Calls mount for Rep. Steve King to resign following his comments on rape, incest

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) has found himself in hot water once again for making controversial comments, and politicians on both sides of the political aisle are publicly calling for the congressman to step down.

What are the details?

Earlier this week, Rep. King told an audience at Iowa's Westside Conservative Club, "What if we went back through all the family trees and just pulled out anyone who was a product of rape or incest? Would there be any population of the world left if we did that?" He added, "It's not the baby's fault for the sin of the father, or of the mother."

According to Des Moines Register — the outlet that obtained video footage of the remarks — King was "defending no abortion exemption even in cases of rape or incest."

As the congressman's comments went viral on Wednesday, Democratic presidential candidates came out in droves to denounce King and call for his resignation, including Sens. Cory Booker (N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and others. Several also made pleas for supporters to donate to King's Democratic challenger, J.D. Scholten.

But it wasn't just Democrats who called for King's head.

The third-highest ranking Republican in the House, Rep. Liz Cheney (Wyo.) — who called for King's resignation in January after he questioned why terms like white nationalism and white supremacy had "become offensive" — reiterated her calls for him to step down on Wednesday, tweeting, "Today's comments by @RepSteveKingIA are appalling and bizarre. As I've said before, it's time for him to go."

Rep. King's earlier comments about white nationalism resulted in him being stripped of his House committee assignments. Several high-ranking Republicans at the time — including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell — suggested he find a new line of work.

Anything else?

NBC News likened King's rape and incest comments to those made by former Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), who made a comment while running for Senate against then-candidate Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), "If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut the whole thing down."

McCaskill won against Akin and served one term in the Senate before being toppled by now-Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) last year. She now serves as a contributor on MSNBC, and said Wednesday that King actually makes Akin "look kind of mainstream."