Congressman Cedric Richmond issues apology to Trump adviser for comments about photo

By WAFB Staff | March 6, 2017 at 12:51 AM CST - Updated August 12 at 3:20 PM

WASHINGTON, DC (WAFB) - US Rep. Cedric Richmond issued a statement Sunday apologizing for his comments earlier in the week about Kellyanne Conway, counselor to President Donald Trump.

After a discussion with people I know and trust I understand the way my remarks have been received by many. I have consistently been a champion for women and women's issues, and because of that the last thing I would want to ever do is utter words that would hurt or demean them. I apologize to Kellyanne Conway and everyone who has found my comments to be offensive.

Many lawmakers, including Gov. John Bel Edwards, had called for Richmond to apologize.

Conway was photographed kneeling on a couch inside the Oval Office during a meeting with presidents of historically black colleges and universities from across the country. Social media ripped into Conway, with many users calling the photo embarrassing and disrespectful, but Richmond came under fire after he chose to weigh in on the picture with a seemingly suggestive take on the image.

During Wednesday's annual Washington Press Club Foundation congressional dinner, Richmond said that Conway "looked kind of familiar there in that position." While the event is known for the jokes that are told there, many did not find any humor in Richmond's remarks.

The congressman was quick to correct his words Thursday, issuing a statement reading:

Since some people have interpreted my joke to mean something that it didn't, I think it is important to clarify what I meant. Where I grew up, saying that someone is looking or acting 'familiar' simply means that they are behaving too comfortably.