From the New York Times, unlike above all, this is that today, Democrats have adopted a policy of zero tolerance from his conduct has or present by members of their own party. The growing political crisis in Virginia is testing that approach its fight February, Good day for conqueror about how far does come eyewitnesses he there I'm trying to reach it.

Guess name Jonathan Martin, in room five or six. You right now. Thank you better, a gas hey. Are you good think we did find the right Mary, I'm ok, let's drop it, Jonathan Mark- covers national politics for the times Jonathan. Where does this story will start? I think it has its roots in the owl, Frank and scandal, a growing firestorm on Capitol Hill after Democratic Senator Al Frank and is accused of forcibly kissing and groping a woman more than a decade ago. What, if you were call it was the fall of twenty seven tv. Another woman is, for two May groping accusations against Minnesota, Senator a Democrat out, Frank and a way of stories came out,

and another woman has come forward, accusing centre I'll frank enough groping her during a U S, o tour she's, the fifth woman to accuse the Minnesota senator of inappropriate over there were enough charges against him: Senator Kaerusson, Jalalabad Clare, Mechanical Maisie, around now, Maggie Hassen, the finally Patty Murray Camilla Harris Tammy Baldwin, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania. One additional Democrats urged him to resign lead. I like your job right now, a key lit for president and keep in mind. This was the same time, that in Alabama Alabama Civic Canada, Roy more remains defiant. At this point, denying sexual assault allegations and rejecting call to draw about no more had been accused of sexual misconduct with a group of under age women. He was younger and the Democrats worth trying to pick up that sea and they didn't want to do

the Republicans Annie fodder to dilute their attacks against or more enough is enough. I mean this is a conversation we ve been having for a very long time. You need to draw a line in the sand as they none of it is ok. None of it is acceptable and we, as elected leader, should actually be held to a higher standard, not a lower standard, and we should fundamentally devaluing women, and that is where this debate has to go. They wanna position themselves on the high ground. Morally, in Poland, and you take that and put it against the backdrop of an alibi Senate raise or lo and behold, Democrat now have an opportunity to win a sea. They hadn't hadn't decking, and they are acting in ways that are gonna position themselves best for that serving in the United States Senate, has been a great honor of my life and now frank and was being accused of these things during that moment and democratic Not only has it that today I am announcing that in the coming weeks

I will be resigning as member of the United States Senate. So what does asking senator our Frank, Inter resign represent about the strategy that the Democrats were forming in this moment? I think the strategy was. We have two police, our own ranks and Sort of implications of that was in the Trump era. We have to have clean hands and of organ criticized. The president we have to have his RO tolerance policy in our own ranks. We cannot accept. Misconduct did is going to let the republic, Higgins to muddy the waters politically. A few well where we come after them I remember Jonathan, as I'm sure you do, that some people saw Frank in as a kind of sacrificial Latvia for the Democratic Party to pursue this strategy or describing, and I wonder if as a political reporter in that moment

You sense what the conversation was among democratic partition. Oh yeah, outages, abounded, just about party had mailed question that private lay plenty of Democrats were saying that Frank in is basically walking the plank because we have to. This point, and we have to be pure on this issue now. They wouldn't dare say that publicly, but mine. The backbone of the Democratic Party in this era is women. They are crucial to Democrats, winning elections and I think that the party felt like they didn't have a choice when it came to frame at that moment so zero tolerance can seem hard line.

But it allows the Democrats to call out the Republicans without any room for accusations of being hypocritical. That's the idea correct in how did this democratic strategy of zero tolerance actually play out after Franklin was forced to resign? Yes, I think the Frank in precedent is what has for some time now carry the day for Democrats, you had other accusations of sexual misconduct, but dean of a house of representatives its longest serving member step down today, under pressure Democrat John Conyers was accused of,

sexual misconduct John Conyers long time ever Congress permission again, you hadn't uppity, coming down regret in the house from Nevada who also was similarly forced out because of very serious sexual harassment charges that has become the kind of democratic rule of thumb that we're gonna. Take us we're a zero tolerance approach on these kinds of allegations. We need one standard across the boy. Excellent felt somewhat gonna call on Donald Trump to resign, John tying as who have retired. I resign phone call and everybody else to resign, and we have to hold Sarah Frank and anyone else. There is a case of sexual assault to resign, and I think that is what really said the predicate going into the back of my hearings. Democrats once they found out

that he had been accused of sexual assault, a lot of them fell like this is somebody who simply cannot sit on the highest court in the land and for them it was the very principle of you. Do we believe women? I believe you and I believe many Americans process calculated that the guiding force in terms of the democratic strategy on this we know we come down on the side of the future. We believe women, this man is not a monster. Nora see what has been done, presented here and these hearings, but Republicans in what was really a sign of a divided country cited largely with Cavanaugh, and I think there is no more illustrative moment of this country's chasm on these issues. Then those Supreme Court hearings last year right, but it also to to me, started to signal some of the potential petitions of zero tolerance of area, which is that some Americans started look around them at the

