Oklahoma legislators on hot mic appear to joke about sexual misconduct

Two state legislators in Oklahoma appeared to joke about sexual misconduct allegations in remarks made near a hot mic on Monday, according to a local TV station.

KWTV-News 9 in Oklahoma City reported that while awaiting the start of a press conference by Gov. Kevin Stitt (R), state Rep. Mark McBride (R) could be heard talking to state Rep. Scott Fetgatter (R).

{mosads}“You molested this girl after Kannady did?” McBride asked.

“No, I was at the table and I allowed it,” Fetgatter said in an apparent response.

“Are you sure it wasn’t a donkey or a goat?” McBride then said.

The comments can be heard starting at the four-minute mark in a video of the press conference from News 9.

The conversation appeared to reference a reported investigation involving state Rep. Chris Kannady (R) and accusations against him of inappropriately touching a female representative. Kannady dismissed the allegations in a text to local station News 4.

Fetgatter told News 9 that his comments were taken out of context and apologized if they trivialized sexual assault.

“My comments have been taken out of context and were only in response to a question directed toward me. I apologize if my remarks in any way trivialized the serious nature of sexual assault,” Fetgatter told the news station. “To be clear I have never seen anything inappropriate happen or sexual harassment occur during my time in the House of Representatives.”

“I hope this investigation, which is routine when an HR complaint is filed, is settled quickly so that reputations of the innocent are preserved,” he added.

News 9 said McBride declined to comment on the matter.

Neither Fetgatter nor McBride immediately responded to requests for comment from The Hill.