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OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
A GOP lawmaker who helped oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy accused the California Republican of shoving him in a congressional hallway.
In an on-camera interview on the Capitol steps following the incident, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), one of eight Republicans who joined all of the chamber’s Democrats in vacating the Speaker’s chair last month, claimed that McCarthy had taken a “cheap shot from behind.”
“You don’t expect that sort of thing from an adult, certainly not one who was once third in line for the White House,” Burchett said, adding he believes the push was “deliberate.”
“I’ll take a polygraph test. And have Kevin take a polygraph test,” he said. “It was deliberate. It was just a cheap shot by a bully.”
He went on to say he didn’t plan to take any further action against McCarthy, adding ominously, “He’s going to be out by Christmas.”
According to Fox News, “The alleged physical altercation occurred while Burchett was speaking with NPR correspondent Claudia Grisales, who described the incident in a thread on X.”
Here is the thread:
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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
@RepTimBurchett yelled after catching up to McCarthy, “Hey Kevin, why’d you walk behind me and elbow me in the back?”
KM: “I didn’t elbow you in the back.”
Burchett: “You got no guts, you did so, …the reporter said it right there, what kind of chicken move is that…”
— Claudia Grisales (@cgrisales) November 14, 2023
Burchett tells me that’s the first point of “communication” with McCarthy since Burchett voted for McCarthy’s ouster as speaker last month:
“That’s just it” for communication since ouster vote, “He’s just a jerk. He’s just a childish little…”
— Claudia Grisales (@cgrisales) November 14, 2023
Burchett reiterates he hasn’t talked to McCarthy since he voted against him.
“No, no that was it. That’s it. He’s got $17 million to work against me. And he’s just a — he should have kept his word. I think that just showed what he’s about and it’s unfortunate.”
— Claudia Grisales (@cgrisales) November 14, 2023
“Kevin McCarthy walked by, and he elbowed me in the kidneys,” Burchett said of the incident which allegedly took place in a Capitol hallway.
“There’s 435 congressmen. I was one of the eight that voted against him. That hallway, there’s plenty of room. You can walk forward side by side, he chose to do what he did,” Burchett said. “I feel sorry for him, and I pray for him every day. You might not believe that, but I do, and I hope he finds some happiness in his life.”
After several Republicans failed to win enough support following weeks without a Speaker, the chamber finally elected Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson to the post in late October.
Johnson was able to rally the GOP behind him as their consensus candidate, but he still has a lot of work to do, including passing legislation to keep the government open, before he can take office.
The final tally on the House floor was 220 to 209 in favor of Johnson, with no Republicans voting no.
“We had votes for Mike Johnson across the board,” said Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), the ringleader in the drive to oust McCarthy.
“From some of the most conservative members to some of our frontliners, there was enthusiastic support,” Gaetz added, according to Politico.
Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.) added: “Mike Johnson is a humble man who inspires us to work together.”
“Our first priority is to get the government funded,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said on Fox News after he was elected. “Our team is ready and working like a well-oiled machine.”
House Republicans are focused on reducing spending, as “we’re haunted by the federal debt, $33.6 trillion… we have to keep that in mind always.” They also want to reduce “the woke and weaponized federal government” while cutting spending and increasing accountability.
“All of that comes into the equation of the debate, whatever the topline number is,” he said. “We worked hard to come in beneath it, and you will see that happening over the coming days.”
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Asked how long of a temporary funding gap he would support, the Speaker said he favored a deadline of Jan. 15.
“Oftentimes, the Senate tries to jam the House and nominate an omnibus bill,” he said. “We’re not doing that. We have single-subject bills and our separate appropriations bill. Pushing that into January, I think, would assist us in the endeavor.”
Asked about the future of the rule that allows one House Republican member to move to vacate the Speaker’s chair, which was used to get rid of McCarthy, Johnson said: “Everyone has told me the rule has to change.
“I’m not afraid of it because I’m going to openly work [on] transparency with every member, and everyone will fully understand what we’re doing and why that’s a big part of it,” he told Fox News.
