Arizona Congressman Trent Franks, who is pushing legislation to ban abortions after 20 weeks across the country, downplayed concerns about pregnancies resulting from rape today.

The Washington Post reports:

Another Republican congressman ventured into the realm of rape and pregnancy Wednesday, saying at a committee hearing that incidences of pregnancy from rape are “very low.”

Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), whose measure banning abortions after 20 weeks was being considered in the House Judiciary Committee, argued against a Democratic amendment to make exceptions for rape and incest by suggesting that pregnancy from rape is rare.

“Before, when my friends on the left side of the aisle here tried to make rape and incest the subject — because, you know, the incidence of rape resulting in pregnancy are very low,” Franks said.

Franks continued: “But when you make that exception, there’s usually a requirement to report the rape within 48 hours. And in this case that’s impossible because this is in the sixth month of gestation. And that’s what completely negates and vitiates the purpose for such an amendment.”

Updated: Republican Gabrielle Gomez, who is running for a vacant Massachusetts Senate seat in a special election, tells ABC News that Franks is a "moron":

Gabriel Gomez, the Republican candidate for the open Massachusetts Senate seat, has harsh words for “moron” Republican Rep. Trent Franks, who said today that the rate of pregnancies resulting from rape is “very low.”

“I think that he’s a moron and he proves that stupid has no specific political affiliation,” Gomez told ABC News of his fellow Republican.

Gomez said he will not support the bill Franks has sponsored, which proposes a national ban on abortions after 20 weeks. Gomez said he is personally anti-abortion, and would not “change any laws” or make it more difficult for women to get abortions.

“I have no idea what goes into the mind of a moron like that,” he added. “These kinds of comments only come from a moron and they shouldn’t be tolerated one bit.”

(Hat tip: Talking Points Memo)