Capitol tensions almost resulted in fights early Thursday between a Republican and a Democrat in the U.S. House, according to reporter reports.
Lawmakers were identified as Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., And Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas. What motivated the strife was not immediately clear.
Deputy Andy Harris, R-Md., On the left, and Deputy Colin Allred, D-Texas.
The duo had to be separated by a Capitol employee, reporters wrote on Twitter.
Lawmakers remained at the Capitol well after midnight after a long Wednesday that included pro-Trump protesters raiding the Capitol, forcing members of Congress to barricade themselves for security until the building could be protected.
They resumed the debate over polling station results around 8:00 pm Eastern time and the quarrels started around 2:00 am (Eastern Time) on Thursday, wrote Chad Pergram of Fox News on Twitter.
Several reporters said the dispute may have been triggered by Pennsylvania’s Democratic Representative Conor Lamb’s description of Wednesday’s unrest.
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“It didn’t materialize out of the blue,” said Lamb of the unrest, according to Mediaite.com. “It was inspired by lies. The same lies that you are hearing in this room tonight.”
Lamb shouted later, “The truth hurts!” when some Republicans objected to his description of them as being liars.
While Lamb is speaking, a commotion is heard behind him, according to a C-SPAN video.
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The potential fight between lawmakers would place Harris, a 63-year-old United States Navy veteran who served in Operation Desert Storm, against Allred, a 37-year-old former Baylor college player who later spent time with the NFL Tennessee Titans.
Harris, born in New York City, represents Maryland’s 1st congressional district since January 2011, while Allred, a Dallas native, represents Texas’s 32nd congressional district since January 2019 and was re-elected for a second term in November.
Chad Pergram of Fox News contributed to this story.