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“What if we went back through all the family trees and just pulled those people out that were products of rape and incest? Would there be any population of the world left if we did that?” King, 70, said at an event in Iowa, theRegisterreports.
Cheney, the daughter of former Vice PresidentDick Cheney, called on King to resign on Twitter.
Republican Iowa Sen. Randy Feenstra, who is running against King in 2020, branded the statements“bizarre.”
Democratic leaders weighed in, too, with many taking the opportunity to drum up support for J.D. Scholten, a Democrat who will oppose King in 2020.
“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,” Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who is running for president,wroteon Twitter.
Vermont Sen. Sanderstook a harsher tone, writing, “Steve King is a racist, a misogynist and a disgrace to the country. He should not be a member of the United States Congress.”
Scholten, meanwhile,wrote, “Our congressman continues to push his selfish agenda above the needs of #IA04 – this time he excuses violence. This isn’t what we stand for.”
“These remarks are just so outlandish, out of bounds, out of control,” he said. “I mean, you wonder if he’s out of his mind.”
King has come under fire in the past for the extreme nature of his beliefs, including earlier this year when he questioned how white supremacy was offensive.
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King, a former businessman, was elected to Congress in 2002.
A representative for King did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
source: people.com
