CT Dems’ Reaction:

“As if we needed any more proof that a Donald Trump presidency would be disastrous for women, today’s comments are perhaps a new low. Throughout this campaign, Trump has consistently spouted hatred, bigotry, and outright lies. All the while, Republican congressional candidates Matt Maxwell and Clay Cope have refused to condemn any of his outlandish statements or proposals. But this is an issue on which voters in the 5th Congressional District deserve to hear from from their would-be congressmen: Do they agree with Trump’s assertion that women who get abortions need to be punished?

“Connecticut women deserve much, much better than Donald Trump. Elizabeth Esty has been a champion for the right to choose, and women deserve to know where the Republicans running for Congress stand.” – Connecticut Democratic Party Communications Director Leigh Appleby

The Hill: Trump suggests ‘punishment’ for women who get illegal abortions

Donald Trump said on Wednesday that if abortions were illegal, there would need to be a punishment for women who have them, according to Bloomberg.

“There has to be some form of punishment,” Trump told MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, if abortion is banned.

He didn’t offer specifics, saying only that the punishment would “have to be determined.”

Trump’s comments came for a taped town hall airing later Wednesday.

Matthews pressed Trump on whether abortion should be banned.

“Should abortion be punished? This is not something you can dodge,” he said.

“Look, people in certain parts of the Republican Party, conservative Republicans, would say, ‘Yes, it should,’” Trump, the GOP front-runner, responded.

Matthews pushed him for a straight answer on what a ban on abortion would entail.

“Well, you go back to a position like they had where they would perhaps go to illegal places but we have to ban it,” Trump answered.

“Of course, women shouldn’t be punished” for having an abortion, Trump’s GOP rival, John Kasich, later told NBC.

Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton in a tweet called Trump’s comments “horrific and telling.”