Former Rep. Todd Akin, whose abortion comment sunk his political profession, dies at 74
Former Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri, whose “reputable rape” remark helped tank his possibilities to win a Senate seat, has died at 74.
The previous congressman’s, son, Perry Akin, advised the Related Press his father had most cancers for a number of years and died at his house in Wildwood, Missouri, close to St. Louis.
The conservative Republican was a Home member for over a decade earlier than shedding a bid for the U.S. Senate, which was sunk by controversial remarks about rape and abortion.
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“As my father’s demise approached, we had folks from all completely different walks of life share story after story of the non-public affect he had on them,” Perry Akin stated. “He was a religious Christian, an excellent father, and a buddy to many. We cherish many fond recollections from him driving the tractor at our annual hayride, to his riveting supply of the liberty story at 4th of July events dressed within the full uniform of a colonial minuteman. The household is grateful for his legacy: a person with a servant’s coronary heart who stood for fact.”
Akin represented Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District from 2001 to 2013 earlier than giving up a seat that had been thought-about secure for a 2012 Senate bid in opposition to incumbent Democrat Sen. Claire McCaskill. Akin went on to lose the race by 16 proportion factors in a end result that helped Democrats preserve management of the U.S. Senate.
Throughout an interview with St. Louis tv station KTVI , Akin was requested whether or not abortions for ladies who’ve been raped must be authorized. Akin referred to as such situations “actually uncommon,” including, “If it’s a reputable rape, the feminine physique has methods to attempt to shut that entire factor down.”
The comment about “reputable rape” prompted a nationwide controversy. Mitt Romney, then the Republican nominee for president, distanced himself from Akin, calling for him to exit the race, as did Reince Priebus, who was then the Republican Social gathering’s nationwide chairman.
McCaskill later revealed a guide, writing that she sought to assist Akin win the Republican major as a result of she thought she might most simply defeat him.
McCaskill wrote on Twitter on Monday that Akin was “a pleasant man,” including that “though we had main disagreements about nearly every thing, he was genuine to his beliefs.”
“He truly believed in every thing he stated, which is a tribute to his character,” she stated. “My ideas are together with his beautiful household.”
I simply realized that Todd Akin has died. He was a pleasant man,and though we had main disagreements about nearly every thing, he was genuine to his beliefs. He truly believed in every thing he stated, which is a tribute to his character. My ideas are together with his beautiful household.
— Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) October 4, 2021
Akin is survived by his spouse, Lulli Boe Akin, his mom, Nancy Bigelow Akin, 4 sons, two daughters, and 18 grandchildren.
