Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is embroiled in a controversy within the Virginia GOP after he asked a conservative radio host to withdraw from the race for lieutenant governor of the state due to a sexual scandal.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that John Reid, a Richmond, Virginia radio host, was asked by GOP researchers to withdraw his show after they found sexually explicit online posts that were allegedly linked to him.

Reid, an openly gay man, confirmed Youngkin’s call in a statement. The former radio host denied that the images were connected to him and said he would not back down.

Reid stated, “I have been the target of malicious and salacious lies for as long as I’ve been in public. This is the 2nd overt attempt at trying to force me out of the race. Later today, I’ll be able to add more.”

DailyMail.com reported on Sunday that Matt Moran resigned as the leader of Youngkin’s Spirit of Virginia PAC after he had been accused of pressuring Reid into removing himself from Virginia’s GOP ticket. Moran denies the allegations.

According to The Richmonder, on April 25, certain images that were disputed on a Tumblr page and later removed were linked with a username that matched Reid’s name on other social media profiles. These posts were dated between 2018 and 2020.

“A total fabricated internet lie so basic that a middle-schooler could have constructed it,” Reid said in a short video. “It’s predictable. But what I didn’t expect was the governor I have always supported to call and demand my resignation without even showing me the supposed evidence or offering me a chance to respond. I did not accept that, and I deeply resent it.”

Youngkin defended the decision he made to ask Reid to resign as nominee.

The Washington Post reported that the governor stated last week: “Explicit social-media content such as this is a distractor.” It’s a distractor for campaigns and it keeps people from paying attention to important issues.

Reid was on a GOP slate that seemed to be set up with Lt. Winsome Earle Sears is running for governor and Jason Miyares, the Attorney General, is seeking re-election.

Youngkin is not eligible to run for re-election as Virginia governors cannot serve consecutive terms.

Earle-Sears did not ask Reid to stand aside.

John Reid is the Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor. Governor. She posted on X that it was his race, and only his decision to move forward. “We each have our own race.”

Early voting for the primary elections on June 17 began Friday.