Senator accused of rape apologises for 'I'm handsome, she's normal' gibe

Francesco Silvestro, a Senator for the

centre-right Forza Italia (FI) party, apologized on Monday for

having taken issue with the looks of a woman who has accused him

of raping her in his office over a year ago.

Daily newspaper La Repubblica reported on Sunday that, when one

its reporters asked Silvestro about the allegations, he

replied: "No way. If I say so myself, I'm a handsome guy, the

lady is a normal lady".

On Monday he admitted that those words were not appropriate.

"I apologize for the words I uttered during a telephone

conversation with a journalist from La Repubblica," Silvestro

said in a statement.

"I was taken aback by what was attributed to me, an episode and

accusations about which I have already stated my legal

astonishment at, and complete non-involvement in.

"I have also stated that I was ready, immediately, to provide

any necessary clarifications.

"I apologize, and I repeat, for expressions that I thought were

colloquial, but which I anyway consider wrong, and which, in the

context of a telephone call, may have caused misunderstandings

or offended sensibilities".

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