West leaves job after ‘ altercation’
Former U. S. Rep. Allen West, known for his outspoken style during his two years representing Broward and Palm Beach counties, is leaving one of his post- Congress jobs.
The website Buzz Feed reported Thursday he is leaving his job at PJ Media “after an altercation witha female staffer inwhich he allegedly called her a ‘ Jewish American princess.’ ”
West told BuzzFeed he was leaving his job voluntarily. “No, I didn’t get fired,” West said. “I’m leaving to pursue political aspirations. That’s it.”
PJ Media said in a statement that “West will transition from his full- time role as director of programming for Next Generation TV to the role of a part- time contributor to PJMedia. com.”
The former Army lieutenant colonel defeated U. S. Rep. Ron Klein, D- BocaRaton, ina mostly coastal Broward and Palm Beach County district in the tea party wave of 2010.
Facing rejiggered district boundaries that made the territory more Democratic, he abandoned the 22nd District last year and sought a second term in a more Republicanleaning district in northern Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties. He was narrowly defeated in November 2012 by Democrat Patrick Murphy, a political newcomer.
Earlier this year he became director of programming for PJ Media’s Next Generation TV, where he hosted an Internet video program aimed at introducing his brand of conservatism to a younger generation of potential voters.
Also this year he signed on as a regular contributor to Fox News. And he’s said that hemight seek theRepublican nomination forU. S. Senate in 2016.