sexual assault for holding a woman's head during oral sex.
There were laws against oral sex even between spouses and some may still be on the books. Dont be surprised if we see a revival of making this illegal because some view it as inherently demeaning to women. This is starting to feel like a Twilight Zone episode.
4
@hellen
This has nothing to do with puritanical beliefs. This is about consent.
4
@Prudence Spencer. She consented and later regretted.
4
Flipping Virginia blue! Oh well, back to the ol' drawing board!
5
I worked in corporate life for 45 years. Let me tell you something, ladies. When you enter a man's hotel room you have already said yes.. Stop whining and conduct legitimate business in legitimate locales.
14
I wait with bated breadth to see whether the same people who sought Justice Kavanaugh's head will come forward and demand Mr. Fairfax's execution -- without so much as the benefit of a kangaroo trial. But I suspect the liberal left will be far kinder to an African-American politician who is in line to become the first black governor of Virginia. This is a moment to see whether in addition acting as if they are members of the Inquisition the exterminating angels of the left are also hypocrites.
9
@Dr. Svetistephen Governor Wilder was the first black governor of Virginia, so they'd have to invent time travel.
5
I made a simple factual error. I don't see how her response was "brilliant?" Perhaps you might explain. How does it undermine what I wrote?
1
Is anyone surprised that the dominoes falling in Virginia started within just days of the Virginia governor being called out for his comments on late-term abortion on a radio show that caused the fringe right to make him appear to be supporting live abortions? This is what the losers on the right who no longer own Congress in DC will be doing for the next two years. The Bannon/Breitbart/sleaze press are mad and taking it out on any democrat they can find dirt on.
9
@Mike None of that deflects from their racism and sexual assault.
3
I was young in the Free Love era. Sex and drugs and rock n’ roll, yet also an attempted rape. My 38 year-old daughter believes women can invite a man to lie naked with her in bed but expect no sex, if she doesn’t want it. #MeToo? Virginia? I’m now thinking we should bring back chaperones, long dresses and curfews. He said/she said doesn’t seem to be working out.
6
I'm so confused these days. Are the Russians behind this? Are the GOP's receiving disinformation and misinformation assistance from the Russian-state sponsored hackers? Regardless, I feel very bad for the accuser, whom may have participated in an sexual encounter with the accused but then was forced to give oral sex, against her will, and she's a grown, intelligent and highly educated woman. But how can a man forced this woman to provide oral sex against her will? Did he use force, intimidation or deploy other distress to force her to surrender her free will? Buyer's remorse? Fodder for her thesis and course materials and a possible future book. A date went bad and she wants to capitalize on it now? I guess I clarified the issue for myself by writing this.
4
This does not pass a smell test.
4
@APO The hypocrisy of it all is stunning. I said the same thing as you last September.
4
Mr. Northam and Mr. Fairfax need to resign. Mr. Herring will have to deal with the present situation and his past misdeeds with unusual sensitivity to avoid the need to resign. That said, this feels like an attempted Republican coup, one which is all the more cynical given the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh. Apparently all that Republicans learned from the Kavanaugh experience is that Democrats are unlikely to support politicians from their own party who are accused of sexual misconduct, which the Republicans take for a weakness. Under the circumstances, it seems extremely reasonable to do research into the pasts of Kirk Cox and other high ranking Virginia Republicans so that they can be disqualified if necessary (except I predict that none of them will resign regardless of what they may have done, unless possibly they forced a mistress to get an abortion).
2
In some ways we seem a nation of hypocrites waiting for "gotcha" moments. Particularly in youth and as adults we do or say ill conceived things which in retrospect seem stupid. I always liked the response of the fellow who threw the egg at Nixon, "It seemed a good idea at the time." As far as the sexual assault allegations, they have spread so far and so wide as to make me wonder about political motivations, but also about the dynamics of memory and biology. Yes, there are sexual predators whose intentions are clear, but there are also so many shades of gray in human behavior. The definition of the term "sexual assault" has also expanded to mean almost anything.
8
Ah well, isn't it a state by-line that "Virginia is for Lovers"?
6
Many on the left are showing their hypocrisy. Blasey Ford couldn’t remember the place or year of the party. And she wasn’t raped. She never even had her cloths removed. And Kavanaugh and everyone that was said to be at the party denies it. Yet the left believed her.
Here we have the time and place. Fairfax said he was there and received oral sex. And now the left looks at this so different. Complete hypocrisy.
And who cares if college kids wore blackface at a costume party in the 80’s. Many a Hollywood figure has done the same since. It’s a costume party. If someone dresses as a Nazi at a costume party I wouldn’t be offended. Wear to work everyday different story.
13
If there is any way at all to prove what happened one way or another, based on current info, I would sure like to know what it is.
This isn’t like Strom Thurmond. Not like Dennis Hastert. Not like about fifteen-eleven tub-thumping far-right preachers who’ve gotten busted with their hand in church funds, on on a hooker, or on an underage boy. It’s not like hiking the Applachian trail, and it’s not anyplace close to the endless list of documented facts we have concerning the crummy behavior of Hizzoner.
And no, it’s also not like the facts about John Edwards. Or those we have about Bill Clinton, who clearly behaved like a undisciplined sleazebucket back when he was in office, even if there’s no real evidence he assaulted anybody.
What we got instead is hue and cry. The kind of demented logic and invented “facts” you saw back during the Big Ebola Scare, and still see in every single anti-vaxxer. The kind of “reasoning,” that says, “Well EVERYBODY is like this, so therefore....” or “Well we KNOW that there’s a long history of, so therefore...,” or the kind of rationality that just plain smuushes together the idea of justice and the demand for better with “proof,” that this or that actually happened.
Oh, and astonishing, gleeful hypocrisy from righties and Trumpists who not only couldn’t care less about women’s rights (or racism!) but actively work to shove women and black folks back into the old boxes.
It’s not unbelievable. It’s what I expect.
5
@Robert They hypocrisy we are seeing is from the Democrats who called for someone's head based on zero fact, and who are now doing a 180. What happened to 'women must be believed?' The woman is accusing a black Democrat. Off with her head!
63
@Katie Why should Democrats cede territory to the enemy? They should not. No way.
1
Somebody be lying and she's got no reason to. This is not a blurry drunken revelation from 40 some years ago by a well known party girl.What is more astounding is that the NYT is taking her side in the light of her accused attacker being a Democrat because of the 24/7 revenge instilled on judge Kavanaugh for months on end.
6
Well, I wasn't there and I don't know who to believe with regards to Fairfax Vs. Tyson. Many male politicians certainly are known to have a sense of entitlement when it comes to women. But I admit that I did a double-take when I read "Only then did I realize that he had unbuckled his belt, unzipped his pants, and taken out his penis.” Wait, what!? Only then? How are you kissing a guy and NOT noticing him doing all of these things? That was a puzzling statement. I suspect they were both heavily intoxicated. I also suspect he's going down in flames if any of this is true, because guys like that never do this just once, and there will be other women coming forward.
4
Virginia's leadership is caught in a whirlwind, but is it all fair? Sexual assault is one thing, but we really need to stop applying the standards of today to incidents that occurred 35 years ago. It was a different world where wearing blackface wasn't a cause for hysteria, especially in high school and college. Ease up, America. And can we please apply a common yardstick? Our president is guilty of far more than blackface, and I'm just talking about the lies he told the other night in his SOTU address! Is blackface racist? That depends on the application. If I wear blackface to a march supporting the Black Lives Matters movement - specifically to present myself as an equal - why is that wrong? As for Dr. Tyson's allegation, what was the purpose of going into Mr. Fairfax's hotel room? And how exactly does a man force you to perform oral sex? Are you saying that you didn't really want to do it but you did? Or are you saying that it was physically impossible for you to 1) keep your mouth closed 2) bite his penis 3) push him away?? Look, ladies, if you want to be equal, be equal! Yes, men can be rotten pigs, but I've always told my daughters that they must be their own first line of defense. So, Dr. Tyson, I do not buy your story for even a moment. I'll agree that you regretted doing it, but you could have easily stopped him. Why didn't you?
7
Right on Aurora from Vermont. I could not have said it better!!
1
@Aurora Wait, what? Wearing blackface to a BLM march to show support/equality? Are you serious? Yes, that would be wrong. Forget about everything else you said. Jeez.
The public is left with the challenge of evaluating the character of (so far) the three top officials in the Commonwealth of Virginia. With two it's easy - they are self-confessed. Wearing blackface is an obvious disqualification. While not illegal, it's not that far removed from other similar acts of overt racism. But, hey - if you invoke nonracist behavior as a condition for holding public office - how do you explain Donald Trump?
However, I think the majority of the electorate would not approve of officeholders that have worn blackface at any point in their lives.
Fairfax? This will never be tried before a court of law but either Fairfax is a liar motivated by self-preservation or Dr. Tyson is both a liar and stone cold crazy. In evaluating the two, lying in the pursuit of self-preservation (particularly in the heat of a crisis) is far more likely than stone cold crazy behavior on the part of someone who has established a fairly clear reputation as a stable person. You can understand what Fairfax has to gain from the pursuit of a lie. With Dr. Tyson (not too mention Dr. Hill or Dr. Ford) that's not the case. I think that Fairfax is lying.
Again, this will never go before a jury. Most abusers get away with their crimes. However, in the court of public opinion, based on the above, Fairfax is the likely loser.
This sequence of events illustrates the larger point that rotten fish abound... everywhere. Quoting Faulkner, "The past is never dead. It's not even past."
3
All three should resign immediately and the Republican should become governor. Alternatively, we forgive the current governor and things remain as they are. Anything else is pure sophistry.
2
I totally understand that even if Tyson stripped naked in Fairfax's hotel room, that does not mean she consents to anything happening to her or being forced on her at all (i.e., she is not 'asking for it").
At the same time, however, knowing that there are men who can be brutes, I wonder in general about my fellow women. Were they never taught to use common sense and gut feelings by their parents? Going to the hotel room of a man you don't know seems like walking into a dark alley with high heels on in one of those old horror movies. Yes, we women have a perfect right to go anywhere we please whenever we want to, and the blame for the attacks lies squarely on the man who attacks. We should change the world and the behavior of men so this doesn't happen. At the same time, knowing it isn't a safe world, I raised my daughters to be alert to their surroundings and not get cornered.
I know perfectly well that a woman can get blindsided in the safety of her own home and that supposedly trusted male partners are often the attackers (or relatives whom you should be able to trust). I just can't fathom going to a stranger's hotel room. That said, if he did what she says he did, he is of course dead wrong and not a scrap of blame clings to her.
What a mess. I do ardently wish women didn't have to be so 'careful' all the time and risk not only their safety but also getting blame heaped on them, which is not what I intend here.
2
Justice delayed is justice denied.
It's extremely bad when grown mature women fail to scream bloody murder at the time of the assault, and wait many years to bring accusations.
Women need to learn to defend themselves immediately, and bring criminal charges immediately.
Just like any other crime.
6
I am guessing that when the line of succession gets to republican Speaker Kirk Cox, the rules will suddenly change: no more oppo research will come out, and any bad acts will be excused away or ignored entirely.
3
Time to stop all these ridiculous men. How far down the line of succession before a woman emerges?
5
@Sally
Of the character of Elizabeth Warren!
4
I guess I'm naive but when a man invites a woman to his hotel room she should have better sense than to go. I guess she could have asked a friend to tag along.
2
@dbl06
You haven't been paying attention. A woman shouldn't HAVE TO use common sense. Hers should be a risk-free existence. She shouldn't HAVE TO say no. She shouldn't HAVE TO fight back.
2
@Ed L. Would you tell your daughter the same thing? Maybe I haven't been paying attention but you've been dreaming. Why would an intelligent woman put herself at risk?
5
Close encounters of the passionate kind made by young adults in the heat of the moment with the mutual affection by freely given kisses set off confused signals, consensual or coerced? After reading this account, I understand WP hesitation publishing this story.
5
Deja vu all over again! The Kavanaugh hearings are being relived in Virginia. I believe both women. They have achieved nothing but unpleasant notoriety for their public disclosures. Bret Kavanaugh is now a Supreme Court Justice despite perjuring himself before Congress. Should the Lt. Governor of Virginia be treated differently?
1
It's a case of "he said, she said." How do you pick one to believe over the other? I don't understand those who say they automatically believe a woman they don't even know. Or, for that matter, the man they don't know. I think there should at least be an investigation into the details before there's a rush to judgment. Aside from this case, it does seem like there is an attempted political coup underway in Virginia.
106
@RRM
Both have lawyers. There finally will be some kind of an investigation into forcible oral copulation/date rape. Dr. Tyson's comments indicate this is a more positive movement on the matter than when in 2017 she went to The Washington Post with these allegations. It's fair to say that paper would not put much gas in the tank for going after Virginia's newly elected Democrat black lieutenant gov., at least not the way a court will. This would not have bobbed to the surface but for the shoe polish/picture kerfuffle involving the governor and AG. So, the one good outcome might be this woman gets her day in court or, at the very least an acknowledgment and apology from Justin Fairfax of the harm he caused.
6
@RRM Does seem like a case of the Weinstein variety. Just waiting for the next high heel to drop.
3
@Maggie
The WaPo did not run the story because they could not find any similar claims about Mr Fairfax and there were no corroborating witnesses on her behalf.
