Bernie Sanders Prevents Fight in Senate Hearing After GOP Senator Tells Teamster Boss, 'Get Your Butt Up'
Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin challenged the union leader to fight on Tuesday, prompting a swift intervention by Sanders, who chairs the Senate labor committee
Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty, Jens Kalaene/picture alliance via Getty
Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, Vermont Sen. Bernie SandersA fight nearly broke out during a Senate hearing on Tuesday when Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin seemingly challenged Teamsters President Sean O'Brien to a fight, forcing Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders to intervene.
The incident happened around the same time that Republican Reps. Kevin McCarthy and Tim Burchett reportedly got into a physical altercation inside the U.S. Capitol.
Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty, Jens Kalaene/picture alliance via Getty
During the Senate labor committee's Tuesday hearing, 46-year-old Mullin of Oklahoma was questioning O'Brien — a union leader with whom he's argued before — revisiting a June tweet in which O'Brien had written to the Republican, "Quit the tough guy act in these Senate hearings. You know where to find me. Any place, any time, cowboy."
Greedy CEO who pretends like he’s self made. In reality, just a clown & fraud. Always has been, always will be. Quit the tough guy act in these senate hearings. You know where to find me. Anyplace, Anytime cowboy. #LittleManSyndrome pic.twitter.com/JNvT7IsA6m
— Sean M. O'Brien (@TeamsterSOB) June 21, 2023
Responding to the post five months later, Mullin said he was ready to settle things right there, right then.
"Sir, this is a time, this is a place. You want to run your mouth, we can be two consenting adults. We can finish it here," Mullin said. "You want to do it now?"
"I'd love to do it right now," O'Brien, 51, responded.
Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty, M. Scott Brauer/Bloomberg via Getty
Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin (left) challenged Teamsters President Sean O'Brien (right) to fight during a Nov. 14, 2023, Senate hearing"Well stand your butt up, then," Mullin said.
"You stand your butt up," O'Brien countered.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on April 26, 2023At that point, Mullin stood up and nearly took his wedding ring off before Sen. Sanders — who chairs the labor committee — interjected, shouting, “No, no, sit down! Sit down! You’re a United States senator!”
“This is a hearing," added Sanders, 82. "And God knows the American people have enough contempt for Congress, let’s not make it worse."
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Mullin — a former plumbing company owner who has dabbled in cage fighting — has courted controversy since his 2022 election to the Senate, including his denial of the 2020 presidential election results.
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