Believe all women. But don’t let them talk.
Two women who have accused Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax of rape lost their bid Tuesday for a public hearing to tell their stories to the state legislature.
Virginia House Speaker Kirk Cox announced that Democratic lawmakers blocked proposals for a bipartisan hearing the women had demanded.
“There should be no mistake about what has happened here: the alleged victims are seeking a bipartisan hearing; Republicans are seeking a bipartisan hearing; Democrats in the House of Delegates are refusing to allow that to happen,” Mr. Cox, Colonial Heights Republican, said in a written statement.
Vanessa Tyson and Meredith Watson, who accused the Democratic lieutenant governor of raping them in separate attacks more than a decade ago, increased the pressure for a public hearing this week in interviews aired on “CBS This Morning.”
“I want some action from the Virginia legislature,” Ms. Watson, a single mother from Maryland, said in a Tuesday broadcast.
However, lawyers for Ms. Tyson and Ms. Watson told the speaker’s office that they would testify only at a bipartisan hearing.