Embattled Rep. John Graham Altman apologized to his colleagues in the S.C. House on Tuesday, acknowledging the furor, hurt and embarrassment he caused.

But the Charleston Republican stopped short of saying that he was wrong to question why women stay in abusive relationships, for making light of domestic violence legislation, or for telling a television reporter that she was “not very bright.”

“I’m sorry I caused pain,” Altman said from the floor of the House. “I apologize for this episode.”

Altman’s apology seems to have saved him from any discipline from House leaders.

• House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, indicated he would not remove Altman from the Judiciary Committee, one of the most influential committees in the House.

• Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Harrison, R-Richland, said he probably will not strip Altman of his subcommittee chairmanship.

Altman told reporters he would not discuss his apology or the incident that brought South Carolina unwanted national attention.

Now more than a week old, the episode began when Harrison’s committee tabled a bill increasing the penalties for domestic violence. At that same meeting, lawmakers approved a bill raising the penalty for cockfighting.

Lawmakers can be heard on a tape of that meeting joking that the bill could be called the “pop her” legislation and saying, “pop her again.” Altman has said he doesn’t recall having joked about the bill.

In an interview later in the week with WIS-TV, Altman said no self-respecting woman would remain in an abusive relationship. He told reporter Kara Gormley that she was “not very bright” for comparing the domestic violence bill to the cockfighting bill.

As last week turned into this past weekend, Democrats saw an opportunity. At their state convention on Saturday, Democrats called on Altman to resign. House Minority Leader Harry Ott, D-Calhoun, said his caucus would call on Wilkins to censure Altman this week.

But once Altman apologized, Ott was satisfied.

“You’ve got to accept the man’s apology,” Ott said. “I accept John Graham’s apology, and as far as I’m concerned, we all make mistakes.”

Rep. Laurie Funderburk, D-Kershaw, was not as convinced.

“I’d like for him to apologize to Kara Gormley,” Funderburk said. “That’d be appropriate.”

Wilkins said Altman’s apology seemed “sincere and heartfelt.”

He said he has spoken to Altman several times but did not force him to apologize.

Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, the primary sponsor of the original domestic violence bill killed last week by the Judiciary Committee, said Altman was hardly solely at fault.

“I resisted my Democratic colleagues and their attempts to make this a partisan issue,” Cobb-Hunter said from the House floor. “This is not a partisan issue. Democrats’ hands are not any cleaner.”

Even so, Cobb-Hunter removed her name as a sponsor of the new domestic violence legislation the House put on the fast-track to approval Tuesday.

She called that bill a “Republican whitewash” because the majority party was using the bill to protect Altman. Allowing Altman to be a co-sponsor is an effort to rehabilitate his and the party’s reputation, she said.

“It became very clear to me that this had devolved into nothing more than partisan damage control,” she said.

For Altman, Tuesday was also about acknowledging the political aspect of his ignominy.

“I’m sorry I caused pain to those to whom I really caused pain, and I’m sorry I caused pain to those who might want to say ‘ouch’ anyway,” Altman said.

“I’m not asking you to support me,” he said. “I’m telling you I’m supporting you. I know there’s a feeding frenzy going on, and some of you may have collateral food poisoning.”

Reach Gould Sheinin at (803) 771-8658 or asheinin@thestate.com.