Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) July 21 has recently asserted his refusal to apologize for an invective-laced email to a Democratic colleague in Florida’s House delegation triggered by criticism of West’s viewpoint supporting proposed Medicare cuts at a recent debate on the House floor. Such refusal is in spite of a report that suggests that he apologized for his insulting digital outburst one day following transmitting the e-mail.

According to the Associated Press, West unleashed scathing comments against Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz July 19 after she criticized his stance on a Republican bill to reduce the nation’s debt and amend the Constitution to require balanced federal budget. Though the House later approved the bill, it is not expected to pass the Democrat-controlled Senate.

“The gentleman from Florida, who represents thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, as I do, is supportive of this plan that would increase costs for Medicare beneficiaries. Unbelievable from a member from south Florida,” Wasserman Schultz said before the House on July 19, according to the AP.

Shortly thereafter, West retorted with an email sent to various lawmakers and Wasserman Schultz, laced with scathing remarks, including saying Wasserman Schultz “is not a lady.”

“Look Debbie, I understand that after I departed the House floor you directed your floor speech comments directly towards me,” West wrote in the email, according to the AP. “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.”

An apology “is not happening,” West said in an interview broadcast by the Fox Business Network July 21, standing by what he said as being a right to “defend my honor.”

However, in an interview on July 20 with a Huffington Post reporter in a Capitol corridor, the congressman appears to suggest that he apologized:

HuffPost: So what does that mean? That you respect women or….
West: And I just apologized.

HuffPost: And you just apologized?
West: Mmmhmmm.

(click here to hear what West said)

Following news of West’s e-mail to Wasserman Schultz, Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (D-Md.) released a statement, defending her colleague.

“I was shocked to read the disgraceful e-mail Representative West sent to my friend, colleague, and teammate Debbie Wasserman Schultz,” Edwards’ statement read.

“Rep. Wasserman Schultz has every right to debate Republican policy proposals to change entitlement programs on the House floor. Instead of engaging constructively in that debate, Rep. West chose to resort to unprofessional, vitriolic and offensive personal attacks—shame on him. The American people deserve better from their elected officials.”