Virginia's Democratic lieutenant governor Justin Fairfax went after Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D., Va.) on Thursday night for her reluctance to label President Donald Trump a racist, calling her comments "deeply ironic."
Fairfax took to Twitter to respond to an article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Spanberger saying she cannot judge whether Trump is racist.
"Deeply ironic regarding where we are 400 years since the first enslaved Africans landed in Virginia," Fairfax said.
"CAN’T say there's enough evidence to call Trump racist," Fairfax continued. "CAN call for the resignation of the Black LG based on 2 press releases with no investigation, evidence, or #dueprocess."
Fairfax was referring to Spanberger joining a chorus of Virginia Democrats demanding his resignation in the aftermath of accusations of sexual assault. Five of Virginia’s seven Democratic House members issued a joint statement condemning Fairfax in February.
"Lt. Governor Fairfax has shown exceptionally poor judgment in his handling of these allegations. He repeatedly attacked his accuser, he reportedly used vile and degrading language to describe her, he mischaracterized an investigation into the encounter, and he sought to blame others for events in his own past," the statement said. "For these reasons we believe that Justin Fairfax cannot continue to serve as Lt. Governor of Virginia, and should step aside."
Spanberger's comments on Trump came during a Thursday interview with conservative radio host John Fredericks.
"I can't make that judgment one way or the other," she said. "I don't know the man and I want to believe that there is goodness in everyone. I want to believe the best intentions in everyone."
A self-described moderate, Spanberger is serving her first term in Congress after narrowly defeating Republican incumbent Dave Brat in 2018. Spanberger represents Virginia’s 7th congressional district, a historically conservative district that Fairfax lost in his 2017 campaign.
While Spanberger's comments toward the president were not as harsh as many of her Democratic colleagues, they were far from complimentary. Spanberger called Trump’s statements "racist" as well as "hurtful, bigoted, and incendiary," though she did not extend the criticism to Trump himself.
The rebuke was not enough for Fairfax, who has refused to resign, calling the allegations "a vicious and coordinated smear campaign."
The lieutenant governor's attack of Spanberger marks yet another instance of infighting in what has been a tumultuous 2019 for Virginia Democrats.
Days after Governor Ralph Northam's infamous blackface scandal surfaced in February, Attorney General Mark Herring acknowledged a blackface photo of his own. Fairfax's rape allegations came just two hours later. All three remain in office.
Spanberger did not reply to request for comment.