(WatchDogReport.org) – Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) apologized Monday following a leaked audio recording that seemed to capture her harshly reprimanding staff members with explicit language. Jackson Lee, currently a candidate for Houston mayor, addressed the recording, which emerged from an anonymous email account sent to multiple news outlets just before early voting began.
Jackson Lee admitted that she’s not without faults and stressed the importance of treating everyone with respect, including her own staff. The representative also made it clear that she is not perfect.
The leaked audio, which runs approximately a minute and a half, features a voice resembling Jackson Lee’s chastising a staffer for failing to produce a document she had requested. The abusive tirade includes a slew of vulgarity, such as her referring to a staffer as a “stupid mother f*****.”
She labels another staffer, not present during the recording, as a “fat-*** stupid idiot” and calls both of them “incompetents.”
The former staff members mentioned in the recording have not provided comments or responses. In addition, the authenticity of the recording has not been confirmed, and Jackson Lee’s campaign has only referred to it as an “alleged recording” in the title of her statement.
In her statement, the congresswoman expressed regret to those who may have listened to the recording, attributing it to political opponents exploiting the situation. She urged people to judge her based on her years of public service to the Houston community rather than the vulgarity in the recording.
It’s important to note that this isn’t the first time Jackson Lee has faced controversy related to her behavior towards staff. Previous reports and allegations have pointed to similar instances of harsh language and demeaning behavior, raising questions about her conduct as a lawmaker and her suitability for public office.
While Jackson Lee’s political career is marked by years of service in Congress, her behavior, as highlighted in the leaked audio, has led to concerns regarding her approach to governing and her interactions with her staff.
Jackson Lee is vying for the position of Houston mayor in an upcoming election, which would mark a significant transition in her political career. The release of this audio could impact her mayoral campaign as it raises questions about her temperament and leadership style.
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