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Senator Markwayne Mullin dragged for saying he tried to start fist fight with Union boss over fears Oklahoma would be upset with him

Holding up printed tweets, Senator Markwayne Mullin accused Sean O'Brien of name-calling, reading aloud a post in which he was labeled a 'greedy CEO', 'clown', and 'fraud'

WASHINGTON, DC: In a surprising and tense moment during a Senate hearing on labor unions, Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma challenged International Brotherhood of Teamsters President Sean O'Brien to a physical fight. The incident unfolded during a session of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Mullin took the opportunity to pose questions to witnesses, referencing a previous heated exchange in March between him and O'Brien regarding Mullin's background as a business owner and O'Brien's salary as the union chief.

Heated exchange between Markwayne Mullin and Sean O'Brien

Holding up printed tweets, Mullin accused O'Brien of name-calling, reading aloud a post in which he was labeled a "greedy CEO," a "clown," and a "fraud."

"'You know where to find me. Any time, any place, cowboy.' Sir, this is a time. This is a place," Mullin declared, pointing to the floor between the dais and the witness table. "If you want to run your mouth, we can be two consenting adults. We can finish it here, " he added.

O'Brien responded with a calm, "OK, that's fine. Perfect."

"You want to do it now?" Mullin asked.

"I'd love to do it right now," O'Brien replied.

"Well, stand your butt up, then," Mullin retorted.

"You stand your butt up," O'Brien fired back.

The situation escalated as Mullin rose to his feet, prompting committee chairman Senator Bernie Sanders to intervene.

"Stop it. You're a United States senator," Sanders said, as O'Brien called Mullin a "clown" again. "This is a hearing. And God knows the American people have enough contempt for Congress. Let's not make it worse," Sanders added.

Mullin later told Fox News's Sean Hannity that the people of Oklahoma would be upset with him if he didn't confront O'Brien.

The surreal confrontation occurred shortly after a separate physical incident involving lawmakers elsewhere on Capitol Hill.

Following a meeting of House Republicans, Representative Tim Burchett claimed that former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy elbowed him in the back, leading to a brief chase.

Mullin reportedly has a background as a former undefeated Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter with a professional record of 5-0, according to CBS News.

The verbal sparring continued between the Republican senator and the Teamsters president, with both seemingly agreeing to meet for coffee. However, the situation deteriorated once again, ending with Sanders banging his gavel as the two exchanged further insults, calling each other an "embarrassment" and a "thug".

Senator Markwayne Mullin faces backlash on social media

However, critics took to social media to express their disapproval of Mullin's behavior.

"So they sent him to be a brawler and not a legislator?" one posted on X (formerly Twitter).

"What a role model for his kids and community," another wrote.

"My god what an a**! I’m sure that’s the reason why the people of Oklahoma sent him to DC. Maybe the voters there need to rethink that decision," someone else offered.

"So being an adult wouldn’t have been more appropriate?" a comment read.

"Mullins is going to get kids, from middle-schoolers to high school seniors, kicked out of schools, and young adults kicked out of restaurants, hotels, and other public accommodations for fighting; for following Mullins' example," another chimed in.

Despite the physical posturing, Mullin insisted that the challenge was not personal, stating to reporters after the hearing, "He just challenged me and I accepted the challenge."

He insisted he harbored no "hard feelings" about the confrontation.