they know or at themselves, and to ask what I wanna to be held to the Torreon Standard and the Democrats are holding people to right. Yes, because what happened with the Cavanaugh hearings was also this question of how far back to we go in order. You start judging people based on their high school in college conduct, and that was a huge thread of that moment and I think that a lot of conservative women especially look somebody like you have on said. That could be my husband that could be my son, who could be in their eyes falsely accused and how hot of other people look did Blasi forums the heck back,

my daughter or my wife, and I sure, as hell with what want them to be believed. So it did start this moment of a conversation of ok. What what is and is not fair game, and what is that line? We still haven't sort the fine that still kind of moving target here, but quietly you do here. Some Democrats started the wonder what how far this gonna go and Virginia has really brought back. Watch at home look at that. Our work is giving one million dollars and talent grants to business is working to come

the ongoing impacts of cuban nineteen as the world's largest network of remote professionals, their connecting existing teams with remote experts in tech, creative and operations, in an effort to help save lives and rebuild the economy, to learn more good upward dot com, slash work together. So what's your story drunken by reviewing what actually happened in Virginia over the past?

deep breath. Ok, it's been an extraordinary weaken Virginia. Nobody and capital here has seen anything like this and state history. It started on Friday breaking tonight. A racist yearbook photo taken over three decades ago, surface leaving virginias democratic governor facing some serious questions about his past conservative website, published a yearbook photo from Governor Ralph nor Thumbs medical school and from nineteen eighty four decades old yearbook, page suddenly in the spotlight tonight, because of this picture of two people, one in black face the other and K K K Hood this immediately cream a fire storm. He was either the guy in the clan outfit or in black face when he was an adult in medical school. This is not some youthful indiscretion. This is in adult, acting as a racist by Friday night go the north

had conceited and apologized. For being on that page and asked for forgiveness, I cannot change the decision. I may Nor can I undo the harm my behavior calls them and today, but I accept responsibility for my past actions, and I am ready to do the hard work of regaining your trust, wealth by midnight Democrats across the country in a virgin. You were demanding. He resigned reaction across the board It goes back from pouring in tonight after Governor Ralph, nor them admits and apologises for appearing. Racist photo that dates back to his med school days and nights, In eighty four I Saturday governor

With them reversed force had a news conference at the executive, mansion enrichment and our stance. I made my statement yesterday. I reflect it with my family and classmates from the time and affirmed my conclusion that I am not the person in that photo. He'd conclude that he was not one of the two men in that photograph and he had no plans to resign did participate in a dance contest in San Antonio, in which a dark in my face as part of a man. Jackson Costume is because my memory of that episode is so vivid that I truly did not believe I'm in the picture. In my yearbook, then Sunday, Superbowl Sunday, there is rumors. Swirling all day. The deal tenant governor, just and fair fax has some kind of Aimee to issue. Will it's not clear what it is

now. Just and fair, fax himself stands accused of serious wrong doing at three in the morning. On Sunday night so Monday morning, Fairfax Lieutenant Governor hosting statement on his twitter account preemptively saying that he did not commit actual assault on a woman Monday morning watching opposed publishes a story saying we ve forwarded this out last year. Around

Fairfax was being inaugurated in. We decide that we couldn't corroborated you're, not gonna, publish it, but they did at that point offer some details about the woman and about the encounter a politics professor from California call Vanessa. Thyssen says that Fairfax sexually assaulted her in his hotel room at the two thousand for democratic National Convention in Boston, Fairfax, emphatically denies again the case and at that point start suggesting that some of his political rivals are potentially behind the. We don't have to be a political genius to understand that this is a complete sphere and, in my character, I've put up for election for the people to combat the Virginia three statewide elections and never has anything

This ever been raised, not throw my light flashed or then to Wednesday, where the state leadership is already in chaos. People are waiting to see what they're going to do. Will they resign and rumours again, pick up now to another, outdated being out multiple scandals and broiling virginias top officials? This time that more hearing the attorney general as some kind of racially and sensitive issue, and his past stunning admission from Virginias attorney General Mark Herring revealed he once wore black face in college. She said he was dressed as a wrapper and the style of the legendary Curtis blow. This comes after hearing called that photograph on northern Medical School Yearbook page indefensible, profoundly, offensive, shocking and deeply disappointing, and that leads us to Wednesday. Where

the state of Virginia is an utter utter chaos. Rice, not clear who is still going to be in power by the end of the week, and so obviously this presents a kind of overwhelming stress test. I have to imagine on the Democrats: zero tolerance policy, that's exactly right now. This is where the robber Beach, the road, are democrats going would force their own policies in his moment where you ve got three Democrats, who led a major state in this country who are facing serious allegations of races, conduct and sexual assault. Are they gonna force all three out? Are they gonna show forgiveness for some, but not others?