You should be suspicious that the same unknown website that brought up the yearbook page also brought up her private FB post.
It seems very clear that this is a republican attack probably as part of the retribution for exposing Kavanaugh as the fraud he is.
17
It's a right-wing conspiracy. Seriously.
5
@Mark
With plenty of material, self-furnished, to work with.
1
This must be sending a chill down the spines of every elected official in the country. One thing for sure is that you would have to be an idiot to continue any behavior that could land you in the position of the Virginia Three. There will be no putting this Jeanie back in the bottle. Members of Congress must be sweating bullets thinking they will be next to be espoused.
4
Where is the outrage so loudly stated during the K hearings that Fairfax has to go, that Tyson must be believed, and that allegations are enough to derail a career. I’m waiting for someone, anyone to provide an explanation is plain English why this could be and what it means.
Could it be that he’s he is a notable rising star in the Democratic Party. Now the AG who called for the governor to resign is also in trouble. Another democrat that must go, regardless of his moving apology.
Could it be that if they all resign, a Republican takes over because of the line of succession. OMG, the democrats eat their young, start to get sick, spit them all out and try to move on. The hypocrisy movement founded by Bill Clinton’s behavior lives on. What a pity.
6
Did you people not read the article? Allow me to quote the salient point:
"I tried to move my head away, but could not because his hand was holding down my neck and he was much stronger than me. As I cried and gagged, Mr. Fairfax forced me to perform oral sex on him.”
Does that sound like a 'misunderstood' interaction? That is about as graphic and violent as rape gets.
I too didn't want to believe this accusation against a respected Democratic leader. Sadly, her story is extremely credible, and she has nothing to gain and EVERYTHING to lose by coming forward, as Christine Blasey Ford demonstrated for us so vividly.
It's only 1 accusation, but it is an extremely credible one from an extremely credible individual, and must be fully investigated as such.
17
I read the article. It doesn't explain why she didn't keep her mouth closed, nor why she didn't report the alleged assault at the time. She was a counsellor at a rape crisis center. What did she counsel (other) victims to do?
It also doesn't indicate that she feared he (a convention colleague and friend of a friend) would hurt her if she didn't comply. Shouldn't those things be clearer?
6
If Fairfax were a Republican, would we be having all these earnest discussions about the physics of oral sex, height-weight ratio, angle of the body, motion of the arm, etc., to prove whether oral sex can, in fact, be forced? Are you serious? Hundreds of comments in numerous NYT articles on campus rape said yes, it can. So which is it?
8
Lets see, a woman who claims a man sexually assaulted her in a very brutal way then uses that man as a professional reference to get a job? That doesn't sound right to me. We have reached a point in American where it is assumed that a man is always guilty of any crimes a woman charges against him.
4
@Jeff you misread that part of the article... she did not use Fairfax as a character reference, she used Congressman Scott.
7
@Jeff -- Yes, it does sound right. See Weinstein, see the media examples. It is called power.
3
This is stinking to high heaven of something other than truth. The right will stop at absolutely nothing to get power. And if there is any truth to this allegation; than why now? Why not when he was running for office? Too much is too much.
6
@Alexandra
It seems to me that it's mostly Democrats eating their young in this case. Republicans are sitting back and laughing, enjoying their schadenfreude while they can. The Brett Kavanaugh smear campaign wasn't that long ago.
4
I’m a Republican and I’m not laughing. Forced oral sodomy is a heinous crime. But, leave politics out of it. It matters not the political label when a man does something like this.
3
@Ed L.
I remember with indignant regret that some years ago my Congressman in Oregon was arbitrarily forced out of office by the Democratic Party with no observable input from his constituency. He had worn a tiger suit on Halloween! It was also claimed that he upset a young woman with something he said, yet he committed no form of assault whatsoever!
So for a considerable time we were deprived of a representative, who had been extremely responsive and valuable to my family on more than one occasion. Since then, I firmly believe that Congress should adjust the law,whatever it takes, so that the affected constituency has equal representation in Congress as is their right. The entire affair appeared very arbitrary and arrogant by the Democrats in this case! we constituents were never consulted as far as I know, so no chance to defend in any way. Reminds me of the Al Franken farce, and the denial to him of proper defense or hearing. Will come back to haunt a few ambitious politicians!
1
All should resign. ENOUGH!
4
Every powerful man in America has either done something racist or pushed a woman too far in their past. Let's be done with this circus and fire all of them.
It's starting to look like the anarchists are right; no one is fit to lead.
You're next.
1
I am very troubled that this exposee movement is used to vilify famous men. Beware of this zero-tolerance idea because it seems to only apply to famous men. What about the untold number of men who we will never know about who do real violence to women and never be held accountable because their name will never be in the newspaper or on facebook or television.
6
Just get rid of these guys. So much trash. Time for a house cleaning.
6
I have no idea what actually happened between Fairfax and Tyson - maybe neither of them remembers correctly, or they just have a vastly different perspectives on what was actually happening - consensual or not. How a guy just does something like that seems impossible but we know from recent stories some men do act this way. What a mess and how do you sort it out. Somebody is not going to get justice here.
51
@Paul
I think I would remember having my head and mouth forced onto another man's penis
I can also guarantee that I wouldn't make up a story about it.
Perhaps Tyson felt he could get away with it because he shared the political same views as the professor he raped and sodomized. He's wrong and arrogant.
I believe all three men in Virginia need to man up and step down.
20
@Paul
Someone likely will get some form of justice, just not both of them. That's how criminal and civil law work.
2
@James This could be a blatant assault or he could have thought she was into it and he was not forcing, but guiding.... that does happen.
Sadly we will never know what really happened and it is possible that what he thought was guiding was forcing to her.....
5
Why these allegations now, after the election? Barring extreme circumstances suitable for impeachment proceedings, we should not be dumping our elected officials based on new allegations of improprieties. To do so subjects us to continuing upheaval and the likelihood of subterfuge at a time we've become well aware of Russian success in undermining our democracy.
4
We can't be sure what happened.
It is interesting that Dr. Tyson wrote " though surprised by his advance, it was not unwelcome and I kissed him back.".
This is part of the problem. Women across the board still expect men to initiate _everything_. This leaves a lot of room for mistakes, wrong reads of signals and misinterpretations of signals that were never sent in the first place.
From her story there is NO way a normal person would think the ensuing sex was consensual-force was used and she was crying.
All we know now is that Lt. Gov Fairfax says the encounter was consensual. I wish that Dr. Tyson had reported this to the authorities when it occurred. At this point I just can't call it, unless there are other credible women who come forward with stories of wrongdoing. All rape or assault victims should report the crime to the authorities when it happens. It may be painful and embarrassing but it's the only way the rest of us have to find the truth and punish the alleged abuser.
5
@Lilo
Your advice seems reasonable:to immediately contact the police after assault. However, you need to be aware that in some cases the victim is terrified of her own partner learning of this assault on his wife or significant other, and he has always made it clear that he would kill the perpetrator, and is a crack shot etc. This is often the case more often than the public realize. An innocent woman in such a case sees clearly the dreadful results, and so is forced to suffer in mental agony, while the rapist goes on possibly to his next victim.
1
As we wait, wait, wait for Mueller to release his findings, and now for the house investigations to proceed, the media is having a field day with the fiasco in Virginia. I agree that the governor and AG are responsible for shooting themselves in the foot trying to find a way to extricate themselves from the juvenile and tasteless behavior of their pasts, when they should have known better (alhough it is becoming apparent that such shenanigans were not, and probably today, are not uncommon. And just to give the media fodder for another of its two favorite victim templates, racism and sexism - it does seem awfully convenient that someone should arise from the Lt Gov's past to accuse him of sex abuse. (Which makes me wonder what the accuser thought they were going to do behind closed doors, talk politics?) And if Fairfax resigns, is she going to pursue legal action against him, or is getting him out of Virginia politics the ultimate aim? Who is manipulating these events? And why is the mainstream press giving them all this attention? If they had pursued the Access Hollywood revelations as doggedly, instead of pouncing on the wikileaks windfall, (as was intended by someone unseen, pulling strings),I wonder, would we now be following the daily Trump Follies?
6
I am a colored male, married, have kids and generally have led a rather uneventful life by paying taxes, holding to a regular job, following laws etc.
However, I am scared, ashamed and dreadful of what America has become. Not sure who is at fault here, but I do not want to be alone with another woman (other than my family’s ) even in an elevator.
These days, I am scared of pretty much everyone....cops, people who are pro/anti-life, pro/anti-guns, proAmerican cars or pro-imports, pro or anti electric cars, climate change, or whatever other cause.
Why? Because as a society, our voice of reason is lost, or muffled among the selfish, myopic view of the world. We kill and consume everything like a parasite with a self-righteous “way of life” mindset.
The “Land of the Free” and “Home of the brave” are just lines for ads and songs. We appear to be slowly degenerating as a society, where everything is loud, obnoxious and bizarre.
Trump gets away with “grab ‘EM by the....” as locker room talk. Clinton does things in the White House that seem like a c-grade pornographic fantasy novel.
As a nationality, we continue to prove our inability to rise beyond petty causes and hoaxes. Apologies if this sounds too dystopian but whatever happened to us.
I do hope that we can address this incident, but more importantly find solace and heal as a nation. For now, I think the most I can do is try to live a simple life, and be nice to strangers, and especially to people with guns or agenda.
14
Never forget, folks, that Bill Clinton set the standard for predatory behavior and Democrat voters foisted him on this nation twice, and were more than willing to put his enabling and complicit wife in the Oval Office.
14
Unbelievable. We have a President who built his career on his daddy’s money and taxpayer bailouts, who we KNOW FOR A FACT has pretty much the ugliest sexual and marital history possible short of killing anybody, who was ON TAPE bragging about his right to assault any woman he felt like assaulting, who was elected by a minority of Americans after an iffy election in which he sure looks like he had Russian help, who has nothing nothing but attack women’s rights and caw insults at them....
And Bill Clinton’s the problem.
12
@Robert
You miss the point about the lowering of standards. Clinton was Trump version 1, and meant that GW's substance abuse wasn't a problem, Obama's bragging about pot use wasn't a problem, and Trump was not evaluated according to character. I.e, Clinton ensured that we no longer look to our leaders as role models. He'll be burning somewhere special for that.
2
@Joe Schmoe Some presidents raise standards, others lower them. I’d argue Obama raised them very high on this score, and then Trump dropped them right through the floor.
In fact, Trump and his cronies are all part of the third wives club — Giuliani, Gingrich, Mnuchin, Ross, Bannon, ...
I've been on dates where the man wanted to push for sexual activity that I didn't want. I don't think it's that uncommon. Reading her accusations, I can't call it sexual assault.
7
@ruby maybe it's just me, but the gagging and crying part may have signaled this wasn't the most romantic of encounters
13
@Ruby - I think Aziz Ansari would wholeheartedly agree with you.
The difficulty with Dr. Tyson's account is that, at present, it offers no corroborating evidence from 2004, despite her statement that, at the time, she did "regular volunteer work at a local rape crisis center." Such regular volunteer work would mean that, unlike most women who suffer sexual assault and know nowhere to go, nor what to do, nor where to start to obtain support and justice, Dr. Tyson did. This argues that whatever unwelcome a turn her initial "consensual kissing" with Mr. Fairfax took at a convention hotel room in 2004, it did not, then, in her mind rise to the level of sexual assault. Her claim that she simply did not have the strength to raise the issue until 2017 is at odds with everything that rape crisis centers are dedicated to counsel and provide. Sexual assault is a serious and widespread problem in our society, but we cannot have a situation in which every incident of misunderstanding and "bad sex" between full adults is re-litigated in the court of public opinion as "sexual assault" after more than a decade. To do so trivializes the genuine horror of rape and sexual assault so many women do, in fact, experience.
16
Could we please, please, please, please, stop explaining everything by being clever rather than by looking at facts?
6
@Robert
So says every member of a vigilante mob. Facts we don't have in this case. We must reason from differing accounts to establish facts and then further to decide their significance. There's nothing "clever" about that. We can differ in that process, but it's not something we can brush aside and leap to conclusions. Reasoning is inseparable from justice for all.
5
I don't know whether to laugh or cry, but this was common behavior by guys when I was in high school (coincidentally in VA, however my female friends have confirmed it isn't just a regional issue). I had to fight out of the "head hold" a couple of times, and, there were times I just complied. I was ignorant, insecure, and normalized their behavior. I believe her.
23
...and I understand that this is truly no laughing matter. Just a mechanism to deal with the horror of reality at times.
6
Well, this tells us all we need to know about the disintegration of relationships between men and women in the USA.
If this is common male behavior, there is no hope.
8
We have never been able to feel comfortable with sex in this country. Women are continually blamed for their pregnancies as if they did it to themselves. Many women can tell you short of gun held to their head that they have stopped sexual encounters that have made them uncomfortable.
What bothers me is all is trouble with racist behavior in dressing as black people is that it was and is a part of the culture of the south. Virginia was the capital of the confederacy. So if we start to investigate the Republicans in their government we will find the same thing.
Also, who is revealing this? Usually the source proudly comes forward to be thanked for the reporting. Northam handled it badly but I think the conversation is more than punishing politicians. It's a nationwide conversation. We played cowboys and indians as kids which was big in my childhood on the playground and TV shows. But we learned as we grew up about Native Americans which is more accurate and it influenced the way we thought about a lot of things we took as acceptable and true from our communities.
