Transcript for The congressman pressured to resign over a white supremacist comment

and to the growing firestorm on capitol hill. Republican congressman Steve king has been stripped of his committee assignments, but he took to the house floor today to explain why in an interview with "The New York Times". ABC's Mary Bruce on the hill. Reporter: Under growing pressure to resign, tonight, Steve king isn't going anywhere. After an interview with with "The New York Times, kws in which king asked, "White nationalist, white supremacist, western civilization. How did that language become offensive?" Today, after years of controversial comments, congressman king stood on the house floor and said this -- That ideology never shows up in my head. I don't know how it could possibly come out of my mouth. Reporter: In his defense, king argued his comments were taken out of context, and then he repeated them in the way he wanted them delivered. I want to read it to you the way I believe I said it, and that's this. White nationalists, white supremacists, western civilization, how did that language become offensive? Reporter: But moments later, his colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, voted overwhelmingly to disapprove of his remarks. King is being stripped of his committee assignments, but today in the house, the Republican leader stopped short of saying king should go. Should he resign? I think that's up to Steve king. The voters have elected him. Reporter: And at the white house, the president yesterday claimed he was unaware of the controversy. What about Steve king's remarks? I haven't been following it. I really haven't. All right, so, let's get to Mary Bruce, live up at the capitol tonight. Mary, as you know, the top Republican in the senate, Mitch Mcconnell, saying today that king should, quote, find another line of work, but he apparently is still digging in, so, what's next? Reporter: Well, David, king shows no signs of leaving, and there isn't much likely congress will do about it. In Iowa, voters can't remove them. They would have to wait two years for the next election. David? Mary, thank you.

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