Republican sheriff cuts advert endorsing Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger

Republican Police Chief Chris Jenkins is throwing his assist behind Rep. Abigail Spanberger in a brand new advert because the Virginia Democrat faces a heated race in opposition to GOP nominee Yesli Vega to signify the state’s seventh Congressional District.

Within the 30-second clip, the Culpeper police chief takes goal at Vega, supervisor and sheriff’s deputy in Prince William County, for suggesting throughout a marketing campaign occasion earlier this yr that being pregnant is much less possible after rape.

Vega has defended the remark, made in response to an attendee's query on abortion.

"I actually was not downplaying something," she instructed the Washington Examiner at a marketing campaign cease on Monday. "I all the time attempt to be conscious of what individuals share with me, and what that particular person was sharing with me was a examine that she had learn, and I did not need to be dismissive. I am a regulation enforcement officer. I've labored these instances, and disgrace on my opponent for attempting to make use of that to attain low cost political factors."

Jenkins additionally blasted the GOP candidate for her response to the Jan. 6 riot on the Capitol.

EX-GOP REP. DENVER RIGGLEMAN CUTS AD FOR DEMOCRAT ABIGAIL SPANBERGER

“I have been a police officer for 45 years. I've spent a lifetime defending this neighborhood, and I believed I had seen all the things — till now,” he mentioned within the advert, titled “Shocked.”

“When Yesli Vega, a police officer, mentioned she doubts rape results in being pregnant, I used to be shocked. She bashed the FBI and defended those that attacked the Capitol — that is simply flawed. I’m a Republican, and I’m supporting Abigail Spanberger as a result of she places nation and neighborhood over occasion.”

Spanberger, a former CIA case officer who unseated former Rep. Dave Brat (R-VA) in 2018, has been in a heated battle to retain her swing seat, with nonpartisan handicapper Cook dinner Political Report score it as “leans Democrat.”

The Virginia Democrat thanked Jenkins in an announcement, slamming Vega’s stance on abortion and touting her expertise in regulation enforcement.

“My opponent has doubted that victims of rape can grow to be pregnant, voted 3 times in opposition to funding native police departments as a member of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, bashed federal regulation enforcement officers for conducting a authorized search, and defended the insurrectionists on January 6 who attacked the U.S. Capitol and the regulation enforcement officers sworn to guard it,” she mentioned.

“As a former federal regulation enforcement officer, I imagine within the rule of regulation," she added. "At a time when Virginians are involved in regards to the security of our communities, I'm working to ship. I've voted with a majority of my colleagues within the U.S. Home to extend funding for native police departments, enact widespread sense gun violence prevention, and assist these fighting substance use problems.”

Jenkins isn't the primary right-leaning particular person to return out in assist of Spanberger, with former GOP Rep. Denver Riggleman (VA) having lower an advert, launched earlier this month, in an effort to spice up her odds in November.