Democratic Party of Virginia says sex-assault claim against Lt. Gov. Fairfax of 'profound gravity'

The Democratic Party of Virginia said Tuesday that an allegation of sexual assault against the state's lieutenant governor, Justin Fairfax, should be "taken with profound gravity."

"We will continue to evaluate the situation regarding Lieutenant Governor Fairfax," the party said in a brief statement posted to Twitter. In a separate statement, Democratic members of Virginia's House of Delegates and Senate said: "The facts here are still being determined. Every individual deserves the opportunity to be heard, and we respect anyone who comes forward to share their story."

Fairfax's accuser has been identified as Vanessa Tyson, an associate professor of politics at Scripps College in Claremont, California.

Tyson alleges that Fairfax forced her to perform oral sex on him during an encounter at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. According to a profile of Fairfax on the website of his alma mater, Columbia Law School, the future lieutenant governor was working as a so-called "body man" for vice presidential nominee John Edwards. Fairfax has denied any wrongdoing and described the encounter as consensual.

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