6
How did a private FB post become public?
How did reporters know to "inundate" her?
Why is it that this unknown website has promoted both these stories first?
I want to take her seriously but something about this just does not register right with me. Maybe I am misreading her obvious strength and ability to stand up for herself?
People suppress when they have no other options or when authority rebukes them and dismisses them after reporting.
Something just does not read right here.
5
I believe Dr. Tyson, believe Fairfax should resign, and also believe terrible stories about the pasts of all three Democrats at the top of the order of succession for the governorship of Virginia coming out within days of each other is a coordinated attack by the GOP and its allies to try to force everyone at the top to resign until a Republican is in charge.
One of these three needs to stay in office long enough to appoint new Democrats below them before resigning. These men did horrible things. They should suffer consequences. This is also an attempted coup. All of these things can be true simultaneously.
144
@JLG: Of course you believe Fairfax. We live in a time where men are automatically guilty of anything woman accuses him of.
18
@JLG
Someone just told me that JLG from Chicago assaulted her 15 years ago. I believe that person.
Have you quit your job and surrendered to the authorities yet? Because you are guilty, right? She said so!!
16
@JLG
How hypocritical. If you believe all three should resign, why should they get to appoint a Democrat? They are bad because you say they are bad (who cares whether Fairfax actually is guilty, and who cares whether idiotic acts in college should should be the standard for ending careers decades later) and it therefore would be equally bad for the bad people to exercise political power. Fruit of the poisonous tree.
Talk about political relativism.
And this is coming from a lifelong liberal Democrat. Maybe the right answer is to believe in liberal values - due process. Civil liberties. Innocent until proven guilty. A chance at redemption and forgiveness.
20
How can we hold our heads up, after attacking Kavanaugh so vociferiously, if we let this stand?
We must stand up for the victim, for women, for intellectual honesty
10
Well, I believe her. She -- along with just about every other woman in the world -- could have predicted that she would be vilified for coming forward. Just read some of the comments here, and one likes to think NYTimes readers are just a bit more enlightened. I guess not. Particularly galling are the commenters who insist that fellatio cannot be forced. What a lovely, sheltered world you people live in.
12
Liberals, #MeToo, BLM and SJW's over played their hands.. Northam has to go.. Fairfax has to go and the No. 3 Herring has to go ..
Leaving the Governorship [succession line] to COX - a Trump supporter and GOP hack.
OK Liberals- Find your safe spaces and hold on to your emotional service dogs... It's going to be a rough ride!
9
Democrats have a fascinating desire to de-legitimate themselves.
The question with Brent Kavanaugh should have been his judicial history, philosophy, and pattern of decisions. Instead, his youth was revisited -- a move that the vast majority of Americans considered a stupid diversion that prevented larger gains in the 2018 elections.
The behavior of young men wearing black face under our first openly racist president (Reagan) in 100 years is also not relevant, compared to their record the past 10 to 20 years.
And the fact is that during a sexual encounter it is very possible that Justin Fairfax was expressing enthusiasm and had no idea that Ms. Tyson was opposed to the activity. They were adults. There are legal standards and reasonable statutes of limitations. Nothing compelled her silence until now. Sex is fraught.
When people wonder how we got an undisciplined moron as a president, they just need to look at this idiocy of self-immolation, and they need to recall the Congressional gains made by Democrats after Republicans tried to make Bill Clinton's sex life into a weapon.
The vast majority of the public is not interested in exploring sexually ambiguous situations among adults, they don't care about stupid costume choices, especially years ago (see Rudy Giuliani), and they don't want to ruin careers over the occasional mistake -- and the more stupid and the more ancient the mistake, the less they care.
2
"Make Bill Clinton's sex life into a weapon"?! Are you kidding?!! He was impeached! And was re-elected with better numbers than his first election!
1
@Mari - Dear Mari: Clinton was re-elected in 1996 with better numbers than in 1992. However, he was not impeached until 1998 (and then not convicted in the Senate). Jay Inslee, our current governor, had lost his (rural) 4th District Congressional Seat in 1994, after winning it in 1992. He then won back a Congressional seat in the more moderate 1st Congressional District, and his positions including running against Clinton's impeachment. However, the material point is that Clinton was more popular than ever when he left office -- you are right on that. And Al Gore embraced self-immolation by running "against" Bill. People chose an Idiot-in-Chief (Bush II) over a Prig-in-Chief. If Trump wins again, you will be able to thank the Chuck Todd media types, and the breathless "moralists." (You may as well thank them openly, as Trump does so daily behind the scenes. How he and his staff must laugh.)
Ok let's go over it again, for the umpteenth time.
Sexual harassment/assault etc. was de facto legal pre 1980. After that it all changed with the women's movement and countless women have come forth complained, sued etc. and won. I know I saw many in the large corporation I worked for.
Here is what not to do today:
1-Wait 10, 20, 30 or more yrs. to complain.
2-Only complain when the promotions, movie roles etc. stop.
3-Accept contributions from known predators like Weinstein because they support your Neo feminist, men are the cause of all problems in the world, orgs., assocs., etc.
4-Initiate the sexual contact/harassment to get ahead.
This women is clearly guilty of point number one.
3
"Forced?" If a man forced a woman to perform oral sex, wouldn't that be rape? Why didn't she scream or, at least, call the police?
4
I believe her.
96
@Frank McNamara
Which proves exactly nothing--nada, zilch. But you can congratulate yourself for your moral clarity.
33
@Frank McNamara
Frank, why?
99% of the time I believe the woman...primarily because why would they put themselves through the notoriety and pain of sharing such a personal trauma.
However, I am waiting to pass judgement for more corroborating evidence of her being "forced" to have oral sex.
10
No doubt Trumpists will now say the same every time Trump starts hurling loopy accusations based on zip.
5
In my limited experience, when 2 (unrelated) adults engage in voluntary kissing, then some kind of a follow up consensual sexual act is expected.
Oh please. Please tell me you don’t actually believe that kissing is de facto signaling to the other person you may proceed to extract anything you want from my body.
13
@PaulN
And you haven't been charged with a felony yet?
2
This incident seems to be more a case of a woman scorned than criminal sexual assault. At the time Mr. Fairfax was not a "power male figure" with the ability to influence her career like Weinstein. They were equals.
She willingly accompanied him to his hotel room with the thought of starting a relationship. While he initiated the first kiss, she willingly reciprocated: "it was not unwelcomed and I kissed him back."
What happened next is open to interpretation by reasonable people. She claims he forced her to perform oral sex by holding down her head. This appears to be a self-serving portrayal of victimhood. All she had to do was bite firmly to free herself! That would have been a natural defense action.
More likely is that she went along thinking the relationship would go somewhere. He, however, saw it as a casual out of town affair and probably never contacted her afterwards. No doubt she was hurt and dismayed by his callousness.
Her reaction was intensified in light of her family dysfunction of which he was probably unaware. It appears that she is using the moment to retaliate.
In any regard, her story does not seem to reach the standard of criminal sexual assault. More likely they were just young people involved in an out of town fling that failed to pan out.
11
Ok, got it, but in another article, Fairfax was quoted as saying that Tyson has wanted him to meet her mother...
Why is nyt only reporting one side of the story?
3
@RAB
Post a link to that article or at least identify it by paper and title, author.
1
@magicisnotreal
It was in the firs article not published on this issue
Democrats, liberals and progressives called for Kavanaugh's head without a shred of evidence to back up his accuser's claim of sexual assault. Will they hold true to this same standard with Tyson's vivid recollection of sexual assault by Fairfax? Or will they fold like the hypocrites they always are when a Democrat is accused on such disgusting behavior? Ted Kennedy. Bill Clinton. Justin Fairfax. Three of a kind.
9
@paul
There was plenty of evidence against Kavanaugh to include his best friend writing several books about their antics, classmates corroborating his drunken behavior and his own voluntarily provided evidence.
2
Without taking any stand on the truth of Professor Tyson’s claims wasn’t the time to bring them up when he was running for office? Now it is intermeshed into this blackface insanity that is making Virginia the focus of everything wrong with America. These changes if true seem criminal to me and at the least should end what appeared to be a promising career, but why didn’t voters hear about this a year ago.
38
@Todd She did bring this up during his campaign. These allegations are not new.
23
@Todd Why did Ford wait 35 years and everyone believed her?
9
@Todd She did contact the Washington Post in 2017 when he was running for office! Best do homework on this matter
1
Justice delayed is justice denied...for both accuser and accused. Dr. Tyson has suffered her memory for 15 years and now Lt. Governor Fairfax is suffering vigilante justice. Justice for both is denied.
The remedy is a very short statute of limitations for crimes of sexual assault.
The shortened statute of limitations must, however, be preceded by strong laws and supporting institutions that ensure no recriminations or other adverse effects against women who lose their case in court. Women must be safe in the knowledge that their charges are taken seriously and that they will be supported regardless of the outcome. It's not enough to just say they'll be protected, but institutions and laws must be established to protect women who now must come forward with their charges in a short period of time after the assault. In return, victims are beholden to come forward soon after the alleged assault or forever keep their memory to themselves.
23
@Clarence Williams, clearly, you've never been sexually assaulted. It is not uncommon at all for women to bury the experience as they try to make sense of it. Guilt, fear and seeing, knowing how most sexual assault cases are handled are also major deterrents. It is not the priority of a victim to seek revenge or 'justice', it is in seeking safety from more violence, especially from the perpetrator.
30
@Clarence Williams 15 years ago women were dismissed. Today, women are dismissed, but we are speaking out and being heard. Research about sexual assault and what it does to its victims. Especially children.
15
@coco
How about an alternative theory? She had consensual sex with him, he never called her again, she is filled with anger, regret, and remorse, so she rationalizes all this by saying "you know what, he raped me!", thereby absolving herself of any responsibility for her own decisions and actions.
5
I thought governors, lieutenant governors and attorneys general were vetted before running for office. Who does this vetting -- the feds or state authorities -- and why did it fail so miserably in these three cases? Dr. Tyson is a Democrat, not some Republican stooge, and her graphic account of the assault, corroborated by at least two people whom she told of it long ago, is certainly more believable than Fairfax's denial. It is no longer just a case of he said she said and he must go. As for the other two Virginia racists, 'nuff seen and said.
4
OK... but one thing I didn't read, was that she ever said, "No". She wasn't impaired at the time, and If this is the new standard, then whether or not it was a rape can be decided after the fact.
I had no idea that the Democrats' Circular Firing Squad Competition began so early in the presidential electoral cycle.
12
Unfortunately, I can easily visualize the perfect storm now unfolding whereby the VA. Republican speaker becomes governor by default.
3
@alank
Not at all. Do you think he has nothing in his past that could be used to humiliate him now? Here's betting Democrats are already hard at work.
@Wine Countfry Dude
Hope you are right
@alank
Hey, you're supposed to go high when we go low.
(I always thought Michelle's statement was virtue-signaling and preening. Democrats do a lot of that).
Democrats are in search of purity, Some thing tells me that the Speaker of the House of Delegates Kirk Cox
Republican will not have any stain on his past? Or if he does, it will be overlook as is usually done in republican side
1
I am really surprised that Dr. Tyson agreed to go to Mr. Fairfax's hotel room, especially in light of her childhood sexual experience of molestation. Such an invitation should have set off that little warning light in her mind.
Not wanting to blame a victim, but women have to be smarter about putting themselves in harm's way. Or, if you are assaulted, begin the legal process promptly. Don't wait in the weeds and then spring your story when it is difficult to corroborate.
4
For many women pressured to perform oral sex, it often feels coerced and unwelcome, often destroying what began as a romantic moment into an unpleasant encounter. I have no doubt that the incident occurred and that it was unwelcomed on her part, but I think that's different from saying that she was forced to perform the act. I do think a lot of women feel somewhat degraded after performing it in such a setting, when it so to speak, is thrust upon them, and that men feel a sense of entitlement, but I don't think that it converts it into rape or forced sex. Unwanted, perhaps, but forced, no.
2
Is it not germane that the Washington Post (a prominent news organization with probably the most sterling reputation for investigative reporting in the history of our country) devoted investigative resources to these allegations and ultimately could not corroborate the story?
And why is the language Fairfax used to express his anger over the situation salient in this article? Ms. Tyson’s accusation of an assault behind closed doors is more credulous because the Fairfax called her a bad word in anger behind closed doors?
I understand our cultural moment demands that we believe a victim simply because they come forward and say they are a victim. Regardless of what actually happened that night, I’m sorry Ms. Tyson had a terrible experience, but when the stakes for the residents of a whole state are so high, I think there should be a higher bar to clear for what the Times prints about this story. Your reach and influence is immense and I think you’re being irresponsible. You could take a lesson from WaPo here.
Why didn't The Washington Post publish the accusations they were looking into before the last election?
This difference may seem inconsequential to black people, but I find publishing a racist photo in medical degree graduate's yearbook far more offensive than an undergraduate showing up at a costume party with darkened skin. There is a difference in historical black face and changing ones skin color for a night. In my book of values Mark Herring gets a pass, Ralph Northam does not. Mr. Fairfax's fate to be determined.
2
I guess GOP senators feel that Fairfax is now worthy of a seat on the Supreme Court.
4
@Zigg
We certainly feel that he is worthy of Kavanaugh's public humiliation and crucifixion. And being sternly admonished that his vigorous attempt to defend himself is somehow illegitimate.
