Bennett Calls Comstock's Rebuke of Trump Too Late

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA -- Democrat LuAnn Bennett, who is gunning for the 10th congressional district seat of incumbent Republican Congresswoman Barbara Comstock, said Wednesday that Comstock's rebuke of GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump Friday was too late, and questioned where she was she Trump made previous controversial statements about women, Hispanics, Muslims and other minorities.

Comstock was one of the first Republicans calling on Trump to end his presidential campaign after a video was released Friday featured audio of the candidate bragging about forcing himself on women in graphic, vulgar terms in 2005.

But Bennett and a group of women from Virginia’s 10th congressional district asked of Comstock Wednesday in a news conference held at Bennett's campaign headquarters in McLean: “Where were you when Donald Trump attacked us?”

“I’m afraid that what my opponent was clearly watching for was how best to preserve her own political career," Bennett said at the news conference. “What remains true is that Barbara Comstock and Donald Trump share the same reckless agenda. An agenda that is a stark contrast to the agenda I am running on. Barbara Comstock and Donald Trump share positions on many issues like women’s health, immigration, equal pay, climate change, and gun safety. These positions are out of step with Northern Virginia.”

Several women who appeared with Bennett also questioned what they called Comstock's inaction regarding some of Trump's controversial statements during his presidential campaign. “Barbara Comstock has said she’s been watching, but when Donald Trump attacked me and my community, she stood silently with him … now she wants to renounce Donald Trump, but for me, it’s too late,” said Sadaf Iqbal, Muslim-American mother of three girls.

Comstock has denounced Trump's plan to ban Muslims traveling into the United States, proposed by Trump last December, calling it "un-American" and "un-Constitutional." After Trump attacked the Khan family, Comstock tweeted: “Captain Khan And His Family Should Have The Gratitude Of Every American Of Every Race Color, And Creed.

Danitza Vasquez Ribera Torrico, Hispanic-American mother of three, who also appeared at Wednesday's news conference with Bennett, asked of Comstock: “Where were you when Donald Trump attacked me and my community?

Trump said in his speech when he announced he was running for president that "When Mexico sends its people... They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."

The Comstock campaign has called Trump's comments about Judge Gonzalo Curiel "abhorrent and indefensible." Trump had said the judge should recuse himself from overseeing class action lawsuits against Trump University due to the judge's Mexican heritage.

“As a former Justice Department senior official, Congresswoman Comstock finds the comments about Judge Curiel abhorrent and indefensible,’ Ken Nunnenkamp, the Comstock campaign's political director, told the Loudoun Times-Mirror.

After Trump attacked the Khan family, Comstock Tweeted: “Captain Khan And His Family Should Have The Gratitude Of Every American Of Every Race Color, And Creed.

Liz Miller, a women's rights activist said of Comstock Wednesday: “Where was she when he talked about ranking women on their looks? Where was she when he attacked Meghan Kelly for asking questions at a debate, like she should?”

“You were silent because you agree with him," Miller said. "You both oppose equal pay for equal work, and you both oppose a women’s right to choose and make their own healthcare decisions.”

Thelma Dodson, an African-American grandmother also spoke at Wednesday's news conference, stating that “Barbara Comstock does not listen to what the people in the 10th district have to say, and I know that LuAnnBennett will do the things we need to make this Loudoun county a great place”

Comstock's campaign manager Susan Falconer shot back in a statement Wednesday, defending Comstock and her positions on Trump, and also attacked Bennett:

“The Congresswoman has made her statement on this matter and has made her views known since last fall," Falconer said. "She is focused on serving her constituents and meeting and visiting with them every day as she did this weekend when she attended Clifton Day in Fairfax, Brambleton Fall Festival in Loudoun, an NAACP event in Loudoun, and two large Indian American celebrations following her son’s wedding on Saturday. No one works harder for getting results for her constituents on their priorities than Congresswoman Comstock."

PHOTO: Democratic candidate LuAnn Bennett, who is campaigning for the 10th congressional District, speaks Wednesday at her campaign headquarters in McLean. Photo courtesy of Bennett campaign.