Brat to detainees: "You think you have trouble – I have $ 5 million in negative ads."

"These comments are disturbing and damaging in the way they downplay and trivialize the addiction and challenges faced by people in recovery phase," Spanberger said. "However, Congressman Brat has repeatedly shown that he was a politician more concerned about his own reelection than the struggles and well-being of the people in our communities and, unfortunately, his comments are not surprising . "

"The truth is that Congressman Brat has also made massive contributions to the pharmaceutical companies' campaign, voted to give them a $ 1 billion tax break and voted to limit access to them. addiction treatment services, "said Spanberger.

The spokeswoman for the Brat campaign, Katey Price, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

[[[[Expenses increase in the 7th district of Va. as outside groups move their gaze ]

Brat, who received Thursday's endorsement from President Trump, is in a tough run against Spanberger in Virginia's 7th congressional district, a longtime GOP fortress that appears to be at stake at the time. .

He met about 100 inmates at a prison support group on Wednesday to hear them discuss the challenges of recovery and life after incarceration. The event, organized through its congressional office, was not an official event of the campaign. It was part of Brat's efforts to portray himself in the campaign as a practical and compassionate problem solver.

"As a Christian, we like the least of these – we visit those who are in jail," said Brat in a press release that also touted his bill to transfer more money. money for Washington's stimulus programs to states and local authorities. "As a member of Congress, one of my most moving experiences in this work is talking to men and women in recovery struggling to rebuild their lives."

Brat seemed to try to make himself accessible to the inmates by sharing some of his own difficulties. One case arose after a woman said she wanted to obtain a university degree but was not eligible for certain scholarships because of her conviction for a crime.

Brat, a former economics professor at Randolph-Macon College, advised her to land a beginner position at a college where she could possibly benefit from free education as an employee. He went on to say that his two children could have attended Randolph-Macon for free when he was a teacher. He was therefore in a difficult financial situation when he left the Congress.

"I did not have any economy," he said. "Everything is gone – oops! So the plans change.

Another woman complained that the rehabilitative homes where the detainees go after being released from prison are often in drug-ridden neighborhoods, exposing them to temptation.

"They will not allow us to be in more pleasant places," she said. "They want the convalescent homes to be right around the corner where the drugs are being treated – not in my back yard."

Brat's answer suggested that high-end neighborhoods are not all that they are supposed to be.

"You will not believe the depression in these popular neighborhoods," he said.

While his comments drew criticism outside the prison, the inmates seemed to enjoy his visit. Many lined up to shake his hand afterwards.

Detainee Demond Williams, 34, described him as a "good man," saying he appreciates "whoever takes this time to find out what's going on with addicts."

Trump approved Brat Thursday in a tweet that could go both ways in a district of the Richmond area where the president has fervent supporters and enemies.