show forgiveness for all three more workers through how Democrats are handling it so far and what they have been thinking so so far the hardest line is blown north on tonight. The calls for governor wealth north him to resign or growing reaction with swift. With much of the outrage coming from north, whose fellow Democrats state legislators, TAT Virginia State Black HAWK, is, for example, residential candidates commonly Harris cursed, Angela Bran Elizabeth, worn Dubai ring Hillary Clinton Obama turning general our colder Bernie Sanders course: Booker swore well practically every major democratic called a north him to resign. He too Democrats are largely united on that front. Ok, with Fairfax there's much more of a way to see my way. Having got

an ex emperor. Now you know you have Democrats who are avoiding talking to the press, its duplicate, because you ve got a woman making detailed accusations now on the record, Fairfax emphatically demise, it neither of them have yet to produce corroborating evidence from that time. So democratic that situation or saying, I think it's important- have consistency and moral clarity. I don't have any reason to know whether just and fair fax is telling the truth or not, but I think I do the same thing. I said the bread Cavanaugh its issue. There should be a full and complete thorough, independent investigation that they want to hear more. They want to see an investigation and even that tough situation, because what happened if there is no investigate- and we haven't- if it does just remain accusations of MRS Thyssen and the denial of Mr Fairfax? What do they do and what and his mark hiring need to go are their calls for him to go what's happening so no calls on hearing you go yet with the case of hearing he preemptively,

I apologise to the black. Hawk is an emotional meeting Wednesday morning in Richmond. He seems to be on somewhat steady around because of how we handle the issue also worth noting a yes, there is politics in the politics: here's the law, if the attorney general of Virginia is to resign during the legislative session. His successor would be picked by the legislature, but guess what the Republicans control narrowly as they house and State Senate, so they would be in charge of kicking a successor. Hearing does resign, so that also has create some incentive for Democrats, the holder fire. So suddenly, zero tolerance in the midst of a very confusing situation is being even more? For it are complicated by politics, its We need to keep in mind, Michael, if I can just go back for a minute to what happen.

And in the case of Al Frank in Haste, John Conyers, there was no real political risk there, because you had Democrats in Minnesota, we're gonna, replace Franklin, but they democratic John kindly had a really safe seed in Detroit and he was replaced by Democrats, no real risk, their different story, I think in Virginia. Would you got all hundred forty seeds of the state legislature up for grabs? This fall Democrats are on the threshold of taken back both chambers, which would give them an entire domination of state politics. And you don T want to hand the Republicans, the attorney general seat entirely by forcing him to resign and laying the republican control but ass. They drew upon his successor. That's a much more real, shall we say test of this policy that it was with the frank and or Conor situation, because you're talking about much more in the way of little sacrifice right. But I wonder, is your assent, John,

at the bigger question here is about that. Whether Democrats are willing to stand by this policy when it could have negative political implications like Republic in taking a democratically held seat or that it's about perhaps this zero tolerance policy being too stringent for the reality of our lives. Yeah there's two things: a war here in Virginia as more and more revelations come out of college students appearing in black. Yes and yearbooks. I think this question now is how many people are gonna get swept up in this kind of investigation and if we do apply this standard widely, you bet that is abhorrent behaviour that has to be prosecuted with the loss of a job. Then are we prepared for local to lose their jobs? Some people will say absolutely. It is an appalling demonstration of racism, that's the worst kind of a vestige of the battle days and we absolutely sure penalized folks for that there are others.

Who will say it took place thirty years ago. People make mistakes in their youth, they should lose their jobs and their livelihoods for their work They were their worst moment. You're, going to hear both of those arguments quite a bit in the days ahead because of blackface are not going to be limited to a few politicians in Virginia, and you can be sure that this is going to be turning up in other states and other professions around the country. And it's not going to stop here. It's going to be a bigger conversation beyond this date beyond politics,

tell them. We started by talking about our frank and the line that was drawn in his case, as Democrats started to create this zero tolerance aussi eighteen months ago. I wonder if, in this more Democrats, are we calibrating and rethinking that decision to force him to resign, given the recalibration were seeing now, I think we're seeing the first make use of that recalibration, I'm not sure if they go a fully through it with rethinking their policy as long as Trump is the president and they want to have the high ground, but the best example of this kind.

A real time assessment is similar gingerbread, who led the charge when it came to pushing out how Franklin, but who has said unfair facts that she wants to see an investigation. She was very sympathetic to the woman, Doktor Thyssen and the charges, the doktor tastes and bade, but in their children's, not calling for Fairfax to resign. She said that she wants to hear or see rather an investigation of this case. That itself is very telling the value that job has been out front on these issues is not calling prefer effects to quit. She's calling for an investigation, I think, does indicate the first makings of some kind of recalibration on this approach:

Jonathan. Thank you very. Very much. Baseball bonnet on Thursday, yet another elected official in Virginia this time, a Republican became ensnared in the states political crisis State Senate Majority leader Thomas more acknowledged his role in editing, a yearbook that featured racist slurs against African Americans, Asians and Jews, as well as racist photographs, including people in black face. I dont condone and I haven't engaged in it If you look back through, is that your book, you will see? First of all, I do not appear in any pictures and any derogatory of disingenuous way to any minority group. Here's what else you need to know today.

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