During a sometimes contentious NBC discussion on the toxic political atmosphere that has pervaded the country, the head of National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) was asked about an ad attacking philanthropist George Soros who was the recipient of a pipe bomb last week from a Trump admirer.

On the heels of an attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday that left 11 dead, Meet the Press host Chuck Todd asked Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH) about the ad that linked Soros to Wall Street bankers that some considered a sly wink to the anti-Semitic notion that Jews are money-hungry manipulators.

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After running a clip of the inflammatory ad, host Todd bluntly asked, “Why are you talking George Soros?”

In response, Stivers — who chairs the NRCC — attempted to lay the blame elsewhere while at the same time backing the ad.

“Our independent expenditure arm is independent,” he replied before stuttering. “But that ad is factual. And it also has nothing to do with calling for violence. That ad is a factual ad.”

Watch the video below via NBC: