Bernie Sanders Has to Break Up Near-Fight in Heated Senate Hearing

82-year-old Bernie Sanders had to prevent an altercation between a Republican colleague and a witness during a Senate hearing.

During a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committee on Tuesday, Markwayne Mullin, a Republican Senator from Oklahoma, had a tense verbal confrontation with witness Sean O’Brien, president of the Teamsters Union.

Mullin confronted O’Brien over incendiary Tweets O’Brien had previously made about Mullin, with whom O’Brien has had multiple confrontations on social media and the floor of Congress.

Mullin concluded by suggesting that the Senate floor would be an ideal setting for a fist fight between them: “We can be two consenting adults, we can end this right here.”

O’Brien agreed without hesitation: “OK, that’s fine. Perfect. I’d love to do it right now.”

Mullin, a former MMA fighter, bolted out of his chair and started to take off his wedding ring in preparation.

The committee’s chairman, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, interjected, sternly ordering that Mullin and O’Brien take their seats. Striking the gavel and demanding order, Sanders silenced O’Brien and rebuked Mullin: “You’re a United States Senator!”

“This is a hearing,” Sanders concluded, “And God knows the American people have enough contempt for Congress, let’s not make it worse.”