Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
Brian Mast has denounced Donald Trump’s lewd comments, but appeared to have stopped short of revoking his endorsement of the GOP nominee.
Mast, a Republican running in Florida’s 18th Congressional District, released a statement Saturday saying Trump’s comments about women were “inexcusable and disgusting.”
“As someone with a wife and daughter, I find comments like Mr. Trump’s inexcusable and disgusting,” said Mast in a statement Saturday. “As a father and as a husband I denounce and condemn Mr. Trump’s remarks completely.”
The Washington Post and NBC News on Friday released a 2005 video on which Trump describes trying to have sex with a married woman. He also brags about women letting him kiss and grab them because he is famous.
Democrats in competitive districts across Florida, including the CD-18, have put their Republican opponents on the spot, calling on them to revoke their endorsements.
“I am deeply disturbed and disgusted, not only as a husband and a father, but as a human being. Bragging about groping women is never acceptable, and this type of language can never be tolerated or condoned,” said Democrat Randy Perkins in a statement. “This is why I’m calling on Brian Mast to officially revoke his endorsement of Trump’s candidacy for president.”
Mast endorsed Trump in June, saying at the time he “unanimously and wholeheartedly” gave his support to Trump.
Mast did not appear to walk back his earlier support of Trump in his statement Saturday, which focused solely on Trump’s remarks.
__The Associated Press contributed to this report, reprinted with permission.
