A Jewish congresswoman who is seen as a powerful player of the Democratic Party has found herself embroiled in a scandal over a Jewish joke made by a former aide.

Florida congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who heads the Democratic National Committee, has stated her unequivocal support for Danielle Gilbert, over a Facebook post about "Jewbags".

Alongside a picture of the LSE graduate and her friends, Ms Gilbert had posted a caption calling them "the Jew cash-money team."

Ms Gilbert, herself Jewish, made the comments six years ago, but they were circulated online earlier this month following her appointment as the DNC's Jewish outreach liaison.

Ms Wasserman Schultz said Ms Gilbert was 20 when she posted the joke and that it was merely an example of the unforeseen consequences of social media.

Ms Gilbert apologised for using the terms and said she meant "no offence".

The congresswoman, who was personally chosen by President Barack Obama to take on the DNC role last April, was elected in 2004. A mother-of-three, she was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago and has had several operations. She once worked for the National Jewish Democratic Council and was among the founders of the now-annual Jewish American Heritage Month.