Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) doubled down on his claim that he was assaulted by Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), saying the former House speaker is “spinning out of control.”
Burchett claimed he was forcefully elbowed by McCarthy in the kidney on Tuesday as the latter was passing him. He appeared on CNN later that night, iterating the claim and portraying McCarthy to host Kaitlan Collins as out of control.
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“It’s disappointing that’s the way he will end his career — spiraling out of control,” Burchett said.
“And it’s disappointing because we should be dealing with the budget and all these other things I said that are really in a crisis stage right now, and people like himself, it’s all about them and their childish activities,” he said.
The Tennessee Republican continued to say McCarthy’s behavior indicates something is deeply wrong with him.
“I forgive him, and I’ve said several prayers for him today, ma’am,” Burchett said. “Something is really inside his heart right now, and he’s going to continue doing these type of activities, and it’s going to continue causing him embarrassment upon his family and his district and, frankly, the Republican caucus. It shouldn’t. It should just be on him. But that seems to be the way it goes. I would hope he can find some peace in his life because going out bitter like this is not the way to go. He was three steps away from being in the White House, and that’s the way he’s going out. And that’s just a sad commentary on him, nothing else.”
He clarified that he would not be filing an ethics complaint and was not in any notable pain from the incident.
According to reporter Claudia Grisales and Burchett, McCarthy elbowed the Tennessee Republican in his back while walking past him. Grisales documented that Burchett asked the former speaker why he elbowed him before chasing after him. McCarthy denied shoving Burchett, to which the lawmaker retorted, “You got no guts. You did so. … The reporter said it right there. What kind of chicken move is that?”
McCarthy has fervently denied the accusation, saying Burchett would have been on the ground in pain if he had really elbowed him in the kidneys.
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The two Republicans are noted for their hostile stance toward one another, particularly since Burchett was one of the eight Republicans to vote to oust McCarthy as speaker.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), the leader of the move to oust McCarthy, filed an ethics complaint against the former House speaker over the alleged assault.
