WATCH: Beto O’Rourke Pins Himself In Corner Over Drunk Driving Claim

Texas Democratic Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke pinned himself in a corner during Friday night’s debate with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) after he claimed that he did not try to flee the scene of a drunk driving crash that he caused in 1998 — despite the fact that a police report from the incident states he did try to flee the scene.

“Representative O’Rourke, you have addressed your 1998 DWI arrest numerous times during your public career, but not this question,” the moderator said. “As the Houston Chronicle pointed out recently, a witness said in that accident that you tried to leave the scene of the accident.”

“Did you?” the moderator asked. “And should voters be concerned about this incident?”

“I did not try to leave the scene of the accident,” O’Rourke responded. “Though driving drunk, which I did, is a terrible mistake for which there is no excuse, or justification, or defense, and I will not try to provide one.”

O’Rourke’s claim directly contradicts the police report from the incident which stated that a reporter witnessed O’Rourke attempting to flee the scene and he had to stop him from leaving.

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