Fight night, Congress edition: Lawmakers’ feuds turn into physical conflict on Capitol Hill

Days after former President Donald Trump drew headlines for his appearance at UFC 295, an event run by Ultimate Fighting Championship, lawmakers on Capitol Hill appear more eager to test their own mettle picking fights with fellow members and witnesses for hearings.

Physical altercations between lawmakers are not unprecedented in U.S. history, such as the 1856 caning of Sen. Charles Sumner by Sen. Preston Brooks, a Democrat who was a strong advocate of slavery and states' rights. Of course the duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr has become part of our national legend. Duels were largely outlawed in the mid 1800's and replaced by libel laws, which allowed "honor" to be established by a jury, rather than the bullet. Physical clashes between lawmakers have become relative rarities.

Tempers on Tuesday appeared to be flaring with unusual vigor as three noteworthy incidents saw lawmakers flinging insults, physically posturing, or even allegedly delivering a "clean shot to the kidney."

Round 1: Kevin McCarthy vs. Tim Burchett

The former House Speaker attracted considerable attention for a physical altercation. He allegedly "elbowed" Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett in the presence of NPR reporter Claudia Grisales, who relayed the story via an X thread.

Burchett was one of the Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy from the speakership. While talking with Grisales, McCarthy allegedly "shoved" Burchett as he walked by. The Tennessee lawmaker initially responded amiably, seemingly suggesting it had been an accident, but abruptly changed his attitude.

"Burchett responded jokingly as McCarthy kept walking, 'Sorry Kevin didn't mean to elbow --' then seriously yelled, 'why'd you elbow me in the back Kevin?! Hey Kevin, you got any guts!?'" Grisales wrote, who stated that Burchett then pursued McCarthy with her in tow. 

"Hey Kevin, why'd you walk behind me and elbow me in the back?" Burchett asked, prompting a denial from McCarthy. "You got no guts, you did so, ...the reporter said it right there, what kind of chicken move is that, you are so pathetic."

The reporter described Burchett as being in a state of disbelief, a sentiment she shared. 

"[H]e's on a downhill spiral... he just, that was pretty gutless of him. I'm disappointed in his, in him," Burchett said. The exchange marked the first communication between the pair since McCarthy's ouster from leadership.

McCarthy later denied to reporters that he had deliberately hit Burchett, saying "I guess our shoulders hit. I did not run and hit the guy. I did not kidney punch him."

Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz subsequently filed an ethics complaint against McCarthy, repeating subsequent claims from Burchett that he delivered a "clean shot to the kidney."

Round 2: Markwayne Mullin vs. Sean O'Brien

The same day, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., appeared to challenge International Brotherhood of Teamsters President Sean O'Brien to a fight on the Senate floor after repeating remarks O'Brien made suggesting the pair settle things by fisticuffs.

"What a clown, fraud, always has been, always will be. Quit the tough guy act in these Senate hearings. You know where to find me, any place any time, cowboy," Mullin read aloud, relaying O'Brien's comments. Pointing then to O'Brien, he stated "Sir, this is the time. This is the place. You want to run your mouth, we can be two consenting adults. We can finish it here."

"Ok, that's fine. Perfect," O'Brien replied, prompting Mullin to ask if he was prepared to "do it right now," which O'Brien affirmed. The pair urged each other to stand up, which only Mullin did.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., then intervened, admonishing Mullin and attempting to diffuse the situation.

"You are a United States Senator," he told Mullin. "This is a hearing!"

Neither party apologized and Mullin later reposted the clip, stating "In Oklahoma, if you run your mouth, you get called out. Period."

In Oklahoma, if you run your mouth, you get called out. Period. https://t.co/2ZRVWc9IwX

— Markwayne Mullin (@SenMullin) November 14, 2023

Round 3: James Comer vs. Jared Moskowitz

Though much farther from coming to physical blows than in the two prior instances, things got unusually heated between House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., during a hearing.

During the exchange, Moskowitz pressed Comer on his alleged business relationships with his brother, a point he asserted undermined the Kentucky Republican's credibility on matters related to the first family's business dealings. Comer has highlighted payments that President Joe Biden received from his brother James as examples of the commander-in-chief profiting off his family's enterprises. 

"It has come out in the public, that you also do business with your brother with potential loans. And so, since you have framed that and manipulated that with the American people, that Joe Biden did something wrong when he wasn’t in office," Moskowitz said. 

Comer subsequently stated that he bought his father's old farm from his brother to keep it in the family, The Hill reported.

"That story that you tweeted, also said I had a shell company. That is bullshit," he said. It was unclear to what Tweet Comer was referring, though Moskowitz last week posted a video of him signing a mock subpoena for the Kentucky Republican in an apparent satire of Comer serving the Biden family.

Moskowitz's attempt to press Comer on the matter prompted an irate Comer to tell the Florida Democrat "You look like a Smurf, here, just going around and all this stuff."

Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) sparred during a House Oversight Committee hearing on Tuesday, where Comer told Moskowitz he looks "like a Smurf." pic.twitter.com/prYh8dcypG

— The Hill (@thehill) November 14, 2023

While Comer does not appear to have publicly addressed the matter, Moskowitz later posted a gif of a Smurf doing pushups and flexing his muscles.

Bonus round: Mike Rogers vs. Matt Gaetz

While Tuesday marked a particularly tense day in Congress for House Republicans, it was not the first instance this year of tempers flaring nearly to the point of a physical brawl.

During the January leadership contest in which a group of dissident conservatives opposed McCarthy's leadership, Alabama GOP Rep. Mike Rogers was caught on camera lunging toward Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz on the House floor, only to be forcibly held back by another lawmaker.

Mike Rogers pulled away from Matt Gaetz. pic.twitter.com/isV5YOGzW9

— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) January 7, 2023

Rogers notably apologized for the exchange and the pair publicly resolved the matter in the following days.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.