Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) bizarrely challenged a witness brought before a Senate committee to a fight due to previous comments the witness made about the senator.
Sean O’Brien, the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, was brought before the Senate committee hearing to testify on labor unions in America when Mullin challenged the union boss about a previous X post.
We are fighting Corporate America. We are closing the gap. We are taking what we deserve. But do not forget what we face against: those who want to bully workers and hold us back. pic.twitter.com/ZUrBnzHTsp
— Teamsters (@Teamsters) November 14, 2023
“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,” O’Brien wrote on X accompanied by a picture of the Senator.
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
Mullin used the time allotted to him for questioning witnesses to respond to O’Brien X’s post before challenging the union boss to a physical fight, right there on the Senate floor.
https://twitter.com/search?q=sen%20mullin&src=typed_query
“Sir, this is a time, this is a place. You wanna run your mouth, we can be two consenting adults, we can finish it here,” Mullin said, before standing to fight.
“OK, that’s fine, perfect. “I’d love to do it right now,” O’Brien said, accepting the GOP senator’s challenge.
“Then stand your butt up then,” Mullin responded.
“You stand your butt up,” O’Brien shot back at the lawmaker. Mulling, who was dressed in a white shirt and gray pants, got up to begin the fight.
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chairman Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) quickly moved to halt the farce, ordering the Oklahoma lawmaker to sit down. Sanders also reminded Mullin that he was a U.S. senator and should act like it.
Sanders’ warnings fell on deaf ears as both men continued to trade insults. Mullins, while pointing at O’Brien, called the union boss a thug. O’Brien then asked the lawmaker not to point at him because it was disrespectful. Mullin shot back again, saying “ I don’t care about respecting you at all.”
O’Brien at one time called Mullin the “biggest thug” on the Senate floor, adding that the lawmaker is an embarrassment to the state of Oklahoma.
