Todd Akin, Whose Senate Bid Collapsed After a Rape Remark, Dies at 74

Politics|Todd Akin, Whose Senate Bid Collapsed After a Rape Remark, Dies astatine 74

William Todd Akin, a six-term Republican typical from Missouri who gave up a harmless spot to tally for the Senate successful 2012, lone to spot his run illness successful a hail of recriminations aft a remark astir “legitimate rape,” died connected Sunday astatine his location successful a St. Louis suburb. He was 74.

His decease successful Wildwood, Mo., aft years of battling cancer, was confirmed by Perry Akin, his son, successful a connection to The Associated Press.

Mr. Akin, an hostile of termination whose governmental emergence was fueled by evangelicals, provoked ire crossed the governmental spectrum aft helium claimed successful a tv interview successful August 2012 that women’s bodies could someway cull pregnancies successful instances of what helium called “legitimate rape.”

“The pistillate assemblage has ways to effort to unopen that full happening down,” Mr. Akin said erstwhile asked astir his stance connected termination successful cases successful which a pistillate had been sexually assaulted. “But let’s presume that possibly that didn’t enactment oregon something: I deliberation determination should beryllium immoderate punishment, but the punishment ought to beryllium of the rapist, and not attacking the child,” helium added.

Mr. Akin’s comments infuriated Democrats and women’s rights groups. Leading experts connected reproductive wellness dismissed his logic.

Republicans, too, were incensed by the comments — immoderate were offended and others were angered that Mr. Akin damaged the Republicans’ bid for a important Senate spot that helium had been favored to triumph earlier the interview.

The Republican statesmanlike summons of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan rapidly distanced itself from Mr. Akin’s remarks.

“His comments astir rape were profoundly offensive, and I can’t support what helium said,” Mr. Romney said successful a connection astatine the time. “I can’t support him.”

Republicans withdrew funds and support successful an effort to thrust Mr. Akin from the race. Ultimately, helium declined calls to measurement down and was soundly beaten by Senator Claire McCaskill, the Democratic incumbent.

Though Mr. Akin initially apologized for the comments, helium aboriginal defended them successful a publication published successful 2014 that elaborate his acquisition arsenic a six-term Republican congressman. By asking the nationalist for forgiveness, Mr. Akin wrote successful the book, helium had validated the “willful misinterpretation” of what helium had said.

Mr. Akin was calved to Paul and Nancy Akin connected July 5, 1947, successful New York and grew up adjacent St. Louis. He graduated from an elite prep school, John Burroughs, and received a grade successful engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute successful Massachusetts earlier earning a master’s successful divinity from the Covenant Theological Seminary successful Missouri. He worked arsenic a manager astatine Laclede Steel, which his great-grandfather founded.

A subordinate of the Presbyterian Church successful America, helium was archetypal elected to the Missouri House successful 1988, gaining enactment from his archetypal governmental basal arsenic portion of a web of parents who home-schooled their children; Mr. Akin home-schooled each six of his.

In 2000, helium was elected to Congress successful what analysts astatine the clip said was a changeable of governmental fortune. He was seen arsenic an extracurricular campaigner successful a five-way Republican primary, and helium won by 56 votes arsenic the much mean candidates ate into 1 another’s totals.

As a legislator, helium unapologetically centered his faith, driven by a content that God had fixed him a ngo to serve.

“He wouldn’t interruption his beliefs if you changeable him,” Rick Mathes, of the Mission Gate Prison Ministry wherever Mr. Akin served connected the advisory board, said successful 2012.

In his 2012 concession speech, Mr. Akin said aft “the circumstances that we’ve each been through” it was “particularly due to convey God, who makes nary mistakes and is overmuch wiser than we are.”

“And truthful I say, to God unsocial beryllium the grant and the glory, careless of however helium decides to signifier history,” helium said.

Information astir Mr. Akin’s survivors was not instantly available.