‘I am regretful’: Sheila Jackson Lee responds to leaked audio report of her berating staff

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.

“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.

Sheila Jackson Lee expresses regret, although I’m not seeing a direct apology to staffers Boo Boo, Shitass, or Fuckface. https://t.co/YzoDxZxRrf pic.twitter.com/NG691XIkjw

— Rob Pyers (@rpyers) October 24, 2023

Jackson Lee allegedly called her staff names including “sh*t-ass,” “f***face,” “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 f***ing brain,” Jackson Lee reportedly said. “Both of y’all are f***ups, are f***ing [indecipherable]. It’s the worst sh*t I could have ever put together … F***ing 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.

Whitmire’s campaign and Jeffries did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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