Jason Spencer: Georgia Republican who shouted N-word on Sacha Baron Cohen's 'Who Is America?' to resign

Lawmaker apologises for 'ridiculously ugly episode'

The Republican politician tricked into dropping his trousers and screaming “n*****” by Sacha Baron Cohen has said he will resign.

Jason Spencer appeared on the new Who Is America? programme on Sunday as he and the comedian participated in an anti-terrorism video.

Mr Cohen posed as an Israeli military expert and persuaded the Georgia state representative to take part in several outlandish exercises.

The legislator repeatedly shouted ”n*****” after Mr Cohen suggested it would draw attention to a terrorist, and later exposed his buttocks.

Dropping his trousers and backing towards Mr Cohen, Mr Spencer repeated “USA, motherf*****” in an attempt to ward off a potential attacker. Mr Cohen had told him the move would incite fear in homophobic jihadists.

“The actions and language used on this video are reprehensible. Representative Spencer has disgraced himself and should resign immediately,” Georgia House speaker David Ralston said after the footage aired. “Georgia is better than this.”

Mr Spencer is to step down at the end of July, a spokesman for Mr Ralston told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

In a statement on Monday, Mr Spencer apologised for the “ridiculously ugly episode” but initially refused to step down.

He lost the Republican primary contest in May, but he could have remained in public office until the November election.