Paul Ryan, Lynn Jenkins, Greg Walden

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., here accompanied by House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., center, and Rep. Lynn Jenkins, R-Kansas, has joined a growing chorus of top Republican leaders in condemning the party's presidential nominee, for lewd comments Trump made about women during a conversation taped in 2005. Walden's office issued a statement condemning the remarks, but didn't say whether Walden is withdrawing his support for the New York businessman (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

(J. Scott Applewhite)

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., has joined a growing stampede of top Republicans condemning lewd remarks made late last week by Donald Trump, their party's presidential nominee.

Trump has come under intense pressure from many leaders in his party to step down after the release of taped comments he made 11 years ago during the filming of an NBC television show.

Trump, resorting to numerous vulgarities, bragged that he regularly kissed, groped and tried to have sex with woman. "When you're a star," he said in as video obtained by The Washington Post, "they let you do it."

Walden, in a brief statement issued from his Washington D.C. office, said:

"Of course I condemn Mr. Trump's comments on women. They were disrespectful and disgusting, and not representative of the Republican Party I grew up in and have worked hard to support and grow. While some aren't surprised by his behavior, it's clear he and he alone is responsible for his actions and statements. My focus continues to be on serving the people of southern, central, and eastern Oregon, and maintaining a Republican majority in the House so we can get the country on a better path."

Walden's office did not respond to follow-up questions asking whether the statement indicated that Walden is dropping the support he earlier announced for the New York businessman's presidential bid.

New York Times reported, meanwhile, that Walden participated in a conference call with House Speaker Paul Ryan, during which Walden advised other representatives to use new polls in their respective districts as indicators of how to respond to the fallout from Trump's comments.

The newspaper said Walden told them "they should brace for a steep erosion of support for Trump and acknowledged the falloff could undermine congressional candidates, too," according to the report.

Since the release of the tape, a number of high-ranking Republicans have either dropped their support for Trump or indicated they will no longer aid his campaign.

Trump has made it clear that he is not about to give up his spot atop the Republican ticket.

-- Dana Tims

503-294-7647; @DanaTims