During a “solemn” meeting with members of his Cabinet on Monday, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) reportedly told those in attendance that he wants to clear his name and is concerned about being branded a “racist for life,” CNN reported.
According to a source in the meeting who spoke to CNN, Northam believes that the only way to redeem himself is not to resign, but to stay in office and persuade people that the photo is not reflective of who he is.
The source told CNN that the atmosphere was tense and many Cabinet members expressed concern that Northam may not be able to win back the trust of the people of Virginia.
“We are struggling here, there is no better way to put it. We all love the governor,” the person in the room told CNN. “We don’t think he has a racist bone in his body — but he can’t seem to explain this, and it is making it very difficult for us to stick by him.”
Read more of TPM’s reporting on the meeting here. <
