Pelosi, other Dems plead ignorance about Virginia governor's comments on abortion up to birth

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other congressional Democrats are responding to questions about Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's abortion comments by simply responding that they don't know what he said.

According to The Washington Free Beacon, Pelosi was asked about how pro-life Democrats may feel about Northam's remarks which seemed to advocate for abortion up until, and possibly even after, birth.

Here's the exchange:

Reporter: You often talk about the diversity of viewpoints in the Democratic caucus. There are pro-life Democrats in your group. Considering the comments from Governor Northam yesterday, how does that make it harder for pro-life Democrats in the party and does that cause problems?

Pelosi: I'm sorry, I just don't know what he said yesterday.

No one paying attention? Really?

Pelosi is not the only Democrat who is seemingly unaware of the significant controversy surrounding an abortion bill in Virginia.

Dally Caller Capitol Hill reporter Henry Rodgers tweeted that he had asked 10 Democratic Senators about Northam's comments on Thursday afternoon, and none of them knew anything.

Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon said "I haven't seen them." Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia said "I haven't seen anything. I've been in retreats. Obviously I just got out of a meeting." Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts said "I don't know what he said. I don't know what he said."

Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont said "I have no idea what he said. I have no idea what happened there. I do follow the Governor of Vermont though, all the time."

Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island was the first to admit that he even knew anything about the comments, but still said he hadn't heard them. "I know what it is about. I have not listened."

What the governor said

Northam discussed a situation where if a mother is in labor, the baby would be delivered and then the doctor and the mother would discuss "options" for what to do with it.

"If a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen," Northam said. "The infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if that's what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother."

A Northam spokesperson later said the governor was only discussing "tragic or difficult circumstances" when referring to third-trimester abortions.