Overview

• Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who is running for Houston Mayor, has issued an apology after a leaked audio tape caught her berating a staff member with profanity.
• The audio recording, believed to be at least half a decade old, featured offensive language including 17 curse words with Jackson Lee referring to a staffer as a 'fat ass, stupid idiot', amongst other derogatory terms.
• Jackson Lee has not directly admitted it is her voice in the recording, but expressed regret and stated 'everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect'.
• She took aim at opponents and 'extreme Republican supporters', suggesting they used this leak in an attempt to exploit and discredit her campaign for the Houston mayoral race.
• Her main opponent, State Senator John Whitmire, has denied any involvement with the leak, with his campaign referring to Jackson Lee's accusations as an 'attempt to change the narrative from what is on the recording'.