Retiring Nevada Sen. Harry Reid said he believes Patricia Smith, mother of one of the soldiers slain in the Benghazi attacks, is "crazy," but he then retracted that statement.
Reid made the comments during a video interview with the Reno Gazette-Journal.
Reid said he believed that the Republicans used Smith to damage Clinton.
"They had that poor Smith woman come out and say 'Hillary Clinton killed my son.' How crazy." Then he said, "Maybe that's the wrong word. How lack of accuracy," Reid said.
Clinton was secretary of state during a terror attack in Benghazi that left four U.S. soldiers dead, including Smith's son.
Reid is planning to retire from his senator job, and he slammed the Republican candidate who is running for it. About Rep. Joe Heck, he said, "In my more than 50 years around here, he is the worst, because he is the most fraudulent person I've ever seen try to pull the wool over my eyes."
Reid said that Rep. Heck "says one thing, but he's done something else." Reid told the Gazette that Heck defunded and voted against support for immigrants, while saying that he was helping them.
Rep. Heck responded with slams of his own. He told the Reno Gazette-Journal, "We all know Harry hasn't been firing on all cylinders over the past couple years and this is just another example of how out of touch he is with Nevadans."
Heck added that he looks forward to Reid's retirement. "His retirement cannot come soon enough so that Nevada can have someone who truly represents them in this seat," referring to the Senate position.
Reid had praise for a notable Nevada Republican. Reid said he hoped for more Republicans such as Nevada's Gov. Brian Sandoval, who has declined to support Donald Trump. "I like Brian Sandoval a lot. We need more Republicans like him," Reid said.
Reid said that he has not been a partisan during his career. "I've tried my best to get things done, but it's hard when you spend all your time trying to overcome filibusters," Reid said, referring to partisan blockades of the other party's legislation.
Reid pointed out how he was able to pass legislation that was launched by President George W. Bush. Reid said the political climate has changed since then.
"This past eight years has been like no other time. I guess you could look at the years before the Civil War, maybe. That was pretty bad."
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