Talk:Justin Fairfax

A fact from Justin Fairfax appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 29 November 2017 (check views). The text of the entry was as follows: Did you know... that Virginia Lieutenant Governor-elect Justin Fairfax once worked for Tipper Gore? A record of the entry may be seen at Wikipedia:Recent additions/2017/November. The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Justin Fairfax.

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Since this person could likely be assuming the office of governor soon as the result of a scandal involving the incumbent, this article should receive protection from potential vandalism. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.190.183.221 (talk) 04:22, 2 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I agree with this - this controversy does not seem to be going away anytime in the near future, and given the highly serious nature of the accusations, I think it's warranted to impose a protection lock for (at minimum) the near-term future.Concchambers (talk) 07:15, 7 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I would do it myself, but I'm WP:INVOLVED. Instead, I put up a request at WP:RFPP for an uninvolved admin to decide on. – Muboshgu (talk) 17:26, 7 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

An edit about allegations against Fairfax was reverted on grounds of poor sourcing violating WP:BLP. While the allegations are unconfirmed, they are being widely reported, as supported by inline citations to the Washington Post and Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch (the newspaper of record in the Virginia state capitol). Per WP:BLP, "When material is both verifiable and noteworthy, it will have appeared in more reliable sources." This has now occurred. While the allegation of assault has not been corroborated, the Post, the Times-Dispatch, and Lt. Gov. Fairfax (as quoted) all confirm that the allegation has been made and that Fairfax had a sexual encounter with the woman making the allegation. This is no more (or less) verified than many other public claims of sexual assault. I am restoring the edit, as the edit does not indicate that the assault actually happened. If further wording is needed to clarify the section, then please improve it. GeoGreg (talk) 23:29, 4 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

• GeoGreg, do NOT restore that edit. Drmies (talk) 23:30, 4 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]
• I'm telling you, that won't end well. The Post reports that allegations are made but cannot corroborate them; that should be enough for us to exclude the content for now. If we report everything that's alleged, there's no end to it. I suggest you post at WP:BLPN to find consensus, but in the meantime, there is no rush (because NOTNEWS), and I will not hesitate to revert and lock the article. UPDATE: I reverted and locked the article, obviously. Next time, please pay attention when an admin invokes the BLP. Drmies (talk) 23:31, 4 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]
  • Drmies I didn't see that you were an admin before I reverted. Apologies for that; I've been an editor for over 15 years, and I always try to respect the process. As you suggest, I will take the question elsewhere while the story continues to blow up in various mainstream sources. GeoGreg (talk) 23:41, 4 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]
    • That's alright. The story, or the story of the story, is indeed all over the interwebs, but in cases such as this it's better to be safe then to be sorry. Thanks, Drmies (talk) 23:42, 4 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]
      • I wish we had shown the same restraint for Judge Kavanaugh. We are at the point where this article needs some mention of this story, albeit worded very conservatively. I suppose if Northam does not resign this story may die, but if Fairfax becomes Governor then right wing groups will not let it go. Mr Ernie (talk) 09:10, 5 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]
        • The sexual assault allegations have been reported by HuffPost[1], CNN[2], Daily Beast[3], Slate[4], and Vox[5]. CBS, The New York Times, The Hill and many other mainstream reliable sources also report on it. Why is there no mention of it in the article? D.Belford (talk) 12:13, 5 February 2019 (UTC) — D.Belford (talk • contribs) has made few or no other edits outside this topic. [reply]
          • Personally I don't think unsubstantiated sexual misconduct allegations should ever feature in a biographical article unless they are particularly notable (say, causing someone to resign). Unfortunately that's not really the de facto standard that has emerged on Wikipedia. Take this content at Steve Watkins (politician), which was actually restored by an administrator. When it comes to whether sexual misconduct allegations will be included or removed from an article, it looks like the article subject's political party may be a factor. Yuck. Marquardtika (talk) 19:06, 6 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

            Marquardtika, since the administrator you're referring to is me, I will have to state that Watkins' political affiliation had nothing to do with that revert. I would lean towards including the allegation on this page, and Fairfax is a member of the other party. – Muboshgu (talk) 19:13, 6 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

