ST. JOSEPH, MI (WHTC) – Fred Upton was not in Donald Trump's camp before Friday's release of an 11-year-old video, and the Chairman of the US House Energy and Commerce Committee apparently distanced himself even further from the Republican Presidential Nominee on Saturday.
In a video from 2005 released in a Washington Post story, Trump talked in vulgar terms about trying to have sex with women. While his campaign issued an apology for those remarks on Friday, many leading GOP figures have denounced the video and Trump.
Upton, a 15-term Republican Congressman from St. Joseph, issued this statement: “These degrading and dangerous comments are utterly indefensible. I chose early on not to endorse due to his previous off track comments, and this only confirms that decision. It’s a new low. It’s outrageous. As a husband and father, I feel angry and sickened. Those running for the office of the president are rightfully held to a higher standard. These latest transgressions are so grave. I urge him to think about our country over his own candidacy and carefully consider stepping aside from the ticket.”
Upton made headlines this summer when he said that he would “stay in his lane” and not support Trump's presidential effort.