Democrat says Republican poked her and told her to ‘kiss my ass’ after she asked him to wear a mask

Rep Joyce Beatty is the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus

Joyce Beatty (AP)

A Republicancongressman apologized to a Black female Democratic colleague for saying he could “kiss my ass” after she asked him to wear a mask.

Rep Joyce Beatty, a congresswoman from Ohio, tweeted that she had politely asked Rep Hal Rogers of Kentucky to wear a mask when riding the House train.

“He then poked my back, demanding I get on the train. When I asked him not to touch me, he responded, ‘kiss my ass,’” wrote Ms Beatty, who is chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

“This is the kind of disrespect we have been fighting for years, and indicative of the larger issue we have with GOP Members flaunting health and safety mandates designed to keep us and our staff safe,” she said, before adding in an address to Mr Rogers, “when you are ready to grow up and apologize for your behavior, you know where to find me.”

Mr Rogers is the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee. He is the longest-serving member of the Kentucky delegation.

Republicans have frequently protested the mask mandate on the House side of Congress that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reinstated as the Delta variant surged last summer.

In response, Mr Rogers released a statement saying he apologised to the Ohio Democrat.

“This afternoon, I met with Congresswoman Beatty to personally apologize. My words were not acceptable and I expressed my regret to her, first and foremost,” he said in a statement.