US Senator Apologizes, Begs For Peace Meeting With Nigerians Over Scam Comments

US Senator Ted Cruz has asked for a peace meeting with Nigerian-Americans who have demanded that he retracts his controversial joke last week which many of them considered insulting.

In a letter from the Senator to leaders of the Nigerian community in Houston, Texas, where the controversial comments were made, the Senator said he "regrets any misunderstanding".

The letter was signed by one of the aides of the Senator, Mr. David Sawyer, the South-East Texas Regional Director in his office.

Sawyer, in another correspondence, also requested for a peace meeting between Senator Cruz and representatives of the Nigerian community in Houston.

"Senator Cruz has been bombarded with several phone calls from Nigerians in Houston and all across the US since last Monday October 21 comments," Sawyer added.

The statement read:
Earlier this week Sen. Ted Cruz made a joke in which he used the term "Nigerian email scam".

Senator Cruz regrets that it is unfortunate that we're living in a time where just about every joke can be misconstrued to cause offense to someone.

Sen. Cruz has never, nor would ever use a blanket term in a derogatory fashion against such a vibrant and integral part of our community. This usage was never directed to the Nigerian community as a whole.

To the good people of Nigeria - a beautiful nation where my wife lived briefly as the child of missionaries - no offense was intended.

I am fully appreciative of the range of mutual economic and security interests that make Nigeria an important friend to the United States.

The letter was printed on Ted Cruz official US Congress paper and was dated Friday October 25.