2
@Wine Country Dude
I support a complete investigation of both Fairfax and Kavanaugh. Do you?
And please don't call that confirmation process an honest and open hearing.
1
@Zigg
It most definitely was not an honest and open hearing, starting with DiFi's eleventh hour hit job. A much fuller investigation could have been done if she hadn't engaged in Machiavellian delay. But that train has left the station.
At this point, I'd like to see Fairfax tried in the press, and by mere allegation and innuendo. That would be rough equivalence.
The only relevant point is that Mr. Fairfax's political career is over.
4
Male power and violence against women are universal. As Gloria Steinem said, "The subjugation of women is a common factor in all wars." Patriarchal ownership of women and children was normative until a few decades ago. The Time's Up and MeToo movements are the toothpaste finally come way out of the tube never to return again. Women know they need to BE in power in order for real change to occur.
We progressives and Democrats must model anti-misogynist practices. We know Republicans live with hypocrisy re- this. As painful as it is to lose offices, losing our moral compass would be far worse.
67
@J. M. Sorrell: Do your really have a moral compass when you automatically assume that a man is always guilty when a woman alleges that he sexually assaulted her? Is it moral to always assume tht a woman would not lie but a man always does?
12
@J. M. Sorrell
In the 19th and 20th century, hundreds of black men were killed for being falsely accused of sexually assaulting white women. Under your standard, they deserved their punishment because they were accused. Full stop. So who wins here? Is this racism at work? Or male power and violence?
You are not carrying Democrat values. Democrats are why civil liberties exist in this country. Why the civil rights movement occurred. Why there is a Voting Rights Act. Why a person accused of a crime is entitled to confront his or her accuser and having representation. There is a reason why Republicans think your way of thinking is the greatest thing since the Reign of Terror. They get their Napoleon.
17
@Gobears
When the Voting Rights Act hit the floor in 1965, the vote results mirrored those of the Civil Rights Act. In the House, the measure passed by a 333-85 margin, with 78 percent of Democrats backing it (221 yeas and 61 nays) and 82 percent of Republicans backing it (112 yeas to 24 nays).
In the Senate, the measure passed by a 77-19 vote, with 73 percent of Democrats and 94 percent of Republicans supporting the bill.
4
Two educated adults consent to go to a Hotel room, alone, in private. What was the purpose? We do not know. What we do know is that based on recent events, I would hope that a situation such as what has been reported in the media be avoided.
I have had enough of adults engaging in risky behavior (in this case going into a hotel room with someone whom you do not know very well) and then complaining to the court of public opinion about very private matters.
It hurts deeply to have to listen to each person who both seem believable. Just to think that people would engage in this behavior and it it not consensual gives me pause. We do not have a video, we do not have eye-witnesses, we do not have medical evidence. We have his word, and we have her word. What are we to do? Troubling...
Let her go to the police and let due process take its course. I wish them both the best and may we not read about this anymore until after the case is investigated by the police and tried in court.
131
@DS, 'what was the purpose of the hotel room visit", you write,
The article states: "Mr. Fairfax suggested she get “some fresh air” by accompanying him on a quick errand to retrieve documents from his room in a nearby hotel.
Their previous interactions had not been flirtatious, she said, and so she agreed."
13
@Joe Yoh
"Forcing" someone to have oral sex would seem to require a violent act or a threat of harm. She does not say how he forced her.
Something is clearly off here.
7
Please read the article in its entirety. Like them, we are adults.
Meditate, if the purpose of going to the room was for business then why would the NY Times report...
"What began as consensual kissing quickly turned into a sexual assault,” Dr. Tyson wrote, describing her encounter in a hotel room with the future lieutenant governor."
This case is for the police and courts, not us. Wish them both the best.
8
Here we go again. And while one must be willing to give Dr. Tyson the benefit of the doubt, one must also wonder if all those calling for Justin Fairfax's immediate dismissal also gave Christine Blasey-Ford the same benefit of the doubt when she spoke out against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
And seeing how a line of succession would result in installing a Republican if the Governor and Lieutenant Governor were deposed, the timing of all this is certainly a bit "convenient".
3
@N. Smith
You mean, like the timing of Feinstein's eleventh hour hit on Kavanaugh was "convenient"?
3
@Wine Country Dude
I mean what I said, thank you.
1
@N. Smith
Your Honor, the witness is unresponsive.
(Nice way to handle a challenge, i.e. with a non-answer. And you are welcome.)
Given what we know of Lt. Governor of Virginia Justin Fairfax's claim against him of sexual assault, it certainly equals or surpasses the evidence produced by Dr. Christine Ford against Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh. Based on the “Believe All Women” standard, the Lt. Governor's characterization of this as a false claim is problematic. The seriousness of this allegation, not the veracity of the accuser, is what must be investigated and any presumption of innocence is nullified by the nature of the charges. It follows that at least eight (8) FBI investigations are required and that Lt. Governor Fairfax should be suspended until these investigations are complete; or resign altogether. You only need to be accused to be condemned.
4
I don't know what actually happened in any of the three cases mentioned here, I wasn't there.
What is clear is that all three of the men charged are in succession for the governorship of Virginia. All are Democrats elected by the good people of Virginia.
Fourth in line is a Republican. No charges yet against Mr. Cox.
3
Over the past two years, Democrats have completely painted themselves in a box on the issue of sexual assault by discarding due process for the accused. If they treat Fairfax more leniently than Justice Kavanaugh, then they lose the moral high ground on this issue, and the MeToo movement will suffer major setbacks, if not falter altogether. If they treat Fairfax the same as Kavanaugh, then they could ruin the life of a man who may be innocent. There is no good path forward here.
99
@John The situations are not apple to apple. 24 year olds are adults. Christine Ford was a 14 year old. Christine Ford had a passed polygraph and had corroborating witnesses. Here it is a "he said she said" matter with no corroboration or passed polygraph.
14
@John
Justice Kavanaugh is Justice Kavanaugh, how exactly was he denied leniency? His own testimony was the most damming evidence against him. His friends wrote books about their drunken antics and classmates corroborated his abusive drinking habits. His own calendar revealed things he had forgotten.
Oh yea how exactly is it you think democrats were in anyway involved in Dr Ford's reporting what she had only revealed for the first time privately to her husband and a doctor in 2001 to the WaPo?
13
@John
We should also not forget that in many of the speeches he has given over the years he nostalgically brags proudly about his drunken debauchery in HS and college.
10
Dr. Tyson certainly sounds believable, and she has certainly shown great courage in coming forward. But in the end this is a "he-said, she-said" encounter. I would tend to believe her, however, because she has nothing to gain from this, either politically or personally.
8
My question is why now and not when he was running for office last year? Also keep in mind that that this whole Virginia uproar was instigated by partisan dirt diggers...I am very wary of just listening to what political pundits and news hounds report. There is more to these stories than meet the eye.
2
@John Jabo
Did you say the same thing about Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh?
Just wondering.
6
@KaneSugar
Dr. Tyson went to The Washington Post in 2017.
2
If we force from office someone because he or she is accused of violence during a consensual physical encounter, we're opening up a very dangerous can of worms. Any scorned man or woman would have the power to destroy a career for revenge or because of a misunderstanding. Let us at least entertain the possibility that Fairfax thought the sex was consensual. His accuser denies that possibility. But the only way to adjudicate that would be to watch a video recording of the event. At the very least, we should give Fairfax a preponderance of the evidence benefit of the doubt. And since there is no evidence either way, I think he should be exonerated.
19
@LSR You misunderstand. Fairfax isn't on trial, where the outcome would be acquittal, or sentencing followed by incarceration. There is not enough evidence here to jail him, but that is besides the point. The US system (rightfully) requires a lot of evidence to jail someone. However, someone very credibly accused of sexual assault, simply should not continue to hold public office. (And no, simply because Trump didn't resign or quit when so accused, does not absolve Fairfax from doing so).
2
@LSR: And that is a huge green light to predatory men. As long as she can't prove it, you're good to go. Abuse away. We'll support you and believe you. Because women just love the spotlight of accusing a powerful man of abuse when she has little to gain and a lot to lose.
5
@LSR
No, videos are not the only way to adjudicate claims of assault. First, videotapes have their own problems: consider how videos of police shootings are seen as supporting opposing interpretations of what actually happened.
Secondly, if videos of crimes were required to make any legal judgements, most crimes would go unprosecuted. Fortunately, we can rely on other kinds of evidence such as motive, opportunity, and whose testimony seems more believable.
1
Please do not view the blackface controversy and this claim against the Lt. Governor as "a tempest in a teapot" because, ultimately, all of this might be necessary to set a better standard for future public servants, both men and women, and the rest of us.
3
This has to end. We can’t have a country where moral political standards and mob justice are only applied to one side of the aisle.
12
Where is the polygraph result of an accuser of a non reported he said she said event 14 years ago?
8
The tech version of The Scarlet Letter. This story and similar ones have nothing to do with the very real horror of sexual assault. It has become the vengeful way for a jilted lover to publicly out an affair. It is a shame that some people use such a serious issue in this way.
10
@Hellen
Nailed it! I completely agree with your assessment.
1
Anita Hill
@James Ribe I truly despise everything about Clarence Thomas but thought that was a disgrace also. Democrats should have just had the guts to say no without the theatrics. Bush deliberately nominated Thomas as an insult to the legacy of Thurgood Marshall and Democrats should have stood firmly against it.
The Democrats outrage has suddenly gone quickly now that they realize their outrage will likely lead to a republican governor.
19
@Qcell. This is what the party gets for continuing to support corrupt officials with an elitist attitude. I dont care what Republicans do, Democrats use to be better than this.
5
@Hellen
You are both missing the point if you merely reduce this all to a matter of Republicans and Democrats.
2
@Qcell
A whole caravan of chickens has come home to roost. The MeToo phenomenon, largely regarded as a Democrat initiative, has resulted in powerful Democrats being eaten by their own. Al Franken, a former comedian, is forced out of office for PRETENDING to grope a woman's breasts in an obvious gag. And now this. If I were a partisan Republican I'd be making the most of it. And guess what -- Fox News is. Why? In part, for the perceived hypocrisy coming from Democrats.
2
Did she at any point verbally discuss this with him? I know that could be awkward, but that is the only way to compare notes and discuss if one person’s version of spontaneous sex was experienced by the other person as aggressive - that is what adults do, they have the hard talk and find a way to apologize. There is a lack of clarity here, let’s not pretend otherwise.
30
@RAB: Hey, was it just my perception that you forced me to go down on you even though I was gagging and sobbing and you didn't stop? Oh, you thought it was cool? Well, okay, then--all is good! Seriously?
10
@Anne . . . Yes, seriously. Her characterization of the incident is not to be taken as fact; that's the point.
I am becoming afraid to support any candidate for any office these days. It seems as if people come forward with allegations about candidates who have been in political life for years, who have run for office before and, in the case of the Virginia Democrats, have been elected. Where is the vetting by political parties prior to accepting candidates? Where is the vetting by media?
Certainly sexual assault should be a disqualifying behaviour even in cases without objective proof. If the assault was after the time to prosecute and known prior to the election by voters, it becomes a judgment call by voters about who they will believe.
Evidence of bias or poor judgment documented in photos or emails should be part of the total record considered PRIOR to voting. After the election is complete, is simply too late; the office holder should be watched for decisions reflecting the bias. In the Kavanaugh case we listened to all the anti-Democratic ranting, but that was not considered disqualifying evidence for a lifetime appointment.
The latest trend in presenting negative evidence about a candidate occurred in the "exclusive" Huffington Post article accusing Sen. Klobuchar (D-MN) of abusing her staff with high expectations. Although this is a common fallback for accusations about successful women in positions of power, it does seem voters would prefer a president who has high expectations of staff rather than Trump.
3
@Lynda
do the actions of someone from 30 years ago, offset by good works and good public acts in every year since then, get to destroy them?
think about it. The black community demands that white people ignore the, sometimes, violent criminal history of convicted black felons (but never for white felons) and give them jobs. They claim "oh they changed in prison". In the same breath they demand that the Governor with over 30 years of good works and fair treatment of people has to lose his life, position, and reputation over a picture that he claims is not him. They do the using a revisionist history of what race relations were like in the 1980's.
They run around making shrill decrees that a man under fire from the press and everyone else, who takes credit that the page did belong to him despite never having gotten his yearbook and who spoke too soon to diffuse the situation by issuing an apology, cannot need a minute or hour to think about things and gain a clearer memory of events.
i never got my college yearbook and have no idea what is in it. If something there is offensive on my page, i would likely immediately apologize for it but that would not mean I did it or knew about it.
The hair on fire behavior of D's needs to stop as do the claims that every time a black person does not get their way or gets their feelings hurt it is racism....it isn't and labeling someone racist to get your way will drive more whites away from supporting those making the claims.
3
It’s not quite the same - this analogy you’ve made. For the one, namely the Governor, the issue is that for 30 years he appears to have hidden his affinity to demeaning or threatening hostility towards black people. One who black people felt was a trusted confidant and now turns out to have Klan sympathies. That is betrayal. And worse it leads one to conclude there are many many more political leaders who court the black vote but underneath have a sworn hatred of black people.
On the other hand, there is a 17 year old stick up black boy who is caught tried and convicted, serves his time and now wishes to get gainful employment. He should be granted an opportunity to do so.
