This construction covers two kinds of uses: (i) the Speaker answers a question, (ii) the Speaker reacts to a prior utterance of another speaker.

Communication_response answer E.g. I answered that I thought the Dutch a gloriously exciting team. counter E.g. O'Hara countered that a proper investigation was not done. interject E.g. The boy interjected that there were actually three incidents. object E.g. Critics object that patients rarely -- if ever -- understand their treatment options. rejoin E.g. Joanne rejoins that it was such a long time ago. reply E.g. Raeder replied that he had planned to do so. respond E.g. Palmer responded that the cut in vessel numbers was a positive move. retort E.g. I retorted that the boy was a student and lucky not to be sleeping on a bench.