Sen. Markwayne Mullen, R-Oklahoma, is seen attending the NCAA wrestling championships, March 18, 2023, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Sue Ogroki/Related Press

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Sue Ogroki/Related Press

Sen. Markwayne Mullen, R-Oklahoma, is seen attending the NCAA wrestling championships, March 18, 2023, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Sue Ogroki/Related Press

A congressional listening to become an offended confrontation between a senator and a witness on Tuesday after Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullen of Oklahoma challenged Sean O’Brien, president of the Worldwide Brotherhood of Truckers, to “stand as much as you” and settle long-standing variations proper there within the room. .

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, chairman of the Senate committee conducting the listening to, shouted at Mullen to take a seat down after he challenged O’Brien to a combat. Mullen stood from his seat on the rostrum and appeared to start eradicating his ring.

“That is the time, that is the place,” Mullen instructed O’Brien after studying a collection of important tweets O’Brien has despatched about him up to now. “If you wish to discuss, we could be consenting adults. We are able to finish it right here.”

The 2 males didn’t meet head to head within the listening to room. However they exchanged insults for about six minutes, whereas Sanders repeatedly banged his hammer and tried to chop her off. Sanders, a longtime union ally, implored them to give attention to the financial points that had been the main target of the Senate Well being, Training, Labor and Pensions Committee listening to, which Sanders was convening to assessment how unions assist working households.

“You’re a United States Senator!” Sanders shouted at Mullen at one level.

Mullen, who’s a frequent critic of the union’s management, has beforehand sparred with the union president. Earlier this yr, O’Brien repeatedly posted about Mullen on the web site Intimidation. .

In one other social media submit, which Mullen learn aloud at Tuesday’s listening to, O’Brien appeared to problem Mullen to a combat. “You recognize the place to search out me. Wherever, anytime, cowboy,” O’Brien posted.

The alternate escalated from there, with Mullen telling O’Brien that “that is the place” and asking him if he needed to do it now.

“I might love to do this now,” O’Brien mentioned.

“Okay, stand your ass up then,” Mullen replied.

“You are standing your ass up,” O’Brien responded.

When Mullen obtained up from his chair, trying able to combat, Sanders shouted at him to take a seat down, banged his hammer a number of instances and instructed them each to cease speaking.

“This can be a listening to, and goodness is aware of the American individuals have sufficient contempt for Congress, let’s not make it worse,” Sanders mentioned.

When Mullen insisted, O’Brien responded, “You challenged me to a cage match, and I acted like a twelve-year-old in a schoolyard.”

The 2 exchanged offended insults for a number of extra minutes — every calling the opposite a “thug” — with Mullen at one level suggesting they combat for charity at an occasion subsequent spring, repeating a proposal he made earlier this yr on social media.

O’Brien declined, suggesting as an alternative that they meet for espresso and work out their variations. Mullen agreed, however the two continued to yell at one another till the following senator, Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, started her questioning by speaking to them.

After the listening to, Sanders known as the alternate “ridiculous.”

“We had been there to speak concerning the disaster going through working households on this nation, and we did speak about it, the rising hole between the wealthy and everybody else, and the position unions play in enhancing the usual of residing of the American individuals.” Sanders mentioned. “We’re not there to speak about cage preventing.”

When Senate Republican Chief Mitch McConnell was later requested concerning the skirmish, he demurred. “It is very tough to regulate the habits of everybody within the constructing,” McConnell mentioned. “I do not contemplate it my accountability.”

Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota mentioned the matter was talked about forwards and backwards on the GOP caucus assembly after the listening to. However he mentioned nobody ought to take it severely.

“It is a dynamic place,” Cramer mentioned of the Senate. “We do not put on white wigs anymore.”