Virginia governor Ralph Northam was on Sunday resisting calls to resign despite widespread outcry after racist photographs surfaced from his student days. Within hours of the first report of the yearbook picture surfacing on the website Big League Politics on Friday, Mr Northam had issued a statement. That was not Ralph Northam.” He went on to say that he had once darkened his face with shoe-polish during a Michael Jackson impersonation at an event in San Antonio in 1984. “Governor Northam has lost all moral authority and should resign immediately, Justin Fairfax is the leader Virginia needs now,” he added, referring to Justin Fairfax, the African-American lieutenant governor of the state who would take over if Mr Northam resigns. House speaker Nancy Pelosi called on Mr Northam to resign.

Source: The Irish Times February 03, 2019 20:48 UTC