Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) made headlines last week after it was reported that he got into a brief physical confrontation with a protester. Now, new video suggests that Burchett may not be entirely blameless for the altercation.
Politico's Kyle Cheney and Chris Marquette reported that two videos they reviewed — including one provided to them by Burchett's staff — dispute Burchett's initial account. After the incident, the Tennessee Republican had said that the protester got in his face and "bumped" him. However, Politico is now reporting that Burchett can be seen taunting the protester, who had initially walked away from him before the congressman followed.
"Come over here weenie," Burchett reportedly said to the protester, who had been yelling at the congressman over his support of Israel in its ongoing offensive in Gaza.
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"You just came to me, dodo brain," the protester responded.
In a heated confrontation, Burchett accused the man of being paid by Democratic donor George Soros. At that point, the protester walked away, prompting Burchett to accuse him of "quivering." The man then turned around and said "I'm quivering?" While pivoting, the man briefly made contact with Burchett, who then shoved him "with both hands," according to Politico. The man then yelled "I didn't touch him" as he walked away.
“The guy got in the congressman’s face,” Burchett spokesperson Will Garrett said Monday. “They bumped stomachs and the congressman removed him from his face. People have a protected First Amendment right to protest and say whatever filthy and nasty stuff they want to the congressman, but they don’t have the right to physically bump into the congressman and the congressman acted in self-defense.”
This was not the first time Burchett was involved in a physical altercation on Capitol Hill. CNN reported in 2023 that Burchett accused former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) of elbowing him in the kidneys after the Tennessee congressman voted to strip McCarthy of the gavel. Burchett called McCarthy a "bully," adding that he was "the type of guy that when you’re a kid would throw a rock over the fence and run home and hide behind his mama’s skirt."
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Click here to read Politico's report in full.