State Representative Alan Clemmons, of Myrtle Beach, took the stand in Washington, DC, this week before a three judge panel that is looking into whether South Carolina's voter identification law violates federal guidelines.

An attorney for civil rights groups opposing the Voter ID law referenced an email sent to Clemmons from a man named Ed Koziol comparing black people to a swarm of bees going after a watermelon, according to a McClatchey newspapers report. 

According to the article, Clemmons responded to the email saying, amen, Ed, thank you for your support.

Clemmons tells NewsChannel 15, "The email was offensive, irresponsible, and I ended that conversation, and didn't engage in the conversation. I saw it was a useless endeavor to change his mind. It was a response to quickly end the conversation, in retrospect I could have used different language."

Clemmons went on to say the bill does not have racist origins and will prevent people from cheating at the polls.