GOP congressman apologizes after Facebook post about rape of South African teens resurfaces
"I made disgusting and inappropriate jokes that I am embarrassed to have associated with my name today," Rep. Brian Mast said Tuesday.
A Florida Republican is apologizing for his inappropriate comments about underage girls and rape more than a decade ago.
Rep. Brain Mast repeated a lot of crude jokes while serving in the U.S. Army stationed in South Africa, one of which involves raping as a pick-up line.
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“A decade ago when I was in the Army, and following my injury, I made disgusting and inappropriate jokes that I am embarrassed to have associated with my name today,” he said in a statement Tuesday, according to The Hill.
“I am sorry about that part of who I was, and I strive every day to be a better example for my kids,” he continued.
On a picture taken by his campaign manager Rocco LeDonni on a trip to South Africa in 2009 and posted on Facebook, the army veteran joked that he was “proud” of him for potentially having sex with teenagers.
“im [sic] so proud of you… i hope you hook up with at least fifteen 15 year olds over there…. its legel there right.”
In 2011, LeDonni asked in a Facebook post, “Anyone have any good pick up lines for this weekend considering according to the crazy christian radio guy the world may end on sunday?” In response, Mast said, “How about don’t turn this rape into a murder.”
A source close to Mast said that he was undergoing multiple surgeries and took heavy doses of prescribed medications as a result of both of his legs and a finger getting severed in Afghanistan in 2010, The Hill reported.
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“As a result, he was regularly on morphine, oxycodone, sleep sedatives, anti-inflammatories and anti-depressants. I bring this up only to say that his memories of this time in his life are inconsistent. His recovery, and the similarly timed birth of his first child, was a life-changing event for him both personally and professionally,” the source said.
Mast’s former campaign consultant Jacob Perry condemned his former client’s social media posts, telling The Hill his “comments are vile, disgusting and inexcusable.”
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