Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA) apologized for warning that if Republicans won control of the Senate in the 2014 midterm elections, “a farmer from Iowa who never went to law school” could become chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The apology, released by Braley’s Senate campaign, came a few hours after video footage of Braley at a fundraiser in Texas surfaced. The comments were a clear shot at Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the ranking Republican on the committee.
Here’s Braley’s full statement:
I apologize to Senator Grassley and anyone I may have offended. I respect Senator Grassley and enjoy our working relationship even though we disagree on some issues.
But there is a clear choice in this race between Mark Jacobs and my other opponents who support policies that are bad for Iowa farmers, and the work I’ve done hand in hand with Iowa farmers to grow Iowa’s farm economy and create good paying Iowa farm jobs.
My parents both grew up on Iowa farms during the Great Depression. It deeply influenced who they are and who I am, and gave me a profound appreciation for what farmers do for the world. One of my grandfathers was a charter member of the Iowa Farm Bureau. I grew up in rural Iowa, doing farm jobs and working a grain elevator. I have tremendous respect for Iowa farmers and appreciate how important they are to our state, and I’m grateful to have the support of hundreds of farmers across Iowa.
Watch the video of Braley’s comments, by the Republican-leaning opposition shop America Rising, here.
