'I believe in the power of touch': GOPer defends laying hands on MTG

Rep. Rich McCormick says he laid his hand on Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s shoulder last month — responding to Greene’s assertion that he became physically aggressive — because of lessons learned on the frontlines of hospital care.

“I’m an E.R. Doctor,” McCormick told C-Span's Washington Journal Thursday. “I believe in the power of touch.”

The denial comes after Greene accused her fellow Georgia Republican representative of grabbing her by the shoulder and shaking her in a private meeting with House Speaker Mike Johnson about competing resolutions to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), CNN reported at the time.

But McCormick argued Wednesday that it was common to make physical contact with fellow House members, saying, “Everybody touches everybody.”

What Greene described as a shake, he said was a hand resting on her shoulder accompanied with the words, “At least you and I can have an honest conversation.”

McCormick then took the opportunity to remind C-Span viewers of his background as a medical Marine helicopter pilot and as an Emergency Room doctor who “worked on the frontlines” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“I’m an aggressive guy in certain circumstances,” said McCormick. “Certainly not in the House of Representatives.”

McCormick said he felt it was his responsibility to develop friendships on both sides of the aisle to ensure bipartisan support of legislation he promotes, but he’s learned touch can only go so far.

“I consider myself a very friendly, gregarious person,” the Georgia Republican said. “I’m certainly never going to touch [Greene] again.”

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