Washington (CNN) Rep. Ralph Norman opened up a debate between himself and Democratic challenger Archie Parnell on Thursday afternoon by making a joke about the sexual assault allegations surrounding Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

"Did y'all hear this latest late-breaking news from the Kavanaugh hearings? Ruth Bader Ginsburg came out that saying she was groped by Abraham Lincoln," the South Carolina Republican said to the crowd at the Kiwanis Club in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

The remarks come as President Donald Trump's choice to fill the vacant seat on the Supreme Court is in the midst of a scandal after Christine Blasey Ford, a professor from California, accused him of sexually assaulting her when he was 17 and she was 15. Kavanuagh has denied the allegation.

Norman's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Laughter and some applause could be heard after Norman made the remark Thursday.

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