Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA) offered an apology to Kellyanne Conway four days after saying she “looked kind of familiar” on her knees in the Oval Office.
Richmond issued a statement Sunday apologizing for comments he made at the Washington Press Club Foundation dinner about a photo of Conway sitting on her knees in the Oval Office, the Washington Times reported.
“After a discussion with people I know and trust I understand the way my remarks have been received by many,” the statement said. “I have consistently been a champion for women and women’s issues, and because of that the last thing I would want to ever do is utter words that would hurt or demean them. I apologize to Kellyanne Conway and everyone who has found my comments to be offensive.”
Richmond made the comments in response to Sen. Tim Scott’s (R-SC) comment about “a whole lot worse” happening on that couch in the 1990s, referencing former President Bill Clinton’s affair with then-White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
“You even mentioned Kellyanne and that picture on that sofa,” Richmond said. “I really want to know what was going on there because she really looked kind of familiar in that position there, but don’t answer.”
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi refused to condemn the attack after being pressed by CNN’s Jake Tapper on State of the Union, and many Democrats did not call out the congressman for his choice of words.
Some Democrats, including Chelsea Clinton and Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, did condemn Richmond for his comment. Clinton called the attack “despicable,” while the Louisiana governor did not find the remarks “funny” or “appropriate.” Both asked Richmond to apologize.
Republicans, on the other hand, went out in full force to criticize the congressman for his remarks. The Republican National Committee chair, Ronna Romney McDaniel, for example, as well as numerous others on social media, spoke out against the congressman.
Conway called Richmond’s joke “sexist and unfunny.”
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.