Politics

‘I Am Regretful’: Sheila Jackson Lee Responds To Leaked Audio Report Of Her Berating Staff

Getty Images/Jemal Countess

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Arjun Singh Contributor
Font Size:

Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas issued a statement on Monday responding to news of a leaked recording of her reportedly berating staff, according to a statement posted on Twitter, now known as X.

Jackson Lee, who is retiring from Congress to run for mayor of Houston, allegedly berated her staff in a long diatribe, according to a recording published by Texas newspaper Current Revolt. She responded to the recording by claiming that she was “not perfect” and alleged that the recording was leaked by a “political opponent,” suggesting that it is authentic. (RELATED: Dem Rep Sheila Jackson Lee Reportedly Caught Berating Staff In Leaked Audio)

“I am regretful and hope you will judge me not by something trotted out by a political opponent, that worked to exploit this, and backed by extreme Republican supporters on the very day that polls open, but from what I’ve delivered to Houstonians over my years of public service,” Jackson Lee wrote.

Jackson Lee allegedly called her staff named including “shit-ass,” “fuckface,” “fatass stupid idiot” and “goddamn bigass children” in an expletive-filled statement about a scheduling issue, according to a transcript of her tirade. Jackson Lee added that her staff had no respect and were doing no meaningful work in her employ, the transcript reads.

“I don’t want you to do a goddamn thing. I want you to have a fucking brain,” Jackson Lee reportedly said. “Both of y’all are fuckups, are fucking [indecipherable]. It’s the worst shit I could have ever put together … Fucking idiots, serve no goddamn purpose.”

Jackson Lee is known to have previously berated her staff during her 28-year Congressional career. She has allegedly attacked her staff with abusive tirades in front of their family, as well as cursed viscerally at her drivers, with some behavior leading her staff to leave her employ for medical reasons.

Jackson Lee is currently polling narrowly behind Democratic state Sen. John Whitmire in the mayoral race, according to a University of Houston poll. She has been endorsed by several high-profile Democrats, including former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

“The recording speaks for itself,” Whitmire’s campaign told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “We had nothing to do with this recording. It’s the mark of a desperate, losing campaign to make this weak attempt to try to change the narrative from what is on the recording.”

Jeffries did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.