A House Republican's story about a physical altercation he had with a protester outside a federal building in Washington, D.C., appeared to be undercut by videos of the incident, according to a new report.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) was confronted by shouting protesters Thursday outside the Longworth House Office Building last week. The confrontation revolved around the lawmaker's stance on the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. At the time, his office claimed he was bumped into by the protester, leading Burchett to give the man a forceful shove.
“Everyone has a right to their opinion, and they can say all of the filthy stuff they want. But they don’t have the right to bump the Congressman,” Will Garrett, a spokesperson for Burchett, told Politico in a statement.
Burchett later said the man “had bad breath.”
But the story took a turn Monday night after Politico said it reviewed video footage that reveals what led up to the "bump" and subsequent shove.
A "recording of the incident, reviewed by POLITICO, shows that prior to the two of them coming face to face, Burchett taunted the man, saying 'come over here,'" the report said. Burchett calls the protester a "weenie."
The protester stepped closer to Burchett and called him a "dodo brain," and Burchett claimed he was paid by billionaire Democratic donor George Soros.
After the protester walked away, Burchett followed and said he was "quivering." The protester spun around and replied, "I'm quivering?" In doing so, the video showed his torso bumping Burchett, who shoved him with both hands. The protester then yells, "I didn't touch him!"
Capitol police intervened and separated the two, but Burchett chose not to press charges.
The incident comes after Burchett was kicked by a horse and treated for a broken rib in July.