The comparison is absurd. Was the governor punished for his past sins? No. Was the 17 year old stick up kid punished? Of course. Was one able to build wealth fame and power despite his youthful indiscretions? Yes. Was the other? No. Are the outcomes influenced by race? It seems rather obvious.
Ironically, a Republican with a lesser record (non-existent?) on assisting the black citizens of Virginia than either Northam or Fairfax may become her next Governor. Who will do the most to help the blacks today? Shouldn’t that figure into the equation? I understand their angst, but aren’t they cutting off their noses to spite their face?
8
@Jean "help the blacks" and women as well, no?
If the Me-Too ladies think the Republican fourth in line for Gov will do anything more for womens' rights than Fairfax, I have some bad news.
2
I wonder how a man can "force" a woman to perform oral sex without the threat of violence against her. That doesnt appear to be the case here. I think society is always assuming the woman is the victim. Democrats say we must hold ourselves to higher standards. That didnt work when a serial adulterer was elected President.
22
@pb
I have to agree with your opening premise. If the woman fears violence, it seems that she would comply with the man's demands, in order to save herself. Otherwise, it seems to this male that the situation would be a very risky proposition (placing the appendage in an unfriendly part of the other's body which presumably contains teeth.
Not me, and I'm considered a risk taker.
14
Wow! It is pretty evident from the victim’s description how the oral sex was forced. He forced his penis in her mouth while forcibly holding her head in place. Is that not violent enough for you?
16
@pb
Her head was being held down with force and she feared what else he might do if she didn't acquiesce. It's embarrassing that this question was even asked. I wonder if this comment would be made if the accused was not a Democratic politician.
10
Two decades ago Democrats excused sexually predatory conduct by Bill Clinton. In doing so they absolved and normalised utterly horrible conduct for short term political gain. In turn, when evidence of awful sexual boasting and conduct by Trump became public during the 2016 campaign, the electorate had become un-shockable, or conditioned to believe that sexual matters (whatever the context) don't reflect on public duties. The result - Trump won. If Democrats are smart they will remain consistent with their critiques of Kavanaugh's behavior, and take the lead in demanding Fairfax's resignation (who, face it, won't be missed a week later). Democrats have to play the long game here, and do what is right because it is right, even if not expedient.
28
@Richard
In my opinion, Lewinsky shared the predator role with Mr. Clinton. They each had their agenda; his was sex, hers was the feeling she attained by being close to power.
11
misrepresentation of the facts
3
@Richard So the Dem Gov, the Dem Lt. Gov the Dem State's Attorney General resign and leave the Republican House Speaker to step in as Gov and they "won't be missed a week later"? Right.
On November 22, 2015, at 5:09 PM, Hillary Rodham Clinton, then a candidate for the President of the United, Tweeted: "Every survivor of sexual assault deserves to be heard, believed, and supported." Apparently, she left off the caveat, except for Democrats, especially up and coming African American Democrat politicians. The details of Professor Tyson's account of the alleged encounter are disgustingly lurid and pornographic. Sickening to say the least. his is unfortunate because I was quite impressed by a National Public Radio report on Mr. Fairfax, a graduate of Duke and Columbia School of Law. But in this case, I am with Hillary (never thought I would admit that!), Professor Tyson must be heard, believed, and supported. As for those who will reply "what about Kavanaugh, what about Trump" I say, I support Kavanaugh, I support the President, I support Trump. Thank you.
19
@Southern Boy Your argument is inconsistent:
1) You quote Clinton: "Every survivor of sexual assault deserves to be heard, believed, and supported."
2) You characterize Professor Tyson's account as "lurid and pornographic" and as "alleged."
3) Then you declare that you support Kavanaugh and Trump who have been accused about actions just as lurid and pornographic. In Trump's case, corroborating evidence abounds, including his own comments on tape and documents of payoffs.
4) Finally, you conclude that Professor Tyson must be heard, believed and supported. Although you have no problem with the dismissal of Christine Blasey's terms.
Please explain how this argument is remotely consistent.
30
The hypocrisy demonstrated by republicans who excuse sexual predation in their own leaders and only find women credible when their accusing Democrats of sexual assault or misconduct is aptly demonstrated in the last lines of southern boys comment. His politicians can pursue underage girls, make light of lynchings and engage in all kinds of raciest behavior and he will say “I support” (fill in the blank with your choice of conservative miscreant) & President Trump. As the sexual predator in chief would say, sad.
3
@Southern Boy
And do you also remember the quote of Donald Trump when he said where he grabs women?
You support that too, I assume... No thank you.
4
Although I disagree completely, I credit Democrats who continue with the "believe the victim" standard, even when it works against their interests. They're certainly consistent. But because the position is so lacking in nuance, as are many other politically correct zero-tolerance policies, about ethnicity, race, gender, and sexual orientation, it just shows that no Democrat can be woke enough to satisfy every identity group of their base.
The comparisons with Brett Kavanaugh are impossible to ignore. Kavanaugh was entitled to the presumption of innocence, and so it Fairfax. But because the Tyson incident occurred more recently, and the Washington Post performed an investigation, there's the possibility that exculpatory evidence could be produced on Fairfax's behalf. I'm interested in seeing how the Post made their determination not to write about the incident.
11
The difference between alleged rape and alleged no rape is significant.
1
@HC45701 That's an easy one...The WaPo had no corroboration or evidence. If there's no corroboration or evidence, you must acquit. WaPo's defamation lawyers are not idiots.
@Achilles Yes you're right of course. But I'm not sure it's significant to many Democrats.
E.g., Gillebrand: "I think when we start having to talk about the differences between sexual assault and sexual harassment and unwanted groping you are having the wrong conversation,” Ms. Gillibrand said Wednesday at a Capitol Hill news conference when asked about calling on Mr. Franken to resign. “You need to draw a line in the sand and say none of it is O.K. None of it is acceptable."
I’m still confused as to how they go from kissing to giving oral. Were they sitting down at this point? Did this happen on a bed? Something sounds off in the description of events. How do you go from kissing at the door, I assume still kissing when you enter the room, to stopping kissing and having an unwanted object forced into your mouth? Also, she has teeth and the most vulnerable part of him right next to her, something is not right. Did he misread want she wanted, probably but I also don’t think she knew what she wanted. I think she entered wanting one thing, realized she had to get back and he said, what about a quick head before you go.
16
The article said that he pulled her toward the bed, where the assault occurred. I could certainly imagine being so scared that I wouldn't dare "bite down". One hand of his was already around her neck. I think most women would be able to imagine this fear.
10
@August
Clearly it hasn't happened to you, August.
The answer, though, is there in the article for you to read and understand.
Yes, you could be kissing, or typing, or reading in a break room, or riding in a vehicle, or scared in a jail cell, or meeting with a trusted coach or cleric, only to suddenly have a powerful hand on your neck, shoving you down by the cervical spine and forcing your face onto a deftly exposed penis that you didn't even realize was ambushing you.
Use your teeth, August? While in shock and terror, choking for breath, still with that grip on your neck? Not everyone is as strong, fearless, or capable of violence against another person - even an attacker - as you are, albeit in your imagination. Of the automatic responses - fight, flee, or freeze - guess which one feels the least safe against someone with the advantages of sixty pounds, several inches, and grimly evident proficiency?
Women may not have shared such experiences with you, August. It's no fun to admit having your trust betrayed into fear, helplessness, disgust and shame, leaving an abiding uncertainty about your own autonomy and safety.
It happens more often than you may imagine.
13
@Vicki
I think I understand that viewpoint, but she could have finished the chore, politely ended the encounter at the first opportunity, and gone straight to the police, while the evidence was fresh.
The "I was too ashamed" argument does not move me.
2
We’ll probably never know the full answer to what happened that night. Where does passion end and rape ensue? Dr. Tyson talks about kissing first. OK, what kind of kissing? Was it forced? Was it mutual? Was it all one-sided?
I ask these questions because in reality, none of us know except the two parties.
The fact the any human beings life can be ruined for life just by accusations is troubling for me. So is RAPE! If he did it, he should be removed from office immediately. But what if his side of the story is true? I’d hate to be a judge under these circumstances.
My first test? Has any other woman come forward with these same accusations? If he did it once, I’m pretty sure it wasn’t the first or the last time! Just saying...
19
@Eric Cosh She said it was mutual.
1
Shame he didn't run as a Republican. This would have upped his credibility with them as a real man and he might have been elected Governor.
Democrats apologize and quit or are forced out, Republicans deny and double down. Democrats have their careers ended by being under investigation, Republicans get elected when under investigation. There is a serious asymmetrical application of self-responsibility between the two parties.
24
The deafening silence of Senator Gillibrand and the holier than thou politicians of the Democratic Party. From "believe the woman" we are met with "well, wait and see". Not the case with Kavanaugh, Franken and others.....
36
Franken is a Democrat. So much for your insightful contribution.
3
Franken was done in by a photograph. My reading of the photo was that Franken, wasn't sexually assaulting Ms Tweeden, he was mocking her class: the Harvard Boy ridiculing the Dumb Cheerleader. One thing is certainly true: Mrs Tweeden's career, at least until that time, was based on her public sexual displays: e.g., see photos of her at public events that predate the one with Franken show her cupping her clothed breasts while standing at a podium. He was immature and obviously condescending. But whatever the explanation of the photograph, it killed him. I thought he was a great Senator and a fine person, but, let's face it, the photograph, easy to publish over and over, was unsurvivable.
2
I defy anyone who believes her story to demonstrate how it would be physically possible for him to do what she claimed.
She claimed this one man, acting alone, physically restrained her from getting away, and forced her head into a fixed position and held it there, and forced open her mouth and kept it open.....all being done simultaneously and with only ONE HAND.
It is physically impossible. The supposedly smart PhD woman concocted a story which is physically impossible.
8
@Errol Read my response to August above. It is not impossible. It is so easy and terrifying as it happens. Obviously, a man has never done it to you...
14
A woman being forced to give oral sex is not an uncommon occurrence AT ALL. Google it. And you don't understand how fear would also work to make a woman submit. She is totally credible.
14
I can't fathom how difficult it is for women victimize by sexual abuse to come forward. And, I also recognize how nearly impossible for men to defend themselves from allegations in which are not supported by facts.
As reported, Tyson accompanied a complete stranger she just met to his hotel room to retrieve papers. Who does that? Once inside the hotel room, Fairfax starts kissing Tyson, who didn't expect this-but she engaged in this intimate act, in a hotel room, with a man she just met. Before she could gain control of the situation, Fairfax forced her to have oral sex on him. I've got my own opinion of how that can possibly play out.
Fairfax is elected to Lt. Governor, presumably Tyson knew nothing of his ascension, otherwise why wait to come forward with sexual assault? At some point, Tyson goes to the WP, who refused to publish an article because they could not confirm the allegation.
Tyson subsequently publishes comments regarding Fairfax on Facebook "private' messenger. If you publish comments on social media, it is not private. Fairfax refutes the allegations and acknowledges the relation in which he said it was consensual. Tyson is insulted how Fairfax described the encounter and comes forward. How did Tyson expect Fairfax to respond.....?
Tyson's hires the same attorney representing Christine Ford? Now, I'm waiting for the interviews.
Should the Democratic party demand Fairfax step down? Absolutely not!!!!!!
22
@JA Wonderful letter. You said so clearly how I feel.
@Greg
Actually an entirely different circumstance. Being trapped in the hallway and locked in a room.
4
@Greg I thought if Kavanaugh, "a Renate alumnus," had owned up to being a drunken jerk in high school like many of his pals, admitted that he might have not recalled doing something jerky (that was clearly interpreted and remembered by Blasey Ford as a terrifying assault), and cited his history since as a temperate, fair, and supportive man, he would have preserved his reputation -- if not his Court Seat. But he chose (and be sure, it was a choice) to display righteous anger riddled clearly with obvious untruths. Moreover, he was given a pass from the start: his mysterious personal finances, document dumps to the Democrats the night before his initial hearing. Tell your friend, that whatever the meaning of this stuff with Fairfax, Kavanaugh shamed himself and has discredited the Supreme Court. That Court is the bedrock of the rule of law for the country, and its fracturing by the appointment of Kavanaugh is going to have downstream effects on the institutional stability of the country far greater than they way he votes (even, if and when, I agree with some of them). We've got 310 million people in this country. Surely, we can come up with a Supreme Court Bench of people, who we all may not like, but at least, respect.
To all those commenters, mainly men, who ask how it’s possible to force someone to perform oral sex, I’m baffled that people think this is a cogent argument to make against believing someone like Dr. Tyson.
Clearly they have never thought about the physical repercussions to the victim should they, on purpose or by accident, hurt or maim their attacker.
Would they want to be hit or kicked by a man powerful enough to hold someone down like that, especially while in such a vulnerable position? I’m so tired of people using half-baked arguments like this one to discredit someone who has absolutely no reason to lie.
As an ER doc, I can attest to the broken jaws, broken noses, broken eye sockets, damaged eyes and ears, broken cheekbones, knocked out teeth, broken ribs, broken arms, internal organ damage, and significant lacerations and soft tissue damage that women who have gone that route have had to endure as a result of being kicked, kneed, punched and stomped, often with the head and chest bearing the brunt of the attack given the victim’s positioning. Add to that the incremental impact of adding belt buckles and heavy shoes to the attack and a lot of damage can happen very quickly.
