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Florida Rep. Allen West said Thursday he had apologized to Florida Rep. and Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz,

Speaking Thursday, Mr. West said, “I just apologized,” when asked by a Huffington Post reporter, according to a tape of the conversation. The apology comes as Mr. West went after his neighbor Wednesday, slamming Ms. Wasserman-Schultz in a email.

Saying Ms. Wasserman-Schultz is the “most vile, unprofessional, and despicable member” of the House, Mr. West wrote, “Look, Debbie, I understand that after I departed the House floor you directed your floor speech comments directly towards me. Let me make myself perfectly clear, you want a personal fight, I am happy to oblige.”

In his email, Mr. West said Ms. Wasserman-Schultz has proven “that you are not a Lady” and “shall not be afforded due respect from me!” He said he was alerting House leaders to her “heinous characterless behavior.”

“You are the most vile, unprofessional, and despicable member of the US House of Representatives,” the Florida Republican added.

The verbal assault comes as Ms. Wasserman-Schutlz went after Mr. West during a House floor debate, questioning whether the Republican congressman supports reducing spending in Medicare and Medicaid.

“Incredulously, the gentleman from Florida. who represents thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, as do I, is supportive of this plan that would increase costs for Medicare beneficiaries,” Ms. Wasserman-Schultz said.

The comment did not play well with Mr. West, who shot off an email to Ms. Wasserman-Schutlz, telling to “shut the heck up.”

“If you have something to say to me, stop being a coward and say it to my face, otherwise, shut the heck up. Focus on your own congressional district!” Mr. West wrote.

Ms. Wasserman-Schutlz’s office fired off a response, saying the Florida Democrat was simply pointing out Mr. West’s support for reducing Social Security spending.

“I don’t think that Congressman West is upset at the Congresswoman, but rather with the fact that she highlighted that he and other Republicans are once again trying to balance the budget on the backs of seniors, children and the middle class,” Ms. Wasserman-Schultz’s office said in a statement. “The truth hurts.”

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Rep. Allen West dug in his heels after congressional Democrats called on him to apologize for a heated email he sent to the Democratic Party chairwoman, adamantly denying reports that he had already done so.

West claims he was in his right to send fellow Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz an email Tuesday calling her "vile" and "not a lady," in response to her criticism of him on the House floor.

"Don't poke me in the chest, that's the bottom line," he told Fox Business Network on Thursday, adding that an apology is "not happening."


His aides underscored that response following reports and audio tape that seemingly showed him backing off his original comments. In the tape, West could be heard telling a Huffington Post reporter: "I just apologized."

It's unclear what he was referring to -- a West aide immediately shot down claims that he had apologized, calling them "absolutely false." Wasserman Schultz likewise said she had not heard from West.

Both lawmakers claim they are now waiting for an apology from the other. West also tweeted Thursday: "U.S is in crisis & everyone wants to talk about congressional members not getting along,it's insulting to Americans to waste airtime on this."

West and Democratic groups are, meanwhile, trying to raise money off the incident, as the spat escalates.

Several female House Democrats penned a letter Wednesday to House Republican leaders calling on them to "disavow" West's comments. One lawmaker suggested the leadership take West out to the "woodshed" to set him straight.

"By any objective viewing of her floor speech, (Wasserman Schultz) was well within the rules of decorum for our chamber," they wrote. "Yet, Mr. West's response was completely out of order and an offensive personal attack with a clearly sexist tone."

The Congressional Black Caucus is expected to discuss the matter at an upcoming meeting. CBC Chairman Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., told Fox News he's going to have a talk with West -- the caucus' only Republican member.

But West stood by the email.

"I think it's important to stake my ground," West told Fox News on Tuesday. "It was about enough is enough, and it's my right to say that. She is the one elevating this."

The dispute started Tuesday on the House floor, where Schultz had said: "The gentleman from Florida, who represents thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, as do I, is supportive of this plan that would increase costs for Medicare beneficiaries. Unbelievable from a member from south Florida."

She was referring to a House bill to cut and cap spending in exchange for a debt-ceiling increase.

Taking offense, West afterward sent out his email, which said: "Look, Debbie, I understand that after I departed the House floor you directed your floor speech comments directly towards me. Let me make myself perfectly clear, you want a personal fight, I am happy to oblige. You are the most vile, unprofessional and despicable member of the US House of Representatives. If you have something to say to me, stop being a coward and say it to my face, otherwise, shut the heck up."

West also said her actions proved she is "not a Lady."

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She expressed astonishment that the "gentleman from South Florida" – she didn't mention his name – was supporting something that would hurt his constituents on Medicare. "Unbelievable for a member from South Florida."

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