2020 Candidates Call on Steve King to Resign Over Rape and Incest Comments: ‘You Are a Disgrace’
Several 2020 presidential candidates are calling on Rep. Steve King (R-IA) to resign following his newly-publicized comments on rape and incest.
“What if we went back through all the family trees and just pulled out anyone who was a product of rape or incest?” King said earlier this week at Iowa’s Westside Conservative Club. “Would there be any population of the world left if we did that?”
Now, two senators seeking the Democratic nomination for president are calling on King to step down. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) are asking the Hawkeye State congressman to leave his post.
Iowans have long deserved better than Steve King and his hateful, insulting words,” Booker said. “He should resign.”
“You are a disgrace,” Gillibrand said — in words directed at King. “Resign.”
Iowans have long deserved better than Steve King and his hateful, insulting words. He should resign.
We can show him it’s time to go by donating to the guy who will beat him—my inspiring friend @JDScholten: https://t.co/v3Kd7Y9JCV https://t.co/g6cgOswmjp
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) August 14, 2019
.@SteveKingIA: You are a disgrace. Resign. https://t.co/Tbu1e1mZ9O
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) August 14, 2019
South Bend, IN Mayor Pete Buttigieg also seems to be on the resignation train. Buttigieg told NBC News, “I would think anybody who had said something that extreme would resign. But then again, I doubt that he’ll actually do it.”
JUST IN – @PeteButtigieg tells me in @NBCNews interview that @SteveKingIA’s new comments are “extremely disturbing.
“I would think anybody who had said something that extreme would resign. But then again, I doubt that he’ll actually do it.”
— Josh Lederman (@JoshNBCNews) August 14, 2019
Former HUD secretary Julian Castro didn’t use the word resignation, but did say, “Steve King has no place in Congress. Time and time again, he has embarrassed himself and denigrated his office.”
Steve King has no place in Congress. Time and time again, he has embarrassed himself and denigrated his office.
Hey, @JDScholten, I’m ready for another Winnebago road trip—it’s time to unseat this bigot.https://t.co/eHnsSqLA7F
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) August 14, 2019
Former congressman and 2020 candidate John Delaney called on King to resign back in January. It seems unlikely his stance has changed — particularly in light of these new comments.
UPDATE: Indeed, Delaney is renewing his call for the congressman to step down.
Fmr Rep @JohnDelaney is calling on Steve King to resign pic.twitter.com/r4Wm0bPP7e
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) August 14, 2019
UPDATE 4:53 p.m. ET — Add Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to the list.
Steve King must resign. His latest comment is a disgusting attack on victims of sexual assault. The people of #IA04 deserve better. We must work together to elect @JDScholten in 2020. https://t.co/y5QDB4ToHc
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) August 14, 2019
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