Youngkin asks lieutenant governor candidate to withdraw

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has asked Richmond-area radio personality John Reid to withdraw as the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, numerous news outlets are reporting. The story, first reported by The Richmonder, says GOP researchers found sexually explicit posts online they believe are connected with Reid.

Reid denied posting the images. In a statement to The Richmonder, he confirmed Youngkin called him on April 25 and said “There were salacious pictures on the internet reposted by an account that uses my Instagram handle.”

If Reid drops out, the Republicans will have to come up with a new lieutenant governor nominee.

Until recently, Reid expected to face off in a Republican Primary against Springfield Supervisor Pat Herrity. But Herrity dropped out on April 22, citing health reasons.

Related story: Herrity quits race for lieutenant governor

“As long as I have been in the public space, I have been a target for malicious and salacious lies,” said Reid, the former host of a conservative talk show on WRVA. “This is the second overt attempt to try to force me from the race.”

Reid claims he’s being targeted by his fellow Republicans because he’s openly gay.

According to the Washington Post, some of the pictures in question showed male genitalia, but Reid didn’t appear in any of the images. The account was taken down after the story broke.

Reid released a video calling the posting “a total fabricated internet lie so basic that a middle-schooler could have constructed it.” He expressed disappointment that the governor he had always supported would “demand my resignation without even showing me the supposed evidence or offering me a chance to respond.”