It’s really a shame that I have to be so graphic but it seems the only way to combat the ignorance out there.
248
@Max
"As an ER doc, I can attest to the broken jaws, broken noses, broken eye sockets, damaged eyes and ears, broken cheekbones, knocked out teeth, broken ribs, broken arms, internal organ damage, and significant lacerations and soft tissue damage that women who have gone that route have had to endure"
That's fine, but the accuser suffered none of those things, tarnishing her claim that the encounter was not consensual.
21
@Max, all right, I’ll bite. I’m a woman, and I’m also wondering how oral sex could be called forced in this particular situation. They had just met. There was no previous history, threatening or otherwise. There was no threatening action mentioned in the complaint. There was no physical damage to her mentioned in the complaint.
She had just met him. She went to his hotel room. They start consensual kissing. Does he demand oral sex and suddenly she’s afraid of him and acquiesces? Does he have a gun to her head? Did he do anything threatening at that point? The complaint doesn’t say he did. So the only way it could end up being non-consensual is if she willingly puts his member in her mouth, and then he grabs her head and keeps it there, even though at this point she’s thinking, wait, I didn’t want to actually swallow anything, but he keeps her head there. No, I would not call that sexual assault by any stretch of the imagination. It sounds like miscommunication.
This situation is nothing like that of Christine Ford, and it’s demeaning to Christine Ford to suggest otherwise.
25
@Max
You have assumed the conclusion, rather than first evaluate the facts.
In the absence of harm or actual threat of harm, she is not a victim and he is not an attacker.
Furthermore, by your reasoning, every male is a victim in every sexual encounter since the potential "repercussions to the victim" are that the female makes a false accusation, knowing such false accusation will be unquestioningly believed by nearly every female, by much of the media, and by the governments prosecutors.
10
Once again, into the "she said...he said..." breach.
But here, I believe Dr. Vanessa Tyson‘s account. What can she gain from lying about this (alleged) encounter? She’s an accomplished professional. She has forever subjected her private and working lives to the tender mercies of social media and the unending kindnesses of the Internet. Her account simply rings true.
We should not be quick to pass judgment upon a man who has yet to be formally charged with felonious sexual assault. Justin Fairfax should be accorded a day for denial—something he’s already (vulgarly and profanely) done—but this ugliness will trail him for the rest of his life. If the current besieged Virginia governor, Ralph Northam, does not survive his own very serious problems, Mr. Fairfax should not, as the state’s lieutenant governor, replace him.
And, of course, this being America, race rears its ugly head in matters of sex that end up in the public domain. Is it fair to ask whether Judge Brett Kavanaugh got a pass because he’s white and a Republican? Dr. Christine Blasey Ford credibly testified against the president’s Supreme Court nominee for his alleged behavior from the 1980’s. She's white but she wasn't believed, not enough to prevent Kavanaugh from reaching higher office. Mr. Fairfax should receive the same forum—hearings on this matter. But his political career is over. Kavanaugh’s will continue.
It is to be hoped that Dr. Tyson will be extended the same courtesy that was given to Dr. Ford.
9
@Red Sox, '04, '07, '13, ‘18, - "She's white but she wasn't believed.."
Her story was not difficult to believe, just difficult to corroborate due her inability to remember dates, locations and who was at the party in question. Those details do matter when accusations are made.
8
@Red Sox, '04, '07, '13, ‘18, Judge Kavanaugh was a child when the alleged assault occurred. It was no reported until several decades after it occurred. Decades.
This is not the same, dear readers
8
@Joe Yoh
Kavanaugh and his buddy were not children but hulking 17-year-old badly parented, drunkard football players known for vile misogynist behaviors, always at the expense of high school girls from other schools.
4
She sounds very credible! As the matter is being investigated, Northam should resign and appoint him as governor. Even if the results of the investigation are inconclusive, but do not completely exonerate him, he should appoint a Lieutenant Governor, and resign.
The Leiutenant governor would then take over if he resigns. That way, it remains democratic.
The main reason I am sickened by all this is because, Americans elected a liar, confessed sexual assaulter and blatant racist. Now that other people are being held accountable, he is protected by the office he holds. It is wrong.
Trump as president has exposed the failures in our monarchical type presidency. He has laid bare the weakness of a democracy, in which people vote based on unchecked lies.
He has also unearth our free press, which chose to equate an email related "misconduct", with several uninvestigated but credible sexual ASSAULT charges, and quickly moved past his recorded confession. and his long history on such conduct.
Trump being elected president seems to be an American endorsement of lying, sexual assaults and blatant racism.
11
@ThoughtfulAttorney, thoughtful, President Trump is not a "monarch". The checks and balances of our wonderful constitution remain in place. Please consider googling "monarch". Thanks.
7
@ThoughtfulAttorney Does every event become a trash Trump opportunity?
2
@ThoughtfulAttorney The election results are in no way an "American endorsement of lying, etc." Most Americans who voted did not vote for Trump. Many voted third parties. Nearly three million more voted for Clinton than Trump, but he garnered the most electoral votes. Sheesh.
I'll get skewered for this, but suppose a man and a woman are kissing and the woman unzips the man's pants and brings him to orgasm, in whatever fashion. He is not a one-night-stand kind of guy, so the next day feels ashamed and humiliated. Should the woman be accused of sexual assault?
I understand that the woman is question in the Fairfax case felt forced into doing what she did, but as many have pointed out here, can you really be forced into having oral sex if you're not being held at gunpoint or threatened in some way? There are certainly ways a woman can make the experience extremely unpleasant for the man.
If you're feeling humiliated then don't go through with it. Call the guy out then and there and spread the word that he went farther than he should have.
I suppose my point is that most of us, both male and female,, have misread signals and done things in the heat of the moment we later regretted. Feeling shamed and humiliated by what we, or the other person did, should not be the main factor in determining whether or not actual assault took place, especially when the penalties for such assault are carried with you throughout the rest of your life if you are then put on a sexual offenders registry and/or find yourself unable to engage in the meaningful work to which you are called.
71
@Elizabeth Fuller The saddest part of these comments, is all the women blaming Dr. Tyson, while the men defend her.
18
1. Was the encounter consensual? If yes, then it’s not sexual assault. It not, it is.
2. Yeah, you can be forced.
14
@elizabeth
Call the man out? You mean like she is now?
Also, how would you like a man’s knee or dress shoe to the face?
15
For Dr. Vanessa C. Tyson to come out with such an accusatory statement I don't think there's any question that Justin Fairfax behaved in a seriously inappropriate way.
At this point in time, it may not rise to the level of a prosecutable crime, but it's definitely enough that Fairfax should resign immediately.
12
@Richard Counter offer...how about he resigns in 14 years? If she can wait that long to make her accusation she can wait that long for him to respond.
2
I am angry with the Virginia Democratic Party. You had one job - to make sure your candidates for top offices in the state would be able to govern without scandal. You developed, nurtured and supported these men and yet you foisted damaged goods on to your state. Let this be a wake up call to all state parties. When the people work so hard to put Dems into office, do not work against them.
34
There may be good reason for both the governor and lieutenant governor to resign but not the attorney general. He had openly acknowledged his actions and its inappropriateness despite apparently not being all that uncommon in the south at that time. He has nether dissembled nor excused and I see no reason that Virginia’s republicans should gain advantage for their role in this scandal. And don’t doubt for a minute that the Republican Party apparatus has directly or indirectly played a role in all this. When republican politicians that make light of lynchings can be elected in the south they have no credibility in commenting on others sins. None at all.
18
Apologies in saying this Ms Tyson, you have waited too long to bite or at least scratch Mr. Fairfax.
10
@tony
Agree, and if she feared violence, she could have played the role, left his company afterward, and gone straight to the police with the evidence fresh.
I view the alleged rape story by Dr. Tyson has told us (we didn't need the graphic sexual detail, (Children see these stories) as disturbing. I think if this happened to a family member, I'd be very angry. However, Dr. Tyson is an educated woman and it is bewildering to me why she didn't come forward sooner. The timing of this accusation feels somewhat fact this report suspicious. Dr. Tyson is a founding member of the the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center Speakers Bureau. She had strong connections to discuss her public and legal options on her alleged rape incident. Lastly a conservative media outlet, Big League Politics published her her story. What is her motive here? I wish Dr. Tyson would tell us. Punishment of the Offender, Revenge, Money, Notoriety
7
I can imagine being so traumatized and humiliated by a sexual assault like this that I wouldn't talk about it for a very long time, and try to bury it. Blame myself for being so stupid to go to his hotel room. I think a lot of women would respond this way.
6
Let me get this straight:
You would rather teach your kids that it’s ok to rape someone, or to be raped and suffer in silence vs. having a frank and honest conversation about how what Dr. Tyson endures is not right????
That, my friend, is exactly the cowardly reason why we are in this mess.
3
She dropped by his hotel room so he could pick up some papers. She couldn't wait in the lobby if she was so fearful. She was so filled with trepidation that she sat down and began kissing him ? Maybe Mike Pence has it correct - not to be with a lady alone unless there is a witness. 15 years ago ? Not a "complaint " for years. No blue dress. Frightening.
11
@unclejake agree. Not in 1995, or 2004 , Never got near a Man's hotel room, just wait in the lobby. I don't care how nice he may be, Women don't.
3
She was not fearful, she checked him out with common friends.
1
I’m gonna take a wild guess here that UncleJake didn’t do so well on the reading comprehension part of the SAT.
She clearly states that she had no reason to fear him or to worry that he might try anything since their interactions up until then had been professional and not of a flirtatious nature.
Fear not, though. On one point we can agree, UncleJake. You’re right, it is frightening. It is frightening that he could turn on a dime and attack her. And it’s frightening that people are contorting themselves into pretzels to find ways to justify their blindness to men’s bad behavior despite mountains of evidence. And it’s frightening that instead of taking the path of least resistance to solve this issue, which is to say that men should just treat women how they would like to be treated, the conversation is dominated by people who think the “solution” is to stop mentoring women, to stop working collaboratively with them and to dive even more deeply into the clubhouse.
4
I believe the victims, unless it’s Vanessa Tyson, Juanita Rodderick or Kathleen Willey – this rank hypocrisy by the Shameocrats is what helped Trump get elected, and has him on track for re-election. We can do better than this, and we must.
14
@Len319 no, what got Trump elected was people who had all the necessary information -- his own testimony that he grabbed women by their private parts -- and decided that it didn't matter to them. They voted their morality, or lack thereof. Trump supporters do not hold the moral high ground in this, or any other, situation.
7
@Frank Again Trump did not say that HE grabbed them by their private parts.
All of this is so pathetic. My view, and it probably won't resonate here, is that the mass hysteria launched by #metoo and black lives matter, enabled and propelled by liberal newspapers, and exploited by the conservative media's own self-serving purposes, has boxed the democratic party into a corner. If I was a right-wing republican, I'd be howling with glee at the spectacle that identify politics has wrought in Virginia (and let us not forget it was a right-wing rag that broke the Northam story to begin with).
26
@Charlie Spot on! If all three Dems in Virginia resign and the Republican House Speaker ascends to Gov, Breitbart, Steven Miller and Steve Bannon win. Period. The "Pimp" guy that videoed Planned Parenthood won by playing dirty. Period. Trump won by playing dirty. Period. Even the crusaders would alter their battle tactics if necessary to compete.
@Charlie Spot on! If all three Dems in Virginia resign and the Republican House Speaker ascends to Gov, Breitbart, Steven Miller and Steve Bannon win. Period. The "Pimp" guy that videoed Planned Parenthood won by playing dirty. Period. Trump won by playing dirty. Period. Mitch McConnel won (a seat on SCOTUS) by playing dirty. Period. Even the crusaders would alter their battle tactics if necessary to compete.
Somehow I am missing the parade of Democratic lawmakers telling us how "The woman should be believed." What a bunch of hucksters.
20
Well. Here we are: women have established that any woman making an accusation against any man, will be automatically given credence and that man will be ruined in the Media, if not by the law.
Yhis is why Rape accusations have historically,been considered difficult- They are easy-almost abusively so-to make-and now, women have rigged the media with their pals and friends in politics to ensure anyone not a Republican will be so damaged by the accusation-its truth will be unimportant.
I always say that Americans need to remember all the ruinous rape and abuse accusations made that have turned out to fabricated or in awful error.
A particular fact no woman has ever mentioned is why only men suffer from these accusations-it is almost suggestive of having given women a special cut out in the COnstitution to allow them to cry rape and not have to prove it.
5
I believe the victims, unless it’s Vanessa Tyson, Juanita Rodderick or Kathleen Willey – this rank hypocrisy by the Democrats is what helped Trump get elected, and has him of track for re-election. We can do better than this, and we must.
8
Wow. The VA Democratic Party sure knows how to vet candidates for high executive office, huh? Unbelievable. The real moment of truth for Democrats concerns Lt Gov Fairfax. We have to decide whether it is 2019, when the female accuser gets the benefit of the doubt when alleging (in this case violent) sexual assault, or 1998 (when Hillary Clinton and Sidney Blumenthal slandered Monica Lewinsky as 'looneytunes' and a 'stalker'). If we fail this test, if we say 'it's he said/she said' or a 'bad date', then we prove that our view of sexual assault depends principally on whether a Democrat or Republican is accused. That would be a long term tragedy for victims. Finally: none of these three are fit to lead. They should all resign, and disappear, immediately. Wearing blackface in the 1980s was not a youthful indiscretion, but evidence of monstrous, vicious racism. Northam and Herring may have kept that well hidden, as they could hardly have furthered careers in the Democratic Party were it known, but that ugly hatred remains. As to Fairfax, he belongs in treatment or jail, not in high office. Lead by example before the voters do so.
