GOP Rep. Tim Burchett on Tuesday claimed former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy shoved and sucker-punched him.
Recall, that Burchett was one of the GOP lawmakers who voted McCarthy out. McCarthy has denied the incident.
“Explain to us what happened with you and Kevin McCarthy,” CNN’s Manu Raju said to Burchett.
“Well, I was doing an interview with Claudia from NPR….and I got elbowed in the back and it kind of caught me off-guard because it was a clean shot to the kidneys and I turned back and there was Kevin…and I chased after him of course,” Burchett said.
Burchett continued, “He’s a bully with a $17 million security detail.”
Manu Raju pressed Burchett for details.
WATCH:
Rep. Tim Burchett claims on CNN that Kevin McCarthy hit him from behind with "a clean shot to the kidneys" and calls him "a bully" pic.twitter.com/CCLQvNuWHw
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 14, 2023
Rep. Burchett said he is still in pain from the sucker-punch to the kidneys.
“I just don’t expect a guy who was at one time three steps away from the White House to hit you with a sucker punch in the hallway,” Burchett said.
VIDEO:
Burchett says he's still in pain from McCarthy hitting him and adds: "I just don't expect a guy who was at one time three steps away from the White House to hit you with a sucker punch in the hallway." pic.twitter.com/vhWTpm9uDm
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 14, 2023
NPR reporter Claudia Grisales corroborated Burchett’s account of what happened.
“While talking to Rep Tim Burchett after the GOP conference meeting, former Speaker McCarthy walked by with his detail and McCarthy shoved Burchett. Burchett lunged towards me. I thought it was a joke, it was not. And a chase ensued…” Grisales said.
Have NEVER seen this on Capitol Hill:
While talking to @RepTimBurchett after the GOP conference meeting, former @SpeakerMcCarthy walked by with his detail and McCarthy shoved Burchett. Burchett lunged towards me. I thought it was a joke, it was not. And a chase ensued…
— Claudia Grisales (@cgrisales) November 14, 2023
The NPR reporter continued: Burchett’s back was to McCarthy and his detail walking by in the hallway, then the lunge.
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!?”
Burchett's back was to McCarthy and his detail walking by in the hallway, then the lunge.
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!?"
— Claudia Grisales (@cgrisales) November 14, 2023
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