Suffolk DA ‘Ready’ to Investigate Fairfax Sexual Assault Allegations
Rachel Rollins, district attorney for Suffolk County, Mass., is prepared to launch an investigation into the sexual assault allegation recently brought against Virginia lieutenant governor Justin Fairfax provided his accuser, Vanessa Tyson, is willing to file a complaint, the Boston Globe reported Wednesday.
Rollins claims she emailed Tyson’s attorneys last week asking if they would like to file a criminal complaint related to their client’s allegation that Fairfax sexually assaulted her in a Boston hotel room in 2004, but have not yet received a response.
“We will help in any way we can if she chooses to come forward,” Rollins told the Globe in an interview. “We would offer any number of services starting from getting them in touch with counselors all the way, if they were so inclined, to seek prosecution.”
Fairfax, who previously admitted to having a consensual sexual encounter with Tyson, once again denied the assault and floated the possibility of filing a criminal complaint against her in a statement provided to CNN Wednesday.
“The Lt. Gov. has stated repeatedly that he has never sexually assaulted anyone ever.He has called publicly for a fair, impartial investigation,” the statement reads in part. “He has nothing to hide. He would cooperate fully with an investigation by Suffolk County District if a criminal complaint is filed. In that event the Lt. Gov. will explore all options with regard to filing his own criminal complaint in response to the filing of a false criminal complaint against him.”
In a graphic statement released last week by her attorneys, Tyson accused Fairfax of forcing her to perform oral sex on him while the pair were in Boston for the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
Fairfax was also accused last week by a second woman who claims he raped her while the pair were undergraduates at Duke University in 2000. He has also denied that claim.
