Republican Reps.Kevin McCarthyandTim Burchettwere allegedly involved in a physical altercation in the Capitol on Tuesday, with one reporter describing the men yelling at one another in the hallway as a “chase” unfolded.
NPR’s Claudia Grisalesdescribed the interaction on X, writing that former House Speaker McCarthy instigated the incident while Burchett’s back was turned to him.
Drew Angerer/Getty, Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty
Grisales wrote that Burchett then looked at her and described McCarthy as a “jerk.““That’s when the chase ensued. Burchett took off after McCarthy and his detail. I chased behind with my mic,” she wrote.
Kevin McCarthy speaks to the media on Sept. 29, 2023, days before being ousted as House speaker.AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
After catching up to McCarthy, Grisales says that Burchett asked him, “Hey Kevin, why’d you walk behind me and elbow me in the back?“McCarthy reportedly replied, “I didn’t elbow you in the back.““You got no guts, you did so… the reporter said it right there, what kind of chicken move is that…” Burchett responded, adding: “You’re pathetic man, you are so pathetic.“Burchett then walked away from McCarthy, Grisales wrote, before yelling, “You need security Kevin!”
Burchett told Grisales that the two men had not communicated since he voted for McCarthy’s ouster as speaker last month.
Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett on July 20, 2023, announcing a hearing on unidentified aerial phenomenon.Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
Burchett himself described the incident with McCarthy somewhat differently to CNN on Tuesday morning, saying, “It was just a little heated,” before accusing the former House speaker of “sucker punching” him.
“You don’t expect a guy who was, at one time, three steps away from the White House to hit you with a sucker punch,” Burchett told the network.
McCarthy, on the other hand, denied instigating a fight with his colleague,telling CNN’s Melanie Zanona, “I didn’t shove or elbow him, it’s a tight hallway.”
Reps for neither Burchett nor McCarthy immediately responded to PEOPLE’s request for comment about the incident.
Then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy speaks with media about a looming government shutdown on Sept. 30, 2023, as an effort to oust him from his post began mounting.Nathan Howard/Getty
Nathan Howard/Getty
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer.
Fractures within the GOP have been on public display in recent weeks, particularly following an unprecedented motion to remove McCarthy from the nation’s third-highest post last month.
In ahistoric recall effort, the House voted 216-210 in October to strip McCarthy of his leadership role, with chaos ensuing after Republicans spent three weeks without a speaker,nominating a slew of candidateswho eventually removed themselves from consideration after they couldn’t gain enough support to win the role outright.
Ultimately, Louisiana Rep.Mike Johnsonwon the House speaker electionin a 220-209voteon party lines, becoming second in line to the presidency and putting an end to the weeks of infighting among House Republicans that effectively froze Congress.
source: people.com