            • That was a disgusting edit Muboshgu. To elaborate, we now have a prominent mention on a BLP describing someone as a predator, according to only one uncorroborated report, with zero evidence. BLP requires better of us. Mr Ernie (talk) 19:28, 6 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

              • My point is that Wikipedia evidently lacks an objective standard when it comes to whether or not we should include uncorroborated claims of sexual misconduct against article subjects. Each case seems to be treated differently, at the whim of whoever is editing a particular page. If someone wants to remove something, it's "BLP! BLP!" but if someone wants to include something, it's "RS! RS! RS!" We need to deal with the fact that yes, things can be reported in RS, but no, that doesn't mean we need to include all of these things in articles, and we certainly don't need to do it right this minute! Marquardtika (talk) 19:47, 6 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

                Marquardtika, that is a fair point. It's difficult to bridge the "BLP vs RS' divide on this issue here in the days of the Me too movement. This is the sort of thing that requires a larger community discussion on the village pump or BLP/N. – Muboshgu (talk) 19:58, 6 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

@D.Belford:, regarding the "fuck that bitch" anecdote, he denies it, his chief of staff denies it. There's no benefit to including it that would override the WP:BLP concerns. – Muboshgu (talk) 01:40, 7 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

The "fuck that bitch" comment has not just been widely reported, it has also been widely reported in various mainstream very reliable sources, there is no reason to not include it in the article. Like an admin said, once the story begins being reported in various mainstream sources it's fine to include the information. D.Belford (talk) 02:09, 7 February 2019 (UTC) — D.Belford (talk • contribs) has made few or no other edits outside this topic. [reply]

D.Belford, I gave reason. It's been refuted and is a BLP violation. Given the sensitive nature of this, I ask that you not edit war and take it out of the article so it can be discussed. Not eveything that is "widely reported" gets included on Wikipedia. – Muboshgu (talk) 02:14, 7 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Just read through BLP and don't see how it is a violation of that policy. It does not seem to violate Neutral point of view (NPOV), Verifiability (V) or No original research (NOR). If you disagree please let me know where I am wrong regarding BLP policy, thanks. D.Belford (talk) 02:18, 7 February 2019 (UTC) — D.Belford (talk • contribs) has made few or no other edits outside this topic. [reply]

D.Belford, read WP:BLPGOSSIP, because whether or not he said "fuck that bitch" is gossip. "Avoid repeating gossip. Ask yourself whether the source is reliable; whether the material is being presented as true; and whether, even if true, it is relevant to a disinterested article about the subject." – Muboshgu (talk) 02:45, 7 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

If two sources reported that Kavanaugh said "fuck that bitch" when talking about Ford, contributors on this website would have trampling each other Black Friday style trying to be the first one to add it, and then emailing staff members to block anyone who tried to remove it. It's still in Kavanaugh's intro paragraphs, even though Ford had zero evidence, zero corroboration, and every witness who she said would back her said they have no idea wtf she's talking about. Repeat: it's still in his opening paragraphs. Two sources confirmed Fairfax said it. His chief of staff tried to say he didn't. NBC reported it, so it must be true. If you say otherwise, you're attacking the free and fair press and our treasured fourth estate. 99.50.80.96 (talk) 04:18, 7 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Very presumptuous straw man argument there comparing this to Kavanaugh. WP:OTHERSTUFFEXISTS tells us that what's done for one isn't automatically done for another anyway. And "NBC reported it, so it must be true".... really? Media never gets it wrong? Not ever? – Muboshgu (talk) 17:27, 7 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I edited in a possible solution that avoids quoting the alleged phrase and adds Fairfax's denial. Instaurare (talk) 21:27, 7 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Yeah but in the end we have a nothing burger, esp. since the ultimate source for all this is this tweet, nothing more. In other words, it's a bunch of media reports about...well, about media reports. That has news value, of course, but no encyclopedic value. Drmies (talk) 01:53, 8 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

