Weeks after taking to eBay to auction off a bizarre letter it received from former Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) in 2011, the Florida chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations has cashed in on the piece of political memorabilia.
The item, listed as "Allen West NUTS Letter Possibly Shortest Letter from Congress in US History," began at a starting price of $1,000. It ultimately sold for $2,625, after receiving 15 bids.
In 2011, local leaders of CAIR called on West to denounce anti-Muslim activists that they believed to be involved with his campaign. The Tea Party congressman responded with a one-word retort.
"NUTS!" West's letter read, printed on his official congressional stationery.
CAIR addressed the sale in a statement to the press on Tuesday.
"We are taught in Islam to meet a bad deed with a good deed," the statement reads. "So we turned Allen West's bad deed into 2,625 good deeds. We thank Allen West for his 'NUTS'! Every penny of these monies will be used to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding."
There has been no response from West yet, but the fact that CAIR has profited off his letter could come as a slap in the face, considering the group's status as one of his primary adversaries during his short tenure in Congress.
West had a notoriously strained relationship with Muslims during his campaign and single term in office. During a town hall meeting, he once told a CAIR questioner not to "blow sunshine up my butt" after the man rose to ask West to clarify his remarks about a passage of the Quran.
West is currently embarking on a new career in conservative media and has ruled out a 2014 run for his old congressional seat.
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