Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) disputed a claim that she offered to change her position on medical marijuana if a donor took back criticism, calling it "outrageous."
"I wouldn't change my position in exchange for support under any circumstances – ever. I stand on principle. I'm always very proud to stand in front of my constituents and explain when I have a difference of opinion with them," Wasserman Schultz told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel Friday.
On Thursday, Politico reported Wasserman Schultz's office reached out by email to Orlando trial lawyer John Morgan, a medical marijuana advocate, and said if he'd retract criticism he'd made about the Democratic National Committee chair, she would reverse her position on medical marijuana.
Speaking to the Sun-Sentinel, Wasserman Schultz denied the emails existed.
Politico reported on Friday:
But Morgan released an email chain and related text messages that showed the medical-marijuana initiative’s political consultant, Ben Pollara, was in contact with Wasserman Schultz’s political adviser, Jason O’Malley, who received an email concerning the alleged deal.
At one point, after Pollara informed O’Malley that the proposal had been sent to Morgan, O’Malley replied, “thanks.”
And in another exchange that showed an offer of some kind was made, Pollara wrote a text message to O’Malley Thursday evening that read, in part, “I know it wasn’t your call but I told you no good come from me reaching out to morgan yesterday.”
Wasserman Schultz has angered supporters of medical marijuana -- including Morgan -- for a while now, with the advocacy group Americans for Safe Access running campaign ads against her in the lead-up to the 2014 elections.
H/T Politico
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