Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen said recently that he hoped President Trump would tell GOP Rep. Marsha Blackburn to jump off a bridge, which was met with a round of laughter from the audience.
Speaking at an event to promote former Gov. Phil Bredesen, who is Ms. Blackburn’s Democratic opponent for a Tennessee Senate seat.
Mr. Cohen framed Ms. Blackburn as just another candidate that will fall in line with Mr. Trump.
“He’s [Mr. Trump] going to come down here and he is going to endorse Marsha Blackburn, because Marsha Blackburn, if he says, ’Jump off the Harahan Bridge,’ she’ll jump off the Harahan Bridge,” he said, “I wish he’d say that.”
Huffington Post and the Tennessean both released audio of the event.
According to the HuffPo report, Mr. Cohen clarified his remarks in an interview and stressed that he was joking.
“I wish her no harm. I hope she doesn’t get the Senate. And I wish she wasn’t a lackey for Trump. But I don’t wish her physical harm,” he told HuffPo reporters.
The two congressional candidates are caught in a close race, though Real Clear Politics has Mr. Bredesen pulling ahead by an average of 4.5 points.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.
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