Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), one of the most conservative members of Congress, said today that he has never heard of a situation in which rape has caused pregnancy.
“I just haven’t heard of that being a circumstance that’s been brought to me in any personal way, and I’d be open to discussion about that subject matter,” King said during an interview with Iowa’s KMEG TV.
King’s remarks nearly echoed those of fellow Republican Rep. Todd Akin (Mo.), who said Sunday that cases of “legitimate rape” have rarely resulted in the victim becoming pregnant.
Though he did not explicitly call for Akin to remain in his U.S. Senate race against Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill, King praised Akin for being “a strong Christian man, with a wonderful family.”
“I think this election should be about, how did Todd Akin vote and what did he vote for and what did he stand for and in this case, I’m seeing the same thing, petty personal attacks substituting for strong policy,” King said.
One of the bills Akin has voted for, H.R. 3, would place a federal ban on abortion except in the event of “forcible rape.” The bill, which passed the House, was co-sponsored by 227 Republicans in the House.
