GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin Nearly Starts Fistfight In Hearing

Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) on Tuesday nearly started a fistfight with labor union leader Sean OBrien in the middle of a Senate committee hearing, after the two traded ridiculous, high school-level insults for several minutes.

Mullin, a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, held up printed copies of past tweets by OBrien that have mocked the senator. This was during a hearing theoretically focused on standing up to corporate greed.

It says, Greedy CEO who pretends like hes self-made, Mullin read aloud from a tweet OBrien posted in June . Just a clown and fraud. Always has been, always will be. Quit the tough guy act in these Senate hearings. You know where to find me. Any place, anytime cowboy.

The senator, who is a former MMA fighter, then spoke directly to OBrien, the general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

This is a time, this is a place, Mullin said. If you want to run your mouth, we can be two consenting adults. We can finish it here.

OK, thats fine, OBrien said. Perfect.

You want to do it now? Mullin asked.

Id love to do it right now, OBrien replied.

This is when things got really bananas.

Well, stand your butt up then, demanded the senator.

You stand your butt up, big guy, OBrien shot back.

Mullin then stood up on the dais as if he was ready to brawl, which drew a laugh and some shouts in the room.

A fight almost broke out in a Senate hearing.

Markwayne Mullin read a tweet from Teamster boss Sean O'Brien which challenged Mullin to a fight. Mullin said he was ready to settle things right here, right now.

Bernie Sanders shut the scene down. pic.twitter.com/U0X3YmWPwY

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A fight almost broke out in a Senate hearing.

Markwayne Mullin read a tweet from Teamster boss Sean O'Brien which challenged Mullin to a fight. Mullin said he was ready to settle things right here, right now.

Bernie Sanders shut the scene down. pic.twitter.com/U0X3YmWPwY
Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) November 14, 2023

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the committee chairman, had to intervene.

Oh no, he said, hitting the gavel. Stop it. Sit down. Sit down. Youre a United States senator!

Amid the dust-up, OBrien sniped at Mullin: Is that your solution to every problem?

Sanders reminded them that this was a Senate committee hearing.

God knows the American people have enough contempt for Congress, said the Vermont senator, telling the two to knock it off.

It didnt work, though.

I dont like bullies, Mullin said.

I dont like you, OBrien responded. Because you just described yourself.