Juan Herrera
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON (WMAL) – Virginia Governor Ralph Northam released a statement today regarding the Eastern Virginia Medical School investigation, where he denied that he was in the photo of a man in blackface standing next to someone in a Ku Klux Klan hood and robe that was published in the school’s 1984 yearbook.
This response from Northam came after the conclusion of an investigation ordered by Eastern Virginia Medical School that failed to determine whether Northam was in the racist photo.
In the statement, Northam said he had cooperated with the investigation.
“I have cooperated with Richard Cullen and his team over the course of their investigation, both by making myself available for interviews and by turning over the findings of my private inquiry into the matter,” Northam said in a statement. “I am not in the racist and offensive photo that appears under my name in the 1984 Eastern Virginia Medical School yearbook.”
The Virginia governor also issued an apology over how he responded to questions regarding the blackface photo.
“That being said, I know and understand the events of early February and my response to them have caused hurt for many Virginians and for that, I am sorry,” Northam said in a statement. “I felt it was important to take accountability for the photo’s presence on my page, but rather than providing clarity, I instead deepened pain and confusion.”
Northam concluded his statement by explaining what his future actions will be now that the investigation is over.
“In visits with local leaders across the Commonwealth, I have engaged in frank and necessary dialogue on how I can best utilize the power of the governor’s office to enact meaningful progress on issues of equity and better focus our administration’s efforts for the remainder of my term,” Northam said. “That conversation will continue, with ensuing action, and I am committed to working to build a better and more equitable Virginia for all who call it home.”
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