A Democratic state lawmaker from Illinois said Tuesday she wanted to pump a lethal “broth of Legionella” bacteria into her Republican colleague’s water supply over his stance on a bill aimed at helping victims’ families.
“I would like to make him a broth of Legionella and pump it into the water system of his loved one so that they can be infected, they can be mistreated, they can sit and suffer by getting aspirin instead of being properly treated and ultimately die,” state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit said in comments directed at Rep. Peter Breen.
Illinois Democratic Rep. Stephanie Kifowit calls for the deaths of GOP Rep. Peter Breen’s family: “I would like to make him a broth of Legionella and pump it into the water system of his loved ones so that they can be infected…they can sit and suffer…and ultimately die” pic.twitter.com/zdQmhhrJsh
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) November 30, 2018
Kifowit made the controversial comments during a heated debate on a bill that would help families of those who died from Legionnaires’ disease at a state-run veterans home, and after Breen questioned the cost of the proposal.
The comments prompted condemnation from other Republican colleagues.
“We lost our way today. I cannot fathom the idea that any one of us would ever publicly make a statement that is effectively a wish for a family member of one of our colleagues to die. That is what was said today. I think that’s despicable,” Rep. Keith Wheeler said, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Rep. Jeanne Ives excoriated her Democratic colleague in a speech lasting more than 2 minutes.
“How dare you concoct up some sort of story about brewing up some batch of Legionella and having him feed it to his family?” she said.
In response, Republican Rep. Jeanne Ives blasted Democrat Kifowit: “How dare you concoct up some sort of story about brewing up some batch of Legionella and having him feed it to his family…How dare you…wish death on my colleague Peter Breen, his wife, and his 2 adopted kids” pic.twitter.com/bhv5xblep9
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) November 30, 2018
Kifowit later said her comments were misinterpreted.
“Quite clearly what I said was ‘imagine if it was your family,’” she said, despite not using those words. “So if it was misheard, I’ll apologize for the misheard, but my words were clearly, ‘Imagine if it was your family.’”
On Twitter, she apologized for her choice of words, saying she does not wish harm or death on Breen’s family, or anyone for that matter.
“I offer my sincere apology to Rep Peter Breen, his family, and all of my House colleagues for my poor choice of words during a serious discussion on our Veterans’ health and safety. I would never wish any harm or mortality on anyone’s family, including the Breen family,” she said.
“I offer my sincere apology to Rep Peter Breen, his family, and all of my House colleagues for my poor choice of words during a serious discussion on our Veterans’ health and safety. I would never wish any harm or mortality on anyone’s family, including the Breen family.
— Stephanie Kifowit (@RepKifowit) November 28, 2018
