Rep. Steve King (R-IA) blew up at a questioner participating in the Greater Des Moines Partnership forum Thursday who asked the congressman what separated his ideology from that of Robert Bowers, the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter.
When the questioner compared the anti-immigrant rhetoric both have expressed, King interrupted.
“Do not associate me with that shooter,” King said, pointing at the questioner. “I knew you were an ambusher when you walked in the room, but there is no basis for that and you get no question and no answer.”
As the questioner tried to press on with his query, King repeatedly cut him off.
“No, you’re done, we don’t play those games in Iowa,” he said. “You have crossed the line. It is not tolerable to accuse me of being associated with that guy who shot 11 people in Pittsburgh. I am a person who has supported Israel since the beginning.”
King started gathering his papers, threatening to leave until a moderator stepped in to try to move on to another question.
The questioner persisted, prompting an outburst from King. “Stop it! You’re done!” he said, his voice breaking.
King then ordered that the questioner be escorted from the room.
King has been the focus of intense scrutiny this week, as his most recent demonstrated comfort with white nationalists has provoked pushback from his corporate sponsors and the NRCC.
Watch here (this exchange starts at about 21:22):
