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The Iowa representative, Steve King, is seeking re-election in 2020, despite the controversy surrounding his racist remarks. King joins "Iowa Press" to discuss his comments.
UNITED STATES TODAY & # 39; HUI

MONK, Iowa – A man accused of throwing water on the representative Steve King, R-Iowa, while he was having lunch, was arrested, police said .

Blake Gibbins, 26, was arrested Friday at the Mineral City Mill and Grill in Fort Dodge, Iowa, according to a statement from the city's police department. The man from Lafayette, Colorado, was charged with simple assault and disorderly behavior, both of which are mere offenses.

Gibbins reportedly approached King and the group he was with while they were eating around 12:30. Friday, said the police. He asked King who he was, the Republican answered, and Gibbins threw him a glass of water, hitting some of the people with whom King was sitting, police said.

The Colorado man, Blake Gibbins, 26, was charged with throwing water on US representative Steve King. (Photo: Photo provided / Special on the register)

Police believe that King has been targeted because of his role as a Congressman. Gibbins did not know that King was going to the restaurant, according to the police, and was in the family of Iowa.

More: Steve King avoids asking whether "white society" is superior to "non-white society"

A call to King's office for comments was not immediately returned.

The Republican sits in Congress since 2003. A recent statement in which he wondered why phrases like "white supremacy" were offensive had prompted House Republicans to condemn him in a near-unanimous resolution passed in January. Republican leaders in the House also removed him from office on the committee.

King made these comments in an interview with The New York Times.

"White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization, how did that language become offensive?" King said in an interview with The Times. "Why am I sitting in classes to learn the merits of our history and our civilization?"

More: Steve King: "I have no reason to apologize", plans to be re-elected despite controversy

King voted for the resolution condemning himself, saying his comments had not been heard as intended.

Contributor: Sean Rossman, United States TODAY & # 39; HUI.

Follow Tyler Davis from Des Moines Register on Twitter @TDavisDMR.

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