• D.Belford is blocked as a sock of User:Enjois, who likes to jump into these political topics hoping to make the world a better place for whatever his POV favors. Drmies (talk) 02:03, 8 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]
  • Drmies, I had a feeling that user was not above board. – Muboshgu (talk) 02:07, 8 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]
    • I recognized something in the name, Muboshgu, and their edits sure were fluent for such a newbie. There may be more, maybe up to a dozen more, where this one came from, and I've asked for another CU to look at the evidence. There are way too many of these socks roaming these pages, and it's a good idea to be wary. Thanks, and take care, and all my best to the editors of good faith--you too, Mr Ernie--I'm sorry you got had too. Drmies (talk) 02:10, 8 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]
      • It seems to happen to me a lot. Mr Ernie (talk) 07:13, 8 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I wasn't making a straw man argument Muboshgu. Just a little sarcasm, sorry. Of course NBC has been busted reporting false stories for the last two years. They found and terminated the Lawrence O'Donnell "Stop the hammering!" leaker after a week, but still just can't seem to locate whoever leaked the Access Hollywood tape to the Washington Post for some reason after nearly 2 and a half years. The hunt continues! I bring up Kavanaugh because it's important to have site-wide standards, to maintain impartiality and ensure that people don't let their personal opinions get in the way. What IS the standard, anyway? A Republican like Kavanaugh gets a nice juicy paragraph in his intro about a sexual assault allegation levied with zero evidence, zero corroboration, and by all accounts this woman has never even met Kavanaugh. A Democrat like Justin Fairfax gets credible sourcing from multiple people that he said "fuck that bitch" in reference to his victim, but we can't include it because...? Is there one standard? Or are there two, depending on the political party of the subject's article? 99.50.80.96 (talk) 02:33, 8 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Due to repeated violations of the BLP policy I have semi-protected this article for two weeks. Thryduulf (talk) 01:03, 9 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/virginia-lt-gov-justin-fairfax-accused-of-second-sexual-assault - and he's threatened with impeachment if he doesn't resign by Monday (2/11) by other House Dems 50.111.22.143 (talk) 11:40, 9 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I am surprised this has been excluded. It seems to me that there are denied allegations, which we need to give balance to accusation and denial. But in the case of Fairfax's statement off of the starting line on this scandal, where he claimed the Post had characterized the accuser's account as containing "red flags" and "inconsistencies," when what the Post said was the opposite -- and her account did *not* contain red flags and inconsistencies, Fairfax told an objective and material untruth, documented by authority to be false, and smeared (from legal standpoint probably also slandered) the accuser in doing so.Explainador (talk) 20:43, 10 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Just wanted people to be aware of 2019 Virginia political crisis. Please incorporate any details from this article or discuss on Talk:2019 Virginia political crisis. Peace, MPS (talk) 17:06, 11 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I just noticed a separate article has been created for Vanessa C. Tyson. As I've had relatively little involvement with BLP articles until recently, I'm not exactly sure what Wikipedia's policy is on how notable a public figure should be before that person receives a standalone article. Tyson has publicly identified herself and is in the middle of a pretty major news story. She's a professor at Scripps College and has a fellowship at Stanford. But still - I feel like she only somewhat qualifies as a public figure. We have articles on people like Christine Blasey Ford and Juanita Broaddrick, but Ford and Broaddrick were involved with far larger news stories than Tyson. There's a big difference, in terms of notability, between bringing an accusation against a sitting president or a Supreme Court nominee and bringing an accusation against a lieutenant governor.

If Tyson testifies publicly against Fairfax, then that would be one thing - but as far as I know, Tyson has never even made any public media appearances since making her accusation (I could be wrong about that, but haven't seen anything). So I'm unsure whether creating a standalone article for her at this point is really the right approach. Again, I've had relatively little involvement with BLP articles in the past, so I'm not taking a firm stance on this either way. But it seems to me that anything notable about Tyson could easily be discussed in this article, as there isn't a whole lot to say about her at this point. Curious to hear others' thoughts. --Jpcase (talk) 17:29, 12 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]

BLP policy has a specific section about people who are notable only for one event, see WP:BLP1E. I would say that condition #3 is not met. Tyson is also probably not a low profile individual because of limited promotional activities and eminence, but may or may not become low-profile later. I have reviewed only a handful of sources at this point and cannot say whether Tyson passes basic criteria or WP:NACADEMIC. Regardless of whether you think Tyson is notable or not, if there are no pressing privacy issues or other BLP matters, it is usually wise to wait for a couple of days and review the coverage again before nominating an article for deletion. Politrukki (talk) 23:33, 12 February 2019 (UTC)[reply]