Republican senator on congressman: 'He's so unattractive. It's unbelievable'

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine shared how she really feels about Rep. Blake Farenthold on Tuesday.

Just one thing: Her comments about the Texas Republican were picked up by a hot microphone and posted to the official Senate website.

"He's huge," she said following a subcommittee meeting Tuesday morning. "He's so unattractive. It's unbelievable."

The audio clip first appeared on the Senate's website Tuesday afternoon. In it, the Washington Post reports, Collins is speaking with Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island. Shortly after reporters began spreading Collins' remarks, the file became inaccessible. Then a new version was posted without the senator's comments.

However, Huffington Post producer JM Rieger was able to secure the clip.

In a Monday interview with a Texas radio station, Farenthold slammed Collins and other "female senators from the Northeast" for holding up an Obamacare repeal. Farenthold added, "If it was a guy from south Texas, I might ask him to step outside and settle this Aaron Burr-style."

Collins referenced the challenge after Tuesday's meeting.

"Did you see the one who challenged me to a duel?" she asked Reed.

"You know why he challenged you to a duel?" Reed responded. "Because you could beat the s--- out of him."

Collins then references a widely spread photo of Farenthold wearing duck pajamas and standing next to a woman wearing lingerie.

"Did you see the picture of him in his pajamas next to this bunny?"

In the end, both apologized, reported CNN.

"Neither weapons nor inappropriate words are the right way to resolve legislative disputes," Collins said in a statement to CNN. "I received a handwritten apology from Rep. Farenthold late this morning. I accept his apology, and I offer him mine."

A Farenthold spokeswoman confirmed with CNN that he apologized to Collins. 

Follow Sean Rossman on Twitter: @SeanRossman