The Hill News

Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) will rue the day he sent an angry email to Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.), a Democratic congressman said.

"You know, I shouldn't get into that because, frankly, Debbie and her colleagues are more than capable of defending themselves," Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) said Wednesday on MSNBC. "Obviously that's nonsense on the part of Mr. West, but I think he's taken on some folks that he'll rue the day he did that because these are strong people and my money would be with them. Obviously he should be ashamed of himself, and I think they're going to make it clear why."

On Tuesday evening West sent a strongly worded email in response to a floor speech Wasserman Schultz gave in which she criticized West's defense of Republicans' "cut, cap, and balance" legislation. In the email, West wrote that she did not deserve respect from him.

"Let me make myself perfectly clear, you want a personal fight, I am happy to obl! ige. You are the most vile, unprofessional ,and despicable member of the US House of Representatives," West wrote.

"You have proven repeatedly that you are not a Lady, therefore, shall not be afforded due respect from me!," West concluded.

In response, Democrats have sent out fundraising emails based around the letter, and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) called the it "disgraceful."

Wasserman Schultz's office said West's letter was politically motivated rather than personally toward Wassersman Schultz.