Rep. Mark Walker called his female colleagues “eye candy” during a press conference outside of the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday.
“The accomplished men and women of the RSC. And women, if it wasn’t sexist, I would say the RSC eye candy, but we’ll leave that out of the record,” Walker said.
The North Carolina Republican, who chairs the conservative Republican Study Committee, was speaking about tax reform and healthcare when he made the remark during a committee press conference. Female members of the committee, including Reps. Diane Black and Mia Love, were present.
“During a press event today, I made a flippant remark meant to be light-hearted, but fell short,” Walker said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “I’m proud of the women who serve in Congress, and in the leadership of the Republican Study Committee.”
The two-term congressman is a former Baptist pastor.
