Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin stood up and challenged a Teamster boss to a fight in chaotic scenes in Congress on Tuesday.
Former MMA fighter Mullin told Sean O’Brien to stand up as he adjusted his wedding ring and looked ready to lunge during the wild Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on Tuesday.
But Senator Bernie Sanders interrupted him and asked the Oklahoma senator to sit down.
The extraordinary interaction came just hours after the House of Representatives was thrown into disarray when former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was accused of elbowing a colleague.
Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin stood up and challenged a Teamster boss to a fight in chaotic scenes in Congress on Tuesday
Former MMA fighter Mullin told Sean O’Brien to stand up as he adjusted his wedding ring and looked ready to lunge during the wild Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on Tuesday
The confrontation on the Senate side was sparked by O’Brien challenging Mullin to a fight on Twitter in June, when he called him a “clown” and a fraud.
‘You know where to find me. “Anywhere, anytime, cowboy,” O’Brien warned.
Mullin used his interview to confront O’Brien and read some of the tweets.
“Sir, this is a time, this is a place.” Do you want to run your mouth? “We can be two consenting adults — we can end it here,” Mullin said.
‘OK that’s fine. “Perfect,” O’Brien replied.
“You want to do it now,” Mullin hit back.
“I would like to do it right away,” O’Brien said.
“Then get off your butt,” Mullin replied, telling O’Brien to get up.
Then Sanders jumped in, banged the gavel and told Mullin: “You are a United States senator, sit down.”
“This is a hearing, and God knows the American people have enough contempt for Congress, let’s not…”
The confrontation on the Senate side was sparked by Sean O’Brien (pictured) challenging Mullin to a fight on Twitter in June, calling him a “clown” and a fraud.
O’Brien added, “You know where to find me.” Anywhere, anytime, cowboy
Senator Bernie Sanders interrupted and asked Mullin to sit down
Then Mullin and O’Brien interrupted him and started yelling at each other again.
Tuesday’s near-brawl isn’t the first time the two have almost come to blows.
During a Senate Health, Education and Labor Committee hearing in March, O’Brien accused Mullin of being a “greedy CEO.”
The senator replied, “Shut up.”
Mullin is the first senator from Okalhoma. He was elected to the Senate in 2022 after serving in the House of Representatives since 2013.