Well, there’s one person offering cover for embattled Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam. The Democratic governor has been stacking sandbags all weekend, resisting calls to resign after a racist photo on his yearbook page was revealed. It shows two men in racist attire. One is wearing blackface while the other is in a full-blown Ku Klux Klan outfit. To make matters worse, Northam admitted to being in the photo on Friday night in an official statement, which did not specify which character he was in the picture.
Yet, his old college roommate has come forward to say that Northam went as a lawyer to this Halloween party, where this controversial photo was supposedly taken. Northam went as a lawyer and he’s pretty sure that isn’t him in the photo either. NBC 12 Richmond has the story [emphasis mine]:
EXCLUSIVE: I just talked with a man who says he was Gov Northam's college roommate. He says he was at the party where the picture was taken and does NOT believe it is Northam. He says the Gov went as a lawyer. The man also says he talked with #Northam Saturday. Tonight on @NBC12
— Eric Perry (@EricpNBC12) February 4, 2019
EXCLUSIVE: Gov. Northam's roommate from medical school tells @EricpNBC12 the governor went as a lawyer to the party. https://t.co/AGmk90zcDe
— NBC12 WWBT Richmond (@NBC12) February 4, 2019
I’m proud to have been his roommate,” said Rob Marsh, the man who says he was Governor Ralph Northam’s medical school roommate.
Marsh, the co-chairman of the social committee that sponsored the Halloween party, is speaking out for the first time on the controversial racist images that have many calling for Northam’s resignation.
“I was truly stunned. One, I didn’t recognize that picture, I didn’t know anyone in it and didn’t know where or when it was taken,” said Marsh.
[…]
“I was at the Halloween party the governor went to and I know what he was wearing exactly,” Marsh explained.
Marsh said Northam’s costume was supposed to be that of an attorney.
[…]
He says he truly believes it is not Northam in the photo.
“No, I don’t think it’s him. I don’t think it looks like him. Ralph is thinner than the people in the picture,” he said.
[…]
Marsh explained that the photo was “out of character” for Northam.
“I think it has really hurt him because I’ve never noticed him to be prejudice before,” said Marsh.
Here’s the thing, this whole “out of character” line blows up, all thanks to Gov. Northam’s own words: he did dress in blackface. He dressed as Michael Jackson for a dance contest in San Antonio. You just cannot spin this. It’s one thing if Northam never engaged in any activity the Left would deem problematic. It’s another to say, ‘that’s not me doing blackface in my yearbook photo, but I did it for a dance contest in Texas.’
Northam claims he did wear blackface to be in a Michael Jackson costume.. which he claims caused his confusion that the picture in the yearbook was him.
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) February 2, 2019
This is like watching a trainwreck in slow motion.
Summary of this Ralph Northam press conference so far: It wasn't me even though last night I said it was me, also once I darkened my face to be Michael Jackson but it was for a skit, and I'm not resigning but also Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax is ready to take over if he needs to.
— Kathryn Watson (@kathrynw5) February 2, 2019
Gov. Northam: "That same year, I did participate in a dance contest ... in which I darkened my face as part of a Michael Jackson costume." pic.twitter.com/3RRhaWLJRY
— NBC News (@NBCNews) February 2, 2019
You just cannot make this stuff up. It’s just a fiasco.