Occam’s Razor. His close friend owned such a pair and was photographed wearing them. There is no photographic evidence that Northam ever had such a pair.
Many things are “possible”. Fortunately that’s not how our rules of evidence work.
Northam could have done anything, unless it could be proven to be impossible.
And of course that same standard could be applied to any of us, meaning that our sole defense is reduced to proving that a charge made against us is impossible to have occurred.
The blond in the plaid pants appears to be named Terry Smoot. https://me.me/i/ralph-northam-terry-smoot-cers-president-ralph-northam-vice-president-keith-6a08742b000442bbbfaad8d8b445c6b1
In August, Northam appointed Raymond Smoot to the Commonwealth Transportation Board.
https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/all-releases/2018/august/headline-828913-en.html