Rep. Mark Sanford, R-S.C., walked back his comment Thursday about how President Trump is “partially to blame” for the venomous environment that led to the shooting at the GOP baseball practice this week, only to lay the blame on everyone.
Speaking to Anderson Cooper on CNN at the Congressional Baseball Game, Sanford said, “I want to be clear, I didn’t blame him for the shooting,” referring to Trump.
Instead, Sanford said he was commenting on the “breakdown of civility” and that “everybody is to blame,” including Trump. He then singled out the “problem” initiated by Trump when, during the campaign, he encouraged violence at a rally and said he’d pay for any legal fees.
Rep. Sanford: I didn’t blame the President for the shooting that took place yesterday https://t.co/YZ32bCBsdM https://t.co/4VbopgTiFB— Anderson Cooper 360 (@AC360) June 16, 2017
Sanford also remarked that keeping alive a civil debate about these issues is important.
