In a jaw-dropping expose, Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) was allegedly caught red-handed berating a staffer in an expletive-laden tirade. The congresswoman, who is ambitiously vying for the mayorship of Houston, seemed to forget that walls have ears, and now her explosive rant has been laid bare for all to hear.
The audio recording, provided to Texas outlet Current Revolt, appears to have been secretly captured by the very staffer she was dressing down. As he fumbles with his mobile phone, promising to contact another staffer about a document, Jackson Lee can be heard accusing him of lacking a “f***ing brain.”
“I don’t want you to do a god**** thing. I want you to have a f***ing brain. I want you to have read it,” Jackson Lee scolds. It’s an outburst that would make even the most hardened political operative wince. And it doesn’t stop there. She continues with a barrage of crude insults, making it clear that nobody in her office knows a “god**** thing.”
Then, as if this weren’t shocking enough, Jackson Lee goes on to confront a second staff member about paperwork related to an event honoring the late Ovide Duncantell, founder of the Black Heritage Society. Duncantell, a significant figure in Houston politics, would likely be rolling in his grave at such a performance from a mayoral candidate.
During her rant, she berates the staffers, calling them “f***ing idiots” who serve no “god**** purpose.” A shocking glimpse into the behind-the-scenes operations of a woman who has served Texas’s 18th District for 28 years.
This year, Jackson Lee made promises to the family of Tyre Nichols that she would reintroduce the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act with a “Tyre Nichols Duty to Intervene.” But it seems she can’t even maintain a professional demeanor in her own office, let alone fight for justice on the congressional floor.
This explosive audio recording throws a wrench in Jackson Lee’s mayoral ambitions and raises questions about her ability to lead. If this is how she treats those closest to her, how can Houstonians trust her to handle the city’s top job?
In the cutthroat world of politics, there’s no room for such unprofessionalism. It’ll be interesting to see how Jackson Lee spins this one. Meanwhile, Houstonians must decide if they want a mayor who can’t control her temper behind closed doors. As this scandal unfolds, one thing’s for sure: Sheila Jackson Lee has some serious explaining to do.