Tempers flare at Capitol: McCarthy denies outburst, senator dares witness to fight

bad behavior on Capitol Hill. Not only did a fistfight almost break out during a Senate hearing yesterday, the former Speaker of the House allegedly elbowed another lawmaker in the kidneys in an unrelated incident. ABC's Andrea Fugee has more on the confrontations. This morning, the senator who challenged a union boss to a fight during this hearing on Capitol Hill is revealing what led up to their explosive exchange. He's just not used to being called out. I think the guy's really tough on a keyboard, but that's about it. Oklahoma Senator Mark Wayne Mullen was questioning Teamsters President Sean O'Brien when the two nearly came to blows. You want to do it now? I'd love to do it right now. Well, stand your butt up then. You stand your butt up. Oh, hold on. Oh, stop it. Senator Bernie Sanders intervening. This is a hearing, and God knows the American people have enough contempt for Congress. Let's not. I don't like it. Then let's do this, because I did challenge you, and I accepted your challenge, and you went quiet. No, I didn't go quiet. You challenged me to a cage match, acting like a 12-year-old schoolyard bully. Senator Mullen, who owns a plumbing company, said his feud with O'Brien began months ago when the senator accused the Teamsters of trying to intimidate his employees into unionizing. O'Brien on social media back in June called Mullen a greedy CEO, clown, and fraud, adding, You know where to find me, any place, any time, cowboy. Being raised in Oklahoma all my life, you don't do that. You don't go run off the mouth unless you expect to be called to the carpet, and I did that. Meanwhile, on the same day, yet another episode of schoolyard behavior in the halls of the Capitol. Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett says former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy elbowed him in the kidneys as they were gathering to vote on a new funding bill. The exchange heard in this audio from NPR. What kind of chicken move is that? You're pathetic, man. You are so pathetic. You know, it was deliberate. It was just a cheap shot by a bully. But McCarthy denies hitting Burchett. Did you elbow him? No, I did not elbow him. No, I would not elbow him. I would not hit him in the kidney. Burchett was among the Republicans led by Matt Gates who voted to remove McCarthy as Speaker last month. All that drama overshadowed House Speaker Mike Johnson's big victory yesterday. His short-term spending plan to prevent a government shutdown was approved with the help of Democrats. Andrea Fugge, ABC News, New York.