9
@Richard Burden of proof lies with the accuser, not the accused.
@Richard How, exactly, do you "vet" a candidate if no one else ever has made a single accusation apart from 14 years down the line a single accuser comes forward???
Oh, yeah...silly me! Just use one of those "Future Predictive Thought" machines they have.
How many people will be falsely accused of crimes in this country? Thousands, I am sure. It seems that the right questions that the NYT should answer for all of them is this:
'Where do I go to get my reputation back?"
It is simply irresponsible to publish allegations about anything, against anyone, when they are mere allegations.
6
I hope Pelosi, Warren, and other leaders stand up for women in this case
11
@Joe Yoh Fat chance. It will be party before gender. The recent silence from national Democrats has become deafening.
8
My simple remedy for situations like these is - elect more women for public office. They don’t have as many skeletons in their closets.
16
@Kathy, might that comment be deemed biased, prejudiced, gender-centric? uninformed, even? In some circles, yes.
Saying that one race or one gender or one ethnicity has differences, seems so absurd these days
4
@Kathy
I’m a man and have had female bosses and colleagues come on to me at work, then say bad things about me if they did not get the attention they wanted. In my experience, women do the same things men do. As more women get positions of power, you may have to see this...
7
@Kathy Oh my sweet summer child... Women have just as many skeletons in their closets as men do.
1
Unbelievable mess. Did someone ever note that there is a problem with men in powerful positions and full of themselves or alternatively, men, who have no problem gratuitously and overtly expressing grossly racist, lewd or sexist attitudes or behavior as adults, then expect everyone else to treat such attitudes or behavior are "youthful exuberance" or much worse, "boys being boys". Boys do indeed do many stupid things as pre-adolescents or as adolescents, but as a rule they learn social mores in their late teens and abide by them.
59
@Wendell Murray
Ask any woman of a certain age as to whether the son culture produces more boys who grow into decent men or whether society commands everyone continue making different excuses for them. If, indeed, most males grew into decent, self-aware and respectful humans the world would not be such a perpetual fetid mess and females everywhere wouldn't always live in some degree of fear of males wherever they go their entire lives.
9
Better do a thorough vetting of old photos of Cox too since there's a pattern of Caucasian male reps in Virginia posing as black Americans for 'entertainment.'
It's obvious that these men engaged in racist behavior. What was 'acceptable' and 'tolerated' then is no longer accepted or tolerated. Should this negate any positive actions they have done since that time to further the lives of black Americans? Actions speak louder than words
Re. Dr. Tyson: What a previous NY Times article said was that the WA Post didn't publish her previous complaint because it was unable to be verified.
This is a 'he said she said' situation. Initially she responded to his kiss by returning a kiss. There is genuine risk involved in going with a guy you don't know into his hotel room & kissing him there.
However, presuming this implies consent for sex is no longer justifiable. Mr Fairfax said she didn't say anything at the time to indicate the encounter was non-consensual. If he did what she stated he did she would have been in shock and not necessarily able speak up on her own behalf.
What puzzles me is that she didn't mention getting outside support or speaking to anyone afterwards even though she herself was volunteering at a sexual assault center and would have been trained on actions she could take to get needed help.
6
@Melissa Duffy They say Martin Luther King had more extra-marital sexual encounters than they could count and HE has highways, airports, high schools and even a national holiday named after him!
Fairfax Elementary School...has a nice ring to it, no?
This is a mess. As a woman and lifelong feminist, I still don't see how a single accusation should ruin a career. Women should be believed, yes. But let's not forget that not everyone absolutely is truthful. Because there is confusion in people. This actually sounds to me like a sexual act misunderstood on both sides.
My 23 year old daughter will disagree with me, believing at her age that everything is black and white. My 56 year old self has lived and had experiences that know otherwise.
149
@LFK Agreed. If my brother or son was vilified and lost his job and reputation because of a MAYBE misunderstanding from a random hookup 15 years ago in which no police were called and there was no evidence of wrongdoing, I would have a huge problem with that. The timing and motivation are both suspect. I don’t disbelieve Dr. Tyson, however, there are 3 sides to every story: her side, his side, and the truth. Without corroboration or evidence, it is impossible to find out the truth, so we must live with both accounts and move on.
34
@LFK I'm only a year older than your daughter and I recognize that things aren't black and white with these issues. Her age isn't an excuse. She should understand that there is nuance in all things.
8
@LFK "This actually sounds to me like a sexual act misunderstood on both sides." - Dr. Tyson's account didn't sound like a misunderstanding took place. Her account showed he used force when she tried to move away. You can choose to believe what you want, but her statement was clear.
4
What do Justin Fairfax, Bret Kavanaugh and Nick Sandmann have in common? They all attended all-boys Catholic schools. The culture of entitlement at these schools is worth reviewing.
61
As a practicing Catholic I take offense to your generalization. Does being Catholic make me and my sons automatically sexual predators?
If I make remark about about another religion, gender or sexual orientation, everyone else would have a fit. Stop perpetuating any type of prejudices.
@NJ Catholic
I am not disparaging Catholicism or boys. I am disparaging all-male Catholic schools. Big difference. Many of the Catholics I know, particularly the women, are extraordinary in the way they live out their faith in the world.
But all-male schools in general, and perhaps even more the religious ones (of all faiths), are awful.
1
Will Republicans demand corroborating evidence before asking him to step down like in the Kavenaugh story?
14
@Larry Feig: No. Just scroll through the comments to get an idea.
Nope, they will just sit back and smile while Democrats consume their own.
3
Where are the Democrat poltician’s who will simply say, “I believe her”, as the reason for him to resign? “I believe her”, with no due process was the Democrat’s excuse for potentially denying Kavannaugh a Supreme Court position. Let’s just call out the hypocracy of Democrats for what it is.
17
@Scott K
There are plenty doing that. Let's call out Republicans..they don't care about it and never will.
7
@Scott K
You are missing a key point in your argument and that is that there was a witness in the room that knew what Kavannaugh did or did not do and that the Republicans fought to prevent him from testifying in court. In this case it is truly a he said she said scenario.
8
@Scott K...I highly doubt you will find any because how do you force someone to perform oral sex on you during a DNC Convention! That is something that you either do willingly or not at all. So she either wanted to do it or it never happened.
If a woman feels that she has been sexually assaulted then she should report it when it happens. Then there should be a statute if limitations for sexual assault say five years. I understand that there is no statute of limitations for murder.
If as a woman you accuse a man of sexual assault and more than five years has passed, then it’s simply too late.
10
You appear unaware of the deep shame that victims of rape can feel. Sometimes telling what happened at the time is simply too humiliating and re-traumatizing.
2
@John Murray
Thanks for the lesson and mansplaining, John, because, you know, females and their tiny woman brains need you to do this for them after they've been violent attacked.
@John Murray
I don't know about the "too late" part, but the woman needs to get to the police as soon as she can do so safely. That day.
1
If Fairfax is forced to resign, shouldn't Supreme Court justices be held to the same standard? Currently there are two members of the court, credibly accused of sexual assault and yet they are comfortably seated on the bench. Not to mention the president, who has been accused of sexual assault by at least twelve women.
Where is the outrage on the right?
269
@delmar sutton
Fairfax is emphatically entitled to due process (and I say that as a Republican). Just subject him to the same type of public humiliation and crucifixion as Thomas and, particularly, Kavanaugh.
What goes around comes around.
13
@delmar sutton
Only if they are Democrats. These are the Democrat’s proclaimed standards, not the nations.
5
@delmar sutton
But Thomas and Kavanaugh were nominated and confirmed to lifetime appointments with full knowledge of their sexual assaults and harassments. Same for Trump.
No one knew that Fairfax tried to convert a hotel room kiss into fellattio. He is no Bill Clinton. And she is no Monica Lewinsky..
5
Fairfax and Northram must both resign.
No choice.
3
Is Brooklyn in Virginia ? If not, then your 'no choice’ is indeed not your choice.
4
Do not know what the law says in Massachusetts where the assault allegedly occured but, based on the definitions I learned when I sat as a juror on a rape trial in California, forced oral copulation is rape, not sexual assault.
16
Juste N Fairfax should step down - these acts are illegal. Benefit of the doubt with one, done-for with two. Blackface is not illegal - let the voters decide.
2
@Debra
She concocted a story which is physically impossible. She claims this one man, acting alone, physically restrained her from getting away, and forced her head into a fixed position, and forced open her mouth (and held it open).....all with just ONE HAND.
She is clearly lying.
1
It’s difficult to understand how an forced oral sex is achieved, unless some physical threat was levied against the accuser— which is not in the complaint.
There’s s situation that starts consensually, moves too fast and nothing is done to stop it. I’m not sure where that lies in this world of media justice, but there seems to be responsibility on both sides. Is that worthy of public destruction?
18
@Independent how it is 'achieved'? Well I can tell you from personal experience. First, the perpetrator's strength is overwhelmingly greater than yours. Second, your head is held in a vice grip and forced into position. Third, I'll leave to your imagination. That's how.
8
She must be heard. She must be believed. Especially since she seems to have an excellent memory of the events, date and location.
5
And allow for a jury of 12 of her and his peers in Virginia to deliberate on the evidence if a prosecutor moves to charge. Who are we to judge ?
2
@Mike...which is odd in itself since the vast majority of people who experience a traumatic event usually never remember major parts of it, if any at all, and certainly do not rememberer many insignificant things, even what they were wearing, because their attention is completely drawn to the horrific event taking place.
Sexual assault is a horrible thing, and anyone guilty of SA needs to be punished and sent to prison - MANDATORY SENTENCE. That being said, I am 100% against the stories in the media that jump to the conclusion that all allegations made by women are automatically true. So many people immediately applaud the courageous women who finally come forward years later to report their assault. Please wait until the facts come out, investigations are conducted, criminal charges are filed. Please know there are people in the world who lie (shocking but true!) and in doing so they forever destroy the reputation of an innocent person. I am sorry if people do not like my opinion, but you must understand in our criminal justice system a person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Slander does irreparable harm to a person.
27
@Larry Imboden
I agree with you. When there are only two people involved with no witnesses both side have to be heard with equal weight until there is hopefully corroborating evidence one way or another.
14
@Larry Imboden
I appreciate your argument but the court of public opinion is not a court of law. We're not talking about jail time. These cases are exceedingly difficult to prove, which is exactly why they proliferate. Victims need this behavior to stop, so they've turned to the public square, an old-fashioned form of justice. You indicate you appreciate the plight of victims, but with respect, I don't believe you know what it feels like to endure this sort of violence. Imagine you're a victim and have no recourse, and what that experience would do to you, knowing your violator walks free to commit it again, seeing them stand at the podium, where they laugh and smile and are revered. Yes, we, the public will be the judges and there are relevant things to consider. A simple metric is, what does she have to gain from coming forward and what does she have to lose? The victim is credible.
4
@Scribbles
I'm sorry, but I disagree with your assertion that she has nothing to gain. You don't know that yet. Nobody does, so let the investigation take place with an open mind to both parties.
4
Attitude reflects leadership... I don't know why we perform our stone-throwing from the bottom-up.
If we went top-down, we'd be much more well behaved overall.
Until Trump is held accountable for his actions, all of these public juries are disingenuous.
22
I understand that it takes a great deal of courage to come forward and re-live the acts that occurred in the past.
What I don’t understand, particularly in the case of behavior detailed in photographs, is how this bad behavior and these criminal acts aren’t uncovered in background checks. Maybe more delving is required and a sworn questionnaire that could result a requirement to resign if statements made were untrue.
What I also understand is that women and minorities continue to be victimized by others who gain great power.
3
Strange how this gets plastered all over the national news constantly. Yet the sexual assault case and corruption in NJ involving governor Murphy's office doesnt. The really amazing part is that no ione n the Murphy administration will admit hiring the person accused. He just walked into the governor's office and hired himself or a 6 figure job.
It would be laughable if it didn't involve rape. Yet this unbelievable story of being forced to perform oral sex gets constant coverage.
5
All the Democrats are silent on this one. Yet on Kavanaugh every Democrat said , "I believe Dr. Ford ". Total hypocrisy and mendacity.
44
I’m not a Democrat, although I vote for them, and I am frustrated that I’ve still not yet heard a peep against Fairfax from party leaders. I expect Occasio-Cortez will have something to say (I hope, at least).
Regarding your comment, I trust you also see the hypocrisy and mendacity on display when Republicans and conservative outlets such as FOX immediately call for Fairfax to resign, while defending Kavanaugh and others? (I know Kavanaugh was a teenager at the time he allegedly committed assault, but Republicans do not have a problem charging teenagers as adults, see Cynthia Brown and countless others. And let’s not pretend Kavanaugh is the only man accused of sexual assault that conservatives have defended—I’ve seen many smear the entire #MeToo movement.)
4
@Mark Andrew Did you believe Dr. Ford?
