Virginia lawmaker walks back plan to impeach Justin Fairfax

Virginia Del. Patrick Hope (D) walked back his plan to introduce articles of impeachment against Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, who faces two accusations of sexual assault, on Monday.

The big picture: Hope said he had received "an enormous amount of sincere and thoughtful feedback which has led to additional conversations that need to take place before anything is filed. The AP notes that Virginia's statehouse, which is also contending with blackface scandals involving Gov. Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring, has "little sign of broad appetite for impeachment, with lawmakers set to finish this year’s session by the month’s end." Fairfax has repeatedly denied the assault allegations, labeling them as a "smear" and questioning their public timing.

Go deeper: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam: "I'm not going anywhere"