A Democrat official from Nebraska has been fired after being recorded saying he was "glad" that Republican House Majority Whip Steve Scalise was wounded by a shooter last week.
Phil Montag's comments came as Mr Scalise remains in hospital, being treated for injuries to internal organs, broken bones and severe bleeding after being shot in the left hip by a politically motivated gunman.
However he was unaware his remarks had been caught on tape.
"This motherf**ker, like his whole job is like to get people, convince Republicans to f**king kick people off f**king health care," Mr Montag said to reporters about Mr Scalise.
"I hate this motherf**ker. I'm f**king glad he got shot!"
Moments later, Mr Montag said that he wouldn't make those comments in public, before adding that he wishes Scalise "was f**king dead".
However a reporter revealed to Mr Montag that he would've been desperate to avoid - the entire rant had been caught on his dictaphone.
"It's okay, because I've been recording this conversation since you've come in so I will publicly release it myself," he said.
That he did, with Nebraska Democratic Party chairwoman Jane Kleeb confirming it was Mr Montag's voice, and having no choice but to instantly remove him from his position as the party's technology chairman.
In her condemnation of his remarks, she said America "is better than the political rhetoric that is out there from both the far right and the far left".
Newshub.
