Bob Woodward: I did not say 'threatened'

WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- Famed Washington reporter Bob Woodward denied Friday he said an Obama adviser had threatened him.

Woodward appeared on "Morning Joe" on MSNBC with David Axelrod, one of President Obama's top aides, The Hill reported. Axelrod said Woodward had described an email from economic adviser Gene Sperling as a threat.

"I never said it was a threat," Woodward said.

Sperling sent the email after a conversation with Woodward on Feb. 22 about budget negotiations. Sperling apologized for raising his voice.

"But I do truly believe you should rethink your comment about saying saying that Potus [president of the United States] asking for revenues is moving the goal post. I know you may not believe this, but as a friend, I think you will regret staking out that claim," Sperling said in the email.

The email has been taken up by conservative pundits who seized on the words "you will regret," characterizing them as an effort to silence Woodward, The Washington Post reporter and author of many books about government maneuvering.