Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton has vehemently denied he called investigating Police officers “pip squeaks” during an interview on Sunday in connection with a spat he had with an American Airlines air steward.

But despite attempts all day yesterday to get in contact with him, Mr. Horton has refused to confirm or deny whether he stormed out of the interview before it was finished, as was revealed by Police sources and documented in a preliminary Police report of the incident.

The Royal Gazette, through the Department of Information and Communication, attempted to ask the Home Affairs Minister whether he agreed his documented actions at the Airport Police station were inappropriate given that he is in charge of the Ministry which finances the Bermuda Police Service - but by Press time last night no response was forthcoming.

But speaking with ZBM News yesterday, Mr. Horton gave a more thorough account of his version of events than he had provided to The Royal Gazette the night before, claiming he called the AA steward a “pip squeak” and not the Police officers.

Labelling the allegations as “totally erroneous” and again arguing the incident had been blown “completely out of proportion”, he lambasted the AA steward as an “unadulterated liar”.

Mr. Horton said he went to use the toilet at the front of the plane, but was told he was not allowed to do so by the steward, who directed him to the toilets at the back of the plane.

The Minister said he was somewhat surprised by this direction, given that “a white gentleman” sitting beside him had earlier used the toilet at the front of the plane.

Stating that he did not want to use the rear toilets, Mr. Horton agreed he then made a racially based comment, questioning the steward over whether he treated black people differently than white.

“He [the steward then got very angry and started saying he was married to a black woman... but I wasn't interested in that,” Mr. Horton said.

“He was then right up in my face, about 12 inches away, and I told him twice to ‘get out of my face'. When he eventually backed off he then told me he was going to have me arrested.”

Mr. Horton confirmed he presented himself at the Airport Police Station soon after landing as requested, but made no reference to the allegation that he left the interview half-way through.

Meanwhile, an AA spokesperson said last night the carrier would not be taking the matter any further.