Ted Yoho denies insulting Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez but apologizes if his words were 'construed' as offensive

Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Fla.) on Wednesday addressed his Tuesday confrontation with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) — after which he was reportedly overheard calling her a "f---ing bitch" — offering a half-apology, half-denial.

Yoho said he never insulted Ocasio-Cortez in such a manner, but apologized for the "misunderstanding" if his words "were construed that way."

He followed up his comments by stating that he "cannot apologize for my passion or for loving my god, my family, and my country," though it wasn't quite clear how that linked to the specific incident with his colleague.

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Meanwhile, Ocasio-Cortez, who confirmed Wednesday's report, expressed concern about the exchange with Yoho, claiming hostile incidents like that are "virtually unheard of" on House grounds. But she also didn't seem too fazed. Tim O'Donnell