During a Thursday press conference, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) suggested she had not heard controversial comments Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D.) made about abortion the day prior.
"You often talk about the diversity of viewpoints in the Democratic caucus. There are pro-life Democrats in your group. Considering the comments from Governor Northam yesterday, how does that make it harder for pro-life Democrats in the party and does that cause problems?" a reporter asked.
"I'm sorry, I just don't know what he said yesterday," Pelosi responded.
She then turned to other reporters who raised their hands to ask questions.
"Are you going to ask a new question or is it the same old, same old?" Pelosi asked, prompting laughter.
Northam said during an interview Wednesday that physicians should not have to treat babies who survive abortion until they have "had a discussion" with the mother about whether to provide treatment.
"The infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable," he said. "The infant would be resuscitated if that's what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and mother."
Northam's comments came during a discussion of a bill introduced in the Virginia state legislature which, according to the bill's sponsor, would permit abortion up to the moment before birth.
The governor claimed through a spokesperson that critics took his words out of context.
"No woman seeks a third trimester abortion except in the case of tragic or difficult circumstances, such as a nonviable pregnancy or in the event of severe fetal abnormalities, and the governor's comments were limited to the actions physicians would take in the event that a woman in those circumstances went into labor. Attempts to extrapolate these comments otherwise is in bad faith and underscores exactly why the governor believes physicians and women, not legislators, should make these difficult and deeply personal medical decisions," the spokesperson said in a statement.
The Washington Free Beacon emailed Pelosi's office to provide video of Northam's interview, and this post will be updated if any comment is returned.
President Donald Trump criticized the abortion legislation, saying he "thought it was terrible," in an interview with the Daily Caller.
Sen. Ben Sasse (R., Neb.) said Northam should "get the hell out of public office."
"If you can’t say that it’s wrong to leave babies to die after birth, get the hell out of public office," Sasse said.