Clamor for ouster of top Democrats slows in Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. — The clamor for the resignation of Virginia’s top two politicians seemed to die down Monday, with some black community leaders forgiving Gov. Ralph Northam over the blackface furor and calling for a fair hearing for Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax on the sexual assault allegations against him.

Over the past several days, practically the entire Democratic establishment rose up to demand fellow Democrats Northam and Fairfax immediately step down. But the tone changed markedly after the weekend.

Del. Patrick Hope, a white Democratic state lawmaker who had threatened to begin impeachment proceedings against Fairfax, Virginia’s highest-ranking black politician, set the idea aside, citing both reaction from colleagues and online accusations that he is a racist.

At the same time, several black clergy members and civic leaders made clear they are willing to give both Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring a second chance, while urging due process for Fairfax. Herring, like Northam, has admitted putting on blackface in the 1980s.

It was becoming increasingly clear that it could look bad for the Democratic Party if Fairfax, who has strongly denied sexually assaulting anyone, were summarily pushed out and the two white men managed to stay in power.

“The sort of irony that makes your head spin is that Herring and Northam are in trouble for behavior related to Virginia’s racial past. And yet it may be the only African-american statewide officeholder who, at the end of the day, gets in trouble,” said Quentin Kidd, a political science professor at Virginia’s Christopher Newport University.

If Northam stepped down, Fairfax would become Virginia’s second AfricanAmerican governor in history. If all three Democrats resigned, a Republican could become governor: GOP House Speaker Kirk Cox is next in the line of succession.

A group of eight black clergy members and community leaders said that they forgive Northam and want to give him a second chance. Former Richmond City Councilman Henry “Chuck” Richardson called Northam a “good and decent man” who has stood with AfricanAmericans on key issues.

Separately, a set of black leaders listed steps they said Northam and Herring should take to redeem themselves, including removing Confederate statues and raising more money for Virginia’s historically black colleges.