The negative headlines surrounding opposition US Republicans are increasing. Senator Bernie Sanders had to prevent a fight.
Republican US Senator Markwayne Mullin threatened to beat a key union leader during a hearing. During Tuesday’s committee meeting, the Oklahoma senator stood up and challenged Sean O’Brien, president of the Teamsters transportation workers’ union, to a fight.
“We can be two adults who agree, we can end it here,” Mullin said, referring to several arguments with O’Brien that also took place online. “Shall we do it now? Then get off your butt!” Mullin said. O’Brien replied, “Get your ass up!” Mullin then jumped up from his seat.
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders immediately called Mullin to order. The prominent Democrat senator from Vermont ordered Mullin to sit down and warned, “You are a United States senator.” Sanders added: “God knows the American people have enough contempt for Congress. Let’s not make it worse.”
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It’s not the only incident
A second incident occurred on the same day: A Republican representative accused House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted in October, of elbowing him in the kidneys. Representative Tim Burchett accused his colleague McCarthy of elbowing him in the back as he walked past in a congressional hallway during an interview.
“I got an elbow in the back and that caught me off guard because it was a blow in the kidneys,” the right-wing hardliner told the news channel CNN. “I turned around and there was Kevin.” He ran after the former speaker, which led to a verbal argument.
McCarthy denied this account to reporters and maintained that he did not hit Burchett. Representative Matt Gaetz, who proposed McCarthy’s removal in the dispute over budget policy, filed a complaint with the Congressional Chamber’s Ethics Committee.
