RICHMOND, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Republican Lt. Governor nominee John Reid says he’s going nowhere and will see those accusing him of sexual indiscretions on what he calls a fake social media profile in court. Reid, the son of a long-time former Virginia Republican legislator, is the first openly gay candidate in Virginia on a statewide ticket. He became the GOP nominee last week when Fairfax Supervisor Pat Herrity withdrew from a primary contest for health reasons. On Friday, Governor Youngkin called on Reid to step aside after the alleged social media profile, using a handle Reid was said to have used in the past, surfaced with lewd photos of other people. Reid Friday said it is a fake profile, and he the images are people with whom he is not associated.

In a video posted Sunday to his X account, Reid said his representatives were told his opposition would purchase the opposition research if he withdrew from the race, and accusations would stop. Reid said this is extortion, which is illegal in Virginia. Reid in the video says he’s a conservative Trump supporter and is gay, and everybody knows it because he’s told people in person and in the media for decades. He said he’s “sickened and outraged by weeks of veiled accusations and attacks on his family” and will no longer “answer a never-ending parade of questions and falso accusations” from those who want to “stage a coup against someone they didn’t want to be the nominee, but didn’t have the guts to run against”.

“I’m the Republican nominee for Lt. Governor, and I’m more transparent, more conservative, and I’m tougher than any of my detractors and I’m not going anywhere. Except to get back on the campaign trail, win this election, and take these people to court.”