On June 23, 2021, a federal district court upheld a lower court's dismissal of Fairfax's defamation lawsuit against CBS Broadcasting and CBS Corp. in relation to its reporting on accusations of sexual assault against Fairfax. On February 3, 2019, Big League Politics reported that Vanessa Tyson, a professor at Scripps College in California, said Fairfax sexually assaulted her in 2004, when Fairfax was a campaign staffer for John Kerry's (D) presidential campaign. On February 6, Tyson released a statement detailing the allegation. She wrote, "What began as consensual kissing quickly turned into a sexual assault," saying Fairfax forced her to perform oral sex. On February 4, Fairfax called the allegations "false and unsubstantiated." On February 8, 2019, Meredith Watson said in a letter released by her lawyer that Fairfax raped her in 2000 when they were both students at Duke University. "Mr. Fairfax’s attack was premeditated and aggressive," Watson said in the letter. She said the details of her attack were "similar to those described by Dr. Vanessa Tyson." Watson called on Fairfax to resign. In response to Watson's letter, Fairfax denied the allegation. "It is demonstrably false. I have never forced myself on anyone ever," he said in a statement. For more details on Fairfax's, Tyson's, and Watson's statements and responses from prominent Democrats, . On September 12, 2019, Fairfax filed a defamation lawsuit against CBS Broadcasting and CBS Corp., alleging they published false statements from the women who accused him of assault. CBS News said in a statement, "We stand by our reporting and we will vigorously defend this lawsuit." On October 3, 2019, Fairfax filed an amended lawsuit alleging that Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, a former aide to Stoney, and the aide's wife were involved in the release of statements by Tyson. The amended lawsuit read, "The timing and circumstances of these false and salacious allegations demonstrate that it was a political hit job—a deliberate and calculated effort to permanently harm Fairfax’s political and professional career and to attempt to prevent him from becoming Governor of Virginia." Stoney said he was not involved in the release of Tyson's statement. CBS filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on November 1, and a hearing was held December 6. On February 11, 2020, a federal judged dismissed the suit, writing that Fairfax had "not plausibly alleged that CBS engaged in actionable defamation or published the challenged broadcasts with 'actual malice' or that CBS intentionally inflicted emotional distress." Fairfax appealed the ruling. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal on June 23, 2021.

. On February 3, 2019, Big League Politics reported that Vanessa Tyson, a professor at Scripps College in California, said Fairfax sexually assaulted her in 2004, when Fairfax was a campaign staffer for John Kerry's (D) presidential campaign. On February 6, Tyson released a statement detailing the allegation. She wrote, "What began as consensual kissing quickly turned into a sexual assault," saying Fairfax forced her to perform oral sex. On February 4, Fairfax called the allegations "false and unsubstantiated." On February 8, 2019, Meredith Watson said in a letter released by her lawyer that Fairfax raped her in 2000 when they were both students at Duke University. "Mr. Fairfax’s attack was premeditated and aggressive," Watson said in the letter. She said the details of her attack were "similar to those described by Dr. Vanessa Tyson." Watson called on Fairfax to resign. In response to Watson's letter, Fairfax denied the allegation. "It is demonstrably false. I have never forced myself on anyone ever," he said in a statement. For more details on Fairfax's, Tyson's, and Watson's statements and responses from prominent Democrats, . On September 12, 2019, Fairfax filed a defamation lawsuit against CBS Broadcasting and CBS Corp., alleging they published false statements from the women who accused him of assault. CBS News said in a statement, "We stand by our reporting and we will vigorously defend this lawsuit." On October 3, 2019, Fairfax filed an amended lawsuit alleging that Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, a former aide to Stoney, and the aide's wife were involved in the release of statements by Tyson. The amended lawsuit read, "The timing and circumstances of these false and salacious allegations demonstrate that it was a political hit job—a deliberate and calculated effort to permanently harm Fairfax’s political and professional career and to attempt to prevent him from becoming Governor of Virginia." Stoney said he was not involved in the release of Tyson's statement. CBS filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on November 1, and a hearing was held December 6. On February 11, 2020, a federal judged dismissed the suit, writing that Fairfax had "not plausibly alleged that CBS engaged in actionable defamation or published the challenged broadcasts with 'actual malice' or that CBS intentionally inflicted emotional distress." Fairfax appealed the ruling. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals heard the case on March 11, 2021.

On February 3, 2019, Big League Politics reported that Vanessa Tyson, a professor at Scripps College in California, said Fairfax sexually assaulted her in 2004, when Fairfax was a campaign staffer for John Kerry's (D) presidential campaign. On February 6, Tyson released a statement detailing the allegation. She wrote, "What began as consensual kissing quickly turned into a sexual assault," saying Fairfax forced her to perform oral sex. Fairfax denied the allegations. On February 4, he called the allegations "false and unsubstantiated." On February 6, Fairfax asked "the media, my supporters, and others to treat both the woman who made this allegation and my family with respect. ... I wish her no harm or humiliation, nor do I seek to denigrate her or diminish her voice. But I cannot agree with a description of events that I know is not true." Click the links below to access Fairfax's full statements: February 4 statement February 6 statement On February 8, 2019, Meredith Watson said in a letter released by her lawyer that Fairfax raped her in 2000 when they were both students at Duke University. "Mr. Fairfax’s attack was premeditated and aggressive," Watson said in the letter. She said the details of her attack were "similar to those described by Dr. Vanessa Tyson." Watson called on Fairfax to resign. In response to Watson's letter, Fairfax denied the allegation. "It is demonstrably false. I have never forced myself on anyone ever," he said in a statement. Fairfax also called for a "full investigation into these unsubstantiated and false allegations." He said he would work to clear his name and that he had nothing to hide. Members of the Democratic caucuses in the Virginia State Legislature, the state's congressional delegation, and the Legislative Black Caucus called for Fairfax to resign after Watson's letter was published. "While we believe that anyone accused of such a grievous and harmful act must receive the due process prescribed by the Constitution, we can’t see it in the best interest of the Commonwealth of Virginia for the Lieutenant Governor to remain in his role," the Legislative Black Caucus said in a statement.