RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The Latest on former Virginia L. Douglas Wilder saying a review panel has cleared him of an allegation made by a woman who said he kissed her without his consent (all times local):
12:22 p.m.
A lawyer for a college student who accused former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder of kissing her without her consent says a review panel that cleared him of that allegation also found his interactions with the woman concerning.
Wilder said Thursday that an internal review panel at Virginia Commonwealth University rejected a finding by an investigator who found he kissed Sydney Black without her consent.
Black’s attorney, Jason Wolfrey, confirmed the panel’s finding, but said the group “didn’t exactly clear him altogether.”
Wolfrey said the panel’s written report cites facts not disputed by Wilder, including that he gave the underage student alcohol on two occasions and was alone with her in his two homes. Wolfrey said the panel found that conduct “deeply concerning.”
A VCU spokesman did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
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11:24 a.m.
The nation’s first elected African American governor says a review panel has cleared him of allegations from a college student who accused him of kissing her without her consent.
Former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder held a news conference Thursday to address the complaint made by a Virginia Commonwealth University student who said the 88-year-old Wilder took her to dinner for her 20th birthday, gave her alcohol and kissed her.
An independent investigation commission by VCU concluded he had kissed the student, Sydney Black, without her consent. Wilder contested that investigation and said Thursday that an internal review panel rejected its finding and determined he was not responsible for nonconsensual sexual contact.
Wilder was elected governor in 1989. He later served a term as Richmond’s mayor and teaches at VCU.
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