Donor: Wasserman Schultz offered to back medical pot if I took back criticism

A Florida donor supportive of medical marijuana is alleging that Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s (D-Fla.) office offered her backing on the issue if he retracted critical comments about the congresswoman.

The donor, John Morgan, gave Politico, which first reported the charge Thursday night, an email exchange he had with one of his associates about the offer.

{mosads}Morgan was a major backer of a medical marijuana ballot initiative in Florida. Upset by comments he had made blasting Wasserman Schultz, her office reportedly reached out to the campaign manager behind the initiative to say that she would change her position if Morgan retracted his statements.

“In a tizzy over this [Politico] story,” the campaign manager reportedly emailed Morgan with the subject line “DWS” and referring to a different story from the news outlet. “Saying she might be willing to support new amendment. Any chance you’ll retract your statement.”

“No,” Morgan said when told of the offer, according to Politico. “She is a bully. I beat bullies up for a living.”

A spokesman for Wasserman Schultz did not respond to a request for comment from The Hill.

The spat comes as Wasserman Schultz is being mentioned as a possible contender for the seat held by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) if he leaves to run for president.

Morgan was one of the financial backers of a ballot initiative to amend the Florida constitution to allow the use of medical marijuana.

Wasserman Schultz publicly condemned the measure, which ultimately fell short of the threshold it needed to become law.

—This story was updated at 12:47 a.m.