(WWJ) It's unclear what point he was trying to make when he said it, but a Republican nominee for the Michigan House of Representatives is under fire from fellow conservatives over a comment he made about sexual assault.
Appearing Sunday on a Facebook livestream video for the Michigan Rescue Coalition, Robert "RJ" Regan, who won a Republican primary to fill the House seat in Michigan's 74th district, was discussing contesting the 2020 election when he said: "Having three daughters, I tell my daughters, 'Well, if rape is inevitable, you should just lie back and enjoy it.'"
In a media release on Monday, Michigan Freedom Fund Executive Director Tori Sachs condemned Regan for the statement that she called "despicable" and "disqualifying."
Saches also noted that Regan has this past week been an outspoken advocate for Russian President Vladimir Putin, while he claims that the war against Ukrainian civilians is a "fake war."
According to an MLive report, Regan has said he does not believe the mainstream media's narrative that Ukraine is an innocent victim.
"RJ Regan's disgusting and dehumanizing comments on the horror of sexual assault along with his support of murderous dictator Vladimir Putin are despicable and completely disqualify him from holding public office," said Sachs, in a statement. "I teach my four young daughters to stand up for themselves, to know their worth, and to fight back and speak out against creeps like Regan. RJ Regan doesn't belong anywhere near the state Capitol, and that is why we endorsed and supported his opponent."
While it may have been a bad joke, WXYZ-TV reported that the host of the Facebook program, Adam de Angeli, said he believes Regan "misspoke," while trying to say that not contesting the election would be like telling his daughters to enjoy rape.
"Maybe not the best analogy, but he was speaking extemporaneously," de Angeli told reporter Ross Jones.
District 74 is in West Michigan's Kent County.
WWJ was unable to reach Regan for comment on Monday.
