Virginia Lt. Governor retains law firm that represented Kavanaugh to handle sex assault allegation

Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax is represented by the same law firm that Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh retained while defending himself against a rape accusation during his confirmation process last year, according to WCVE.

Fairfax has, for more than the last year, retained Wilkinson Walsh + Eskovitz in the face of an accusation of sexual assault made by Vanessa Tyson, a college professor in California.

Tyson first brought the accusation to The Washington Post in Nov. 2017 and Jan. 2018, although The Post declined to publish it because they could not corroborate her claims. Fairfax was elected lieutenant governor in Nov. 2017 and inaugurated in Jan. 2018.

Fairfax first retained Wilkinson Walsh + Eskovitz in Jan. 2018, months before the Kavanaugh allegation became public.

"I can confirm that I and my firm have been representing the lieutenant governor since January 2018," partner Rakesh Kilaru told WCVE.

Tyson is represented by Katz, Marshall and Banks, the D.C.-based law firm that represented Kavanaugh's accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, who is also a professor in California.

The sexual assault allegation resurfaced just recently, as Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam faced widespread calls to resign over a photo allegedly showing him either wearing blackface or dressed as a member of the Ku Klux Klan. Northam's resignation would make Fairfax the governor.

Tyson accused Fairfax of forcing her to perform a sexual act when the two were in his hotel room during the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. She said she consented to kiss him, but did not consent to the act. Fairfax maintains that the entire encounter was consensual.

"I have never done anything like what she suggests," Fairfax said in a statement. "As I said in my statement this morning, I have nothing to hide. Any review of the circumstances would support my account, because it is the truth. I take this situation very seriously and continue to believe Dr. Tyson should be treated with respect. But, I cannot agree to a description of events that simply is not true."