Speaker of the House of Delegates Kirk Cox is accusing Democrats in the House of blocking hearings that both of the Lt. Governor’s sexual assault accusers have requested. From the Richmond Times-Dispatch:
House Speaker Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights, said in a statement that Democratic leader Eileen Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, has repeatedly spurned offers by House Courts Committee Chairman Rob Bell, R-Albemarle, to hold a bipartisan hearing that would allow the two women to testify.
“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,” Cox said.
In a letter to Filler-Corn dated March 25 and shared by Cox’s office, Bell said the subcommittee that would hold the hearing would consist of five Republicans and five Democrats. It would include testimony from the alleged victims, Vanessa Tyson and Meredith Watson, as well as Fairfax. Each would have a chance to present evidence.