The office of Florida U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz — also the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee — offered to reverse her opposition to medical marijuana legalization if an Orlando attorney and activist would retract his criticism of her.
Wasserman Schultz’s office issued the proposition to a middleman for activist-attorney John Morgan, according to Politico.
“In a tizzy over this politico story. Saying she might be willing to support new amendment. Any chance you’ll retract your statement,” Ben Pollara, a Morgan associate, wrote in an email to him on Thursday.
Pollara was referencing an article published earlier on Thursday in which Morgan and other medical marijuana activists slammed Wasserman Schultz’s prohibitive stance on the issue.
Morgan replied to Pollara shortly after, declining the Democrat’s quid pro quo, according to emails Morgan sent Politico later in the day.
“She is a bully. I beat bullies up for a living,” Morgan wrote Pollara.
Though it not entirely clear why Wasserman Schultz or her staffers sought to quiet Morgan, it likely has to do with reports that she is considering running for Senate in 2016.
In the initial Politico article, Morgan said that Wasserman Schultz’s opposition to the legalization of medical pot “disqualifies her from the nomination.”
“A United States senator from the Democratic Party should be in favor of the decriminalization of marijuana as a base test. Debbie is more severe,” Morgan added. “Her position denies terminally ill and chronically ill people compassion.”
Morgan and Wasserman Schultz have a tumultuous history. The Democratic party leader publicly opposed Florida Amendment 2, which Morgan spent $4 million of his own money to get on last November’s ballot.
The amendment did not pass, however, coming just two points shy of the 60 percent needed to pass.
Last June, Morgan called Wasserman Schultz an “irritant” who is largely “despised.” He also vowed to never donate to the Democratic party while she was in leadership.
Morgan explained why he declined the offer from Wasserman Schultz’s office as well as why he put her on blast.
“Actions have consequences,” he told Politico late Thursday. “Her days of pushing people around are over.”