RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax broke his silence Saturday afternoon regarding Governor Ralph Northam's yearbook scandal.
Fairfax, who would become governor following any resignation or impeachment, said he "cannot condone" Northam's past actions.
His statement neither called for a resignation nor directly supported Northam staying in office.
"At this critical and defining moment in the history of Virginia and this nation, we need leaders with the ability to unite and help us rise to the better angels of our nature," Fairfax said.
"I remain committed to service and helping to heal the Commonwealth moving forward," Fairfax continued. "Now more than ever, we must make decisions in the best interests of the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia."
Fairfax said he was glad the Governor issued a necessary apology.
In Northam's nearly 45-minute news conference Saturday, he told reporters he met with Fairfax Friday night in person and spoke over the phone several times Saturday.
Northam reversed course and said that he was not one of the people seen in a racist picture on his 1984 yearbook page. The photo shows one person in blackface and the other in a Ku Klux Klan outfit.
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