Following the revelation that the third highest Republican in the House, Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, spoke at a white supremacist conference 12 years ago, various GOP lawmakers have begun defending the embattled majority whip.

The House GOP leadership has come out to defend Scalise, according to Reuters. Scalise's office has already spoken on the matter and Scalise said he regretted his actions. Both Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) have spoken in favor of the majority whip.

"More than a decade ago, Representative Scalise made an error in judgment, and he was right to acknowledge it was wrong and inappropriate," Boehner said in a statement. "He will continue to do great and important work for Americans."

McCarthy also expressed a similar intention, explaining that Scalise does not hold the same views.

"I've known him as a friend for many years and I know that he does not share the beliefs of that organization," McCarthy said.

Scalise also released another statement regarding the incident, reports the Los Angeles Times.

"It was a mistake I regret, and I emphatically oppose the divisive racial and religious views groups like these hold," he said.

However, some believe Scalise ought to resign. Mark Potok, from the Southern Poverty Law Center, argues against Scalise's apology saying he could not have not known the event was a racist one.

"A colleague at the Southern Poverty Law Center, Intelligence Project Director Heidi Beirich, actually attended EURO conferences in 2004 and 2005. The venues were adorned with Confederate flags and racist slogans and offered racist merchandise," Potok wrote.

"Scalise, a politician who already had national aspirations at the time of the 2002 EURO conference, certainly should have known what his dalliance with open white supremacists might cost him," he added, calling for the representative to resign.

Scalise has also come under fire from the leading Democrat in the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, reports the Washington Post. Spokesperson Drew Hammill said Scalise's actions were "deeply troubling for a top Republican leader in the House."

"However, actions speak louder than whatever Steve Scalise said to that group in 2002," he added, explaining how the House GOP attempted to not restore the Voting Rights Act or pass immigration reform.