Allegations Fly as GOP Rep Tim Burchett Accuses Kevin McCarthy of Back-Elbowing Incident, Ex-Speaker Denies Accusation
Tensions rise within House Republicans as GOP Rep Tim Burchett accuses Kevin McCarthy of forcefully elbowing him from behind during a conversation with a reporter Denials from the former speaker intensify the controversy
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) has accused former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of intentionally elbowing him from behind during a conversation with a reporter on Tuesday morning. This incident highlights the ongoing tense dynamics within the House GOP conference, especially considering Burchett's previous vote to remove McCarthy from his position. Burchett's criticism of McCarthy and this alleged altercation further underscores the highly pressurized environment in the House GOP at present.
Burchett criticized McCarthy for his behavior, calling him a "bully." Burchett described an incident where he was talking to a reporter in the hallway outside the GOP conference meeting this morning, and McCarthy unexpectedly elbowed him in the kidneys. Burchett said he was taken aback by the impact of the elbow and immediately turned to see McCarthy. Burchett then pursued McCarthy, comparing him to the type of person who would throw a rock over a fence and hide behind their mother.
Burchett claimed that he approached the former speaker to address the confrontation, but McCarthy dismissed him. He mentioned that he expressed himself loudly, and McCarthy responded with a high-pitched tone.
"As usual, he denies or shifts the blame onto someone else. The exchange got a little heated, but I decided to disengage because there was no benefit to continuing. Everyone witnessed it, so it ultimately didn't hold much significance," he explained to CNN.
McCarthy refuted the incident when speaking to CNN, stating, "I did not push or use my elbow against him. The hallway was narrow."
In response to McCarthy's denials and his assertion that the hallway was constricted, Burchett dismissed it as an inadequate explanation.
"There are 435 congressmen, and I was one of the eight who voted against him. The hallway was very spacious, allowing four people to walk side by side. He made the choice to act as he did. And, you know, this is where it will end. I'm certain that it will only be a minor footnote in his illustrious career," he stated.
Additionally, the Tennessee Republican alleged that the former speaker used his significant campaign funds to meddle in other members' races. He also expressed his belief that McCarthy, who has yet to confirm his future in Congress, will not be present in the next Congress.
"He has already interfered in everyone's races, and it is widely known," Burchett commented.
The Republican lawmakers' relationship has become strained in recent weeks. McCarthy expressed his surprise to CNN regarding Burchett's decision to vote for his removal last month. Prior to the vote, Burchett mentioned that McCarthy displayed condescending behavior towards his statement about contemplating whether to vote against McCarthy.
Tensions in the House have reached a peak as members have been in session for ten consecutive weeks. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, stated during his press conference on Tuesday that the Thanksgiving break would provide an opportunity for members to return home and calm down.
In a sign that some of McCarthy's critics are looking to escalate the matter, GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida is lodging a formal ethics complaint against McCarthy regarding the alleged altercation with Burchett, as per a copy of the document obtained by CNN.
Gaetz, who has been a prominent critic of McCarthy and spearheaded efforts to remove him as speaker, did not personally witness the incident. However, it is within anyone's right to file a complaint with the House Ethics Committee. While Burchett stated he has no plans to file a complaint, Gaetz argued that it is their "duty to investigate" and accused McCarthy of violating the members code of conduct.
Gaetz was one of eight Republicans who voted to remove McCarthy as speaker. McCarthy recently criticized the group, specifically targeting Gaetz and highlighting that he is currently under investigation by the House Ethics Committee. Gaetz is now escalating their feud with this latest complaint. This story has been updated with new developments.
CNNs Haley Talbot, Manu Raju and Sam Fossum contributed to this report.
