GOP Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) accused former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) of elbowing him in the kidneys and mocking his faith in a conversation before the vote to remove McCarthy from office on October 3, 2023.
Burchett said he had a recording of what was said, but he did not release it publicly.
McCarthy repeatedly denied the incident saying, “I didn’t shove or elbow him. It’s a tight hallway.”
In a lengthy gaggle later Tuesday, McCarthy again denied he hit Burchett.
“If I hit somebody, they would know it,” he said. “If I kidney punched someone, they would be on the ground.”
Tensions are high across Capitol Hill. On the Senate side, Oklahoma GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin challenged a witness before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to a physical fight on Tuesday. Chairman Bernie Sanders quickly put a stop to it, admonishing Mullin and reminding him that he’s a United States senator and not a cage match participant.
Burchett was one of the eight Republicans who voted with the Democrats to oust McCarthy as speaker, citing a lack of leadership and vision from the former speaker.
The House voted 216-210 to remove McCarthy and elected Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) as the new speaker.