Another US Republican causes outrage with 'pregnancies from rape are rare' remark

A senior US Republican has sparked outrage by claiming that victims of 'legitimate rape' rarely get pregnant.

Republican Trent Franks on Wednesday said the rate of pregnancy resulting from rape is very low.

According to the Washington Times, the Arizona Republican made the comments during a House Judiciary Committee hearing as he pushes his bill to ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Franks was contesting a Democratic amendment that would make exceptions for women whose pregnancy result from rape or incest.

The Washington Post reported that Republican Zoe Lofgren, California Democrat, said Franks' claim was not backed by science and it was astonishing to hear another Republican link rape with women's health issues.

Then-Republican Todd Akin, Missouri Republican, had lost his bid for a Senate seat last year after saying a woman's body can thwart a pregnancy after a legitimate rape, the report added.