Candidate Pierce booed for sexual assault remarks at debate

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Republican candidate for Oregon governor drew boos at a Portland debate Friday when he suggested successful women aren’t susceptible to sexual violence.

Dr. Bud Pierce’s remarks came after his Democratic opponent Gov. Kate Brown also disclosed she has been a victim of domestic violence.

Oregon Public Broadcasting reports (https://goo.gl/vJz84c ) that Pierce said “a woman that has a great education and training and a great job is not susceptible to this kind of abuse by men, women or anyone.”

The line drew groans and boos from the audience at the Portland City Club.

Pierce later issued a statement saying in part that he “knows that any woman, regardless of economic status, can be subject to domestic violence and sexual abuse.” He also apologized to Brown and “anyone else who may have taken my comments the wrong way.”

A Brown campaign official told KGW-TV that (https://goo.gl/bU9X7e) the incident referred to did not involve her husband Dan Little.

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Information from: KOPB-FM, http://news.opb.org