Rep. Tim Burchett on Tuesday accused former Speaker Kevin McCarthy of elbowing him in the back while the Tennessean was being interviewed in the Capitol.
Mr. Burchett was one of the eight Republicans who ousted Mr. McCarthy, California Republican, in early October after the former speaker sought Democrats to help pass a short-term spending bill to keep the government open.
Mr. Burchett said the elbow to the back was “uncool.”
“It caught me off guard because it was a clean shot to the kidneys, and I turned back and there was Kevin,” he said.
The incident unfolded when NPR was interviewing Mr. Burchett. Mr. McCarthy and his security detail appeared in the hallway, and the former top House Republican reportedly lunged at Mr. Burchett, striking him in the back.
Mr. Burchett then chased after Mr. McCarthy, saying the lawmaker had “no guts.”
Although Mr. McCarthy denied that he dealt the blow, Mr. Burchett said after he confronted the former speaker, “It’s like, you know, a guy throws a rock over a fence when he’s a kid and runs home and hides behind his mama’s skirt. You know, he’s got the security detail around him and so nobody’s gonna be able to do anything to him.”
Mr. Burchett told NPR after walking away from Mr. McCarthy that the incident was the first time the two have spoken since the Tennessee congressman joined with Rep. Matt Gaetz, Florida Republican, and others to oust him.
Mr. Gaetz said the altercation was “wild.”
“McCarthy resorting to pushing people in the halls,” Mr. Gaetz said on X. “What a weak, pathetic husk of a man.”
Mr. McCarthy told CNN he “didn’t shove or elbow” Mr. Burchett, saying it was a tight hallway.
• Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.