US Democrats urge Jen Kiggans to resign for agreeing with racist ‘cotton-picking’ remark

Congresswoman says she did not condone radio host’s language about Hakeem Jeffries, the top House Democrat

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Jen Kiggans, a Republican congresswoman, is facing calls from Democrats to resign for agreeing with a radio host after he said the top US House Democrat, Hakeem Jeffries, should get his “cotton-picking hands off of Virginia”.

Kiggans, who represents a swing district in southeastern Virginia, has said she was agreeing with the host that Jeffries – who is the first Black American to lead a party in Congress – should stay out of the state’s politics. She also said she did not condone the host’s language, which multiple Democrats criticized as racist.