Mitt Romney suggested on Saturday that a heated discussion he was seen having with a Republican colleague in the Senate Chamber was not about whether witnesses should be called on Donald Trump’s impeachment trial – but he was concerned about the old question: “Boxers versus briefs”.
After a surprise change by House administrators on Saturday morning, Romney was one of five Republicans to vote to call witnesses.
Ron Johnson, of Wisconsin, was among the 45 who still supported his former president, who was acquitted of inciting the deadly insurrection in the United States Capitol on January 6. But before a deal was struck to avoid calling witnesses, Romney and Johnson engaged in a violent exchange.
Quoting Jason Donner, a Fox News producer, Andrew Desiderio, a Politico reporter, tweeted: “Ron Johnson turned to Mitt Romney and was upset with him, even pointing at him once. Johnson was visibly upset …
“They were coming and going with [Alaska senator Dan] Sullivan in their midst. I heard Johnson say to Romney, ‘Blame you.’ The voices definitely increased. “
Johnson complained that the exchange had been reported, telling reporters, “This is grotesque, you are recording this.” Reporters pointed out that the exchange took place in public, on the Senate floor.
Romney sought to neutralize the fight, telling reporters it was about underwear preferences. “We were discussing boxers versus underwear,” he supposedly said.
It turns out, as an observing member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Romney was seen wearing a “temple garment” under his clothes. Some public figures have been condemned for mocking two-piece briefs as “magical Mormon briefs”. Church members find this mockery prejudiced and offensive.
In 2012, as Romney ran to the White House and singer Cher had trouble making fun of his underwear, a news agency offered a guide to the outfit. On Saturday, however, for anyone looking to use the guide to guess which side of the “boxers versus underwear” argument Romney might have taken against Johnson, the lighting remained elusive.
“The clothes today come in two parts,” reported BuzzFeed News. “A white T-shirt and white boxer shorts.”