Rep. Steve Scalise, the third-ranked member of the Republican Party in the US House of Representatives, is in hot water after it was revealed that he had spoken to a group of white supremacists in 2002.

The appearance of then Louisiana state representative Scalise at a conference of the white supremacist group Euro-American Unity and Rights Organization was first bared on Sunday by a Louisiana blogger and confirmed by attendees' notes.

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The group was founded by former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke and has been branded a hate group by several civil rights organizations. Scalise denied he was aware of its racist and neo-Nazi leanings.  

"I detest any kind of hate group," Scalise told the Times-Picayune on Monday. "I don't support any of the things I have read about this group, but I spoke to a lot of groups during that period. I went all throughout South Louisiana. I spoke to the League of Women Voters, a pretty liberal group...I still went and spoke to them. I spoke to any group that called, and there were a lot of groups calling."

Scalise's press secretary Moira Smith said in a statement: "Throughout his career in public service, Mr. Scalise has spoken to hundreds of different groups with a broad range of viewpoints. In every case, he was building support for his policies, not the other way around."

Smith said the speech in 2002 in front of the group was part of Scalise's campaign to discuss a ballot initiative he opposed and that he was eager to talk to anyone who would listen about his proposal to cut slush funds and his opposition to tax increases for middle-income families.

"He has never been affiliated with the abhorrent group in question. The hate-fueled ignorance and intolerance that group projects is in stark contradiction to what Mr. Scalise believes and practices as a father, a husband, and a devoted Catholic," Smith added.

The brewing political storm comes days before the Republicans, with Scalise as the Majority Whip, take control of the House. Scalise is expected to play an important role in leading party members through their legislative priorities.

Critics were quick to question Scalise's supposed ignorance about the hate group considering its founder's reputation.

"It's hard to believe, given David Duke's reputation in Louisiana, that somebody in politics in Louisiana wasn't aware of Duke's associations with the group and what they stand for," said Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Texas Democrat.

"If that's the case and he agreed to join them for their event, then I think it's a real test for Speaker Boehner as to whether congressman Scalise should remain in Republican leadership," according to Castro in a phone interview with The Washington Post.

TagsRep. Steve Scalise, Louisiana, white supremacist, David Duke