2
@Mark Andrew: Hate to say this, dude, but you guys set the standard. Your Republican-dominated Senate didn't care about the facts, didn't do a thorough investigation, and steamrolled over everyone's objections in order to get what they wanted: a man on the Supreme Court who would support Trump and vote the way they want him to. We watched your guys do this. We saw how Kavanaugh's infantile behavior and Blasey's sober testimony didn't matter to the men's club in the Senate, because they wanted what they wanted, and nothing was going to change their minds. They were willing to overlook any and all transgressions to obtain their final aim. And yet you won't allow Democrats to do the exact same thing? Why do you think Dems should have higher standards than Repubs? The Senate showed us that what counts is the exercise of power to achieve goals, not truth or justice or any other intangible value that you can't stash away in an overseas shell company.
6
Someone obviously has seen a promising opportunity to reduce Virginia to hysterical blood-letting that makes the Democratic Party look foolish and incompetent.
The National Enquirer?
11
I can only imagine how much of this sordid behavior goes on that is not publicized.
I cannot express enough the courage and respect I have for women who come forward and open up for all to see.
36
@Charles alexander
Thank you. This means more than you will ever know.
3
I often wonder how a man can "force" a woman to perform oral sex without fearing painful consequences. Something here doesn't add up. While men should be held accountable for their actions, we shouldn't treat women's allegations as facts. Too easy for women to wrongly ruin men's life with false accusations.
58
Clearly you have never thought about the physical repercussions to the victim should those “painful consequences” you speak of ensue. Would you want to be hit or kicked by a man powerful enough to hold you down like that while you’re in such a vulnerable position? I’m so tired of people using half-baked arguments like this one to discredit someone who has absolutely no reason to lie.
As an ER doc, I can attest to the broken jaws, broken noses, broken eye sockets, broken cheekbones, knocked out teeth, broken ribs, broken arms, internal organ damage and significant soft tissue damage that women who have gone that route endure as a result of being kicked, punched and stomped, often with the head and chest bearing the brunt of the attack. when that happens.
It’s really a shame that I have to be so graphic but it’s really the only way to combat the ignorance out there.
29
@ESL Yes and Dr. Tyson she is a founding member of the the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center Speakers Bureau. She had the opportunity to discuss both her public disclosure and legal recourse much earlier than now. What is the motive ?
4
@ESL think about what might happen to you if you caused physical harm to a man much stronger than you while in the middle of a non-consensual situation, then ask yourself how a man can force a woman to perform oral sex on him
12
Her story sounds credible to me. And she has nothing to gain by coming forward. Just ask Christine Blasey Ford.
Fairfax has some nerve, complaining yesterday about how his family is in a lot of pain right now.
Why do men think that their pain is an earth shattering event but women’s pain is only the cost of doing business?
297
@Cousy
For the same reason that many ( you left out that critical qualifier) women think that their accusations should be be believed without proof and the accused punished. For the same reason that people who post on the internet think their opinions matter to anyone else. For the same reason that people think their perceived needs constitute other people’s or society’s obligation. Because all people are egocentric by nature.
28
How can you judge so quickly?
Two adults consented to go to a hotel. They consented to kiss. What are we to conclude? They are both educated enough and mature enough to understand the risks.
Let the police and courts handle the case not the media.
25
@Cousy Fairfax believes that whatever sex he had with Tyson was consensual. If that is true he has every right to be upset.
I don't have enough evidence to believe either party here.
Do you?
19
Here's how to wipe the slate clean and keep Democratic control of Virginia:
Northam resigns; Fairfax becomes governor.
Fairfax appoints new lieutenant governor.
Herring resigns; Fairfax appoints a new attorney general.
Fairfax resigns; lieutenant governor becomes governor.
New governor appoints new lieutenant governor.
101
Smartly concocted and too cute by half.
4
@Allan How about the two racists and the sexual predator all resign, and the existing, duly appoint AG takes over?
3
@Allan
Sounds like an idea so good we should expand it to the prison industrial complex. Have the criminals pick who goes to prison. Have the inmates pick the guards. Then let the guards pick the warden. What could go wrong?
(FYI sarcasm sometimes doesn't translate in print.)
6
Thank you to the woman that came forward.
May my daughters never know what this story evokes in women of my generation: a eerie sense of familiarity, so acquainted are we with male sexual entitlement.
This woman is helping other women say:
"Yes to kissing does not mean yes to anything else you want to do, partner."
She is helping defining the boundaries of consent.
Thank you.
211
@MS
Yah, but also women wise up. Do not go alone to his hotel room (apartment, house). Even if nothing happens, it looks bad. This is a lesson from the grandmas and mommas.
34
@NotKidding
So, never be alone with a man, even for work. Great life advice.
13
@NotKidding No. A woman going with a man to any place DOES NOT automatically entitle him to whatever he wants. We should demand more from men than did our mothers and grandmothers.
35
I believed Dr. Ford but the corroborative evidence was weaker. This woman reported this contemporaneously and consistently. She is very credible. As a parent of daughters I find his behavior horrifying. Patriarchy and sexual violence are far more toxic problems for human society than racism. Fairfax is not leadership material. Thank you Ms. Tyson. What you wrote should be mandatory reading for all young people. The sterile term "sexual assault" minimizes the trauma in this case. Thank you again. Your courage should be an example to others.
38
@AS "Patriarchy and sexual violence are far more toxic problems for human society than racism."
No actually they aren't. People haven't tried to commit genocide on women of their ethnic group or enslave them for centuries. Women of the dominant group in whatever society you mention have on the other hand owned slaves, raped slaves and eagerly participated in whatever nasty work their male counterparts were doing.
The wealth gap, achievement gap, education gap, income gap, infant mortality gap, mortality gap, employment gap, etc in America between Blacks and Whites reflects this reality. Black male cops aren't routinely shooting unarmed white females and being let go by white male juries. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
Whatever the issues of gender discrimination in, between and along communities may be they are as nothing in comparison to things like the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, the Holocaust, the genocide of the Indigenous peoples in America and so on.
1
As with many other sensitive issues that divide the nation today we will probably never know the truth about what happened. We certainly cannot claim to know the truth (notwithstanding some other comments) on the basis of the current he said, she said versions. What we can hope for is that these stories will change men's attitudes towards women. Whether or not Fairfax engaged in the described conduct, hundreds of thousands of other men have engaged in similar conduct and continue to do so. Hopefully we will witness a change that impacts the entire public, not only the political world.
16
@Disillusioned
We can never know the truth in these cases. But sometimes we can know when one is lying.
In this case, we do know the accuser is lying. She has concocted a story that is physically impossible. She claims that this one man, acting alone, was able to physically restrain her to prevent her getting away, and to hold her head in fixed position, and to force open her mouth (and keep it open).....and he did all this with only ONE HAND.
She is lying. She is also not very smart to have concocted an impossible story. The only people who will believe this preposterous story are women so filled with anger and resentment toward men that they really don't care whether accusations are true or false....they just want vengeance. In other words, the MeToo women will all believe her.
8
@Errol NOT physically impossible - this sort of sexual assault happens all the time. Educate yourself please -
Not to get too graphic, but how exactly is one "forced" to perform oral sex? Unless a death threat or some other form of criminal coercion was involved, the act itself must be voluntary. It's not the same thing as a rape, for obvious physiological reasons. Why is no one discussing this? Because a woman accused a man, and that's that?
90
@Ed L. as the article stated he was holding her head down...
17
What I was asked yesterday. Yes, if a gun or knife is involved. He's unlikely though to kill her in his hotel room and unlikely to want to return to the sessions with a black eye or bloody nose. And, if she screams people in the hallway or other rooms can hear.
2
@Ed L.
Physical battery - holding someone down against their will - is a from of "criminal coercion."
21
some have compared this to Judge Kavanaugh; actually Fairfax was an adult at the time of the alleged assault.
Fairfax must resign. We must call for his resignation and investigation.
11
@Joe Yoh
How about an investigation FIRST, before calling for resignation.
39
The past coming back to haunt is a problem for democratic men in our current environment. If one has any questionable past misconduct they might better change parties and run as a republican who put less emphasis on the moral high road.
46
@Bella are you kidding about the moral high road? we have been lectured ad infinitum by holier than thou republicans.
1
My only question is: why now? I'm sure the Lt. Governor has been in politics for some time now, so where has this woman been in the intervening 14 years?
I'm not saying she is lying, but I certainly do question the timing of her story. Also, has anyone considered checking into backgrounds of the people who pushed these stories to the forefront? Like maybe, I don't know, checking to see if anyone has had an "unexpected" windfall of money???
40
@Jean
She did attempt to come forward a while back. She reported her story to the WaPo, but they did not feel it had enough evidence and unlike more recent sexual assault accusations, they chose not to publish it.
37
But why inform WaPo ? That is not a Richmond or a Virginia newspaper. It is a DC and national organ. Being published there is sort of asking to play the Kennedy Arts Center before the Civic Auditorium.
4
@Jean Agree. Dr. Tyson she is a founding member of the the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center Speakers Bureau. She had the resources to decide how she wanted to handle this but publicly and legally. Therefore timing is suspicious. Conservative media outlet published her story.
8
It seems strange that Dr. Tyson, as a member of the BARCC Speakers Bureau could not speak out about the alleged assault at the time that it allegedly occurred. Didn't she speak to any of her fellow survivors within her support network, a rape survivor group, after it happened? The women in that organization would have been able to help her talk and process it through, that's what they are there for and if she was a leader in the organization she knew that! I am all for #metoo empowerment of women, but something is really off about this.
Dr. Tyson devotes her life to helping other survivors but did not feel empowered by the work she was doing to help herself!
The description of the incident, while uncomfortable, does not sound like assault. It is more of a bad sexual encounter type of situation. He misread her signals. She felt ashamed. Does this rise to the level of assault? I really don't see how it does. Perhaps as a survivor she did not have the words to get out of the situation, and that must have been awful. But to take it to this level is wrong and misguided.
104
@Ellen S.
Please understand that this incident fall squarely within the legal definition of assault. And it also is unmistakably fails the non-legal consent test.
Why should Fairfax be able to proceed as though nothing of consequence happened?
48
@Ellen S.
Forcing a sex organ into someone else's mouth without their consent IS sexual assault. The term doesn't just apply to traditional heterosexual intercourse.
62
@Ellen S. Hold on. The victim was 'crying and gagging' and it doesn't rise to the level of assault?! Merely a 'bad sexual encounter type of situation'? Are you joking - if so, it's a very poor joke. What makes it a 'real' assault? Bloodshed? Broken teeth or nose? Good God help us.
64
So the question is - what is the difference between Justin Fairfax and Brett Kavanaugh?
152
@D. DeMarco
Do you mean, what are the similarities? Both were successful men? Both have been smeared? Both were accused well after the fact without corroborating evidence? Neither was charged with a crime?
12
@D. DeMarco, so actually Fairfax was an adult at the time of the alleged assault
13
@D. DeMarco, Judge Kavanaugh was a child. That is a big difference.
13
We no longer reject women's claims out of hand; but, when it is he said, she said; and, there is no other evidence, one has to conclude that the case can not be decided "beyond a reasonable doubt," the standard for criminal proceedings.
In the court of public opinion everyone is entitled to their own.
It is too bad there wasn't a witness in the room who could be called to testify about what they saw, right Judge Kavanaugh?
219
@Ronny right, pretty sure that in both cases the accuser knew that there was no legal case to be made and is just went for trying to disgrace the man publicly and ruin his career. In a way, it is a phenomenon of the Trump era, where we have found out that no one can look away from anything salacious or disgusting in the media. Ideally police would be called and these things would be dealt with justly at the time, and would not be a state or national crisis 15 years later.
32
@Ronny
I live a lifelong Virginia Democrat.
I don't vote for people based on whether they could be criminally convicted.
I vote for people based on whether I think they intend to their best for the residents of Virginia. I expect them to be uncorrupted, not a criminal, not a racist and not someone who sexually assaults women. If accusations are made against their good judgement or behavior, I expect them to respond in a reasonable manner and not dig in, not lie or dissemble, not insult their accusers or swear profanely about them behind closed doors - something that reportedly has happened here.
The governor and the lt. governor should be people whose character we do not have to explain or defend to our sons and daughters.
We should not have to be ashamed of them.
The lowest possible bar is "could he be convicted in a court of law?" Not good enough.
Donald Trump hasn't been convicted of anything in a court of law yet - but I don't want him to be Governor of Virginia.
87
@Sal
It is always interesting to me that a person who was not there at an alleged crime is "pretty sure" it did not happen.
I was not there, I do not know the truth.
I do know it can be incredibly difficult and extremely risky to come forward with an accusation like this. You are looking for motivation, but what is the motivation for putting one's self, in this case an educated woman, into the public spotlight if the accusation is not true?
From this report one cannot tell if she ever straight out asked him to stop. Lacking credibility is her report of "supressed" memories. If she has no political motive, why did she wait until now? But mainly, she was working at a rape crisis center and did not report anything? By 2004 when this allegedly happened most women knew the importance of reporting rape immediately. So that aspect does not ring true; she would have had confidential support immediately at the center. Finally, she went voluntarily with him to his hotel room and kissed him. This is a signal she was open to more. Of course he should have stopped, if he did not, if she asked him to.
It's likely no one will ever know the truth of this story. No one who was not there can decide what happened. That's the problem, and that's the sadness when I think a man's career may be destroyed by this.
36