CEDAR FALLS, IA — A 14-year congressional incumbent accidentally told a room of 200 constituents exactly what he thought about a pending infrastructure bill Thursday, triggering what communications staff are describing as “the worst twelve hours of this office’s recorded history.”

Rep. Gary Weston, 61, of Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, was 22 minutes into a prepared stump speech at the Cedar Falls Rotary Club luncheon when he set down his notes to take a sip of water and, by his own account, “just kept talking.” In the unscripted 47 seconds that followed, Weston told the assembled crowd that the bill in question was “mostly symbolic,” that he had not read it, and that the infrastructure in his district was, quote, “genuinely fine.” The room fell silent. A man in the back reportedly set down his fork.

“We have a protocol for gaffes, a protocol for contradictions, and a protocol for reversals. We do not have a protocol for this.”

“We have a protocol for gaffes, a protocol for contradictions, and a protocol for reversals,” said deputy communications director Allison Merritt, 34, who was reached by phone shortly after midnight. “We do not have a protocol for this.”

By Friday morning, the office had issued three clarifying statements, a revised position on the bill, and a press release crediting Weston with “strong, ongoing support for Iowa’s infrastructure needs.” Weston himself told reporters he “misspoke” and that what he had meant to say was “the full remarks, as prepared.”

The Rotary Club has not issued a statement but sources say the luncheon was catered well.

At press time, Weston’s office confirmed he had returned to his prepared remarks and was described by staff as “completely back to normal.”