Former US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is accused of assaulting Republican colleague Tim Burchett, who voted last month to remove him from leadership.

The incident reportedly occurred in a Capitol hallway, with Burchett claiming McCarthy elbowed him in the back. In further detail, NPR reporter Claudia Grisales witnessed McCarthy shoving Burchett, causing him to lunge toward her.

Burchett's response to the purported jab can be heard in an audio clip of the event. He trailed McCarthy down the hallway, questioning the ex-speaker about the alleged back hit. McCarthy refuted the elbowing accusation, leading Burchett to remark, “You’ve got no guts. You did so… the reporter said it right there. What kind of chicken move is that? You’re pathetic, man.”  

Burchett believes it was retaliation for his vote. McCarthy, denying the incident, cited cramped quarters.

“A guy throws a rock over the fence when he was a kid and runs home and hides behind his momma’s skirt,” Burchett said. “He’s got his security detail around. He knows nobody’s gonna do anything to him.”

Simultaneously, Representative Matt Gaetz filed an ethics complaint, stating the Congress decorum breaches are unprecedented.

Not an isolated incident 

This follows another altercation during a Senate hearing when Senator Markwayne Mullin almost came to blows with Teamsters president Sean O’Brien. Mullin, an MMA fighter, confronted O’Brien over a social media post challenging him to a fight.

Teamsters President Sean O’Brien makes it clear he’s isn’t gonna put up with GOP Sen Markwayne Mullin’s BS #SolidaritySeason pic.twitter.com/RI0x7EndtR

— Scott Dworkin (@funder) November 14, 2023

Mullin from Oklahoma issued a physical challenge to Sean O'Brien, the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, during a Senate hearing on Tuesday. The tense moment unfolded in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee during a hearing on labor unions. O'Brien, a witness at the hearing, had a heated exchange with Mullin in March about Mullin's business background and O'Brien's union chief salary.

"I appreciate your demeanor today. It's quite different. But after you left here, you got pretty excited about the keyboard. In fact, you tweeted at me, one, two, three, four, five times," Mullin said.

"'You know where to find me. Any time, any place, cowboy.' Sir, this is a time. This is a place," Mullin said.

Bro this ain’t even the first time Sean O’Brien and this guy went at it. They’ve had beef for months pic.twitter.com/74GRpeHSO4

— Hot White Hennessy (@Phillystunna221) November 14, 2023

Shortly after, Senator Bernie Sanders, who chaired the committee, stepped in.

"Stop it. You're a United States senator," Sanders said, as O'Brien labeled Mullin a "clown" again. "This is a hearing. And God knows the American people have enough contempt for Congress. Let's not make it worse."

Such incidents highlight the escalating animosity and tense atmosphere prevailing in bipartisan congressional proceedings.

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